The question Jiang Qingyue asked was something everyone present wanted to know.
But Jiang Wenxiang merely stiffened his expression. “Have I spoiled you too much? How dare you speak so disrespectfully! Whether I divorce my wife or not is not for you to question.”
Twenty years ago, a passing master had told his fortune: in this world, only Cai Xiumei’s birth date and hour were most compatible with his.
As long as she remained his principal wife for a day, she would ensure his official career prospered for a day.
So all these years, no matter how much he despised Cai Xiumei, he could never divorce her.
Shen Ruoliu naturally understood Jiang Wenxiang’s taboo and quickly offered an apologetic smile. “Master, please don’t be angry. Yue’er was stimulated today and isn’t thinking clearly. I’ll take her back to her room now to prepare for the wedding.”
Only then did Jiang Wenxiang’s expression soften slightly. “Go ahead.”
Shen Ruoliu added, “Then… since Yue’er is marrying on the same day as the Fifth Miss, should her dowry be the same as the Fifth Miss’s?”
“No.” Jiang Wenxiang shook his head. “Jiang Qingran is, after all, the legitimate daughter and the principal consort. If Yue’er’s dowry were the same as hers, it would not only shame our Chengxiangfu but also tarnish the royal family’s dignity.”
Shen Ruoliu bit her lip, hatred surging within her.
“Then how much dowry does the Master think Yue’er should have?”
“Eighty-eight chests will do.”
“And the silver notes?”
“Ten thousand taels.”
Shen Ruoliu finally couldn’t hold back. “Yue’er is marrying into Sanwangfu and will need to manage everything from top to bottom. Isn’t ten thousand taels a bit too little?”
Jiang Wenxiang glanced at her displeasedly. “Even if the daughter of an ordinary official enters the palace as a consort, she only brings a thousand taels of silver for support. How is ten thousand taels too little for a prince’s side consort?”
Originally, he had indeed planned to give Jiang Qingyue the same dowry as Jiang Qingran.
But it just so happened that Jiang Qingyue was only a side consort. First, it was inappropriate to be ostentatious, and second, he was ultimately uncomfortable with it.
“The Master is right.”
Shen Ruoliu didn’t argue further. After all, she had been managing the household all these years and had secretly amassed over a hundred thousand taels of silver and seven or eight estates. Since men couldn’t be relied on, she would subsidize her daughter herself.
…
Soon, it was the wedding day for the two Jiang family daughters.
That day, the sun shone brightly, and the sky was clear for miles.
Jiang Qingran woke up early in the morning, washed and dressed, and put on her wedding gown.
Qinghe brought her favorite shredded carrot spring rolls.
“Miss, getting married is also physically demanding. Please eat something.”
Jiang Qingran smiled and shook her head. “No need.”
Although she had always been unconventional and followed her own whims.
But because she was marrying him, she was willing to follow every custom of weddings here.
“Knock, knock, knock…”
The door was knocked several times, and Shen Ruoliu walked in from outside.
In her hand was a delicate small iron box.
The moment she saw Jiang Qingran, her heart tightened painfully.
This wretched girl was actually so beautiful!
Especially that bright red wedding gown, which complemented the plum blossom mark between her brows, making her look like a painting of unparalleled beauty, breathtakingly divine.
Thinking of her own daughter, who was clearly the true phoenix maiden but could only wear a pink wedding gown.
Her heart ached. Why must her noble daughter always be inferior to Jiang Qingran, a lowly girl as worthless as mud!
Qinghe wore an unfriendly expression. “What is Concubine Shen here for?”
Shen Ruoliu immediately put on a smile and placed the small iron box in front of Jiang Qingran.
“Fifth Miss, this is Snow Skin Cream. After applying it, your skin will become fair with a rosy glow, tender as water. Today is the day you and Yue’er are getting married, a double blessing for our Chengxiangfu. I specially asked someone to buy two boxes to add extra brilliance to both of you, sure to make your husbands look upon you with delight.
Come, Fifth Miss, let me apply it for you.”
As she spoke, she opened the box.
Jiang Qingran had intended to tell her to get lost, but she caught a faint, almost imperceptible unusual scent from the box.
She said, “Concubine Shen is thoughtful. Please leave it here for now. Qinghe can help me apply it later. You should hurry back and take care of Fourth Miss.”