The Earl of Ningyuan and Madam Wang also looked in the direction Princess Yu was pointing.
Sure enough, a jade pendant hung at Han Xiangru's waist.
In Great Chu, men generally wore jade pendants, while women wore sachets.
Han Xiangru had never worn a jade pendant before. Now that they looked at it, it did seem suspicious.
The Earl of Ningyuan's face darkened. "Xiangru, let me see that jade pendant."
Han Xiangru had already clutched the pendant tightly in her hand, panic churning inside her.
Qin Sanlang gave this to me. It's the token of our love. But if anyone finds out, then...
Han Xiangru forced out, "Father, I bought this pendant myself. What is there to look at?"
Princess Yu asked, "Xiangru, if you bought it, why can't Father look at it?"
Han Xiangru said bitterly, "Sister, why can't you ever bear to see me happy?"
Princess Yu was so angry that she laughed.
She was about to speak when the Earl of Ningyuan frowned. "Xiangru, stop talking nonsense. Hand over the pendant."
Seeing that she could not evade him, Han Xiangru pulled off the pendant with a petulant jerk and handed it over.
The Earl of Ningyuan took it with a grim expression and examined it closely.
The jade itself was of only average quality, but a tiny character meaning "cloud"-Yun-was carved at the bottom.
Something flashed through the Earl of Ningyuan's mind, and his heart gave a violent jolt.
The third young master of the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence was named Qin Songyun!
The Earl of Ningyuan flew into a rage. "Han Xiangru! Have you lost your mind? How dare you meet Qin Songyun in secret!"
Madam Wang hurriedly said, "My lord, don't lose your temper yet. What if this is a misunderstanding..."
Seeing how furious her father was, Han Xiangru suddenly dared not admit it.
After all, a reputation for secretly exchanging love tokens was hardly a good one.
She argued, "Who is Qin Songyun? I don't even know him! It's only a coincidence!"
The Earl of Ningyuan sneered. "All the better if you don't know him. Tomorrow, I'll start looking for a husband for you!"
Only then did Han Xiangru panic and hastily change her story. "This pendant... was indeed given to me by Young Master Qin!"
Madam Wang froze. This is bad.
Sure enough, the next moment, the Earl of Ningyuan raised his hand and slapped Han Xiangru across the face.
He thundered, "Have you forgotten every lesson in propriety, honor, and shame I taught you? Now you dare exchange love tokens with an unrelated man in secret! Are you trying to anger me to death?"
Princess Yu had not expected her father to strike her sister and hurriedly intervened. "Father, please talk this through calmly."
Han Xiangru turned her head aside and covered her cheek, tears spilling uncontrollably.
To her, the pain of the slap was nothing compared with the humiliation of losing face in front of Han Wanqing!
Madam Wang hurriedly drew her daughter into her arms. Seeing the red swelling on her cheek, she said in distress, "My lord, whatever Xiangru did wrong, you shouldn't hit her!"
Fortunately, the skin had not broken. Still shaken, Madam Wang said, "A girl's face is so delicate. What would become of her if she were scarred?"
The Earl of Ningyuan regretted it a little too, but the blow had already fallen, and he could not swallow his pride and apologize to someone of the younger generation.
He glared at Madam Wang. "This is all because you spoiled her! If word of her secret exchange of love tokens gets out, never mind what happens to her-will Xiangning still be able to marry?"
At those words, Madam Wang's arm around Han Xiangru stiffened.
That was right. She had more than this one daughter. She still had Xiangning.
After some thought, Madam Wang ventured, "Since things have already come to this, why not agree to the marriage with the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence?"
The Earl of Ningyuan hesitated.
Princess Yu reminded him, "Father, this concerns the rest of Xiangru's life."
The Earl of Ningyuan's expression immediately hardened. "Wanqing is right. Xiangru cannot marry into the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence!"
Han Xiangru's eyes were bloodshot, her voice hoarse. "Han Wanqing! You just can't bear to see me happy! You used to show off in front of me at every turn, and now you're trying to ruin my marriage!"
The Earl of Ningyuan could listen no longer. He snapped, "Xiangru! Your sister is looking out for you! The Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence isn't..."
Like someone smashing an already cracked pot, Han Xiangru threw all caution aside. "Young Master Qin and I love each other. I won't marry anyone but him!"
So furious that he lost his head, the Earl of Ningyuan declared, "Then become a nun!"
Madam Wang hurriedly said, "My lord, you mustn't say that!"
Han Xiangru cried out, "Father! Can't you let Young Master Qin and me be together? This is the only thing I'm asking of you!"
The Earl of Ningyuan's head ached from listening to her. He could not help turning to his eldest daughter. "Wanqing, what do you think we should do?"
Princess Yu's heart had long since turned cold. "Father, the decision is yours."
She looked coldly at Han Xiangru. "There is only one thing we must settle beforehand. If you insist on marrying into that household, you must not bring any future matters concerning the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence to Prince Yu's Residence."
Han Xiangru's gaze shifted evasively. She said awkwardly, "Shouldn't sisters help each other? Sister, you're being far too heartless."
Princess Yu remained unmoved. "Then don't marry into the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence."
Han Xiangru gritted her teeth and said bitterly, "I knew you meant me no good! I don't want your help anyway!"
Princess Yu said only, "Remember what you said today."
With that, she took her leave of her father.
After the Earl of Ningyuan saw his eldest daughter off, another round of arguments broke out at home.
In the end, he could not overcome his daughter's stubbornness and agreed to the marriage alliance with the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence.
Soon, the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence sent over the betrothal gifts.
Everyone at the Ningyuan Earl's Residence was dumbfounded when they saw them.
Although the gifts were plentiful, their contents were paltry for a marquis's household, and most were flashy things with little substance.
For instance, most of the gold jewelry listed was merely painted or gilded showpieces, worth very little.
As for the fabrics, they were either out of fashion or unappealing in color. Who knew how long they had languished in a storeroom?
Compared with the betrothal gifts Prince Yu had sent when he married Han Wanqing, the difference was as vast as heaven and earth.
The servants at the Ningyuan Earl's Residence could not help muttering among themselves.
"The second young lady is marrying into a marquis's household, yet her betrothal gifts aren't even worth a tenth of the eldest young lady's."
"How can you compare them? Prince Yu is a prince who already heads his own household. The Qin family's third young master is merely one of the Marquis of Qingyuan's sons."
"Still, these gifts are far too shabby. Everything is second-rate."
"It seems the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence really is strong on the outside but hollow within."
Han Xiangru was already seething with resentment. When she happened to overhear the maids gossiping, she flew into a rage.
Madam Wang said to the Earl of Ningyuan, "My lord, when Prince Yu sent all those betrothal gifts, I suggested keeping some, but you insisted on sending everything back with our eldest girl as part of her dowry. Now, with Xiangru's gifts like this, I fear she's being shortchanged."
The Earl of Ningyuan said displeasedly, "She chose this marriage herself. I'll send all the betrothal gifts from the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence back with her as part of her dowry too."
Madam Wang's eyes shifted as she considered another idea. "My lord, what if we gave Xiangru a slightly larger dowry than our eldest girl?"
The Earl of Ningyuan said, "Wanqing's dowry included a portion left by her birth mother. I can only provide the customary allotment. If you have private savings to add to Xiangru's dowry, go ahead."
Madam Wang's expression turned ugly. She had been a concubine elevated to the position of wife. Where would she get so much private money?
She clutched her handkerchief. "My lord, Xiangru is marrying into a marquis's household, after all. We can't let them look down on her..."
The Earl of Ningyuan said irritably, "With the betrothal gifts the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence sent, what more is there to say? Besides, our estate only has so much property. We still have three sons and Xiangning."
Madam Wang fell silent.
Although reality fell far short of her expectations, Han Xiangru finally got her wish and married Qin Sanlang.
But whether her days at the Marquis of Qingyuan's Residence were warm or cold, only she herself knew.
Before you continue