Su Hele sat in the carriage, her body swaying with the jolting of the vehicle. Her expression was numb.
She couldn't understand why things had suddenly turned out like this.
Just a few days ago, everyone had been so grateful to her. But now...
Thinking of the contemptuous looks on people's faces just before she left, Su Hele felt a chill run through her body, and her expression gradually turned vicious.
And that constable from the Magistrate's Office. She wondered how he would badmouth her in front of others.
It was all Su Nansheng's fault! All her fault!
If she hadn't refused to be a substitute, none of this would have happened today. She wouldn't have been laughed at by everyone, accused of doing anything to gain fame.
Su Hele bit down hard on her inner lip until the faint taste of blood filled her mouth. Only then did she ease the pressure.
The carriage slowly came to a stop. Su Hele took a deep breath to steady her nerves.
When she got out of the carriage, the vicious look on her face had disappeared, and she had returned to her elegant and refined self.
Seeing the red paper scattered all over the ground at the gate, Su Hele's eyes flashed. She asked the gatekeeper,
"What happened?"
"Replying to the eldest miss, people from the Anshun Marquis Mansion came to present betrothal gifts."
Just as she had expected. Su Hele felt a bit relieved. But this time, she had to clarify,
"Are they here for the second young master?"
"Yes, they are. They've all come."
A hint of displeasure flashed across Su Hele's eyes. She always had to compete with her in everything.
Thinking like this, Su Hele quickened her steps and came to the flower hall. Before she even entered, she saw dozens of gift boxes piled up in the outer yard.
The lids of the boxes were wide open, filled with gold and silver ornaments, cloth materials, jewelry, and gold cakes. There was everything one could think of, and they were extremely eye - catching.
Su Hele nodded in satisfaction. After all, it was the Anshun Marquis Mansion. Even if the betrothal gifts were not much, they were still a hundred times better than those of ordinary families.
Her steps became much lighter. When she entered the flower hall, she saw Deng Shi holding a long list of gifts and checking them.
Seeing her come, Deng Shi immediately said, "Come quickly and help me keep an eye on this. There are so many things that it's making my eyes go dizzy."
Su Hele's lips curled slightly. She stepped forward and said, "I don't care how many betrothal gifts there are. Mother doesn't need to check them."
"Oh, this is A Sheng's betrothal gift list. There are exactly sixty - six carriages of them. Fortunately, they said that twenty of them can also serve as the dowry. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to give in return."
Deng Shi was very satisfied,
"After all, it's the Anshun Marquis Mansion. The expenses for taking a concubine there are enough for an ordinary family to marry ten daughters - in - law."
Su Hele stopped in her tracks. It took her a while to say,
"What about the betrothal gifts from the second young master He?"
Deng Shi's movements paused. She said somewhat awkwardly,
"The second young master He also sent twenty - four carriages of betrothal gifts. That's more than what ordinary families have."
"Mother, I'm a bit tired. I'll go back and rest first."
Su Hele gave a faint smile and turned to leave.
Deng Shi looked at her back, looking worried. Then she looked at the betrothal gifts outside and a smile appeared on her face again.
...
As soon as Su Nansheng returned, she was called to the main courtyard. The windows in the room were closed, and there was no light. It was a bit dark.
The serving maids had all been called outside. Only Deng Shi was sitting on the soft couch.
She was holding the list of gifts in her hand, and her expression was unclear.
Seeing Su Nansheng come, she immediately handed the list to her,
"The Anshun Marquis Mansion came to present betrothal gifts today. The wedding date is set for the sixth day of next month. This is the list. Take a look."
"Isn't it a bit too hasty?"
Su Nansheng took the list. There were clearly two later dates available.
Deng Shi immediately complained,
"Right? The Anshun Marquis Mansion set the wedding date so soon. I don't even have time to prepare your dowry."
Su Nansheng tightened her grip on the list. She looked at Deng Shi with a half - smile,
"So mother doesn't plan to prepare a dowry for me?"
"How could that be? You're my daughter after all. How could I not prepare a dowry for you? It's just..."
As Deng Shi spoke, she looked at Su Nansheng, but saw that she didn't respond. She was just looking at her coldly.
Deng Shi pouted and simply said directly,
"Even though they've already prepared twenty carriages of dowry for us, we still can't compare to the Anshun Marquis Mansion. Moreover, with sixty - six carriages of betrothal gifts directly serving as the dowry, it's already quite a lot even if we don't add anything.
Your elder sister's betrothal gifts are much less than yours. If we don't add more to her dowry, won't she be looked down upon by her in - laws?"
"So mother isn't afraid that the Anshun Marquis Mansion will look down on me?"
"Oh, you're just a concubine anyway. Besides, Lady Chen likes you so much. You won't be wronged."
Looking at Deng Shi's nonchalant expression, Su Nansheng gave a self - deprecating smile. What was she expecting?
Su Nansheng slowly rolled up the list of gifts, one by one, rolling up the hopes in her heart as well.
Then she looked up, her face calm and her tone firm,
"In the Great Qing, it is stipulated that the dowry should be twice the cost of the wedding. I don't expect mother to add several times the amount of the betrothal gifts to my dowry, but at least it should be equal to the betrothal gifts. And you can't add my dowry to elder sister's. If her betrothal gifts are less, mother can add less to her dowry too."
Deng Shi was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end,
"She's your elder sister. How could you bear to see her laughed at by her in - laws?"
She even dared to use the Great Qing law to pressure her. She was becoming more and more out of control.
A strange and gorgeous smile appeared on Su Nansheng's face,
"I'm saying this because I respect elder sister. Has mother asked elder sister's opinion about what you said today? She always regards money as dirt and a burden. I think she doesn't want mother to add too much to her dowry.
What she values is the second young master He's feelings, isn't it?"
Su Nansheng's words were spoken one by one, leaving Deng Shi speechless.
Seeing this, Su Nansheng's smile widened,
"Father understands the laws of the Great Qing better. Mother might as well discuss with father how to add the dowry."
After saying that, she turned around and left without any hesitation.
...
When the mistress and her maid returned to the courtyard, before they even entered, Snowball barked and rushed over.
Su Nansheng immediately picked it up in her arms and stroked its fur one by one, her movements gentle and serious.
"Miss, how did you know that the wanted criminal would run to Zhuque Street?"
Bi Tao had also heard what Deng Shi said outside. She felt sorry for Su Nansheng, so she found a topic to divert her attention.
Su Nansheng glanced in the direction of the main courtyard,
"I did a divination and knew that there would be bad luck on Zhuque Street today. Naturally, I had to make arrangements in advance."
Actually, she didn't really care. She just thought that since she had changed many things in this life, her parents' attitudes might also change. But they didn't.
Bi Tao: "Huh???"
Su Nansheng stared into the void, her expression cold.
In her previous life, she had written on behalf of Su Hele as requested. Just like today, something had gone wrong.
Su Hele didn't mention the ghost - writing at all. Instead, she earnestly pleaded for her, saying that she was just trying to gain fame and it was an unintentional mistake.
As a result, all the blame had fallen on her. She had been accused by everyone of being greedy for fame and vanity.
Father had been angry and said that if they offended the Minister because of this, he would never have the chance to return to the capital to take office.
At that time, she had been punished with the family law and couldn't get out of bed for more than ten days.
Su Hele had perfectly avoided this disaster and was even praised by everyone for her pure heart and elegant demeanor.
Su Nansheng stroked Snowball's fur one by one. A smile slowly appeared on her face.
She wondered if, in this life, with Su Hele in her place, father would still impose the family law.
She also wondered if, in a fit of anger, father would be willing to add more to Su Hele's dowry to boost her status.