She was a noble relative of the royal family, yet her life was so straitened that she couldn't even afford a tael of bird's nest every day.
After Song Wanchu stopped subsidizing her, she couldn't even afford a good piece of fabric and hadn't had a new dress tailored for a month.
Even the gift she gave to the eldest princess at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet last time was only managed to scrape together a thousand taels of silver after pawning many pieces of jewelry.
Why on earth could Song Wanchu, a concubine of low birth, sit on a mountain of gold?
"Huiyan, don't be sad. Aunt will get back the betrothal gifts that should rightfully belong to you!"
Yu Huiyan covered her face with a handkerchief, seemingly wiping away tears, but the corners of her lips were proudly curled up.
Song Wanchu was accompanying her aunt Wen in the back garden to escape the summer heat. Suddenly, an old maid came to report, "Madam, Miss, Princess Jiahe is here!"
"What is she doing here at our house?" Wen was extremely surprised.
Song Wanchu frowned slightly, looking confused.
Princess Jiahe's visit definitely wasn't to take her back.
Nor could it be anything good.
She was arrogant and conceited, regarding herself as a noble relative of the royal family and too exalted to be compared. She always looked down on merchants.
Once, in front of Song Wanchu, she sneered that her mother was a low - born merchant's daughter, reeking of the smell of money.
Liang Yuzhou and Yu Huiyan's wedding was approaching. For such a "noble" person to step into the Qi family, Song Wanchu guessed that she was here to put on airs and intimidate her.
"Aunt, she's here to find me. I'll go out and see her."
Princess Jiahe looked down on merchants, and Song Wanchu also thought it was unnecessary for her aunt, the mistress of the family, to greet the guest.
It would be giving her too much face.
Wen refused, "Don't think I don't know how mean and fussy she's been to you. Now that she's on our territory, do you think I'll let her bully you?"
Princess Jiahe was sitting in the front hall, putting on a haughty air. She kept rolling her eyes upwards, as if looking down on everyone.
At this moment, the jealousy in her stomach was almost overflowing!
As she walked in, she saw the elegant and luxurious courtyard. The tea the servants served her was Snow - Capped Emerald, a top - grade tea that she had only tasted once or twice at palace banquets.
But the Qi family could drink it every day!
And the welcome carpet under her feet was embroidered with intricate and beautiful patterns in gold and silver threads. It would probably cost three or five thousand taels at least!
Asking for the betrothal gifts wasn't something honorable, and on the way here, Princess Jiahe had felt a bit lacking in confidence.
But seeing how comfortably Song Wanchu was living in her natal family, her confidence suddenly soared.
Since she was already so rich, it was only natural for her to return the betrothal gifts to Huiyan!
There was no reason for a concubine to be more well - provided - for than the legitimate wife!
Wen, holding Song Wanchu's arm, came to the front hall. Seeing Princess Jiahe's arrogant look, she asked indifferently, "Your Highness, what important matter brings you to our humble abode?"
Song Wanchu bent slightly and bowed, as a greeting to her elder.
Princess Jiahe snorted, "Song Wanchu, your natal family is really imposing and wealthy. I'm afraid there are few families in the whole capital richer than yours!"
Song Wanchu detected the jealousy in her words and smiled calmly, "Your Highness, you flatter us. The Duke's Mansion has always been thrifty. Since Your Highness is used to a simple life, you may not know that we're just an ordinary family."
Princess Jiahe's face instantly turned ugly. Wasn't this a blatant mockery that she was a down - and - out person who didn't even know what a wealthy family looked like?
Originally, she had intended to ask Song Wanchu to hand over the betrothal gifts nicely. But in a fit of shame and anger, her face contorted, and she put on an even more haughty air.
"You're so rich. Do you know that the Duke's Mansion is in financial straits now? Three years ago when you married into the Duke's Mansion, the mansion emptied its coffers to give you the betrothal gifts. You looked so proper, but now Huiyan is about to enter the mansion as the legitimate wife, yet her betrothal gifts are less than half of yours!"
These words infuriated Wen. She sneered, "What does it matter to our Wanchu that the Duke's Mansion can't afford the betrothal gifts? Did any of the betrothal gifts sent back then come from you? Come to think of it, as Huiyan's aunt who raised her since childhood and as she's about to become your daughter - in - law, shouldn't you be the one to add to her dowry?"
Wen's words were sarcastic but reasonable. Princess Jiahe was enraged but couldn't find a retort.
"How dare you, Wen! I'm a princess, a noble relative of the royal family. How can a low - born merchant like you point fingers and gossip about me?"
Unable to win the argument, she resorted to using her status to intimidate them.
Princess Jiahe had tormented Song Wanchu for three years, and Wen had long harbored a grudge against her. But Song Wanchu didn't want to further intensify the conflict between the two families.
She used her eyes to calm down the furious Wen.
Wen listened to her and relaxed from her aggressive fighting state.
She gracefully sat down on the main seat and took a sip of tea.
Princess Jiahe, sitting on the guest seat, instantly felt inferior.
"Oh, Your Highness's teacup is empty so soon. It might make people misunderstand that the royal relatives have never tasted Snow - Capped Emerald."
The sarcastic smile was firmly fixed on Wen's face. "Servants, refill the princess's tea. Don't let her think we're stingy with the tea."
These words sounded polite, but to Princess Jiahe's ears, it was as embarrassing as being slapped in the face in public!
Wasn't this mocking that she couldn't afford good tea?
She had come today full of arrogance, but was humiliated by the merchants she looked down on the most!
In a fit of temper, Princess Jiahe raised the teacup to throw it.
"Your Highness, the teacup you're using is a blue - and - white porcelain produced in Yushan Town. This set is a unique item worth ten thousand taels. If you break one, the whole set will be ruined. I'm afraid all your outfits won't be enough to compensate."
Damn it!
Princess Jiahe had to put the teacup back.
Having lost both face and dignity, Princess Jiahe felt extremely uncomfortable. She had come aggressively but didn't want to leave empty - handed.
"Song Wanchu, as a concubine, your betrothal gifts are more than the legitimate wife's, which is against the rules. I don't ask you to hand them all over. You can keep the part given by the old lady. As for the rest, I'll take them away today!"
After all the talk, it turned out she was here to ask for the betrothal gifts.
The perfunctory smile on Wen's face disappeared completely, and she stared coldly at Princess Jiahe.
"Your Highness, do you know what it means to ask for the betrothal gifts back?"
Once the betrothal gifts were returned, it meant the marriage relationship between the Song family and the Duke's Mansion was nullified.
From then on, the two families would have nothing to do with each other.
Princess Jiahe wasn't stupid. She knew it very well.
In her heart, Song Wanchu was reluctant to leave the Duke's Mansion. The whole Song family and the Qi family were relying on the Duke's Mansion to survive.
She sneered contemptuously, "I didn't say I'd take them all back. I'll only take back the part provided by the Duke's Mansion. Since you're afraid of breaking off the in - law relationship with the Duke's Mansion, you should know your place. A concubine simply doesn't deserve so many betrothal gifts!"
Wen's expression grew even colder, and she felt disdainful in her heart. Who wanted to climb up to the Duke's Mansion?
Wanchu had already started preparing to leave!
Song Wanchu only felt that Princess Jiahe's behavior today was absurd and ironic.
This was a major matter regarding the marriage relationship between the Liang family and the Song family. To put it more seriously, it concerned the emperor's dignity.
Although she was shallow and stupid, she definitely wouldn't dare to make such a decision on her own to ask for the betrothal gifts back.
"Your Highness, is it your own idea to ask for the betrothal gifts back today, or Second Master's?"