Madam Wang took advantage of the darkness to send Tan Chun and Xi Chun to the family temple, the Iron Threshold Temple.
The next day, they went to see the Zhang family, who were engaged to Tan Chun. The Zhang family was still managed by Lord Zhang, who was only a minor fifth-rank official, but was an official of the Ministry of Rites, responsible for matters of investiture and conferment within the palace.
Lady Wang had initially thought that by currying favor with Lord Zhang, the investiture ceremony for Yuan Chun next year could be held more successfully, making Yuan Chun look good and making things easier for her in the future.
Now that Tan Chun is ill, such a big matter cannot be kept quiet. If Tan Chun does not make it through, Yuan Chun's affairs will depend on him, so we must not offend him under any circumstances.
"What brings you here today, Madam Jia?" Lord Zhang is forty-five years old, about the same age as Madam Wang, but he looks younger than Madam Wang, no matter how he takes care of himself.
Madam Wang sighed, picked up her handkerchief and wiped away her tears. "Lord Zhang, I have important matters to discuss with you today."
When Lord Zhang saw Madam Wang's behavior, he knew it was a common trick used by women in the inner quarters. Could it be that she was short of money recently and wanted to extort some betrothal gifts?
Lord Zhang felt increasingly certain that this was the case, and he felt somewhat dissatisfied. He had only offered a dowry of ten thousand taels of silver for the young and beautiful girl, which was already the highest possible price for a concubine's daughter. If she was still not satisfied, what could he do?
Seeing that Lord Zhang looked unwell, Lady Wang felt her heart pounding. However, she could understand, since they were getting married after the New Year. It was all Tan Chun's fault for being so disappointing!
"My good-for-nothing husband is sick!"
Lord Zhang was taken aback. Sick? Surely a minor illness wouldn't warrant a visit? Did he have some incurable disease?
As Madam Wang spoke, she burst into tears, "It's tuberculosis!"
The teacup in Lord Zhang's hand shattered on the ground with a crash. His hands trembled as he asked, unsure, "Tuberculosis?"
He swallowed hard. "What did the doctor say?"
Lady Wang cried even harder, and Lord Zhang felt a chill run down his spine. "Then what do you want to do?"
"I've come today to discuss annuling the engagement." Not annuling the engagement isn't a good idea either. Now that she's brought it up first, it's not considered difficult. If Tan Chun dies first, then Lord Zhang will definitely think she's doing it on purpose, and then he'll make things difficult for Yuan Chun, and she won't be able to explain herself.
"Annease the engagement?" Lord Zhang's mind raced. Annulling the engagement wasn't out of the question, but it would be too humiliating for him.
Besides, what if he were rescued? How would he face his colleagues afterward? What would he do if he were jilted?
Seeing that Lord Zhang was hesitant, Madam Wang knew it was not a good idea, so she promised, "How about this, I'll return half of the betrothal gifts to you first."
Lord Zhang remained silent.
"Lord Zhang, if my daughter can pull through this time, I will arrange for her to enter your household. What do you think?"
Are you coming to my residence?
If it's not about marrying, then it's about taking a concubine?
A wife becomes a concubine?
Lord Zhang laughed heartily. If that were the case, he wouldn't be at a loss. "Then I can only give the bride price according to that of a concubine."
Where would a concubine get her dowry?
Madam Wang was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth to dust. That old fox!
It's really unfair to take advantage of her daughter for free, so she held her anger in, saying, "That girl was raised and educated under our old lady's care, and the old lady would feel sorry for her if she had no status or identity."
Looking at Madam Wang's calculating old face, Lord Zhang was full of disdain. She was truly being unreasonable. She was clearly selling her illegitimate daughter for money, and now she was talking a good game!
"She's just a concubine after all. Now she's seriously ill. Even if she's lucky enough to pull through, she'll need to be carefully cared for, which will probably cost a lot. But she's still just a plaything."
"It's fine to spend a little money to have fun, but if you don't put your heart into it, don't enjoy yourself, and even get angry and hurt your health, that's probably not good."
A thing?
This is a slap in the face for her!
This is also a slap in the face to Yuan Chun!
Madam Wang felt that God was against her today. If it weren't for Yuan Chun, she would never have tolerated someone who humiliated her like that.
“If Lord Zhang is unwilling, then let’s break it off. We were originally engaged, but my daughter is seriously ill. She is still a respectable girl.”
"Originally, I felt sorry for the adults, but now it's better for both sides to agree and I can gain a good reputation."
Upon hearing this, Lord Zhang thought, "A good reputation? It just means he's being dragged along, isn't it?"
Once her daughter dies, she'll just walk away, and what about him? All the wedding gifts and favors will have been for nothing, right?
"Two thousand is the most I can ask for."
Madam Wang curled her lip, "Two thousand? Are you trying to send a beggar away?"
"Our mistress's opinion depends on the master's opinion."
Lord Zhang, is this a threat to him?
"Since that's the case, then we'll do as Your Majesty wishes." I refuse to believe Your Majesty would be shameless.
Madam Wang... was too hasty.
She was both embarrassed and humiliated, and even angrier that Tan Chun's illness had ruined her plans!
Damn it!
Or you might as well just die!
"In that case, two thousand it is, regardless of life or death!"
Regardless of life or death? Lord Zhang was dumbfounded. Did that mean he was getting two thousand for free?
I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone this shameless.
Or is this woman just ruthless and cruel? She kills people when they can't reach an agreement, tsk tsk tsk...
"In that case, let's call off the engagement. Perhaps she and Mr. Zhang are just incompatible according to their birth charts."
This woman is ruthless; he probably won't gain anything from the marriage. On the contrary, there may be endless traps waiting for him after the marriage.
"The two thousand is my subsidy for the girl's medical expenses. Please consider the reputation of both families."
Upon hearing this, Lady Wang thought, "This is wonderful! The marriage didn't happen, but I got two thousand taels of silver for free. It seems the Empress is blessing me."
She was afraid of the Empress, but she couldn't cause trouble for her. This person was still useful, so she could just return the two thousand in favor to him, since she hadn't lost anything.
Speaking of the Empress, Madam Wang straightened her back even more. "What are you saying, sir? How could we let you suffer a loss? What two thousand taels? On the contrary, it is my family that has wronged the Zhang family."
After exchanging pleasantries, Madam Wang put down the things she had brought and got up to leave.
Lord Zhang was so angry that he smashed the teacup in his hand. "What a joke! It's a good thing the marriage didn't happen. If it had, it might have implicated me."
"What nonsense! You're threatening me with the Empress? Don't you even know if I'm willing to give you that face?"
Are you out of your mind to disobey the Empress's wishes?
If this is the Empress's will, believe it or not, he could easily report it to the Emperor, not only bribing court officials but also threatening them.
Wanting the old donkey to be good, but also wanting the old donkey not to eat grass?
Why would anyone give her such a cheap deal? Who does she think she is? The Emperor's mother-in-law?
That's absolutely hilarious!
They even had the heart to kill their sick illegitimate daughter. Haha, they're truly inhuman.
"Someone, keep a close watch on the Jia family these next few days, and report any unusual activity immediately!"
Once that illegitimate daughter dies, she'll know what a threat is.
After returning home, Madam Wang thought about it over and over again and felt that Tan Chun's illness was bad luck. Although she had moved to the Iron Threshold Temple, she was still furious.
Thinking that it was pointless to waste money since the medicine wouldn't work anyway, no doctor went to Tan Chun's place after they ran out of medicine.
However, when Xichun went there, Tanchun delivered a letter to the Ningguo Mansion on Xichun's behalf.
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