Kun hexagram, the most auspicious hexagram

Chapter 2 Kun Hexagram (Ultimately Auspicious) - The Taoist Temple Accompanying the Dowry

Rong Yan's sedan chair moved quickly, and he was welcomed back to the Qingzhang Room of the Runan Marquis's Mansion. The room was bright and spacious, with simple yet elegant furnishings. There was a small locust tree in the west, with eight copper coins hanging on it.

In the eighth year of the Kaibao era, the west position was the Wenchang position, so it was obviously not accidental that this copper coin tree was placed there.

The atmosphere inside the house is very comfortable, with bright sunshine, making it a pleasant place to live.

The best lady knocked on the door and entered. "Bride, today is a joyous day. When you arrive at the main hall, please remember to observe proper etiquette." The best lady spoke with a slightly accented manner, and her accent was a bit strange, sounding like she was from Guangnan.

After saying that, she muttered a few words to Huali, "Your wife didn't properly study the precepts for women, but how come you maids who accompanied her don't understand etiquette? Why did you let her put down her fan? The veil should be worn until the wedding night so that she can have more blessings. After all, you are from a Taoist temple. How can you be so ignorant of worldly etiquette?"

Huali and Yuling were maids in the inner courtyard of the Rong family, belonging to the Duan family. They were both beautiful, but were assigned to her as maids to accompany her in her dowry.

Yu Ling wanted to retort, but she was afraid of causing trouble for Rong Yan, so she didn't dare to say a word.

Hua Li, however, was not one to tolerate ridicule. "According to etiquette, shouldn't it be the unmarried ladies of the manor who are here to congratulate our mistress? Since the Marquis's manor doesn't follow the rules, how can they speak ill of our mistress?"

The bridesmaid clicked her tongue twice. "I'm doing this for your wife's own good, really. Go and invite the master in."

Rong Yan: ?

This person is almost dead, yet they still come to hold a wedding ceremony while on their deathbed?

The door was opened, and Rong Yan looked through the fan. A figure strolling calmly towards her gradually became clear before her eyes.

Rong Yan: ...

The two maids gasped in shock and hurriedly moved closer to Rong Yan.

A fox with pure white fur was standing in front of her, about a meter tall and at least 1.5 meters long, the size of a fox king, whether in ancient or modern times.

Through the fan, Rong Yan seemed to see in its eyes a disdainful attitude towards the maids.

In an instant, it turned around and stared intently at her, its gaze surprisingly calm, though to outsiders it did not appear so.

The bridesmaid was clearly a little scared, but she tried to keep her tone as calm as possible, "This is the eldest young master's favorite item, named White Sky. Today, it will be used to perform the wedding ceremony with you."

White Dome?

The name does suit it quite well.

Huali whispered, "Isn't it a bit much to make my wife and a beast perform the wedding ceremony?"

Before the people from the Marquis's residence could reprimand him, Rong Yan spoke with a gentle tone, "It's alright. Since it's something the eldest young master cherishes, it can also be the eldest young master's possession."

Everyone: Something doesn't sound right. Is this... an insult directed at the eldest young master??

She genuinely didn't care; it was just a task to complete. After today, she could lie down however she wanted—wasn't that great?

The bridesmaid forced a smile, realizing the bridesmaid had been overthinking things. A young woman who hadn't been taught proper etiquette for women wouldn't understand such profound language.

She held Rong Yan's wrist and raised the fan higher, completely obscuring her face and preventing her from looking at Bai Qiong.

The man and the wolf walked respectfully past the ancestral tablet, stepped over the saddle, and entered the main hall.

Bai Qiong was indeed intelligent; whether it had been disciplined beforehand or not, it never made a single mistake.

At the table of relatives and guests, Rong Shu was so frightened that her face turned pale and she cried out repeatedly.

Bai Qiong snorted a few times, his gaze seemingly somewhat displeased with Rong Shu's actions.

She heard Xie Zhezhi gently comforting Rong Shu, who was crying from fright, "Madam, Bai Qiong was raised by my brother since childhood and will not hurt anyone, so please don't be afraid."

"Waaaaah, my love, I'm so scared, so scared~"

The sweet, delicate voice instantly sent shivers down Rong Yan's spine.

She glanced down at Bai Qiong and was surprised to see disdain and disgust in its eyes!

Right? It understands her too!

In that instant, she felt as if she had found a kindred spirit in a beast.

When it was time to bow to heaven and earth, the guests all looked at Rong Yan with pity. Bai Qiong naturally wouldn't bow in return, so she had to bow alone.

After bowing to Heaven and Earth three times and then to the grandmother and parents-in-law, some voices could be faintly heard amidst the noise of the guests.

"The Rong family's daughter is so beautiful. Is she the second daughter of Minister Rong? She is even more beautiful than his first wife."

"With such a frail appearance, can she really bear the responsibility of being a bride to bring good luck?"

"Lord Zhao of the Imperial Observatory has never made a mistake in his astronomical observations. What he says must be correct. He said that this woman's birth chart is extremely compatible with the eldest son's."

Granny Li from the Marquis of Runan’s residence picked up the booklet and announced: “On the day of the tribute, the Marquis’s residence will send 108 golden pigs to bring good fortune, 88 silver bead-edged jade phoenix hairpins, a quiet villa in the suburbs, 88 acres of tenant land, and 18,000 strings of cash as tribute.”

At this moment, Rong Yan heard Granny Li raise her arrogant face and add with a smile, "Of course, the eldest young master's gift also included his favorite item..."

Rong Yan suddenly glanced silently at Bai Qiong...

"From now on, the White Sky will belong to Madam."

really……

The moment Granny Li uttered those words, the crowd below was even more astonished.

Bai Qiong was the young master's most cherished possession, and he even entrusted it to someone else, so it seems he is indeed on his deathbed.

“Young Madam, how much dowry did the Rong family give? We need to read it aloud in front of the ancestral hall so that we can have witnesses and evidence in the future. This belongs to the young madam. I believe that the Rong family must have given their daughter a generous dowry.”

Rong Shu smiled quietly. A lavish marriage? What a joke.

Li Mama's expression clearly showed that she regarded Rong Yan as inferior, and she looked down on him. It was obvious that she had already seen the list.

Rong Yan, however, seemed unashamed. He smiled slightly, nodded, and calmly said, "Read it aloud."

Granny Li shook her head with a light smile. This was mocking Rong Yan. She should have refused; her acceptance seemed a bit like she was putting on a brave face.

She unfolded the book, gestured for her attendant to record it, and read aloud: "Young mistress's dowry: thirty strings of cash."

The expressions of the people below varied, and the Marquis's grandmother, along with the Marquis and his wife, were somewhat shocked.

With his monthly salary of one hundred strings of cash as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, not to mention how much the Marquis's mansion had given him in the past as dowry, he didn't return a single penny of it. Instead, he treated her like a beggar, only giving her thirty strings of cash?! He didn't give her a single penny!

Even if she is an illegitimate daughter, she is still her own flesh and blood.

Originally, this marriage was intended to bring good fortune to the eldest son, but now that the eldest son is still alive, he is not valued at all, which makes the Lady of the Marquis somewhat angry.

Rong Shu leaned toward Xie Zhezhi with a sad expression and whispered, "I heard that Father gave all his spare money to me, which is why he can't give any extra money to my sister. I... I feel a little guilty."

Xie Zhezhi gently patted her shoulder, "This is not your fault, you don't need to blame yourself. This is the affection between your father-in-law and your sister."

Rong Shu sobbed and picked up her handkerchief to cover her triumphant gaze.

The guests present were all whispering among themselves, while Rong Yan smiled with narrowed eyes. It was truly an honor for Duan to give her such a dowry of ten thousand yuan.

Suddenly a child darted to Li Mama's feet, picked up a sheet, and said, "Mama, you dropped one."

Rong Yan heard a familiar voice, turned his head and saw that it was his junior brother.

After giving her a gentle smile, the junior apprentice hid the bulging sesame oil paper bag, bent down, and darted back into the crowd.

Only then did Granny Li realize what was happening, and quickly took it, "Oh, there's more...?!"

When she looked at the contents of the list, her expression changed drastically, and she let out a small scream in surprise.

Grandmother Xie felt that her behavior was somewhat inappropriate, and her face darkened. "Granny, say what you have to say quickly."

"And...and another land deed for Tianbao Mountain?!"

Tianbaoshan land deed?!

The expressions on everyone's faces were priceless; some were shocked, others were incredulous.

"Tianbao Mountain? Isn't that the mountain where Lingyun Temple is located?"

"No, no, Lingyun Temple is located in Dibao Mountain."

"Hey, there was a shop in Baoshan that day? That's a place with excellent feng shui."

It's a good location according to feng shui principles, but...

That wasn't just a shop; Rong Yan's dowry included a Taoist temple.