Chapter 36 Provocation
Thinking this to himself, he unconsciously said aloud, "Father really favors Third Sister. Look how richly this room is decorated. He probably moved all the treasures of the Earl's Mansion to Third Sister's garden."
Yu Qingci understood perfectly well, but she didn't argue with her. She just smiled faintly and drank her tea.
Seeing that she didn't react, Yu Qingying became even angrier. Pointing to a pair of blue and white porcelain ornamental vases with cloud and dragon patterns on the nearby treasure pavilion, she said, "I took a liking to those vases in Father's study a long time ago. I asked Father for them several times, but he refused to give them to me. Who knew that he would give them to Third Sister alone? I'm not happy about it. Can Third Sister lend them to me to play with for a few days?"
After saying that, she pouted and said, "Third sister wouldn't be so stingy, would she? Not even willing to lend a single toy?"
Yu Qingci still smiled faintly: "Of course, no problem. However, the items in this treasure pavilion were all carefully selected and placed here by my father. He specifically instructed me to put these items in my dowry when I get married."
"But since my fourth sister likes it, I'll ask Father when he gets home tonight. If he agrees, it's fine to give it to you. Oh, and is there anything else you like? Anything I can decide is yours."
Upon hearing her mention her father, Yu Qingying reluctantly shut her mouth and stopped talking.
She was also pampered by the Qiao family since childhood and had seen all kinds of good things. However, she felt resentful that Yu Qingci could get so many good things and wanted to get a few things back from her to make herself feel more at ease.
But if her father finds out about this, he'll definitely say she's short-sighted, and that would be a loss.
After sitting down and drinking some tea, Yu Qingyan put down her teacup and said, "We've come here today to help our third sister with her wedding attire. Although Mother has already entrusted the wedding dress to an embroidery shop outside, according to custom, our sister should also prepare some handmade needlework, which will be displayed for everyone to see."
I was worried that my third sister was too young to understand these things, so I specially brought a few embroidered items that I made myself to give to her today. When they're placed together, it will look like they were all made by you, which will make her look better."
After saying that, he gestured to the maid behind him to put the things he had brought on the table.
Yu Qingyan pointed to the things she had brought on the table and said, "These handkerchiefs, shoe uppers, and forehead bands for the elders will be perfect gifts for my husband's family. My needlework skills are only so-so, so please don't mind, Third Sister. They are at least presentable."
Oh, and I also specially found these red gold earrings inlaid with rubies. I think they match the bracelets I gave you before, so I brought them along as a little something extra for you. Take a look and see if you like them.”
Yu Qingci glanced at the pair of earrings in front of her and immediately recalled the pair Yu Qingyan had given her before—a pair of tacky yet extravagant gold bracelets inlaid with kingfisher feathers and rubies. Looking at the matching earrings in front of her, she couldn't help but twitch her lips.
Well, at least this thing is worth some money. If I need money in the future, I can just sell it.
So she politely said, "Thank you very much, Second Sister. Then I won't be polite."
Yu Qingyan: "There's no need for thanks between us sisters. It's just fate. Who would have thought that my third sister, who is younger than me, would get married before me? I feel a little embarrassed about it."
After saying this, she lowered her head and pretended to be shy. In the eyes of the world, daughters in a family must get married according to their birth order. If the younger sister gets married first, the older sister will easily be gossiped about and considered to be a girl who can't get married.
Yu Qingying added from the side, "Yes, Third Sister just got back and she's already getting married before Second Sister. Anyone who didn't know better would think Third Sister was in a hurry."
After saying that, he simply laughed out loud, causing the even younger Yu Qingning next to him to secretly frown.
Yu Qingci said bluntly, "Yes, it would be terrible if people who didn't know the situation misunderstood that Second Sister couldn't get married because of some hidden illness."
"However, outsiders may not understand how I got this marriage, but we family members all know. If my second sister and fourth sister feel this is inappropriate, then we can inform Father and Grandmother and switch it back, letting my second sister get married first. Anyway, I don't care."
One sentence left Yu Qingyan and her sister speechless.
Yu Qingyan glared at Yu Qingying secretly, then quickly smiled and added, "Fourth sister speaks without thinking, third sister, don't follow her example. This marriage has been divined by the master of Taijue Temple, and the old lady of the General's Mansion has also given her her approval. How can it be changed?"
Yu Qingying, unusually, didn't argue and went along with it, saying, "Yes, how can a marriage be changed back so easily? Third Sister, just take it as me talking nonsense and don't take it to heart."
Seeing that the atmosphere had eased a bit, Yu Qingyan reminded Qingying and Qingning, "You two have been so busy talking that you should take out the dowry you prepared and give it to Third Sister."
Yu Qingying and Yu Qingning then remembered what they had come for, so they each instructed the maids behind them to bring forward the dowry they had brought.
Yu Qingying also gave several embroidered items, but the craftsmanship and materials were far inferior to those of Yu Qingyan. However, there was also a pair of mandarin duck pendants carved from yellow jade, strung with dark green tassels with gold beads, which looked dignified and elegant.
However, this kind of thing is obviously not suitable for a young girl to wear. It was clearly something that Mrs. Qiao gave to her daughter to use to enhance her own appearance.
Yu Qingning pointed to a pair of ox horn combs inlaid with tourmaline that she had brought and said to Yu Qingci, "I am still young and my needlework skills are not yet up to par, so I won't take them out. These ox horn combs were a birthday gift from my cousin on my maternal grandparents' side last year. Please don't find them offensive, Third Sister."
Yu Qingning is the legitimate daughter of the fourth wife. She is only eleven years old this year and is still small and has not yet grown up. Perhaps because she pays too much attention to the rules and discipline taught by the headmistress, she always likes to put on a reserved and dignified demeanor in front of others, which is not in line with her age. Yu Qingci felt tired for her.
"As long as Fifth Sister's sentiments are appreciated, I won't be upset even if you sisters don't give me anything. Besides, I really like these combs."
Yu Qingci smiled and told the maid to take it away.
Yu Qingning breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't intend to get to know her cousin who had returned halfway through her journey. However, she couldn't neglect the proper etiquette, so she randomly picked out an item from her jewelry box and showed it to her mother before bringing it over.
Seeing that Yu Qingci was instructing the maids to put things away, Yu Qingying's eyes lit up and she said, "Since we're already here, why don't we see what good things Third Sister has prepared, including embroidery? Could it be that Third Sister hasn't prepared any embroidery at all?"
It has only been a little over half a month since the arrangement of the substitute bride was made. Although the household has prepared a dowry, the daughter herself also needs to prepare some things, such as needlework, which is unavoidable.
She didn't believe Yu Qingci could embroider so much in such a short time. Naturally, she would include the embroidery pieces that she and her second sister had given her to make up the numbers. If she accidentally let it slip when there were many people around, the bride would lose face.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com