Chapter 3: Grandson listens to Tan'er's decision
Qiu Chan and Chun Jiao looked at each other and remained standing there without moving.
Shen Qingtan glanced at the two of them calmly, raised her hand to stroke the gold hairpin inlaid with jewels inserted in her hair, and raised her slender eyebrows slightly.
"Before I left, my mother told me that since I was getting married, the maidservants would be part of my dowry, and their indentures would naturally belong to me. Tomorrow, I will go find my second sister and exchange your indentures for mine."
Qiu Chan and Chun Jiao's expressions changed.
"What's your name?" Shen Qingtan looked at Qiu Chan, his tone nonchalant and gentle as if he was chatting with someone: "You look quite old. Let's discuss with the Second Master someday and decide whether it would be more appropriate to assign you to be a doorman or a groom in the stables."
Qiu Chan and Chun Jiao felt a chill in their hearts. They forgot that even if Shen Qingtan was abandoned, he was still their master.
Not only can they be sold at will, but they can also be married off at will.
As maids who came with the dowry, they were quite pretty and it was possible that when their master became pregnant, they would be taken in as concubines by their husbands-in-law to enjoy their happiness.
Marrying a servant or a groom means being a slave for generations.
Qiu Chan's mind raced, sorting out the pros and cons. She became even more cautious and said respectfully, "My lady, my uncle has instructed me to take the phoenix crown off for you."
Shen Qingtan handed his hand to Qiu Chan, and she helped him stand up and sit down in front of the dressing table.
Qiu Chan knew Shen Qingtan was not as soft-tempered as she appeared to be, so she lowered her brows and eyes, not daring to look at the beauty reflected in the bronze mirror, and carefully took off the phoenix crown. She was afraid that if she hurt Shen Qingtan, she would punish her.
After taking off the phoenix crown, Shen Qingtan's neck felt much more relaxed.
"I'm a clear judge of rewards and punishments. You don't have to be so cautious. Just do your part."
Shen Qingtan rubbed his aching neck and looked at the delicate and beautiful Qiu Chan in the yellowed bronze mirror. "You are the maids carefully selected by mother for the dowry. You are as beautiful as flowers and will serve the master in the future. It would be a pity to marry you off to a servant and a groom."
Qiu Chan's hand trembled and he didn't dare to breathe.
Chunjiao went out for a while, and after a while, she came back with a rosewood box inlaid with various treasures and carved with patterns, and then placed the food in the box on the table one by one.
The meals include shredded chicken porridge, stir-fried wild rice stem with pickled cauliflower, dried green bamboo shoots with pork embryos, Ruyi rolls, and white bee cake.
Although there are many types, the portions are small and exquisite, and they look very appetizing.
A warm feeling surged in Shen Qingtan's heart. She hadn't eaten for a day and couldn't eat anything too greasy.
If you only want to eat light porridge but don’t feel too hungry, adding some shredded chicken would be just right.
Her tense nerves relaxed a little after drinking this bowl of hot porridge.
——
Zhao Yi went to the study in the front yard and sent a servant to invite the old lady, the masters of the first and second houses, and Zhao Jue to come over.
A quarter of an hour later, several people arrived at the study.
The old lady looked solemn: "Yier, you called us here, but is there something wrong?"
Zhao Yi did not invite the old Duke over, but invited her instead, probably because of something happening in the back house.
The eldest master frowned. He knew his sons well. If he invited them to the banquet, he was afraid that something big would happen.
The second master knew what Zhao Yi was doing, but since the matter was done, he was not afraid of any complications.
Zhao Jue also knew the truth, and it was probably Zhao Yi who knew that the bride had been replaced.
My grandfather was still alive, and no one in my father's generation had been asked to be named the crown prince. My grandfather was planning to ask for the title of crown grandson.
The heir apparent is usually the eldest grandson in the legitimate line. Zhao Yi has a half-brother who is the eldest grandson in the legitimate line.
Zhao Jue breathed a sigh of relief when he remembered that he and Shen Mingzhu had already gotten married, and there would basically be no changes.
He frowned and said, "Second brother, today is a big day for you and me, and the guests are waiting for us to toast. What happened that needs to be dealt with at this time?"
His words seemed to be condemning Zhao Yi for not knowing the seriousness of the matter.
"Grandma, something happened in my courtyard." Zhao Yi first replied to the old lady, then turned to look at Zhao Jue: "Third brother, did your sister-in-law say anything to you?"
"Brother, I just sent the bride to the bridal chamber and then came out to entertain the guests. I haven't even taken off the veil yet, what can I say?" Zhao Jue looked at Zhao Yi with a puzzled expression. "Qingtan is a dignified person. She wouldn't gossip in front of me right after entering the bridal chamber. Could something have happened to her?"
"Really? I thought Second Miss Shen would warn Third Brother when she realized she had married the wrong person." Zhao Yi coughed lightly, his handsome face turning pale. "I just escorted the bride to the bridal chamber, and she said I was holding the wrong person and bowing in the wrong hall. I disregarded etiquette and lifted the veil first, only to discover that it was First Miss Shen I was bowing in the hall with."
The old lady was shocked: "This...how is this possible?"
The master was also shocked.
The second master pretended to be surprised and asked, "What should we do then?"
Zhao Jue was stunned and looked at Zhao Yi in disbelief, as if he didn't understand what he was saying.
"Miss Shen recognized me by the look of my hands when she stepped out of the wedding sedan. After all, I am weak and frail, while my third brother is strong and robust. Not only are our body shapes different, but our skin colors are also different. She didn't point it out right away, simply to save the Duke's family's reputation."
In the past, no matter what the second house did, Zhao Yi turned a blind eye.
Now that he has been plotted against, he will definitely not sit idly by.
"Third brother hasn't revealed the veil yet, so only a few of us know the inside story." Zhao Yi deliberately suggested, "You and Miss Shen have been childhood sweethearts, and your relationship is very close. We can exchange them now."
Zhao Yi used a lot of force and put Zhao Jue on the fire.
Zhao Jue's face looked grim, and he was in a dilemma.
If it was revealed before the wedding, he could have a hundred ways to kill Shen Qingtan quietly and make room for him as the wife.
Now that they have been married, if she changes back, even if Shen Mingzhu asks for a divorce, there is no way she will marry him again.
If he was unwilling to change it back, with the old lady's wisdom and shrewdness, she would definitely guess that there was something fishy about this matter.
Zhao Yi definitely did it on purpose, just to expose him in front of the old lady.
The second master sighed and said, "This has already been married and sent to the bridal chamber. How can it be changed back? What's the difference between this and getting married for the second time? A woman of such a chaste character would probably not survive."
He said in a high-sounding manner, "Anyway, they are twins, and both are marrying into our mansion. Miss Shen is extremely talented and has been cultivated as a royal consort since she was young. Yi'er is the eldest grandson and will be the head of the Duke's Mansion in the future. She is a better match for Miss Shen."
The old lady looked at the second master coldly, then at the silent Zhao Jue, with disappointment flashing in her eyes.
Given the status of the Marquis of Cheng'en and their strict conduct, how could they possibly get into the wrong wedding sedan?
Everyone in the capital knew that Zhao Yi was a weak civil servant, while Zhao Jue was a strong, brave and good at fighting, and was a military officer.
Anyone who is not stupid can tell the difference between two people.
As soon as Shen Qingtan entered the bridal chamber, he explained the situation to Zhao Yi.
However, Shen Mingzhu did not notice anything unusual, which means that she was pretending to be ignorant even though she knew the truth, just because she wanted to marry Zhao Jue.
The facts are right in front of us, what else does the old lady not understand?
Now looking back, the Marquis' Mansion set the wedding date on the same day, and the two sisters wore the same bright red woven colorful round-necked long-sleeved robe. It goes without saying that this was a deliberate preparation to change the bride.
Especially now seeing the reactions of the second wife's father and son, the old lady guessed that they had colluded with the Cheng'en Marquis' Mansion.
For their own selfish reasons, they tore off the face of the Duke's Mansion and threw it on the ground.
The old lady looked serious and asked in a deep voice, "Jue'er, what are you going to do?"
Zhao Jue lowered his eyes: "Grandson will obey Tan'er's decision."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
