Thanks to the ruckus Third Madam Li had caused, news of Mu Wan inheriting at least a large portion of Xu Qinglan’s estate had spread widely. Under such temptation, there were always those who couldn’t resist.
On the day the Xie family sent betrothal gifts, the Mu Manor was bustling with activity. The courtyard was filled with boxes of gifts, and apart from Shen-shi and her daughter, everyone in the family was full of joy.
As mentioned before, while the Mu family was wealthy, there were many things in this era that money simply couldn’t buy.
“Oh my! Is this the legendary Liuyun Silk? It’s a tribute item—only concubines favored in the palace can get even a couple of bolts. It’s stunning!”
“Is this fur a wolf? I almost mistook it for a tiger. Look how big it is! It must be taken from a pack leader. Perhaps a hunting trophy from the frontier.”
“These Fire Liuli Spheres, aren’t they exclusive to the royal family of the Chi Ling Tribe?”
“Is this lychee? I’ve never even seen one before!”
The onlookers were amazed by the display. After the Xie family people departed that evening, Mu Xingde was so pleased that he gave out rewards to the servants before instructing them to move all the betrothal gifts to Mu Wan’s Wutong Courtyard.
Meanwhile, Mu Wan was already contemplating how to distribute the gifts. The wolf fur could go to her grandmother, who was sensitive to the cold; the ornate yet impractical Fire Liuli Spheres could be given to her grandfather; and the jeweled dagger would be a great gift for her father’s self-defense. As for herself? She could finally eat lychees!
She hadn’t expected lychees to be included in the betrothal gifts. In her previous life, she’d never realized how much she loved lychees and mandarins until she transmigrated here and started craving for them. The only time she’d tasted mandarin was when she and Xu Qinglan traveled to Nanzhou, where they spent a fortune to procure a small basket of honey mandarins. Lychees? She hadn’t even touched one until now.
Mu Wan was busy daydreaming about eating a few lychees tonight, planning to keep the rest chilled in the cellar to make them last a few days, when an unwelcome voice intruded on her pleasant thoughts.
“In my opinion, your Mu family spoils its children too much. Allowing a young girl to decide the use of so many valuable gifts—it’s simply reckless.”
Mu Wan turned toward the source of the voice—Third Madam Li. With the Xie family sending betrothal gifts, the relatives and acquaintances of the Mu family had come to join the festivities. Mu Xingde had also invited trustworthy relatives and friends to help entertain the Marquis’s representatives.
As future in-laws, the Zhongyong Count Manor naturally had to be invited, especially given their status as the most prominent among the Mu family’s acquaintances. Countess Zhongyong, in particular, had kindly assisted Old Madam Mu in entertaining First Madam Xie, earning Mu Xingde’s gratitude.
Naturally, Third Madam Li had also come. Upon arriving, the countess promptly assigned her to assist Shen-shi with managing the servants, effectively keeping them both away from the main event. However, once the Xie family’s entourage departed, Third Madam Li could no longer restrain herself.
She didn’t even address Mu Wan directly but instead turned to Mu Xingde and Old Master Mu. “Take, for instance, the businesses left by Lady Xu…”
Before she could finish, Countess Zhongyong frowned and interrupted, “Sister-in-law!”
Third Madam Li stubbornly defended herself, “I’m not wrong.”
“I heard that Minzhou was recently hit by a disaster, and while other grain shops raised their prices, Xu’s Grain Shop did not. The manager must be mismanaging it,” she remarked, feigning concern. “Brother Mu, if you truly care for your daughter, wouldn’t it be better for you to take over managing those businesses? Leaving such immense wealth in her hands is like giving a gold brick to a child—not only is it too heavy for her to carry, but she might lose it or attract unwanted attention.”
Old Master Mu glanced at her son, appearing somewhat persuaded.
But Old Madam Mu sneered, and Mu Xingde quickly diverted attention with a cheerful response. “It’s nothing that serious. Isn’t the Marquis right behind Wanwan? Who would dare try to snatch her things?”
Third Madam Li scoffed. “And how do you know the Xie family isn’t a den of wolves?”
Mu Xingde frowned, his expression growing helpless, but before he could respond, Mu Wan spoke up, smiling. “Since the Li family isn’t a den of wolves, how could the Xie family be? Third Madam, you’re worrying too much.”
As Third Madam Li glared at her, Mu Wan, still smiling, gestured toward the courtyard filled with boxes. “You’ve seen the betrothal gifts. The Xie family has so much gold they can’t carry it all—why would they need to steal mine?”
Turning affectionately to Mu Xingde, she continued, “Speaking of spoiling children, Father really does spoil us. With such generous betrothal gifts, Father is worried that without a dowry worth a million taels, I might feel wronged in the Xie family.”
She then looked at Third Madam Li again, whose face had darkened considerably. “Third Madam must be preparing to send betrothal gifts soon as well. If they’re as impressive as those from the Xie family, Father will certainly ensure my younger sister has a dowry worth a million, too. You can rest assured—my father is never partial.”
Both Third Madam Li and Shen-shi’s faces turned black. Because the third branch had angered Count Zhongyong by unilaterally annulling the engagement, the public coffers had only assigned them 5,000 taels for the wedding as per the protocols. Not to mention that even if the count’s heir was about to marry, the family couldn’t produce betrothal gifts worth even a fifth of what the Xie family had sent.
Mu Wan chuckled softly. They were getting antsy because of her dowry, but the betrothal gifts also mattered! How much could the Li family’s third branch even offer? Mu Rou’s 200,000-tael dowry was already a windfall for them, yet they had the audacity to make demands. Truly shameless.
Countess Zhongyong observed Mu Xingde’s tightly controlled expression and knew that, no matter how much fuss her third sister-in-law caused, they wouldn’t gain anything from this. Aside from regretting that the Li family had lost a clever and wealthy daughter-in-law like Mu Wan, there was nothing more they could do but accept the situation. After all, with the Xie family now backing the Mu family, pushing things too far would benefit no one.
“Enough!” the countess snapped at Third Madam Li. “This is their family’s business. Who are you to interfere?” Then, turning to Old Madam Mu and Mu Xingde, she said, “It’s getting late, and I still have matters to attend to at home. We’ll take our leave.”
Mu Xingde politely escorted the Li family to the door, apologizing to the countess as they walked. “I’ve spoiled Wanwan too much. Please forgive her, Madam, and Third Madam as well.”
Third Madam Li pursed her lips in frustration, but Countess Zhongyong chuckled politely. “Please don’t apologize, Master Mu. If I had a daughter like Wanwan, I’d probably spoil her even more.”
Mu Xingde let out a long sigh, feigning helplessness. “Perhaps I’ve spoiled my daughters too much. But unlike Wanwan, Rou’er doesn’t have the kind of inheritance her mother left behind. What I can provide for her is already my best effort.” He had done his utmost for both daughters, and the disparity between them was solely due to their mothers. Unlike Shen-shi, Xu Qinglan had the means to provide generously for her daughter—and that was simply the reality.
His words also carried a pointed subtext. With Mu Wan having openly mentioned the Li family’s betrothal gifts earlier, continuing to press the issue would truly be shameless.
Countess Zhongyong understood what he meant. Sighing inwardly, she stopped Third Madam Li from retorting further. “The matter of the betrothal gifts is indeed our shortcoming,” she smiled politely. “However, since Liulang was willing to risk his reputation to marry Rou’er, Master Mu can rest assured that he won’t treat her poorly.”
‘Liulang wouldn’t treat Rou’er poorly…’ Mu Xingde mulled over her words and sighed inwardly.
Just as the Li family had no say in Rou’er’s dowry, the Mu family had no grounds to interfere in how the Li family treated her. This marriage was a path Rou’er had chosen for herself. In the end, whatever blessings or hardships awaited her would be hers alone to face.
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You can smell the regret from Mme Li.
She is so shameless ugh
Thank you for the update ~