“Madam.” Liu Fangniang looked at Song Xia with burning eyes, her expression full of smugness. Without waiting for Song Xia to say anything, she sat down on a chair next to her.
Song Xia put her teacup down with a light touch, but it was just enough to make people aware of her displeasure.
"The Empress's decree has not yet been issued, and Concubine Liu has already broken the rules. If word gets out, I don't know if the palace will mind."
Liu Fangniang's expression changed, and she gritted her teeth at Song Xia. Could it be that this person still wanted to do something to ruin this marriage at this time?
Before she could say anything, Zhou Yongli frowned: "You seem very unhappy that Yingjie is so successful."
"Should the master be happy? The daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites has actually been having a secret rendezvous with His Highness Prince Huai. If this gets out, won't it damage the reputation of the entire Zhou family?"
Liu Fangniang scoffed, "Being able to marry Prince Huai is something many people in the capital envy. Ying'er is marrying into a high position, Madam should be happy, why are you saying such discouraging things?"
Song Xia looked coldly at Liu Fangniang: "Did I ask you to speak? Even if Yingjie climbs the social ladder, it won't change your status. You short-sighted thing, we haven't even settled the score with Aunt Meng for the lost child yet, what are you trying to prove by dressing up like this?"
After scolding her, Song Xia said to Zhou Yongli, "Even if you dote on Concubine Liu, you shouldn't let Concubine Meng feel disheartened. The Empress's decree hasn't been issued yet, and you and Concubine Liu are already looking so smug. What, do you think that just because Ying'er married Prince Huai, Concubine Liu's status is higher than mine?"
Liu Fangniang's expression changed repeatedly; she never expected that even at this point, Song Xia would still be so defiant.
Yingjie'er didn't marry an ordinary nobleman; she married His Highness Prince Huai!
“My lord feels sorry for Consort Liu. As the mistress of this household, I cannot be unfair. Consort Liu, in your moment of triumph, please remember to come to the main courtyard on time every day.”
Liu Fangniang looked at Zhou Yongli with a wronged expression. Yingjie had made her so proud and was about to marry Prince Huai. Was she supposed to stand up for Song Xia? How could Song Xia dare?
Zhou Yongli's face also darkened: "Song Xia, even for Ying'er's sake, you shouldn't make things difficult for Fangniang anymore."
“It is the proper order for a concubine to serve the mistress. Is it difficult for you, my lord? Concubine Gao and Concubine Meng come to pay their respects to me every day. Why don’t you say a word for them?”
"How can these be the same?"
"Aren't they all concubines? What's the difference? Or does the young master think that Ying'er, born to Concubine Liu, has a different status because she married Prince Huai? Do you expect me, the county princess, to give up my position as the mistress of the house? Zhou Yongli, the world hasn't changed yet!"
Song Xia looked at the two of them with a mocking expression: "No matter how you look at it, there's no reason for the young master to change the rules of etiquette for a concubine like Aunt Liu. Otherwise, let's go to the palace and see what the Empress has to say."
Zhou Yongli glared at her resentfully: "Now that Ying'er is doing so well, can't you give Fangniang some dignity?"
“No.” Song Xia smiled. “A concubine is a concubine. I can’t stand her arrogant attitude. Otherwise, people will think that I, the county princess, am incompetent at managing the household.”
Liu Fangniang suddenly stood up: "Song Xia, my daughter will soon be Prince Huai's concubine, aren't you afraid?"
Song Xia's face suddenly darkened: "Slap him."
Without saying a word, the old woman went up and slapped Liu Fang's mother twice.
Song Xia sneered: "My lord, did you see that? This is the rule of your beloved concubine Liu. This Ying'er is already so arrogant before she even entered the Prince Huai's mansion. Once she marries into the family, will she still ride on my head, the principal wife? People who know her will think she's marrying into the Prince Huai's family as a concubine, but people who don't know her will think Fang'er is marrying into the Empress! Even the current Empress is extremely polite to me."
Zhou Yongli was speechless after being rebuked, while Liu Fangniang, bearing two slap marks, had red eyes from anger.
She thought she could finally stand up straight from now on, but she never expected Song Xia to still be so arrogant!
His Highness Prince Huai is destined to ascend the throne, and then Ying-jie will be the imperial concubine. Song Xia, let's see how long you can be so smug!
"Is there anything else? If not, you may return. I entered the palace a little early today, and I need to rest. Concubine Liu may stay and serve you."
Zhou Yongli quickly said, "There is one more thing. What are your plans for Ying'er's dowry?"
"Dowry? Doesn't the household have regulations? What else needs to be prepared?"
Liu Fangniang's chest began to rise and fall again. Yingjie was to marry His Highness Prince Huai. How could she be treated according to the usual rules for the marriage of a concubine's daughter?
Zhou Yongli also said in a deep voice: "I know you have always disliked Fangniang and Yingjie, but Yingjie is married to His Highness Prince Huai!"
Song Xia scoffed: "Does the young master mean that the dowry given according to regulations is too small? Don't forget that Ying'er will only be a concubine after she marries into the family."
"You know she's a concubine, a concubine of Prince Huai, but she still has a rank."
"My lord seems to have forgotten that Ying'er already had one principal wife, two secondary wives, and three concubines before her. Ying'er entered the manor later, so she can't possibly bypass these ladies. Before questioning her, shouldn't you first check the dowries of these ladies when they married into the Prince Huai's manor?"
Liu Fangniang looked at Zhou Yongli anxiously, only to see Zhou Yongli's expression change.
His Highness Prince Huai's principal wife is the granddaughter of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister himself came from a humble background and was known among the people for his integrity and impartiality. Therefore, when the Prime Minister's granddaughter married Prince Huai, her dowry was only average, which was even ridiculed by His Majesty at the time.
However, while His Majesty appeared to be mocking him, he was actually praising the Prime Minister for his integrity and uprightness, and subsequently bestowed upon him many fine gifts.
With the princess as her dowry leader, the two concubines who followed her into the mansion dared not overtake her, so their dowry was reduced by 20%. As for the three concubines who came after, their dowry would probably be reduced even further.
So Song Xia was right; Ying Jie'er really shouldn't have a heavy dowry.
"His Majesty has always favored Prince Huai, and Prince Huai is not lacking in Ying'er's dowry. He won't mind. If our Zhou family provides too much dowry, I'm afraid the families of those ladies will think that our Zhou family is provoking them, and if they complain to His Majesty... Young master, do you still want to be the Vice Minister of Rites?"
Knowing that Song Xia did it on purpose, Zhou Yongli still had to thank her: "Madam is very thoughtful."
Liu Fangniang stared in astonishment, mouth agape. So, Yingjie's generous dowry was gone?
"Yonglang..."
"Shut up!" Song Xia scolded again. "I told you, you have no right to speak here. Luckily, I hired palace maids and nannies to teach Ying-jie etiquette. Otherwise, I wouldn't feel at ease if she stayed with you and married into the Prince Huai's mansion."
Liu Fangniang's face twisted in disbelief. Yingjie'er's ability to win Huai Wang's favor was clearly due to her own advice and Yingjie'er's own likability. How could it be attributed to her in Song Xia's words?
Even now, how dare Song Xia treat me like this? Isn't she afraid?
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