Chapter 112 The Scholar Who Favored His Concubine Over His Wife (Part 4) Carrying on Pure Love to the End…

As soon as Song Ce purchased the new house, he immediately began arranging for people to come and clean it. The matchmaker, eager to befriend this straightforward customer, diligently found more than a dozen quick-witted and hardworking laborers according to Song Ce's requirements.

The host was generous, with only one requirement: the house must be thoroughly cleaned and any damage repaired by tomorrow. The workers, receiving a wage equivalent to half a month's salary, instantly became highly motivated and busied themselves with their tasks.

Song Ce was naturally not idle either. He meticulously arranged the furniture in the room, not overlooking any detail. From the specific ornaments in the room to the flowers, plants and trees in the courtyard, everything was carefully selected by him. Even the maids and servants who served him were chosen in advance by his intermediaries.

After the contract was finalized, Song Ce smiled and handed the pre-prepared thank-you money to the middleman. The middleman was so happy that his eyes narrowed into slits, and he repeatedly bowed and thanked Song Ce.

At this time, the Liu family...

Upon hearing the servant's report, Master Liu frowned and waved for him to leave.

"Master, has something happened?" Madam Liu walked over with a smile, carrying a bowl of sweet soup. She placed the soup on the low table next to Master Liu and asked softly.

Master Liu sighed and said, "Madam, you don't know this, but Song Ce seems to have nothing special about him. Yet he suddenly took out a large sum of money to buy a property on Jiyu Street, which really makes me suspicious."

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu's smile faltered, and she hurriedly asked, "Could it be that Song Ce's family is hiding some substantial wealth that we are unaware of?"

Master Liu shook his head and said in a deep voice, "This... I don't know either. If he weren't from a poor family, with his learning, it wouldn't be difficult for him to pass the imperial examinations again. That's why I'm so worried. Our Liu family is, after all, just a merchant family. If he really gains power one day, I'm afraid we've already made enemies with him."

"Master, have you forgotten that we told him we would marry our second daughter in his place? He was so grateful to us just a couple of days ago. If he didn't know the inside story, he shouldn't be at odds with the Liu family," Madam Liu stepped forward and reassured him gently.

"That's true, but when you return to the courtyard later, give that girl a good talking-to and make sure she's careful with her words. Otherwise, she can forget about getting her indenture back!"

"What you say is absolutely right, sir," Madam Liu replied with a smile. As if she had thought of something, she added with concern, "However, there are suspicious points in this matter. Sir, we must find a way to investigate Song Ce's true intentions."

"What you say is true, Madam. This is the only way now..."

As the two were discussing in hushed tones, Miss Liu Xinhui arrived at the front of the main hall and overheard her parents' conversation. She frowned slightly and subconsciously stopped in her tracks.

Hearing that her parents were actually going to inquire about the poor scholar, Liu Xinhui smiled disdainfully and gracefully entered, clutching a silk handkerchief.

She first bowed to Master Liu and Madam Liu, then said in a sweet voice, "Father, Mother, why bother with that poor scholar? It's just a house, perhaps bought with all his savings, and who knows how difficult his future life will be. I've always said that Young Master Wang is the perfect match for you. In terms of family background, scholarship, appearance, and character, Young Master Wang is the perfect fit for you. That Song Ce is just a powerless, impoverished scholar from a fallen family. How can he compare to Young Master Wang?"

Master Liu and Madam Liu exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes. Their daughter was excellent in every way, except for her excessively spoiled and willful nature. Master Liu sighed, leaning back slowly in his armchair, and said earnestly, "Hui'er, that's true, but what if he really does have some family wealth to support his studies? If he's fortunate enough to become a student of the Emperor, wouldn't it be a pity if you missed out on him?"

Liu Xinhui snorted lightly, saying nonchalantly, "Father, I think you're overthinking it. What great future can he possibly have? Young Master Wang's father is the magistrate of Qizhou County. With such a powerful in-law supporting our Liu family, won't you be able to have a smooth and successful life in Qizhou, becoming the most powerful family in the future? Besides, Young Master Wang is young and promising. This year, he will take the provincial examination to become a scholar. By marrying him, I can become a true official's wife and enjoy endless wealth and honor. If I were to be foolish and marry that Song Ce, I would be jumping into a fire pit with no chance of ever getting out!"

Madam Liu took Liu Xinhui's delicate hand and said with a pained expression, "Master, since Hui'er has already made up her mind, let's go along with her! Hui'er has been pampered since she was a child, how can she suffer with Song Ce? Besides, our daughter is so beautiful, she should naturally marry into a good family that is a good match for her in every way."

"Thank you, Mother." Liu Xinhui nestled into Madam Liu's arms and acted coquettishly for a while.

Seeing that Master Liu did not object, Madam Liu continued, "Master, have you forgotten that tomorrow is Song Ce and that girl's wedding day, but the betrothal gifts have not yet been delivered to our mansion!"

“Yes, Father! In my opinion, Song Ce might not even be able to come up with ten taels of silver!” Liu Xinhui said with a light laugh.

After pondering for a long time, Master Liu finally nodded and said helplessly, "So be it. Since Hui'er has said so, let it be."

Liu Xinhui chuckled and said, "Then I thank you, Father."

However, to everyone's surprise, just after noon, Song Ce's teacher, Master Tao, arrived at the Liu family's gate in a grand procession, his face beaming with joy, leading Song Ce and boxes of heavy betrothal gifts.

Song Ce's parents have both passed away, and there are no elders in the family to take care of things. The fact that he was able to invite his former teacher to come and deliver the betrothal gifts shows his good intentions.

When Master Tao met Master Liu, he first smiled and bowed to him, then said with a smile, "Today I am honored to be here on behalf of my student to bring betrothal gifts to your esteemed residence, wishing to form a lifelong bond with your two daughters. I have prepared these small gifts to respectfully present to your residence, to express my sincere feelings for your two daughters."

Upon hearing this, Master Liu hurriedly returned the bow, repeatedly saying, "How dare I, how dare I! I only wish that the two of them could spend their lives hand in hand, with deep affection and unwavering trust, never doubting each other."

"Song Ce, why don't you hurry up and pay your respects to your father-in-law?" Tao Wang said with a smile.

"Yes, teacher," Song Ce replied, then bowed to Master Liu and said loudly, "This son-in-law greets father-in-law."

"My dear son-in-law, please get up, please get up quickly." Master Liu hurriedly stepped forward and helped Song Ce up.

It's no wonder Master Liu was so cautious. Although Master Tao had only passed the imperial examination and achieved the title of Juren, he was dedicated to teaching in his hometown and enlightening the people. The highest-ranking of his students had reached the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Even Magistrate Wang Su treated him with great courtesy and respect. His Liu family was merely a group of merchants; how could they dare to act arrogantly in front of Master Tao?

Master Tao smiled slightly and gestured to the servant beside him to read out the menu.

At this moment, a servant dressed in festive attire announced loudly: "Respectfully requesting the marriage between the two families, we respectfully present a gift of 666 taels of silver, a load of betrothal cakes, a set of four kinds of fruit, a set of oil and sesame tea, a box of official powder, and other necessary items. There are also 8 taels of silver for welcoming and sending off guests, 4 taels for knocking on the door, and an additional 6 taels of silver, all of which will be delivered in person."

Everyone in the Liu family was stunned when they heard about the extravagant dowry list.

Especially when Master Liu heard that the dowry was 666 taels of silver, his eyes widened in surprise. According to the wedding customs of Qizhou, the amount of the bride's dowry should be determined based on the groom's betrothal gifts. If the groom's betrothal gifts are generous, then the bride's dowry must not be meager either. Otherwise, his Liu family will become the talk of the town in the future.

He was convinced that Song Ce was a poor scholar who could only come up with twenty taels of silver at most, but he never expected that this dowry would be no less than eight hundred taels! Where did he get so much money? Could it be that when Brother Song was alive, he really left him a lot of wealth?

Hearing about the generous dowry list, Madam Liu, standing to the side, tightly wrung out her handkerchief, managing only a forced smile.

Song Ce's actions were clearly putting the Liu family in a very difficult position! Although the Liu family could provide a dowry commensurate with the betrothal gifts, the so-called second young lady was, after all, just a bought maid! Even the dowry he prepared for Hui'er amounted to only five or six hundred taels of silver. That was only because Hui'er had married into the family of the county magistrate's eldest son, making her dowry exceptionally generous. Why? Why should the Liu family have to provide such a huge dowry for such a lowly maid?

However, the Liu family could not afford to be impolite in front of Master Tao. Master Liu forced a smile and respectfully said to Tao Wang, "Master Tao, this betrothal gift from my son-in-law is far too generous, this..." He hesitated, a hint of unease in his eyes.

Tao Wang laughed heartily and said loudly, "Brother Liu, my student is deeply in love with your second young lady, and these betrothal gifts are all a testament to his pure heart. Marriage should be based on affection, so please don't laugh at the impetuousness of a young man!"

Upon hearing this, Master Liu knew there was no room for negotiation, so he could only smile apologetically and say, "Master Tao is absolutely right, absolutely right."

At this moment, Liu Xinhui, who was in the backyard, heard the message from her personal maid and her face immediately darkened. She slammed the hairpin in her hand onto the dressing table and snorted coldly, "Caiyu, are you telling the truth?"

“Of course, Miss, I heard it clearly. The gift money was a full six hundred and sixty-six taels!” Caiyu replied hurriedly.

Liu Xinhui clutched the silk handkerchief in her hand, realizing she had truly underestimated this poor student. She bit her lower lip, her heart filled with resentment.

Although she looked down on that poor scholar, if he were truly wealthy, wouldn't it be a waste for that lowly maid to get married? No, she absolutely could not allow a mere maid to overshadow her and marry into the family in such a grand and glamorous manner.

"Caiyu, go to Yingni Courtyard and invite Liu Mama, who is by Mother's side, over. I have something to ask her," Liu Xinhui instructed Caiyu, turning her head to him.

"Yes, Miss." Caiyu bowed and quietly withdrew.

In less than fifteen minutes, Liu's mother arrived at Wutong Garden.

"Miss, did you summon me here because you have something to tell me?" Liu Mama asked with a kind expression.

“Mother.” Liu Xinhui smiled gently, pulled Liu’s mother to sit down on a low chair, and asked softly, “I’m sure you’ve heard about the poor… Young Master Song’s betrothal gifts are so generous, it really surprised me. You’ve served Mother for many years, do you know how much dowry Mother originally prepared for that maid?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu sighed and replied truthfully, "Replying to Miss, before the Song family's betrothal gifts arrived, Madam originally only planned to prepare a dowry of thirty taels of silver for that maid, along with some coarse cloth clothing and a few pieces of silver jewelry, since she was merely your substitute bride. But now that the Song family's young master has offered such a generous dowry, if our Liu family's dowry is too meager, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?" Liu Xinhui asked hurriedly upon hearing this.

"I'm afraid it will cause some gossip in the city, which will be detrimental to the reputation of my Liu family!" Liu's mother said in a low voice.

"I am the true eldest daughter of the Liu family. My mother has watched me grow up since I was a child. You must help me think of a way. We absolutely cannot let that maid steal my limelight! My mother has always valued reputation the most. For the sake of the family's name, she will probably grit her teeth and prepare a decent dowry for that lowly maid!" Liu Xinhui said with a mournful voice.

Ultimately, Liu Mama felt sorry for her young mistress. After a moment of contemplation, she leaned close to Liu Xinhui's ear and whispered, "Since Miss can't swallow this insult, in my opinion, we might as well tamper with the dowry. Although Madam will prepare the dowry according to the specifications matching the betrothal gifts, we can replace all the valuable items with fakes. Once that maid marries in, even if she discovers this, it will be too late, and she probably won't dare to make a fuss."

Liu Xinhui's eyes lit up immediately, and she smiled and said, "Mother is absolutely right, this idea is brilliant! Let's do it this way! Even if they find out, they can't do anything to our Liu family! However, this matter still needs to be handled by Mother personally, and we must not let anyone catch us red-handed. Also, please keep a close eye on that maid, Mother, and don't let her try anything funny."

"Oh dear, my good lady, that girl will be marrying in your place tomorrow. What can she possibly do? Don't worry, my lady, this old servant will definitely handle this matter well," Liu Mama assured, patting her chest.

"Then... I'll have to rely on you, Mom, for this."

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Author's Note: 1 tael of gold is equal to 15 taels of silver. The betrothal song was adapted from Baidu and written by [droopy-eared rabbit head].

P.S.: The wind force increased by 1+1+1 again today.