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The previous actions of their Miss had already angered the Head of the Ming Family and his brothers. If anything else were to happen, the maid worried that their Miss might not even be allowed to enter the Ming family’s gates.
However, Yu Manxue didn’t care at all.
Listening to the maid’s words, she sneered and said, “Do you think I care about that? I still have my great-grandmother. As long as she’s in the Ming family, I can go whenever I want.”
“You just wait. I will make sure to go back and have my great-grandmother ruin the marriage agreement of that despicable Ming Wanning,” Yu Manxue said maliciously.
The maid felt at a loss for words. Could the imperial decree for marriage issued by the Emperor be ruined just like that?
Madam Yu arrived and heard her daughter’s words. Frowning, she walked up to her and disapprovingly said, “What nonsense are you talking, child?”
“How am I talking nonsense, Mother?”
“Ming Wanning and Su Jiu’s marriage agreement is not an ordinary betrothal, but a decree granted by the Emperor. It’s not something you can ruin just by saying so. If you dare to interfere with their marriage, it would be an act of disrespect towards the Emperor,” Madam Yu said, expressing her frustration with her daughter’s self-righteousness. They had spoiled their child, allowing her to speak and act without considering the consequences.
“But Mother, I’m unwilling to accept this. Why should that despicable Ming Wanning, who no one wanted, now be above me?” Su Jiu was no longer the fourth-ranked official he used to be. He was now a second-ranked official and a favorite of the Emperor. His future was promising. Why should Ming Wanning take advantage of such a good opportunity?
“Enough. What good does being unwilling do? You have already thoroughly angered your uncles with your previous actions. Do you want to do something else to make them completely resent you?” Despite her daughter’s frequent actions that hurt her three brothers, she had never considered severing ties with the Ming family completely.
The Ming family was her foundation.
After being scolded by Madam Yu, no matter how unwilling Yu Manxue felt, she could only endure the frustration. However, deep down, she regretted her actions. If she had known what would happen, she wouldn’t have pursued this man in the first place. Regardless of her regrets, the matter had already been settled.
After the imperial decree for marriage was issued, Su Jiu began preparing the formal proposal to the Ming family.
Like Su Yu, he prepared ninety-nine thousand taels of gold, along with some valuable items that Su Yu had brought back from his travels over the years.
While Su Jiu was preparing the formal proposal, Su Yu came to him and said, “Big brother, do you have enough for the proposal? If not, you can take some from me.”
“I’ve kept all the things you’ve given me over the years. You can rest assured,” Su Jiu replied. Although he didn’t have as much as Su Yu, he had a decent amount.
Although Su Yu didn’t say anything more after seeing this, he still gave Su Jiu a promissory note for twenty thousand taels of gold.
“Are you bleeding money?” It was a large sum to give at once.
“Just take it,” Su Yu said unenthusiastically.
Su Jiu could only smile wryly at Su Yu’s behavior.
After preparing the formal proposal, Su Jiu asked Su Xi and his elder uncle for help in presenting it to the Ming family.
Su Long naturally agreed and, accompanied by his wife and nephew, went to the Ming family to present the proposal.
The date for presenting the formal proposal had been arranged in advance, and when they arrived, all the members of the Ming family were present, except for Ming Wanning’s brother and his family, who were serving in another city.
Even Yu Manxue and her mother had the audacity to attend, curious to see what Su Jiu would present as the formal proposal for Ming Wanning.
However, when Yu Manxue saw the formal proposal brought by Su Jiu’s family, her eyes turned red.
The nearly one hundred thousand taels of gold amounted to almost a million taels of silver, not to mention the fine fabrics, beautiful jade ornaments, and even nine casks of wine that Su Jiu had been storing in the cellar, gifts from Su Yu over the years that he couldn’t finish drinking.
Such a formal proposal could be considered a grand gesture even in the capital.
Ming Wanning’s father and mother were delighted to see the formal proposal, not because of the quantity of the gifts, but because of Su Jiu’s regard for Ming Wanning.
Ming Wanqing, looking at the gifts, couldn’t help but say, “Brother-in-law is really kind.”
Su Jiu was pleased by Ming Wanqing’s address and handed her two thousand taels of silver. “Take this and buy some good food.”
Ming Wanqing was taken aback by Su Jiu’s generosity and hesitated, looking at her parents, unsure whether to accept it. After all, two thousand taels was no small amount.
“You should accept what your brother-in-law gives you,” Ming Wanqing’s mother was truly pleased with her son-in-law.
“Thank you, brother-in-law,” Ming Wanqing said, beaming with gratitude.
The daughters of the Ming Family were envious. “Brother-in-law is so kind and generous.”
Su Jiu didn’t play favorites. Apart from Yu Manxue, each of the children present today received five hundred taels of silver.
There were six unmarried girls in the family and four boys studying at the academy. Su Jiu spent a considerable amount on this money, but he knew that the relationship between the three brothers of the Ming family was good, and the relationships among their children were also very good. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given the money. He wasn’t a pushover.
“Thank you, brother-in-law,” although the amount wasn’t as much as what Ming Wanning received, they were still grateful.
After all, Ming Wanqing was their cousin’s own sister, so it was only natural for her to receive more from her brother-in-law. Besides, five hundred taels was already a substantial amount for them, considering that their monthly allowance was only ten taels of silver. With this five hundred taels, they no longer had to be so frugal.
Yu Manxue had assumed that she would also receive a share of the money, but to her surprise, Su Jiu didn’t give her anything. Everyone else had received their share, leaving her feeling extremely embarrassed.
“What do you mean by this, brother-in-law?” Yu Manxue gritted her teeth and asked Su Jiu.
Su Jiu didn’t even spare a glance at Yu Manxue, let alone acknowledge her question. This outcome made several of the Ming family’s girls cover their mouths and secretly chuckle.
This was just what Yu Manxue deserved. It seemed that her brother-in-law knew everything and was deliberately ignoring her to spite her.
Ming Wanqing leaned in and whispered to Ming Wanning, “Sister, my brother-in-law is amazing. Look at how awful Yu Manxue looks.”
Ming Wanning, with a hint of a smile in her eyes, reached out and tugged at her sister’s clothes, signaling her not to speak further. Although she was also delighted, she felt a sense of satisfaction.
Grandmother Ming frowned at Su Jiu. “Whom do you think you’re looking down on?”
“Miss Yu was previously flaunting the value of her formal proposal. Since that’s the case, she shouldn’t care about this small amount of money,” Su Jiu said with a composed smile on his face, his words impeccable and leaving no room for criticism.
Yu Manxue’s face turned from pale to purple, looking extremely unpleasant. At this point, she dared not say anything more and could only endure the humiliation.