Chapter 31 Dowry
Yu Qingci obediently stepped forward.
Madam Zhang took her hand and said, "You are a good child. You witnessed the whole thing at Taijue Temple yesterday, so your grandmother doesn't need to say anything more."
When this marriage fell to your second sister, she didn't utter a single word of reluctance for the sake of our family's reputation. Now it's your turn. Although this was unexpected by everyone, your grandmother and father hope that you can be like your second sister, considering the bigger picture and accepting this marriage for the sake of our family's honor.
After Zhang finished speaking, she stared intently at Yu Qingci's expression, afraid that she might show even a hint of reluctance.
Yu Qingci understood why Madam Zhang could say these words. After all, she hadn't developed any feelings for this grandmother in either her past or present life, so it was impossible for Madam Zhang to protect her at this time. Therefore, after Madam Zhang finished speaking, she only turned to look at her father.
Yu Jingsheng frowned and kept looking at her, but his gaze held nothing but deep reluctance.
Yu Qingci then understood.
Not quite disappointed, she simply knelt down in front of Madam Zhang, raised her head and said calmly, "Grandmother, Father, Qingci is willing to marry into the General's Mansion in place of my second sister."
Everyone was shocked by her calm and unassuming words.
Zhang even asked directly, "Are you serious? You're willing?"
She thought it would take some effort to persuade the girl.
Yu Jingsheng also stood up and said, "Qingci, do you know that the person you are about to marry has died on the battlefield? Once you marry him, what will that mean for the rest of your life?"
Yu Jingsheng was surprised that his daughter agreed so readily. He subconsciously felt that his daughter was too young and might not understand what this marriage meant. He wanted to dissuade her but didn't know how to say it. The thought of his daughter, whom he had cherished since childhood, getting married right after returning home, and to a place with no hope at all, naturally made him extremely reluctant. He could only remind her to think it through.
Yu Qingci retorted, "What difference does it make whether I know those things or not, Father? Can I choose not to marry?"
Yu Jingsheng: ...
Yu Qingci said with righteous indignation, "Grandmother, Father, Qingci knows that this young general has died on the battlefield. I can only bring his memorial tablet into the house and live as his widow. I understand all of this."
From a young age, I admired heroes who fought on the battlefield to protect their country. When I first returned home and heard that my second sister was about to marry into a general's family, I felt immense admiration for her. What my second sister could do, I can do too; I believe Heaven will surely bless Qingci's sincere heart.
Since I've already decided to marry him, I might as well put it nicely and make my father feel more guilty. Maximizing my own benefit is the most worthwhile thing to do.
As expected, Yu Qingci's words stunned everyone. Judging from her words, this girl was even more open-minded than them. Anyone who heard her would be moved by her consideration for the overall situation and her sincerity.
A look of relief flashed in Madam Zhang's eyes; this granddaughter had finally made her happy for once.
She beckoned Yu Qingci to her side, gently patted Qingci's hand, and said earnestly:
"Third daughter, it's admirable that you've thought things through so clearly. Now that you've thought it through, your grandmother can rest assured. I assure you, you are a daughter of the Nanping Marquis's family. After you marry into the family, the Nanping Marquis's family will always support you."
Madam Zhang then looked at Madam Qiao and said, “Since Third Sister is so sensible, our Earl’s Mansion must not mistreat her. I think we don’t need to prepare a separate dowry for Third Sister. We can just take some of the things we prepared for Qingyan and give them to Third Sister. In addition, I will give you another three thousand taels of silver as a dowry.”
Yu Jingsheng said, "No need for such trouble. Just transfer the dowry for Qingyan to Qingci's name intact, and include the silver notes I gave you privately before."
Hearing the words of the mother and son, Qiao's heart was in her throat again. The dowry she had prepared for her daughter was meticulously prepared according to the standards for the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife, with everything included, including rare treasures, prosperous shops and estates. Once she got married, it would definitely be a real ten-mile-long red dowry.
As for Yu Qingci, she had already made a plan. She would pick out some worthless items from the storeroom and take some cheap items from Qingyan's dowry to make a show of it. That way, even if the Earl wanted to investigate her, she could fool him.
But to her surprise, her husband gave all of it to Yu Qingci. How could that be?
Madam Qiao said with dissatisfaction, "Lord, Madam, I'm afraid this is inappropriate. Regardless of whether Qingyan marries or not, those things were prepared by me for Qingyan. As the eldest daughter, it is only right that she should receive more dowry."
As for Qingci, she is the younger sister, so her dowry cannot exceed that of her elder sister. Also, how should the dowries of the other daughters be determined?
Besides, marrying into a general's family means becoming a widow. A large dowry might only benefit her in-laws. In my opinion, a modest dowry is best, just enough to ensure her a worry-free life.
Yu Jingsheng, standing nearby, flew into a rage: "How could you say such a thing? If that's the case, why did you prepare so much dowry for Qingyan in the first place? If you're so worried about that dowry, you might as well let Qingyan get married anyway."
This frightened Qiao so much that she dared not utter another word.
Madam Zhang glared at Madam Qiao with displeasure, thinking she really didn't know how to speak.
Fearing that if she continued, her son might change his mind after finally agreeing, which would backfire, she said, "Very well, since the Earl insists, then it's settled. Of the dowry prepared for Qingyan, apart from the private savings that you, Qiao Shi, took out, the rest will be left to Qingci. We can add more to Qingyan's dowry later when she's settled on a marriage. Our Earl's family won't shortchange our granddaughter on her dowry."
Qiao almost tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds again, sneering inwardly, but she had to brace herself and say, "Mother is absolutely right. It was my oversight. Although Sanya is not my biological daughter, her marriage is special. So, as you and Mother have agreed, the dowry originally given to Qingyan will not be reduced at all, and will be given to Sanya as part of her dowry."
Yu Qingci listened quietly as they made their decision before readily agreeing, saying, "Granddaughter thanks Grandmother and Father."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Qiao was even more furious. She said that if they only thanked them, what about her, who had contributed both money and effort?
Madam Zhang nodded in satisfaction: "That's very good. Now that the matter has been settled, the wedding day is not far away. Madam Qiao, you must hurry up and make preparations. The whole capital is watching this marriage. Our Earl's Mansion must not lose face. We must make sure that our third daughter marries into the family in a grand and glorious manner."
The old lady made the final decision, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Only Yu Jingsheng felt a mix of emotions, looking at his beloved daughter with eyes full of tenderness and helplessness.
However, as the head of the Nanping Marquis's family, he could not change the situation and could only feel guilty towards his daughter. Right now, all he could do was give his daughter a generous dowry so that she could live a more comfortable life in her husband's family.
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