What will be brought into the Fang family along with the bride are just the companionship and dowry. In other words, the Fang family is sure that the jade pendant will appear in the bride's dowry.
"Meow meow meow!" The cat called a few more times to urge her, meaning that it had listened to her and completed the task. Where was its reward? Gu Yanfei casually pushed the box of dried fish to it, and the cat buried its head in the food, making a purring sound.
Gu Yanfei sat down at the desk again, leaning his elbows on the windowsill leisurely, his right fist resting on his chin, staring blankly at the withered flowers and trees outside the window, recalling things from his previous life in his mind.
At that time, not long after she returned to the Marquis' Mansion, her marriage to Fang Mingfeng was officially settled. In February of the following year, her dowry was sent to the Duke of England's Mansion.
Later, the Fang family broke off the engagement on the grounds that her chastity was flawed, and even her dowry was returned by the Fang family.
After the engagement was broken off, Madam Gu pushed all the blame onto her and sent her to a nunnery to reflect on herself. She never had the chance to count her dowry again.
In her previous life, did she have a jade pendant in her dowry? Yes! Half of her dowry was the share from the royal family, and the other half was her mother Xie's dowry. She had everything she should have, including all kinds of jewelry including the jade pendant, which was quite decent.
As far as I can remember, the allowances from the Gu family's public treasury consisted of common items, and each of the Gu family's daughters had one, and those items were basically purchased from jewelry shops in the capital.
so--
At this point, the answer clearly emerged in Gu Yanfei's mind: the jade pendant that the Fang family wanted at all costs was most likely something from his mother's dowry.
"Meow?" Qingguang ate all the dried fish in the box, raised her head, licked her mouth with her pink tongue, then squatted in front of Gu Yanfei and called to her several times in a coquettish manner.
Even though Gu Yanfei didn't understand cat language, he understood that this glutton hadn't had enough! "Go away." Gu Yanfei stretched out his finger and flicked the cat's forehead.
The cat seemed to have suffered a heavy blow and fell on its back, exposing its snow-white and soft belly in front of Gu Yanfei. It curled up its four paws and tried hard to act cute.
Gu Yanfei pretended not to see it and took out another booklet from the drawer.
This is the dowry list of my mother Xie, which was given to her by my eldest brother Gu Yuan before he returned to the military camp.
Since she has nothing to do recently, it’s time to count her mother’s dowry.
The greedy kitten refused to give up. It licked the back of Gu Yanfei's hand, rubbed her calf with its cheek, and twisted around on the desk like a caterpillar...
Gu Yanfei stood still, flipping through the dowry book in front of her.
The Xie family was a family of military commanders, and not a high-ranking family, so my mother's dowry was not rich, but very comprehensive, with all kinds of gold, silver, jewelry, silks and satins, antique paintings and calligraphy, furniture, fields and houses, etc., everything you could expect.
In her previous life, her eldest brother also gave her this dowry list, but as soon as her eldest brother left, the list was forcibly taken away by Aunt Xu, who kept saying, "Second Miss, you don't understand these things. You should give this dowry list to the Madam for safekeeping, so that you won't be deceived by others."
Back then, she didn't dare to say no to Aunt Xu. She was inferior and introverted, and thought that Aunt Xu was right and that she really didn't understand household affairs.
Gu Yanfei casually flipped through the dowry booklet, browsing it hastily, and only became focused when she turned to the category of gold, silver and jewelry.
There are five jade pendants mentioned in the booklet. The first one is a Pixiu jadeite pendant, the second one is a Qilin cloud pattern white jade pendant, and the third one...
After closing the dowry book, Gu Yanfei stood up, smoothed the hem of her skirt, and walked out while asking, "Is Gu Yunyan still in Cihetang?"
"The gossiper" Juanbi said quickly, "Young lady, after the Lady of the Duke of Yingguo arrived at Cihe Hall, the third young lady was sent back to Cailing Courtyard by the Madam... The Lady of the Duke of Yingguo left just now, and the maid guarding the gate of Cihe Hall said that she didn't look very well when she left."
Juanbi hurried to catch up.
The sky outside had turned a greyish dark blue, with a whitish crescent moon faintly visible between the clouds. Lanterns were hung in various places in the mansion, flickering in the air like fireflies.
Juanbi held a palace lantern and walked in front to lead the way for Gu Yanfei.
Cailing Courtyard was not far from Yuheng Garden. The master and servant walked through the courtyard where the evening breeze was blowing, and they arrived at Cailing Courtyard in about half a cup of tea.
After being informed by the maid guarding the gate, Gu Yanfei was welcomed to Gu Yun'er's small study.
Under the flickering candlelight, Gu Yun'er sat on a pearwood armchair with her long hair half-disheveled. She was wearing a water-red silk gown that was neither new nor old, and her expression could not conceal her tiredness.
In the past few days, she has been in Cihetang taking care of Madam Gu and has not had a good rest. Now she is really tired.
"Second sister." Gu Yunyan bowed slightly as a greeting. Her usual smile was no longer on her face as she spoke. There was a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes as she looked at Gu Yanfei.
Gu Yanfei was a little too cold towards Madam Gu, his grandmother.
It turns out that bloodline is not the most important thing.
Gu Yanfei didn't bother to exchange pleasantries with Gu Yunyan, and said with a smile, "I heard that the Madam gave you the key to my mother's small storeroom, so I came here specially to get it."
Gu Yun'er raised his eyebrows, never expecting that Gu Yanfei would come for this.
Gu Yanfei stood three steps away, looking at Gu Yunmeng from neither too close nor too far.
The corners of her lips are naturally slightly upturned, and when she purses her lips she looks like she is smiling.
Seeing Gu Yanfei's matter-of-fact look, Gu Yunmeng felt not only dissatisfied but also uncomfortable.
As early as when she was ten years old, Madam Gu solemnly handed her the key to the storehouse and told her: "Sister, this storehouse contains your mother's dowry. Everything in it is given to you. As for the shops, farms, lands and cash in the dowry, they will be divided equally between you and your eldest brother. Now your grandmother will take care of it for you, and will give it to you when you reach the age of marriage."
At that time, Gu Yuan also regarded her as a pearl in his palm, and said with a smile: "Sister Meng, all of mother's dowry is for you. Brother will also earn another dowry for you."
The loving voices of Madam Gu and Gu Yuan were still ringing in my ears, but now...
A secret corner deep in Gu Yunmeng's heart ached slightly. She felt empty and as if something was lost, as if everything that once belonged to her was taken away bit by bit.
She gave in step by step, but Gu Yanfei had no regard for her and kept pressing her.
The flickering candlelight reflected in Gu Yun'er's eyes, as if there was an unknown flame burning in his pupils.
(End of this chapter)
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