Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C041

On the day of the betrothal gifts’ presentation, the porters carried the gifts inside for the better part of the day. It could be said that the entire household, from top to bottom, gathered to watch, and even outside the mansion gates, many people crowded around to join in the excitement.

After all, it was not often one saw the imperial family betrothing a daughter-in-law with such a grand display.

These items were carried, load after load, into the Ruyi Pavilion, nearly filling the entire pavilion. In the end, there was no more room, so they had to be placed in the courtyard first, and the maids and palace women were so busy their feet barely touched the ground.

Mei Chang, Mei E, and their other sisters were also among the onlookers.

Mei Xishuang and Mei Yufei’s eyes were red with envy, and Mei Chang was also a little envious, but Mei E was relatively calm, saying, “Alright, don’t be so envious. When you get married, you’ll have your day too.”

Of course, they would also get married, and there would be a day when betrothal gifts would arrive at their doors, but they all knew it would certainly not be on the scale of today. Wushuang was marrying an imperial prince, a titled first-rank prince, and unless they could marry the crown prince and become the crown princess, they probably wouldn't achieve such a spectacle.

Mei Wuxia was also nearby, having been pulled there by Mei Xishuang and her sister.

The two sisters of the third branch had been compared to Mei Wuxia since they were young. Seeing Mei Wuxia’s cold face as she clutched her handkerchief, Mei Xishuang’s eyes darted around, and she moved closer, saying, “We may not know if we can have this, but when Eldest Sister gets married, she will definitely have such a display, Eldest Sister, wouldn’t you say so?”

For a moment, the eyes of all the sisters, including the maids nearby, turned to Mei Wuxia.

Mei Wuxia could no longer maintain her composure. Just before she lost control, she let out a cold snort and turned away.

After she left, Mei Xishuang laughed, “She used to bully everyone openly and secretly, especially Third Sister. She had to eat better than Third Sister, dress better than Third Sister, and even look better than Third Sister, using Third Sister to show off herself. And now? What is false is ultimately false.”

Mei Yufei probably felt that these words were too harsh and pulled her back, interjecting, “Alright, what’s the point of saying all this? Let’s go. Third Sister must be very busy, let’s go help her.”

She then called Mei Chang and Mei E, and the group left together.

*** 

Cao shi, both jealous and envious, said to Mei Zong, “You still want me to prepare a dowry for her? Just these things are enough to be the dowry for several girls.”

Mei Zong scolded her for being short-sighted, saying, “What the imperial family gives is what the imperial family gives, and what the maternal family gives is what the maternal family gives. Unless you don’t plan to acknowledge this marriage in the future.”

If before, Cao shi hadn't realized that having a Princess Consort in the family was any different from others, but in recent days, having witnessed the behavior of the palace grannies and the amount of gold and silver treasures sent, and this was before the marriage, this was just the betrothal gifts, one could imagine how wealthy the imperial family was.

If you asked her to acknowledge the marriage, she would be unwilling and resentful, feeling that Wushuang had stolen her daughter’s things to get all this. If that matter had succeeded, all of this would have been Wuxia’s.

But the matter had come to this, especially with what she had seen and heard recently, she had no choice but to accept her fate. So, if you asked her to say she didn’t acknowledge this marriage, she would be a little reluctant.

And her direct feelings were not as strong as Mei Zong’s. Mei Zong was a man, and he went out, so he felt it most clearly. People who used to disdain him had recently been smiling and greeting him warmly.

Why was this?

Naturally, it was because of Wushuang!

Because the Marquis Changyang’s Mansion had produced a Princess Consort!

“I’m too lazy to talk about the little schemes you and Mother had before, but from now on, you must treat Wushuang as your own daughter. If you still want your son to have some prospects, and if you want our family’s title to be extended a little longer.”

If it were about anything else, Cao shi might have argued with Mei Zong, but when it came to her son, her son was her lifelong reliance.

Mei Zong knew Cao shi’s weakness, and after saying this, he left.

Leaving Cao shi alone to think for a long time, in the afternoon, she went to the Ruyi Pavilion to ask Wushuang if she needed any help.

Although Wushuang was surprised by her attitude, she couldn’t show it in front of her, and only said that there were enough people, and that she could take her time to sort things out.

After Cao shi left, granny Gong said to Wushuang, “People are born knowing how to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. The longer the days go by, the more they will feel what it means for them to have a Princess Consort in the family. When they feel these benefits, they will naturally try their best to protect you. It’s not strange that the Lady of Marquis Changyang would change her attitude.”

Wushuang naturally felt it too. When you are doing well, everyone around you is good, and even those who you used to think were hateful and vicious can put on a smiling face.

Even these past few times, Wushuang thought that Old Madam Mei would definitely not be able to resist coming to find fault with her, but the Old Madam was strangely quiet. And also Mei Wuxia, she hadn't seen Mei Wuxia for some days now.

What was Mei Wuxia doing?

These days, besides locking herself in her room, she only listened to the news brought back by the maids, her heart corroded by jealousy and hatred day and night.

Helpless and resentful, she watched Mei Wushuang being fawned over by everyone, while she herself had become a mere foil. In the past, the servants in the mansion would always talk about how wonderful the eldest miss was, but now they all praised the third miss.

She felt that this mansion was filled with suffocating things. She wanted to go out, so she began writing letters, mainly to Chen Yueyi, and also to some people who had been close to her in the past.

Very few people replied to her letters.

Even those who did reply all made excuses, saying that their families were busy recently and would invite her to visit when they had time in the future.

Chen Yueyi had not replied to her letters at all, making her secretly wonder if Chen Yueyi knew about what happened that day. After all, Zhao Lanzhi and Chen Yueyi were cousins, and Commandery Princess Minghui was also related to Zhao Lanzhi.

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became. She couldn't help but send a second letter to Chen Yueyi, this time specifically sending her personal maid to the Marquis Xuanping's mansion.

Unfortunately, the maid didn't even get to see anyone. She was told that someone had received her letter and was sent back.

Just when she was feeling down, the Ministry of Rites came to present betrothal gifts. She was ridiculed by Mei Xishuang, and if that wasn't enough, she then learned that her mother, Cao shi, had actually gone to Ruyi Pavilion to curry favor.

All of this was unbearable for Mei Wuxia, and she felt betrayed. She immediately went to Cao shi's residence.

Seeing her daughter's unusual expression, Cao shi subconsciously felt guilty.

"Wuxia, what's wrong?"

"Mother, did you go to Ruyi Pavilion?"

Seeing that the situation was not right, Chunyan quickly dismissed all the serving maids.

"I did go, but it was your father who asked me to go. He said that I should show my face, otherwise it would be too awkward. After all, I am Wushuang's aunt. With these two events happening one after another, I went to ask about it…"

The rest of her words finally stopped amidst Mei Wuxia's continuous cold laughter.

"Wuxia, you…"

"Now even you are going to lick her boots?"

"What do you mean by 'licking her boots'? Why are you talking so harshly!" Cao shi exclaimed, "You know there are two grannies from the palace in her courtyard. If I am even slightly careless, it might be reported to the palace. What can your mother do? I can only respect and serve them. After all, her status is different now. She is a member of the imperial family, a Princess Consort."

The more Cao shi spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, and she began to cry, "Your father always says I'm short-sighted, and you, my own daughter, say I'm licking someone's boots. Who am I working so hard for every day? Isn't it all for you, for your brother, for your younger brother..."

Hearing Cao shi cry, Mei Wuxia felt a headache. Inevitably, she thought of the grievances her mother had suffered in the past, and seeing her aggrieved appearance now.

Seeing that her daughter's expression had softened a little, Cao shi cautiously said, "Mother knows you are unhappy, but there is nothing we can do about it now. The matter is settled. She is now the Princess Consort of Prince Wei. In the future, our family might even have to rely on her. Not to mention your father and your brother, even you."

"You are not young anymore. Since that marriage didn't work out, you have to find another way. Your reputation is not good now. Do you think you will find a good marriage with the reputation of our mansion, or with the reputation of being the elder sister of the Princess Consort of Prince Wei?"

The more Cao shi spoke, the more she felt she was right. Can anger fill your stomach? No! Her mother-in-law scolded her every day, but she still had to treat that old woman like an ancestor, without getting a single benefit. Now, if she just smoothed out the resentment in her heart, she could benefit from it. Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't unacceptable.

"If you were to say that our main branch has any feud with the Third Miss, we don't. I even raised her like my own daughter for a few years, and I didn't mistreat her later. The only thing that wasn't good was Master Qin, but I had already driven that person away long ago. Besides, it was your grandmother who agreed to hire her back then. These things can all be negotiated."

"And you, because of Master Qin's matter, your reputation is not good, and you can't defend yourself. It's better not to compete with the Third Miss anymore. In the future, be closer to her, and those rumors will naturally disappear. Her status is different now. In the future, those imperial relatives will surely invite her to their homes as a guest. If you have a good relationship with her, are you still afraid of not finding a good marriage?"

Seeing her mother speaking with such excitement, Mei Wuxia felt a sense of desolation in her heart.

She knew that the words she said about her later were all false, only the first sentence was true, it was all for her father and her brother.

Yes, Mei Wushuang was now the Princess Consort of Prince Wei. If her father and her brother wanted to have a future, they had to rely on Mei Wushuang.

And she, she was but a discarded pawn of her family. When she was of no use, her feelings and thoughts were, in truth, of little importance.

Mei Wuxia did not argue with Cao shi, nor did she descend into hysterics, but simply returned to her own residence.

In her heart, she silently questioned, "Mei Wushuang, what do you have? What do you have!"

Now, even her own mother was siding with her. What, in the end, did she have!

A series of hurried footsteps sounded, and Hupo's joyful voice startled her from her thoughts.

"Miss, the Marquis Xuanping's mansion has sent a letter."

Mei Wuxia was taken aback, and hastily asked, "Whose letter is it?"

"It is from Sixth Miss Chen."

She quickly took it and opened it. In the letter, Chen Yueyi did not explain why she had not replied to her previous letter, but only said that she had been very busy recently, and invited her to her home to talk.

This letter gave Mei Wuxia countless courage once more.

She felt that she did not need to be jealous of Mei Wushuang. What she had, she would surely have as well!

As long as she could secure Yueyi, she would not need to beg Mei Wushuang.

***

In Guanchun Pavilion, there was a chorus of laughter and cheerful voices. Everyone in the mansion knew that Eldest Miss was going to visit the Marquis Xuanping's mansion again.

Indeed, although Eldest Miss could not compare to Third Miss, she was still outstanding among the several misses, and would surely marry well in the future.

Mei Wuxia spent half a day bathing and washing her hair. She meticulously cared for her skin, which had been neglected for a long time, and carefully chose the clothes she would wear the next day.

The next day, she boarded the carriage and went to the Marquis Xuanping's mansion.

Upon seeing Chen Yueyi, she had a thousand words to say, but she held them all back.

Chen Yueyi took her hand and said, "Someone wants to see you."

"Who?"

Soon, the two entered the inner room. Upon seeing the person sitting inside, Mei Wuxia was stunned, and then her heart was filled with terror.

In the seat of honor, Commandery Princess Minghui smiled radiantly, and said, "Eldest Miss Mei, it has been a long time."

"Co-Commandery Princess?"