Noble Lady

Chapter 272: Outspoken and Quick-Handed

"A daughter bids farewell to her parents."

In front of the He residence in the west of the city, He Shuang knelt on the ground with her forehead resting on the backs of her folded hands, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Over there, Grandma Xi was urging for an auspicious time.

The new son-in-law Ankang was riding a tall horse, looking very majestic.

"Don't worry, father-in-law and mother-in-law, I will take good care of Shuang'er."

Even though Zhang was reluctant, she could only hold back her tears and nod.

"The bride is getting into the sedan chair—"

Mr. He Er and Zhang watched their daughter get into the bridal sedan with reluctance in their eyes.

In the sedan chair, He Shuang looked at her reluctant parents and quickly pressed her eyes with a handkerchief.

Her father was going to Lingnan to take up his post, a journey of a thousand miles. From now on, she could only rely on herself.

Although He Shuang's wedding was quick and simple, it was not sloppy.

The betrothal gift from the Ankang family was also extremely sincere.

Almost all of them were spent, including the betrothal geese that Ankang had made himself, the house that their family had bought, and the jewelry that Ankang's mother and grandmother had collected over the years.

It is simple, but not crude at all.

Zhang was also a generous person. Although her family was not wealthy, they still prepared a substantial dowry of 24 loads for her. The betrothal gifts sent by the Ankang family were also given to He Shuang to add to her dowry.

In addition, two maids were prepared for her as a dowry, and Mother Wu was also given to her.

The main worry is that after she gets married, her family will move to Lingnan and she won’t be able to take care of her anymore.

Xue Chenyu also had people send her dowry, including gold and silver jewelry, clothes and cloth, large and small, totaling five or six loads. Together with the dowry from some relatives and friends, the total amount was forty-two loads.

It’s not much, but given the second house’s current situation, it’s the best they can offer.

And she has two older brothers who are sending her off to marry.

The same city, the same day, the daughter of the same family, but her future fate will be completely different.

……

After seeing He Jixiang off, attending some social events and having a banquet, Xue Chenyu was able to escape.

This banquet should have been held as early as when he returned home from divorce.

But according to her opinion, Mrs. Xue did not publicize it widely. This time, under the pretext of congratulating Jixiang on her marriage, Mrs. Xue also invited some officials' families she knew.

Marrying a "distant cousin" is not the point; the point is seeing Xue Chenyu busy in and out of the Marquis' Mansion.

The case that was tried in court previously might not be known to everyone in the capital, but when some people saw Xue Chenyu here, they began to talk about it.

She was already married, so why didn't she come to the banquet as a guest, but was helping to prepare the banquet at home? Wouldn't a family like the He family say something?

And so on.

As she was speaking, Madam Xue stepped forward and said, "My daughter has been divorced for a long time. She has nothing to do with the He family's convicted Hanlin. Please don't make any mistakes in the future."

"They really got divorced?" Someone who had heard about the trial asked in surprise.

When I heard her bring it up in class, I didn't expect that she would actually get what she wanted. She is so lucky.

However, these people inevitably started to talk about it, such as, "The divorce is still at home", "A woman's chastity and reputation are important, and even if it is a divorce, it will not sound good if it gets out."

A heavily made-up wife of a minor official even said pretentiously, "If I were the mistress of the Xue family, after the divorce I would find a nunnery to live in, but it would be embarrassing to go home."

As he was speaking, a voice rang out from the side, "Why, are you jealous that she can get a divorce and go home to escape her misery? I see that someone like you who is thinking of leaving her husband's family, even if you want a divorce, you probably won't have anywhere to go after leaving your husband's family."

The lady of the official who was speaking was furious. She turned her head and saw a young girl in green clothes, very pretty. She was followed by a maid, but she looked very unpleasant.

"Where did you come from, you wild girl? You have no right to interrupt when the adults are talking!"

Du Jingyuan smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, I have a straightforward temper and I speak directly. I can't stand gossips from gossipers."

The wife of the young official was about to speak, but was stopped by another wealthy lady next to her, "Stop talking."

She always felt that the girl looked familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen her for a while.

"I guess you must be wondering who I am. If you want to know, just ask me directly, and I will tell you."

The wealthy lady smiled awkwardly, "I dare not."

Not to mention anything else, just looking at her arrogant personality and the clothes she is wearing, she can't be the daughter of a poor family.

"Mrs. Mei, what's there to say to someone like that?" The young official's wife continued to roll her eyes. "What did I say wrong?"

"A woman should obey her father at home, her husband after marriage, and her son after her husband's death. She is born to carry on the family line and raise her husband and children. She is so rebellious that she actually divorced her husband. Isn't this a shame for women?"

As he said that, he glared at Du Jingyuan and said, "Sorry, I'm a straightforward person."

Before he could finish his words, Du Jingyuan slapped him in the face. "Sorry, I'm not only blunt but also quick-witted."

The other party's face turned black, and he wanted to fight back, but was stopped by the wealthy Mrs. Mei, "No."

Du Jingyuan said angrily, "What I hate most is this whole thing of coming and going. It's true that the husband is the head of the wife, but there's also the second half of the saying: If the husband is not upright, the wife can remarry."

"You want to use these great principles to teach others, but you don't study hard yourself. You cut off the beginning and end and take things out of context. You'd better stop talking as soon as possible. Being mute is more suitable for you."

"You, you have no shame! An unmarried girl is talking about remarriage or not. You, your family..."

"Pa!" Without waiting for her to say anything more, Du Jingyuan slapped her again.

"Let me tell you, I'm not only thick-skinned, but also thick-skinned. Also, it's not your turn to meddle in my affairs."

After Du Jingyuan finished speaking, she rolled her eyes and turned around with Du Juan.

The wife of the young official was stunned by the beating. When she came to her senses, she wanted to chase after him, but the man disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Du Jingyuan had already rushed to the backyard and chased Xue Chenyu.

"Madam Mei, why did you stop me just now? Could it be that you know her? Or do you have any friendship with her?" The wife of the small official had a face full of resentment, without any respect at all.

"I don't know him, and we've never been friends." Madam Mei said indifferently, "If you're not afraid, then go after him and ask for it."

Her second sister-in-law from her mother's family is really a tactless person.

But we are a family and cannot be separated.

But she also swore that she would never bring this person out to embarrass herself again.

Seeing that Madam Mei didn't stop her this time, the young official's wife became afraid, "You, you know that wild girl?"

"You are able to enter this mansion today because of Madam Xue's kindness for the sake of Jingzhao Prefecture. This is already a great blessing for you. Not to mention her family background."

Mrs. Mei didn't say it explicitly, but her expression said it all. "Given your family's current situation, I'm afraid you'll never be able to reach their threshold in your lifetime. If you don't want to suffer, don't go."

The wife of the young official was stunned. When she looked at the girl just now, she was clearly dressed simply and without any gold or silver jewelry. How could she look like a noble lady who was not easy to mess with?

Mrs. Mei had fulfilled her duty of persuasion, and her purpose of coming to the banquet had been achieved, so she went to say goodbye to Mrs. Xue first.

Madam Xue didn't force her to stay, but gave her a gift before she left. "Please thank Lord Mei for his impartiality in judging the case. Our Xue family will always remember this. Madam Mei, don't worry. It's not worth anything valuable, so it doesn't count as a bribe."

Madam Mei remembered what Lord Mei had said, that there was a noble person behind the case of the eldest aunt of the Xue family.

However, he refused to reveal who the noble person was.

"Mrs. Xue, you're too polite. This is what we should do."

Although the greetings were exchanged, the gift was still accepted.

The wife of the minor official stood by with a smile on her face, and was soon taken away from the Marquis' Mansion by Madam Mei.

Looking at their departing backs, Mrs. Xue narrowed her eyes slightly.

Mrs. Xue actually saw everything that happened just now.

Some people were too foul-mouthed and deserved to be punished, but before she could do anything about it, Miss Du showed up.

That person was just the family member of a minor official brought by Mrs. Mei. She gave him an extra note because she saw that Jingzhao Prefecture had helped a lot, but she didn't expect that some rotten fish and shrimp would sneak in.

For that kind of people, Miss Du would not have any problem dealing with even ten of them, let alone one, so she did not show up.