CHAPTER 665: CHAPTER 652: SLAPPING THE TRANSMIGRATOR (7) (BONUS FOR 350 MONTHLY VOTES)

Xiao Yuan went to the Ji Family to deliver the dowry, and Cui Yiran also went over to enjoy the commotion.

After all, there were quite a few people watching the excitement at that time, and Cui Yiran blended in with the crowd without standing out.

Cui Yiran was quite smug in his heart.

Because it was he who facilitated the marital engagement between Xiao Yuan and Ji Anning, he was eager to see what the Ji Family’s reaction would be when the poor Xiao Yuan arrived at their doorstep with the shabby dowry.

He arrived early and waited a while before Xiao Yuan showed up with people carrying the dowry.

The Ji Family’s housekeeper stood at the door at this time, holding a list of the dowry items and reading each one aloud.

With each item announced, a murmur of envy rose from the crowd.

Watching Xiao Yuan bring so many dowry gifts, Cui Yiran’s face turned utterly black.

And when he saw the many valuable items among the dowry, Cui Yiran felt even more stifled in his heart.

He transmigrated to this world after reading a book, and when reading that book, he especially despised the character Ji Anning.

In that book, there were many women with diverse personalities, some frail and sensitive, some weak and gentle, some fierce and clever, and others with deep cunning; all these women were exceptionally beautiful, literate in poetry and books, and each possessed scholarly talents.

But Ji Anning was different from the others.

Born into a distinguished family, she was illiterate, yet she looked as gorgeous as an immortal concubine, with a ruthless and venomous temperament. Relying on her family background and her own talents, she suppressed men so that they could not prosper.

She was also extremely jealous, and for her own selfish interests, she secretly manipulated and harmed many delicate women.

When Cui Yiran initially read the book, he had a strong dislike for the character Ji Anning, thinking her too cruel and her methods too ruthless. Furthermore, he believed that the Cui Family’s downfall and their home being confiscated were all Ji Anning’s faults—if it were not for her, the Cui Family would not have met such a fate.

After reading the book, Cui Yiran would curse a few times from time to time; he utterly loathed Ji Anning.

Who would have known that one night, he went to sleep and did not wake up—when he opened his eyes, he had become Ji Anning’s husband, the Eldest Son of the Cui Family, Cui Yiran.

Fortunately, he arrived just in time; Cui Yiran had not yet married Ji Anning, and the two families had just engaged their children, but the betrothal gifts had not yet been sent.

After observing for a few days, Cui Yiran began to devise a plan to break off this engagement.

That jealous and vicious Ji Anning was not what he wanted at all; if he was to marry, he preferred a gentle and virtuous lady, a scholar’s daughter, not a noblewoman like Ji Anning who couldn’t recognize a single character.

Cui Yiran had calculated a lot and exerted great efforts to finally take his revenge on Ji Anning.

He not only broke off the engagement, but he also managed to pair Ji Anning with a poor scholar.

Each time he thought of this, Cui Yiran was particularly proud.

He just wanted to see Ji Anning’s downfall and make it so that she could not marry into a good family.

His thought was, if Ji Anning became the wife of a poor man, what ability would she have to stir up trouble? She who is so proud, who looks down on those of lower status, let her experience poverty herself—I want to see if she can still be as arrogant.

Originally, Cui Yiran came to the Ji home with the intention of watching the excitement.

He just wanted to see Xiao Yuan’s impoverished state, so he could be happy for a few more days when he went back.

But who would have thought Xiao Yuan somehow got his hands on some money and actually bought such nice things as bridal gifts? Not only did it not embarrass Ji Anning, but it actually made her look good.

Thinking of how Ji Anning must be feeling smug at this moment, Cui Yiran’s mood got even worse.

Watching Housekeeper Ji happily welcoming Xiao Yuan into the residence, and hearing the envious murmurs from the crowd, he could no longer stay put.

Cui Yiran, with a flick of his sleeves, left. Over there, Anning was talking with Mrs. Ji in the main room.

Mrs. Ji also knew about the bridal gifts Xiao Yuan had given; her mood was obviously very good.

"Really didn’t expect it, Young Master Xiao is quite considerate. I’m not sure where he found all those nice items."

Mrs. Ji, brimming with smiles, talked with Anning: "I previously said that if you were to marry into the Xiao Family, you might have some difficult days ahead. But now it seems that living with the Xiao Family is not too bad after all. I am thus relieved."

Anning smiled and said: "I know Madam is worried about me, but life is made by the people living it. You should know my capabilities, Madam. No matter where I go, I won’t live poorly. To speak frankly, the Xiao Family has a simple household. Marrying there actually saves me a lot of trouble. I even feel it’s better than The Cuis. After all, The Cuis haven’t divided their household yet, there are too many people and too much drama, like a nest of dark-eyed chickens."

Mrs. Ji thought about it and agreed: "What you say is true. After marrying, you must live well with your husband, and also urge your husband to study diligently. If he could become a scholar or Advanced Scholar, your uncle and I would no longer have to worry about you."

Anning smiled and agreed.

At this time, a servant from Bai Bao Family came in, holding a list in her hand: "Madam, this is what Aunt has sent over, saying it’s to congratulate Miss on her marriage."

Mrs. Ji took the list and glanced at it: "Go put these things in the storeroom for Miss. By the way, did Aunt say anything else?"

The Bai Bao servant smiled and said: "Nothing much, just that she’s been too busy lately and probably won’t be able to make it, but she said she would definitely come when Miss gets married."

Getting to this point, the Bai Bao servant leaned in and whispered: "It seems young Master is ill, Aunt is very anxious and upset about it."

"How is Siran?"

Mrs. Ji, startled, replied: "Remind me tomorrow, we must send someone to check on The Cuis. Siran is a child with much concern on his mind, and next year he is to take the Imperial Examination again. It’s likely he’s exhausted from studying."

The Bai Bao servant expressed her opinion: "For a noble family like The Cuis, there really is no need to push young Master so hard to make progress. It’d be problematic if he ruins his health for the sake of the Imperial Examination. Young Master has always been frail; studying day and night without rest, how could he not fall ill?"

The Bai Bao servant, confident in her close relationship with Mrs. Ji, added a few more words.

Mrs. Ji gestured with her hand: "I remember there are a couple of good ginseng roots in the storeroom. Tomorrow, find them and have them sent to Aunt."

Anning sat aside, listening.

She did know who the young Master they were talking about was.

Ji Family’s Miss, that is, Anning’s Aunt, was married into The Cuis, and she had given birth to two sons and a daughter. The eldest son, named Siran, was the young Master mentioned by the Bai Bao servant.

Cui Siran was handsome, had a good temperament, and was very smart. He became a scholar at an early age and planned to take the Advanced Scholar exams next year. To everyone’s surprise, he had fallen ill at this time.

Anning did not think highly of the conduct of the other members of The Cuis, but her impression of Cui Siran was not bad, and she indeed had some concerns about him.

After going back, Anning called Moli over and said: "Tomorrow, follow the servant from Bai Bao Family to The Cuis to visit. I heard Siran, my cousin, is sick. Go on my behalf and find out how he is doing. Tell my cousin Siran for me, don’t overthink, he must take good care of his health. While the weather is still not cold, he should recover properly, and not stay cooped up in his room all day. He should get out and walk around more. If he feels tired from reading, he could take a break and practice some boxing with the house servants too. The Imperial Examination is a tough process; one needs to be in solid health to undertake it."