Chapter 57: Lin Xianyun's Wedding

Su Jingcheng grew increasingly unable to accept that the woman he was about to marry could be so utterly disgraceful, and that her maternal family was so overbearing, showing no regard for the Su family whatsoever.

Yet, calling off the marriage was completely out of the question.

Su Jingcheng felt an overwhelming sense of irritation, feeling as though his entire life had now been stained with a blemish.

Lin Xianyun, on the other hand, was immensely pleased with herself.

Having resolved the issue of the concubine-in-waiting's pregnancy and successfully paved the way for her rebirth to be known, Madam Qin now deferred to her in everything, even significantly increasing her dowry. Although it still could not compare to her previous life, it was at least not so shabby.

She believed that she would surely have everything go her way from now on.

Once she married into the Su family, all the glory would belong to her.

When Lin Wanqing learned of the reactions of these two, she found herself filled with anticipation for their married life.

Soon, the day of Lin Xianyun's wedding arrived.

As the elder sister, Lin Wanqing naturally had to return to contribute to the dowry and send off the bride.

As Banxia packed things up, she grumbled, "Contributing to her dowry? We'd be better off trading these items for steamed buns to feed wild dogs! At least feeding dogs would get them to wag their tails!"

Zisu chimed in, "Who's to say otherwise?"

Contributing to a dowry like this would cost at least a few hundred taels of silver, and it was truly heartbreaking to spend.

Lin Wanqing's heart ached as well.

In her past life, when she had a dowry worth a thousand taels, she had gritted her teeth and taken out a hundred taels to contribute to Lin Xianyun's dowry when she married. Yet, in return, she had been met with prolonged, sarcastic remarks filled with innuendo from Madam Qin and Lin Xianyun. Mother Su had also dropped veiled hints blaming her for using her own dowry to subsidize her maiden family, leaving her to endure grievances on all sides with no place to turn.

Things would be different in this lifetime.

Lin Wanqing asked, "Where are the things Madam Qin gave me when I got married?"

At the time, Madam Qin had contributed to her dowry, but she hadn't inspected the items closely. Given Madam Qin's character, she certainly wouldn't have given away anything of real value.

Banxia's eyes lit up. "They're stored in the warehouse, Milady. I'll go fetch them."

Before long, Banxia returned with two maidservants carrying a chest. The moment the chest was opened, Banxia couldn't help but curl her lips in disdain.

Inside the chest were nothing more than some old-fashioned hair ornaments and a few bolts of fabric in outdated patterns and colors.

Combined, these items weren't worth much of anything.

Lin Wanqing knew Madam Qin's nature inside and out, which was why she had never paid attention to this chest of belongings.

Now, however, this chest of items was going to come in handy.

"Tomorrow for the dowry contribution, we'll take this box of things," Lin Wanqing said.

Banxia hesitated slightly. "Milady, won't this be a bit too embarrassing to present?"

Altogether, these items probably weren't even worth two hundred taels.

Lin Wanqing replied, "If she could give these to me, her own daughter, as a dowry contribution, why shouldn't I take them to contribute to my younger sister's dowry?"

Banxia burst into laughter immediately.

Indeed!

Normally, elders contributed more to juniors than peers did to peers. If her mistress brought out these items, who could possibly say she was in the wrong?

If anyone dared to say it was inappropriate, wouldn't that be equivalent to saying Madam Qin's original gift was inappropriate?

Would Madam Qin ever admit she was in the wrong? Of course not.

Thus, early the next morning, Lin Wanqing took her maidservant and that very chest of items, boarded a carriage, and returned to the Lin residence.

The Lin residence was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers; a performance troupe was set up right outside the main gate, singing in high-pitched voices as a crowd of ordinary onlookers gathered around. Sheds for an open-air banquet had also been erected outside the gates, and starting from yesterday, the feast was set to run continuously for three days.

Banxia indignantly muttered, "Last month when our Milady got married, they didn't put on such a grand spectacle! And Milady married into a general's estate, no less! The Second Young Miss is merely marrying a scholar—does that really warrant such a grand display? Aren't they afraid people will laugh at them for not knowing their place?"

Lin Wanqing smiled. "I don't even care, what are you getting so worked up about?"

Banxia pouted, "They don't hold Milady in any regard, and this servant just can't stomach the injustice."

Lin Wanqing remarked, "What does all this amount to? It's merely a show of superficial prestige. Sometimes, when you put on too grand a facade, it ends up becoming a shackle."

Just how many people had come to watch the spectacle of Lin Xianyun and Su Jingcheng's wedding today would be the exact number of people waiting to watch them become a laughingstock in the future.

If you don't believe it, just wait and see.

The gatekeeper spotted Lin Xianyun's carriage arriving and hurried over in a trot to welcome them.

"Eldest Eldest Madam, the estate is in a bustle today, and the carriage cannot be brought inside. Please forgive this servant, but you will have to disembark and walk in."

Lin Wanqing had no objections. She got out of the carriage and walked toward the main gates of the Lin residence, followed by the maidservants carrying the chest. The gatekeeper immediately bellowed at the top of his lungs, "The General's Estate presents its dowry contribution to the Second Young Miss!"

The guests inside the courtyard heard the ritual announcement and turned their heads one after another to look.

The guests who had come to offer congratulations to the Lin family today were even more numerous than those who had attended Lin Wanqing's wedding.

The courtyard was filled with guests from all walks of life, ranging from officials of Yuzhou City to ordinary merchants.

With a calm and composed smile, Lin Wanqing walked in with effortless grace.

When Father Lin caught sight of her, he stepped forward and asked, "Why have you come all by yourself? Where is your mother-in-law?"

He had dearly hoped that more members of the Lu family would attend to elevate the status and prestige of the Lin family.

Lin Wanqing answered, "Mother-in-law went to the temple earlier to pray for blessings for the General."

Father Lin was somewhat disappointed, though he didn't let it show overtly. "Go on ahead to Xianyun's courtyard. The two of you sisters have always been close, and now that you are both married, you must remember to visit each other often."

Lin Wanqing smiled and nodded. "That goes without saying. Then daughter shall go first to contribute to younger sister's dowry."

With proper and flawless etiquette, she bowed to Father Lin, and the mistress and her servants headed straight for Lin Xianyun's courtyard.

At that moment, Lin Xianyun's courtyard was bustling with excitement as well, filled with all the prominent ladies and madams of Yuzhou City.

Back when Lin Wanqing had married, her courtyard had been desolate and quiet. She had never been fond of going out, and coupled with Madam Qin's deliberate attempt to keep her hidden away, she had virtually no social circle and few friends.

Lin Xianyun was entirely different. She naturally loved lively and flamboyant scenes, and Madam Qin was more than willing to let her gain exposure, earning Lin Xianyun quite a reputation in Yuzhou City and a wide circle of friends. Today, on her grand wedding day, virtually everyone who had even a shred of acquaintance with her had come to contribute to her dowry.

As soon as Lin Wanqing stepped into the courtyard, the gazes of those madams and young ladies immediately shifted toward her.

A particularly astute merchant's wife quickly stepped forward and curtsied, "Greetings, General's Lady."

Lin Wanqing recognized her as Madam Wu, the principal wife of a merchant in Yuzhou City whose husband managed a trading firm and ran a moderately successful business.

Lin Wanqing smiled and nodded. "Madam Wu is too polite."

Though young in age, her husband was Lu Jinxiao, a man of official standing. Relying on her husband's status, she was the woman of highest rank present in this courtyard.

Thus, with Madam Wu taking the lead, the others also came forward to pay their respects to Lin Wanqing.

Inside the room, as Lin Xianyun was having her makeup applied, she witnessed the scene outside and clenched her fists in fury.

That cheap wretch! How dare she try to steal the spotlight on her own wedding day!

"Xianyun, would you like to teach that hypocritical elder sister of yours a lesson?"

A young woman with slanted eyes and thin cheeks rolled her eyes as she whispered into Lin Xianyun's ear.

This was Lin Xianyun's close bosom friend, Zhu Xuejiao, whose father served as a legal advisor in the Yuzhou magistrate's office, making her quite a figure of some influence in Yuzhou City.

Lin Xianyun immediately smiled. "Of course I do. Do you have a way?"