Lin Wei Xi declined to no avail, and returned to her room with a thick stack of gift lists.
The gift booklet divided into two copies, one of them was the betrothal gift from Yan Wang, and the other was the dowry prepared by Grand Princess Shou Kang. Perhaps it should be three copies, and the other one was the reward given by the court to Lin Yong. Lin Yong passed away and the property was inherited by his only daughter Lin Wei Xi. These were originally hers. Neither Yan Wang nor Princess Shou Kang intended to let her use them.
The three gift list booklet were stacked together and quite thick. Lin Wei Xi picked a copy casually and turned it over.
What she picked was the dowry prepared by Princess Shou Kang. Princess Shou Kang listed in the booklet was very detailed, the box furniture, four seasons brocade, gold and silver utensils, from color to material to pattern were clearly recorded, even the gold ware had multiple marked next to it. Obviously, Princess Shou Kang was afraid that Lin Wei Xi would be cheated of her dowry in the future, so she would rather write it all out.
Lin Wei Xi followed the list, looking carefully and slowly. She saw a lot of familiar things on the list, including the dowry of her mother Wei Shi, and some of her back then.
Yes, Grand Princess Shou Kang from the beginning of preparing the dowry, and later demanded Duke Yingguo Mansion to return it, the Princess mansion could only sighed. But apart from ripped open the wound again, it actually did not have any use. These furniture and boxes were first built in order to make red makeup (dowry) for their daughter and granddaughter. The two passed away one after another. Things that once filled with festive feeling piled up in the warehouse, made people who looked at it feel sad. Grand Princess Shou Kang was very old and she did not have a younger generation, who else could it be given to? It would only be a cheap ancestor hall a hundred years later.
But destiny had its own way, Lin Wei Xi appeared soon after. When Princess Shou Kang saw Lin Wei Xi, she instinctively reacted 'can't go wrong, this is it!' Princess Shou Kang had found a spiritual pillar, and soon took Lin Wei Xi as her own granddaughter.
Now Lin Wei Xi was about to get married, marrying Yan Wang to be a consort, conveniently became Gao Ran's mother-in-law, Grand Princess Shou Kang woke up laughing from her sleep several times. In any case, there was nothing else to say, Princess Shou Kang was happy, she had to let Lin Wei Xi get married grandly, and the dowry would be beyond the reach of the people in the capital within ten years.
Princess Shou Kang was worried that Lin Wei Xi would feel taboo, after all, these were dowry from her predecessors. The female officer next to Princess Shou Kang deliberately told Lin Wei Xi that all the gold and silver jewelry of Wei Shi and Gao Xi were melted to make a new ones. The boxes and carrying case were all made with first-class good wood. Wood could be used for many years. The red paint would be repainted. The remaining porcelain, incense burners, vases, etc., if she did not like it, they could replace them with new ones.
Of course Lin Wei Xi felt that it didn't matter. The dowry was not a coffin. It was originally passed on from generation to generation, so there was no taboo. What's more, Lin Wei Xi didn't say a word, but she would love to see her mother's relic again.
Grand Princess Shou Kang felt relieved seeing Lin Wei Xi not complaining. Lin Wei Xi was sitting in the boudoir with subtle fragrance floating, put down the dowry list prepared by Princess Shou Kang, and picked another one.
This was Lin Yong's reward. Lin Wei Xi had read it countless times and had already memorize it in her head. In fact, there was not much that can be used in Lin Yong's things. The court only gave a few ingot silver on a schematic basis, with the words Department of Supervision branded on them. Absolutely not able to spend them. The remaining ritual objects that represent the title Marquis, Lin Wei Xi also did not dare to take it out to melt it. As for the imperial decree and Jin Shu Iron Deeds, there were no other use except for display.
In the final analysis, the real important thing in the estate of the Marquis Zhongyong Mansion was the land deed. It was said to split the soil and divide the grass , the land and field, this was the foundation of a family. Granted, Lin Wei Xi did not have a family, and also didn't know how Yan Wang do it, some of her land were exchanged to the land around the capital, and the rest were exchange into good field with rich soils. Only less than half of the land remained in her hometown in Shunde prefecture.
Lin Wei Xi silently praised Yan Wang for his good intentions, advancing could also attacking, retreating could also defending. In peacetime used the fertile land around the capital to make money. In case of there was a chaos, could still return to the ancestral home in Shunde.
When Lin Wei Xi thought of Yan Wang, she instantly thought of the stupid things she did the other day. She put down the list, and her cheeks gotten bright red again.
Lin Wei Xi realized with hindsight that the betrothal gift had also come, and her marriage to Yan Wang was already fixed. In a few months, she would become the wife of a man who had always existed in the legend, who she grew up listening to the other's fame.
Lin Wei Xi was stunned for a while, she felt like stepping on a cloud, without any sense of reality. She was going to be a wife again, but this time it was very different. What if she was still unqualified? What's more terrible, she was the one that ran into Yan Wang's study and took the initiative to mention it.
She probably had water in her head at the time, and while she had a fever it get boiled. What had she done!
Lin Wei Xi was looking at the dowry list in her room, and Grand Princess Shou Kang was also talking about it.
"Miss Lin looked very carefully, after looked at it for a while, she still stay in a daze."
After hearing this, Grand Princess Shou Kang laughed: "Maybe in a daze thinking about her father's land deeds. In fact, just relying on the things left by Marquis Zhongyong, Sister Xi will have enough food and clothing for a lifetime. I just added some daily utensils for her."
The female officer smiled and said yes, but thought of the darkness and turmoil of the world. If Marquis Zhongyong was still alive, of course it's all right. Or if the Lin family had an uncle and brother, it's a little better, but Lin Wei Xi was the only a girl left in the Lin family. If it wasn't for Yan Wang to take Lin Wei Xi over, these land deeds might not have been in Lin Wei Xi's hands, even if she still have it, it might not be a good thing.
But the female officer immediately thought of Lin Wei Xi's face and felt relieved. Lin Wei Xi grew up like that, even if she didn't have a family wealth, living among the people was actually quite dangerous. All beauty without self-preservation was a disaster, but now with the protection of Yan Wang, Lin Wei Xi would become Yan Wangfei in the future, which shows that Lin Wei Xi's beauty, life experience, and inheritance were all destined by heaven, and she deserved this destiny.
TN: It's kinda boring chapter, well cannot have all of them full of excitement. The next one is also so-so but there's interesting notes from the author at the end of it.
Grand Princess Shou Kang still enthusiastically chosen a date. The female officer looked at Princess Shou Kang's enthusiasm and was pleased. She smiled and said: "The princess is really in good spirits. Back then I am afraid that princess has fallen by herself, and didn't have such heart."
As soon as the female officer said it, she knew that she had said something wrong. Sure enough, Princess Shou Kang's expression sank and asked, "Is Fuma (princess's husband) still living in the Wei Mansion?"
"Princess......"
"Nothing." Princess Shou Kang sneered, "I'm not a new bride. It's been so many years. Who cares about him? He probably saw what I prepared for Sister Xi, and become jealous. So he go back to Wei Mansion to enjoy his leisurely old age, and show it off me."
Seeing that Princess Shou Kang did not look sad, the female officer felt relieved in her heart and said: "After all, fuma and the Wei brothers have a heart. I heard that the Wei family has added an offspring two days ago. It is also common for fuma to go back to tease his grand-nephew. There are still several young ladies who are going to get married in two years in their family. Before Madam Wei's family specially led a few young ladies to greet the princess. I'm afraid this will break their idea at that time."
"Heh." Princess Shou Kang thought it was funny, and she really laughed, "He blamed me for ruining his official career. He has not returned to the princess mansion for many years. Our husband and wife are like strangers. He cannot participate in politics after married to a Princess, his grievances I can understand. But since he doesn't want to admit me as his wife, then don't stare at the princess mansion's estate. On one hand going home to grumble, on the other hand still staring at my properties, want me to set aside all my private estate after death for the Wei family, it's ridiculous. Where are they get courage from?"
Regarding Princess Shou Kang's marital matters, the female officer could not speak up, only said: "Princess, don't be angry, now you also have Miss Xi."
When Princess Shou Kang heard Lin Wei Xi's name, she turned from being angry into feeling happy: "Isn't it? I still have Sister Xi. It's up to me whoever I give my things to, even Department of Internal Affairs has no right to interfere. The more Wei family acts like this, the more I want to give all my private estate to Sister Xi."
The days of preparing for the wedding passed by day by day, and Princess Shou Kang's mansion was blatantly beating gongs and drums. At first the capital was blown away by the news of Yan Wang marrying a consort, but now it had become numb. Everyone calmly watched Yan Wang Mansion and Princess Shou Kang Mansion decorated with lanterns and colorful banner, preparing to welcome the new bride.
The discussion outside about Lin Wei Xi, this new Yan Wangfei, had never cooled down, but Lin Wei Xi herself had no idea about the excitement outside. She stays in the courtyard of Princess Mansion every day, never taken a step outside the second gate, at ease getting ready to get married. One day she heard a movement outside, it seemed the Madam of the Wei family had come. Lin Wei Xi knew the conduct of Wei family. She originally planned to go out and meet the Wei family to prevent them for making things difficult for her grandmother, in the end she was stopped by the princess manor people after only two steps. The female officer next to Princess Shou Kang said with a smile, Lin Wei Xi is Yan Wangfei, there was no need to disturb her to deal with the outsiders, just prepare her dowry with peace of mind.
Since Princess Shou Kang didn't need her, Lin Wei Xi accepted the kindness of her grandmother and stayed in the room with peace of mind. The Wei family was very hostile to Lin Wei Xi, who they thought had seized their property, but they couldn't even see Lin Wei Xi. As for the sour words that was prepared in advance, naturally could only swallow them back into their stomach and continue to sour their teeth.
Lin Wei Xi's world was quiet, but Gao Ran couldn't sit still after seeing grand Princess Shou Kang's amazing battle that almost brought the entire princess mansion over. She picked a day when it was not too hot, ordered people to set up a carriage, and returned to the Duke Yingguo Mansion with the honor of Shizi Consort.
Duke Yingguo Madam was lying on the yellow pear Luohan bed, leaning on the big red pillow behind her back. A little maid took a beauty hammer and gently massaged her legs and feet. Gao Ran moved an embroidered stool to sit in front of the luohan bed, frowning anxiously, and talked to Duke Yingguo Madam.
"You went out today and reported it to your elders, right?"
Even if a married women only want to visit her maiden's house she still need the consent of her husband's family, Duke Yingguo Madam thought there's nothing wrong with that. She even worried that Gao Ran would return to her maiden family too frequently and would be told off by her husband's family.
Gao Ran said: "Don't worry, grandmother. Father is busy all day and doesn't care much about the inner house' matters. Shizi is also very caring to me. I want to go out and set up my own carriage, no one will gossip."
Duke Yingguo Madam then remembered that Gao Ran had no mother-in-law or grandmother-in-law on her head, and she had more freedom to move than an ordinary wife. Duke Yingguo Madam sighed: "When you marry, at once become the mistress of the house, didn't have to receive your mother-in-law's anger. With this point alone, I don't know how many women in the world envy you."
Gao Ran was also very satisfied with Gu Cheng Yao's mother's early death. Wasn't there a sentence before she transmigrated, 'have a car and have a house, and have lost both his parents' (TN: I guess that's describe a perfect husband material). Although the one that died was only Gu Cheng Yao's mother, but Yan Wang was not at home all year round, it was no different from this sentence. It's a pity that Gao Ran's unbridled married life would be cut short.
Duke Yingguo Madam obviously also thought about the Yan Wangfei who was about to enter the door. It was clear that everything was going well, but suddenly a mother-in-law came out of thin air. Of course Gao Ran and the Duke Yingguo Madam were not happy. However Yan Wang's matters, who would dare to talk too much about it?
Duke Yingguo Madam could only comforted: "It's okay, your new mother-in-law's age is not much different from you. She has been raised in the countryside at her aunt's house before. She must be an ignorant straw bag (idiot). You yield to her first, wait until everyone can see who the good and bad between you two. The days ahead will be better."
Duke Yingguo Madam's thoughts coincided with Gao Ran's. Gao Ran also thought she should indulge Lin Wei Xi first, then after Yan Wang and others saw Lin Wei Xi's true color, Gao Ran came out to turn the tide and clean up the mess. Isn't it just right? When necessary, may be able to push one or two times.
Looking at Gao Ran's eyes, Duke Yingguo Madam knew that she understood. Since Gao Ran had a good idea, Duke Yingguo Madam did not go deeper. Among her many granddaughters, Gao Xi looked unreasonable and distant, but in fact she was very benevolent. Only the third girl had a soft smile and a gentle voice, but doing things regardless of the severity. Facts had proven that Gao Ran's character could succeed in major event. Not only was she married well, but also won the respect of her husband's family. Afraid in the future, she could also help her maiden family.
Duke Yingguo Madam was very satisfied in her heart. She even felt that hidden heart and insidious actions were not a big deal, and good usefulness have to have benefits. She rightly believed that although Gao Ran was vicious to others, but Duke Yingguo Mansion was her maiden family, and certainly not on this "others" list.
The author has something to say: This chapter explains the dowry issue that everyone was very concerned about. The next chapter is the big wedding. The chapter name maiden is actually quite ironic.
A lot of cuties care about whether Gu Cheng Yao is biological... he is biological, if he touched porcelain (scam somebody by setting up an accident), even if he could be born, he would not be established as a Shizi. Lin Wei Xi will torment her son and daughter-in-law in the future, but she won't be like the stepmother in the fairy tale, to abuse or deliberately destroy the original wife di son and what not. Lin Wei Xi is not such a person, and the younger generations can't just count on their father's title, besides, her son originally had a title...
The background of this article is clear. According to the Ming Dynasty's title system, the qinwang's other son, that is, Lin Wei Xi's son, will be directly appointed as junwang when they grew up, and their daughters were all the junzhu (county princess).