Chapter 35 Fulfilled
This sudden change immediately diverted everyone's attention. Looking outside, Madam Zhang murmured, "It's this time of year, how can there still be thunder and lightning?"
It was still before nightfall, and many people in the capital were caught off guard by the sudden thunder and lightning, and were even terrified. How could there be thunder and lightning in late autumn?
Fortunately, the thunder subsided and the night sky returned to calm after a short while, and people's hearts gradually settled down.
However, starting in the early hours of the next day, an even more intense thunderstorm struck, this time accompanied by torrential rain. The rain poured down all day and showed no signs of stopping by nightfall.
A servant who went out to buy supplies brought back a message: This morning's lightning struck the City God Temple in the north of the city, and a corner of the main hall caught fire. Fortunately, the temple guards discovered it in time and called for help to put out the fire. The heavy rain also came just in time to extinguish the fire and prevent a disaster.
The people in the Earl's mansion were terrified. Looking at the torrential rain outside, Madam Zhang began to mutter to herself, "I wonder how long this rain will last. It's really making me anxious."
Su Chengniang was equally upset. Her servants returned with news of the fire at the City God Temple, followed by a torrential downpour. She couldn't help but believe her daughter's words to some extent.
At that moment, she asked the same question as Zhang: "I wonder how long this rain will last?"
Yu Qingci comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, the rain will lessen by tonight and stop completely by tomorrow morning."
Su Chengniang: Let's see tomorrow.
Su Chengniang tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. She got up several times to go out and open the window to observe the rain outside. Sure enough, the rain stopped in the early hours of the next day, but Su Chengniang's heart was still pounding like thunder.
That evening, Su Cheng's mother went to Qingci's room, and the two had another heart-to-heart talk.
Looking at her daughter's eyes filled with reluctance, Su Chengniang said, "Are you really sure you want to marry into the General's Mansion? If you change your mind now, your mother will do everything in her power to protect you and break off this marriage. Let whoever is supposed to marry marry whoever is supposed to. My daughter doesn't want to clean up other people's messes. At worst, I'll sever all ties with your father, and the three of us will go back to Youyang."
Although her daughter's prediction about lightning had come true, she still didn't want to watch her daughter marry into such a place.
Qingci was moved and gently hugged her mother, saying, "My mother is the best and most beautiful mother in the world. Don't worry, now that I have agreed to this marriage, I will definitely live a good life in the future. I will also protect my mother and brother and make sure you are not bullied."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade her daughter, Su Chengniang sighed and took out something from her bosom, handing it to Yu Qingci, saying, "I've worn this jade pendant since I was little. Your maternal grandmother said it was my talisman and that I must keep it safe and not let anything happen to it. Now that you're getting married, I'm giving it to you, hoping that you'll have a safe and smooth life after you arrive at the General's Mansion."
Qingci suppressed her inner turmoil and accepted the jade pendant. It was a piece of Hetian jade of excellent quality, small and exquisite, carved into the outline of a cicada, with a gradient of green throughout, the green becoming more intense towards the bottom.
It felt cool to the touch, but soon a warmth spread through my palm, clearly a rare and precious jade.
In her previous life, her mother gave her this jade pendant, but unfortunately, the shameless Qiao Yuantao tricked her into giving it to Yu Lian, making her regret her decision.
Now that the jade pendant has been recovered, she is determined to keep it safe and never let anyone take it away again.
Yu Qingci: "Mother, don't worry, your daughter will definitely keep it safe."
Yu Qingci: "Daughter has something important to tell Father right now."
Su Chengniang immediately perked up and asked, "What is it?"
Yu Qingci: "I remember in our hometown, we have to show off the dowry before a girl gets married. This time, Qiao Shi is managing my dowry. It's not that I'm being petty, but I'm afraid that Qiao Shi will sabotage things and that I'll be the one who suffers. So, perhaps..."
Su Chengniang's expression grew increasingly solemn as she listened. Yes, her daughter's dowry was a major event, and how could she entrust such an important matter to someone like Qiao Shi?
Her daughter was well-behaved and sensible from a young age. When she first entered the Earl's mansion, her daughter advised her not to bring too many valuable things with her, fearing that she might not be able to keep them.
She obeyed her daughter's wishes, and since learning that her daughter's marriage was arranged, she had been busy these past few days, rummaging through her belongings and wishing she could use all her savings to prepare a dowry for her daughter. She had already prepared a generous dowry for her daughter; the marriage was already a done deal, and she absolutely could not skimp on her daughter's dowry.
However, her daughter is right. Since the Earl's family has taken her daughter back, they must not let anyone swindle away the dowry that should be given when she gets married.
So she nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll talk to him about it later. If he doesn't agree, then he has something to hide."
Yu Qingci smiled, relieved that her mother was involved. It wouldn't be appropriate for her to bring this up with her father herself, but if her mother did it, her father would definitely take it to heart.
The following days passed at a leisurely pace. In order to avoid giving anyone anything to criticize, Madam Qiao made preparations for Yu Qingci's marriage with utmost care and dedication. When she couldn't make a decision, she would consult Madam Zhang. She even instructed her two daughters to get along well with Yu Qingci. As the matriarch of the household, her upright and honest demeanor left no room for criticism.
Yu Qingci has been living a very leisurely life these days. When she feels like it, she will sit on the swing in the yard and will not forget to tell Tong'er behind her to push her up higher and higher.
Yu Qingyan, along with her younger sister Yu Qingying and the eldest daughter of the fourth branch of the family, Yu Qingning, arrived at the Wisteria Courtyard. This was the scene they saw as soon as they entered the courtyard.
The fourteen-year-old girl sat on the swing, swaying like an elf and radiating light. She had a relaxed and serene smile on her face. Her outfit was distinctive but not eye-catching, yet it gave people the illusion that they couldn't take their eyes off her. Yu Qingyan suddenly found this scene very jarring.
But she quickly composed herself and stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Third sister, you're in such high spirits! With your wedding approaching, I thought you'd been busy embroidering your wedding dress in the house all this time."
Yu Qingci was enjoying herself on the swing when she saw the group of people come in, which dampened her spirits. However, she still gestured for Tong'er to hold onto the swing so she could get off.
After regaining her footing, she said to the group, "Wasn't my wedding dress made by the embroidery workshop outside at Mother's request? There's no need for me to do it myself. Second sister, fourth sister, and fifth sister, it's rare for you to come and see me, please come inside and sit down."
He then led the group into the main hall.
After entering the main hall, Yu Qingying stared wide-eyed as she carefully examined the furnishings. The room was furnished entirely with huanghuali furniture, exuding wealth and grandeur. The display cabinet was filled with valuable ornaments, and even the teacups brought by the maids were a complete set of antique kiln doucai lotus teacups, demonstrating how comfortable and carefree her life was.
Yu Qingying felt a pang of jealousy. Her father really favored this little brat who came home halfway through the journey. It was infuriating!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com