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  The main courtyard of the Ding Mansion had three rooms and seven buildings. After Old Master Ding retired, he moved out of the main courtyard with Madame Ding to live in Jing Song Garden. The main courtyard was where Eldest Young Master Ding lived, and Madame Ding took charge of all matters concerning the Ding Mansion. Madame Ding spent her days accompanying Old Master Ding, while most of the time she played with her granddaughters and didn't care about the affairs of the mansion. At the entrance, Zhu Yu, the senior maid in front of Eldest Young Master Ding's residence, lifted the curtain and curtsied with a smile: "Just now, Madame mentioned Third Miss, please come in quickly."

  Ding Min didn't dare to put on the airs of a young lady in front of Zhu Yu, and smiled as she supported her, "Sister Zhu Yu, when you have time, come to my place, I've finished embroidering that pair of pouches."

  "Trouble Miss San, it's not the servant's fault." Zhu Yu glanced around the room and lowered her voice: "The servant wants to remind Miss San that Madame had an extra half bowl of bird's nest congee at noon today. Just now, the eldest young lady from Lanling Houfu sent someone over, and Madame... doesn't seem too pleased with the servant."

  "I'll just say a few words and leave, I won't disturb Mother's rest." The maid next to Madame Jing nodded, it was for this moment that Ding Min grasped the jade-like hand, indicating she had taken note. Jade smiled: "With Third Miss keeping company with Madame, Madame will surely be delighted."

  "After entering the door, Ding Min kneeled down and said: 'Mother is well.'"

  "Is that Min'er?" The old lady was originally reclining on the couch, and upon hearing Ding Min's voice, she slowly got up. "Come here."

  "Yes."

  Ding Min didn't dare to be careless, and with a respectful smile on her face, she walked to the side of Luohan's bed and bowed: "I'm sorry to disturb you, Mother. Is it not me?" Ding Min glanced at the old lady and saw that she was no longer showing any signs of annoyance, but rather looked calm as usual. Ding Min took the initiative to massage her legs, and in this life or the next, Ding Min could look down on anyone, confident that she could defy heaven and change fate. However, in front of her stepmother, Ding Min never dared to be presumptuous, and when she was looked at by her stepmother's piercing eyes, Ding Min felt like she had been seen through.

  The old lady pulled Ding Min up and let her sit beside her, patted Ding Min's hand and said: "I know you are filial, the servants will do the leg massage, come and chat with me."

  Madam spoke with a hint that Ding Min was a lady, and the lady she raised was not doing the job of rubbing legs. Madam had always been neither close nor distant to her concubine-born daughter, but she was willing to carefully teach and raise her concubine-born daughter, rarely humiliating her, raising a humble and obedient concubine-born daughter who would bring honor to her face. The legitimate daughter of the Ding family had such an illegitimate younger sister, how could she be noble? The daughters of the Ding family, whether born to a wife or a concubine, were all very well-behaved, skilled in needlework and embroidery, music, chess, books, and painting.

  Ding Min accompanied the madam in idle chatter, discussing food, clothing and daily necessities, but her original intention was something she couldn't bring herself to say. The madam remained aloof, never giving Ding Min an opportunity to speak the words that would allow her to return to the manor.

  "Madam, Miss Wu has arrived."

  The big wife's peaceful face wore a sincere smile and said: "Let her in."

  "Mother."

  Miss Ding Yu, the eldest daughter of Madame Ding, walked up with light steps. Ding Min made way for her, and Ding Yu smiled at Ding Min first: "Third sister." Then she sat down beside Madame Ding, pouting and complaining: "Mother didn't even tell me that Brother-in-law was going to Beijing."

  "How did you find out?" The old lady smoothed the loose hair on Ding Yu's forehead and smiled: "Did you interrogate Li Mama?"

  Ding Yu nodded awkwardly, and the old lady poked her forehead, scolding: "With just this little ability, you dare to interrogate Li Mama, without any tact." Ding Min's face turned slightly red as she listened from the side, feeling that the old lady was hinting at something. In her previous life, Ding Yu had married her cousin Zhu Neng, and the old lady had arranged a good marriage for her youngest biological daughter. Before Ding Min's rebirth, Zhu Neng had joined the Fourth Prince's mansion and became prominent for a time, collaborating with Xinyang Wang to defeat the Mongolian cavalry, bringing honor and wealth to his wife. As a result, Ding Yu became a third-rank lady, and most importantly, Zhu Neng had no concubines, making her the happiest among all the sisters who had married out of the Ding family. Until Ding Min came knocking on their door, Ding Yu was still like an unmarried lady in the boudoir, without any suffering.

  Compared to Ting Ruo... Ting Min saw Ting Ju leaning on Madame's lap, Ting Ju was much better than the previous life's Ting Ruo, because Ting Ju was the legitimate daughter and Madame would take pains to arrange for her. As soon as Ting Min thought of her cousin Zhu Nai, she felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart, even if she had been reborn, Ting Min still had good feelings towards Zhu Nai, but Madame would not allow Ting Min to compete with Ting Ju.

  Ding Xiang had met Zhu Nai two years ago and had a vague good impression of him. When she heard from her mother that the Third Aunt's family would be entering the capital in two days, she got confirmed news and blushed, saying "Mother, laugh at me."

  The lady smiled and said in a soft voice: "Ji'er, remember that your cousin is your cousin, but you must not be rude to him."

  "Uh-huh, I remember." Ting Xiu nodded, still smiling at her brother-in-law, and wouldn't lose the lady's demeanor. "By the way, will Sixth Sister not return to the manor for Father's birthday?"

  Ding Xian mentioned Ding Rou, and Ding Min saw the old lady's expression change. Ding Min immediately spoke up: "Mother, Sixth Sister must know her mistake. We are all sisters in one family, how can there be any irreconcilable grudges? Sixth Sister is really pitiful living alone on the estate. This year Father is celebrating his birthday, and it would be a joy for him to see his children and grandchildren gathered around him."

  "The sixth sister hurt the third sister but still spoke up for her, the third sister is too kind-hearted."

  The old lady patted Ding Xuan's back, leaned into the soft cushion, and glanced at Ding Min, "Min'er said that Ting should return to the manor?"

  "Everything is up to Mother, and daughters dare not interrupt." Ding Min bowed down, and the old lady moved her lips slightly, "I've taken note of this matter, Min has a kind heart, it's good for an older sister to be more tolerant, it will also bring benefits in the future."

  "Mother's teachings are that the daughter does not dare to remember her hatred for Sixth Sister, she was just confused for a moment. When Sixth Sister returns to the manor, the daughter will definitely get along well with her and will never fight with Sixth Sister again, yielding to her instead."

  Ding Min smiled and said, "There's something else I'd like to report to Mother. Last time my daughter went out, I heard that some merchants were hoarding grain. It's possible that there's some truth to the rumors, and I'm worried that something is amiss in the south."

  The old lady frowned and said, "If I can see what the merchants are doing and tell you about it, it won't be in vain for me to have a headache. I think the little maid Hong Shuang is very suitable for Li Mama's temperament. Yesterday, I heard Li Mama mention that she was thinking of adopting her as a goddaughter. Li Mama is my companion, and she has no children all her life. I've always wanted her to have a daughter to accompany her. How about this? I'll take Hong Shuang from my side, but I won't let her lose out. Let's give her the jade and the emerald together."

  "Mother is really good to the three sisters, and she can give away all her precious jewels. Ding Yu pouted, and Madame said: "It's not that she can bear to part with them, it's just that her heart is no longer in it, giving them to Min'er is their master-servant fate."

  Ding Min kneeled down and said: "Thank you, Mother."

  Zhu Yu Cui Yu went forward to bid farewell to the old lady, her eyes brimming with tears. The old lady said: "It's just serving the third young lady, changing masters is all, I also can't let you serve for nothing, here are two pieces of silver and two feet of fabric."

  "Thank you, Mrs."

  Ding Min always wore a smile, bidding farewell to the elder lady and leading Zhen Yu and Cui Yu back to the embroidery building. The two of them couldn't compare with Hong Chuan in terms of loyalty and reliability. The elder lady was warning her that she understood all her little movements, so why didn't she deal with Ding Ruo in her previous life?

  A normal stepmother, a normal big family. Rebirth and transmigration are not omnipotent, a woman who can sit steadily as the head of a family is not simple, the eldest lady is the highlight character of the story, not reborn to be higher than everyone else.

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