At the Third Princess’s residence.
Tomorrow was the day Murong Dan would marry into the Dong family. Although the preparations were rushed, both the Murong and Dong families managed to handle things with a reasonable degree of dignity.
Murong Dan’s dowry was also fully prepared, and it was truly substantial.
The warehouse in Murong Dan’s courtyard couldn’t hold it all, so they had to clear out a few extra rooms just to store everything.
These items were at least double the standard dowry for a concubine-born daughter of the Murong family.
Although still not matching the portion allotted to a legitimate daughter, it was still very generous.
Concubine Yao inventoried the dowry, a smile never leaving her face.
But Murong Dan felt a sense of melancholy.
Lately, her mother kept saying she was lucky, a good omen; that not long after her own incident, the Sheng family had become a laughingstock. Now, Sheng Mingzhu’s “scandal” had completely overshadowed her own, and the noble families had all gone to mock Sheng Mingzhu, forgetting all about her affair with Dong Bing…
Her mother also told her not to take others’ words to heart in the future, that mouths are on other people, and to just treat what they say as if they were farting.
She told her to relax, to hold onto her status as the legitimate wife and her generous dowry, and live her own good life…
But Murong Dan wasn’t very confident. Could she really live her own good life?
Dong Bing was a disappointment, not favored by his family…
And the maids and chaperones around her were all the Princess’s people; she didn’t hold their contracts. The Third Princess was unhappy with her this time, and those servants were increasingly acting out of line.
She was truly afraid that after she married, the people she brought with her wouldn’t help her, and the servants of the Dong household wouldn’t take her seriously either. Wouldn’t she end up being bullied?
Just as she was feeling troubled, a servant announced that Third Miss had arrived.
“Let her in—”
Murong Dan paused for a moment, then said.
During this period, Murong Dan had thought a lot. In the past, she had looked down on this Third Sister of hers, and her mother, Concubine Jiang. She thought the way they lived, like invisible people, not fighting or competing, would surely lead to trouble someday.
Now she realized that Concubine Jiang and Third Sister had chosen this way of life, and it was perhaps a form of self-preservation.
Daughters of the Murong family, even if born to concubines, couldn’t marry too poorly. If the Third Princess truly dared to mistreat a concubine-born daughter over marriage, they could still go to Grandmother, or their influential Third and Fourth Uncles…
To avoid being criticized, Third and Fourth Uncles would also intervene. Anyway, as long as they endured until marriage, leaving the residence meant a different world.
She had been so foolish before. Why did she think that only by currying favor with Murong Yan and the Third Princess could she have a good future…
It was a pity she realized all this too late.
“Fourth Sister, I’ve come to see you—”
Murong Zhu walked in, a gentle smile on her face, wearing clothes that were neither new nor old.
“All of you, leave—”
Murong Dan commanded, and the maids in the room retreated. Seeing her mistress nod, the maid accompanying Murong Zhu put down the rosewood box in her hand and also left.
The room instantly fell silent.
She couldn’t remember how many years it had been since she and this sister had any private contact, let alone shared an intimate conversation. So, for a moment, Murong Dan didn’t know what to say, an awkward atmosphere lingering between them.
As if to ease the tension, Murong Zhu casually sat at the small round table and poured herself a cup of tea.
“Excellent Biluochun, the tea here at Fourth Sister’s place is truly good.”
“If Third Sister likes it, I’ll have some sent to you.”
Murong Dan said. Only after speaking did she realize it had been many years since she had sincerely called Murong Zhu “Third Sister” like this…
She had called her that when they were little; there even seemed to be a time she was very clingy with Third Sister…
Later, after she started following Murong Yan, she’d say it perfunctorily in front of others, but in private, she almost never called her Third Sister…
But Third Sister had always gently called her Fourth Sister. Sometimes, when she spoke impulsively and said the wrong thing in front of others, it was always Third Sister who reminded her or helped cover for her…
“Alright then, I’ll thank Fourth Sister now.”
Murong Zhu’s smile seemed even brighter, her eyes crinkling at the corners, giving off a very relaxed and comfortable feeling.
Murong Dan secretly sighed with relief and also sat down.
“What’s this?”
Murong Dan asked, looking at the rosewood box.
A touch of blush appeared on Murong Zhu’s delicate face as she said softly.
“You’re getting married tomorrow; this is a small wedding gift from me and Mother…
“It’s nothing valuable, just some scented powder and pouches we made ourselves…”
Murong Dan opened the box and saw the top layer neatly arranged with four exquisite pottery jars.
She picked one up, opened it, and was met with an invigorating fragrance of gardenias. She was momentarily stunned.
When she was little, gardenias were her favorite flower. Later, to please the Third Princess and Murong Yan, she changed her favorite to the peony…
But actually, even now, she still loved gardenias the most.
So someone still remembered what flower she liked…
Her eyes instantly stung with tears, her vision blurring.
Murong Dan quickly lowered her head, not wanting her Third Sister to notice her distress.
“This one is gardenia scent. The remaining jars are orchid, plum blossom, and rose…
“Although the powder is homemade, it’s no worse than what you’d buy outside—
“You can use it yourself or give it as gifts, either is fine…
“The bottom layer has pouches Mother and I embroidered ourselves. Once you’re married, you’ll inevitably need to give gifts to the Dong family relatives—
“Using store-bought pouches for gifts isn’t quite right; these will be very suitable—”
Listening to Murong Zhu’s words, Murong Dan’s tears flowed even more uncontrollably.
Third Sister and Concubine Jiang lived a difficult life; these items were already the best they could offer.
Moreover, Madam Dong loved plum blossoms the most, and Dong Qianqian loved orchids—Third Sister had even considered the Dong family’s preferences with those jars of scent…
And those hand-embroidered pouches… the servants around her were increasingly difficult to command. If she wanted them to embroider pouches, they’d take three days to finish one, and the craftsmanship was just so-so…
Third Sister had even thought of this for her…
She suddenly looked up, her face streaked with tears, and choked out.
“Not giving them to them—the scents and pouches my sister made for me, I won’t let them have them so easily!”
Murong Zhu was startled, her own eyes reddening as she wiped Murong Dan’s tears and said.
“Alright, then don’t give them…”
Never before had the two sisters been as close as they were today. This feeling was simply too wonderful…
And so, the worries and fears weighing on Murong Dan’s heart could naturally be spoken aloud.
“Fourth Sister—” Murong Zhu took Murong Dan’s hand and said softly.
“Do you know how your marriage came to be arranged so smoothly, and how that dowry… was obtained?”
How was it obtained?
Murong Dan was stunned. Dong Bing had taken her innocence, and everyone had seen them; of course, he had to marry her. She had suffered such a great loss in her own home; of course, her family had to compensate her with a larger dowry…
Wasn’t that right?
“Ah, silly sister—what if Dong Bing had resolutely refused to marry you? What would you have done?”
Refuse to marry her?
Why would Dong Bing refuse to marry her?
She was already his woman; did he think he could just get away with it for free?
Just imagining that scene made Murong Dan tremble with rage, ready to explode!
“You’re very angry, aren’t you? Probably furious—
“But anger changes nothing. If he insisted on not marrying you, you couldn’t do much about it—”
“The Dong family wouldn’t dare offend the Murong family like that!” Murong Dan said through gritted teeth.
“But what if?
“He was given an aphrodisiac at the Murong family’s banquet. The Murong family already owed him an explanation—
“What if Dong Bing cried and made a scene, saying he was the victim, and flatly refused to marry you, even framing you for seducing him—
“At the old matriarch’s birthday banquet, the Murong family couldn’t very well argue endlessly with the ‘wronged’ Dong Bing…
“If it came to that kind of ending, that one… would definitely sacrifice you, whose reputation was already ruined. To her, you’re far less important than her own trusted aides—
“At that point, you’d probably lose your life… the best-case scenario might be being sent to a nunnery…
“So, the reason your marriage was settled, and you received such a generous dowry, is because your birth mother, Concubine Yao, rushed into the front hall and fought for it with her very life!
“She’s just a concubine; theoretically, she had no right to appear in the front hall.
“But not only did she barge in, she also raised a ruckus…
“This process was extremely dangerous. With one wrong move, she could have been dragged away and beaten first—
“Your mother risked her life for you. Even if it’s just for her sake, you should muster your courage and fight properly to carve out a smooth path for yourself!”
