Chapter 436 — Discussing the Betrothal Gift

When Dou Yan had first arrived, the red packets she had bestowed on the serving women had been worth eight fen of silver apiece, and her daughter alone had received eight of them; moreover, because her daughter was Song Zhi's younger cousin, the Dou family had given an additional thousand taels of silver as a reward.

Could the Miao family produce the like?

No wonder her eldest sister-in-law had refused flatly to come—she must have known all along that this Miao family was a pack of shameless, penniless wastrels.

Third Madam Song sighed to herself.

The Ying Ducal Estate was a great and wealthy house, well able to produce ten thousand taels; but if the Song family were to pay a betrothal gift of ten thousand taels and the bride were to enter the house with a dowry of only three thousand, the Song family could not bear the shame.

Her eldest sister-in-law was shrewd indeed!

She had kept her hands entirely clear of this business.

In future, she herself must be more circumspect.

The Miao family's eldest married daughter truly did not know what to say.

Matters had reached a point where she was utterly at a loss.

Did any family really spend a hundred thousand taels to marry off a daughter?

A hundred thousand taels—how much land would that buy?

If one had such money, would one not leave it to one's sons and grandsons, rather than let a daughter carry it off into another man's house?

Surely the Song family was trying to swindle her?

The thought flashed through her mind. Her heart grew greatly settled, and she smiled. "How other families conduct themselves is no concern of ours. What you said, Madam, was well put—a man takes a wife, a woman takes a husband; if the Song family pays a betrothal gift of ten thousand taels, then we shall send the girl off with a dowry of five thousand taels. There are proprieties in all this. It is not for you to decide, nor for me either."

"That is so," said Third Madam Song, raising a hand to smooth her temple locks. "I understand your household's position. When I return, I shall relay it to the Duke. And the wedding date?"

The Miao family's eldest married daughter smiled. "The betrothal gift has not even been settled—how could we properly fix a wedding date?"

Third Madam Song snorted coldly to herself.

By the look of it, this marriage could not be settled today.

She would likely have more grinding to endure hereafter.

She was not one to smooth things over, either; she reflected that this marriage had been granted by imperial favor—would the Miao family dare to break it off?

Since they chose to put on airs, let them hold up their end.

When the Emperor came to inquire, would he side with the Miao family?

And at the furthest remove—should no one inquire at all: Song Han was a young man. Even if matters dragged on three or five years, he would still have someone to warm his bed; he might even have a bastard son and daughter by then. It was the Miao family who should worry, and perhaps they would come begging the Song family to take the girl in quickly.

Then it would be seen who had to look to whom for favor!

Third Madam Song simply rose to take her leave. "Since it is so, I shall return to the estate first. When your household has reached a decision, I shall come again to call on the lady of the house."

The implication was that the Song family would pay only five thousand taels, and the Miao family might accept it or not, as they pleased.

The Miao family's eldest married daughter stood there dumbfounded.

What did the Song family mean by this?

Did they intend to defy the imperial decree?

Were they not afraid of the Emperor's displeasure?

She could not help saying, "This marriage was settled by an exalted personage in the palace."

Third Madam Song gave a light laugh, her brows and eyes carrying an undisguised mockery. "Our Duke went into the palace only yesterday to see the Emperor. If the marriage cannot be agreed, we need only explain it to His Majesty. The Miao family's eldest married daughter need not worry." So saying, she turned and walked out.

Madam Miao the elder, who had been hiding behind the door listening, grew alarmed.

The Song family could enter the palace at any time and have audience with the Emperor at any time; the Miao family had never seen the Emperor—nor even what the Crown Prince looked like. If the Song family were to lay a secret complaint against the Miao family before the Emperor, the Miao family would not even have a chance to defend themselves. Would they not be wronged indeed?

She hurried out from behind the door with a smile, calling to Third Madam Song, "The banquet outside is all laid out—we are only waiting for you to take your seat to begin." As she spoke, she had already covered the ground in two or three quick steps and taken Third Madam Song by the arm, saying softly, "Our several masters are already at table with the two matchmakers from your estate; we should be going over as well."

The Song family had others who had come with Third Madam Song to deliver the preliminary betrothal gifts; surely Third Madam Song could not disregard them and simply walk off by herself?

Madam Miao the elder gazed smilingly at Third Madam Song.

Third Madam Song arched a brow, neither affirming nor denying, and allowed Madam Miao the elder to escort her to the women's tables.

Mother Miao could not wait; she drew the Miao family's eldest married daughter aside and asked in a low voice, "How did it go?"

The eldest grand-aunt of the Miao family wore a face full of gloom. "The Song family will only put up five thousand taels of silver as betrothal gifts." She then relayed to Mother Miao what Third Madam Song had said about the wedding of Song Yan and Dou Yan, and added, "Tell me, is this true or false? If it's true, then we're in trouble. Where could our family ever produce a dowry that size? Once Ansu marries into that house, won't she be crushed under the Lady Heir's thumb, unable to stir a finger?"

Mother Miao was struck dumb, her mouth hanging open.

"True or false?" she asked in a fluster, and made to go find Father Miao. "I must discuss this with her father."

The eldest grand-aunt of the Miao family shook her head repeatedly and went off to take her seat at the banquet.

When Father Miao heard what Mother Miao had to say, he could not help but be riddled with anxiety.

Miao Anping, who had come to fetch Father Miao to entertain the guests, heard this and burst into a chuckle. "Look at the two of you, so worried. What's so difficult about this?"

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Sisters and brothers, here is today's update. I'll be back in two more days.

o(n_n)o~