Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: So What If I Swapped It?
Chapter 329: So What If I Swapped It?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Madam Wang couldn’t contain her joy. Wang Zongsheng, being a discerning person, humbly entertained the guests.
Before long, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi’s family also arrived. They waited until after the morning court session and then came together with their children, Chuan’er and Ling’er.
A family with an honorary prince, a first-rank royal consort, a third-rank official, and a county princess made the Wang family shine brightly.
Old Master and Mistress Wang sat in the living room, comforting Jiaru, who behaved obediently, calling anyone as they pleased.
When Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai entered Bichun Garden, a table was set up at the entrance. They walked straight past it without presenting any gifts.
Everyone waited to see what gifts they would give. Unexpectedly, they gave nothing. No wonder people said Mr. Yuan was stingy; it seemed true.
They felt balanced after seeing the Yuan family not present any gifts to the Wang family, who they had a great relationship with.
Eagerly looking outside, Madam Wang was displeased when Qiao Mai didn’t present any gifts.
“Stingy!”
Wang Zongsheng overheard this remark. He couldn’t believe how his wife had changed.
Although their family had a good relationship with the Qiao family, his wife had taken advantage of the connection, becoming increasingly unreasonable.
He glared at her and quickly went to welcome them.
“Jiaqi, you’ve arrived?”
“Uncle, how can we not come for Zihan’s wedding?”
Qiao Mai glanced at Madam Wang behind him. “Uncle, I won’t offer any formal gifts. Will you consider these ingredients as a gift?”
“No need to be polite. It’s good that you’ve come. Please, have a seat.”
Madam Wang couldn’t hold back any longer. “Is that meager thing considered a gift?”
She thought that with so many people, Qiao Mai wouldn’t confront her. However, Qiao Mai stopped and turned around.
“Oh? Hundreds of thousands worth of ingredients aren’t considered a gift?
Then what should it be?”
“Back then, we gave you over a million taels.”
“Alright, let’s settle the pills I gave to Zihan. One pill is worth a hundred thousand taels. A bottle contains ten pills, and I gave you five bottles, totaling five million taels. Adding up what your daughter asked from me over the years and deducting what you gave me, you still owe me two million taels. Pay up.”
“You… You’ve gone too far!”
“Who is going too far? Me, or you?”
Guests looked towards them. Madam Wang’s face alternated between pale and red.
“Madam Qiao, do you know what the occasion is now?”
“If you know, you wouldn’t act so recklessly.”
Old Master Wang, Old Mistress Wang, and Wang Zongsheng were stunned by
Madam Wang’s shameless words, unable to react. They couldn’t scold or hit her; their faces turned pale.
Fortunately, Zihan came over at this moment. “Aunt, have a seat here. My mother seems not awake yet; don’t argue with her.”
“Seeing that it’s your wedding, I’ll let her go this time.”
At this critical moment, Prin Shunqin’s family arrived to save the day. To maintain face for the in-laws, the young prince did not bring any concubines.
Thus, with the arrival of Jiaru’s in-laws, the farce ended.
The young prince saw Jiaru and wanted to greet her, but seeing his wife not recognize him, he could only follow his parents to sit aside.
The Old Princess Consort asked Old Mistress Wang, “Dear in-law, how is Jiaru?”
“She has been eating well these days and hasn’t caused any trouble.”
“Well, she looks a bit more lively. Rest assured. Even if my son has many concubines, Jiaru will be the legitimate wife. Once she recovers, we will take her back.”
“It’s been tough on you over these years.”
“What are you saying? Back then, I treated Jiaru as my daughter.”
The two whispered to each other. Old Master Wang also accompanied his in-law in conversation, and Zihan went to receive the bride.
Everyone gathered, chatting and waiting.
“I heard that Madam Wang prepared a dowry of one hundred and twenty carriages for the Gao family.”
“Hehe, they are only marrying an unpopular illegitimate daughter. I wonder if the lady of the Gao family will return everything intact.”
“Look, with Madam Wang’s temperament, there might be some excitement to watch. ”
After an hour, Zihan finally welcomed the bride. The dowry from the Gao family followed the bridal sedan.
The quantity was not small, a hundred and eighty carriages. The Gao family gave sixty, but Zihan led the bride into the bridal chamber after the ceremony.
Madam Wang was enraged when she saw the dowry list and immediately took people to make a scene at the Gao family.
At this time, the Gao family was also entertaining guests. Seeing their in-law causing trouble before the guests, they knew things were bad.
But even if they wanted to stop her, they couldn’t. “Everyone, please judge. We brought a hundred and twenty carriages as a betrothal gift to the Wang family. They replaced all the good things with cheap ones. I’ve never seen an in-law like this. Is your family so poor?”
The face of the Minister of Rites turned red with embarrassment, and he glared at Madam Gao immediately.
“Are you crazy? I asked you to prepare the dowry properly. How dare you swap the gifts?”
“What’s the big deal? Their Wang family’s princess consort is already like that.
Prince Shunqin’s mansion won’t stand up for them. Mr. Yuan and they are just ordinary friends. ”
Just as they talked, Yuan Jiaqi, along with Qiao Mai and Prince Shunqin’s family, arrived at the Gao family.
Now, it was lively. The Old Prince Shunqin knew he had to step in at this moment.
With a stern face, he looked at Minister Gao. “Quickly return the embezzled dowry, or I’ll go to my brother and tell him your family is so poor that you need a raise.”
“I dare not. I will settle it right away.”
In front of so many guests, Minister Gao forced Madam Gao to return everything mentioned in the Wang family’s dowry list. There were twenty boxes of valuable items, and Madam Gao felt heartbroken.
With her head held high, Madam Wang ordered people to carry these items back. At this moment, she only realized she had the support of her in-laws and the Qiao family. She had forgotten about belittling Qiao Mai just now.
Back in Bichun Garden, the banquet had already begun. It was already noon, and they couldn’t keep the guests waiting.
Old Master Wang took charge and began the festivities.
Some important guests were in the room, with Old Master Wang accompanying Prince Shunqin’s family at one table and Qiao Mai’s family at another. They sat with another prince, but he did not receive much attention. The Duke and General West Gate’s family did not come, let alone Jiang
Yunpeng and the others.
As for princes and princesses, it was naturally impossible for them to attend, considering the status of Magistrate Wang.
However, the Wang family did produce a royal consort, Consort Xian in the imperial palace.
When the Wang family and their main branch didn’t fall out, most of their money and possessions were sent to her.
Later, when Magistrate Wang stopped sending money to the main branch, Consort Xian found herself in financial straits. But learning about Zihan’s wedding, she must make a show as the aunt.
She even sent a gift. Despite Old Mistress Wang’s reluctance, they had to accept it first.
The gift was received when their son was not home. When he returned, they would talk to him properly to figure out what to do.
Their family was not afraid of a consort. After all, the Qiao family’s in-law was a Royal Noble Consort. She was even managing the harem. With the emperor’s trust in her, they believed she would secure the empress’s position.
Offending an unpopular consort was something they were not afraid of, but they still had to be cautious.
After all, the tricks of villains were tough to guard against, and they didn’t want to trouble Qiao Mai.
This wedding ended without incident.
Although the Wang family married a low-born girl from the Minister of Rite’s family, her’s character and appearance caught Zihan’s eyes, making her a good choice.
After the banquet, the chef and his team cleaned up the kitchen. They didn’t even ask for the leftover ingredients and left without having a meal, returning to Lucky Garden..