Read Novel Full CHAPTER 38 PART2
CHAPTER 38 PART2
Xiao Yanfei’s official dowry would be provided from the public coffers of the marquisate, but any additions—like gifts or silver—would come from the Old Madam’s personal stash.
“……” A vein bulged visibly on the Old Madam’s forehead.
Madam Yin, calm as ever, continued, “Mother, Yanfei receiving an imperial marriage decree is a great honor for our marquisate. We absolutely mustn’t let the child suffer any indignity, don’t you think? I believe ten thousand taels should be appropriate.”
Ten thousand taels?!
The Old Madam’s eyes flew wide open. She stared at Madam Yin as if to say: Have you lost your mind? You’re speaking up for a concubine’s daughter?
According to the house’s long-standing custom, a concubine-born daughter’s dowry amounted to three thousand taels, while a legitimate daughter received ten thousand. If she were to add ten thousand taels as a trousseau gift, wouldn’t Xiao Yanfei—a concubine-born girl—end up outshining Xiao Luanfei, the legitimate daughter?
Her gaze swept over Xiao Yanfei’s smiling face with thinly veiled malice, and a sharp pain twisted in her chest.
But she couldn’t show displeasure.
She had to be pleased.
Grinding her teeth, the Old Madam forced herself to speak in a tone that was just barely civil: “Ah-Wan, you’re right. This is indeed a rare and joyous occasion. I’ll prepare ten thousand taels… to add to Yanfei’s trousseau.”
The last two words were squeezed out with visible effort, as though each syllable drew blood.
Wow! Ten thousand taels, just like that!
Xiao Yanfei’s eyes lit up. She smiled sweetly as she curtsied with perfect grace. “Thank you, Grandmother.”
Moments later, Wang momo returned with two silver drafts, each worth five thousand taels. Her expression was complicated as she presented them to Xiao Yanfei.
“Yanfei, keep these silver notes safe,” Madam Yin instructed gently. “Now hurry and change—soon we must go to the palace to offer our thanks.”
“Grandmother, Mother, I’ll take my leave now,” Xiao Yanfei said with elegance, curtsying again before turning to go, entirely unfazed by the Old Madam’s resentful stare.
After all, she wasn’t made of silver—how could she expect everyone to love her?
Smiling faintly, Xiao Yanfei tucked the silver drafts into her sleeve, savoring the moment.
The best part of this imperial marriage wasn’t just the honor or the silver—it was the freedom it gave her to finally stop enduring everything in silence.
With that thought, her spirits lifted, and her steps became lighter and more confident.
As she made her way back toward the Moonrise Pavilion, servants of the household paused to bow deeply to her, respectfully addressing her as “Second Miss” with newfound reverence.
Trailing behind her, Haitang—who was carrying the imperial edict—walked tall with pride, her face practically glowing with triumph.
Spring had come to the Marquisate. The trees were lush, the flowers in full bloom, and a fresh breeze danced through the air.
At the entrance of the courtyard, her head maid Dingxiang came hurrying forward to report crisply, “Miss, I’ve already had the west wing prepared. Zhu momo has been settled in for now.”
At the mention of Zhu momo, Dingxiang’s demeanor grew tense and uneasy.
A palace-appointed etiquette instructor wasn’t quite a servant, yet not a guest either—more like a deity awkwardly perched, needing to be both revered and avoided.
Xiao Yanfei responded with a mild “Mm” before entering her inner chambers with her two personal maids to change clothes.
Half an hour later, she reemerged—refreshed, composed, and radiant—stepping into Madam Yin’s carriage with poise and grace.
She had changed into a deep crimson robe embroidered with dragonflies and lotus blossoms, paired with a soft pink silk skirt stitched with fine threads. She still wore very little jewelry, but her hair had been swept up again into a lily bun. The vivid color of the fabric set off her brilliance—her fair, radiant complexion appeared even more flawless and delicate.
Madam Yin sat across from her, silently watching, her expression distant and contemplative.
Inside the carriage, no one spoke for a long while.
Outside, the steady rhythm of the wheels rolling over the ground echoed faintly, occasionally broken by the crack of the driver’s whip.
Soon, the carriage exited the gates of the Marquis Wu’an estate. The pace quickened, and the sounds of the outside world grew louder and livelier.
Xiao Yanfei poured tea for Madam Yin herself, all the while acutely aware of the older woman’s gaze—soft, yet layered with complexity.
“Mother, have some tea,” she said gently, offering the cup.
Madam Yin slowly took it and said, “Yanfei, keep those ten thousand taels close. Set it aside as your personal savings. A girl should always have something of her own to fall back on.”
“As for the dowry, don’t worry about it—I’ll make the arrangements.”
She had also changed clothes for the visit to the palace, donning the formal attire of a marquis’s wife. Dignified and stately, she carried herself with graceful elegance befitting her station.
Xiao Yanfei smiled sweetly, her dimples forming like soft petals. “Thank you, Mother. I’ll remember that.”
Looking at the girl’s trusting smile, Madam Yin felt an ache in her heart—bittersweet and tinged with sadness.
Softly, she asked, “Yanfei, this marriage decree… are you willing?”
Xiao Yanfei had just reached for the teapot to pour herself a cup. At those words, her hand paused mid-motion. A quiet warmth spread through her chest.
Since the decree had arrived, Marquis Xiao had given her nothing but a cold glare. The Old Madam had scolded her viciously. Only Madam Yin had thought to ask whether she wanted it at all.
With a faint smile in her eyes, she resumed pouring the tea, calm and unhurried.
Madam Yin continued, her voice serious now, “If you’re unwilling—”
Her tone had grown solemn, her expression firm.
It was a moment of impulse, but she truly wanted to tell Yanfei: If you don’t want this, I’ll speak for you.
But deep down, she knew—what could she really do?
This was an imperial edict—His Majesty’s will, spoken with golden authority. Even she could not overturn it.
After all, her own family, the Yins, had been a wealthy merchant house in Jiangnan for three generations. Even back then, they had been unable to reject the Xiao family’s proposal. Now, with an imperial decree in hand, what power did anyone have to refuse?
The memory of those events from sixteen years ago rose like a shadow in Madam Yin’s mind—leaving behind a quiet sense of helplessness… and guilt.
She reached out and gently stroked Xiao Yanfei’s soft, rosy cheek, wanting to say she was sorry.
Yanfei was the same age as her Luan’er. Madam Yin had once quietly considered this child’s future, thinking she didn’t need to marry into nobility. A modest but promising young scholar from a humble family would have been enough.
As long as her future husband was capable and ambitious, he could one day earn Yanfei a noble title of her own.
Though the Marquisate of Wu’an had declined, it still stood as a towering presence to those who had risen through the imperial exams with no family backing. With the support of the marquisate behind her, Yanfei’s husband wouldn’t dare mistreat her.
But now…
Sigh.
How could Madam Yin not worry?
Xiao Yanfei was, after all, a concubine-born daughter.
This imperial decree had come too suddenly, too inexplicably. It left Madam Yin with a growing sense of unease.
Especially when she thought of the Xie family—recently punished with their entire household implicated.
The Duke Weiguo’s household was a thorn in the Emperor’s side. And now His Majesty had bestowed one of the Xiao family’s concubine-born daughters to marry the heir of that very household?
It couldn’t be anything good.
Why must this girl’s path always be so difficult?
“I’m willing,” Xiao Yanfei said firmly, meeting Madam Yin’s anxious gaze head-on. “You don’t need to worry about me, Mother.”
She was always this considerate. Madam Yin reached up to smooth back the soft hair at Yanfei’s forehead and adjusted the butterfly hairpin in her bun.
Yanfei responded with a gentle smile, trying to put her mother’s heart at ease.
Then—hmm?
She narrowed her eyes and studied Madam Yin for a moment before glancing over at Yingluo, Madam Yin’s chief maid.
In a tone that was nearly certain, she asked, “Mother, did you skip lunch?”
Yingluo quickly nodded. That was right—the Madam had been busy going over accounts and managing the household, and had missed her midday meal.
I knew it! Yanfei thought. Her complexion had looked so pale.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yanfei reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small packet of sticky rice candy. “Mother, here—have one.”
Under her daughter’s insistent gaze, Madam Yin could only obey. She picked up a piece and placed it in her mouth, and the rich, sweet taste began to slowly melt away the heaviness in her chest.
“Mother,” Yanfei added with mock seriousness, “if you keep being so disobedient, I’m going to tell Ye’er when I get back.”
She puckered her lips in a playful pout, and Madam Yin couldn’t help but laugh.
This girl had indeed become much more spirited lately.
Madam Yin finally smiled and said gently, “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
The atmosphere in the carriage lightened.
Madam Yin seemed as though she still had something to say—but before she could speak, the marquisate’s carriage came to a halt.
The women of the household entered the palace through the Xihua Gate, as was customary. A young eunuch from Fengyi Palace had been waiting there and promptly led the two of them to present themselves before Empress Liu.
Inside the palace, even though Xiao Yanfei was ostensibly the focus of the visit, she was little more than a shadow. From beginning to end, beyond offering formal greetings and words of thanks, she wasn’t even afforded the right to speak.
The visit consisted almost entirely of Empress Liu’s ceremonial pronouncements:
“Xiao Yanfei—Yanfei Yanfei, such a lovely name. You look like a gentle, obedient child.”
“In the days ahead, you must study etiquette carefully under Zhu momo. She’s a long-standing and trusted elder in the palace, well-versed in all the proper rules and decorum. She’s particularly skilled at discipline.”
“When you marry into the Duke Wei’s household, you must always remember Zhu momo’s teachings. Be dutiful to the Duke, serve the heir with devotion. If you encounter any difficulty, don’t hesitate to come to me directly.”
“Second Miss Xiao, you must not let down His Majesty’s and my goodwill!”
Every word was thick with subtext—Empress Liu had all but stated outright that Xiao Yanfei was expected to serve as the Emperor’s eyes and ears in the Duke’s household.
Xiao Yanfei understood.
So did Madam Yin.
The return journey in the carriage was far more solemn.
Madam Yin sat in silence, her brows knit tightly, clearly deep in thought.
By the time their carriage pulled back into the marquisate, it was still shy of the Shen hour (3–5 PM). Xiao Yanfei accompanied Madam Yin to the main residence first.
Madam Yin intended to have Yanfei stay for dinner—there were private matters she wanted to discuss—but before they even had the chance to sit down, a cheerful old maid bustled in to report, “Madam, Nanny Liao has arrived!”
Joy immediately lit up Madam Yin’s face. “What about my parents? Have they arrived as well?”
Nanny Liao was the trusted steward of Madam Yin’s mother, a woman who had served the family faithfully for many years.
The old maid beamed. “I heard the Master and Madam are still on their way, but they sent Nanny Liao ahead to inform you so you wouldn’t worry.”
“Quick, let her in,” Madam Yin said, her delight evident in every line of her face.
After dismissing the maid, she turned to Xiao Yanfei with a smile. “Your grandfather and grandmother are coming to settle in the capital.”
“They left Jiangnan at the start of the third month. It’s been a long and tiring journey, and they’re not young anymore. I’ve been worried sick.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Xiao Yanfei replied with a smile. “Once they arrive, the whole family can finally be reunited.”
Madam Yin’s mood was clearly lifted. She even sent someone to call over Xiao Luanfei.
The room was soon filled with a lively, cheerful atmosphere.
Not long after, Nanny Liao—plump and warm-faced—was led into the main residence by the head maid, Yingluo.
“Greetings, Eldest Madam. Greetings, Young Miss,” Nanny Liao beamed as she respectfully bowed to Madam Yin and Xiao Yanfei. Her expression was radiant, her energy vibrant—showing no sign at all of fatigue from the long journey.
Madam Yin blinked in surprise, then quickly corrected her, “Nanny Liao, this is Second Miss Yanfei. Luan’er hasn’t arrived yet.”
“…”
Nanny Liao’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Ever since the Eldest Madam had married into the capital, Nanny Liao had only visited once, fifteen years ago. But even from afar, she had always known that Madam Yin had only one son and one daughter—her only daughter being the eldest, Miss Xiao Luanfei.
And yet…
Nanny Liao’s gaze swept slowly over the young woman seated below.
But this Second Miss…
How could she look so much like Madam Yin’s late grandmother?
Those features—those eyes, that bone structure—
It was as if she had been carved from the same mold!
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