Chapter 203: Making the Su Family Pay Up
After finishing her work in the evening, Mrs. Qiao went to Shouyin Hall.
Old Madam Zhang had just finished her dinner and was playing cards with her granddaughter Yu Qingyan and several nannies when she saw Qiao enter and casually asked:
"You came here for something? How's Qingyan's dowry preparation going?"
Qiao took the teacup from the maid and gently placed it in front of the old lady, saying softly, "I was just about to talk to Mother about this. The dowry is mostly prepared, but the only things missing are a few pieces of furniture and cabinets that the craftsmen haven't finished making yet."
Zhang kept her eyes glued to the cards and her subordinates kept saying, "Then you keep a close eye on things and make sure all the necessary timber has been purchased?"
Qiao said, "It's pretty complete, but we were in a rush and couldn't buy that much Phoebe zhennan wood. For the rest of the furniture, I think we can use the rosewood furniture that we prepared for Qingying."
Mother, as you know, Qingyan's marriage was arranged in a hurry this time. There are many things that are difficult for her to obtain even if her daughter-in-law tries her best. Therefore, the dowry we prepared for Qingyan this time is much less than what our whole family prepared for her before.
There's nothing we can do; this is Qingyan's fate.
Mrs. Qiao sighed helplessly, and quickly exchanged a glance with her daughter.
Yu Qingyan said apologetically to Madam Qiao, "Mother, you've worked hard. Actually, I don't care about the dowry. Whether it's a lot or a little, it's all from your and Grandmother's heart. It's just that I feel sad when I think about leaving Grandmother and Mother after I get married."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang immediately lost her appetite for playing cards. She put down the cards in her hand and lovingly embraced her granddaughter.
"Good child, I know you are the most filial, and your grandmother is also reluctant to part with you. However, a daughter will eventually get married. Your dowry is your confidence and face in your husband's family, so it must not be taken lightly."
Grandma has prepared some nice things for you. Since your mother is here too, why don't we take them back tonight?
He then gave an order to Granny Qin, who quickly brought over two boxes, one large and one small.
The larger one is a carved sandalwood box. Inside is a set of gold and ruby inlaid butterfly hairpins. Nine butterfly hairpins in different poses, shimmering with metallic luster, are arranged in a row. The butterfly wings are made of gold wire in the shape of openwork patterns, with pigeon blood rubies inlaid in the center. Under the light, they gleam with a warm metallic luster, and it is clear at a glance that they are very valuable.
"This is called the Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Hairpin,"
Pointing to the set of jewelry, Madam Zhang said in a loving voice, "This set of jewelry is my most treasured possession, and I haven't been able to take it out for so many years."
I was originally going to give this set of jewelry to you last time, but luckily I wasn't in a hurry and planned to take it out the night before your wedding. Otherwise, this set of jewelry might have already ended up in that brat Qingci's hands.
"It's perfect to bring this out now to enhance your makeup. This set of headdresses is ideal for young girls. The rubies on it are of exceptional quality and are rare finds. If you wear it to the Prince's residence, you certainly won't be looked down upon."
As she spoke, Madam Zhang took out one of the butterfly hairpins and put it on her granddaughter's head.
Yu Qingyan exclaimed happily that her grandmother still loved her the most.
Madam Zhang then opened another, smaller, mother-of-pearl inlaid black lacquer box, lifted the lid, and inside was a neatly stacked stack of silver notes, with several land deeds pressed at the bottom.
Madam Zhang picked up the land deeds from the small box and said to Madam Qiao, "These estates and shops belong to the public estate. They are not large in area, but they are in good locations and have a stable future. I told the Earl that I would give them all to Qingyan."
Keep it safe. From now on, it will be Qingyan's private property. Find her a few capable servants as part of her dowry to manage it well. With this flowing money, Qingyan will be more financially secure.
These stacks of silver notes are a small token of my appreciation as her grandmother; I'll keep them as a safe for Qingyan.
Yu Qingyan's eyes lit up when she saw the jewelry, banknotes, and land deeds before her. She threw herself into Zhang's arms and said sweetly:
"Grandmother! You are too good to Qingyan. I feel unworthy of your kindness."
Madam Zhang hugged her granddaughter and patted her back gently: "Silly child, you are the apple of your grandmother's eye. If I don't give you my things, who will? When you marry into the Prince's Mansion, your dignity will be the dignity of our Earl's Mansion. Naturally, your grandmother will give you the best."
Qiao's face was also full of gratitude as she said to Zhang:
"Thank you so much, Mother. I will be even more filial to you in the future."
She sighed, a hint of difficulty on her face, and said, "It's just that I'm incompetent. The dowry I gave Qingyan is far less than what I gave Qingci back then. But I can't blame anyone else. After all, Qingyan wasn't born from my sister's womb."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang became furious: "It's a good thing she wasn't born from her womb. Like mother, like daughter. Look at what she's done to Qingci! She's not even half as good as Qingyan. In my eyes, Qingyan is the eldest daughter of our Earl's Mansion, and no one can compare to her."
She, Madam Su, is nothing more than a discarded woman who returned halfway through her life. Does she really think she's something special? Using her title of Lady of the Imperial Decree to run around doing business all the time, she's utterly disgracing the Nanping Marquis's Mansion!
And that girl Qingci is just as unlikable as her mother. She got a good deal and then acted innocent. She received such a generous dowry from our Earl's family, yet she hasn't been of any help to our family at all. In fact, the Earl himself has to help her gain a foothold in her husband's family from time to time.
After venting her anger, the old lady said to Madam Qiao, "Qingyan is going to marry into the Prince's Mansion, and she will be a face of our Earl's Mansion. This time, her dowry must not be compromised and must be generous."
After giving his instructions, Madam Zhang seemed a little tired and picked up her teacup to sip her tea.
Seeing that the old lady was getting to the point, Mrs. Qiao could only cough twice and slowly say:
"With Mother's words, I, as her daughter-in-law, will certainly do my best to prepare. However, as the legal wife, even though Qingyan is my daughter, I must still call her Mother. When her daughter Qingci got married, she used all of Qingyan's dowry. Now that it's Qingyan's turn to get married, she, as the legal wife, should give something in return."
So this time, could you please let your older sister touch up Qingyan's dressing table?
My elder sister has been managing the household affairs with my uncle for over ten years. I heard that when they were in the countryside, she used my uncle's name to do business in public, and I imagine she amassed quite a fortune in secret.
After Qiao finished speaking, she glanced at Granny Qin, who understood and continued to advise:
"Yes, Madam, Madam Su is a shrewd businesswoman. We didn't know much about her business in the countryside before, but now that she's firmly established herself as the Earl's legal wife, her business in the capital is thriving. Last year alone, the Xia Guang brocade business made Madam Su a fortune, not to mention the Cypress Leaf Wine that's selling so well in the market right now, which has earned her even more money."
To make the Third Miss marry in her place, the Madam gave her all of the Second Miss's dowry. Now, the young general is about to return unharmed, and the Third Miss has gained both wealth and fame, while our Second Miss is left to suffer.
If Madam Su could act like the proper stepmother and treat all the young ladies and gentlemen in the mansion equally, then she should voluntarily make up for the second young lady's dowry; only then would it be fair.
Madam Zhang couldn't help but furrow her brows and fall into deep thought.
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