Chapter 425: Chapter 425 Discussing Terms_1
Mingzhu’s expression was filled with contempt: “Miss, you are indeed our mistress, but, having lived in the countryside for years, the wealthiest family that you’ve encountered was the Yuan Family in Taizhou prefecture. There’s still a lot for you to learn and nurture before you can aptly preside over a marquis’s household. Take these old jars that you brought from the countryside, for instance. The third master and lady indulged you, but once you’re in the Duke’s Residence, you’ll have to discard such habits.”
“Whether or not I make a good lord’s wife is up to me. If you’re unhappy seeing me this way, I can show you what outrageous things a country girl, who lived a rural life for thirteen years, can do at a wedding.” Wei Ruo smiled coyly.
“What do you mean by that, Miss?” Mingzhu was bewildered as she looked at Wei Ruo.
“You want me to marry an old man for the sake of the family’s interests yet you constrain me and treat me like a criminal? Even a rabbit bites when cornered. Cross me, and I’ll create havoc for all to see. We’ll see then if the wedding can continue and if the Xuanping Marquis Residence still wants me.”
Mingzhu widened her eyes, an expression of disbelief etched across her face as she stared at Wei Ruo.
“What are you plotting? Do you plan to cause a commotion during the wedding?” Mingzhu seemed to have heard something horrifying.
Wei Ruo retorted, “Can’t I? Are you, being in the Duke’s Residence, oblivious to the fact that someone could actually disrupt a wedding? Let me tell you, one year, Widow Li of Mo Jiazha was forced to remarry by her brother. She refused and chopped up a hen right in front of the man proposing. She declared that anyone who dared propose marriage to her again would meet the same fate!”
“Do you realize that if you wreak havoc at your wedding, it will ruin your life! Forget about marrying, you won’t even have a place to live!”
“Of course, I know. But if I ruin myself, it will drag the entire Wei Family down with me. I won’t rest until I see others upset too. I wonder what punishment awaits you, who’s responsible for teaching me the rules? Will you be beaten to death or sold?” Wei Ruo said with an unnerving calmness.
Mingzhu seemed thoroughly stupefied as she stared blankly at Wei Ruo.
Wei Ruo curled her lips, and slowly said, “Right now, the Wei Family wants me to secure profits for them. If they want my cooperation, they have to play by my rules.”
Mingzhu glared furiously at Wei Ruo. “I will report all these words of yours to the elderly master and the old madam!”
“Go ahead.” Wei Ruo didn’t seem to care at all.
“Hmph!” Mingzhu snorted, before storming out of the room.
Wei Ruo calmly waited in the room for Mingzhu to bring help.
Although she had arrived at the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence in Capital City much later than depicted in the original story, the characters and behavior of the people there remained the same.
Just like Mingzhu, she was not acting arrogantly, looking down on others and misbehaving with her mistress. She had ulterior motives.
She was trying to show her loyalty to Wei Qingwan and thought of disciplining Wei Ruo on her behalf.
Even though it sounds nice that she and Wei Qingwan had both married well, everyone could see the stark difference in their futures. Hers, marrying into the Xuanping Marquis Residence as his legal wife, was by no means comparable to Wei Qingwan’s, who was awarded a marriage by the Emperor to become a concubine in the King Yu Residence.
As the Marchioness, she might not be able to hold a firm footing in the Xuanping Marquis Residence.
The children of Marquis Xuanping’s two previous wives were infamous for their ruthlessness. When the Marquis passes away, it remains to be seen what life would be like for her, the supposed stepmother.
Wei Qingwan, on the other hand, was different. Even as a concubine, she was the concubine of King Yu who had the best chance of becoming the crown prince. When he ascends the throne, she would at least be a fourth-rank Imperial Concubine, if not the Imperial Concubine. Furthermore, if she manages to become an honoured mother, she may even have a chance to be further promoted.
The importance of those two was evidently distinct.
Presumably, Nurse Li, who had returned to the residence, must have been passing some signals to the people below, such as the discord between sisters and that Wei Qingwan would select a few maids to accompany her to the King Yu Residence and so on. That was probably what prompted Mingzhu, considering herself clever, to act so quickly.
Similarly, Wei Ruo also had an understanding of the elderly master and the old madam’s characters. Therefore, when she said those words to Mingzhu, she had already anticipated the forthcoming countermeasures.
Not long after, Nurse Jin came.
“Miss, the old madam invites you over.”
Nurse Jin was with Wei Ruo all the way from Taizhou prefecture and had had plenty of interaction with her.
From the start, Nurse Jin’s attitude towards Wei Ruo was rather cold because she was a close friend of Nurse Li.
Her poor treatment of Wei Ruo, to a certain degree, was to take revenge for Nurse Li.
But she only dared to give Wei Ruo a cold shoulder occasionally; she didn’t dare to go any further and was much more reserved than Nurse Li.
“Fine.” Wei Ruo agreed without objection, got up, and followed Nurse Jin to Shou’an Hall.
Xiumei closely followed Wei Ruo with a somewhat anxious expression. She was afraid that the old madam would punish Wei Ruo later.
The Shou’an Hall was very quiet at this moment. The elderly master was not present, the other children and grandchildren were not there, and only the old madam and her waiting servants were.
After Nurse Jin led Wei Ruo inside, the old madam, with a benevolent expression, beckoned Wei Ruo to sit next to her.
“Ruoruo, come sit next to me.”
Wei Ruo walked over without any apprehension and sat down in the spot next to the old madam.
The old madam looked at Wei Ruo again carefully, her gaze warm and satisfied, “I heard from Nurse Jin that you told Mingzhu you’d go crazy and cause trouble, ruining the wedding, if you aren’t allowed to live freely. Is that true?”
“Yes.” Wei Ruo confessed frankly.
The old madam examined Wei Ruo for a while before letting out a small sigh.
“Indeed, it must be difficult for you to learn all those rules. Moreover, judging by your behavior in Taizhou prefecture, you know the bigger picture and don’t really need to learn much etiquette. It’s just that your grandfather doesn’t rest easy, which is why he assigned Mingzhu to guide you.”
“So, would grandmother agree to my condition and let me live freely and comfortably in the residence for the time being?” Wei Ruo asked.
“I’ll try persuading your grandfather. I’ll arrange everything as comfortably as possible so that you can get married joyfully.” The old madam didn’t dare to promise too much.
“Alright.” Wei Ruo accepted.
The old madam smiled and then said to Wei Ruo, “You are an intelligent and fortunate child. Ever since you came to the Wei Family, a succession of good things has happened. Your father has always turned bad luck into good fortune and has been continually promoted. Your older brother became a scholar, and your father’s letter even mentioned that Yilin, who was always disobedient, has now become obedient, sensible and ambitious.”
Wei Ruo didn’t respond, just quietly listening.
The old madam continued, “Also, I received the gifts you sent me earlier. I loved them. You are very thoughtful.”