Chapter 168 The abacus beads hit her face
Lu Zhiran: ...
Even though she had lived two lifetimes, she was still shocked by these words.
Xiao Yanci had been observing her expression, and seeing that she showed no sign of embarrassment except for surprise, a slight sense of loss rose in his heart.
But on second thought, this was the result he expected.
At least, she didn't hate herself.
"Your Highness, why do you say that?"
Xiao Yanci's face was serious. "This may be a bit presumptuous, but this proposal is the best choice for the overall situation. Xiao Yanqing covets you with all his heart. Only if you become my princess will he give up completely."
"Also, I have selfish motives. I was born with a destiny of financial ruin, but since meeting the county lady, I've had some luck with wealth. Perhaps you are my God of Wealth. Only by marrying you can I change my fate."
Since she had no romantic feelings towards him, he never mentioned love in his words and only regarded this marriage as a mutually beneficial and powerful transaction.
As long as she walked in, he would be able to slowly warm her heart.
After a brief moment of shock, Lu Zhiran returned to normal and began to think about this matter.
In this battle for the throne, Xiao Yanci was her chosen candidate.
This choice was initially made based on impressions and judgments from past lives.
But after spending some time together, she became more and more convinced that her choice was right.
Love is nothing but a passing cloud to her.
Only supreme power is what her heart desires.
Power will not betray her, and it can make those who once bullied her bow down to her. Who wouldn't want it?
A hint of ambition flashed in Lu Zhiran's eyes.
She thought about it for just a few moments before nodding in agreement.
"It is truly a blessing for me to be valued by Your Highness. How could I refuse?"
After hearing this, Xiao Yanci's heart finally settled down.
On the surface, he put on a calm and composed demeanor, "Then, please take good care of me from now on, future princess."
The last few words fell with an inexplicable tenderness, and Lu Zhiran felt an inexplicable strangeness in his heart.
"There may be some disturbances on the day of the concubine selection. Take care of yourself and leave the rest to me."
Lu Zhiran nodded.
After finishing the business, the two of them were speechless for a while, and the atmosphere became inexplicably awkward.
Neither of them has fully adapted to the impending change of identity.
At this time, the servants came up with roasted hares and pheasants, and Xiao Baozhu immediately cheered.
"Sister Ran, Seventh Brother, are you guys done talking? Come on, get ready to eat!"
The weird atmosphere between the two was finally broken.
As the saying goes, the first time is new, the second time is familiar. Lu Zhiran has become accustomed to the fact that three people eat at the same table.
The wild game on the farm tasted delicious, and even though Lu Zhiran didn't have a big appetite, he ate it with great relish.
Xiao Baozhu took the opportunity to ask, "What were you talking about just now?"
Lu Zhiran paused slightly.
Could she say that they were talking about lifelong events?
Xiao Yanci said calmly, "Even eating can't stop your mouth."
Xiao Baozhu snorted and didn't ask any more questions.
The three of them were leisurely and contented, but some people were worried about money.
As soon as Zhao Shuning returned to the Marquis' Mansion, Jiang sent someone to invite her, saying that she had something important to discuss.
When she saw Zhao Shuning, Jiang smiled kindly.
"Shuning, you're here. Come quickly and sit in front of your mother."
When Zhao Shuning saw her attitude, he became more alert.
"Mother, please tell me what you want to say. I still have medical books to read."
Jiang then put away her attitude and got straight to the point.
"Qing'er will be getting married soon. She has a bright future ahead of her. To become the daughter-in-law of an imperial family, her dowry must be respectable and not shabby. But as you know, our Marquis' Mansion is struggling financially. Right now, we simply can't come up with a decent dowry..."
Zhao Shuning almost laughed out of anger when she heard this. The abacus beads were about to hit her face.
I haven't settled the two accounts with her yet, and now she wants to take advantage of my money again, treating me as a sucker?
"Then according to mother's opinion, how should this matter be resolved?"
Jiang looked at her with an earnest expression.
"You've been favored by the nobles lately and have received many gifts. Why don't you take those things out first and prepare Qing'er's dowry? Mother knows this is inappropriate, but given the current situation at the Marquis' Mansion, there's nothing we can do. Don't worry, Mother will write you an IOU and will repay you as soon as the Marquis' Mansion is well-off."
These words were exactly the same as what he said when he coaxed her into spending money for the wedding banquet.
After all, she was hosting her own wedding banquet, but now she is asked to contribute to the dowry for her sister-in-law. How shameless!
Zhao Shuning looked at her with a half-smile, "Mother, please return the money we spent on the wedding banquet first, and then we can talk about this."
The expression on Jiang's face froze slightly, and soon she showed displeasure.
"That's your wedding banquet with An'er. So what if you paid the money?"
"Then why do I have to pay for Qing'er's dowry? It's the first time a sister-in-law pays for her younger sister-in-law's dowry."
Jiang corrected him, "I didn't ask you to pay, I just borrowed it from you. When the Marquis's Mansion is well-off, I will naturally return it to you."
Zhao Shuning sneered, "Do you believe that? Do you think I'm still the same me who just came in and that I'll be easily fooled by you? Once I pay this money, it will be like throwing meat buns at a dog, there will be no return."
Her attitude made Jiang a little angry, but she still endured it.
"Shuning, you have to consider the overall situation. Qing'er marrying into the Sixth Prince's mansion is a major event that concerns the interests of the Marquisate. You don't want Qing'er to be laughed at as soon as she enters the house, do you?"
Zhao Shuning didn't buy her trick at all.
"Since this is a major matter concerning the interests of the Marquisate, everyone in the Marquisate should contribute together. Why are you asking me to contribute alone?"
"Who else in the Marquis's Mansion has so much silver besides you?"
Zhao Shuning said coldly, "My money is mine, what does it have to do with others?"
Jiang was furious, "Don't be so ignorant!"
"I carefully serve the nobles every day just to win honor for the Marquisate. Are all these achievements worthless in my mother's eyes? If so, I can just lie back and enjoy my peace and quiet at home like my mother. There's no need for me to fawn over others."
Upon hearing this, Jiang's face changed and she quickly changed her words.
"That's not what Mother meant. I know you've made a huge contribution to the Marquisate. But... the Marquisate really can't afford the money. There's nothing we can do about it."
Zhao Shuning looked at her with a half-smile. "As far as I know, Mother took a lot of money back to the Jiang family. Now that Mother is short of money, it's not too much to ask for her to go back to the Jiang family and get that money back."
Jiang was a dishonest person. She embezzled so much money from Lu Zhiran. The money she later returned was all scraped together by the Marquis' Mansion. Jiang couldn't come up with a single cent.
So much money disappeared for no reason, so Zhao Shuning naturally conducted a thorough investigation.
Jiang's face froze and she wanted to deny it, but when she met Zhao Shuning's all-seeing gaze, she swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com