Chapter 46: Heart Smothered in Crap

Seeing Amber holding a box in her hand, Xiao Lengyu immediately felt her head swell with anxiety.
She had actually forgotten about Prince Xuan, her third brother had said that Prince Xuan was also interested in Miss Tang.

“My lady,” Amber’s excitement instantly faded upon noticing Xiao Lengyu’s dark expression. She carefully handed the box over.

Xiao Lengyu took the box and glanced inside, stunned for a moment.
The box from Prince Yu had been filled with precious jewels and jade, but the one from Prince Xuan contained only a single letter.

She opened the letter and read it.
After reading it, her tense expression relaxed, and a look of gratitude appeared on her face.

Prince Xuan didn’t want anything in return for the painting, he was simply offering advice on how to deal with Prince Yu.
She had to admit, Prince Xuan’s suggestion was clever. Without it, she might have had to hand over that painting.

Obviously, this move wasn’t for her sake, it was likely for Tang Mi’s.
It was clear Prince Xuan truly had feelings for Miss Tang. Her third brother had been right; perhaps the real threat wasn’t Prince Yu, but Prince Xuan.
It seemed their fourth brother’s marriage might not work out after all.

Silently mourning for her brother for a few seconds, Xiao Lengyu wrote a reply, placed it into Prince Yu’s box, and handed it to Zhenzhu.
“Send this box to Prince Yu’s manor.”

“Yes.” Zhenzhu took the box and left.

Prince Yu’s Manor

When Ye Junyu received Xiao Lengyu’s reply, he was absolutely furious.
He swept the box of jewels to the ground.

“Outrageous! That damn Ye Chenxuan is opposing me at every turn! I want Tang Mi’s painting, and he wants it too, he’s blatantly competing with me!”

Seeing Prince Yu fly into such a rage, Feng Pan quickly stepped forward and said,
“Your Highness, please calm down. The marriage is ultimately up to Miss Tang. Even if Prince Xuan is interested, it depends on how she feels.
From what I’ve seen, she may not be inclined toward Prince Xuan.”

Feng Pan’s words instantly soothed Ye Junyu.

Indeed, he hadn’t sensed that Tang Mi had any special feelings toward Ye Chenxuan. He still had a chance.
A persistent man can win over even the most virtuous woman, if he put in enough effort, surely he could make her his.

General’s Manor, Qingmi Courtyard

“My lady, someone from the Qin family has come to present betrothal gifts,” Ban Xia whispered, worried that Fu Ling outside might overhear.

Tang Mi frowned. The Qin family was delivering betrothal gifts? Had Tang Ying actually agreed to this marriage?
No need to think, Tang Mi already knew that couldn’t be the case. Tang Ying’s ambition was to become Empress; how could she marry into the Qin family?
She must be up to something else.

Tang Mi narrowed her eyes and quietly instructed Ban Xia,
“You don’t need to serve me for the next few days. Go to Ziying Courtyard and see what you can learn from the maids around Tang Ying.”

Ban Xia immediately understood and nodded.
“Yes, miss. I understand.”

Tang Manor Main Hall

The Old Madam of the Tang family looked at the room filled with betrothal gifts, her face dark with anger.
She truly couldn’t bear to see her granddaughter marry into a family like the Qins. Qin-shi was really blind, pushing her daughter into a pit of fire.

Seeing the Old Madam stay silent, Madam Qin “Cai-shi” stepped forward with a fawning smile.
“Our Qin family is very sincere about this marriage. We’ve prepared 118 carts of betrothal gifts.
If that’s not enough, we can add another 30 carts to make it a total of 148. Would that satisfy you?”

The Old Madam’s face remained grim.
Sure, the gifts were extravagant, but who cared about that?

As the silence grew awkward, Qin-shi tried to smooth things over.
“I think 118 carts are already plenty. Don’t you agree, Mother?”

The Old Madam glared at her.
“It’s your daughter. If you think it’s fine, then I guess it’s fine.”

She really felt like she was going to be driven mad by Qin-shi. She had been clear-headed before, how had she become so muddled now?
Was the Qin family such a great place that she had to shove her daughter into it?

If the girl’s own mother didn’t care, then she wouldn’t bother anymore either.

Knowing what the Old Madam was angry about, Qin-shi’s eyes flickered as she smiled.
“I think it’s all settled. We’ll consider the engagement confirmed. We’re one family now, I trust my sister-in-law will treat Ying’er well.”

“Of course,” Cai-shi quickly assured her.
“Don’t worry. Ying’er is both our niece and our daughter-in-law. I won’t mistreat her.
Besides, Qingyu dotes on her like she’s a treasure. How could we possibly mistreat her?”

Hearing this, Qin Qingyu blushed deeply.

Qin-shi glanced at Cai-shi and Qingyu, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
“Then let’s pick an auspicious date.”

Cai-shi quickly nodded.
“Alright. I’ll go back and have someone match their birth charts and choose a wedding date.”

Watching the two sisters-in-law, the Old Madam pressed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

When Tang Mi went to Mingchun Courtyard to pay her respects, the Old Madam was lying on a chaise lounge, sighing in frustration.

“Grandmother, what’s wrong? Is your headache acting up again?”
Tang Mi quickly stepped forward and began massaging her.

Her technique was excellent, and the Old Madam gave a contented hum as her face relaxed.

Seeing this, Nanny Gui finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Miss, you came just in time. The Old Madam’s been fretting over Third Miss’s marriage.
Please talk to her, she’s too old to get so worked up.”

Saying that, Nanny Gui went to pour tea and bring snacks.

“I heard the Qin family came to propose marriage? Has Aunt agreed?”
Tang Mi asked as she massaged the Old Madam.

“She’s got crap smeared all over her heart!”
At the mention of this, the Old Madam’s anger flared again.

Tang Mi’s eyes flickered. She asked softly,
“Didn’t Aunt object before? She seemed to care deeply about Ying’er’s marriage. Why the sudden change of heart?”

“It’s her mother and sister-in-law! Heaven knows what nonsense they fed her.
She’s dead set on pushing her own daughter into a fire pit!”
The Old Madam cursed in frustration.

Seeing her so upset, Tang Mi quickly tried to calm her.
“Nanny Gui is right, you shouldn’t get so worked up.
Aunt is Ying’er’s own mother. If she and Ying’er chose the Qin family, they must have their reasons.
And nothing is final yet, who knows what might happen in the end? Perhaps Ying’er won’t end up marrying into the Qin family after all.”

Tang Mi didn’t believe for a second that Qin-shi would really let Tang Ying marry into the Qin family.
And she certainly didn’t think Tang Ying had given up on becoming Empress.
She was just curious to see what they were plotting.

The Old Madam immediately sat up halfway.
“What do you mean by that, Mi’er? Do you know something?”

Tang Mi’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she smiled.
“What could I possibly know? I just think the Qin family isn’t worthy of our Ying’er.”

At this, the Old Madam sighed again.
“Don’t ever be like your cousin.
We marry our daughters into high families and take wives from low ones.
But she, she picked this family after all her careful choosing.”

“My marriage will be decided by you, Grandmother.”
Tang Mi promised obediently.

The Old Madam lovingly touched her cheek.
“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely find you a good match.”

Tang Mi smiled faintly.
Even though she didn’t want to marry again, if Grandmother wanted her to, she would.