Murong Dan had only ever considered how difficult her life would be after marrying into the Dong residence, but she had never once considered her own mother’s situation…
Third Sister was right. This time, because of her, her mother had caused the Third Princess to lose trusted aides and money, but most importantly, she had made her lose face—
When had the Third Princess ever knelt in the ancestral hall before?
Murong Yan had also been punished. Later, when the Third Princess came out of the ancestral hall, she called Murong Yan over again. You didn’t need to be a genius to know Murong Yan was in for trouble—
Those two both held official titles; usually, Grandmother couldn’t suppress them using “filial piety.” If Grandmother hadn’t caught them this time, those two wouldn’t have accepted punishment willingly—
So, the Third Princess and Murong Yan surely held a grudge against her mother and her.
She was getting married and escaping this ordeal, but what about her mother?
Once she was married and the dust settled, how would the Third Princess deal with her mother?
Thinking of the consequences, Murong Dan’s limbs turned cold.
She gripped Murong Zhu’s hand tightly, her teeth chattering.
“Third Sister, my mother…”
“Don’t worry, Father and Grandmother are still here—”
Murong Zhu gently patted her back, comforting her.
“But Grandmother doesn’t like my mother, and Father has no real power—”
Murong Dan’s tears fell again in a steady stream. She hadn’t known that her… mother had done so much for her.
She was truly unfilial…
Too foolish, too slow, too weak…
Her mother must have been terrified for her so many times since she was little…
“Sister.”
Murong Zhu wiped her tears, her expression turning serious as she lowered her voice.
“Father is still the master of this residence, and that woman’s husband—it all just depends on whether Father is willing.
“And Grandmother, she favors younger generations who are useful to the family.
“You have to understand: a child is honored by its mother, but a mother is also honored by her child.”
Murong Dan looked at Third Sister’s determined, hopeful, and even slightly fervent eyes.
Suddenly, immense courage and strength welled up from somewhere deep within her heart.
In that instant, Murong Dan thought about many, many things.
She felt that the things she used to care about or worry over—like pretty clothes, jewelry, servants’ flattery, others’ praise, others’ opinions…
All of that became distant, blurred, childish, and irrelevant.
Now, the most important thing was for her to survive first. She needed to live well.
If her husband was a disappointment, she would raise children who weren’t.
As long as she gained a firm foothold in the Dong family, her mother could live safely in the Murong family.
If she could make a name for herself in the Dong family, her mother could enjoy a peaceful old age in the Murong family.
Murong Dan made up her mind: Before, her mother had protected her. In the future, she would protect her mother.
She was capable of protecting her mother!
“Thank you, Third Sister…”
Murong Dan thanked her repeatedly, feeling that Third Sister was truly her savior.
After Third Sister left, she thought for a long time, then had a servant invite Murong Wenhan over.
With her face still tear-streaked like a little kitten’s, she rested her head on her father’s knee, just like when she was small.
Recalling the past bit by bit, she spoke of the respect, love, and reliance she and her mother had for Father—
Murong Wenhan was a very soft-hearted man. In the past, many of his children had been lost due to the Third Princess, and he genuinely loved the few who had survived.
So, as he listened, Murong Wenhan also cried, promising to visit Concubine Yao more often in the future…
Before leaving, Murong Wenhan even left behind the only three thousand taels of his private savings he had on him…
Murong Dan, remembering that her mother had given her all her personal silver, hid those banknotes in her mother’s dressing table.
After washing up and dressing neatly, she went to request an audience with Grandmother.
A quarter of an hour later, Murong Dan emerged from the old lady’s room, a smile on her face.
Murong Dan finally realized that, actually, many things were achievable as long as she set her mind to them.
At least she had achieved the first step.
With Grandmother and Father looking out for her, at least for this year or the next, those two wouldn’t let the Third Princess do anything outrageous to her mother.
What came after would depend on her accomplishments in the Dong residence.
——-
The Dong family’s wedding celebration was quite lively.
Perhaps it was because many nobles had witnessed the “betrothal” process between Dong Bing and Murong Dan firsthand.
Or perhaps it was because people from the Eldest Princess’ residence and the Prince Qi’s residence were planning to attend, prompting other official families to come and show their support in droves.
Since the wedding banquet was to begin in the evening, guests only started arriving at the Dong residence in the afternoon.
The Dong residence wasn’t particularly large, but it was quite exquisite.
The capital had been sweltering for a long time now; it was said that the common people’s vegetable plots were nearly cracked dry, and many rivers outside the city had shrunk to streams…
But the lotus pond in the Dong family’s back garden hadn’t dropped at all, and the lotus flowers were blooming magnificently.
In the middle of the lotus pond stood a waterside pavilion, filled with iced drinks, tea, fruits, and snacks.
A crowd of young ladies, dressed in their finest, were either chatting in the pavilion or leaning against the railings admiring the flowers.
From a distance, it looked as if the lotuses in the pond had transformed and were hosting a fairy tea party…
The Sheng family arrived at the Dong residence relatively early.
Sheng Minmin brought Huang Yaning, Huang Xianjing, and Sheng Mingzhu to the female guests’ area, then let them go off on their own.
Neither Huang Yaning nor Huang Xianjing liked crowded places.
So instead of joining the bustle in the pavilion, they strolled along the pebble path by the lotus pond. The path was shaded by trees, making it pleasantly cool.
Meanwhile, Sheng Mingzhu also secretly slipped away from the crowd…
These days, Sheng Mingzhu’s life had become unprecedentedly difficult.
At first, many common folks outside had laughed at the Feng family for being poor, lowly, and unable to behave properly in public.
Back then, the common people still didn’t dare mention her too often…
But ever since the news spread that the other two Feng daughters were also slaves in the Sheng residence—
People’s impression of her had completely changed.
Every time those lowlifes finished mocking the Feng family, they would bring her up.
She wasn’t surnamed Feng, and she hadn’t lived a single day with the Feng family—
Why did they have to tie her together with the Fengs?
Why didn’t they tie that little wretch together with the Feng family instead?
To Sheng Mingzhu, this was utter humiliation!
Just thinking about how people outside were taunting her made Sheng Mingzhu lose her appetite, unable to sleep at night, and her hair fell out in large clumps…
In a short time, she had become haggard, and even her senior apprentice brother stopped coming around as often.
It dawned on her belatedly that her appearance must have scared him away…
Realizing this, Sheng Mingzhu’s heart was filled with bitterness and sorrow. She had thought her senior brother truly liked and cherished her…
But it turned out, he only cared about her outer shell as well…
Was there anyone in this world who would treat her sincerely?
In a daze, Sheng Mingzhu thought back to her childhood. Before she turned six, her life had been like a princess’s.
She was the apple of her parents’ eyes, the precious jewel of her several brothers, she had everything she wanted…
Everyone praised her as a little fairy…
How had such a wonderful life gradually become so unrecognizable?
Recently, with the whole Gelsemium incident, everyone thought she had tried to poison Dongkui, which led to the deaths of Xiaoye and Jixue.
Sheng Mingzhu felt terribly wronged. This time, she really hadn’t done anything.
It was all the fault of that little wretch in Haitang Courtyard!
And that old wretch in Mudan Courtyard!
A pair of wretched mother and daughter!
Those two must be bad luck for her. With them around, nothing went smoothly for her…
This was just how Sheng Mingzhu was; she never looked for the cause within herself.
