Chapter 101: Getting Married (4)

  Xue Mingrui's eyebrows slightly raised, his voice clear and calm, "Tomorrow is the day of the dowry, Eighth Miss has done nothing wrong, Mother cannot do this."

  "Madam Xue hastily said, 'You don't understand my thoughts. I am afraid... that you will have a bad future.'"

  Xue Mingrui slightly raised an eyebrow, "Mother is worrying too much."

  The marriage of the Tao family, the old lady seems to have not interfered, but without her consent, how could it be so smooth. Now that the situation is like this, it's hard to guarantee that one day the Empress Dowager won't intervene and marry a girl from the Cai family back. Comparing the two evils and taking the lighter one, the position of the Tao family is already considered not bad for him.

  There's also that Eighth Miss, Xue Mingrui recalled the resolute and bold look in Ronghua's eyes, indeed somewhat different from others. Not wanting to let others interfere with his marriage, yet having to do it flawlessly, being able to achieve the current result was already not easy, "Mother can't be swayed by some rumors and lose her composure."

  Before the old master passed away, he entrusted her to take good care of Mingrui. The old master was a straightforward and upright person who did things openly and honestly. She was afraid that Mingrui would tarnish the old master's reputation, so she had always been strict with him. If Mingrui were to develop bad habits, she would not be able to account for it to the old master in the future.

  She also knows some of the current situation, and the nobles around her are not all climbing up the dragon's scales or attaching themselves to the phoenix's wings, secretly competing with each other. Before this, she had considered several marriage proposals but they were all unsuccessful due to this reason. Miss Tao Ba saved her life once, and her younger sister also praised Miss Tao Ba's beauty without end, which is why she began to have thoughts about it.

  If there's anything shady about the Tao family, now that Ming Rui has married Eighth Miss, won't he be affected by this too?

  The arrow is on the string and cannot be turned back now.

  "Madam Xue sighed and said, 'I also just heard about this matter and was momentarily stunned. I came to discuss it with you, at least to let you know and see what you think.'"

  Xue Mingrui said: "Don't worry, Mother, I have a plan for these things."

  Madam Xue nodded slightly.

  ……

  The Tao family, after dinner, the first wife led the second wife Wang and the third wife Liao, carrying red lanterns with auspicious words, walked through the corridor and along the bamboo path to the Ronghua house.

  The maids stood full of the courtyard, seeing the madam came, immediately paid respects. The wooden threshold at the door was originally at the door, constantly gazing out, finally waiting for the madams to come suddenly tense and heartbeat like a drum. Until the maids spread the red paper, the madam stepped onto the first step, the wooden threshold hastily lifted the curtain to let the madam, second madam, third madam enter.

  Jinxiu's several maids saw a few madams coming over with joyful expressions, they went forward to pay their respects but didn't dare speak.

  The first lady, the second lady, and the third lady also smiled but didn't speak. Especially the third lady, Liao, who was overjoyed when she saw Rong Hua hastily pulling her to sit down, with both eyes curved into a smile, seemingly even happier than the first lady.

  Rong Hua sat steadily on the brocade couch.

  The old lady then turned around and opened the red sandalwood inlaid with gold and auspicious box from the maid's hand, took out a red silk wrapped mirror and handed it to Third Lady Liao, who then held it up for Ronghua to take a good look, before taking it back again.

  Hongyu brought the clothes, apron, belt, horse face skirt and a pair of pomegranate flower embroidered shoes that she had made earlier. Hongying carried a set of headdresses on a lacquered red tray.

  The mistress personally put these things into the red box one by one, and this scene made the mistress think of when Shu Hua got married. She also put things in one by one at that time. The feeling of marrying off a daughter is joyful with some sadness. The mistress's nose was sour, and tears fell down.

  The old lady shed tears, but Liao's wife was delighted. Before her daughter got married, her mother's tears were a blessing for her daughter. She had been worried that the old lady wouldn't shed tears for her eighth niece.

  The old lady then placed the bran salt red envelopes and pomegranate stones in the four corners of the box, took over the mirror from Liao's hand, pressed it on top, and finally closed the red wooden box.

  Everyone in the house let out a sigh of relief, and Second Madam took out another porcelain doll from the tray held by the maid behind her, smiling as she handed it to Rong Hua.

  Ronghua had heard the nanny's detailed account over the past two days, and she wanted to take this porcelain doll from her and hand it over to the second wife, who would send it to the Xue family tonight as a blessing for an early birth of a noble son after marriage.

  At this thought, Ronghua's face suddenly turned red, and she stretched out her hand to hold the porcelain doll for a moment before returning it to the second lady. The second lady carefully accepted the porcelain doll with an outstretched hand.

  That's it for the gift.

  The old lady finally spoke up, "It's getting late, the second watch is still at the Xue family gate," and instructed Rong Hua, "Get some rest early, we have to get up early tomorrow."

  Rong Hua nodded slightly.

  The first wife, second wife and third wife finally left with their maids.

  Back in Madame Wang's main house, Madame Wang again instructed the second and third wives, "I'll trouble you two sisters to go this time."

  Mrs. Wang, the second wife, smiled and said: "Don't worry, elder sister-in-law, I was also the one who stepped on the flower hall when our niece got married. To say nothing of other things, this porcelain doll I will definitely hold well and won't let it slip for half a moment." The implication is that other matters are not her responsibility. Last time Shu Hua got married, all the arrangements were made by her, but this time Chang Fang let third wife Liao Shi take charge, Liao Shi was inexperienced, if anything was missed, it had nothing to do with her.

  The old lady didn't carefully consider Wang's meaning, and then instructed Liao, "Other things are up to you, it's getting late, you can set off early." As she saw the carriage leave, she said to Chen Mama beside her, "Go take another look at the dowry."

  She took Chen's mother to the main room and checked the dowry, which included a purple sandalwood inlaid cabinet with one hundred treasures, a red wood vermilion lacquer carved flower standing cabinet, a purple sandalwood carved flower top cabinet, and a side cabinet. There were also boxes and quilts.

  "Inside the pillow, I've placed red chopsticks and red walnuts. In the shoes, I've sewn in a red cloth package. And inside the quilt, I've sewn in dates, longans, and peanuts. Don't worry, madam, everything is ready. We just need to wait until tomorrow morning when Master Two will escort the dowry to the Xue family."

  The lady was finally at ease.

  "Madam, you'd better take a rest first," said Chen's mother.

  During this time, there was indeed nothing to be busy with. Madame returned to her own courtyard and entered the inner chamber to rest. Chen Mama made up the bed, lit the incense burner, and ordered the young maids to come in and attend to Madame's toilette before helping Madame onto the bed.

  Madam Chen extinguished the light and went out. The elder lady on the bed let out a long sigh. How did Ronghua's marriage become more complicated than Shuhua's? The custom-made dowry was personally selected by Old Lady Tao, fearing that they would lose face in front of the Xue family. Thinking carefully, this Eighth Miss has been in the manor for such a short time, yet the Tao family is putting so much thought into it. It's strange to say, but Eighth Miss just happens to have the same name as Fifth Miss, both named Ronghua.

  Thinking of this, a thought sprouted in my heart, could it be the cause and effect of this world?

  She carefully savored the moment, and suddenly she realized that she had already fallen asleep. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a bright light slowly approaching. She turned her head to look, and it was Chunyao holding a lamp and arriving at the bedside. Before Chunyao could speak, the lady asked, "What? Has the time arrived?"

  Chun Yao nodded, "The eighth young lady has already gotten up and washed. " He said, putting down the lamp and helping Madame get up.

  The lady looked at Chunyao who had changed into new clothes and cast a satisfied glance, "Has the Gao Jincheng and Feng Lichang family arrived?"

  Chun Yao said: "They have all changed into new clothes and are waiting outside."

  The lady nodded.

  Chun Yao brought over the clothes for Madame to change into. Madame said, "I'll be going to Eighth Miss's place soon, so don't bother about this side." As she spoke, she called out loudly for Ya Qin to come in.

  Chun Yao's heart felt a slight pang upon hearing these words. She had thought about leaving this house countless times before, but now that the moment had finally arrived, she found it hard to part with it. After all, she had grown up in the Tao Manor since childhood and had long considered it her home.

  The lady-in-waiting finished dressing and was about to follow Ronghua to the main wing rooms of the Xue family, where she would introduce the maids and servant girls to Ronghua's quarters.

  Because they were going to the Xue family, Jinxiu, Mugen, Hongyu, and Hongying also changed into new clothes. Mugen's time in the Tao estate was the shortest, so she didn't feel anything. Jinxiu's brother and sister-in-law were still working at the Tao estate, so they had mixed feelings of joy and worry.

  Hongyu and Hongying's eyes lit up with excitement.

  The lady led other concubines into the house, and in a short time the room was filled with people.

  Ronghua glanced around the room, roughly counting the number of people. The male servants were all well-behaved and didn't dare to look up directly, Gao Jiner's family had a smiling face that looked very harmonious, while Feng Lichang's family had a shallow smile on their face. When Ronghua sized her up, their eyes met, and it was clear that Feng Lichang's family had also been secretly observing her earlier.

  Only those who have expectations of her will take a closer look at her, no matter what they want to get from her or at least see this new master in the eye. On the other hand, Gao Jinrui's family only showed a harmonious and welcoming attitude, which was to please the madam, with no expectations of her.

  Ya Qin walked up to Madame Liu and said, "Madame Liu has arrived."

  Mrs. Liu was a person found by the big wife, who came to comb Ronghua's hair.

  The lady of the house hastily ordered someone to spread out a mat, light incense and red candles, then invited Mrs. Liu in.

  Madam Liu smiled and picked up the auspicious comb wrapped with red thread, saying with a smile: "Eighth Miss is so lucky."

  The lady smiled and enjoyed the envy of others' gaze.

  Mrs. Liu held a comb and slowly slid it over Ronghua's head.

  Ronghua could only see Madame Liu's movements in the mirror.

  "One combing until the end, two combs with white hair reaching the eyebrows, three combs with children and grandchildren all over the ground."

  Rong Hua only felt her heart beating rapidly and strongly, her fingers slightly tightening as she carefully sensed the comb sliding through her hair, a light touch that was almost imperceptible. Rong Hua couldn't help but admit that this marriage, which she had plotted and struggled to obtain with her own hands, gave her a kind of dizzying sense of unreality.

  If there is internet at night, I will update more; if there is no internet, then nothing will be updated.

  I'm also depressed, trying to find a way out online.

  Also made some changes to Xue's wife's dream in the previous chapter, making everyone feel a bit fantastical, not very good haha.