Chapter 322 Ambition
In her previous life, the Xiao family only gave her two hundred taels of silver, but now they are being generous with the dowry money. This stack of money must be worth at least several thousand or even tens of thousands of taels.
Qi Yuxuan stuffed the silver notes into the envelope and placed it back on the table:
“In the past, Minister Xiao held the rank of second grade and his annual salary was only 1,800 taels. After he was released from mourning, he was not reinstated to his original position. This money is probably the savings that the Xiao family has accumulated over ten years. It is shameful for Chang Le to accept it as a dowry.”
She said she felt unworthy of the gift, but the smile on her face was indifferent, as if she was mocking the Xiao family for their extravagant spending, suggesting that it wasn't a genuine donation but rather a way to buy peace of mind.
Xiao Jue understood her meaning and felt a bit choked up. If she really wanted to win the favor of the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess through this matter, she wouldn't give them money in private.
He frowned: "We... just hope that the princess will have a better life in Yue Kingdom, that's all."
"If, in the future, there is anything in Yue Kingdom that the Xiao family can help you with, if the princess does not mind, the Xiao family will certainly do everything in its power to support her..." He had barely finished speaking when he saw the young girl's expression growing colder and he quickly changed his words:
"That's enough. We've already received our retribution for what happened before. Please accept these silver notes, Princess. I won't disturb your rest any longer."
Having said that, he couldn't stay a moment longer and hurriedly left.
Now that Xiao Su has resigned from his official post and is living a precarious life at home, it is unknown when he will pass away. Xiao Jue has become the highest-ranking member of the Xiao family in the court and has naturally become the head of the Xiao family.
For this dowry, he, his mother, and Xiao Jin defied public opinion and sold several of the Xiao family's shops to raise 10,000 taels of silver, which he then brought to Qi Yuxuan.
Qi Yuxuan was right; this was indeed the Xiao family's accumulated wealth over the past ten years.
Nowadays, most of the servants of the Xiao family in the capital have been dismissed, and their residence has been changed from the large house not far from the Princess's residence to a secluded three-courtyard house, which is just big enough for the five members of the Xiao family.
Seeing that Lord Xiao came out in no time, Qin Yuan was a little puzzled. He spoke so quickly, and it didn't seem to be anything very important. Why did he have to come in the middle of the night and disturb the princess's sleep?
She saw the person off, looking rather unwell.
Before she could ask the princess if she was going to sleep, she saw that the candles in the room had also gone out, and Qin Yuan felt relieved to continue guarding the palace.
The next morning, Qi Yuxuan had a good sleep and woke up on her own when she heard birds chirping outside the window. No one had to call her.
Several maids carried in some things, along with two women dressed in festive attire.
"This humble subject pays respects to Princess Chang Le—"
The two women knelt before her with their heads bowed. Both were dressed in red and wore red silk flowers in their hair. Qi Yuxuan knew at a glance that they were the ladies who had dressed her up for the day. She calmly called them to rise.
After rinsing her mouth and washing her face, the maids methodically completed everything according to her daily morning routine before stepping back a few steps and standing aside with all the jewelry and clothes the bride was wearing.
The two maids were in charge of combing hair and applying makeup, and each was more skillful than the other. They worked on the head and face at the same time, and Qi Yuxuan only needed to close her eyes and sit quietly.
Suddenly, the woman combing her hair, her voice choked with emotion, smiled and said:
“This morning, there were magpies on the branches outside the window announcing good news. This is a very auspicious sign. The princess will surely get what she wants on this trip.”
Upon hearing the voice, Qi Yuxuan opened her eyes and slowly looked over.
I met a familiar face.
"Aunt Meng?" she exclaimed in surprise, "How come you..."
Aunt Meng is the most respected female official in charge of affairs by my mother's side. She's not in the capital accompanying her, so why has she come here too?!
Meng Xian gently straightened her head with his fingers, gesturing for her to look in the bronze mirror:
"Princess, please don't blame His Highness for sending me to comb your hair. Kuncheng is a thousand miles away from the capital. His Highness originally wanted to come in person, but the Crown Prince refused to let me go, fearing that the bumpy journey would harm His Highness's health."
Qi Yuxuan opened her eyes wide in shock, her eyes already moist:
"How could I blame my mother..."
Looking at the young girl in the bronze mirror, whose beauty was already captivating even without makeup, Meng Xian combed her hair, saying, "Then I am honored that the princess does not mind. One comb to the end, two combs to white hair reaching the eyebrows, three combs to a house full of children and grandchildren..."
As the hair-combing song came to an end, Qi Yuxuan clenched her hands, which were clasped on her lap, into fists, forcing herself not to shed another tear.
Meng Xian combed her hair, his expression gradually becoming solemn:
"His Highness guessed that the Princess might have other plans. His Highness said that no matter what the Princess does, His Highness will believe in her and support her, except for one thing—"
"Your Highness, you must always put your own life first, even before the State of Qi. You told me, is it possible to do that?"
Although it wasn't meant to be a threat, Qi Yuxuan inexplicably sensed a warning in Meng Xian's words.
It was as if if she said she might not survive this trip, Meng Xian would immediately kidnap her and abandon the marriage proposal.
The eldest princess is perfectly capable of doing something so audacious.
Qi Yuxuan nodded earnestly: "Aunt Meng, I can do it."
"No matter what happens, I will do my best to survive."
As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn; once a person dies, all wealth and glory are meaningless.
Meng Xian gave a gentle smile: "Alright, we all believe in the princess."
In the past, when people married for political reasons, they would bestow honors upon the princesses. This time, everything was rushed. The letter from Yue Kingdom also said that they did not need any grand or prestigious titles, only Qi Yuxuan herself.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, everything about Xuanyuan Ze in Qi has not been erased. Therefore, almost everyone believes that Princess Chang Le and Xuanyuan Ze, who had not yet returned to Yue, were childhood sweethearts and innocent lovers. This is why, in this day and age, there is a possibility of ending the war through a marriage between the two countries.
Whether she is a princess or a county princess doesn't really matter.
Before everyone's eyes, Qi Yuxuan, who had finished dressing up and changed into her wedding dress, had shed her previous naivety of going bare-faced and was now exuding an air of dignity and nobility, radiating an aura of authority without anger.
Her long black hair was styled into a nine-phoenix-facing-the-sun bun, and a phoenix crown inlaid with gold filigree and pearls hung down in front of her forehead. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains with dark eyebrows, and her eyes were bright and intelligent, combining strength and gentleness.
The wedding dress she wore, embroidered with gold cloud and dragon patterns, was made to the same standard as the Empress's wedding dress. Although the Prince of Xiaoyao had not yet ascended the throne, the Yue Kingdom was welcoming her with the honor of an Empress, and the Qi Kingdom would not lower its status at such a time.
Everyone present knew that Princess Chang Le was never the kind of pretty, delicate, quiet, and innocent girl.
At this moment, she was dressed in the most beautiful and graceful bridal attire, yet there was no trace of shyness or anticipation in her eyes, nor any reluctance to leave for the upcoming marriage alliance.
Only intelligence and ambition.
What does a county magistrate have to do?
Just as everyone was on tenterhooks, the next moment, the bride in the bronze mirror showed an expression of amazement at her own beauty. Seeing the others' inexplicably relieved looks, Qi Yuxuan temporarily suppressed her thoughts.
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