Chapter 76 Who wants to take advantage of her?

Soon, the news that Ruan Qinghuan was conferred the title of a first-rank lady spread to the Ruan family. Zhou Yunzhi was so excited that she burst into tears when she heard the news. The old lady exclaimed that Ruan Qinghuan was a blessed person. The first wife was very happy, but the second wife was filled with sorrow.

"Mom, Ruan Qinghuan is so lucky that she was granted the title of Lady of Imperial Concubine as soon as she returned to Beijing." She couldn't continue embroidering the pattern in her hands, so she threw it into the basket in anger.

Who didn't know at that time that the Prime Minister didn't want to marry her?

Ruan Xiaorou advised, "It's a good thing that my cousin was given the title of Consort. Our family will also benefit from it."

"What do you know? Who wants to take advantage of her?" Ruan Xiaoyue glared at her sister. "I really don't know if you are crazy or just stupid. Now that Ruan Qinghuan has the imperial decree, she will be even more arrogant in the future. She might even step on our heads."

"No, my cousin is not that kind of person."

Ruan Xiaoyue was furious. Upon hearing this, she stood up and confronted her sister: "Am I your sister, or is she your sister? You are such a traitor." After saying that, she pushed Ruan Xiaorou down on the chair.

Ruan Xiaorou looked at her mother aggrievedly.

Zheng Qiaohui was annoyed when she saw this: "Alright, alright, why are you angry with your sister? You're getting married soon anyway. The Pei family is also a military family. I heard that your grandfather was a second-rank general."

Ruan Xiaoyue pursed her lips and said nothing.

If there were no comparison with the He family, the Pei family would naturally be good. It was thought that He An would definitely not marry Ruan Qinghuan at the beginning, but after dragging it out for two years, he suddenly proposed to marry.

At first, it was thought that even if Ruan Qinghuan married into the prime minister's mansion, she would not live a happy life. But less than a year later, she was conferred the title of a first-rank lady. The more Ruan Xiaoyue thought about it, the angrier she became. How could a first-rank official rank be compared with a fourth-rank commander of the Southern Camp of the City Defense Army?

Ruan Xiaorou also echoed her mother's words: "Yes, sister, General Pei is young and promising, and he has a good appearance and family background..."

"Okay, I don't want to listen to your nonsense."

Ruan Xiaorou lowered her head and said nothing.

Just at this moment, Pei Wen arrived. Ruan Xiaoyue changed her angry expression, took two deep breaths, and forced a smile: "Please come in."

Zheng Qiaohui shook her head and pulled her little daughter out.

Pei Wen was wearing a lotus-root-colored long skirt with a pink ribbon tied around her waist. She smiled with a hint of pride. She sat down on a chair as soon as she entered the room. "Sister Xiaoyue, there will be a blessing performance and fireworks in the south of the city tonight. Do you want to go and see it?"

Ruan Xiaoyue showed little interest: "I don't want to go."

This blessing performance and fireworks display were because the flood and bandit problems in Lucheng had been resolved. She did not want to see Ruan Qinghuan being hailed as the most beautiful lady by the people.

Pei Wen hadn't really come to invite her to go shopping. Seeing that she didn't want to go, she stopped talking about it and changed the subject, "I heard that your cousin was awarded the first-rank imperial decree, but in the end, it was all thanks to the prime minister. Otherwise, as the daughter of a merchant, she wouldn't have been qualified to receive such an honor."

Seeing Ruan Qinghuan's face darken, Pei Wen said hypocritically: "Everyone knows that the Prime Minister didn't want to marry her at first, but it was because the Ruan family offered a generous dowry that Madam He took a new look at her."

Ruan Xiaoyue was upset and said, it's really unfair. The Ruan family has so many businesses, and everything is controlled by the eldest wife.

Seeing this, Pei Wen continued, "Sister Xiaoyue, you have to think carefully and plan for yourself in advance."

Ruan Xiaoyue nodded gloomily, but how easy would it be to actually plan something?

After Pei Wen left, Zheng Qiaohui came in: "What did you talk about? Did she say when the Pei family would propose?"

Ruan Xiaoyue shook her head.

Zheng Qiaohui frowned: "It's such an important matter, why don't you ask?"

She was upset today and forgot to ask.

Since the engagement, Zheng Qiaoyue has been looking forward to Pei coming to propose marriage. After all, the Pei family is a family of merit, so the betrothal gift cannot be too shabby. Ruan Qinghuan was delayed for two years by the He family, and she just wanted to let the eldest wife see that they, Xiaoyue, are vying for it.

"mother."

Zheng Qiaohui came back to her senses: "What's wrong?"

Ruan Xiaoyue said hesitantly, "When Ruan Qinghuan got married, she gave 20,000 taels of silver, not counting the furniture, shop and farm. But I heard from my grandmother a few days ago that when I get married, she will only give me 5,000 taels plus three shop and two farms. This is clearly partiality."

Speaking of this, Zheng Qiaohui also got angry, but what could she do?

The Ruan family's business was started little by little by Zhou Yunzhi's natal family, but now that the entire property is in the hands of Dafang, there is nothing that can be done about it.

However, this dowry is not small. You know, many high-ranking officials' families may not be able to come up with so much real money.

Zheng Qiaohui comforted her daughter: "As for the dowry, I will discuss it with your grandmother tomorrow to see if we can add a little more. Don't keep harping on this matter. When you marry into the Pei family, you will be the mistress, and you must hold the money in your hands. Do you understand?"

This is Zheng Qiaohui's lifelong regret. Ever since she married into the Ruan family, she has been living a life of dependence. If she had not given birth to Qingchi, a boy, her life would probably be even worse than it is now.

So what she hoped most was that Zheng Qiaohui could take the position of mistress of the family.

After returning to the capital, the emperor granted He'an a five-day vacation. He'an lost control of himself and was so tired that Ruan Qinghuan fell asleep at dawn.

He'an woke up early, and looking at his wife's slightly angry sleeping face, the corners of his lips rose unconsciously. He walked forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. As if one kiss was not enough, he hugged her in his arms again.

Ruan Qinghuan moaned and lay in his arms in a daze. Now, it seemed that just holding her was not enough.

Just like that, Ruan Qinghuan, who had just fallen asleep for a while, was awakened by him again. The bed curtains blocked the morning light, but could not block the beauty of the room. Just when she was feeling excited, she suddenly heard a knock on the door. It was Grandma Chen.

"My Lord, Madam, Madam asks you two to go to the front yard. She has something to discuss with you."

He An: “I understand.”

Ruan Qinghuan covered her mouth and dared not make a sound. He'an even teased her deliberately, and she was so nervous that her face turned red.

He got up late on the first day back home. When the sun was high in the sky, he still hadn't greeted his mother-in-law. Ruan Qinghuan was so angry that she pushed him and said, "You got up so late. I don't know how bad it will be if it gets out."

"What are you afraid of? Mother has already exempted you from the morning greetings. I don't think it's a big deal."

Ruan Qinghuan: “…”

By the time he got out of bed, an incense stick of time had passed. His waist and legs were sore and numb, and he was nervous. Ruan Qinghuan wanted to hit him twice.

After a quick shower, the two came to the front yard and saw the servants moving things out. He An was confused: "Is mother going out again?"

In the past, when my parents went out to play, it was always like this.

Meng Suqiu smiled and said, "I can't go out casually in the future. I have to stay at home to accompany Zimo."

As she was talking, the kid caught a dragonfly and ran over excitedly, "Grandma, look, I caught a dragonfly."

"Zimo is awesome." The mansion had always been quiet, but with the addition of a child, it immediately became lively. Meng Suqiu slept with him last night, and her heart melted when she saw the little thing sleeping next to him.

His mother was halfway through her words when He An was puzzled: "If you don't go out, what does this mean..."

Meng Suqiu turned around and her expression changed. She looked like a different person and said, "You, Qinghuan has been with you for several months when you went to Lucheng this time. Of course you have to report your safety to your father-in-law when you return."

As he spoke, his eyes flickered: "I know you two are very busy. I have prepared all the gifts. Do you guys need anything else?"

Ruan Qinghuan blushed upon hearing this, but He An was calm and said, "Thank you, mother."

When the two were about to reach the door, Meng Suqiu remembered something and stopped them: "I heard that Qinghuan's cousin is engaged to the Pei family. I also prepared a gift and told Xia Lian about it."