The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 164: A New Discovery

Ji Mingzhu looked at Xiao Feixue with a faint smile.

"What’s going on with the Young Master and Du Peilan? If the Marchioness doesn’t clarify today, I won’t agree."

Her face wore a smile, but her eyes hid sharpness.

Xiao Feixue felt a shock in her heart.

Only then did she realize that Ji Mingzhu had already grown thorns without her knowing.

She was no longer the pitiable girl who lost her father at a young age, living under someone else’s roof and trying to please others!

Xiao Feixue felt an inexplicable panic inside.

With an embarrassed expression, she said, "Those are just rumors, don’t take them to heart."

Ji Mingzhu leisurely looked at her, "I’ve never heard any rumors about the Young Master and Du Peilan. Since the Marchioness mentioned it, you must have your reasons, so why not clarify it? It’s just as well that I send someone to trace the source, and if it’s truly slander, those who spread it must pay the price."

Xiao Feixue’s face turned red and then white.

This Ji Mingzhu was clearly threatening her!

Unable to maintain her smile, she said, "Lady of the Young Master, I don’t think I’ve offended you, have I? Why do you speak with veiled barbs? If I’m not welcome, I’ll leave."

With the other no longer putting on a false smile, Ji Mingzhu didn’t need to beat around the bush.

"I don’t think I sent you an invitation."

Xiao Feixue felt humiliated and whispered, "Even if you’ve climbed up high, you’re still just an orphan without familial backing. Ji Mingzhu, what are you so proud of?"

Playing with the small bell on her wrist, Ji Mingzhu didn’t even lift an eyelid.

"Even without familial backing, am I not more glorious than you? You tell me, what am I proud of?"

Xiao Feixue’s forte was flattery and coaxing.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t buy it, and she was at her wit’s end.

Most importantly, she looked down on Ji Mingzhu from the bottom of her heart and didn’t take her seriously.

Provoked a little, she showed her true colors.

Sneering at Ji Mingzhu, "Don’t be shortsighted. You’re doing well now because you have a man’s favor. What will you do if you lose it and still have no familial support? Do you think the Duke Mansion will still give you a say?"

"That’s not your concern."

Ji Mingzhu’s expression was calm, but Xiao Feixue felt she was feigning composure.

Feeling she had won a round, the smugness in her eyes was hard to hide.

"For the sake of our fathers’ old acquaintance, I advise you to change your temper. You’ve offended so many; what will you do when you lose favor and people hit you when you’re down?"

Ji Mingzhu stared intently at Xiao Feixue.

"Like you, for instance?"

"What?"

Xiao Feixue couldn’t wrap her head around it and asked instinctively.

Once she realized, she cursed herself for being slow-witted.

Even if she didn’t understand Ji Mingzhu’s meaning, she shouldn’t have exposed it!

Ji Mingzhu said nonchalantly, "Back then, your father was just a deputy general. You didn’t have this attitude towards me."

Her father had served as a deputy general under Ji Mingzhu’s father, which made Xiao Feixue feel ashamed.

Now, being reminded of it, she recalled the past.

She used to hold a skewered sugar-coated hawthorn, smiling and trying to please the child Ji Mingzhu...

Her face was slightly flushed.

Sneering, "That was all in the past. Why bring it up? Now my father is the Great General. Even Mr. Xu’s son is under his command. Did your father have such connections back then?"

After speaking, Xiao Feixue feigned covering her mouth.

The gloating in her eyes spilled out.

"Oh dear, I shouldn’t have asked. If your father had good connections in the court, would you and your mother have suffered so much?"

Ji Mingzhu’s heart skipped a beat.

She had paid attention to the Xu family’s connections, with sons, both legitimate and illegitimate, now all in the capital...

Ji Mingzhu clenched the small bell on the colored string.

Her gaze was mocking, "You, a housewife, know what goes on in the military camp? Even if you want to flatter yourself, find a better excuse."

"How do I not know? My mother..."

Xiao Feixue hastily stopped speaking.

Regret flickered in her eyes.

Dryly, she said, "Xu Zhou had military experience before. Did you not know? If it weren’t for your family’s Young Master intervening, Lord Vice Minister should have been him by now."

Ji Mingzhu released the small bell.

Her eyes filled with a smile again, "The way you speak, anyone would think it’s Yun Zhen’s decision who becomes a Lord Vice Minister. Others would think he forcibly took what wasn’t his."

Xiao Feixue quietly exhaled.

She didn’t pursue the topic.

"I came today with genuine intention to befriend you. I misjudged before and befriended Du Peilan. Now I see her true nature and will distance myself from her. Mingzhu, considering our long acquaintance since childhood, let’s forgive and forget the past, shall we?"

Ji Mingzhu didn’t express any opinion.

In Xiao Feixue’s view, it was another slap to her face.

She huffed, "I was thoughtless, still yearning for old times, not realizing Mingzhu doesn’t wish to associate with us after climbing high. In that case, I won’t bother you again."

Xiao Feixue turned to leave.

She wasn’t keen on interacting with Ji Mingzhu anyway. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

If it weren’t for her incompetent in-laws who insisted on currying favor everywhere, she wouldn’t have come to the Duke Mansion to be snubbed.

"Hold on."

Xiao Feixue scoffed.

"Mingzhu..."

Ji Mingzhu raised her hand to interrupt her.

She pointed to the gift box she brought, "Take it back. It would be bad if it was misunderstood."

Xiao Feixue’s nose almost twisted in anger.

She wanted to curse but remembered she was in the Xie family’s territory.

She could only let her maid take the gift box and storm off in a huff.

Gold clicked his tongue, "The Marchioness has no sincerity at all, yet pretends to want to renew old ties with you."

Ji Mingzhu twirled the colored rope, "It’s hard to tolerate letting someone you dislike rise. How to put on a good face? It’s human nature."

Though this meeting was as unpleasant as ever,

it wasn’t without gains.

Ji Mingzhu kept it in her heart to discuss with Xie Yunzhen when he returned.

Many matters are interconnected.

She had a hunch this lead would yield significant results!

After having the tea cleared, Ji Mingzhu got up to return to the east courtyard.

Unlike before, her steps were much lighter now, clearly in a good mood.

At the decorated archway, she saw Du Peifang, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

Her expression was unpleasant, eyes red, likely from crying.

Upon seeing them, she glared fiercely at Ji Mingzhu.

Then quickly walked away.

Gold rolled his eyes too, some people just don’t get it, offending everyone in the mansion and still acting without sense.

At least their lady had a good temper.

If it were the Commandery Princess, she’d have long punished Du Peifang!

Softly, "These days, Aunt Du has been trying to please the Lord with snacks and soups, but he hasn’t let her into the study."

Ji Mingzhu nodded, "Keep an eye on it."

When dealing with enemies, you can’t afford to relax for a moment.

Otherwise, you’re giving them a chance to exploit weaknesses!