After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 631: Deprivation

Having been kicked out without even asking why they weren’t allowed in, these past few days had been truly aggravating.

As soon as they heard the gates of Prince Zhenbei Mansion were open, they rushed to climb over the walls.

They were used to sneaking in over the walls, recognizing the paths instinctively.

No one stopped them, and the four of Prince NanAn headed straight for the Agarwood Pavilion.

Xingxing came out of the bamboo house and saw Chu Shun and the others approaching. She said happily, "Miss, Prince NanAn and his companions are here."

Chu Shun came over while twirling a jade fan, "Has something significant happened at Prince Zhenbei Mansion, closing its doors to guests for several days?"

Xingxing rambled on endlessly like beans spilling out of a sack.

Then she asked, "Why didn’t my Young Master come along?"

These days, Prince NanAn and his companions have been staying at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

There’s no reason for them all to be so concerned about the young lady, yet the Young Master doesn’t come.

Chu Shun laughed, "Your Young Master can’t make it today."

"Did my Young Master get beaten up?" Xingxing asked.

Chu Shun tapped Xingxing on the head with his folded fan, "You silly maid, can’t you hope for the best for your Young Master?"

Xingxing rubbed her forehead.

Other than this reason, she really couldn’t think of anything else that would delay the Young Master from coming.

"Today is the day Dongxiang Marquis Mansion sends the engagement gifts to Prince Yun Mansion," Chu Shun said.

Su Jin walked out, just in time to hear this sentence.

These days, with the gates of Prince Zhenbei Mansion closed to guests, she had been quite isolated in terms of news.

Unexpectedly, today was the day Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was sending engagement gifts to Prince Yun Mansion.

"Sending engagement gifts doesn’t require the Young Master to personally deliver them," Xingxing remarked.

Su Jin was unfamiliar with the ancient customs of matchmaking and betrothal.

However, when she got married, Xie Jingchen certainly didn’t go to the Dongxiang Marquis’s; he was originally brought back from Dongxiang Marquis Mansion to Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

Xie Jingchen walked over.

Prince NanAn and his companions went into the pavilion to talk.

Xingxing served melons, fruits, and desserts to beat the summer heat.

Only then did Chu Shun say, "Brother Su was originally coming with us, just about to step out, when the Duchess went over."

As for why she went?

She certainly couldn’t see Dongxiang Marquis Mansion celebrating, so she showed up to cause trouble.

However, Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, like a dragon’s pond and tiger’s den, turned her trouble-making into a cash-giving visit.

They couldn’t help laughing when they left Su Chong to come to Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

Su Chong is the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, but his true identity is the Young Master of Duke Chong’s Mansion, Shangguan Ting.

That day, leading the Flying Tiger Army back, he was as impressive as one could get.

It was also a public acknowledgment of his ancestry.

Since he’s acknowledged his ancestry, then he is the Young Master of Duke Chong’s Mansion. When he weds, it is a joyous event for Duke Chong’s Mansion; how could it be entirely handled by Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?

The Duchess’s words were nothing but nitpicking.

The engagement gifts for Su Chong’s marriage to Princess Fu Yun of Prince Yun Mansion were prepared single-handedly by the Duchess of Chong. How could it be said to be entirely handled by Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?

The Duchess believed that Duke Chong’s Mansion hadn’t been divided, nor would it be while Old Duke Chong was still alive. Su Chong’s wedding banquet could only be held at Duke Chong’s Mansion.

This nitpicking nearly resulted in the engagement gifts not being able to leave the house.

The Duchess of Chong, with her gentle disposition, really didn’t know how to refute, since the Duchess didn’t speak without some reason.

Even though Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was once the ancestral residence of Duke Chong’s Mansion, the name had changed after all.

If Princess Fu Yun were to get pregnant soon after the wedding, what would the child’s surname be?

Dongxiang Marquis now goes by the name Su Qingyun, but his original name was Shen Junshan.

Could it be that the offspring of Duke Chong’s Mansion should follow a surname plucked out of thin air?

The more the Duchess spoke, the louder she got, probably feeling justified and confident, since Mrs. Tang hadn’t said a word.

After the Duchess finished, Mrs. Tang finally said, "The Duchess has a point; after all, Chongchong is the Young Master of Duke Chong’s Mansion. It’s indeed inappropriate to just skip over Duke Chong’s Mansion when he weds."

"But the day for sending engagement gifts has already been set and shouldn’t be changed."

"I think this time we should just make do, let Steward Lin take the engagement gifts to Duke Chong’s Mansion first, then carry them out from there. If done quickly, it won’t miss the auspicious time."

Mrs. Tang had made a significant concession here.

Such a concession surprised Prince NanAn and his companions.

Mrs. Tang had actually let the Duchess have her way without any resistance; this didn’t align with the usual style of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Though it just meant the servants made a detour, it felt different.

The Duchess felt satisfied.

Then—

Mrs. Tang had someone fetch a copy of the gift list and handed it to the Duchess.

"Since Duke Chong’s Mansion hasn’t been divided, and the wedding expenses for Chongchong should be drawn from Duke Chong’s Mansion’s public funds, this is the gift list for the engagement gifts."

"If it exceeds Duke Chong’s Mansion’s standards, the upcoming betrothal gifts can be adjusted. Prince Yun Mansion is an understanding family and will certainly be considerate."

At that moment, the Duchess’s face turned green.

She had come to nitpick, not to give people money!

But Mrs. Tang was right, and she was merely following the Duchess’s own words. Since Su Chong’s wedding is to be held at Duke Chong’s Mansion, naturally, the betrothal gifts should come from Duke Chong’s Mansion—there’s no fault there.

The Duchess grit her teeth in frustration. A quick glance at the gift list revealed that the betrothal gifts were indeed prepared according to the specifications for the Heir of Duke Chong.

The Heir of Duke Chong had lost a bet to Su Chong, suffering a crushing defeat, and the public treasury had suffered greatly.

And now the treasury was supposed to pay for his betrothal gifts?

The Duchess was having none of it!

But she was the one who mentioned that there hadn’t been a division; the words spoken couldn’t be taken back.

She could only swallow her pride and accept the bitter outcome.

This is the result of acting impulsively, considering oneself without regard for others, inevitably biting one’s own foot.

The Duchess had no choice but to concede, half-heartedly saying, "I’ll wait a few days and then..."

Mrs. Tang frowned, showing a hint of anger, "The Duchess has already come to my Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, and even mentioned that Chongchong’s wedding banquet should be held at Duke Chong’s Mansion. Did you come without bringing the funds for the betrothal gifts, just a mouth to speak with?"

The Duchess bit her teeth in frustration.

Those words made it sound like she was there freeloading!

But indeed, she had overlooked this matter. If she had brought the money, it would have appeared more sincere.

No!

If she had considered the public funds she wouldn’t have come back!

It was irrational to throw away thirty thousand taels just to cause Dongxiang Marquis Mansion a bit of trouble!

If she refused to pay now, she’d likely be thrown out.

Clenching her fists, she instructed a maid, "Go fetch ten thousand taels." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Mrs. Tang smiled, "Ten thousand taels won’t suffice."

"One engagement gift should be more than enough!" The Duchess retorted coldly.

"For just the engagement gift, it would indeed be plenty. But the other betrothal gifts have also been arranged, and the Duchess only insists on having Chongchong’s wedding banquet at Duke Chong’s Mansion—surely you wouldn’t want to strip a sister-in-law of her right to arrange betrothal gifts for her own son, would you?" Mrs. Tang challenged.

What could the Duchess say?

"Fetch twenty thousand taels!"

That was her limit.

The distance between Duke Chong’s Mansion and Dongxiang Marquis Mansion wasn’t far; with the maid running back and forth, the money soon arrived.