Chapter 198 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion
Chapter 198:
Betrothal Gift
"Here's the list of betrothal gifts from the prince's mansion, Yunwan, take a look too."
After the Ministry of Rites and the prince's mansion representatives came to deliver the betrothal gifts together, Old Madam Lin called Lin Yunwan over.
The scrolls were piled on the table, several thick stacks.
Lin Yunwan flipped through them casually; they were all top-notch items... and she had already seen them before.
The last time she met with Qi Lingheng, he asked her to help manage the finances.
"Old Madam, Master, Madam, I've already seen them," she said. She looked casually, but the Lin family members were not so casual.
Lin Huabin wore a smile, and Old Madam Lin said, "These are all from the prince for you. When the time comes, they will all be added to your dowry and taken over together."
As Madam Zheng thought of those dazzling items, she was momentarily stunned. "All of them will be taken over?" she asked, surprised.
She impatiently said, "A dowry for the girl shouldn't be arranged like this! We should leave some behind, and our family can add more..."
"That's enough," Lin Huabin frowned. "Let's listen to Old Madam."
Madam Zheng sat up straight, feeling embarrassed.
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
She secretly thought, let them take it! Who says it will definitely end up in the hands of a stepdaughter?
"Let's all go back," Old Madam Lin said wearily.
Madam Zheng was eager to go back and see what was listed in the scrolls; she didn't want to stay any longer.
"Old Madam, I'll take my leave," she said, standing up first.
But Lin Huabin showed no intention of leaving; he continued to sip his tea, holding the teacup.
It seemed that the master didn't intend to leave.
Lin Yunwan also followed suit to take her leave, not wanting to disturb the conversation between the mother and son.
Old Madam Lin didn't immediately go to rest.
"The betrothal gifts from the Prince's family are all settled..." Next is the matter of the dowry, which must be discussed.
"Have you and Madam Zheng prepared Yunwan's dowry?" If her son didn't bring it up, Old Madam Lin would ask herself.
Lin Huabin said, "I was just about to let you take a look."
He took out a thick stack of papers from his sleeve, which contained the written results.
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
Old Madam Lin examined them carefully, then asked coldly, "Is this all?"
Lin Huabin lowered his head and whispered, "You know, Yunwan... she's not my biological daughter."
"As for the money from the Su family, what are your plans for it in the future?"
Old Madam Lin sipped her tea without looking at her son.
After moistening her throat, she said, "Once Yunwan is married, the dowry brought over by the Su family will completely fall into your hands. What do you think about giving it to Yunwan?"
Lin Huabin spoke in a gentle tone, "I... I haven't thought much about it yet."
But the truth was he didn't want to give it up.
Previously, when the Su family's biological daughter, Yunwan, was still alive, it was acceptable for Lin Huabin to manage the dowry, and no one could question it.
But now that Yunwan was no longer part of the Lin family... "Alright, you may leave now."
"Yes, Mother." Lin Huabin departed.
Watching her son's departing figure, Old Madam Lin sighed.
"I'm not even dead yet, and he's unwilling to support the Lin family on my behalf."
"I reckon once I'm gone, this family will truly split apart," Old Madam Lin remarked.
Back then, it was the fear of discord among brothers that led her to make the decision to divide the family.
Fan Mama interjected, "Second Master is someone who truly honors his commitments when it comes to money. Of course, he wouldn't agree."
Old Madam Lin sneered, "Is money all that matters?"
"Will he have no sons or grandsons in the future? Without his elder brother, he won't even have the chance to pass on his wealth."
Fan Mama remained noncommittal.
Who could argue with that? Second Master was indeed shrewd, but unfortunately, he lacked foresight.
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
Old Madam Lin instructed, "Go and help Yunwan count the bridal gifts!"
She smirked, "Did you see the way Madam Zheng looked just now? Her eyes were practically bloodshot..."
"I really don't understand what that couple is thinking. They have so much money in their hands yet act as if they've never seen anything good," Old Madam Lin remarked.
But Fan Mama decided to speak frankly, "No matter how good their gifts are, they can't compare to what the Prince's family sent."
There were some things that families like the Lins would never experience in their lifetimes. She also worried that trouble might arise if she arrived too late, so she hurried to the second house's Eldest Miss' quarters.
As expected, Madam Zheng was already in a dispute with the servants from Bi Xi Ting.
As a principal Madam, she couldn't afford to argue with the maids. Fan Mama stepped forward and said, "The betrothal gifts have always been kept by the legitimate mother and master. Move them to Madam's courtyard first. Who allowed you to move them to the Young Miss' courtyard?"
The servants explained, "It was Zhao Mama's instructions."
Fan Mama glared at them. "Is Zhao Mama bypassing Madam Zheng now?"
The servants stammered, "...Zhao Mama's intentions are the same as Master's!"
Just then, Xiruo rushed over. She asked with a faint smile, "Does Madam wish to oversee the betrothal gifts from the Prince's residence?"
Both Madam Zheng and Fan Mama turned to look at her.
Xiruo hadn't expected Madam Zheng to still be fussing over such matters. It seemed that the wealth and status of the Prince family truly made Madam Zheng envious.
"The betrothal gifts for the young miss have always been kept by the legitimate mother," she said calmly. With that, Madam Zheng instructed the servants to move the gifts.
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
•••
https://ko-fi.com/flamingobeestranslations
Siiiigh. That couple really deserves one another. They're the embodiment of trying to be smart beyond their means. They might have a degree of "cunning" / are a bit shrewish. But dear Lord are they stupid.
ReplyDeleteIt's shallow "smartness" without IQ or more importantly EQ to bank it up.
I already questioned they thinking their daughter had capability to survive in the harem/royal palace.
But now they even want to switch brides or embezzle royal dowry.
That's outright lese-majesty, it's fooling/deceiving the monarch!
Even if they did get way with it, the moment the prince lifts the red veil and discovers they swapped the brides, it's off with her head - and the whole family's along with it.
(I don't think separating the family in this case means only the 2nd branch would be punished - that's why the old madam won't let they go along with it)