When Hai entered, Aunt Zeng was half leaning against the head of the bed, with a wet nurse holding a child beside her.
She seemed not to notice that someone had entered the room, and her gentle gaze remained on the child.
Hai took a quick look around the room. Whether it was the furnishings or the daily expenses, none of them were in the order of a concubine.
Shuang'er saw this and reminded, "Auntie, the Third Madam is here."
Aunt Zeng then slowly raised her eyelids with a faint smile on her face, "The Third Madam is here, please sit down."
If you don't know her, you might think she's the first wife of the eldest house. After having a child, she started to act so arrogantly.
A servant brought a brocade stool to the bedside and asked the third lady to sit down.
Hai sat down and asked, "Aunt Zeng asked me to come, but what's the matter?"
Aunt Zeng waved her hand, signaling the nurse to take the child down first. She then told Shuang'er, "Bring the things here."
After receiving the instructions, Shuang'er turned around and took out a mahogany carved brocade box from the cabinet.
Aunt Zeng said to Hai: "The Third Madam will go to Prince Ning's Mansion tomorrow, right? Unfortunately, I am still in confinement after giving birth, so I can't go."
Hai looked puzzled, thinking to herself, "Even if you're not in confinement, you're not eligible to go. It would be a joke for the Su family to let a concubine attend the wedding of Prince Ning and Miss Shen San."
But Hai was proud, and she was too disdainful to say these things to a concubine, so she just listened quietly without saying anything.
Seeing this, Aunt Zeng assumed that Hai was also in awe of her. Ever since she gave birth to this son, she felt that the only difference between her and the Marquis's wife was a title. Therefore, she did not consider Hai inferior to her.
Girls from small business families didn't understand many of the rules, and they didn't understand that status was the most important thing for aristocratic families.
Aunt Zeng continued, "This is a gift I prepared for Princess Ning. Please, Madam San, pass it on for me."
“I can’t go in person, but I can always get the thought.”
As she spoke, Aunt Zeng had a hint of pride on her face. The child she had given birth to was Prince Ning's biological brother. From then on, both she and her son would have no worries about their future.
She didn't know that there was no such thing as a wedding gift on the wedding day. The gift was only given on the second day of the wedding, when the bride woke up early to offer tea.
She was afraid of missing this opportunity, so she asked the third wife, Hai, to come over and ask her for help. However, although she was asking for help, she did not have the attitude of asking for help.
While Concubine Zeng was talking, Shuang'er had already opened the box. Inside was a set of Dongzhu head ornaments. The quality looked average, but the workmanship was quite exquisite. This set was worth 1,800 taels of silver, which was a huge expense for Concubine Zeng.
Finally, Hai couldn't help herself and said to Aunt Zeng, "If you don't know the rules of the Marquis' Mansion, I can ask a nanny to teach you."
"Or if something like this happens in the future, you should ask the Marquis first."
Hai, who is always polite and gentle, couldn't help but put a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
Although Aunt Zeng didn't understand what Hai meant, she was not stupid and could tell that she was mocking her.
He said unhappily, "What do you mean, Madam San? If you have something to say, please speak directly."
Hai spoke in a deep voice, "According to the rules of the Su family, when a younger generation gets married, the concubine does not need to give a gift. It's not just the Su family. Almost any respectable family in the capital will not let a concubine give a gift to the bride."
"Mrs. Zeng has good intentions and wants to bring honor to the Marquis. But she should also learn some etiquette and not act recklessly and bring shame to the Su family."
Tomorrow the Emperor will personally preside over the wedding. Those who will attend the ceremony will be either close relatives or important officials in the court, who are either rich or noble.
She eagerly took something out and gave it to Princess Ning, saying it was a gift from the concubine of the Su family?
Thinking of that scene, Hai couldn't help but shudder.
In fact, Zeng Yi Niang was not completely unaware of what Hai Shi said. She just thought she was different from other Yi Niangs, and that her status could only be enhanced by her son.
Unexpectedly, Hai did not indulge her. Her words made Aunt Zeng's face turn red and white.
After saying this, Hai stood up and walked out.
Aunt Zeng sat on the bed, staring intently at Hai's back as she left. It was just that her family background was better than hers, so what was there to pretend about?
She must find a way to let her son inherit the title. Even if she cannot become the marquis's wife, she can at least become the dowager's wife.
Shuang'er still held the mahogany box in her hand and asked in a low voice, "Auntie, what should we do with this thing?"
Aunt Zeng snorted, "Since they don't want it, there's no need to cling to them. I spent a lot of money on this set of jewelry, so this is a saving."
Even so, he still felt unwilling to accept the situation. He had made up his mind to teach Hai a lesson.
*
According to the customs of marriage in the capital, the bride was to be picked up after noon. The wedding procession would have a banquet at the Shen family before taking the bride back to the Ning Wang Mansion.
However, the Shen family was filial, so they did not invite guests to a banquet. The time for picking up the bride was moved back.
There are not many people in charge of the Ning Wang Mansion, so today in the outer courtyard, Song Hongshen and Zhang Pan also helped Su Yuanzhou entertain guests.
Lin Wanyin was in charge of the inner courtyard alone, and the trivial matters were handed over to Bai Sulian. Lin Wanli and Lin Wuchen helped to handle the affairs of the outer courtyard.
Today's morning court was held as usual. After the court, Emperor Xuande came to Prince Ning's Mansion.
Accompanying him were the chief minister of the cabinet, Chen Zheng, and Marquis of Loyalty, Song Zan.
The guests who arrived early were thankful for having arrived early and crowded at the door to welcome the emperor.
Everyone knelt on the ground and shouted "Long live the emperor", and together with the Dragon Guards who were protecting the emperor's carriage, the gate of Prince Ning's mansion was suddenly packed with people.
Emperor Xuande personally helped Su Yuanzhou up from his kneeling position before him, and looking at him from head to toe in his bright red auspicious attire, he surveyed him several times. The look in Su Yuanzhou's eyes was filled with the satisfaction of seeing his own nephew grow up.
"Hurry up and get up. I've arrived just in time to take you out to meet your bride."
When he looked at Su Yuanzhou, he often thought: If Yongning were still alive, how happy he would be to see this child get married with his own eyes.
The guests nearby looked at Su Yuanzhou with envy. At such a young age, he was so valued by the emperor. His Royal Highness Prince Ning was really lucky.
Several officials from the Ministry of Rites were also at the palace today, helping with the wedding ceremony. Huang Zhong, the Minister of Rites, was very observant and knew that Emperor Xuande valued His Royal Highness Prince Ning, so he stepped forward and spoke.
"Your Majesty, you must take the seat in the hall today. Today we will not bow three times, but four times. First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to the king, third bow to the parents, and finally husband and wife bow to each other."
Of course, this is also the custom for the emperor to personally attend the wedding ceremony, and the Ning Wang Mansion is not the first to do so.
At this moment, Su Chengye was also in the crowd, and some officials who did not understand what was going on spoke flatteringly on the side.
"So, today, Marquis Su can join the Emperor in receiving His Royal Highness Prince Ning's homage. Not many civil and military officials in the court have this honor."
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