“Mother, are all the betrothal gifts counted as part of my dowry?”
Gu Yue asked cautiously.
Xie shi nodded in agreement. “Of course. These betrothal gifts should be included with your dowry and brought to the Haixi bo fu by you.”
Gu Yue was overjoyed. Seeing Gu Shan and Gu Jiu, she found them more pleasant to look at.
She turned to Gu Zhen and said, “Da jiejie, don’t envy me.”
Gu Zhen: Heh heh!
“San meimei is overthinking. I’m not envious of you.”
Gu Yue smiled smugly. She said she wasn’t envious, but in reality, she probably was incredibly envious.
She looked at Gu Zhen with an expression that said, I know everything, you can’t hide anything from me.
Gu Zhen was disgusted and rolled her eyes at her.
Suddenly, Gu Lin spoke up. “I wonder how much the wang fu will give as betrothal gifts? Two thousand taels, maybe?”
Gu Yue’s expression fell.
Gu Jiu laughed, Gu Lin really was an honest person.
Gu Jiu said, “It doesn’t matter how much the wang fu gives. I’ll accept any amount.”
Gu Yue snorted. She didn’t believe it for a second. Gu Jiu was clearly putting on a calm front.
“Er jiejie, you’re marrying an imperial grandson. If the wang fu doesn’t give two thousand taels, that means they don’t value this marriage at all. Er jiejie, you really need to be careful. If they don’t value the marriage, they don’t value you. What will you do once you’re married into the wang fu?”
Gu Jiu smiled. “San meimei always worries unnecessarily. Things that haven’t even happened yet, why are you fretting? I’ve heard that people who worry a lot age faster. San meimei, you must be careful.”
Gu Zhen had been quietly chuckling, but accidentally let out a laugh.
Gu Yue’s face darkened. “Thanks for your concern, er jiejie. Don’t worry, I definitely won’t age faster than you.”
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow and smiled. “We’ll see about that.”
Xie shi looked around and decided it was fine, since the truce had already been established, she didn’t need to intervene.
“Taitai, Shaoyao requests an audience.”
“Let her in.”
The maid Shaoyao entered the main room of the Furong Yuan.
“I pay my respects to er taitai. My taitai asked me to inquire: Zhen guniang and Yue guniang’s weddings are approaching. Which guests do you intend to invite, and how many banquet tables will there be? My taitai wishes to prepare in advance.”
Xie shi’s brows twitched. “Zhen yatou’s wedding is still a month away. Why is your taitai in such a hurry?”
Shaoyao smiled and bowed. “Er taitai has never arranged a wedding before and doesn’t realize how troublesome it can be. Starting preparations now is already somewhat late. I humbly request er taitai to act quickly, so as not to delay the guniang’s marriages.”
Hearing this, Gu Yue and Gu Zhen both became anxious.
Hu yiniang gave Gu Zhen a glance, signaling her not to intervene.
Gu Yue looked at Xie shi. “Mother, shouldn’t we first finalize the guest list for my wedding?”
Xie shi, with a stern expression, said to Shaoyao, “Go back and tell your taitai, for Zhen yatou’s wedding, ten tables. For Yue’er’s wedding, forty tables.”
Shaoyao asked, “Has er taitai decided?”
Xie shi nodded. “Yes. Report it as is.”
“Nubi understands. Er taitai, I’ll take my leave.”
Shaoyao departed.
Gu Zhen wrung her handkerchief, lowering her head, filled with grievance.
Hu yiniang forced a smile. “Taitai, isn’t ten tables for Zhen yatou a bit few?”
Xie shi sneered. “It’s not that I don’t want more guests, it’s that I can’t invite them. Zhen yatou is of shu birth, how many would willingly attend the wedding banquet of a shu-born girl?”
Hu yiniang was dumbfounded and could only comfort Gu Zhen with her eyes.
Gu Zhen was deeply aggrieved but couldn’t say anything.
Xie shi smirked contemptuously. “Zhen yatou, don’t be resentful. Being of shu birth, you must accept your position. Even if I held forty tables, do you think many would attend? It would just be a waste of manpower, resources, and money, and invite ridicule.
“Yue’er, on the other hand, is a di daughter and marrying the second son of Haixi bo fu. Forty tables are appropriate. Friends, relatives, and your father’s colleagues and classmates will all attend.
“As for you, a shu-born, a good marriage is already hard-earned. Keep your expectations low and wait to be married.”
Gu Zhen sobbed softly. “I will follow er taitai’s orders.”
Hu yiniang wiped away her tears secretly, sympathizing with Gu Zhen.
Xie shi, seeing the mother and daughter both looking sad, felt a thrill of satisfaction.
A shu-born girl must know her place. Dreaming of what isn’t yours deserves a lesson.
“Er yatou, have you prepared the dowry for your elder sister?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Thank you for your concern, taitai. It’s already been prepared.”
Xie shi’s smile was ambiguous. “Er yatou, you handle things efficiently.”
Gu Jiu bowed her head and smiled. “Father personally instructed me to arrange da jiejie’s dowry as quickly as possible. How could I dare be negligent?”
At the mention of this, Xie shi’s heart filled with annoyance.
As the matriarch, she was bypassed by Gu daren, letting Gu Jiu arrange the dowry, how humiliating!
Since then, if any maid dared mention this in Xie shi’s presence, she would slap her.
But Xie shi dared not slap Gu Jiu.
She wanted to, but lacked the courage.
Gu Jiu was not only the di daughter of the principal wife, she had her father’s support, and was betrothed to the imperial grandson.
Layer upon layer of status acted like weights, making Xie shi increasingly wary of Gu Jiu. She hoped to get her out of the house quickly, out of sight, out of mind.
Xie shi said, “That will do for today. I’m tired. You may all leave.”
Not wanting to humiliate herself further, she ended the conversation voluntarily.
Gu Jiu was the first to rise and take her leave, followed closely by the others.
Gu Zhen was still upset, with Hu yiniang trying to console her.
Halfway along the path, Gu Yue suddenly stopped.
“There’s a pair of jade bracelets among the betrothal gifts I really like. I’ll go ask Mother for them and wear them for a few days.”
Excited, Gu Yue returned to the Furong Yuan.
The maids didn’t stop her, Xie shi had been treating Gu Yue well recently, and the maids were clever enough to facilitate her.
At the main room door, Gu Yue hesitated when she heard Xie shi discussing the dowry, then hid behind the door instead of entering.
Chun He handed Xie shi the dowry list. “Taitai, I’ve drafted the dowry inventory for your review.”
Xie shi took the list and examined it carefully.
Chun He explained, “Including the betrothal gifts from Haixi bo fu, the total dowry comes to twenty-five thousand taels, plus an extra five thousand taels of reserved silver. Considering that san guniang will need to reward the servants at Haixi bo fu, I’ve prepared three hundred taels of small change and about ten taels of copper coins.”
Xie shi nodded in satisfaction. “This dowry is sufficient for Yue’er. Her marriage was arranged by extraordinary means, it’s not exactly honorable. In the future, we can only rely on Shan’er’s marriage. No matter what, Shan’er must marry properly, without gossip.”
“Taitai is right. Should si guniang’s dowry also be prepared in advance?”
Xie shi smiled. “Of course it should. Just for the utensils alone, beds, cabinets, and the like, I’ll need to send someone south to procure fine wood and then have craftsmen make the furniture.”
Chun He asked casually, “I wonder how much dowry taitai intends for si guniang?”
Xie shi replied, “Shan’er is sensible and polite; she will marry well. Her dowry should be at least forty thousand taels.”
Bang!
A noise came from outside.
“Who’s out there?” Xie shi demanded, clearly displeased.
Someone dared to eavesdrop inside the Furong Yuan, were they looking for trouble?
“Nubi will go check,” Chun He said, taking two swift steps outside. She saw no one, only an incense burner that had rolled to the ground.
Frowning, Chun He picked it up and placed it back on the table.
Outside, she stopped Dong Mei, who had just come from the tea room. “Who was here just now?”
Dong Mei said, “San guniang! She said she wanted to see taitai and wear the pair of jade bracelets from the betrothal gifts for a few days.”
“Are you sure it was san guniang?”
Dong Mei nodded repeatedly. “Why?”
Chun He smiled awkwardly. “Nothing, I was just asking.”
Chun He felt a twinge of worry. San guniang must have overheard her conversation with taitai and, upset, had dashed off.
Returning inside, Chun He reported to Xie shi.
“Who was outside just now?” Xie shi asked.
After thinking it over and not wanting to create trouble, Chun He didn’t tell the truth.
“Taitai, there was no one. Probably the wind knocked the incense burner over; that was the noise you heard.”
Xie shi scowled. “Tell everyone to be more careful from now on.”
“Yes, taitai.”
Meanwhile, Gu Yue bolted out of the Furong Yuan.
Seeing her empty wrists and her angry expression, the maids asked, “Guniang, did taitai refuse? I suppose she did, after all, these are betrothal gifts; they can’t be casually worn. What if they got damaged?”
Gu Yue hissed at the maids, “Shut up, and say less.”
The maids lowered their heads, secretly sticking out their tongues and making faces. They guessed san guniang had been scolded by taitai.
Gu Yue wandered through the garden, confused.
Although she was a di daughter, her dowry was far less than Gu Jiu’s, she accepted that. After all, she wasn’t marrying the Imperial Grandson.
But why should Gu Shan’s dowry surpass hers?
Could it be that Gu Shan would also marry the Imperial Grandson?
Ha!
Without realizing it, Gu Yue arrived at Fangcao Hall, where Gu Shan lived.
She looked up at the plaque above the gate, her heart filled with hatred.
Pushing the door open, she charged in without waiting for the pozi to announce her.
“San guniang, wait! Let me inform my guniang,”
“No need. There’s no need for such formality between si meimei and me.”
Gu Yue stormed straight into the bedroom and saw Gu Shan doing needlework.
Gu Yue chuckled. “Si meimei, you’re surprised I came, aren’t you?”
Gu Shan was indeed surprised. She put down her needlework and invited Gu Yue to have tea in the side room.
“San jiejie, what brings you here at this time?”
Gu Yue smiled. “I came to see you. I didn’t expect si meimei to be learning needlework, why not have the servants do it?”
Gu Shan said, “I only learn to make small pouches and handkerchiefs; I can’t do much else. San jiejie, please have some tea.”
The maid placed the cup by Gu Yue.
As Gu Yue picked it up, a thought struck her: what if she poured the scalding tea onto Gu Shan’s face?
The more she thought, the more impulsive she felt. Her hands trembled.
Gu Shan reached out to steady the cup and asked with concern, “San jiejie, are you unwell?”
Snapping back to reality, Gu Yue shook her head and smiled. “I’m fine. The tea is too hot; I’ll drink it later.”
She placed the cup back on the table.
Gu Shan laughed. “I almost forgot, san jiejie doesn’t like drinking hot tea.”
Gu Yue looked out the window at the rising heat. “Drinking hot tea on a day like this only makes it worse. Si meimei, I’m about to be married, do you have anything to say to me?”
Gu Shan hesitated, then said, “I wish san jiejie happiness, a long life with Zhao jiefu, and enduring love.”
Gu Yue held her handkerchief to her lips and smiled. “Si meimei, your words have no originality at all. But they are better than lecturing me, so I’ll take that.”
Gu Shan smiled shyly. “San jiejie doesn’t like lectures, so I won’t give them in the future.”
Gu Yue looked at her with a half-smile. “Si meimei, are you really that obedient?”
Gu Shan replied earnestly, “I don’t want conflict with san jiejie. After all, we are sisters.”
The word sisters struck Gu Yue like a knife, carving into her heart.
Heh!
Biological sister!
Yet our dowries differ by double.
Her marriage was indeed won through schemes, but that was at Haixi bo fu.
Why should she be considered inferior, even beneath Gu Shan?
They only prepared twenty thousand taels for her dowry, not a single coin more. But for Gu Shan, they prepared forty thousand taels, and acted proud of her as if she were the jewel of the family.
Heh!
So this is what it means to have a biological sister!
The world truly has mothers who favor one child over another.
Gu Yue stared at Gu Shan’s face, thinking: if I slash Gu Shan’s face, how could Mother continue to take pride in her?
“San jiejie, why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?”
Gu Yue snapped back to reality and smiled. “Your face is perfectly clean, nothing at all.”
Gu Shan exhaled in relief and smiled awkwardly.
Gu Yue glanced around the room. “As always, si meimei loves reading.”
Gu Shan said, “I can’t compare to er jiejie. Her room is full of books; she truly is well-read.”
Gu Yue frowned. “Why are you trying to copy er jiejie? Don’t learn from her, she’ll only make you harsher as a person.”
Gu Shan stammered. “Er jiejie isn’t harsh; she’s very generous.”
“I say she’s harsh, so she is. What, you won’t even listen to me?”
Gu Shan furrowed her brow. “San jiejie, what’s wrong with you today? Weren’t you happy just a moment ago?”
Gu Yue sneered. “You ask me why? I want to ask si meimei the same, what kind of spell did you pour into Mother’s mind, that she fusses over you everywhere? Everything good goes to you! Even your dowry is more than mine, why?”
Gu Shan countered, “What dowry? I don’t know what you’re talking about, san jiejie.”
Smack!
Gu Yue slammed her hand on the table. “Don’t play dumb with me! Tell me, what trick did you use to make Mother look at you differently? Speak!”
Gu Yue shoved Gu Shan.
Gu Shan collided with the back of a chair, in pain. Tears spilled from her eyes.
Seeing Gu Shan cry, Gu Yue felt an intense sense of satisfaction.
“You won’t admit it, huh? Acting all proper and obedient on the surface, but behind the scenes, scheming all along. You won, you’ve completely won Mother over, abandoning me. You must be so proud.”
Gu Yue grabbed Gu Shan by the collar and pulled her up. “Speak! Are you mute now?”
Gu Shan struggled, trying to push Gu Yue away.
“San jiejie, what are you doing? Let me go!”
“Fine, I’ll let go now.”
Gu Yue pushed hard, throwing Gu Shan forcefully across the room.
Gu Shan fell to the ground, her arm aching painfully, tears streaming freely.
“San jiejie, leave! You’re not welcome here.”
“It’s not your place to welcome me.”
Gu Yue snatched a teacup from the table and hurled it at Gu Shan.
“San guniang, stop!”
Gu Shan’s maid, hearing the commotion, rushed in from outside and grabbed Gu Yue’s hand.
Gu Yue didn’t notice; the teacup fell to the floor, spilling hot tea over her.
Enraged, Gu Yue slapped the maid and kicked her in the stomach.
The maid collided with the desk, doubling over in pain.
Fuelled by fury, Gu Yue picked up an inkstone from the table and swung it at the maid.
“No!”
Gu Shan shouted, rushing toward Gu Yue.
The two sisters tumbled to the floor together.
Gu Yue, her heart hardened, smashed the inkstone down onto Gu Shan’s back.
It hit some unlucky spot, and Gu Shan passed out.
Gu Yue froze, then pushed Gu Shan aside.
She stood up, disheveled, and walked over to throw the inkstone at the maid, who cried out in pain and then fell silent.
Seeing both her sister and the maid unconscious on the floor, Gu Yue laughed softly.
So satisfying!
So good!
She tossed the inkstone aside, glanced around, then grabbed a fire striker and set several books ablaze.
Flames shot up instantly, startling even her.
Staring at the two figures on the floor, she gritted her teeth, steeled her heart, and ran out, letting the flames spread through the room.
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