Chapter 75a: Without a Dowry, She Won’t Marry
“Alright, alright. How about I make purchases for you based on the criteria established for Qing Shuang?” In any case, remembering that the person Luo Qing Luan was to marry was the Prince of Chu, no matter how pained w.a.n.g Xue Ru was, she knew that there was no way to save these monies.
In fact the only method available, since there was no way to decrease the dowry, was to spend ten thousand taels of silver as before. However, as for those other items, such as various kinds of damask, and silk fabrics, precious stones and jewelry, she would naturally choose relatively poor quality, or outmoded styles. They only needed to be given pleasant sounding names when entered into the register and it’d be fine.
As for the deeds for houses and land, she would also similarly choose poor locations, or poorly performing businesses to give to Luo Qing Luan. In any case, it’s fine as long as she gathered large quant.i.ties for appearance’s sake. These things seemed to the great in quant.i.ty, but in fact were worth not even half of what they should be worth ordinarily.
“Basing my dowry on Elder Sister’s? Wouldn’t that be a bit too little, Father’s Concubine?” She didn’t expect Luo Qing Luan to actually seem as if she was unwilling.
“What, how can it be too little? It’s already exactly the same as your elder sister’s. Is it possible that I’ll short change you?”
w.a.n.g Xue Ru was very resentful, continuing as she resisted her temper, “Think about it, even Qing Shuang was taken care of in this way. She is your elder sister and even Fifth Prince was very satisfied. Qing Luan, what are you still dissatisfied about? Putting it another way, a young girl to be wed who hasn’t even married is already asking about her dowry, how improper is this? When the time comes, I’ll prepare everything for you, that’s all. Don’t tell me you’re even afraid that I’ll cheat you?”
Finishing in one breath, she was thinking of having Luo Qing Luan practice some etiquette while also lecturing her as well as torturing her openly. Who could have imagined that Luo Qing Luan directly stood up, complexion somewhat poor, as she coldly responded, “I’m indeed afraid that Father’s Concubine will cheat me, therefore, I’d like to ask ahead of time.”
“What did you say?” w.a.n.g Xue Ru couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Only in this way did I find out that Father’s Concubine wants to arrange matters based on Elder Sister’s dowry. Since it’s like this, I’d better go find Father.” Luo Qing Luan’s complexion darkened, very much as if she was unhappy as she continued, “Father already told me previously that he’ll certainly marry me off into the Prince of Chu’s mansion in a grand manner and even said that whatever I wanted is fine, but I didn’t expect Father’s Concubine to be so miserly. I’d better go ask Father.”
Finished speaking, she turned around and wanted to leave.
Once w.a.n.g Xue Ru heard this she knew that it was bad. If this girl really went to her father, based on Luo Cheng’s recent att.i.tude of attaching more and more importance to this girl, she’s afraid that he’d agree to whatever requests she put forth. Moreover, the Prince of Chu was her fiancee. If she also muttered a few things in front of Nalan Ye, perhaps that Iceberg Prince would truly think that she was unkind to the first wife’s daughter.
“Wait wait, Qing Luan, come back first.” Without any other option, w.a.n.g Xue Ru could only stop her.
“What else does Father’s Concubine have to say?” Luo Qing Luan appeared somewhat chilly. Even the smiling expression on her face was gone.
“Qing Luan, how about this, Father’s Concubine will add some dowry for you and allow you to marry grandly into the Prince of Chu’s Mansion, alright?” Already restraining herself to the utmost, if w.a.n.g Xue Ru wasn’t worried about Luo Qing Luan directly finding Luo Cheng, leading to even more losses, she wouldn’t have been able to endure speaking to her.
Finally putting a smile on her face, Luo Qing Luan extended two fair fingers and said, “Father’s Concubine, I’d like this much.”
“Twenty thousand taels of silver?” w.a.n.g Xue Ru’s eyeb.a.l.l.s nearly popped out.
When her Qing Shuang married Fifth Prince, she still merely took away ten thousand taels as dowry. This girl actually wanted twenty thousand? Moreover, there are still other things such as precious stones, jewelry, land and shops, so the total surpa.s.sed what she purchased for Qing Shuang by far. How can she not feel pain?
But she didn’t expect that Qing Luan actually pursed her lips and shook her head. “Father’s Concubine, I’m not talking about money, rather I want double the amount of Elder Sister’s dowry!” As if recalling something, she tilted her head and looked up, knitting her brows in contemplation, “I already asked Father yesterday. Father said that Elder Sister’s dowry was valued at two hundred thousand taels in total, so the twofold amount I’m talking about is four hundred taels of silver.”
“Four hundred taels? No way!” Without even thinking, w.a.n.g Xue Ru declined utterly discomfited.
Even though the General’s Mansion was a grand family, with no small number of stores, estates, and so forth. However, every year’s net surplus was at best merely thirty thousand taels. When she prepared Qing Shuang’s dowry last time, she had already spent half of their cash reserves. Now that Qing Luan had the impertinence to demand twofold the dowry, no less than four hundred thousand taels, how would this not hollow out all of the General’s Mansion’s a.s.sets?
Without family property and money, what meaning was there in her status as the female head of the family?
“Qing Luan, it’s not that Father’s Concubine doesn’t want to agree, but the four hundred thousand you want is really too much. The General’s Mansion is simply unable to take out this much money. Even if you look for your father, he also will be unable to procure this much.”w.a.n.g Xue Ru was no longer able to maintain a smiling expression as she continued with a cold and stiff face, “If you’re obedient, then let’s do what I’ve said and prepare the dowry based on what we’ve done for your sister. If you’re not willing, humph, then you’ll have nothing.”
“Really?”
At this moment, Luo Qing Luan actually also didn’t back down at all. She smiled faintly. “Father’s Concubine, I’m telling you today, it’s good if this dowry can be prepared, even if it’s not possible, it still must be done. If you’re unable to procure the cash, then I’ll trouble you sell businesses and land to collect this amount. Otherwise, I won’t marry anymore!”
Feeling a chill run down her spine, w.a.n.g Xue Ru completely did not expect that the Luo Qing Luan, who had been bullied hovering between life and death in the past, actually could threaten her in this way. Wasn’t the girl merely making use of her connection to the Prince of Chu? And she wasn’t even married. If she truly became the Princess of Chu, wouldn’t she directly slap her face?
Simply unable to stand it any longer, w.a.n.g Xue Ru slapped the table and replied coldly, “Your marriage was conferred by His Majesty, are you not getting married just because you say so? Humph!”