Under the window of the side room, Song Yue was fiddling with the abacus beads. Her fingertips slid lightly across the surface, producing a soft clinking sound.
A slight smile played on her lips. The Shen family had lost face so badly today; it wasn't something that Song Hengchuan could resolve simply by sending more gifts.
The outer courtyard was bustling. With the Grand Madam's instruction, Granny Liu told the Third Miss that she didn't need to learn accounting today. When Granny Liu entered, Song Yue was looking down at the accounts, looking worried, while the accountant was leaning back in his chair, dozing off.
Granny Liu frowned and cleared her throat to make a sound.
The accountant quickly woke up and immediately sat up straight: "Granny, I was just thinking about how to calculate the next account."
Granny Liu didn't expose her, and walked towards Song Yue: "Third Miss, the Grand Madam wants you to go back and rest."
“How can that be? The teacher said that even a slow bird has to start flying early, and one cannot slack off for even a day.” Song Yue replied without looking up, “I am already lagging behind others, so how can I cheat and be lazy?”
Granny Liu choked on her words, awkwardly raised her head to glance at the commotion in the outer courtyard, then at the Third Miss who was quietly doing her accounts, and muttered to herself.
It took two whole hours to move the betrothal gifts. The old lady managed to gather eighty loads of dowry in one go and hired more than a dozen people to count them.
The butler came to report that someone from the Shen family had arrived.
Moreover, it was Madam Shen herself who came. When she entered, her face was somewhat unpleasant. The Grand Madam greeted her with a smile: "Why did Madam Shen come in person? It should be the Duke of Jingguo who came to apologize. There was a misunderstanding today that angered the Shen family. So, this old woman personally had someone count the loads. There were a full eighty loads."
"Madam Shen, the Duke of Jingguo's family is truly sincere in its intention to marry Miss Shen."
The Dowager Lady lowered her stance and sent a new list of betrothal gifts to Madam Shen.
As the saying goes, one shouldn't hit a smiling face. This action successfully quelled most of Madam Shen's anger. Madam Shen forced an awkward smile: "You are an elder, how could a junior dare to invite you to visit?"
Madam Shen glanced at Yuan Fuling, who remained silent to the side, and her eyes flickered slightly.
"Madam Shen, to be honest, these betrothal gifts were stored in the outer storeroom. Perhaps they were secretly switched by a servant who didn't know his place. The Duke of Jing's mansion will definitely investigate thoroughly and give the Shen family an explanation then." The Grand Madam held Madam Shen's hand affectionately: "Please don't let this matter ruin a marriage. I am extremely satisfied with Miss Shen."
Being fawned over and chatted with, Madam Shen's smile became more genuine, and she no longer maintained her composure, glancing at the numerous boxes piled up on the table.
The old lady said, "Since Madam Shen is also present, why don't we check it ourselves?"
"This...this is unnecessary." Madam Shen declined for a while, but the Grand Madam personally took her hand and examined the betrothal gift box back and forth.
Madam Shen's anger had completely vanished: "Since it's a misunderstanding, let's not hurt each other's feelings."
Yes, yes.
The Dowager Lady pulled Madam Shen to the main hall to talk, and also asked Song Hengchuan to come over and apologize. Song Hengchuan did as she asked, and promised in front of Madam Shen that he would not mistreat Shen Ruyun. Only then did Madam Shen give Song Hengchuan a way out.
Song Yue, who was in the side room, closed the account book in her hand and slowly stood up. Granny Liu immediately looked at Song Yue warily: "Third Miss, you don't need to pay your respects to the Grand Madam today. We have guests at the mansion."
Seeing Granny Liu's alarmed expression, Song Yue could only laugh.
Isn't it just because we're afraid she'll go out and cause trouble?
Song Yue nodded, got up and left. Looking at the courtyard full of betrothal gifts, she felt it was a bit jarring. Song Hengchuan was not worthy of using his mother's dowry to marry a wife.
Especially since that person was Shen Ruyun!
As she passed under the corridor, she saw Yuan Fuling looking anxious. She clicked her tongue, shook her head, and sighed. Yuan Fuling heard the sound, turned around, and squinted at her.
Song Yue mouthed "idiot!"
Yuan Fuling was instantly furious. She had just taken a step when her maid grabbed her sleeve to stop her. Song Yue's smile deepened, and she left Ninghui Hall directly.
Back at Yuehua Pavilion, Song Yue sat silently by the window, the handkerchief she was clutching in her hand twisted and turned out of shape. Yun Dong carefully handed her tea.
Yun Dong felt that the girl's face looked even worse than when someone had vandalized Yuehua Pavilion a few days ago.
He exuded a chilling aura.
Granny Zhang, however, was bold enough to step forward and say, "Miss, please calm down."
"Angry?" Song Yue held her teacup, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Why would I be angry?"
The Dowager Madam tried her best to persuade Madam Shen to go through with the marriage, but why did she find Shen Ruyun so annoying?
"Granny, my mother's dowry was all given to Song Hengchuan today. Did she give me my share too?"
The answer is undoubtedly yes.
Princess Jia Hua's elaborate dowry, stretching for miles and carried by hundreds of bearers, has been completely destroyed after today's ordeal.
The Dowager Madam really went all out to marry Shen Ruyun.
Granny Zhang looked troubled: "Miss, the Duke's mansion values its reputation and will not allow you to get married so carelessly."
If the eldest daughter of a Duke's family were to marry off her son, and her dowry was too small, she would be ridiculed to death.
Song Yue shook her head; she didn't care about the amount of the dowry.
When the moon was bright and the stars were few, they learned the news and, after discussing it for two days, the Duke of Jingguo's mansion and Madam Shen sent the betrothal gifts back to the Shen family, and asked Madam Shen to leave a few people to watch over the gifts.
"I heard that Madam Shen left the manor in high spirits, and that the eldest young master personally saw her off," Yun Dong said.
Song Yue gave a faint "hmm".
She was waiting, waiting to see how the Grand Madam would deal with Yuan Fuling, and waiting to see how Song Hengchuan would turn against Yuan Fuling.
There was still no news until late at night.
I didn't sleep a wink all night.
The next day, Song Yue went to Ninghui Hall to pay her respects and learn accounting as usual. As soon as she entered, Granny Liu led her to the main hall: "Third Miss, the Grand Madam is waiting for you in the main hall."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
