When Li Wei heard that Cui Niang was going to pay for his house, he immediately went to Cui Da and firmly refused to let Cui Niang pay.
“Brother, we are all very relieved and satisfied that my sister is marrying you. Please don’t refuse. Anyway, all the money my sister has saved up over the years is just sitting there doing nothing. She can take it with her when she marries you.” Cui Da said with a smile, patting Li Wei on the shoulder.
“Brother Cui, Miss Cui’s money is her dowry. Although I, Li Wei, am not from a wealthy family, I have no reason to use a bride’s dowry to furnish a house before the wedding. So please tell Miss Cui not to worry about the house and courtyard. Even if I have to borrow money, I will first furnish this house myself,” Li Wei said to Brother Cui with a serious expression.
When Cui Niang received Cui Da's message, she felt a pang of sadness. She knew that with Li Wei's family fortune, plus the money he had saved from serving the Fourth Master over the years, it wouldn't be enough to buy a courtyard in the capital. His monthly salary was fixed, and he also sent money home to support his elderly mother and subsidize his brothers. How much money would he have left?
But Li Wei's words earned Cui Niang's respect. A man of principle would not easily accept a woman's kindness.
"Cui Niang!" Lanqin's voice suddenly rang out behind Cui Niang.
"Master!" Cui Niang immediately snapped out of her reverie and turned around to see Lan Qin looking at her with a curious expression.
"Cui Niang! What's wrong with you these past few days? I called you three times before you heard me," Lanqin said. These past few days, Cui Niang has been somewhat absent-minded, often forgetting this or that, which is completely different from her usual shrewd and capable self.
"It's nothing, I've just been a little forgetful these past few days. Please punish me, Master!" Cui Niang looked at Lan Qin with a guilty expression.
“Cui Niang, something must be wrong, right?” Lan Qin asked, staring into Cui Niang’s eyes.
"My lady, I really have nothing to say." Cui Niang didn't want to trouble Lan Qin anymore. Her mistress already had enough to do, including worrying about her marriage.
"Wait, is something wrong with Li Wei?" Lan Qin guessed.
Seeing that Lanqin had guessed her thoughts at a glance, Cui Niang could only nod and say, "Master, Li Wei is a good man. He is unwilling to accept my money to build a courtyard."
When Lanqin heard what it was about, she had just thought that Li Wei had changed his mind and was no longer willing to marry Cui Niang, and she was determined to go and scold him.
"What was his reason?" Lanqin asked, relieved.
“He said that a good man would never use a woman’s dowry money to build a house. He said that even if he had to borrow, he would never use a servant’s money,” said Cui Niang.
Straightforward male chauvinist! A chauvinist!
Lanqin silently cursed Li Wei in her heart. But he was a person from three hundred years ago, so it was perfectly normal!
"Let Li Wei in to see this concubine!" Lanqin said after a moment's thought.
"My lady! I understand his feelings, please don't blame him!" Seeing Lanqin's slightly angry expression, Cui Niang was afraid that she would blame Li Wei, so she immediately said.
"Hey! This person hasn't even married into the family yet, and they're already defending her!" Lanqin covered her mouth and laughed, and the maids behind her, Sihua and Shuiling, also started laughing.
"Master!" Cui Niang blushed so much that even the roots of her ears turned red.
"Don't worry, I can't bear to blame your Li Wei. I have a way to get your master to quickly furnish the courtyard without him feeling that your money was used. Go and tell your elder brother to let Li Wei come in to see me, his concubine," Lanqin said.
When Cui Niang heard Lan Qin say this, she immediately agreed.
In less than half a day, Li Wei entered the South Courtyard.
"This servant greets Consort Lanqin!" Li Wei bowed deeply when he saw Lanqin emerging from the bedroom, supported by a maid.
Lanqin held the handkerchief and carefully examined Li Wei. And indeed, after several years of hardship, the once somewhat frail scholar had changed completely. He now looked shrewd and capable, his scholarly air had diminished, and his eyes held a stronger, more resolute will.
"Rise, please take a seat! Serve tea!" Lanqin sat upright in the main seat and gestured for Li Wei to sit down.
"Thank you, Consort Xie!" Li Wei said cautiously, only sitting on one side.
"I heard that you are unwilling to accept Cui Niang's dowry to purchase a house?" Lanqin asked. At this moment, Cui Niang had been sent away. Otherwise, Li Wei probably wouldn't have been able to say anything in her presence. However, Cui Niang was currently hiding in the inner room, and she heard the entire conversation outside.
Li Wei understood that Lan Qin had summoned him suddenly because of this matter, so he had already prepared his explanation.
“Reporting to Consort Cui, Li Wei is poor, and has an elderly mother and brothers at home. Therefore, the silver he has saved over the years is not enough to buy a courtyard in the capital. I am afraid that this will be unfair to Miss Cui,” Li Wei said. “Li Wei will certainly find a way himself, so please do not persuade me, Consort Cui.”
Lanqin hadn't expected Li Wei to be so difficult to talk to; before she could even speak, he had cut her off completely. Inside, Cui Niang, though saddened by what she heard, also admired Li Wei's character.
"Then tell me now, do you like Cui Niang or not? Besides not having enough money to buy the courtyard, do you have any other reasons? Is it because you don't want to marry her?" Lanqin said bluntly. She didn't want to marry Cui Niang to a man who didn't like her, no matter how promising his future might be.
Cui Niang's heart was immediately gripped by Lan Qin's words; she herself had this concern. She had the same question in her mind when Li Wei refused her money.
Li Wei blushed instantly. He hadn't expected his concubine to ask such a direct question, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.
Seeing his silence, Lanqin felt a chill in her heart. She said coldly, "Li Wei, listen to me. If you're only doing this because you don't have enough money, and you don't actually like Cui Niang or want to marry her, but only agreed for the sake of the Fourth Prince, then I advise you to tell me the truth now. I won't blame you, and the Fourth Prince won't reprimand you either. Cui Niang absolutely cannot marry someone who doesn't love her. I can't bear to see her like that!"
Li Wei immediately stood up, bowed to Lanqin, and said, "This servant has absolutely no intention of disliking Miss Cui. Please do not misunderstand, Consort. This servant thinks Miss Cui is of virtuous character and appearance, and I would be more than happy to have her. That is why I do not want to wrong Miss Cui."
When Cui Niang, who was inside the room, heard Li Wei say those words, her face turned as red as an apple. The others beside her, including Xi Cha, also covered their mouths and laughed.
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