53 reputations are about to be ruined

  Xia Ting didn't have any spare time to bother with the mother and daughter trio behind her, seeing that they had temporarily quieted down, she smiled slightly and said to Li Mama "Mama please sit down, let's have a cup of tea."

  Mrs. Li smiled and nodded as she sat down "Thank you, Miss Xia."

  She was very satisfied with the second daughter of Xia Fu, except that her birth was a bit lower, but in other aspects she performed extremely well. Moreover, when facing the difficulties posed by her stepmother, she could also respond calmly and didn't suffer any losses. It can be seen that she is an extremely intelligent and transparent person, and there's no need to worry that she will be taken advantage of after entering the Wang Fu.

  And this summer, Miss Xi is obviously not in a good relationship with Mrs. Xia, so there's no need to worry about using the power of the Wang Fu to favor her family in the future. Looking at the other person's expression and attitude, it seems that she has no objection to marrying the young master, if that's really the case, then after entering the mansion, she will surely take good care of the young master's body.

  Xia Ting didn't know what was on the other person's mind, but she could roughly guess that they were secretly evaluating her.

  She didn't get annoyed, just sat quietly in her seat, letting the other person scrutinize her without making a sound. This Li servant girl was sent by the Queen of Jing to deliver the betrothal gift, so she must be one of the queen's trusted confidantes. Later when she returns, she will definitely report today's events and also mention her own behavior and demeanor. After all, as soon as the other person arrived, they asked to see her, probably with the intention of sizing her up.

  Now is the opportunity to leave a good impression on her future mother-in-law, she will not be foolish enough to push it out. She doesn't want to have a bad relationship with her mother-in-law after marriage and let Rong Jin be caught in the middle.

  Fortunately, up until now, Li's eyes still held a thick layer of smile, it seems she should be quite satisfied with her.

  After burning incense, Wan Yu led the people from the Wang Manor who were carrying betrothal gifts back, with a green-clad servant girl following behind her, holding a tray.

  Mrs. Li smiled and stood up, politely saying "Miss Xia, the betrothal has been settled. The sky is getting dark, I should also return to the Wang Mansion to report back."

  Xia Ting Cong also smiled and stood up, making a gesture to Wan Yu who was entering the door. Wan Yu understood and took a large, heavy exquisite lotus bag from the tray held by Lv Wei, sweetly smiling as she stuffed it into Li's hand.

  The other party looked at Xia Ting Cong in surprise and said "Miss Xia, this..."

  Xia Ting's smile remained unchanged. "Alright, nanny, you can put it away now. You've had a hard time running this errand today." She wouldn't skimp on the silver she owed her, let alone the mere hundred taels in that pouch, which was nothing to her.

  After giving the pouch to Li, Wan Yu distributed the other pouches on the tray to the people of the Wang estate. Everyone received the pouch with a smile, and some couldn't help but secretly open it for a peek. Their eyes widened in surprise, as there were thirty taels inside, which was equivalent to several months' worth of silver. They never expected that the future daughter-in-law would be so generous.

  Li Auntie listened to the other party's words and wisely accepted them. She really didn't expect that the second miss of Xia Manor was a person who understood emotions and reason, and was extremely worldly. The weight of this purse in her hand wasn't light, it must be at least one hundred taels. Now looking again at the other party's attire, the fabric of their clothes and the accessories on their head, everything looked like high-quality goods, even better than what Mrs. Xia and her two legitimate daughters wore.

  The princess had also sent someone to inquire about the second daughter of the Xia family before, and knew that she was a person who had been brought back to the Xia family only a few months ago. She grew up in Yixing City from a young age, with a mother who was a merchant's daughter.

  So before meeting Miss Xia, I would have worried that she was a woman who couldn't hold her own and had a narrow-minded family. Now it seems that not only is Miss Xia elegant and refined in her speech and manners, but also has a pretty good family background, otherwise how could she afford to wear such fine clothes? The reward money she gave out was also surprisingly generous.

  In a moment, many thoughts had flashed through Li's mind. On the surface, she smiled and thanked her, saying "Then thank you, Miss Xia. I'll take my leave." After that, she led the Wang family servants out of the Xia residence, with Yan Yu following closely behind to personally see them off.

  Li saw that the outsiders had all left, and immediately turned his head to glare at Xia Tingcong, "You little hoof, you'd better hurry up and bring those betrothal gifts back to me. This way, I'll consider today's matter as if it never happened, and I won't pursue it with you."

  She straightened her back, her eyes wide with anger, determined to overpower her opponent.

  Xia Rong also stared at Xia Ting Cong with a fierce gaze, her eyes seeming to have a raging fire that wanted to burn Xia Ting Cong alive.

  She stretched out her hand and pointed directly at Xia Ting's face, scolding "You little slut, how dare you steal my things. If you don't return everything to me, I'll come after you and tear your fox-like face apart." The twisted expression made her originally somewhat delicate and lovely face look ugly.

  Xia Lian no longer pretended to be virtuous and gentle, staring coldly at Xia Ting. She believed from the bottom of her heart that the other person was replacing her to participate in the election, which is why she was chosen, and these betrothal gifts should have belonged to her originally.

  Xia Ting gently put down the teacup in her hand, making a soft 'ting' sound, and slightly narrowed her eyes, saying "Your things? Are you thinking of taking back the betrothal gifts and marrying into the Jing Wang Fu?"

  Xia Rong was taken aback as soon as she heard this, marry into the Jing Wang Fu? How could that be, she a proud and legitimate young lady, how could she marry a dying sickly man.

  Seeing Xia Rong's displeasure, Xia Ting Cong sneered, "Unwilling? That's laughable. What qualifications do you have to say these betrothal gifts are yours? I've never heard of someone wanting the gifts but not wanting to marry. Let me make it clear: the one marrying into the Jing Wang Fu is me. These gifts sent over naturally belong to me too. Who has ever heard of a concubine's betrothal gifts becoming the legitimate daughter's possessions? Do you dare share this theory on the streets and see if people will laugh at you? Maybe they'll even point at your nose and say you're shameless."

  Xia Rong was so angry that she almost went mad and rushed up to slap Xia Tingying's face.

  Just as her hand was about to touch Xia Ting's face, it was firmly grasped by her.

  Xia Ting glared at Xia Rong with a cold smile, her grip on the other's hand tightening until Xia Rong let out a loud yelp in pain. "Ah, you damned little slut, let go!"

  Xia Cheng let out a cold hum, and with a wave of her hand, she sent the other person flying. Xia Rong stumbled backward several steps and collided into Li Shi's arms, clutching her right wrist in pain, where a clear red mark had already appeared.

  Li was furious and said "You, you're asking for death, how dare you lay hands on me."

  Xia Ting glanced lightly at Li, ignoring the hateful gazes of Xia Lian and Xia Rong, and smiled shallowly, "I've taken action, what's it to you? Compared to you three mother-daughter, this is just a small trick. Don't you think about what 'good deeds' you've done today? Now you still have the leisure to care about my betrothal gifts."

  Mr. Li furrowed his brow, secretly thinking about today's events, wondering if there was anything wrong with them? After racking his brains for a long time, he still didn't think there was anything wrong.

  At that moment, she thought it was Xia Ting who was scaring her and shouted, "You'd better not talk nonsense. Don't think I'll let you off just because you say so. Let me tell you, if you don't bring back all those betrothal gifts today and kneel down to apologize to Rong'er, I won't be able to spare you from a good scolding. See if you dare to be so arrogant again."

  Xia Ting sneered, "Am I talking nonsense? Hmph, you don't even use your brain to think. The three of you, mother and daughters, made a big show today, it was truly magnificent! You dared to snatch the betrothal gifts in front of everyone, and then cried and shouted loudly. Your 'great reputation' has already spread to the Jing Wang Fu, do you know that they are not inferior to the Xia Fu? Do you think they will help cover up for Xia Lian and Xia Rong? Who knows if it will spread throughout the entire capital tomorrow? You should know, your two precious daughters are still unmarried, if this reputation spreads out, who would dare to come to the Xia Fu to propose marriage?"

  Li's face turned paler the more she listened, and only now did she come to her senses. If today's events were to be spread out, the consequences would be unthinkable. In the past, no matter how much trouble they caused, it was always a family affair, and who dared to gossip about it? But today was different, with so many people from the Wang mansion present. She and her two daughters had openly tried to snatch away those betrothal gifts in front of the servants of the Jingwang mansion, which would be extremely embarrassing if word got out. And earlier, Rong'er's behavior... If outsiders were to find out, her two precious daughters might as well die old maids, with no one asking for their hand in marriage.

  Xia Lian and Xia Rong also lost all the blood from their faces.

  Xia Rong began to tremble with fear, and only then did she realize that she had just made a scene in front of so many outsiders, shouting and scolding. If this got out, who would still be willing to come to her door to propose?

  Seeing the pale faces of the three women, Xia Ting continued to smile and said, "It's not just that, you say, if Father knew what you did today, how would he react?"

  "Even if the master finds out, what can he do to me? Do you think he would dare to treat me, his legitimate wife, like that just because of you, a mere concubine?"

  She still understands the old master very well and will not quarrel with her legitimate wife for this little hoof. After all, she has the support of the old lady above and the son Yu'er by her side. If they make a fuss, it must be that this damn little hoof is at a disadvantage.

  Xia Ting smiled faintly, "He indeed wouldn't fall out with you for my sake. However, you should also know that those imperial censors have nothing better to do after eating their fill, and they're always on the lookout for something to pick on, hoping to find some dark secrets among officials to report to the emperor. After all, this is how they make a living. And today, you've done something so shameful, if those imperial censors were to find out and take advantage of it to impeach your father in front of the emperor... when he's hindered in his career because of you, do you think he'll still protect you like before?"

  Li heard that only felt the cold air coming from her toes, making her whole body stiffen. How could she forget that those imperial historians were idle all day, digging up the ugly affairs of officials everywhere, and as soon as they caught a glimpse, they would pursue and attack fiercely. If this were to be known by them, it would be strange if they didn't impeach Master.

  Although the old master is usually very good at talking, once he encounters something that hinders his brilliant future, he will absolutely not tolerate it. Now what to do, if the people of Jing Wang Fu really spread today's events out, it would be worthless for her two precious daughters to have anything to do with it, and even the old master wouldn't let her off lightly.

  Xia Ting was very satisfied to see the three women opposite her, all with a look of consternation on their faces. She no longer had any thoughts about the betrothal gift. At this time, Wan Yu, who had sent Li Niang and others out of the mansion, also returned.

  Yuan got up with a good mood and left the main hall with Wan Yu, who was still somewhat puzzled, and headed towards Liyuan.

  But Li thought the more she thought, the more inappropriate it was, and really didn't know what to do. She could only hastily take her two daughters to Chunxi Residence and tell Mrs. Xia everything that had happened in the main hall, hoping that Mrs. Xia would come up with a good solution to this matter.

  Old Lady Xia was furious upon hearing this, and scolded Li Shi's nose, saying "You stupid woman, if you don't have the ability to do it, then don't learn from others' corruption. You dare to do such a shameless thing in front of the people of the Jing Wang Fu, are you three mother and daughters trying to anger me to death?"

  She covered her chest with one hand, and now she felt a sharp pain in her heart. If today's events were to be spread out, she would lose face for three or four generations. What face would she have left to go out and see people? These few stupid ones are really going to suffocate her to death.

  Mrs. Li knelt down in front of Old Lady Xia with a panicked and frightened face, and said pitifully, "Mother, I was wrong, please think of a way quickly. Can't just watch Lian'er and Rong'er die an old maid."

  Xia Lian and Xia Rong also knelt down beside her, sobbing.

  "Stop crying, you two! How dare you cry? What's wrong with my household that it produced two daughters like you who bring shame to our family? Where did all the etiquette and upbringing go? It's one thing to make a scene at home, but no servant would dare spread rumors about it. But now you've disgraced us in front of everyone at the Duke of Jing's residence! You've done everything: fighting over dowry, throwing tantrums, shouting... Are you planning on shaving your heads and becoming nuns or something?"

  Xia Lian and Xia Rong heard this and burst into tears again.

  Old Lady Xia scolded as she returned, no matter how angry she was, she still had to stand up helplessly and said in a low voice, "All of you shut up, stop crying, wipe your faces clean and follow me to the Pear Courtyard."

  For now, there's nothing for it but to have those two maidservants personally go and seal the mouths of those servants in the Jing Wang Fu.

  Digression

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