Chapter 146: Is Your Yu Family Bullying Us Too Much?
“The son has long been prepared, Mother, just rest assured.”
After soothing Old Madam Zhong, Zhong Ding then went to Xinhua Pavilion.
“Sir Zhong.”
Jiang Ruanxi dismissed the maidservants by her side and had Hong Ye guard the door before curtsying to the man before her, who appeared gentle and scholarly.
“Young Lady, you are too polite.” Zhong Ding looked guilty. “With so many household affairs, it should have been I who came to fetch you.”
“No matter.” Jiang Ruanxi said calmly.
She had not even thought of fetching back her own daughter after she died, yet she was so attentive to her.
Jiang Ruanxi had no favorable impression of this man who was inherently cold by nature.
“Having Old Madam Zhong fetch me is already enough for Miss Zhong.”
Jiang Ruanxi did not want to know about the Zhong Family’s matters and had no interest in knowing, but through today’s events, she felt some things must be made clear.
Zhong Ding was also a smart man and quickly understood her meaning.
He smiled bitterly. “Young Lady, rest assured, I did not tell my mother about your coming to our family, so she has taken offense to you. Later, I will speak to her and ask her to avoid disturbing you during this time.”
Jiang Ruanxi was someone arranged by the Yu Family, and Zhong Ding knew this very well in his heart. The people in Lingnan were all speculating about what background this Yu Family had—vast estates, great undertakings, and even immensely wealthy.
But only Zhong Ding knew that this Yu Family were people from the Empress’s maternal home.
This young lady sent to his family, with a marriage betrothal set with the Yu Family, was someone connected to the Royal Family.
He, Zhong Ding, had worked diligently in Lingnan for so many years and was still just a minor official.
If through this young lady he could this time climb onto a Royal Family connection, perhaps in the future he too could rise to glory.
Moreover, even if he could not rise to glory, relying on the Yu Family’s estates, he could at least make a small fortune.
“Then I will trouble Sir Zhong.”
Jiang Ruanxi knew that Zhong Ding surely had his own thoughts in his heart but did not point them out.
People all lived for their own benefits, and she herself was the same now.
If it could ensure the Zhong Family’s peace during this time, Jiang Ruanxi would not quibble over those things.
With Zhong Ding’s admonishment, Old Madam Zhong indeed restrained herself a great deal and did not come to cause her trouble.
That night, Jiang Ruanxi slept very soundly.
The next morning at dawn, with the first light breaking, just as Jiang Ruanxi opened her eyes, Hong Ye hurriedly came in.
“Miss, you are awake. The Yu Family has brought the betrothal gifts.”
After the bumpy journey, Jiang Ruanxi had not slept well, but last night, knowing her life was safe, she slept straight through until now.
“Betrothal gifts are just betrothal gifts, why are you flustered?”
Jiang Ruanxi was very calm and, after getting up, allowed Mama Lu and Yushui to serve her.
“Miss, Second Master Yu did not come; servants came. This maidservant just feels that since the betrothal gifts have arrived, at least the son-in-law should come, no?”
At least show some sincerity?
But Jiang Ruanxi’s thoughts drifted far away. Back then in the Capital, he had said there were some matters to handle.
Could it be he had not returned yet?
Their relationship was just one of cooperation; whether he came or not made no difference, as long as it appeared proper on the surface.
“But never mind those. Still, I think you should go see. Those betrothal gifts look extremely valuable. You did not see the looks in Old Madam Zhong’s and Second Miss’s eyes—they practically wanted to move them to their own rooms.”
Hong Ye knew she did not like money and knew she was very wealthy, but seeing that greedy grandmother and granddaughter, she did not want to let them benefit.
“She is at least an official’s wife, yet acts like she has never seen the world. Taking other people’s things so smoothly, it is probably not the first time.”
“Hong Ye.”
Seeing her becoming more and more unrestrained in speech, Jiang Ruanxi scolded, “This is the Zhong Family. Have you forgotten your own identity?”
She knew Hong Ye was standing up for her, but their top priority now was to keep a low profile and avoid complications.
“Miss, this servant knows she was wrong. This servant just feels it is not worth it for you.”
“The Zhong Family has a muddled old person, but Sir Zhong is sensible. He will not take what does not belong to him, nor does he dare to.”
Hong Ye was half-believing, half-doubting, yet unaware that in the front courtyard, Old Madam Zhong and Zhong Xintong’s eyes had gleamed at the sight of those betrothal gifts.
Apart from the usual items, there was fully fifty thousand taels of silver alone.
Not to mention the gold and silver jewelry, precious medicinal herbs, and cloth.
This was not just enough to marry a minor legitimate daughter of the Zhong Family; it was enough to marry a princess.
Zhong Xintong’s eyes immediately reddened. “Grandmother, how can there be so much money?”
This was originally all supposed to be hers.
Old Madam Zhong, from a peasant background all her life, where had she ever seen such immense wealth?
She too was shocked speechless.
But she quickly formed a plan in her heart.
“I wonder if Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family can come out?” Steward Yu took a sip of tea, observing the Zhong Family’s greed without a change in expression.
“Does Steward Yu have business?”
“It is like this: when I came, Second Master of our family instructed that these betrothal gifts need to be personally reviewed by Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family. If there is anything unsatisfactory, the Yu Family will prepare more.”
Still not satisfied like this?
Then how much would satisfy them?
Old Madam Zhong looked at the piled-up items, which filled the entire Zhong Family hall.
If more were sent, that would truly be excessive.
Zhong Xintong was even more excited upon hearing this and instantly got red-eye disease.
“Also, this is the gift list for these betrothal gifts, which needs to be handed directly to Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family.”
Directly bypassing the elders to give to Jiang Ruanxi—what did the Yu Family mean by this?
Did they think the Zhong Family would covet this dowry?
Feeling slighted, Old Madam Zhong was naturally unhappy.
“My granddaughter is very precious; normally she cannot even be touched by the wind when going out. She probably cannot come out to meet people now. Why not have Steward Yu hand the gift list to me, and I will pass it to her later.”
Once it was in her hands, how she handled it would be her own affair.
Old Madam Zhong was very shrewd.
Steward Yu stepped aside and said calmly, “Sorry, Second Master of our family said it must be personally handed to Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family.”
“Is your Yu Family bullying us too much?”
Still not trusting her?
Old Madam Zhong immediately lost her temper, but Steward Yu remained unmoved. In the end, Zhong Ding got the news and hurried over to smooth things over.
“It is just a small matter; why must Mother get angry?”
Was this a small matter?
This was clearly looking down on them!
Old Madam Zhong was quite angry, but Zhong Ding did not dare to act too deliberately at this time and said again, “Steward Yu does not know, but my daughter has a weak constitution and it is inconvenient for her to come out. How about this: I will have someone take Steward Yu to the inner residence, and you can give it to her personally?”
