Having accomplished a major task, Madam Su wore a relieved smile on her face.
She turned and called for her trusted confidante, Nanny Zhao.
“Go to the storeroom and bring out half of the dowry I prepared for Wan.”
Nanny Zhao was somewhat surprised and wanted to say something, but seeing Su Wan still present, her lips twitched twice before she closed them again.
She went to the storeroom and, following the list, had the old woman guarding it bring out ten chests.
Originally, more dowry had been prepared, but when Miss Lin married into the Lu Family, Madam Su had taken charge and added several more chests.
“Nanny Zhao, wasn’t it said that this dowry was just for show? Why does it sound like you’re planning to move these ten chests into Miss Wan’s room?”
The old woman guarding the storeroom, Wang, had a flicker in her eyes. “This dowry is all Old Madam’s personal property. To give away half at once! Are you really giving it to Miss Wan? Could it be that Miss Wan has climbed onto someone’s high branch?”
Nanny Zhao shot her a sharp look, warning her, “Keep your mouth shut tight. Old Madam pities her granddaughter and is giving her some things for security. That shows her kindness and compassion. You keep talking about climbing high branches—what, are you implying that Old Madam is snobbish and using her granddaughter?”
Old Woman Wang quickly slapped herself twice across the mouth. “This servant would never dare to slander Old Madam like that.”
Having learned her lesson, she dared not inquire further and quickly helped the other old women move the dowry.
After Su Wan finished lunch with her grandmother, Nanny Zhao, having completed her task, entered the room and whispered a few words into Old Madam’s ear.
Madam Su set down her teacup and said with a smile, “Wan Niang, your ten chests of dowry have already been moved to your courtyard. Quickly have your maidservants register them in the ledger, tidy them up, and then hurry to Upper Capital to visit your sister.”
All ten chests were opened, and Su Wan examined them one by one.
Silks and satins, various porcelains, jewelry and ornaments—everything was there.
There was also a small half-chest of silver, which, upon counting, amounted to eighteen hundred taels.
Can Yan recognized some characters, so Jin Tao called out the numbers while she recorded them.
In the end, after tallying everything, the two maidservants were beside themselves with excitement.
“Old Madam is truly generous, giving all ten chests to the young lady just like that?”
Jin Tao was ecstatic. “Young lady, are you getting married?”
Su Wan scoffed. “Not a single plot of land or shop in sight—those are the real treasures. Giving me these ten chests of worthless junk is just trying to brush me off.”
She immediately went back to Old Madam’s room to continue crying.
“Elder sister is the legitimate daughter. Back in the Su residence, she often mocked my attire and appearance as petty and unsophisticated. Now that she’s gone to Shangjing City and seen more of the world, she’ll probably look down on me even more. Without sufficiently dignified jewelry, I dare not go see her.”
Madam Su smiled awkwardly. Su Lin indeed had an arrogant personality, using her status as the legitimate daughter to pick on Su Wan.
Now, Su Lin needed to ask a favor of Su Wan, so she couldn’t let the two sisters quarrel over trivial matters again.
“Bring out my jewelry box.”
Old Madam gave Nanny Zhao a calm look. The most urgent matter now was to help Lin Lin stabilize her position in the Lu Family. Lin Lin had sent several letters saying that the second son of the Lu Family had already taken his cousin as a concubine.
If that ill-intentioned cousin were to conceive a child first, it would spell serious trouble.When Madam Su’s jewelry box was opened, it instantly illuminated the room brightly.
After years of accumulation, the old madam still possessed fine treasures.
Su Wan’s hands moved in and out of the box.
A gold filigree eight-treasure pearl hairpin, a gold sparrow hairpin, a gold-inlaid gemstone butterfly hairpin, a peacock green jade bead necklace, and a handful of South Sea pearls. After a moment of hesitation, she also took a set of red plum gold filigree hollowed-out pearl flowers.
Nanny Zhao, holding the jewelry box, was so angry her lips turned purple, her eyes glaring as if she wanted to devour Su Wan!
“Grandmother, Wan Niang will take these for now.
Upper Capital is the most prosperous capital of our Daliang. The young ladies there all have extremely high standards. Wan Niang does not wish to dress too shabbily and bring shame to our Su family.”
Madam Su’s face was stern, barely managing to squeeze out a faint smile: “You are still young, you should wear bright jewelry. Grandmother is already old, these things are of no use to me anymore. If you need anything else in the future, just ask Grandmother.”
Su Wan smiled sweetly: “Grandmother truly dotes on me.”
The old madam eagerly asked: “When will you set off for Upper Capital?”
“I’ll leave tomorrow.”
Having obtained so many fine items, Su Wan had no desire to stay, lest the old hag regret her decision. Moreover, in the prime of her youth, she was eager to venture into Shangjing City.
The noble young masters of Shangjing City were the most powerful group in Daliang.
In her past life as a celebrity, she was most adept at navigating among the elite.
Confronting and maneuvering among the most powerful, most ambitious men could ignite her highest fighting spirit. In her previous life, countless powerful men had fallen at her feet.
Having transmigrated to this place and lain low for two years, she had grown tired of the dull and tedious life.
“Very well, Grandmother will write a letter to your sister. Go back to your courtyard and pack your belongings. The journey to the capital is long, and you’ll need to travel by boat. Remember to prepare plenty of warm clothing.”
Madam Su waved her hand, and Su Wan obediently withdrew.
Watching the young lady Wan’s retreating figure, Nanny Zhao closed the door, her face as dark as the bottom of a pot.
“Old Madam, you are being foolish! The pieces Miss Wan just took are all treasures. Giving them to her for nothing is truly…”
Madam Su shot her confidante a glance: “These things are not given for free. Each item has its price. She took them, so she must pay the price. This time, we are sending her to become Lu Er’s concubine. If we don’t coax her properly, how can she go willingly?”
“As long as we help Lin Lin secure her position, with Lu Erlang’s future achievements, our Su family can gain even more and better things from him.”
“This servant fears that if she truly climbs onto Lu Erlang’s high branch, she might turn around and resent you, Old Madam. After all, it was you who decided to change that marriage back then.”
Madam Su smiled faintly: “Yes, I know it was Lin Lin who harmed her back then. But so what? It was her own lack of wit. Who can she blame? Losing the marriage was her own doing; it has nothing to do with anyone else. What can she do even if she resents me?”
“If she relies on favoritism and whispers in Lu Erlang’s ear, then I dare to expose her affair and illicit relations. Let’s see if she can bear the consequences.”
Nanny Zhao’s expression softened slightly: “The old madam is truly wise. Even if Miss Wan were Sun Wukong, she could never escape your palm.”On the other side, Su Wan handed the retrieved jewelry to Jin Tao and Can Yan. The two maids were both delighted and worried.
“Old Madam suddenly being so generous—could there be a scheme?”
The two maids weren’t fools either; they could vaguely guess that the Su family probably had something they wanted their young lady to do. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so generous.
Su Wan was quite calm. “It’s nothing major. Grandmother just wants me to become Lu Erlang’s concubine, bear children for my sister, and win Lu Erlang’s favor.”
Jin Tao and Can Yan were instantly outraged.
“That’s not major? Young Lady, you didn’t agree, did you?”
Jin Tao was so anxious she started crying. “Why should you? Old Madam can’t treat people like this! That marriage was originally snatched away by the Eldest Young Lady. How does she have the face to ask you to bear children for her now?”
Su Wan handed Jin Tao a handkerchief. “Wipe your tears. Look at you—I’m not even crying, so why are you?”
Jin Tao cried even harder. “This servant feels wronged on your behalf.”
Can Yan, standing nearby, was stunned. She gritted her teeth, refusing to shed tears. “Young Lady, this servant absolutely disagrees with you becoming Lu Erlang’s concubine. I’d rather dash myself to death at the Su family’s gate than let you suffer such humiliation.”
Hearing this, Jin Tao felt a surge of passion and also started walking out. “This servant is also willing to die to prove my resolve.”
Su Wan was both amused and exasperated, quickly pulling back the two hot-tempered maids.
“You two are so naive. Do you know your status?”
“You are maids of the Su residence. Even if you die, you’ll just be wrapped in a white cloth and thrown into a mass grave. Who would care? Even if I died, no one would sincerely shed a tear for me.”
“Death doesn’t solve problems. Besides, why would you make a scene? I, your young lady, can’t wait to go to the Upper Capital and meet that Lu Erlang.”
Su Wan pushed open the window. A breeze swept in, making her dress flutter like a fairy’s.
She smiled and asked Jin Tao and Can Yan, “What comes after ‘A golden carp is no ordinary creature in a pond’?”
She answered herself softly with a sigh. “It is ‘When it meets wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon.’ Liuzhou is a small place; it can’t confine this dragon of mine. I am a born star, destined to perform on the grandest stage.”
“What is Lu Erlang? The branch I want to climb must be young, handsome, powerful, and prestigious. My standards are quite demanding.”
Jin Tao and Can Yan were mesmerized and stunned. Though they didn’t quite catch what their young lady was murmuring, they could genuinely feel the vibrant confidence and pride radiating from her.
With eyes like autumn water and bones like jade, a face like a lotus and brows like willow leaves.
Such a beautiful young lady should indeed go to Shangjing City and open the eyes of those noble sons and elegant young ladies.