Jiang Huaiyu let out a long breath, her face clouded with worry. "I understand the hardships my family has endured. However, if I were to marry into a family with nothing, the Jiang family would likely be branded as mean and would severely damage my father's reputation."
Jiang Shuqin smiled dismissively: "What? Scared?"
She looked at Jiang Huaiyu with a hint of mockery in her eyes, her arms crossed.
"You can rest assured. My father holds an important position at the Imperial Academy. How could I allow him to be disgraced because of you? Jiang Huaiyu, don't you always like to show off your literary talent? Anyway, our family has a mountain of books, so why not use them as part of your dowry? It's better than nothing. Don't you think so?"
Madam Hao chimed in, "Huaiyu, your father favors Bai Yujing greatly. Bai Yujing comes from a humble background but is of pure and kind nature. He will naturally not neglect you because of your meager dowry. Besides, he is a learned man himself. If you marry him with a cart full of books, it will perfectly suit his tastes. After you are married, he will study diligently to pursue fame and fortune, while you will manage the household affairs. Your life will surely be harmonious, and you will never suffer any losses."
Jiang Huaiyu sighed inwardly, thinking that he would suffer endless torment instead of getting the benefits!
Jiang Shuqin was overjoyed, thinking to herself that Bai Yujing was nothing more than a poor scholar, seemingly refined and handsome on the surface, but a pedantic person at heart. Add to that the stubborn old woman and the manipulative, scheming cousin, and she simply couldn't handle them all by herself!
Not only did she have to rely on her dowry to support the entire family, but even when her brother-in-law's business suffered losses, it was her hard-earned money that covered the deficit.
Jiang Shuqin was secretly delighted, thinking that Jiang Huaiyu no longer had a generous dowry, and the Bai family was in dire straits. She was really looking forward to seeing how Jiang Huaiyu would establish herself in the Bai family in the future!
Thinking of this, Jiang Shuqin felt even more cheerful, and simply buried her head in Hao Shi's arms like a little girl, acting coquettishly, and not forgetting to give Jiang Huaiyu a provocative glance.
"I have something to say to my mother, what are you still standing here for?"
Jiang Huaiyu understood that things had come to this point and there was no way to change it, so he silently turned around and left the room.
Behind me, the intimate conversation between the mother and daughter gradually reached my ears.
"Thank you, Mother. You have always been the most loving mother to me, even going so far as to change this marriage for me! That's wonderful!"
"Silly girl, you are my own flesh and blood. If I don't treat you well, who else can I treat well? But how can you be so sure that Prince Qin will recover his health? What if..."
"There is absolutely no 'what if,' he will definitely recover completely, Mother, please believe me!"
...
The night was as dark as ink. Jiang Huaiyu, holding a cup of tea, slowly walked to Jiang Wenyuan's study. She gently pushed open the door, and a fragrant aroma of books wafted out. Inside the study, Jiang Wenyuan sat at his desk, his brows furrowed, deep in thought.
Jiang Huaiyu bowed and said softly, "Father, it's late. I've brought you a cup of tea."
Jiang Wenyuan raised his head, his gaze lingering on Jiang Huaiyu for a moment, and nodded slightly: "Yes, put it down."
Jiang Huaiyu placed the teacup on the table, then slowly said, "Father, I have a request."
Jiang Wenyuan raised an eyebrow, put down his pen, and asked, "What is it?"
Just as Jiang Huaiyu was about to speak, Jiang Wenyuan said coldly, "If it's about the dowry, then there's no need to waste words. Your mother replaced Shuqin back then, causing her endless suffering. The Jiang family raised you to adulthood, and this kindness is already a great act of forgiveness. There is absolutely no reason to sacrifice the dowry to satisfy your greed. Besides, Shuqin has already promised to give you some books. At that time, you can take any books from my study that you like."
"Remember, you are only my daughter in name only. We are not related by blood. Don't be too greedy. The Jiang family has never wronged you!" Jiang Wenyuan's words revealed an undeniable warning.
Jiang Huaiyu lowered her eyes slightly, filled with emotion.
Her birth mother, Wu, was a wet nurse hired by the Jiang family from the countryside. Perhaps captivated by the Jiang family's affluent lifestyle, Wu took a desperate gamble and secretly switched her daughter with one of the Jiang family's children. It wasn't until Wu was terminally ill that she revealed this shocking secret to Jiang Shuqin.
Jiang Shuqin successfully returned to her ancestral home. Originally, the Jiang family planned to expel Jiang Huaiyu from the family, but considering that she lost her father at a young age and was also alone after Wu's death, they took her in from the Jiang family out of a sense of sympathy.
However, since then, the Jiang family's attitude towards her has changed drastically. They favor the real daughter, while Jiang Shuqin harbors a deep grudge against this imposter, regarding her as a thorn in her side.
Jiang Huaiyu knew perfectly well that no matter how the Jiang family treated her, as a helpless and vulnerable woman, she could only rely on the Jiang family's protection.
Therefore, in her previous life, she obediently married into the Marquis's mansion, and in this life, she also followed the Jiang family's arrangements and accepted the fate of being exchanged for a wife.
However, this does not mean that she has to accept all arrangements without reservation.
Jiang Huaiyu closed her eyes briefly, her tone calm yet firm, "The Jiang family owes me nothing, and I owe the Jiang family nothing. Although my birth mother made mistakes, Jiang Shuqin actually took away her medicine when she was terminally ill. Is such an act just? That was about the end of a life."
Jiang Wenyuan frowned. "The doctor has clearly stated that your birth mother's life is nearing its end. How can the blame be placed on Shuqin?"
"There is a world of difference between dying from illness and dying without anyone to help you."
"Shuqin did not do it intentionally. She was just angry and acted rashly, making a big mistake. That's why the Jiang family accepted you and allowed you to continue living as a young lady of the Jiang family. Why are you bringing this up again? Do you still harbor resentment?"
Jiang Huaiyu gently shook her head, her expression calm. "My birth mother did make a mistake and deserved the punishment. As her daughter, I dare not have any objections." But the determination in her eyes revealed her inner struggle and persistence.
Jiang Wenyuan glanced at her sideways and gave her a cold look. "It's good that you know what you're doing. The Jiang family has raised you for sixteen years. Don't be like those ungrateful people."
"The kindness of raising you is far greater than the kindness of giving birth to you; your daughter will remember it forever."
Jiang Wenyuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Shuqin harbors resentment towards you and is unwilling to bestow wealth upon you. At that time, I will give you two additional boxes of books, which will greatly benefit your path to the imperial examinations in Baiyujing. You know their value, so go back. In the future, do not bring up those old matters again; they will not benefit the Jiang family, nor will they benefit you."
Jiang Huaiyu knelt down and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your kindness, Father, but I have another request. I hope you will grant me a piece of your calligraphy."
"calligraphy?"
Jiang Huaiyu replied, "The Imperial Academy's Chief Instructor Tu returned to his hometown in glory last year. He is from Liangzhou and was once your father's superior. Therefore, I would like to ask you to write a letter of recommendation to recommend Bai Yujing to Chief Instructor Tu."
Tu Jijiu was a learned and talented scholar, a true erudite scholar who served as the chief examiner for the imperial examinations on multiple occasions and enjoyed a high reputation among scholars throughout the land. To become his disciple meant taking a solid step on the path to the imperial examinations.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com