Chapter 106: The Duke of Ding’s Mansion

The 23rd was an important day— the day of the Duke of Ding’s wedding. Before dawn, officials from the Ministry of Rites and two elderly servants sent by the Empress arrived at the Princess’s residence. Preparations had already begun the day before, with a full day of activity. Even the pillars were wrapped in red cloth, and the entire residence was immersed in a festive atmosphere.

The second uncle’s family and the little uncle were busy hosting the guests, running around non-stop.

Grandmother wiped away tears as she watched the silly girl, who was now about to become the Duchess of Ding, fly away.

These things didn’t require much thought from Tian Mi. She simply woke up early, took a bath, did her makeup, and then appeared fully dressed and made up.

It might seem like an easy task, but the two elderly servants sent by the Empress had already explained the process to her the day before. It was very complicated. She really couldn’t bear it, and was almost ready to say she wasn’t going to the Duke’s mansion at all!

Both servants were Nanny Xiao’s attendants, part of the Empress’s dowry.

A sharp glance from Nanny Xiao!

Today, Nanny Xiao and one of the elderly servants would accompany her throughout the entire process. Every detail—where to go, where to stand, and even which leg to step forward with—was carefully planned.

What embarrassed Tian Mi the most was that from bathing to dressing, the maids helped her with everything, even her underwear, which was different from everyone else’s, was noticed by Nanny Xiao.

She even said, “The Duchess of Ding’s undergarments are so exquisitely made. They’re perfect for the hot summer weather.”

Tian Mi merely responded with a faint “Mm.”

Last night, Bai Mucheng stayed at the Duke’s mansion, and she was happy she could finally get a good night’s sleep. But today, before she could even wake up, she was woken up and surrounded by so many people for her bath. They even insisted on washing her hair—didn’t they see that she had already washed it yesterday?

In this era, without a hairdryer, they had to rub and dry it manually before it was finally done!

Her ceremonial robe today was very formal, straight and upright. It was deep red, embroidered with intricate golden patterns, quite majestic. Her headpiece sparkled with gold, and her hair was adorned with pearls and jade, weighing several pounds in total, making her neck stiff.

Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Tian Mi finally understood the old saying: no wonder people of high rank can’t be described by their appearance—because it really isn’t worth it.

Status outweighs appearance!

The three elderly servants and four maids, seeing the woman who looked like an immortal, all silently thought to themselves: no wonder the Duke of Ding fell in love with her at first sight and pledged his life to her; she truly had a stunning beauty.

This appearance felt unfamiliar to Tian Mi. She made a face at the mirror, grinning. “Hehe, now that’s more like it!”

I am Tian Mi, the girl who aspires to become a rich lady.

A few of the maids were so shocked by her playful expression that they almost lost their balance.

This Duchess of Ding seems a little different!

Just as everything was in place, Bai Mucheng’s welcoming party arrived.

Grandmother, the second aunt, Xu Feiyan, and Chen Miaomiao all accompanied Tian Mi. Each of them couldn’t help but cry, their tears streaming down.

“Tian Mi is marrying into someone else’s family now, and I won’t be able to speak as loudly anymore.”

Now, Xu Feiyan and Chen Miaomiao each had their own responsibilities. Xu Feiyan was in charge of the bookshop and manuscript copying house, while Chen Miaomiao and the second aunt were responsible for managing medicinal herbs.

Bai Mucheng’s ceremonial robes were of the same style as hers. The young man, dressed in fine clothes, rode a spirited horse, his energy and youthfulness shining through as he sat proudly on the horse, truly dazzling.

As he approached, he bowed to Grandmother and said, “Grandmother, don’t worry. I will take good care of Mi’er.”

Grandmother nodded and said, “Good, with your word, I can rest easy! She’s a bit simple-minded and doesn’t think things through, so please be understanding.”

Bai Mucheng nodded and said, “There is only one Mi’er in this world, and she is the best.”

Then, he turned to Tian Mi and said, “Mi’er, your husband is here to take you and the children home!”

Tian Mi smiled and nodded, her face full of sweetness and happiness.

He then took her hand and led her outside, with two maids carrying the children following behind.

As they stepped outside the mansion, they saw the lively crowd, the procession of carriages, drums, gongs, and trumpets playing a joyful tune.

Everyone was filled with laughter and joy, creating a festive atmosphere.

Tian Mi sat in the Duke’s carriage, with two elderly servants holding the children in the carriage behind hers, while Bai Mucheng rode along beside them.

Behind them was the long line of Tian Mi’s luggage, stretching far and wide.

In addition to the dowry given by the royal family, Tian Mi had added some of her own belongings. She brought out everything she wanted from her space, marking her journey on a new path.

For example, an entire set of long crystal cups, tea sets, and wine sets. Although she usually drank from porcelain, she still preferred the elegant, transparent look of crystal glass for special occasions.

She even remembered the things she had once taken from a bandit’s hideout, which she had kept and never dared to discard.

She also packed a comfortable lazy sofa, which she would place in the warm room Bai Mucheng built for her, where she could rest in comfort.

To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, she wrapped the sofa in a layer of luxurious fur, all made of high-quality fox pelts, which elevated both its comfort and aesthetic appeal.

Her space was full of fur, with various qualities of pelts, all ready to be used.

Bai Mucheng had a smile on his face, thinking of the person who had once been a disgrace in his eyes, but who was now his beloved wife.

Meanwhile, the Duke’s mansion was bustling with guests, and people couldn’t help but sigh in awe: “The Duchess of Ding is truly fortunate! To go from a peasant girl to a princess was already unimaginable; that’s the kind of luck you need over several lifetimes! Now, in a single night, she has become the Duchess of Ding!”

“My goodness! She truly is blessed!”

At the banquet, Jin Wenwen listened to the conversations around her, maintaining a polite smile, but inwardly cursing. The Jia family was truly incompetent, failing to act on the precise information they had received from her.

Now, she had dirt on the Jia family, and their balance had shifted. She no longer had to fear or tolerate Jia Yuntang.

The Jia family was now in a dire situation. They had borrowed money from their shops and estates just to maintain daily life, but their standard of living had plummeted.

Even the gifts for this banquet had been borrowed from the eldest branch of the family, and no one in their household had been able to make new clothes for the occasion.

People like them usually had to make new clothes and accessories for every banquet.

Heh! This time, they really didn’t have any money left!

The members of the Jia family appeared haggard and were unusually low-key.

Despite the Jia family’s efforts to suppress the news, those left by Bai Mucheng still noticed the unusual situation at their estate.

The Jia family had even resorted to pawning things to buy food.

It was truly baffling! The Jia family was pawning their belongings!

Jia Yuntang had already learned many details about Tian Mi from Xu Yunzhao, including her carrying over two hundred pounds of goods during her escape. How could the Duke of Ding fall for someone like that? Was he blind to her past?

But what did it matter? He had accepted her, and no one could stop him. Even if Tian Mi felt dissatisfied, it didn’t matter.

Meanwhile, the Jia family had encountered a strange problem, and overnight, they were completely robbed clean.

Had they seen a ghost? This wasn’t something that could have been done by any human.

Mother said this couldn’t go on; there was no hope at the Duke’s place. Grandfather would surely find her another match to overcome this difficult situation.

Now was the worst time to find a match, especially with all the rumors of officials divorcing their wives, and the Jia family’s granddaughter being a concubine who was openly discussed by everyone.

The Jia family’s reputation was on the brink of collapse.

Listening to everyone talk about how fortunate the Duchess of Ding was, how highly she was favored by the royal family and the Duke, Jin Wenwen could no longer pretend.

In comparison, her own situation was even worse than Jin Wenwen’s.

The trip from the Princess’s residence to the Duke’s mansion usually took about a quarter of an hour by carriage, but Bai Mucheng’s procession took a full hour as it circled the capital before finally arriving at the Duke’s mansion.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Bai Mucheng helped Tian Mi out of the carriage. The two of them looked like a match made in heaven, dazzling and radiant.

Everyone gasped and praised the couple: “Long live the Duke!”

The two maids carrying the children followed them down. The little ones, excited by the crowd, giggled and waved, drawing laughter from the onlookers.