Chapter 49: Universal Celebration
The dowry was carried out of the mansion and, following the wedding procession, passed through Fu’an Lane. It soon reached the main street, causing quite a stir.
Box after box of dowry gifts wound their way in succession. From large items like washbasins and wine pots to small ones like teaspoons and chopsticks, and even the finest gold and silver threads from Jiangnan’s top weaving workshops, each item showcased luxury and wealth.
Such grandeur, describing it as a “ten-mile red dowry,” would still be an understatement.
Envious whispers filled Fu’an Lane.
“Look at the dowry of Fourth Miss Xue. One hundred and twenty loads wouldn’t even be enough.”
“I’d say it’s at least a hundred and fifty loads…”
“And she’s a daughter born of a concubine. It shows how benevolent First Madam is, not having a double standard and not mistreating her daughters born of concubines.”
The onlookers discussed eagerly.
At this point, someone in the know chimed in.
“Oh, you don’t know yet? This isn’t the dowry prepared by First Madam. It’s a gift bestowed upon Fourth Miss Xue by Princess Ping Le.”
“Fourth Miss Xue and Princess Ping Le are close friends.”
“Their relationship is very intimate. What belongs to Princess Ping Le also belongs to Fourth Miss Xue; there’s no distinction.”
Jinshu had already arranged for people to be scattered among the crowd, tasked with spreading this news.
If Fourth Miss Xue wanted to align herself with Princess Ping Le, then let them be even more closely aligned.
If even a single dog in Shangjing remained unaware, Jinshu would feel she had failed her young lady’s trust.
“Oh, benevolent magistrate, such a lavish dowry! How much of the people’s hard-earned money must have been consumed?”
“The noble families are draped in brocade, while the poor families sigh in destitution!”
“Pitiful, this chaotic world is truly sorrowful!”
A sigh, seemingly from nowhere, rose above the clamor. On the bustling street, packed with people, it sounded particularly out of place.
Amidst the confusion, a group of masked men in black suddenly leaped down from the wine shops and roof ridges along the street.
Dressed in fitted attire, they moved with agility, and in the blink of an eye, they were in the midst of the wedding procession.
The burly man in the lead swung his large saber and shouted in a booming voice.
“To kill the rich and aid the poor, our generation is duty-bound!”
“Taken from the people, used for the people!”
“Unjust wealth! The common folk can take it all, I will bear the responsibility…”
Before he finished speaking, the group of men in black swarmed forward, crashing into the wedding procession. The dowry items, neatly tied with red silk, were knocked to the ground. The locks on the chests were chopped open, and the treasures within the baskets were scattered and rolled everywhere…
The street immediately descended into chaos.
The onlookers initially fled in panic. Seeing that the men in black were not killing anyone, some bolder individuals took the lead and rushed forward to “pick up” the valuable items scattered on the ground. Seeing no one stopping them, more people surged forward, no longer hesitant, and began to scramble for the treasures…
To not covet profit goes against human nature.
The crowd surged forward, and the street was filled with commoners scrambling to snatch things.
Even worse, some called out to friends and family, gathering their entire households to take advantage.
The guards and attendants of Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion tried to intervene, but there were too many people “taking advantage.” They could stop one, but not another. By the time the officials from Jingzhao Prefecture arrived, almost all the valuable dowry items, except for the large, immovable ones, had been plundered…
And by then, the men in black had long since vanished.
Those carrying stolen goods back to their homes were all ordinary citizens.
When the masses break the law, how can they be punished? How can the lost dowry be recovered?
Robbery on the street was simply lawless.
Yet, among the common people, there was applause and celebration!
Many regretted being too far away to have picked up any treasures…
Thus, that day, the ten-mile radius of Shangjing was filled with a joyous atmosphere.
Fourth Miss Xue’s wedding was truly a cause for universal celebration!
–
Outside the bridal sedan chair, the groom Gu Jie, mounted on his horse, gripped the reins so tightly his knuckles turned white. His face was as dark as ink.
Inside the sedan chair, Xue Yueying’s makeup was already ruined by tears. Her eyes were red, and tears mixed with powder smeared her face.
With the dowry plundered, would the wedding still proceed?
The Marquis’s Mansion intended to have a grand wedding. They had invited everyone they could, sending out hundreds of invitations. How could they simply cancel it? This grand wedding, in the end, could not go as she wished.
From being envied by all to being trampled upon by all, it happened in an instant…
And so, the wedding music sounded like a funeral dirge.
The eight-bearer sedan chair finally arrived at Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion.
The dowry chests were either empty or chopped to pieces. The disheveled wedding procession, having missed the auspicious time, rushed through the ceremony.
Xue Yueying was helped onto the main hall by the wedding officiant. Her steps were unsteady, and she was so frail she looked as if she might fall with a gust of wind.
Marquis Jingyuan and Madam Chun had already received the news of the dowry being robbed. Though displeased and embarrassed, with many guests present, they had to maintain appearances and force smiles to preserve the mansion’s dignity.
The wedding officiant, with a beaming smile, said in a clear, loud voice:
“The new bride offers tea to her in-laws, bringing blessings and prosperity, harmony and thriving family. May it be prosperous and filled with descendants!”
The tea had been prepared beforehand. Madam Chun sat upright, her expressionless.
Xue Yueying lowered her head, feeling that these auspicious words were like slaps to her face.
The wedding hall was packed so tightly it was impossible to move. Various noisy sounds filled the surroundings.
She had woken up before dawn to get ready today. By now, she was already somewhat exhausted and had suffered a fright. In this atmosphere, she suddenly felt suffocated, struggling to breathe. The laughter around her became piercing, as if everyone was mocking, ridiculing, and pointing fingers at her…
She slowly knelt down, took the tea, her hands trembling. Before she could offer it to Madam Chun, she felt dizzy, and a metallic taste rose in her throat…
“New bride, aren’t you going to offer tea?”
Seeing her motionless, the wedding officiant reminded her with a smile.
At this moment, Xue Yueying’s stomach churned like a raging current. She tried desperately to suppress it, but as soon as she opened her mouth, it was like a floodgate opening. With a “puke,” she vomited, the foul matter splashing into the teacup in her hand, and some even sprayed onto the faces of Madam Chun and Marquis Jingyuan…
–
When the news from Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion arrived, Xue Sui was sitting in the Hall of Hanging Flowers, having tea and chatting with the Old Madam and Third Madam, accompanied by several other Madams and wives.
The old woman lowered her voice and spoke to the Old Madam privately, saying that Fourth Miss had disgraced herself during the tea ceremony.
“The new bride arrived at the main hall to pay respects to her in-laws and elders. Fourth Miss, holding the tea, felt nauseous and vomited all over the floor. Not only was the tea filled with foul matter, but it also sprayed onto Marquis Jingyuan and Madam Chun’s faces. The scene was incredibly embarrassing…”
Old Madam Cui’s face turned as dark as the soot at the bottom of a pot.
“This unfilial wretch has completely disgraced the Xue Mansion!”
The old woman lowered her eyes and said softly, “That’s not all. Fourth Miss suffered such a great shock that she’s not well. After this vomiting and commotion, she started bleeding right there. Fourth Master Gu was terrified and called for a doctor… Now, the matter of her pregnancy can probably no longer be hidden…”
The teacup in Old Madam Cui’s hand clattered loudly, and she almost dropped it.
She felt heartache for the lost dowry and was furious at Xue Yueying for being so useless, tarnishing the Xue Mansion’s reputation. She gnashed her teeth in hatred.
“If I had known this would happen, I should have given her a bowl of medicinal soup to end the pregnancy back then!”
Xue Sui, sitting nearby, heard everything and felt a pang of sympathy for Aunt Chun.
I’m sorry to her…
After this, I’ll probably have to send some gifts to console her.
The wedding had turned into such a mess, and the guests felt awkward staying, so they dispersed quickly.
Xue Sui, with her two maids, returned to Li Xiang Courtyard, directly closed the room door, leaving only Xiao Zhao inside to tend to the fire. She then sat at her desk and began to write furiously.
Xiao Zhao laughed with schadenfreude.
“Fourth Miss has completely lost face this time. Let’s see how she dares to return home for the customary visit…”
Xue Sui’s brush tip paused slightly. “What’s losing face compared to anything else?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhao couldn’t help herself. “Then perhaps she should lose her life?”
Xue Sui looked up at her, let out a cold laugh, silently rolled the paper into a letter tube, picked up Ling Yu, and gently stroked its pigeon head.
“Go.”
Li Zhao was an excellent judge of character, and he saw through her completely.
The factions of the Big Dipper Seven Sects in Old Mausoleum Swamp were busy, but they were mostly merchants and common folk. It was difficult for them to infiltrate and penetrate the Imperial Court, let alone extend their reach into the core of this dynasty’s power and stir up trouble.
Therefore, the next steps would depend on Li Zhao…
Xiao Zhao looked puzzled. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, will he listen to you?”
“No,” Xue Sui smiled faintly. “But everyone in the world rushes about, all for profit.”
Li Zhao would not refuse something that benefited him. A pie falling into his hands, why wouldn’t he eat it?
Without losing anything, he could eliminate his rivals. Why wouldn’t he?
Eastern Palace Waterside Pavilion.
Li Zhao, who was admiring flowers, saw the pigeon.
It cooed crisply, seeming whiter and cleaner than other pigeons.
Li Zhao looked down, then at the skull with a saber on the letter tube. He then unfolded the note Xue Liu had rolled inside. In his deep, dark eyes, a clear light gradually dimmed, and he suddenly clenched the note tightly in his fist.
To order around a noble of the imperial lineage as she pleased?
Mei Ruhui, standing beside him, saw this clearly and couldn’t help but be surprised.
The Crown Prince, who gave headaches to all the court officials and even Emperor Chongzhao, now had someone who gave him a headache?
To follow her would mean losing face, as if being manipulated by her.
To not follow her would be a great loss, not worth it.
This was truly a dilemma.
Mei Ruhui, as a guest of the Crown Prince, should step forward to share the burden at this moment.
He cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, I have a word to say, but I don’t know if I should.”
Li Zhao turned to look at him, his eyes like a cold abyss.
“If you don’t know, you can cut off your tongue.”
Mei Ruhui: …
He cleared his throat and bowed slightly.
“The black-clad attackers ambushed the wedding procession. Jingzhao Prefecture mobilized its forces upon hearing the news, and the Military and Horse Department was also dispatched. They are searching for stolen goods using Xue Mansion’s dowry list. Prince Duan is currently in a difficult situation, which presents an opportune moment.”
“The strategist Guiguzi said: ‘To open is to either open and let out, or open and let in; to close is to either close and take in, or close and let go. Opening and closing are the ways of Heaven and Earth. Opening and closing are used to change Yin and Yang, to open and close the four seasons, and to transform all things.’ Opposition is also interdependence. Since Sixth Miss Xue has been forthright, we can use this.”
He then smiled and said, “Although this tactic is somewhat insidious, it is a good plan to win amidst chaos and fish in troubled waters. The dowry list is concrete evidence. The origin of the wealth can be easily traced. To recover it would mean offending the entire city’s populace. Even if His Majesty wishes to show favoritism, he cannot impose severe punishment, but he can certainly weaken them significantly.”
Seeing Li Zhao’s dark eyes deep with thought, he seized the opportunity to advise further.
“Perhaps we should give Sixth Miss Xue a push for now, and Your Highness can reap the benefits!”
Li Zhao pondered for a moment and chuckled twice.
“Reap the benefits? I fear I am also a fish in her pond… What she wants is also my life!”
Saying this, he returned to his room to change into his court attire.
Eunuch Lai stared at his master’s unpredictable expression and asked cautiously, “Master, where are we going?”
Li Zhao: “To the Ministry of Revenue.”
Mei Ruhui: The Crown Prince is outwardly resistant but inwardly compliant. He knows he’s a fish in Sixth Miss Xue’s pond, yet he’s desperately biting the bait. As a guest of the Crown Prince, dear readers, should this old man offer his life in a remonstrance?
Xiao Zhao: Old man upstairs, should I kill him?
Sisters, it’s the last day. If you have monthly tickets, don’t forget to cast them into Er Jin’s bowl~~ Thank you, I bow!
