Cixin Academy
Ever since both daughter-in-laws became titled ladies, the old lady didn't receive a single cent, and then she fell ill.
It wasn't a serious illness, just a feeling of oppression in her chest, thinking of her son and daughter-in-law coming to attend on her illness, revolving around her, Mrs. He was busy with the day-to-day affairs of the household and couldn't come at all, while Mrs. Han did come for a day but ended up exhausting the old lady.
Medicine was spilled over the old lady, the room was heavily scented with incense, and all the food was greasy meat. Several vases were broken, and in no time, the old lady's feigned illness became a real one.
She repeatedly demanded Mrs. Han to get out.
Mrs. Han left with a shallow, beaming smile, and then never visited Cixin Academy again.
"Lady, Mrs. He has arrived!" Ming Liu called softly.
Her complexion was a bit off.
Ever since she returned from attending Ming Yang's wedding feast, Ming Liu had not been feeling well.
Now that Ming Yang was married off to a family where the man was a shopkeeper, though she was a concubine, she was still the main wife, with no children to worry about, and both her parents did not live together with her, so Ming Yang had the final say in everything. She also owned a residence in the Outer City, a grain shop, and it was said that she managed over a hundred acres of fertile farmland in the countryside.
Even Danxia, Dangui, and Ru Yang had been married off, leading prosperous lives. How different they were from her, still the Head Maid by the old lady's side, with no future prospects in sight.
Had she known that the fourth young miss would soar into the heavens, she would have gone to serve her back then.
The old lady glanced at Ming Liu, "Let her in."
Mrs. He entered the parlor, paid her respects to the old lady, and then sat down, hesitating to speak.
The old lady gave Mrs. He a look, "If you have something to say then speak, what's with all the fidgeting?"
"Mother, we've found a match for Muyou!"
The old lady lifted her eyebrows, "A match? With which family?"
"Marquis Yuanshen's residence!"
"Marquis Yuanshen's residence?" The old lady frowned.
In reality, for many years no one had invited her as a guest, so how could she know the current situation outside, nor could she possibly know that Marquis Yuanshen's residence had long since fallen into decline, and was perhaps even worse off than the Yun Family.
But upon hearing 'Marquis residence', the old lady perked up, "The eldest legitimate son?"
"The old Marquess passed away long ago, and the current Marquess is the eldest son, who has just come of age. They are asking for a generous dowry for Muyou!" Mrs. He explained, eyeing the old lady.
"A generous dowry, huh..." The old lady had been swindled out of some silver, and Mrs. Han had taken another amount. She did have silver, but that was for her old age and she certainly wouldn't take it out for Yun Muyou.
After much consideration, the old lady thought of Niannian Garden, and of the valuable items in Yun Jinnian's hands.
With Yun Jinnian gone and Mrs. Han unlikely to go to Niannian Garden, if she could secretly take them out and quietly prepare them as Muyou's dowry, once the items had been given away as dowry to the Marquis Residence, would Mrs. Han have the shamelessness to demand them back?
But the old lady feared Mrs. Han, and now with Han Xuzi in the Capital City, she feared him even more.
So it was just a thought, when it came to actual action, she dared not follow through.
After a good while, she spoke faintly, "I will contribute fifty thousand in silver, and an additional two hundred thousand from the public fund, which should suffice for a decent dowry."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. He gasped.
Two hundred and fifty thousand in silver for a dowry and calling that 'decent'?
It was laughable; look at the other great families whose dowries for the eldest legitimate daughter were over a million in silver. If it weren't for the Yun Family's declining fortunes in recent years, she wouldn't have come to discuss with the old lady.
"I understand, mother, but we still need to investigate the Marquess's character. If he is not virtuous, I will not agree to this marriage!"
The old lady nodded, "She's your daughter, you make the decision. I'm tired, you may go now!"
Mrs. He rose and left Cixin Academy, casting a backward glance at the placard above the entrance and covertly spitting in its direction.
With the mouth of a Buddha and the heart of a snake, how dare they label it 'Cixin' — 'Merciful Heart'!