Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 336: The Dowry Arrives at the Zhongshun Palace

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, Xueyan and Xiaohong drove a car into the Taiji Palace. Although they entered quietly from the Xuanwu Gate at the back at dusk, the load of stuff in the car really caught many people's attention.

So when Daiyu and Tanchun were hiding in the side hall of Yanjia Palace to pack their things, many people came to peek in.

The Queen Mother was very annoyed. Seeing that the old lady was about to lose her temper, Cheng Qian hurriedly ordered the palace door to be closed: "It's the New Year, you are so busy, you must be tired, go to bed early today!"

Only then did it calm down.

After a moment's leisure, the empress dowager felt bored again, so she strolled to Daiyu's room to watch the two sisters divide packages and arrange things.

Seeing this, Daiyu knew that the old lady was used to having herself and Tanchun around her, so she bossed Tanchun around and complained:

"You master and servant are so ignorant! You didn't pack your own luggage, but asked us to pick it up. Look at how it's been piled up, messing up my things.

"Hurry up and pick out all your things and go back to your place to deal with them - it makes me dizzy!"

When the Queen Mother heard this, she hurriedly protected Tanchun: "Our Yimin helped you with good intentions, but you are so talkative. Yimin, come, let's go. Good deeds are not rewarded!"

Tanchun had already come to her senses, and seeing Daiyu's look, she came over with a smile and helped the empress dowager: "My mother still loves me!

"I don't have much stuff, unlike Sister Lin, who moved half of her home here. Do you want to live in the palace forever?"

The Queen Mother could not help but feel delighted. She held Tanchun's hand and whispered as they walked out, "You are wrong. I wish you sisters could stay by my side forever, and no one would dare to bully you or provoke you. I would feel more at ease then!"

The mother and daughter went away, talking in low tones about family matters. Aunt Jiang, smiling broadly, brought two young palace maids and four large bundles, bowed respectfully to Daiyu, thanked her, and left in a courteous manner.

Cheng Qian fell behind, looking at the mess in the hall, hesitated for a moment, and asked softly, "It's getting late, the princess doesn't need to spend the night to clean up. I'll have someone bring a few big boxes and put them there first, and then we can tidy them up when we have time, okay?"

This is a gesture of goodwill, how could Lin Daiyu not agree?

She nodded with a smile: "Aunt is really thoughtful. Thank you very much, Aunt. Could you help me find the box?"

He then hurriedly ordered Xueyan to follow.

Cheng Qian bowed and said goodbye.

Qingwen tilted her head and whispered, "Is this aunt fine now? Wasn't she always looking at the young lady with a frown the other day?"

"Can't I figure it out?" Daiyu smiled and decided not to clean up anything. She just sat on the couch and drank hot tea.

Qingwen hurried over to serve, and Daiyu shook her head: "Zijuan is not here, and others don't know how to arrange the things in this room. You go and keep an eye on it."

He also called Xiaohong to serve him closely, and asked her about her family affairs.

Xiao Hong finally had some time to speak the most important things in a low voice: "Miao Gu heard the whole story and fell seriously ill. She has finally recovered now, but I watched with a cold eye. It seems that her obsession with revenge has become stronger."

Daiyu sighed and nodded slightly.

Xiao Hong continued, "As soon as the decree to marry Miss Xue came out yesterday, the old lady urged Second Madam Feng to go to the Wang and Xue families in the afternoon to give gifts.

"Second Madam said that although the Wang family was very welcoming, none of the important masters showed up. Instead, they asked an unmarried girl from their family to attend the social events and even asked if she could enter the palace to pay respects to the Imperial Concubine and the Princess.

"The Xue family was in a state of chaos. The eldest daughter Xue went home in a dignified manner and started crying as soon as she entered the house. She continued crying until the second mistress passed away.

"Master Xue was so angry that he jumped around and said that his concubine had lost her mind and couldn't wait to get close to Prince Zhongshun after Prince Beijing fell.

"In front of Second Madam Feng, the concubine was very confident, saying that it was Uncle Wang who worked very hard to find a way out for their family. She also accused Master Xue of not being able to make a living on his own and relying on his mother and sister to plan for his current life. It would be fine if he was ungrateful, but he was such a jerk.

"Master Xue was so angry that he was shaking all over. He asked his concubine, "Isn't it his idea to sell his sister for wealth and fame?"

Daiyu was slightly stunned and chuckled: "How come this stupid Xue is not stupid anymore? It's a strange thing."

Xiao Hong also laughed and whispered: "There are even more stupid words! Uncle Xue also said that since Uncle Wang would suggest selling other people's daughters, why did he keep his own daughter at home?

"He also pointed at Xue Ke and Miss Qin from the second branch of the Xue family and told them to be careful and not to be sold out by Uncle Wang and Aunt Xue, and count the money for them!

"My aunt was so angry that she nearly died!"

Daiyu smiled softly: "In that case, he looks like your second grandmother's cousin. What does Sister Feng say?"

"Second Madam didn't say anything. She just advised the concubine not to be angry. She also asked Xiangling to persuade Miss Xue to stop crying. Then she told Master Xue: Stop talking nonsense.

"I only sat there for a quarter of an hour before I left. The second master of the Xue family saw me off before I left, and he apologized repeatedly.

"Second Madam told me that she is the daughter-in-law of the Jia family and now only cares about the Jia family's affairs. She doesn't care about the Wang family, her biological family. How can she care about the Xue family in the outer four roads?

"Besides, there are seven people in the Xue family with eight ideas, and all of them have good reasons. She can't deal with them, so she doesn't care!"

After Xiaohong finished speaking, she couldn't help but ask Daiyu, "I have only met the three people from the Xue family's first branch, and never met anyone from the second branch. But could it be that the two brothers and sisters from the second branch also have their own ideas? If they have their own ideas, why did they go to Beijing to seek refuge with the first branch?"

Daiyu sighed and shook her head, saying, "There's nothing we can do about it. Which family doesn't have chaos? They both lost their parents, so they can only rely on their aunt.

"I heard from the Jia family that the second daughter of the Xue family is very good. Even my grandmother likes her very much. Her marriage is in the capital. Let's see what her in-laws say."

Xiaohong nodded thoughtfully and was about to speak when she heard a voice outside. It turned out that Cheng Qian and Xueyan brought in four large camphor wood boxes. Xiaohong hurried over to help open the door and pack the things in the boxes.

A moment later, except for two mother-of-pearl boxes and a small bundle, the rest of the things were temporarily stuffed into the box.

Daiyu thanked Cheng Qian again with a smile, and Xiaohong calmly handed a few purses to the palace servants who were carrying the boxes as a reward, and the chaos came to an end.

Qingwen took Xueyan with her to pack up the rest, while Xiaohong hung up her bag and carried the box into the bedroom with Daiyu.

Qingwen smiled at her back and asked Xueyan with bright eyes, "It's only been a few days. Have you earned money again? I just weighed the box quietly. It's so heavy!"

Xueyan covered her mouth and whispered to her, "Those two are your jewelry boxes. I picked out the valuable ones from the storehouse so that you wouldn't lose face in the palace!"

Qingwen gave a thumbs up.

The two people smiled at each other slyly.

In the bedroom, Xiaohong put the box away and put the bundle into the secret cabinet inside the bed according to Daiyu's instructions.

Then he continued quietly, "Second Madam Feng also said that she had just left Xue's house and saw a group of people going in with music and drums from afar. It seemed that they were from Prince Zhongshun's palace and were going to deliver the betrothal gifts."

Daiyu was stunned: "So fast?"