Seeing that it was Chen Wanrong who came, Su Hele felt even more complacent.
Even the mistress of the Marquis Mansion was called here. It showed how much He Jin valued her.
"It's really troublesome, Madam Chen. But I don't really care about the number of gifts. Madam doesn't need to go to such lengths."
Su Hele curtsied, her voice calm.
Chen Wanrong looked at Su Hele in confusion. Deng Shi beside her quickly said:
"Ale, Madam Chen is here to propose marriage to A Sheng on behalf of Young Master He!"
Su Hele was stunned. Her face quickly flushed red, and she rarely lost her composure.
Chen Wanrong immediately understood what was going on:
"So Miss Su thought I was here on behalf of He Jin. The matter was so sudden back then that his proposal was inevitably hasty and the gifts were a bit meager. It's really kind of Miss Su not to mind.
However, the number of gifts represents the degree of importance. I value Nansheng, so I naturally have to prepare more gifts."
Her face was gentle, but her tone was somewhat meaningful.
She had heard rumors about Su Hele before, but she thought they were just rumors and couldn't be trusted.
But seeing her today, she really felt that there was a hint of hypocrisy beneath Su Hele's calm appearance.
She had a straightforward personality and had always disliked such people.
Coupled with Su Hele's previous slander of Su Nansheng, she didn't bother to save Su Hele's face when speaking.
Hearing this, Su Hele's previously flushed face turned pale. But she still held her chin high:
"These are all just worldly things. It's normal that Madam Chen doesn't understand. After all, only a few can appreciate high -brow art."
Just as Chen Wanrong was about to speak, she heard Su Nansheng chuckle:
"Madam, please forgive my sister. She's always been one to go against worldly conventions. Otherwise, she wouldn't have embraced and confided in Young Master He Er in private."
"What are you talking nonsense about!" Deng Shi scolded sharply.
"Mother, don't be angry. I'm just repeating the rumors outside. Sister never really cared about such things."
Su Nansheng still had a smile on her face, as if she didn't understand the harm of such rumors at all.
"Alright, since the betrothal gifts have been delivered, I should go back now. Otherwise, someone might be waiting impatiently. As for the wedding date, I've already asked someone from the Imperial Observatory to choose a date. You can pick one when we send the betrothal gifts in a few days."
Chen Wanrong bid farewell and left. Su Nansheng and Deng Shi accompanied her out.
Behind them, Su Hele frowned slightly.
She's just a concubine. Yet they're going through all these formalities of proposal and betrothal gifts. Are they treating her like a proper wife?
Such overstepping is really so unseemly.
...
"The betrothal is finally settled. We can rest easy now." On the way back after seeing off Chen Wanrong, Deng Shi spoke first.
Su Nansheng just smiled slightly but didn't say a word.
Seeing her so indifferent, Deng Shi was quite dissatisfied:
"You don't know how to be grateful at all. Do you know that your sister originally wanted to take you into the Marquis Mansion as a dowry maid to prevent you from being laughed at?"
Su Nansheng suddenly stopped in her tracks, her voice cold:
"I've already agreed to marry He Xun. How could she still have such an idea?"
It turned out that whether she married He Xun or not, Su Hele wanted to make her a dowry maid. She just couldn't let her go.
"She just wanted to take care of you. You should repay her well in the future. Your sister has a gentle nature and doesn't like to fight for things. After you enter the Marquis Mansion, you must protect her well and not let her be bullied."
Deng Shi didn't notice Su Nansheng's tone and just kept lecturing her.
"Mother, I'm just a concubine who doesn't even deserve many betrothal gifts. What right do I have to protect my sister?"
Su Nansheng retorted coldly.
Deng Shi didn't expect Su Nansheng to talk back to her and be so rude. Her face immediately darkened:
"Ale is dignified and well - mannered. The people in the Marquis Mansion will surely like her. I'm just saying this just in case. If you're so reluctant, don't ask Ale for help if you're bullied by the mistress in the future."
After saying that, Deng Shi left Su Nansheng behind and quickly walked towards the flower hall.
Su Nansheng watched Deng Shi leave coldly, a hint of mockery flashing across her face.
Just in case? She really thought everything through for Su Hele.
When Su Nansheng also returned to the flower hall, Deng Shi was ordering someone to record the betrothal gifts in the register.
Su Hele was sipping tea on the side, looking calm and having lost the annoyance from before.
Seeing her come in, Deng Shi gave her a disdainful look first, then pointed at the cloak on the table:
"You should at least have the right to dispose of your own things. Give this red - fox fur cloak to your sister. She has a weak constitution and is afraid of the cold. This cloak is most suitable for her."
Su Nansheng almost laughed out of anger. She really dared to say that. Why not just give all the gifts to Su Hele?
"Sure. Let sister wear it. Let her wear it in front of Young Master He Er. His elder brother's betrothal gift on his own wife. He must be very surprised."
Su Nansheng had a smile on her face, but her voice was cold.
Deng Shi was speechless for a moment. She was so busy standing up for Ale that she didn't think of this.
"Master He Er is kind - hearted. Naturally, he can't bear such cruel things as skinning and butchering. It's too brutal."
Su Hele put down her teacup and looked at Su Nansheng:
"I disdain to wear this blood - stained cloak. However, Young Master He seems to be cruel and fond of killing. It might be difficult to get along with him. Sister, you should be careful."
There was concern in her tone, as if she was really worried about Su Nansheng.
But Su Nansheng knew that this was just another attempt to sow discord, just like how she had said in the previous life that He Xun lusted after her beauty.
"Sister, don't worry. I'm not afraid of blood at all. As for He Xun being cruel, I've seen someone a hundred times more cruel than him."
Su Nansheng smiled with the corners of her mouth, staring directly at Su Hele.
To poison a concubine who was about to give birth to secure her position as the proper wife, resulting in the death of both mother and child. Wasn't that cruel?
To frame her own younger sister, break her legs and watch her wound fester and die. Wasn't that cruel?
Su Hele, it's you who's covered in blood!
...
In the Tingfeng Courtyard, He Xun was sitting upright beside the mahogany table. The surroundings were completely silent, only the occasional chirping of birds came from outside.
After knowing that the proposal had gone smoothly, the tension in He Xun's heart eased a lot.
Finally, there were no more accidents. But...
He lowered his head and looked at the small wooden hairpin with a carved mythical beast in his hand. It seemed that she didn't remember him anymore.
Just thinking of the way Su Nansheng behaved in front of him, He Xun felt a bit awkward. She wasn't like this before.
Willful, disobedient to the rules, and always sneaking out to play. But she always accidentally caused trouble.
When caught and spanked, she would cry loudly, which would attract the neighbors to come and persuade. She would hide behind the crowd and make faces at him, lively and bright.
But now she was so well - behaved and cautious. Where was the girl she used to be?
He Xun let out an almost inaudible sigh. Although he had sent people to take care of her during the years he was away, they could only watch from the outside and couldn't reach into the inner courtyard.
In those places where he couldn't see, she must have suffered a lot.
"Feiyu, bring me that piece of red jade I got from the Southern Witch before."
Since she didn't remember, he would just tell her directly. She would remember.