With the silver notes in hand, Lu Huaizhou looked beaming.
Jiang Fuying even stopped her tears immediately and wore a faint smile.
Lu Huaizhou felt a jolt in his heart as if struck by an electric current.
She knew her limits and dared to fight for her own interests, which was completely different from other noble ladies of the aristocratic families. He seemed to...
Sitting at the same table, the thick stack of silver notes was placed right in the middle of the table.
Jiang Fuying picked up the silver notes, carefully counted half of them, and pushed them to his side. "My lord, here. This part is yours."
Lu Huaizhou didn't feel the slightest bit of joy for extorting money from his sworn enemy. All he had in his mind was doubt. "Lady Jiang, are you really short of money?"
Ordinary noble ladies of the aristocratic families were born into a life of luxury and would have a generous dowry when they got married.
Logically speaking, they should have no worries about food and clothing for their whole lives. But this Lady Jiang...
Her autumn - like eyes suddenly darkened.
Of course, she wasn't short of money, but she would never let those two scoundrels get away with it!
This sum of money was just the beginning of her journey to avenge herself.
The score between her and those two scoundrels was far from being settled!
Seeing the sadness in her eyes and the faint haze surrounding her, Lu Huaizhou felt a softness in his heart.
Almost involuntarily, he took out a few silver notes and returned them to her. "Lady Jiang, I think it's okay to split the money with you getting 60% and me 40%."
...
After receiving the compensation, the three families reported the matter to the emperor and successfully finalized the marriage switch.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day for the bride to return to her natal family.
Caipu was combing Jiang Fuying's hair and grumbling indignantly. "Miss, today is the day for you to return to your natal family, but the young master isn't here. When you go back like this, who knows how those two in the mansion will taunt you."
Her autumn - like eyes remained calm. "It doesn't matter. I'll go back alone."
At the Jiang Mansion.
When Jiang Fuying arrived, Jiang Fuyue and Lady An, mother and daughter, were chatting and laughing merrily.
Seeing her come, Jiang Fuyue feigned surprise. "Sister, why did you come back alone? Didn't brother - in - law come?"
Humph! She knew the answer but still asked!
Jiang Fuying gave her a cold look. "What? Sister, do you have something to do with my husband or are you still pining for him?"
She emphasized the words "still pining for him" heavily.
Jiang Fuyue's face darkened.
That good - for - nothing from the Lu family was not worth her missing!
"Sister, you're really good at joking." Jiang Fuyue looked haughty and showed off. "My husband is gentle and considerate. Some people can never compare to him!"
Comparing ordinary people with Pei Qing'an in terms of shamelessness?
Well, they really couldn't!
There was a faint smile on Jiang Fuying's lips as she nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes. Brother - in - law is perfect in every way. I wish sister and brother - in - law a long and loving marriage, harmonious relationship, and many descendants."
After all, only when these two shameless scoundrels were completely tied together for life could she settle the score with them!
Jiang Fuyue didn't catch the hidden meaning in her words at all. She thought Jiang Fuying was jealous and sneered contemptuously. "It's really hard for sister. Not only did you come back alone, but you also have to force a smile to bless me and my husband."
Hard? Forcing a smile?
Her red lips curved gently. When no one was paying attention, there was a hint of mockery in her autumn - like eyes.
Lady An waved to her and pretended to be kind. "Fuying, since you're back home, don't stand on ceremony. Come and sit down quickly."
Who had the time to chat nonsense with her?
Jiang Fuying stood still on the spot, her sharp eyes fixed on the mother - daughter pair.
"On the day when we reported the marriage switch to the emperor, the emperor specifically asked me and sister to exchange our dowries back."
"Until today, I still haven't retrieved my dowry. Does sister want to defy the emperor's order?"
When she mentioned the dowry, it was like stepping on Jiang Fuyue's most vulnerable spot.
"What do you mean by defying the emperor's order? We're all family. There's no need to distinguish."
Jiang Fuyue's words were full of sarcasm. "Sister, are you being neglected by brother - in - law? Are you jealous that my husband accompanied me back home and deliberately trying to get attention?"
"You're the one trying to get attention!" Lu Huaizhou strode into the hall.
A bamboo cage flew towards Jiang Fuyue, and a bright - green insect jumped out of it, scaring her out of her wits.
"Ah - there's a bug!"
Lu Huaizhou stood in front of Jiang Fuying, looking at her coldly.
"Stop adoring those you should despise all day long!"
Jiang Fuying looked at him in surprise and whispered, "Husband, why did you come?"
"How could I not come?" He put his big hand on her shoulder, as if protecting her and also declaring his sovereignty.
"I was supposed to accompany my wife back home today! My wife left in a hurry this morning and didn't even take the gifts prepared by the mansion for you. I specially brought them here for you!"
Gifts for returning to the natal family?
Not only Lady An and Jiang Fuyue were shocked, but there was also a hint of surprise in Jiang Fuying's eyes.
Before returning to her natal family, Lady Lu sent a large number of gifts. She didn't want to benefit Lady An and her daughter, so she only picked a few worthless ones symbolically.
Was it possible that the young master didn't understand her intention and brought all the remaining gifts?
Seeing the ripples in her autumn - like eyes, Lu Huaizhou leaned towards her and whispered, "Don't worry. I'm not that stupid."
Before Jiang Fuying could think carefully about the meaning of his words, Lu Huaizhou thoughtfully tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear. "My wife is understanding and considerate, far better than some people."
Hearing the veiled sarcasm in his words, Jiang Fuyue's face changed drastically.
Just as she was about to argue, she saw Lu Huaizhou instructing the servant.
"Hurry up and present the Fluorescent Jade Bracelets."
The servant stepped forward quickly with a wooden box in his hand.
Inside the box, there were a pair of jade bracelets that emitted a faint glow.
"These jade bracelets were rare treasures that my father retrieved from the southern border. They are similar to night pearls but rarer. When it gets dark, they shine like stars." Lu Huaizhou explained while shaking his head regretfully. "My wife wanted to give them to the two of you as gifts for returning to your natal family, but the two of you..."
"Well, the two of you have seen so much. Such ordinary items must not catch your eyes."
Lady An and Jiang Fuyue didn't have time to care about the sarcasm in his words. Their eyes were shining with greed, and they could hardly take their eyes off the jade bracelets.
You know, night pearls were extremely rare, and there were only a few families in the capital that owned them.
But the Marquis of Zhennan's mansion had even more precious Fluorescent Jade Bracelets, and this was even a gift prepared for them!
Jiang Fuyue couldn't help but feel annoyed in her heart.
She knew that in her previous life, the Marquis of Zhennan's mansion had been on guard against her and hidden such good things from her!
If it weren't for their status, Lady An and her daughter would have almost thrown aside their dignity and rushed to grab the jade bracelets.
"The gifts for returning to the natal family are brother - in - law's good intentions. I'm so happy. I'll surely keep the jade bracelets carefully and won't let them get dusty."
"Brother - in - law's gifts are of course the best!"
Lu Huaizhou cleared his throat and corrected them. "These are my wife's gifts for returning to her natal family. How to give them is entirely up to my wife."
There was a hint of sneer in her autumn - like eyes.
Jiang Fuying could see that he was deliberately trying to vent her anger and set a trap for them.
Since that was the case, she would surely cooperate well!
She deliberately waved to Caipu. "Take the Fluorescent Jade Bracelets away. Don't get in mother's and sister's way."
This won't do!
Lady An and Jiang Fuyue immediately panicked.
The mother - daughter pair exchanged a look.
Saying a few nice words to Jiang Fuying wouldn't cost them anything, but they could get such precious Fluorescent Jade Bracelets for free. It was really a good deal!
So, nice words poured out of their mouths like water.
"Fuying, your sister was just too worried about you and said something without thinking. Don't take it to heart."
To show her sincerity, Lady An immediately ordered the nanny beside her. "Hurry up and send the already - counted dowry to the Marquis of Zhennan's mansion."
Jiang Fuyue even went against her conscience and flattered with a fawning face. "I was wrong before. Sister and brother - in - law are a perfect match."
While they were talking, their eyes couldn't help but glance at the Fluorescent Jade Bracelets.
Their intentions were obvious.
Jiang Fuying's autumn - like eyes were fixed on the gold hairpin on Jiang Fuyue's temple. She said with a smile, "Sister, your gold hairpin is really unique..."
Jiang Fuyue quickly covered the hairpin.
Could it not be unique?
This was a gold hairpin that her mother had specially made for her wedding with a hundred taels of silver!
But compared with the Fluorescent Jade Bracelets...
Jiang Fuyue gritted her teeth and made up her mind. "I'll exchange this hairpin for them!"