“It’s not self-defilement. It’s simply the best reason.”
Seeing Tang Ning’s furrowed brow, Xue Ru softened her voice. “Elder Sister, I’d never belittle myself, but I also understand that with my status, marrying into a prominent family is nearly impossible.”
“The prejudice of pedigree isn’t so easily erased. Madam Cui proposed her son’s marriage to me only because you care for me, and Lord Xiao extends his protection to me out of affection for you. She spoke so highly of me, praising me endlessly, but if I weren’t living in Jiyun Lane, if I didn’t have you, she wouldn’t have given me a second glance.”
The young girl held Tang Ning’s arm, her mind remarkably clear.
“For the Cui family to propose to me is already an extraordinary honor. No matter what reason I give for refusing, it’s bound to bruise their pride.”
“If it were Cui Lin or another Cui family member making the offer, I wouldn’t bother explaining myself, offending them would be no concern of mine. But Madam Cui is different. She just gifted you that iron mine and lowered herself to show goodwill. From what I saw, she seems to have grown distant from the Cui family and genuinely wants to align with you.”
Tang Ning glanced at the brocade box beside her. “It does seem like there’s a rift between her and the rest of the Cui family.”
When they visited the Cui residence, the servants had been respectful to Madam Cui, but several younger Cui family members they passed had given her cold looks. In a household like the Cuis, where propriety was paramount, disrespect toward an elder was a grave offense, unless those in power disapproved of her, prompting others to follow suit.
Xue Ru whispered, “I heard from Sister Qian that the day Cui Lin was imprisoned, Madam Cui and Master Cui argued fiercely at the palace gates. It caused quite a stir. Later, some of Madam Cui’s belongings, jewelry, calligraphy, paintings, were sent to our pawnshops in secret. All of it was pawned outright, and she demanded gold in return.”
Tang Ning’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re saying she pawned her dowry?”
Xue Ru nodded. “All of it was dead pawned.”
Tang Ning raised an eyebrow. She’d heard from her brother that Madam Cui’s natal family was immensely wealthy, rivaling the Cui family itself. When she married into the Cui family, it was a union of two great clans, and her dowry was naturally lavish. As the wife of the eldest legitimate son, she was financially secure, under normal circumstances, she would never have needed to sell her dowry.
To require such a large sum in gold…
The twenty million taels of gold the Cui family “paid” to her brother, could it have been Madam Cui who gathered it?
Tang Ning was momentarily at a loss for words. These noble families prided themselves on their status and deep-rooted heritage, upholding propriety at every turn, yet their conduct was often deplorable. The Lu family’s matriarch had coveted the inheritance left to her by her grandfather, scheming to coax it from her. Now the Cui family was exploiting their eldest daughter-in-law’s dowry. They were worse than common folk, ordinary villagers would at least know that meddling with a woman’s dowry was shameless and disgraceful. These nobles, however, had no such scruples.
As the carriage swayed gently, a cold breeze lifted the curtain, brushing against Tang Ning’s face. Xue Ru reached out to press the curtain down.
“Madam Cui likely hasn’t told the Cui family about gifting the iron mine today. Her proposal to me was just a way to add another bargaining chip for her and her son, hoping to secure your and Lord Xiao’s help in gaining control of the Cui family.”
“I know Lord Xiao doesn’t fear the noble families, but when someone extends goodwill, it’s better to have one less enemy than to be surrounded by foes. So, even if I don’t want to marry into the Cui family, I couldn’t outright dismiss her and risk offending her. Besides, Sister Qin said my constitution is weak, and it’s best not to share a bed with a man before eighteen or consider marriage too soon.”
Tang Ning looked at her. “And if she didn’t mind?”
“If she didn’t mind, I’d marry!” Xue Ru said matter-of-factly. “The Cui family is one of the eight great clans, with a solid foundation. Sure, Cui Lin’s scandal with Xuan Qin was embarrassing, but he’s not my husband. Why should I care about some old man’s romantic follies?”
“If Madam Cui doesn’t even mind my difficulty with children and is willing to let me continue my studies and manage the household, where else would I find such a mother-in-law? If I marry into the Cui family and gain influence quickly, I might even gift the Cui family to you as a congratulatory present one day, Elder Sister.”
This was a true noble clan, and as an illegitimate daughter, she wouldn’t be losing out by marrying in.
Besides, her elder sister was destined for greatness. Though Lord Xiao treated her well, and they had Rongsheng Academy and the Gu family’s support, having a powerful clan like the Cuis backing her sister would silence those old fogeys in the court and imperial clan who obsessed over lineage and status. With her as the Cui family’s mistress, they’d have no grounds to grumble.
Xue Ru’s eyes sparkled, her mind racing with sudden excitement. “Why didn’t I think of this earlier? Elder Sister, should we turn back? I’ll tell Madam Cui my condition can still be treated…”
*Thwack!*
Tang Ning flicked her finger against Xue Ru’s forehead.
Xue Ru let out an “Ouch!”
Tang Ning glared at her, exasperated. “Get those wild ideas out of your head! Do you think I’m so despicable as to use my own sister’s marriage as a bargaining chip?”
“Of course not!” Xue Ru hurriedly leaned her head against Tang Ning’s shoulder, nuzzling gently. “Elder Sister loves me most. I just wanted to help you while also marrying into a good family…”
Seeing Tang Ning raise her hand again, Xue Ru quickly covered her head. “No, no! I meant marry into a good family and help you on the side.”
The young girl muttered under her breath, “You know I’ve lived through hard times, Elder Sister. I don’t want to go back to that. If I could marry into a great household, I’d never want for anything, servants at my beck and call, no one daring to give me cold looks…”
Tang Ning gazed at the soft, fluffy head resting on her shoulder, listening to Xue Ru’s half-serious ramblings about envying a life of wealth and status. Her heart ached, and she gently placed her hand on Xue Ru’s face.
“Enough.”
“Elder Sister…” Xue Ru looked up.
Tang Ning’s voice softened. “I cherish you because you’re worth it. I’d never trade your marriage for any gain.”
“Ah Ru, I only want you to live freely, to follow your heart without restraint. If you meet someone you truly like and wish to marry, I’ll send you off with a grand wedding. But if there’s no one who sparks joy in you, you don’t have to force yourself. Even if you never marry, I can support you for a lifetime.”
In her past life, Tang Ning had suffered bitterly, but hadn’t Xue Ru endured just as much?
She’d grown up pampered and adored, only to fall into ruin through her own blindness and obsession. But Xue Ru had been steeped in misery her entire life, never tasting sweetness from birth until Tang Ning’s death.
Tang Ning could never forget those dark, hopeless days, Xue Ru, frail and tiny, sneaking her a steamed bun, her wrists so thin they seemed ready to snap, her body trembling from the cold, yet still forcing a timid smile as she whispered, “Elder Sister, you have to keep living.”================
You can read ahead to chapterr 770 (100+ extra chapters) here
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