Chapter 183 Pretending to be Rich

On the wedding day.

The Earl's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, and red silks hung high. The noise from the guests almost lifted the roof off.

Today's bride, Song Sangyu, is the star of the show.

She wore a luxurious pale pink wedding dress, with intricate patterns of phoenixes and dragons woven in gold thread, and the skirt trailed on the ground.

She wore a complete set of pearl headdresses the size of a thumb, with phoenix hair ornaments in her hair and three strings of colorful gemstone tassels in her mouth, reaching to her shoulders and neck.

With every smile and gesture, her shimmering beauty illuminated most of the room with the glow of pearls and gems.

She wore a charming smile, and her grand entrance made it seem as if she were marrying a principal wife.

Beside her, fawning Ruan Jiawen and He Jianren surrounded her.

He Jianren covered his mouth and chuckled, then shouted loudly to those around him:

"If you ask me, what's meant to be will be, and what's not meant to be shouldn't be forced. After all that fuss and offending everyone, didn't our little sister Sangyu get everything in the end? Look at this pomp and circumstance, this is true fortune!"

Ruan Jiawen immediately chimed in, saying sarcastically:

"That's right! I heard that although she got her dowry back, it's a pity... tsk tsk, she probably contracted some terrible illness and won't live much longer. What do you call that? She had the life to take it, but not the life to spend it! How pitiful!"

Song Sangyu feigned composure as she touched her temple, but a hint of pleasure flashed in her eyes, and her voice unconsciously became soft and affected:

“Sister Jiawen, Sister Ren, please don’t say that. Sister Yiqiu… she’s also a pitiful person. I just hope she can recover in peace. As for me…”

She lowered her head slightly, shyly touching her slightly protruding belly.

"I only wish to give birth to a son for Brother Langxing safely, and to be a good wife and mother. That would be enough for me. The future of this Earl's mansion naturally depends on its offspring."

He Jianren and Ruan Jiawen immediately chimed in, gloating:

"Sister Sangyu is so kind-hearted! If you ask me, the most important thing for a woman is to have children and be a good wife and mother."

"Some people have titles but no real power. What good are they fighting and killing on the battlefield? They don't even have a child to carry on the family line. All the wealth they amass is just going to outsiders. Aren't they destined to die out? Tsk tsk, it's really pathetic to think about!"

"Alas, Sister Yiqiu is truly unfortunate. I heard that her illness came on so suddenly that even the imperial physicians were helpless. How could someone so healthy suddenly..."

"Although I have now received my dowry back, I have no one to care for me. My mother is estranged, my brothers are at odds, and I am all alone in that empty mansion. What is the point of having mountains of gold and silver?"

"Unlike Sister Sangyu, who has a loving husband and the support of us sisters, and will be surrounded by children and grandchildren in the future, that is true blessing!"

"Oh!"

A cold laugh came from not far away.

Everyone looked over and saw Wang Feiran, the daughter of Vice Minister Wang of the Ministry of War, coldly watching them, with several young ladies standing beside her, all with equally resentful expressions.

Shen Yiqiu had once saved Wang Feiran's family, so their friendship was undoubtedly one of life-or-death bond.

Wang Feiran spoke frankly:

"I wondered who was making such a fuss here, but it turns out to be a few sparrows squatting in the phoenix's nest, trying to act important."

"The Marquis of Yongjia has served the country on the border for seven years, making great contributions to the nation. Her title was earned through real battles on the battlefield and was bestowed by His Majesty."

"How dare those who resort to despicable means to force marriage by getting pregnant comment? They are truly petty people who have gained power and know nothing of their own!"

Ruan Jiawen's face turned red from being rebuked:

"Wang Feiran! Who are you calling a villain!"

Wang Feiran raised an eyebrow, his brows exuding heroic spirit:

"Whoever answers me will be scolded! What, are you smug about showing off by stepping on Marquis Yongjia's sore spot? Don't forget, His Highness the Crown Prince once publicly stated that Marquis Yongjia is his future Crown Princess! What are your intentions in speaking ill of the future Empress here?"

These words carried immense weight, leaving Song Sangyu and the others speechless, their faces turning pale and then red. The guests who had initially echoed their sentiments also fell silent, standing aside sullenly to watch the spectacle unfold.

Just then, a sweet, innocent voice abruptly broke in. Ruan Tianxin blinked like a curious child, pretending to play with a small abacus in her hand:

"Huh? Sister Feiran is right, Sister Sangyu looks absolutely radiant today!"

"However... I was just bored and helped the Earl's mansion calculate today's guest gift list and expenses, and I discovered something interesting."

She tilted her head and looked at the red silk and decorations that filled the hall.

"Take this Jiangnan brocade hanging in the hall for example. It looks quite bright, but the weaving method and pattern seem to be... the peony pattern that was popular in the last century?"

"These days, the most prestigious banquets in the capital no longer use such outdated embellishments. And the official kiln porcelain displayed at this banquet, the glaze and the mark on the base... hmm, it looks like some old stock that has been sitting in the warehouse for years."

She gently fiddled with the abacus beads, her face still bearing a sweet smile, but her voice was grating:

"Is the Earl's mansion experiencing cash flow problems lately? If you're short of money, Sister Sangyu, you should let us know as soon as possible. After all, you're pregnant now, and if you can only use old and outdated items to make do with what you have for appearances, it won't sound good if word gets out."

Hearing her words, the people around her noticed the wedding banquet arrangements and began to take a look at them.

Whispers instantly filled the air:

"So... look at that enamel vase, isn't the glaze too dull? It looks like a defective product rejected by the Imperial Workshop in its early years. What respectable noble family would use something like this to show off?"

"And this Persian rug on the floor, not only is the pattern old, but the edges also show signs of repair...tsk tsk, could it really be a cheap imitation pulled out of the treasury to put on a show of wealth?"

"No wonder I always felt the color of this red silk was a bit glaring. It didn't look like the fashionable soft gauze, but rather like ordinary Hangzhou silk, which looked cheap when it was exposed to sunlight..."

"It seems that Prince Fu isn't as extravagant as the rumors suggest when it comes to his new wife! A shotgun wedding is certainly not as solemn as a proper marriage..."

Just moments ago, Song Sangyu was surrounded by admirers, but now all she wanted to do was cover her face and disappear into the ground.

Her lavish wedding, which she was so proud of, was reduced to a carefully crafted joke by Ruan Tianxin's few words.

She glared venomously at Ruan Tianxin, who sneered inwardly but had no intention of letting it go. She lightly fiddled with the abacus beads, glancing at the wedding dress she wore:

"Sister Sangyu's wedding dress is really... unique in color. The bright red doesn't seem to be dyed quite right; it looks like it's been mixed with pink, turning into a light crimson. But then again, it's a special case after all."

She feigned sudden realization and exclaimed in surprise, raising her voice:

"Oh dear, I almost forgot. Only the legally married first wife can wear pure red, without any other colors, at her wedding. For someone like Sister Sangyu... well, given her special circumstances, wearing this color is... appropriate."

Her eyes crinkled with laughter.

"But it's alright, when Sister Yiqiu and His Highness the Crown Prince get married in the future, we will be able to see the royal red phoenix dress! That will be so magnificent! Sister Sangyu, don't you think?"