Chapter 436: Chapter 436: Ke Fu’s Last Son_1
“No.” Wei Ruo refused, a response as crisp as a winter morning.
The smile meticulously crafted on Madam Bai’s face instantly froze over.
Yet, refusing to give up that easily, she continued reasoning with Wei Ruo. “Ruoruo, you really have no use for this wine. Your uncle will use it to forge connections to benefit the Wei family. It doesn’t just serve him. It benefits all of us.”
“This wine is part of my dowry which represents the honor of the Wei family. In doing so, I too am looking out for the family,” Wei Ruo responded.
Pretty words are hardly scarce. Any Wei Ruo might wish for, she can easily fabricate.
“Ah… Ah… Ruoruo, what you’ve said does make… some sense…” Madam Bai’s jovially fake laughter revealed her sour mood beneath the surface.
Wei Ruo simply smiled in return, unphased by Madam Bai’s barely-hidden displeasure.
After a short while, Madam Bai excused herself on the pretext of being busy, hastily taking leave from Changchun Garden.
As soon as she left, Madam Yun finally brought up her hidden intent to Wei Ruo: “Ruoruo, you have some fine fabric there. It would be perfect for wedding attire. If I may be so bold, could you acquire another bolt?”
“You want it for my sister, don’t you?” inquired Wei Ruo, cutting straight to the point.
“I guess you caught me,” Madam Yun sheepishly admitted.
“As I’ve said before, this fabric is rare. If you wish to make a wedding gown for my sister, you should look for some other way. Moreover, my sister is marrying into the status of a concubine. Even with the blessings of the royal family, she is, after all, not the chief wife. Is it appropriate for her to be wearing pure red? What do you think, mother?”
Wei Ruo’s harsh words left Madam Yun flustered.
“I understand.”
Consequently, Madam Yun refrained from pressing Wei Ruo for the fabric she desired. After a few reminders, she took her leave.
Shortly after both Madam Bai and Madam Yun had left, Xiumei burst out laughing.
“Miss, Madam and Madam Bai were practically wearing their desires on their foreheads. Imagine if they knew the true extent of your treasures. Their eyes would likely pop out of their sockets!”
“Even if they do, I will not give what I am not willing to give. Not one bit of it.”
“Right, let them envy away!”
###
Upon returning, Madam Bai informed Wei Mingyong of Wei Ruo’s possession of two jars of Thyme.
“That girl… She’s so lucky! I tried so hard to get it and here she is with two jars!” Wei Mingyong muttered through gritted teeth.
“Isn’t it though? That little missy really has some sort of luck. I wonder which generous friend she’s acquainted herself with,” Madam Bai retorted indignantly.
Wei Mingyong thought long and hard, but couldn’t bring himself to swallow his grudge. “No, we must ask her for those jars. I must gift them to Lord Qi!”
“I’ve already attempted to buy the wine from her, and she refused to sell. Do you think she’ll simply hand it over to you if you asked?”
Wei Mingyong was immediately reminded of his previous confrontations with Wei Ruo, casting aside the idea.
“That damn girl… Her father thought her marriage into the Xuanping Marquis Residence would bring our family benefits, but with her selfish character, I bet she won’t give a thought to the Wei family!”
###
Rumors of Wei Ruo’s well-to-do friend and the lavished gifts he provided had started to reach the ears of the other inhabitants of the residence.
Wei Mingyong’s Thyme, an item he so craved yet couldn’t obtain, Wei Ruo possessed two jars. Even the fine cloth that Wei Qingwan desired was casually gifted to Wei Ruo by her mysterious friend, a quality that couldn’t be found for purchase elsewhere.
Wei Qingwan couldn’t make sense of it. Why was Wei Ruoruo always so fortunate, consistently forming relationships with influential people? How was it that she always obtained that which others couldn’t?
Wei Qingwan was unhappy that Wei Ruoruo could make a wedding dress from a fabric finer than her own. But, since Madam Yun had stopped asking, there was nothing she could do.
###
In the evening, everyone gathered for the New Year’s Eve feast.
Marking a more celebrative departure from past years, the arrival of the third branch of the family added to the overall gaiety of the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence’s New Year’s celebrations.
The only regret was that Wei Mingting couldn’t make it home to celebrate the New Year.
Rumors were that the coast was again restless, hinting at potential unrest.
Following the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth, the Xuanping Marquis Residence sent people to propose marriage to the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence.
The betrothal gifts brought by the people from the marquis’ residence amounted to no less than thirty palanquin-loads, much to the gratification of the duke’s household.
This had been the most momentous event for the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence since Wei Qingwan was granted the honor of marrying the sixth prince.
The elderly duke was exceptionally delighted, as if he could see the dawn of the Wei family’s revival right before his eyes.
After exchanging the horoscopes, the Xuanping Marquis Residence decided on the eighth day of the fifth month as the wedding day.
The elderly duke agreed with great joy.
Even though the date seemed a bit rushed, since the marquis was taking a second wife, a simplified ceremony would suffice. Preparations could be made in time.
During this period, Wei Ruo, behaving as the Wei family had hoped, obediently stayed in the Changchun Garden, diligently preparing for her wedding.
She took the preparation of her dowry seriously and even personally selected the seamstresses to make her wedding gown.
This reassured the uneasy Wei family members who were previously worried about Wei Ruo’s lack of initiation.
Even Wei Qingwan began to believe that Wei Ruo was genuinely content with the arranged marriage and was prepared to become the Madam of Xuanping Marquis Residence.
Consequently, for the next half a month, whenever Wei Ruo wished to leave the house to shop, Madam Wei was readily in agreement.
Time quickly slipped into February.
On the first day, as usual, Wei Ruo went out. However, this time she did not go into the city, she went outside the city to the Long’an Temple to light some incense.
After returning, Wei Ruo continued her preparations for the wedding without raising any suspicions.
Three nights afterwards, as Wei Ruo was about to retire, a messenger arrived from Shou’an Hall.
Mingzhu’s voice came from outside, anxious and urgent: “Miss, the duke and his wife have urgent news and wish for you to come immediately.”
Wei Ruo slowly rose: “Understood.”
“Miss, there is a pressing matter,” the messenger outside urged again.
“Mmm.”
Wei Ruo responded but wasn’t in a rush to dress herself.
Only when she was appropriately attired did she open the door.
Stood before her, Mingzhu’s forehead creased into furrows, looking quite flustered.
It appeared to be an emergency situation at the Shou’an Hall.
Without a word, Wei Ruo followed Mingzhu to the Shou’an Hall.
Despite the late hour, the Shou’an Hall was brightly lit. The elderly duke and his wife, who should have been resting, had summoned everyone in the house.
Because Wei Ruo’s quarters were located the farthest, she was the last one to arrive.
When Wei Ruo stepped through the doorway, everyone’s gaze converged on her as if guided by some unspoken coordination.
Her composure remained unperturbed. Calmly, she looked at the elderly duke and his wife.
The elderly duke seemed furious and yet dispirited. Through gritted teeth, he said, “Tell me, who exactly have you offended?”
“Most of my time is spent here in the residence. If I have actually offended someone, odds are it’s someone within these walls,” Wei Ruo responded nonchalantly.
“So why are rumors about you circulating outside?” The elderly duke’s face was a stormy mix of indignation and bewilderment.
“What rumors?” asked Wei Ruo.
“Do you know that everyone outside is gossiping that you’re a curse on your husbands and sons?” The elderly duke’s voice rose dramatically, radiating both anger and annoyance.
“There’s such hearsay?” Wei Ruo asked blandly.
“Do you know that because of these rumors the Xuanping Marquis Residence is considering breaking off the engagement?”
The elderly duke slapped the table in rage.
