Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C054

Wushuang interrupted her, saying, "Wait, that's not right. You were the ones who first harbored malicious intentions, and thus you suffer the consequences. According to your logic, only you are allowed to harm others, while others are not allowed to resist? Is there such a principle in this world?"

She did not wish to speak further with Mei Wuxia, and continued, "Will you take it or not? If you wish to marry into the Sun family and become the shizi's wife, then take it. If not, then don't."

It was that simple.

Mei Wuxia stared intently at Wushuang, as if seeing her clearly for the first time. She stared fixedly, slowly taking the porcelain bottle into her hand.

Wushuang, feeling somewhat annoyed by her gaze, said, "If you're not going to take it, then return it to me."

Mei Wuxia did not return the medicine bottle to her. Instead, she poured out the pill inside, and without even looking at it, swallowed it in one gulp.

Seeing that she had indeed swallowed it, Wushuang withdrew her gaze.

"Very well, you may return and await news."

Mei Wuxia sneered, "Mei Wushuang, you will suffer retribution."

Wushuang, now also irritated by her, retorted, "Whether I suffer retribution or not, I do not know, but you are certainly suffering it now. Do not blame others for the retribution you brought upon yourself through your own misdeeds. No one owes you anything. If you wish for others to help you, how can it be possible without paying a price? If you are so capable, then do it yourself, why ask for help?"

Mei Wuxia sneered a few more times, "Indeed, your status is different now. Your words are especially overbearing and bullying. Do you think that everyone who revolves around you and flatters you is truly good to you? They are merely after your power and influence. If you did not have your current status, do you think they would pay you any heed? When you were suffering hardships, no one came to care for you. Now, they come to coax you with a few words, and you are as easily fooled as a simpleton..."

Wushuang was truly getting a headache from her current crazed way of speaking.

Who was she talking about, Mei Chang and the others?

She pondered for a moment, then said, "Not everyone is as calculating as you, always weighing whether the calculation is equal, whether there is mutual benefit. If you are good to others, they must repay you with the same. Even if it is as you say, that they are after my power and influence, I also value that they can make me happy and save me trouble. What is wrong with that?"

Mei Wuxia was momentarily stunned by her words, but still sneered, "When you fall to my level one day, you will be even more miserable than I am!"

I have already fallen to your level before, which is why I know that life is short, and it is too tiring to spend it all on scheming and haggling. However, Wushuang was already too lazy to speak with her, and so she had Meifang escort her out.

***

In the Mingyi Hall, the Madam of Marquis Wuxiang was also speaking with Noble Consort Sun.

"This matter is clearly that Chang Minghui, that wretched girl, deliberately schemed against my son. Now that my son's reputation is ruined, and we must ask His Majesty for forgiveness and annul the engagement, how can such a thing be in this world!"

Noble Consort Sun said irritably, "Who told him to be so useless? Even in the Princess's villa, he could end up in bed with a woman and be caught red-handed! Do you know that Princess Changhe personally entered the palace to lodge a complaint? My face has been completely disgraced by you all!"

Noble Consort Sun would not have been angry if this matter had not been brought up, but the mention of it ignited the fire in her heart.

Originally, Prince Qin had already made a blunder, and His Majesty was furious. Yet, the Sun family had to cause such an absurd incident. Prince Qin was placed under house arrest, and she had knelt before the Zichen Hall for half a day, but His Majesty had not even seen her.

One must know that His Majesty had never treated her like this before!

Noble Consort Sun naturally did not think that Prince Qin was the main cause. She only felt that her family was not sensible, causing two such major blunders, which even she could not cover up.

"Xian'er was also drugged. Even if he is absurd, he would not dare to be absurd in the Princess's villa. It was all Chang Minghui, that wretched girl, who schemed against my son!" The Madam of Marquis Wuxiang felt extremely wronged.

Noble Consort Sun was too lazy to pay her any heed and did not speak.

"So, that's all there is to it?" she asked again.

Noble Consort Sun said with forbearance, "Now that Prince Qin is under house arrest, and His Majesty will not see this majesty, Cining Palace seems to have remained still, but in reality, it is aggressively pressing. Now, the only thing to do is to withdraw from this situation, remain quiet for a while, and then plan for the future."

The Madam of Marquis Wuxiang wore a face full of worry on the surface, but in reality, she was nearly bursting with joy.

One must know that she had never liked that girl, Chang Minghui, from the beginning. If it were not for her little sister-in-law's words, insisting that her son marry Chang Minghui, she would not have made such a fuss that day. Moreover, these past few incidents had also made her feel that Chang Minghui was a jinx to her son. Naturally, she did not want this daughter-in-law even more. Now that the marriage was about to be annulled, she instead felt a sense of relief.

"But, having suffered such a great loss…"

Noble Consort Sun had always been clear about her sister-in-law's character. She glanced at her, a false smile playing on her lips, and said, "What? You suffered a loss, and now you want compensation from me?"

Madam of Marquis Wuxiang, her thoughts laid bare, gave an awkward laugh. Wasn't she also seeing that her family had been working for Prince Qin, yet had not received a single benefit, only a pile of trouble? Naturally, she wanted to play the victim to get some advantages from Noble Consort Sun.

"How could that be? It's just that if the Sun family takes the initiative to plead guilty to His Majesty and cancel this marriage, the Mei family..." Without Commandery Princess Minghui as a shield, the Sun family would have no excuse to refuse the Mei family. If it really escalated to the Emperor, the result would only be Sun Shixian marrying Mei Wuxia.

Madam of Marquis Wuxiang looked down on Commandery Princess Minghui, so how could she possibly look favorably upon Mei Wuxia? Naturally, she felt she was at a disadvantage.

Noble Consort Sun thought for a moment, and also felt that such a family background was indeed a bit low for her nephew. If it weren't for the fact that it was not easy to cause trouble now, and if that woman hadn't been involved with Prince Wei's future princess consort, fearing that Prince Wei's side would make another move, she wouldn't want Sun Shixian to marry Mei Wuxia either.

"You don't need to say anymore. I'll give Xian'er another five thousand taels of silver for his wedding expenses. Quickly get the marriage done and gloss over this matter. You all should be quiet these days and not cause any more trouble."

Madam of Marquis Wuxiang said that she couldn't possibly accept Her Majesty's generosity, but when the palace maid brought the silver notes, she tucked them into her bosom faster than anyone else.

Setting that aside, the next day, Marquis Wuxiang personally entered the palace to request an audience with Emperor Taihe.

He first recounted how he had failed to educate his son, causing such a scandal and greatly damaging the imperial family's reputation. He then took the initiative to propose the cancellation of the marriage. Throughout the entire process, he did not mention what Commandery Princess Minghui had done. In any case, it was all Sun Shixian's fault. Now he knew he was wrong and intended to cancel the marriage and marry the eldest legitimate daughter of the Mei family.

Seeing that the Sun family was so sensible, not implicating the Empress Dowager nor Commandery Princess Minghui, Emperor Taihe only reprimanded them a few times and agreed to the cancellation of the marriage.

When the news reached Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"This time, your actions were too reckless. I'm afraid even a blind man knows it was your scheme. Fortunately, there were those who didn't want to see you marry into the Sun family, and they also contributed a great deal. Now that the matter has been settled, you should use the excuse of returning to your hometown to worship your ancestors. Go back to Luohe for a while, and return after a few months. As for your marriage, I will discuss it with your father. You must not get involved in the factions of the princes again. You should go back and wait for news."

After hearing this, Commandery Princess Minghui, even though she was somewhat unwilling, could only agree.

***

On the other side, Wushuang received a letter from Prince Wei, informing her that the Sun family had already entered the palace to cancel the marriage. She then passed the news to Cao shi.

Upon hearing this, Cao shi went to the Marquis Wuxiang's mansion without delay.

After some negotiations, although Cao shi's expression was a bit unpleasant when she returned, at least the matter had been settled. During this time, she also learned that Wushuang had contributed to this, and she even came to thank her specifically.

As for why Cao shi's expression was unpleasant?

It was related to the betrothal gifts.

Although Madam of Marquis Wuxiang had agreed to welcome Mei Wuxia into the family, the premise was that the Sun family would not offer too many betrothal gifts. Her excuse was that they were currently in the eye of the storm, and both families' reputations were not good, so the wedding could only be held in a low-key manner.

Since it was to be low-key, what was the point of having so many betrothal gifts? As long as it was acceptable, they only planned to offer one thousand taels of betrothal silver in addition to the necessary gifts.

Even an ordinary wealthy family would not offer only one thousand taels of betrothal silver to marry a wife.

But Cao shi knew that this family was difficult to deal with. They had been unwilling to agree all along, and now that they had finally agreed, even if she was unwilling, she could only accept it.

To avoid clashing with Prince Wei's wedding date, the Sun family set the wedding date for the eighth day of the ninth month. It was already the seventh month, and there was only a little over a month until the ninth month. Since it was to be low-key, being a bit rushed was fine. They couldn't worry about so much now.

Despite Cao shi's complaints about Mei Wuxia bringing shame to her, she was, after all, her own daughter, and she still felt heartache. From the moment the matter was settled, she had been thinking about preparing a dowry for Mei Wuxia.

This time, Cao shi was still claiming poverty, but she truly brought out her family's wealth. Over the years, she had been gradually preparing a dowry for Mei Wuxia. This time, she took out one-third of her own jewelry and had it remade into jewelry for Mei Wuxia at the goldsmith's shop.

She also took out three thousand taels of silver and one of her own dowry shops, intending to give it to Mei Wuxia as part of her dowry.

She didn't have much dowry to begin with. Over the years, she had inevitably encountered times when she needed silver but had none, so most of her dowry had been sold off. She only had two shops left. Because they could bring in a few hundred taels of silver each year, she had never been willing to sell them. Now that she had given one to Mei Wuxia, she only had one left.

As for why this matter was known to outsiders?

This had to do with Mei Ying's wife, Zhang shi. In short, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had some conflicts over the matter of preparing a dowry for Mei Wuxia. Although Cao shi had been trying to keep it a secret, they all lived in the same mansion, so how could it be kept hidden? Aunt Zhao found out about it.

Once aunt Zhao knew, Mei Chang also knew, and thus Wushuang also knew.

Upon the mention of dowries, Mei Chang and Mei E could not help but feel a sense of unease. In the past, when the mansion had not yet hosted any weddings, they had not truly felt the weight of such matters. But now, with Mei Wuxia being the eldest legitimate daughter, and Cao shi having only produced such a meager dowry, even causing conflict with her daughter-in-law, what would their own situations be when they came to be married?

These were matters that Wushuang could not assist with, as even her own dowry had to be managed by herself. To this day, Cao shi had not prepared anything for her.

The topic of dowries inevitably made Wushuang think of her own situation. After Mei Chang and Mei E departed, she summoned Granny Gong to inquire about it.

She had entrusted the matter of preparing her dowry to Granny Gong. Although the betrothal gifts from Prince Wei were substantial, and she could use them all as part of her dowry, a new bride needed dowry furniture, everyday utensils, as well as seasonal clothing, a wedding quilt, and so on, all of which had to be prepared.

Granny Gong reassured her, saying that the furniture had already been made and was only waiting to be lacquered and dried, with ample time remaining. As for the other items, they were also being prepared.

As she spoke, she went over the accounts with Wushuang, detailing how much silver had been spent on what items. Wushuang, seeing that many items had been prepared and were all complete, finally felt at ease.

Since the topic of dowries had been raised, she could not help but think of the cloth shop. Wushuang counted on her fingers, realizing that the half-month deadline was fast approaching, yet there had been no movement from that side.

Could it be that Su Cheng truly intended to take his chances, insisting on waiting until she sent someone to seize the shop before he would submit? Or was he planning to abscond with the funds, forcing her to report him to the authorities and have him wanted by the government everywhere?

Wushuang did not know that the things she had considered were indeed things that Su Cheng had also pondered. Unfortunately, he had not taken any action, as he was waiting for someone to give him an idea.

And Su Cheng also did not know that even if he planned to abscond with the funds and abandon the shop, he would not be able to escape. Because that day, Prince Wei had encountered Wushuang, and after a conversation, Prince Wei, seeing that while Wushuang's ideas were good, she had overlooked some things, had helped her fill in the gaps. Now, the shop, including the Su family's residence, was being watched, and even if he wanted to flee, it would be impossible.