Chapter 7 – Part 2: A Woman With the Composure to Deliver Such a Stinging Rebuke While Sipping Her Tea

Liu Yuru was unaware of Gu Jiusi and Jiang Rou’s plans. After she figured out the whole story, she no longer placed her hopes on Gu Jiusi. Instead, she had her mother arrange for Yunyu to serve in her chambers. As a result, that very night, Liu Xuan stayed over in Su Wan’s courtyard.

Su Wan followed Liu Yuru’s instructions and personally arranged for Yunyu to serve him. She didn’t immediately elevate Yunyu’s status but simply had Liu Xuan visit her quarters every day to see Yunyu.

Liu Xuan felt guilty and didn’t dare tell Zhang Yue. Instead, he used visiting his Su Wan as an excuse to see Yunyu daily. Yunyu’s sweet words managed to make him completely forget about everything else.

Su Wan also let go of her past airs and appeared exceptionally dignified and generous. Liu Xuan couldn’t help but feel pity and compassion for his wife, thinking that he had been too harsh on her before.

Half a month passed like this, with the Liu family and the Gu family busy preparing for the wedding. Gu Jiusi was locked up by his father, while Liu Yuru practiced calligraphy every day to calm her mind.

Half a month later, Jiang Rou came to visit and personally handed over the land deeds and shop title deeds. Naturally, Liu Xuan received Jiang Rou with great hospitality since she had come to deliver the money. After chatting with Zhang Yue and Liu Xuan for a while, Jiang Rou suddenly said, “It’s been so long, but I still haven’t properly met Madam Liu and the eldest young miss.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yue’s face stiffened. In the past, Liu Xuan would have used Su Wan’s poor health as an excuse to dismiss Jiang Rou. However, recent feelings of guilt and pity towards Su Wan made him hesitate. He knew that Su Wan desperately wanted to personally handle Liu Yuru’s wedding matters. So, he cleared his throat and, under Zhang Yue’s surprised gaze, said to the servant, “Invite the madam and young miss over.”

Zhang Yue felt a bit flustered. Soon, Liu Yuru entered, supporting Su Wan. Only then did Jiang Rou see Liu Yuru for the first time.

Everyone said that Eldest Young Miss Liu’s appearance was ordinary, but Jiang Rou could see that Liu Yuru’s facial features were actually very good. It was just that her face had not yet matured, leaving a slightly childish look, and her features had not yet become prominent. If her eyes and eyebrows were to open up in the future, she would certainly be a refined beauty.

Liu Yuru supported Su Wan as they entered, her every movement meticulously proper. Although born into a smaller family like the Lius, she wasn’t inferior in demeanor to the well-bred young ladies Jiang Rou had seen in the capital.

This poise was something Liu Yuru had deliberately adopted from observing the Ye family. The Ye family was a distinguished household, and their children’s upbringing was excellent.

Liu Yuru sensed Jiang Rou observing her. She didn’t raise her eyes and stood respectfully behind her mother.

Jiang Rou chatted pleasantly with Su Wan for a while before finally saying, “I almost forgot. Today, I came to deliver the land deeds and shop title deeds, fulfilling part of the betrothal gifts. According to tradition, the betrothal gifts should be received by the Liu family and left for Yuru’s brothers. But Yuru doesn’t have any biological brothers.

Moreover, the betrothal gifts were quite substantial, and we worried it would be difficult for you to gather a matching dowry. So, we simply put these shops and fields under Yuru’s name. You can add some gold and silver as her dowry, and that will be enough.”

“What?!” Hearing this, Zhang Yue suddenly raised her head, exclaiming in surprise, “You put the land deeds and shop title deeds under Yuru’s name?!” Not to mention Zhang Yue, even Liu Xuan’s expression darkened.

Jiang Rou remained unfazed, while Su Wan and Liu Yuru were both stunned. After a long time, Zhang Yue was the first to react. She struggled to force a smile and said, “Madam Jiang, you must be joking. Yuru still has two younger brothers. How can you say she has no brothers?”

“Younger brothers?” Jiang Rou seemed surprised and with a feign regretful tone in her voice, “Then I must have misunderstood. I previously heard that the madam only had one daughter and wasn’t raising any other children under her name. It turns out the madam has other children…”

“I do not.” This time, Su Wan spoke up with uncharacteristic directness. Although the lack of sons was a painful matter, she felt Jiang Rou was absolutely right. “I have no other children under my name,” she declared calmly.

Jiang Rou looked puzzled and glanced at Zhang Yue. Liu Xuan cleared his throat. “Well, my two sons were born to Concubine Yue.”

Jiang Rou lowered her head upon those words and delicately covered her mouth with a handkerchief. It seemed she was stifling a laugh. Her behavior made everyone present feel awkward, especially Zhang Yue, who felt inexplicably mocked.

Liu Xuan also felt a flush of embarrassment. Even without Jiang Rou’s direct words, he felt like a fool for all to see.

“Ahem… Master Liu,” Jiang Rou pursed her lips, a smile playing upon them, “there is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. In which wealthy family would an illegitimate child inherit? Even if the principal wife has no sons, a respectable family would adopt a child born to a concubine and raise him as the legitimate heir. This… Yuru is the legitimate daughter. Her status is different.”

Everyone’s expressions shifted as Jiang Rou spoke.

Though their family situation was known, it had never been so bluntly addressed. After all, who would needlessly interfere in another’s affairs? At most, they would gossip about it in private.

This was the first time someone had openly rebuked them. But so what if they were humiliated? This was Madam Gu, of the prestigious Gu family of Yangzhou. What could they do?

Liu Yuru lowered her head, stifling a laugh. Perhaps marrying into the Gu family wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Never had she encountered a woman with the composure to deliver such a stinging rebuke while sipping her tea.

Su Wan’s hands trembled slightly, and she felt a sense of joy she had never experienced before.

Zhang Yue, finally reacting, interjected, “Even if those assets aren’t given to Yuru’s brothers, they should belong to our master! Sending betrothal gifts but assigning them to Yuru… isn’t that tantamount to taking them back?!”

Jiang Rou smiled. “Madam Yue, this brings us to the second point. Should our Gu family place the land deeds and shop titles under Master Liu’s name, what dowry does the Liu family intend to offer in return?”