jdhmnovel Chapter 121 Requires a Dowry
Chapter 121 Requires a Dowry
The next day, Qiao Qingshu had just returned to her room and eaten breakfast.
Late Autumn came to report that Miss Biao was requesting an audience at the door.
Qiao Qingshu waved for her to come in.
Liu Wan'er slowly stepped into the room, looked around, and couldn't help but make comparisons in her mind.
The Zhuqing Pavilion looks simple from the outside, but inside every table and chair is a rare find, and even the paper used to cover the windows is the finest colored paper.
Since Xu Biyun's death, Liu Wan'er's quality of life has also declined sharply. Lanxiang Pavilion is no longer there, and Liu Wan'er has been living in the abandoned pavilion for the past few days.
It was desolate and cold there, nothing compared to the comfort and pleasantness of Qiao Qingshu's place.
A feeling of jealousy rose in Liu Wan'er's heart, but then she thought that she would not be able to stay in the Qiao family for long. After she married into the Xiao family, she would definitely live a thousand times more comfortably than she did in the Qiao family.
She pursed her lips to suppress her displeasure and spoke softly.
“Cousin, now that you’re in charge of the inner quarters, the Second Master has asked me to come and ask you for the dowry.”
Qiao Qingshu stopped picking up food from her hands.
I looked up at her in disbelief.
"My cousin still wants a dowry?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Wan'er's brows furrowed sharply, and she exclaimed anxiously,
“Why can’t I have a dowry! My mother was a concubine in the Qiao family! I am also a daughter of the Qiao family.”
Qiao Qingshu lowered her head again to pick up some food, and casually said,
“Your surname isn’t Qiao.”
These words immediately angered Liu Wan'er, who braced herself on the table to defend herself.
"Cousin, you can't say that. Second Master has already agreed to give me a dowry. You can't make things difficult for me like this."
She then forced a disdainful smile.
"Besides, cousin, we're all going to marry into the Xiao family eventually. I'll be marrying into the family before you, and we're both cousins. Don't you think about the future? Maybe you'll need my help someday. Wouldn't it be better if we all helped each other out?"
Upon hearing her words, Qiao Qingshu sneered, put down her chopsticks, and looked up at her with a cold gaze.
"Liu Wan'er, do you not understand the difference between a concubine and a principal wife? You are the concubine of the first wife, and I am the principal wife of the second wife."
"I am the master, and you are a lowly servant. You are not even qualified to sit at the table to eat. What right do you have to talk to me about helping each other out? Do you even have the right?"
His cold gaze swept over Liu Wan'er, revealing his disdain and displeasure.
Liu Wan'er dropped her pretense and retorted with her hands on her hips.
"The second branch is just a concubine's daughter, what's so great about her? Among the four branches of the Xiao family, the second branch has the lowest and most humble status. Qiao Qingshu, why do you put on airs and look down on me!"
"Once we're married, my life will be a thousand times, ten thousand times better than yours!"
Qiao Qingshu slowly stood up, circled Liu Wan'er a few times, her eyes full of contempt.
"Then let's see if you or I live a more comfortable life in the Xiao family."
A faint, indifferent smile appeared on his face again.
“But Liu Wan’er, in the Qiao family, I respect you as a subordinate, that is a fact.”
“Even if my father speaks up, it won’t work. You have to raise your own dowry. You’re not a daughter of the Qiao family, so the Qiao family won’t contribute a single penny.”
"Moreover, you cannot marry out of the Qiao family. Find another restaurant and prepare for your wedding yourself."
"The maids and attendants will not be provided by the Qiao family. If you want them, you can buy them at the market yourself."
After saying that, he slowly sat down again, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.
Upon hearing this, Liu Wan'er was so enraged she wanted to kill Qiao Qingshu. She shouted loudly...
"Qiao Qingshu! What right do you have to do this!"
She expected Qiao Qingshu to make things difficult for her, but Liu Wan'er did not expect that Qiao Qingshu would show her no mercy at all, as if she was about to completely break off relations with her.
Qiao Qingshu burst out laughing, casually tilting her head back.
“Liu Wan’er, I am now in charge of the Qiao family. Tell me, what gives me the right to do this?”
"If you're smart, get out of the Qiao family right now."
Liu Wan'er gritted her teeth and said,
Aren't you afraid I'll get my revenge on you later?
Now that she had already broken off relations with her, Liu Wan'er had no more reservations and decided to make the conflict public.
Qiao Qingshu let out another contemptuous laugh.
"Fine, I'll be waiting for your revenge, Liu Wan'er."
In her past life, Qiao Qingshu was in the open while Liu Wan'er was in the shadows. When she died, Qiao Qingshu couldn't understand where she went wrong or why she ended up with such a tragic fate.
But after her rebirth, she had already figured it out: she was not wrong at all; the fault lay with others!
All she needs to do is keep her eyes open and face everything head-on without being soft-hearted!
With a wave of her hand, she coldly gave the order.
"see a visitor out!"
Liu Wan'er was practically dragged and thrown out of Zhuqingxuan.
As Late Autumn and Approaching Winter came in to clear the dishes, they couldn't help but mutter complaints under their breath.
"You're really shameless, Miss Xu. You've already spent less of the Qiao family's money and taken less than the best, and now you still have the nerve to ask for a dowry? You're utterly shameless!"
Lin Dong said worriedly as she wiped the table.
"Young lady, your cousin will also marry into the Xiao family in the future. Aren't you afraid that she will take revenge on you in the future?"
Lin Dong frowned deeply; she was genuinely afraid that the young lady would be schemed against by Liu Wan'er, and her worries were real.
Qiao Qingshu slowly stood up and smiled.
"She's so eager to get into the Xiao family without considering the consequences. Those people in the Xiao family aren't just sitting around doing nothing."
After saying that, he changed his clothes and went out to Lin'an East Street to buy things.
Liu Wan'er is to marry into the Xiao family at the end of the month, and her wedding date is approaching. Taking advantage of the remaining time before the end of the year, Qiao Qingshu began to prepare for the wedding.
Now that Old Mrs. Qiao is bedridden, her father is not good at managing household affairs, and her mother is not available to come forward, so she has to handle many things herself.
While selecting fabric at a silk shop, I heard a familiar voice calling out.
"Shu'er, you really are here!"
Qiao Qingshu turned her head and saw her third aunt, Shen Wenying.
She stepped forward with some surprise and grabbed Shen Wenying's hand.
"Third Aunt, what a coincidence, you're here to choose fabric too."
Shen Wenying patted her shoulder and whispered in her ear,
“Your mother asked me to come. She said she was worried about leaving you to handle the wedding alone, and she specifically told me to come and accompany you. She entrusted me with many things, so let me, your third aunt, come and help you with the preparations.”
Bai Chanzi really wanted to accompany her daughter to prepare for the wedding, but she knew that if she showed up rashly, it would ruin her daughter's plans.
He was still worried, so he asked Shen Wenying to come and help him.
Shen Wenying liked Qiao Qingshu, so she happily agreed and came to help her with the preparations.
Qiao Qingshu understood her mother's good intentions and was very happy. She took Shen Wenying's hand and they strolled around happily.
As the two were happily discussing whether to buy a piece of fabric, the noisy hall suddenly fell silent.
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone looked curiously towards the doorway, where they saw an incredibly elegant woman standing, followed by dozens of palace maids and eunuchs.
Qiao Qingshu noticed that the woman was dressed in a wealthy manner, her attire resembling that of royalty, yet she had never seen this person before.
He couldn't help but ask in a low voice,
"Third Aunt, who is this woman? She has quite an air about her."