Arguing with her? She doesn't deserve it!
Xiu'er lifted the curtain and strode out.
She's going to find the prince!
The Prince of Jin and the men of the Xue Family were locked in a tense standoff, each sharpening their knives, yet they were forcing themselves to maintain a semblance of peace.
Xiu'er ran over and shouted, "Your Highness, the young lady from the Duke Meng's Residence is mocking the Lady for not having a dowry!"
What do you think we should do about this?
Tang Zhuyun, who was inside the house, said slowly, "The dowry bestowed by the Emperor is all in the new residence. So you have a problem with the Emperor? Why don't you go and talk to him directly?"
Meng Yuqian remained silent.
Even if she had a few more lives, she wouldn't dare to talk about the Emperor behind his back.
No one knows what stroke of luck Tang Zhuyun had to receive a dowry from the Emperor.
When the Prince of Jin and the men of the Xue Family heard Xiu'er's words, they were outraged.
Prince of Jin: "Song Jingyang, bring over 100,000 taels of silver notes for the Empress. Let her add whatever she likes to her dowry."
Xue Shanting: "Boss, send someone back to open the storeroom. Forget all the odds and ends, just pick out the gold, silver, and jade. Pick out 120 loads of dowry!"
Xue Xian said with difficulty, "Father, we can't be careless about the dowry. We have to choose the best and send it over in style. We certainly can't let A-Yun suffer."
The Prince of Jin slightly raised his chin.
His idea was slightly better.
Sure enough, Xiu'er quickly entered the room with 100,000 taels of silver, a thick stack of banknotes, and deliberately slammed them down, saying, "Your Highness is driving me crazy! I told you we don't need any money, but you still sent 100,000 taels, shamelessly insisting on adding to your dowry, just in case you don't want to marry me."
Tang Zhuyun: Versailles is amazing!
Meng Yuqian was already dizzy from being hit by the huge sum of 100,000 taels of silver.
One hundred thousand taels? To be given to the bride's family as dowry.
Prince of Jin, you're such a sucker!
If I'd known, she could have done it too!
Did the Prince of Jin really value the Tang Family that much?
Xiu'er continued, "Where's the red coral tree that the Prince sent to Sister Yuan? It's so luxurious, it just shows how rich he is! Our Tang Residence is a distinguished family, you should talk to the Prince and tell him to tone down this money-grubbing attitude in the future."
Tang Zhuyun nodded, promising to complete the task.
She probably needs to return the banknotes tonight...
"Oh, right," Xiu'er continued, "Where did the white jade Buddha's hand that Madam Wang sent go? We must keep a close eye on it. Lüzhu, don't be clumsy; that was a gift from the Emperor to Eunuch Wang."
Lüzhu chuckled and said, "Don't worry, Xiu'er Xiuer, I'll keep a close eye on things."
Xiu'er patted her head. "Let me think... Oh right, I need to go out and tidy up the things in the Xue Family's room, and then go and refill the old lady's tea..."
The Xue Family family and the Duke Meng's Residence did not want to have much interaction, so after exchanging a few pleasantries, Old Madam Xue had already led the women of the Xue Family to rest nearby, and was not present at the moment.
The Xiu'er, who had spun around in a 360-degree circle, went out again in a flurry.
Tang Zhuyun's Zidu holding back her laughter, but looking at Meng Yuqian's expression, she felt a sense of relief.
Meng Yulan said calmly, "A-Yun, shouldn't we begin the feast?"
Tang Zhuyun knew she couldn't afford to completely break ties with the Duke Meng's Residence yet; this was giving them a way out. So she said, "Yes, I'll go see; the banquet should be served soon."
The meal was served quickly, Yanran suddenly asked, "Mother, has the meal for Grandmother been served first?"
Tang Zhuyun was slightly taken aback.
Yanran continued, "When we have festivals, we make delicious food, and we always let Grandma try it first, right? Today is my little sister's third-day celebration, so it counts as a festival too, doesn't it?"
Old Madam Xue, "Is there still a memorial tablet in the house?"
Tang Zhuyun nodded. "Yes. I'll go prepare it right away, and pour Mother a cup of wine as well, so that Mother can bless Sister Yuan with peace and happiness."
The women of the Xue Family all looked sorrowful.
First Madam Xue, "Since there's a memorial tablet, you should have told me sooner, A-Yun. You take care of your maternal grandmother, and I'll take your second and third aunts, as well as your sisters-in-law and brothers, to offer incense to your mother."
Old Madam Xue couldn't help but cry again.
Yanran came over to wipe away her tears and said, "Great-Grandma, there's still Grandma at the Great Xiangguo Temple. We've never forgotten her."
Old Madam Xue was in tears.
Tang Zhuyun felt a pang of sadness, and stroked Yanran's head without saying a word.
The Little Lovely clearly wanted to defend her dad.
Aside from coming over to pay her respects, Linlin spent the rest of her time with Tang Mingfan.
The sacrifices made for their children and grandchildren, especially the emotional ones, were not in vain.
After the banquet began, the female guests maintained a relatively harmonious demeanor, but the men of the Xue Family were not so polite to the Prince of Jin.
Xue the Little Overlord, confident in his drinking capacity, took the lead in getting Prince of Jin drunk.
"And then?" Tang Zhuyun asked Xiu'er. The men and women were separated, and she only heard noises outside, but didn't know what had happened.
"Later, Fourth Master Xue Family drank himself under the table, clinging to the table leg and shouting, ' Prince of Jin, I'll fight you to the death!' No one could pull him up, making a fool of himself."
Tang Zhuyun: "... And now?"
"Now it's the turn of the eldest, second, and third masters to get the prince drunk."
These guys are probably thinking, "Little Si, stop messing around; but if you fall, I'll definitely stand my ground and not let outsiders take advantage."
Xiu'er said, "I need to hurry out and make some hangover soup to serve."
Watching her hurried departure, Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but mutter to herself: When did Xiu'er become so friendly to Prince of Jin?
Oh, right, 100,000 taels of silver!
Even if it's not given to her, does that mean you'd be happy just to have it pass through your hands?
Tang Zhuyun smiled and shook her head.
She was standing at the door when Meng Yuqian came out and deliberately tried to bump into Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun sneered inwardly, then used a clever technique to smash her head against her with her elbow.
Meng Yuqian was in so much pain that her face turned pale. She held her lower abdomen and couldn't speak for a long time. Her eyes were filled with such hatred that she seemed to want to devour Tang Zhuyun alive.
She said fiercely, "Don't be so smug. The prince has his eye on the Tang Residence, not you!"
"Oh."
"The prince actually prefers someone else."
"Oh."
"You--"
"Finished?" Tang Zhuyun clapped her hands. "If you're done, get out of the way! A good dog doesn't block the road!"
She, someone who had spent every day with the Prince of Jin, didn't know that the Prince of Jin had withered all plants and killed all the beauty in the world, and that she needed to point fingers at him?
Meng Yuqian returned empty-handed.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" A moment later, Xiu'er came running in again, shouting excitedly.
"Is Your Highness drunk?"
"No, Master Xue Family, Second Master and Third Master are also drunk. The Old Master said they can't drink anymore, otherwise no one will be able to carry them home!"
Tang Zhuyun: "... And what about the Prince?"
"Nothing's wrong!"
Tang Zhuyun: This is a wine vat!
After the banquet, the people from the Duke Meng's Residence left first, but the Xue Family family insisted on taking Tang Zhuyun to the Xue Family for a few days.
Finally, Tang Zhuyun said that they would definitely go tomorrow and that they needed to make arrangements today, which finally managed to coax them away.
The Prince of Jin came to find Tang Zhuyun: "A-Yun, I'm not drunk."
Tang Zhuyun: "I know!"
Her eyes were clear, even more sober than hers; how could she be drunk?
Prince of Jin: Do you even understand?!
Anyone who claims they're not drunk is definitely drunk!
I don't care, I'm drunk!