CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51 NO ONE CARES MORE THAN THE OTHER

The news of Miss Wu’s arrival quickly spread throughout the Marquis Mansion.

After casually settling the guests, Cui Xuan had just returned to her courtyard when she saw a young woman in a plain-colored skirt standing there.

Her features were gentle, yet her brow was furrowed with worry. It was Cui Bai’s wife, the Young Madam of the Marquis Mansion.

"Mother-in-law."

Qiao Si bowed to greet her.

Cui Xuan liked this daughter-in-law and also felt sorry for her; she took hold of her cold hands.

"Why are you waiting outside? What if you catch a cold, how would that be good?"

While speaking, she inevitably chastised the servants in the courtyard.

"The Young Madam is standing there and you didn’t think to invite her in? Are you all blind? If something happened to her, you would be held responsible."

Qiao Si supported Cui Xuan as they walked towards the house.

"Mother-in-law, please don’t blame them. I was the one who insisted on waiting outside."

She said softly.

"It’s best to send Miss Wu back as soon as possible."

"Mother-in-law, forgive my presumption, but over the years, she comes here annually, as if the Marquis Mansion has become the Wu Family’s backyard. The Wu Family is currently not well-off; even in several generations, it is difficult for them to turn their fortunes around. Therefore, they have set their sights on marital alliances."

Even if they cannot match with noble children, being connected through the Marquis Yangling Mansion and marrying into an average household as the official wife is better than staying in the countryside and marrying a farmer.

Qiao Si: "Their intentions are as clear as day, yet their greed knows no bounds. If we truly found a decent marriage for Miss Wu, there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t send a second or third daughter over."

She hit the nail on the head.

Not helping would make her seem unaccommodating as the Family Head’s wife, but helping would lead to endless troubles.

Cui Xuan: "I understand what you mean. But..."

"I’ll handle that situation. Let’s get through this year first, then we’ll find a way to properly send her away."

Under the lantern light, Qiao Si appeared even more kind and virtuous.

Everyone thought it was her decision to find a new bride for Cui Bai, but no one knew it was actually Cui Bai himself who made the choice.

Cui Xuan still remembered the year Cui Bai knelt before her.

"Mama, your son is at fault. I do not wish to marry Princess You Ning."

Princess You Ning was the girl Old Marquis intended for Cui Bai. It was the first time Cui Bai defied his father’s command and also the first time he sought help from Cui Xuan.

He knelt with dignity.

"If your son has no feelings for her, he must obey his father’s command. However..."

The young man’s affection was not concealed at all in front of his own mother.

"I already have a girl I love, Miss Qiao’s background may not be good, but I only want her. I can’t go against my heart to marry someone else."

At that time, Cui Xuan was silent for a long time. She did not help Cui Bai up, nor did she allow him to stand.

"What fault do you have?"

Cui Xuan: "My son, being straightforward as a true gentleman should be. With your true abilities, you will have your own place in the world. Why rely on your Daddy and the Yue Family?"

"The lady you fancy must be exceptional. What difference does a poor background make? If the inner house matters confuse her, Mama will teach her. I can guide her in social interactions. As you are favored by the Emperor, why worry that Miss Qiao wouldn’t be able to hold her head high in front of other noble ladies?"

At that time, there was already estrangement between her and the Old Marquis.

Her heart had grown cold; she no longer blushed even when speaking to her husband, and instead of chatting about everything, she had nothing to say.

She went to the study.

When the Old Marquis saw her, his usually stern brows softened slightly. Cui Xuan only later realized this softness was merely for the sake of preserving his second wife’s dignity.

"The matter of Princess You Ning and Bai, dictated by the parents and matchmakers, I do not allow it."

"But what did Bai say to you?"

Her gaze was too calm, as if besides her sons’ matters, she wouldn’t seek him out for anything else.

"Marquis, before marrying you, I was betrothed, and it was you who wanted to marry me, while my parents were overjoyed. You forced me against my will to be a wife in the Cui Family."

"I thought by marrying me, you had feelings for me and dismissed all improper thoughts to be a good wife."

She was about to kneel, but the Old Marquis held her up, making it impossible for her to move.

"You came to find me just to say these things?"

Cui Xuan: "This is how my life has turned out, how could my son follow in my footsteps? I hope you will spare Bai for the sake of the contributions I’ve made to extending the Marquis Mansion’s family tree."

These heart-piercing words are injurious to both herself and others, yet they serve a purpose. Fortunately, the Old Marquis ultimately did not interfere in Cui Bai’s marriage affairs anymore.

Qiao Si is indeed a good daughter-in-law.

Over the years, Cui Xuan has treated her like her own daughter.

But she is still so young, with a long life ahead, how will she endure it?

——

After finishing distributing the rice dumplings, Shen Hua sat down again to peel chestnuts.

"Madam, aren’t you going to look at the painting and calligraphy sent by the Marquis?" Ningzhu, deft with her hands, peeled the fruit quickly and fed it to Shen Hua’s mouth.

Shen Hua, her cheeks bulging, said indistinctly.

"There’s nothing appealing about it."

Ningzhu whispered, "What the Marquis has given should be extremely precious."

Shen Hua remarked, "I also gave quite a lot of silver notes."

"If he were not my benefactor, I wouldn’t accept it at all. What use are paintings and calligraphy to me? I don’t appreciate them. No matter how precious, they still do not align with my desires."

She’d rather spend time counting silver notes than indulging in idle pleasures like this.

These paintings and calligraphy would be more suited for Lady Yan. She surely would like them.

"If it’s a New Year’s gift, it should be given with care; otherwise, it’s better not to give it at all."

"But surely the Marquis isn’t short of silver."

Shen Hua matter-of-factly: "That’s why I gave enough money, letting him buy it himself. What’s wrong with that?"

Soon, on the desk in the study of Marquis Yangling Mansion, there lay a red wedding bag. The seated man was neither pleased nor angry.

There was no surprise either.

This was indeed something Shen Hua could do.

The items he sent were given out carelessly.

Clearly, Shen Hua was even more perfunctory than him.

Neither was more sincere than the other.

He would certainly not be annoyed over such trivial matters.

He put down the book he was holding and stepped outside, where Ji Xin was leaning against a pillar, opening a red wedding bag.

The red wedding bag in her hands was identical to the one on the desk.

Cui Yun paused his steps, then approached her.

"Do you need anything, my lord?" Ji Xin quickly asked.

"Where did that come from?"

Ji Xin noticed that Cui Yun’s gaze lingered excessively on her red wedding bag.

She realized and naturally stated the truth.

"Today, I went to pay New Year respects to Miss Shen, and she gave it to me. She was eating chestnuts at that time, without any pretense at all."

"She sent a servant back to ask my lord, mentioning that on New Year’s Eve the whole family should be together, there’s no reason to keep two attendants waiting in the pear garden. If my lord permits, she suggests letting them return home."

"If the attendants are granted to her, then they are her people; there is no need to ask me."

Just then, Ji Qing entered the courtyard from outside, having an important matter to report to Cui Yun.

He was dressed in black, which highlighted the red wedding bag hanging at his waist even more.

Ji Xin joyfully said, "Miss Shen is very generous. Knowing that Ji Qing is my brother, she particularly gave another one."

Cui Yun fell silent.

"Sir, my brother, I have one too."

Cui Yun’s silence dissipated, and he suddenly let out a cold laugh.

Should he feel fortunate that his own wedding bag was heavier than the two of theirs combined?