In the Ning’s Ancestral Hall.

All the descendants of the main branch gathered inside the ancestral hall, while those of the side branches who had contribution stood outside the hall. This day was a turning point for the Ning clan, the former master being replaced by a new one.

Before the ancestral tablets, a flamen was hosting the ceremony.

“The new master offers incense to our ancestors of all generations…”

“Kowtow three times…”

“Completed.”

The voice of the flamen was solemn and every syllable pronounced extremely long. With the word ‘completed’, the ceremony was finally finished.

Ning Shaoqing got up, turned around to face the Ning descendants.

The edge of his dark-blue robe fell straight to the ground, emanating a peaceful and deep solemnity. It seemed in an instant, he became inexplicably tall and majestic, stimulating an impulse in all others present here to worship him.

There was silence. All the Ning offspring looked serious and stern.

“All Nings kowtow to the new master…”

“First…”

“Second…”

“Third…”

**

When Mo Qianxue talked, there was a smile on her face and gloss flowing in her pretty slant eyes which seemed to be bathed in sunshine. She simply looked so innocent. That madam was speechless for a time, and madam Xie also looked awkward.

She said nothing wrong, but the words still embarrassed the two madams who were provocative.

Princess Jing picked up a teacup and gently took a sip. When the lips touched the cup, there was a curve, more like sneering at some people than enjoying the tea.

The purpose of these people showing up was clear. Since they didn’t talk, Mo Qianxue also pretended there were no people. She was quite a patient person.

Princess Jing was nice to her, so she smiled and stood next to her, gently praising Junzhu Susu. Princess Jing put down the teacup, all smiles, chatted with her about anecdotes of Susu.

The woman being called madam Xie shot over inquiring sight on Mo Qianxue. This girl wore a light-blue pleated skirt which was only embroidered with a few peach blossoms, a cone-bun hairstyle popular among young ladies and decorated with only a gold-butterfly-shaped jade hairpin.

The outfit was plain, but her eyes were gorgeous and noble as phoenix wings. It was said she had stayed the whole night in jail, but now there wasn’t a slightest sign of it… On top of that, the light-blue color made her lithe and graceful and gave her an even nobler and purer look.

The calm countenance seemed peaceful and obedient, yet, when she talked, the words fought back powerfully in a decent way. She was indeed a very intelligent girl, sticky to deal with, as the Empress said.

Nevertheless, no matter how sticky she was, she would cry anyway.

With a slight snort, madam Xie also picked up her tea and took a sip. They weren’t in a rush to check on her. The officials at court needed time to take a break too. Just let the Emperor wait, until he was impatient, then push her out for a severer punishment under his unbridled rage.

On the right hand side, madam Jia, older and wearing a dark-blue vest which was embroidered subtly with an ‘auspicious’, was also regarding Mo Qianxue. She didn’t care about the political stances at court but merely thought from a girl’s point of view. To her, this was obviously a trap, which aimed to embarrass the lady of Founder mansion.

Since ancient times, a woman followed her husband after getting married. Since she was already the lady of Founder mansion and able to inherit the dukedom, there were few women in Tianqi who had a higher rank. If she had really married a man of humble origin, she could have asked for an imperial edict and let the man move in. It wasn’t sensible to abandon him and come back alone.

Mrs. Jia stayed in the deep inner courtyard for dozens of years. Luckily, Mr. Jia had only her and two concubines. Thanks to the strict rules of his century-old family, the two concubines were also reasonable gentle women.

Her inner courtyards were already peaceful, but she still had witnessed many filthy things.

She just didn’t understand why Princess Yuhe believed in the scholar’s nonsense full of loopholes, made it to the imperial court, presented witnesses, and finally involved the Emperor in…

After learning what her husband told her yesterday, Mrs. Jia specially sent people to inquire about Mo Qianxue. Although the news her servants got were less detailed than Mr. Jia said, they made her feel sorrier for Mo Qianxue.

Most people in the capital knew the Founder, and they were grateful towards him for his sacrifice for the country and deeply touched by their love story. Hence, they were more pitiful on Mo Qianxue.

Such a wise and kind girl, the child of the loyal couple who should be taken great care and loved by her parents, were slandered in bright daylight and thrown with dirt. What a **ty world!

Thinking of this, Mrs. Jia, eyes filling with more pity, had her own judgment.

Feeling her gaze, Mo Qianxue looked over and smiled friendly. Mrs. Jia nodded and stood up with a smile.

Mo Qianxue didn’t know that her smile made Mrs. Jia’s compassion even stronger.

Mrs. Jia waved her hand, “Child, come here; let me take a look.” She had only one son and always wanted to have a daughter, but there weren’t girls she liked very much. Today, she found this girl very to her likings.

When a person was in adversity, he

/ she would try to seek for comfort. Only by this addressing term and her soft pitiful tone, Mo Qianxue, whose walled-up solid heart began to ooze out bitterness, felt her eyes suddenly heated and was reminded of her mother in modern times.

She couldn’t help walking over. Seeing her tears, Mrs. Jia, on a whim, stepped forward, naturally held her hands, and comforted gently, “Don’t be scared, child! Mom will do help you.”

If she liked her, then just be it!

The ‘mom’ shocked everybody but warmed up Mo Qianxue’s icy heart.

Brushed by the warm current from her heart, the already tired body suddenly regained strength and became energetic, as her cold heart felt warmer.

If she was in a high position, if she was popular, if her innocence had been proved, if… When everything was perfect, she wouldn’t have been so moved by this ‘mom’. Probably, she would disdain, turn her down or even sneered inwardly.

As the saying goes, it’s easy to add icing on the cake, but difficult to give a hand to a person in need!

At this moment, although she wasn’t afraid, in the eyes of others, she was the prey, an unchaste woman, a falling phoenix worse than a chick…

She was trapped in mud, covered with dirt under watchful eyes of enemies in all directions. This madam didn’t display either fear or dislike, but disregarded common opinion and took her side in public to help her out. How could she not be tearing up?!

No matter who this madam was or what her identity, she was willing to be her acquired daughter!

Without the slightest hesitation, Mo Qianxue smiled and performed a standard kneeling etiquette, “Mom, please accept my best wishes!”

When she looked up again, there were gleaming tears in her eyes.

As they did this, Madam Xie was the first one coming to the realization what was going on and taunted, “How lucky you are Mrs. Jia! Effortlessly, you acquired such a nice daughter here…”

Mrs. Jia? As Mrs. Xie said, Mo Qianxue knew that this amiable noble-looking madam must be the wife of Mr. Jia at court.

Mrs. Jia seemed not to hear the sarcasm and held Mo Qianxue up, “My sweet. Get up.”

Sensing Mo Qianxue’s sincerity and thinking of what had happened to her, Mrs. Jia almost cried too and made up her mind secretly that she wouldn’t allow others to bully her acquired daughter.

Gazing for a moment, she took off a pearl necklace and put it around Mo Qianxue’s neck, “This happens unexpectedly, and I didn’t take something nice with me. Just this pearl necklace is the gift for you on the first meeting.”

It was unnecessary to spell it out because the affection was all in her eyes. Mo Qianxue had never thought in this world, she could have a mom who loved her.

Mo Qianxue touched the necklace, the pearls of which were as big as a longan, in the same size, with soft gloss. She knew it was a treasure at the first sight. And Mrs. Jia gave it to her without hesitation. The happiness came so suddenly that Mo Qianxue was stilled.

Princess Jing coughed and got up, “Congratulations on you too. This is my gift for you, Miss. Mo.” Meanwhile, she took off a pair of jade bracelets and pulled Mo Qianxue over. Before she understood what was happening, they were already on her wrists.

Mo Qianxue stood upright and performed a standard imperial curtsy too. Then she looked up, tears in her eyes, smiling, “Thanks you Princess Jing.”

Princess Jing smiled and let her get up, “You and Susu are bosom friends. Don’t stand on ceremony.”

Mrs. Jia at this point had calmed down from excitement, still smiling, “Alright. Qianxue has met Princess Jing. I guess you don’t know who are The Three Madams. Let me introduce you to them…”