Chapter 25 Clarifying the Rumors
Everyone felt some sympathy for Min Qiao Shi.
The upper-class circles in Beijing are only so big, and the people coming and going are basically the same few. Everyone knows who they are and what they are like.
Putting aside everything else, given how Min Qiaoshi has devoted herself to protecting the reputation of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion for decades, valuing it more than her own life, it's impossible for her to do something like breaking off an engagement that would damage the mansion's reputation. Let alone something as obviously despicable as violently breaking off an engagement.
Considering what Lady Annam said, it's clear that the Marquis of Xuanping and his wife messed things up and tried to shift the blame onto Lady Min Qiao!
Thinking of this, everyone was curious: would Madam Min Qiao continue to swallow her anger and take the blame for the sake of the Marquis's reputation? Or would she stand up for herself again, just like she had confronted Madam Wang Zhang before?
Just as everyone was wondering, Madam Min Qiao did not disappoint. She slowly spoke, "I've heard the recent rumors, but I thought they would stop with the wise. I never expected that everyone would question me about those rumors in public. Alas!"
Everyone was taken aback. Was Madam Min Qiao mocking them?
Before everyone could figure it out, Madam Min sighed and continued, "Since everyone is curious, I will explain a few things to you."
"As for those who say I am ungrateful and treacherous, they are simply saying that after I became the wife of the Marquis of Xuanping, I made my own son become the heir of the Marquis's mansion, bypassing the son of my first wife."
"I want to say, for us noble families with titles to inherit, is it up to us women to decide who becomes the heir?"
At this point, everyone's gaze fell on Madam Zheng of the Duke of Jin's mansion.
Isn't this the kind of person who can decide who becomes the heir apparent and who becomes the Duke of Jin?
Madam Min Qiao also noticed Madam Zheng's presence, nodded apologetically to her, and then continued, "The Duke of Jin's mansion is an exception. At that time, the old Duke was no longer alive, so the situation was naturally different."
"When our Marquis's mansion requested the title of heir apparent, the old Marquis was still alive. I cannot agree with those who say I am ungrateful and that I am promoting my own son to the position."
"After all, those who know our household are aware of this. Marquis Xuanping was personally raised by the old Marquis and is not close to me. On the contrary, the son of my first wife was raised by me since childhood and is more like my biological son."
The current Marquis of Xuanping, Min Rong, was raised by the old Marquis himself. Moreover, when the title of heir apparent was requested, Min Rong was already a teenager, while the third young master Min was still a baby less than two years old at that time.
Therefore, it is not surprising at all that the old Marquis would choose Min Rong as his successor.
Only those who don't know the truth would deliberately keep harping on it.
Having clarified this old matter, Madam Min Qiao continued, "To those who say that I am of humble origin and short-sighted, thus indirectly proving that I was the one who insisted on breaking off the engagement, I just want to say, yes, that's right, I am a merchant's daughter, I was promoted from concubine to principal wife, I am of humble origin, but how have I ever been short-sighted or disregarded the overall situation?"
"Isn't the smooth transition and the signs of its resurgence today thanks to my wholehearted efforts in protecting it?"
"How come when something goes wrong, it all becomes my fault?"
"Ha, I'm not afraid to tell you loudly that I didn't even lift a finger to break off the engagement!"
“My son and daughter-in-law handled everything from beginning to end. As for the girl who broke off the engagement, she did work for me before. But she left me a month ago and went to work for my daughter-in-law.”
Min Qiao's eloquent speech left everyone present speechless.
Min Qiaoshi, who used to be so quiet and reserved that she would only keep things bottled up, has suddenly become so eloquent.
Most importantly, why is the person who used to care the most about the reputation of the Marquis's mansion suddenly blurting everything out? Has he changed his mind and suddenly stopped caring about the reputation of the Marquis's mansion?
The Duchess of Jin asked the old nanny behind her with a strange look, "What has upset Madam Min Qiao?"
Granny Guan was also quite frightened by Madam Min's actions today. Madam Qiao was truly terrifying today! However, Madam Qiao's impassioned and indignant demeanor seemed strangely familiar.
Just then, Lady An'nan suddenly interjected, "Madam Qiao, your daughter-in-law said that for so many years, you have always been the one in charge of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion. If you don't agree to such a big matter as breaking off the engagement, do you think the younger generation would dare to make the decision?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Who doesn't need the consent of their elders before making any important decisions?
It's impossible for Lady Min Qiao to refuse the annulment of the engagement, and for Marquis Xuanping and his wife to just take care of it themselves, right?
Madam Min sighed deeply, her expression sorrowful, and said, "The children are all grown up, and they don't care much for what the elders say anymore. After a while, people don't remember your hard work as a housekeeper; they just remember that you were too meddlesome and interfered too much."
"Hey! To be honest, a month ago, I handed over the management of the household to my daughter-in-law."
The annulment of the engagement occurred less than a month ago, so it had nothing to do with Min Qiao Shi.
"But how could the Grand Madam really be unaware of such a major matter?" The Lady of Annan persisted, determined to uncover the truth.
“I know, how could I not know?” Madam Min smiled bitterly. “Not only did I know, I was so angry that I fell seriously ill. I even had to call the imperial physician.”
"I know about this," the Dowager Lady of the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion, who lives next to the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion, confirmed. "Some time ago, Dowager Lady Qiao did indeed fall seriously ill."
"I remember that the Marquis of Xuanping's residence went to fetch a doctor in the middle of the night that day, and the news spread to several neighboring families."
"I thought something serious had happened, but after inquiring, I found out that Madam Qiao was ill."
"For the next three days, imperial physicians came to examine my pulse every day. I remember this very clearly."
"At the time, I was wondering why Madam Qiao suddenly fell so seriously ill. It turns out she was angered by Marquis Xuanping and his wife?"
After Lady Yong'an finished speaking, two more families living in the Xuanping Marquis's residence came out to confirm that this was indeed the case.
Upon hearing the whole story, everyone was deeply saddened.
Min Qiaoshi had lived her whole life for the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, but in her old age, she was stripped of her power by her son and daughter-in-law and almost died of anger!
No wonder Madam Min Qiao's personality has changed so much. Not only has she become more ruthless, but she also no longer cares about the reputation of the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion.
After this incident, the reputation of Marquis Xuanping and his wife was completely ruined.
Sure enough, before the birthday banquet at the Prince of Chang'an's mansion had even ended, Min Qiaoshi's words at the entrance of the mansion had spread to every household.
Even Marquis Min Rong, who was still working at the Dali Temple, heard the news.
When the rumors first started circulating, everyone tried to keep it from Min Rong. But the Minister of Works himself sent someone to deliver the message.
What did the visitor say?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com