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But how could such noble mother and daughter just happen to appear in this alley to watch the spectacle? Everyone present was utterly bewildered, everyone except one person...
"Yingxue!" Lady Li Niang subconsciously rubbed her eyes. After confirming that she hadn't seen wrong, she immediately shouted and rushed over. You see, besides seeking refuge with her already married second daughter, the person she cared about most in the capital was Wang Yingxue, her childhood playmate! They hadn't seen each other for over ten years, and though they had both matured greatly, she still recognized her at a glance! Wang Yingxue was no different! Seeing Lady Li Niang rush over, she also scurried forward without a word, her previous dignified demeanor temporarily cast aside. This scene left Dou Ming utterly speechless! When had her mother ever lost her composure like this? It seemed this lady truly was her mother's closest friend!
"As soon as I arrived in the capital, I immediately went to trouble your residence! But then I heard you had gone to an estate in the countryside, so I entrusted a letter to your servants there to deliver to you!" Lady Li Niang's eyes couldn't help but well up slightly upon seeing her long-unseen confidante. She had so many grievances and sorrows from her journey to confide in this good friend!
"I know! I know!" Wang Yingxue nodded repeatedly, comforting her friend, "My heart was filled with joy as soon as I received the letter! Just now, as we passed through this alley, I recognized your back at a glance and immediately stopped the Marquis's carriage to come find you!"
"Mmm! I knew you wouldn't forget me!" Lady Li Niang nodded, grinning happily. But after barely two seconds of smiling, she suddenly realized something was amiss. What did Wang Yingxue just say?The Marquis's carriage?What did that mean? Lady Li Niang blinked, staring at Wang Yingxue for a long time, then her gaze went past her, towards the tall carriage behind.
At this moment, Wang Yingxue's words were naturally heard by those around them. They, too, unceremoniously thought of the same question, their gazes all fixed on the carriage behind. Such a luxurious carriage was indeed not something an ordinary wealthy family could possess! It had to belong to a ducal or marquisate household! Moreover, with so many guards following, it was undoubtedly a person of great importance!
"Come, come! Ming'er, quickly greet your Aunt Li!" Wang Yingxue, at this moment, had not yet reacted to the implication of her own words. Instead, she waved and said to Dou Ming behind her, "This is my daughter, Dou Ming, whom I mentioned when I wrote to you!"
"Oh, oh! It's Ming'er!" Lady Li Niang was startled. Her eyes scanned Dou Ming from head to toe. She found the girl to be dignified, graceful, and poised, and even her walk carried the demeanor of a refined lady. The more she looked, the more she liked her! What a pity for my own four girls; besides my eldest daughter Shou Hua, the remaining three little ones are all mischievous rascals. Not one of them has Dou Ming's inner grace and outer beauty yet.
"Ming'er greets Aunt Li!" Dou Ming bowed gracefully to Lady Li Niang.
"Shou Hua! Kang Ning! Hao De! Le Shan! And Qiong Nu! Come over and greet your Aunt Wang!" Lady Li Niang, seeing Dou Ming's obedience, naturally quickly called over her own daughters and adopted daughter. However, though her Li family's daughters were mischievous, they were quite presentable at times like these! When greeting Wang Yingxue, they were one more obedient than the other, which pleased Lady Li Niang greatly! And Wang Yingxue's eye was also very sharp; she knew that Lady Li Niang's three youngest daughters were merely young. Given more time and proper upbringing, each of them would surely be excellent material for a good lady of a prominent family!
"What was that about the Marquis's carriage you just mentioned? When did you become related to the Marquis's Residence?" Of course, after the two women exchanged greetings, Lady Li Niang immediately pulled Wang Yingxue closer and whispered, asking. As she asked this, everyone around them pricked up their ears, for this was major gossip!
"My legitimate daughter, Sister Zhao, married the Marquis Jining!" When this topic came up, Wang Yingxue naturally felt a little smug. She fanned herself with her round fan and said with a smile.
"Married the Marquis Jining?!" Lady Li Niang was utterly stunned upon hearing this. After all, she had always dreamed of finding good husbands for her daughters! To be able to enter a Marquis's Residence was truly incredible! When she had first learned that Wang Yingxue had married into the Dou family, Lady Li Niang had secretly envied her for a while. After all, a gentry family was naturally different from the merchant family she had married into. Yet, she hadn't expected Wang Yingxue's legitimate daughter to go even further and marry directly into a ducal/marquisate household?! This was truly a step-by-step climb!
"Is it... as the main wife?" Of course, Lady Li Niang asked to confirm again, as there was a significant difference between a wife and a concubine.
"Of course, it's as the main wife!" Wang Yingxue smiled upon hearing this, knowing that her friend wasn't being jealous, but simply had a straightforward personality. She nodded, "Otherwise, how would I be qualified to ride in this Marquis's carriage!"
Good heavens! Lady Li Niang was even more shocked upon hearing this! That's right! Looking at the magnificent horses and luxurious carriage behind them, as well as the valiant female guards accompanying them, it was absolutely impossible for Wang Yingxue to have fabricated such a lie to deceive her.
"You are blessed! Even your non-biological legitimate daughter married so well, then what about your biological daughter? Wouldn't she be..."
"My Ming'er doesn't have the same fortune as her elder sister!" Wang Yingxue smiled faintly upon hearing this, showing a slightly embarrassed expression, "However, thanks to the Marquis's favor, she will also enter the Marquis's Residence in a few days as a noble concubine!"
"Ah?" Lady Li Niang was first startled, then she felt it was somewhat reasonable. After all, the status of a noble concubine was still acceptable! Especially in a Marquis's Residence where her own legitimate sister was the Head Lady, wouldn't she have even more support? The two sisters could even help each other in the residence; her good friend's plan seemed quite good! Of course, the premise was that this Marquis's Residence had to be reliable! Otherwise, putting all one's eggs in one basket was always unstable!
But this also opened up a new possible path in Lady Li Niang's mind: if her own daughters truly met worthy men, it wouldn't be impossible to marry two of them to the same man! Of course, the prerequisite was that this person must truly be able to convince Lady Li Niang and her daughters that he could provide them with a beautiful future, safety, and a privileged life!
"Sigh..." Seeing Wang Yingxue's two daughters marry into prominent noble families, Lady Li Niang's heart suddenly grew gloomy. Comparing her own family's situation to that of her good friend was now a world apart! Not to mention what would happen to the four daughters by her side in the future, at present, she couldn't even get past the front gate of her second daughter's husband's residence, the Fan family!
"This Fan family is merely an ordinary merchant family in the capital, how can they be so overbearing?" Wang Yingxue, now backed by Wei Tingyu, was putting on a show. At this moment, of course, she had to stand up for her good friend. She said this while winking at Lady Li Niang. Lady Li Niang was startled, then immediately understood Wang Yingxue's meaning.
She immediately turned around and swiftly walked up to the Fan family's servant woman, who was still clutching her face. Then, in the servant woman's bewildered gaze, she raised her hand and delivered another resounding slap to the other side of her face! The Fan family's servant woman was almost in tears at this point! She had originally thought she had landed a good job that would allow her to show off, but she hadn't expected to receive such crisp and loud slaps on both sides of her face. The most terrifying thing was that this in-law now seemed to have some connection with a Marquis's Residence? This made the Fan family's servant woman even more terrified.
"In-law, Madam... please calm your anger!" The Fan family's servant woman said with a tear-streaked face, "They truly aren't at home!"
"They weren't out yesterday! They won't be out tomorrow either!" Lady Li Niang pointed at the Fan family's servant woman and said, "What a coincidence, they left just as we arrived!"
"So, my message went to the dogs?" Upon hearing Lady Li Niang's accusation, the servant woman's eyes darted around, but she didn't say anything. Because the situation was already like this, she could only grit her teeth and endure to the end. As for what happened next... she would wait for the master and madam to return and then report to them and let them decide!
"Go back and tell your master!" Lady Li Niang's spine straightened at this moment. She looked at the Fan family's servant woman with a scornful smile and said:
"When my second daughter was in my house, there was never a reason for distant guests not to be welcomed, or for them to be refused entry, not even offered a cup of tea!"
"This girl has only been in the Fan family for less than two years, and she no longer recognizes her widowed mother and sisters!"
"This isn't getting married; this is stepping into the path of livestock!"
"As for that black-hearted, rotten-bellied one! Consider it that I was blind and raised a useless child!"
"You just go back and tell him! From now on, even if I have to beg for food, I will never beg at your Fan family's doorstep!"
Lady Li Niang, now with newfound confidence, verbally lashed out at the entire Fan family like a barrage of cannon fire, feeling immensely relieved in her heart. And Shou Hua and her other daughters standing behind her also frowned slightly, their faces serious. Recalling how their mother had to suppress her anger and force a smile in front of the Fan family's servant just moments ago, and now seeing her verbally unleash her fury, these women experienced the exhilaration brought by power and strength for the first time! Putting everything else aside, just by mentioning the Marquis's Residence, their status immediately soared several levels above that of merchants like the Fan family!
"Lady Li, no need to worry!" Wang Yingxue also walked over at this moment and whispered into Lady Li Niang's ear, "Today, you and your daughters can stay at my residence for a day. I guarantee that tomorrow morning, the entire Fan family, old and young, will personally come with gifts to beg you to return!" Lady Li Niang nodded directly after hearing her friend's words. In fact, she didn't need Wang Yingxue to remind her; she could already imagine how ridiculous the Fan family's demeanor would be afterward.
"I won't trouble your residence then! After all, that's the Dou family, and your master hasn't said anything yet..." However, Lady Li Niang shook her head and refused Wang Yingxue's suggestion. I won't bother with those two fellows, Dou Lao Wu and Dou Lao Qi! Wang Yingxue thought to herself, but seeing Lady Li Niang's firm gaze at this moment, she could only nod. After all, besides Lady Li Niang's assertive behavior, her self-respect was also very strong! Wang Yingxue, her friend from many years ago, naturally understood this. I suppose my friend still has some spare money! Finding an inn and staying for two nights certainly wouldn't be a problem. Of course, if the Fan family was sensible, once they learned that the Marquis Jining's Residence was also connected to Lady Li Niang, they would surely rush to beg them to return to the Fan Residence as quickly as possible! And Wang Yingxue was very clear about the speed at which merchants' pride and thinking could change.
"Let's go!" Lady Li Niang waved her hand grandly, leading the way onto the ox-cart she had hired. And her daughters, after exchanging glances, one by one followed her. Among them, Third Daughter Kang Ning even deeply furrowed her beautiful brows and glanced at the Fan family's main gate. She clearly saw a person peeking out from the light filtering through the crack in the door. It must be Second Sister Fu Hui! She probably wanted to welcome Mother and her sisters into the residence... But as a daughter-in-law of the Fan family, many times these matters were not up to her to decide!
"Let's go!" Eldest Sister Shou Hua forced an awkward smile, then tugged at Kang Ning and said to her. And after the ox-cart followed the Marquis's carriage out of the alley, the Fan family's gate slowly opened, and a beautiful young woman with delicate features slowly emerged from the doorway. Although her head was adorned with pearls and her clothes were luxurious silk and satin, her face was filled with sorrow and guilt. Of course, this scene was naturally not seen by the Li family's mother and daughters in the ox-cart. Instead, the curtain of the Marquis's carriage, which was at the very front, was slightly lifted.
"Wasn't I right?" Wei Tingyu asked with his eyes closed.
"Truly! That woman must be Aunt Li's second daughter, Fu Hui!" And at this moment, the one secretly peeking at the door was little girl Dou Ming. She had just heard her brother-in-law say that the Fan family's young mistress would surely come out feeling guilty to see off her mother's and sisters' ox-cart, so she curiously peered over there and saw this scene. Good heavens! Brother-in-law truly predicts things like a god!
"Sigh! It seems like another pitiful woman disciplined by her husband's family!" Wang Yingxue shook her head, then gently fanned Wei Tingyu as she spoke.
"Sister Fu Hui is too timid, 207! If it were me, I wouldn't care what my husband's family thought! I would definitely come out to welcome Mother and my sisters!" And little girl Dou Ming, after lowering the curtain, pouted and said angrily, "At worst, they divorce me, and I'm not afraid!" Her small head simply couldn't comprehend how there could be such a husband's family in the world? Her daughter-in-law's maternal family, mother and sisters, had come from afar. Setting aside whether they would help them in the future, at least they should entertain them now, if only to save face! But instead, they directly gave them the cold shoulder and wouldn't even allow the daughter-in-law to see her own mother and sisters. It was truly too much! Such a husband's family, little Dou Ming despised greatly!
"If everyone in the world were as obedient and sensible as Ming'er, then things would be much more peaceful!" Wei Tingyu smiled directly upon seeing Dou Ming's angry expression. Dou Ming's small face flushed when Wei Tingyu praised her. She then snatched the fragrant round fan from her mother Wang Yingxue's hand and began fanning her brother-in-law.
"Hey, you..." Wang Yingxue was startled, not expecting her daughter to suddenly snatch the fan, but she smiled helplessly and indulgently. At this moment, she deeply agreed with what Dou Ming had just said, and she also knew that her daughter Dou Ming, though seemingly timid and weak on the surface, also possessed that courage within! It just hadn't been time for it to burst forth yet!
"Mother!" In the ox-cart following behind, Fifth Sister Le Shan of the Li family was also frantically fanning Lady Li Niang, who was leaning on the main seat, with a bamboo fan, her face full of worry. The Fan family's actions just now had truly enraged all of them, especially Lady Li Niang, the assertive woman!
"How pitiful!" However, Lady Li Niang stared blankly ahead, muttering to herself, "How pitiful, my two hundred guan dowry!"
"Two... two hundred guan?!" As soon as she said this, her daughters present were all stunned. Especially Fourth Sister Hao De, who leaned forward with a face full of shock, her eyes wide as she exclaimed. Shou Hua and Kang Ning also exchanged silent glances, somewhat shocked by the amount of dowry Second Sister Fu Hui had brought to her marriage.
"Lower your voice!" However, Hao De's exclamation pulled Lady Li Niang back from her dazed state. She quickly glared lightly at her fourth daughter, signaling her not to shout like that.
"What's wrong?" Hao De looked bewildered. Good heavens! Second Sister's dowry was as high as two hundred guan! I didn't feel jealous upon hearing it, can't I even be surprised?
"What if the people in the carriage ahead hear that..." Lady Li Niang frowned. She naturally saw what Hao De was thinking and explained helplessly, "They might think all of us Li family daughters are obsessed with money!"
"Mother is right!" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua also nodded at this moment and said, "After all, they are related to the Marquis's Residence! It wouldn't be good for us to always appear to be full of the stench of money! How embarrassing that would be!"