https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-129-All-of-Jingcheng-Dotes-on-Meng-Xiaojiu/12582596/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-131-Little-Jiu-s-Astonishing-Connections/12582598/
Chapter 130: The Wedding Chamber
Chapter 130: The Wedding Chamber
Madame Yu fell silent.
The Anyuan Marquis Manor was already considered a respectable family in the capital, yet the Chief Instructor of the Imperial University was acting so arrogantly, not even giving face to the Marquis Manor.
The Yu family was also considered a scholarly family in Youzhou, and Yu Li was an exceptional talent. Otherwise, the Yu family wouldn't have specifically written to her, asking her to send Yu Li to the Imperial University.
This was only the second favor the Yu family had asked of her over the years. She had refused the first one, but she had agreed to this one, yet who would have thought—
Seeing her at a loss, the Anyuan Marquis consoled her, "Don't worry too much. This year, let Li stay at the Marquis Manor, and let Yan teach him more. He can take the exam again next year, and his chances will be even greater."
Xie Yan was the leading scholar of this term. His talent and learning far surpassed others, and the Three Dukes and the elders praised him endlessly. Ordinary people wouldn't have the opportunity to ask him for academic guidance.
Xie Yan was about to enter the Hanlin Academy as an official.
If it weren't for the fact that this matter had been botched, the Anyuan Marquis wouldn't have suggested having Xie Yan personally teach Yu Li.
Seeing Madame Yu remain silent, the Anyuan Marquis thought that she wasn't satisfied, so he smiled and said, "Do you know how rare this opportunity is? Studying with the flowering scholar for a year is much better than studying at the Imperial University."
This wasn't to say that the level of the Imperial University was low, but there were too many students there. Unless one was an exceptional talent, it would be difficult to receive extra guidance from the instructors.
Madame Yu sighed, "Li doesn't want to move to the Marquis Manor."
The Anyuan Marquis frowned.
Madame Yu said, "He doesn't know that Yan can teach him. I'll talk to him again later. If he knows that he can study with the flowering scholar, he will definitely be moved."
Not to mention a scholar from Youzhou, but even the young masters of aristocratic families in the capital had many who wanted to ask Xie Yan for guidance and advice.
She had been away from the capital for five years, and it was thanks to Xie Yan's reputation that she had been able to quickly integrate back into the circle of wives.
Meng Qianqian and Yu Li returned to Fengshui Hutong.
When they arrived home, only Hu Mama and Du Niangzi were there.
Meng Qianqian was stunned, "Eh, where is everyone?"
Hu Mama said, "They were taken away by Cen Guan Shi."
Meng Qianqian stammered, "All of them?"
This was what had happened. Meng Qianqian had just gone to the Shangshu Manor for a banquet with Yu Li when Cen Guan Shi came to the door and invited the Seventh Uncle, Meng Tianlan, Meng Bo, Li Mama, and the others to go and inspect the betrothal gifts.
According to custom, the betrothal gifts should have been delivered to their door, but firstly, Meng Qianqian was the bride, so it had to be kept a secret to prevent the palace from causing trouble. Secondly, there were too many betrothal gifts. Meng Qianqian's house couldn't fit them all.
So, the Governor's Mansion had waved its hand and purchased a large courtyard in the capital specifically to store Meng Qianqian's betrothal gifts.
Li Mama always felt that Lu Yuan was a treacherous and deceitful villain, and she cursed him as she went, "Heavens!"
Wan Mama had come along to watch the fun, and when she entered the courtyard, she was stunned, "Is the groom emptying his entire family's wealth to marry a wife?"
Groom?
Cen Guan Shi glanced at Wan Mama, thinking that she had potential.
Meng Bo looked at the betrothal gift list in his hand and then at the gifts that filled the courtyard, his eyes wide. He vigorously rubbed his eyes.
Meng Tianlan stared, "So, is it really that I... broke the Grand Governor's arm and compensated him with Qianqian... and not that he broke my arm and compensated himself to me?"
Seventh Uncle: "Are you sure he doesn't have some sort of hold over San Yaotou?"
Meng Tianlan swallowed his saliva, "Maybe the boxes are empty."
Wan Mama said, "Empty? Who would be so immoral as to carry empty boxes to propose marriage? Are they just pretending to give betrothal gifts?"
Seeing that Li Mama and the others were looking at her solemnly, she quickly retracted her smile and said awkwardly, "Are you serious?"
Of course, it was true. The Lu family had done exactly that in the past. They were both poor and pretentious.
On the surface, they had brought boxes as betrothal gifts, but in reality, the boxes were filled with worthless items that were less valuable than the boxes themselves.
Li Mama, Meng Tianlan, Seventh Uncle, and Meng Bo began to unpack and inspect the betrothal gifts.
Within less than an hour, the group was blinded by the glint of gold.
It wasn't until midnight that they returned to Fengshui Hutong, their legs feeling limp and their hands shaking. Don't ask, but the betrothal gifts were so extravagant that they were overwhelmed.
The next day, Li Mama informed Meng Qianqian about the betrothal gifts.
Meng Qianqian responded with an 'oh,' thinking that it was just a formality. After all, it was just a matter of moving the gifts from the Governor's Mansion to the courtyard, a change of location for storage, and they still belonged to Lu Yuan.
Li Mama asked, "Since the betrothal gifts are so generous, how much should we give for the dowry?"
"Just give however much we have!" replied Meng Qianqian.
Li Mama was taken aback.
Meng Qianqian smiled and said nonchalantly, "I gave so much dowry when I married Lu Lingxiao. How could the Grand Governor be any less than him?"
After all, Lu Yuan wouldn't be greedy for her dowry, and keeping it in the Governor's Mansion was much safer than leaving it elsewhere.
Li Mama gave Meng Qianqian a complicated look, unsure what to make of her behavior.
Wasn't Miss Qianqian being forced into this marriage? Had Lu Yuan somehow tricked her and won her heart completely?
Li Mama cursed Lu Yuan a hundred times in her mind!
This wedding seemed rushed, but it was actually much more orderly than the one in Youzhou. Firstly, they had Cen Guan Shi handling everything, and secondly, the Governor's Mansion didn't have as many issues as the Lu family, nor would they put on airs and graces with the Meng family. Back then, it was clearly the Lu family seeking to marry Meng Qianqian, yet they acted as if they were bestowing a great favor upon the Mengs.
To be fair, there were some elders in the Governor's Mansion who wanted to assert their authority, but each time they tried to stir up trouble, Lu Yuan put a stop to it.
However, Li Mama wasn't one to give up easily.
The Grand Governor truly knew how to handle people. With a single sentence—"The Consort Li also wants her as a daughter-in-law. Are you sure you want her to lose to Consort Li?"—Li Mama immediately backed down.
The only thing that continued to puzzle Li Mama was the wedding bed.
In wealthy families, it was customary to prepare the wedding bed in advance for a daughter's marriage. Unlike a regular bed, a wedding bed was crafted with meticulous care, taking a day's work for each day of the three-year construction period, thus earning the name "thousand-day bed."
Back when Meng Qianqian was young and her marriage was hastily arranged, there hadn't been enough time to make a thousand-day bed. Unexpectedly, the same situation was unfolding again.
Li Mama worriedly said, "There are quite a few thousand-day beds for sale in the capital, but most of them are gimmicks and not genuine."
"It doesn't matter," Meng Qianqian replied. "As long as they're fake, it's fine."
A fake marriage deserved a fake wedding bed—they went hand in hand.
Li Mama looked at her in surprise.
Meng Qianqian smiled and explained, "I mean, the Grand Governor won't mind."
As this concerned their young miss's status and reputation in her husband's family, Li Mama didn't want to cut corners. She decided to go into the city later to look for a genuine thousand-day bed. If she couldn't find one, she would at least buy an expensive bed with a removable step.
Suddenly remembering something, Li Mama asked, "By the way, Young Master Yu went out. He said he's meeting a friend. Does Young Master Yu have friends in the capital?"
Li Mama had a good impression of Yu Li, as he had always protected Miss Qianqian and the two young masters when they were younger.
"Hmm, he made a new friend yesterday," Meng Qianqian replied.
After breakfast, Li Mama went out to look for a wedding bed.
Meanwhile, Meng Qianqian paid a visit to Grandma Feng next door to check on her leg.
"Grandma Feng, I'm here," she said, remembering to bring the spicy chicken dish made by Du Niangzi.
The Blood Coagulation Ointment had worked well, and with Meng Qianqian's acupuncture treatment to activate the blocked meridians, Grandma Feng's leg no longer hurt.
Grandma Feng accepted the spicy chicken dish and said, "I heard you're looking to buy a bed?"
Meng Qianqian was taken aback. "How did you know?"
Grandma Feng nonchalantly replied, "Ask the woodworker. He might have one for sale, but whether it's good or not is another matter."
"The woodworker is...?" Meng Qianqian asked.
"The one with the big axe," Grandma Feng answered.
Great Villain: What's Meng Xiaojiu up to?
Clear Frost: She's buying a wedding bed.
Great Villain: Thinking about sleeping with me so soon?
(End of Chapter)
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