Chapter 307: The Same Virtue as Her Mother

After all the guests left, Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai stared dumbfounded at each table, all of them completely empty.

They really were impolite; the dishes were polished clean.

The servants cleared the tables, and each family member went to rest; taking a wife is truly exhausting, not easy at all.

Wang Furen saw the Qiao Family's banquet and followed the matriarch back to Penglai Pavilion.

"Mother, when Zihan's wedding takes place, can the banquet be the same as the Qiao Family's?"

"You need to discuss this with Qiao Yatou; the ingredients are all supplied by her to the kitchen,"

"Alright, I'll go find her."

Qiao Mai was sipping tea and resting when she heard Wang Furen calling her in the courtyard; Yuan Jiaqi looked at her with a questioning glance.

"Call her in; you don't need to hide, just listen,"

"I was just saying that Jiaru follows anyone's mood; turns out she has the same virtue as her mother."

"She does look very magnanimous, though."

"What is it?"

"I attended the Qiao Family's wedding that day, but did not see that Lady Qiao."

"She looks very ordinary, just a bit stronger than other women."

"Fine, I can provide the ingredients and the cook as you request,"

Having been in Jingcheng for over two years, many locals have tried to send their daughters to Yuan Jiaqi as concubines, and some high‑official families even wanted to send their daughters to become his regular wives, but Yuan Jiaqi rebuked them and sent them back.

"Your Majesty, what are you sighing about?"

But Wang Furen was ambitious and wanted a high‑status daughter‑in‑law; after searching, she set her sights on the Qian Family, the chief's own family and also a legitimate daughter, whose highest official rank in Jingcheng is Second Rank.

Thus, the new daughter‑in‑law began managing the household the day after she entered, and the Xiao Family, upon hearing this, all said their daughter had married into the right family.

"What's the matter?"

"Hmph, you don't think she wants to give me silver; she's probing the price to see how light my gift is,"

This made Qiao Mai very pleased; they all treat this place as their own home, and the elder and younger daughters‑in‑law, who were once close friends, are now sisters‑in‑law and get along very harmoniously.

"Consider it a gift from our Qiao Family; is that okay?"

"Alas~"

Miss Qian is both beautiful and graceful, and having just turned sixteen, she matches Zihan more than sufficiently.

"Go ahead."

Chuan'er and Zihan were assigned to the Hanlin Academy, one as a regular Sixth Rank official and the other as an assistant Sixth Rank official, making them slightly stronger than the former Yuan Jiaqi.

Yuan Jiaqi even posted a notice at his own doorstep, urging the people of Jingcheng not to send any more women his way, lest he report them to the Yamen for peace.

Wang Furen inhaled a cold breath, "Then I thank you on Zihan's behalf."

Having scolded them to this extent, who would dare any more? In the past two years, officials and generals alike have almost all been rebuked by him.

"I didn't expect this Wang Furen to be so petty."

Just after offering tea and acknowledging the relationship, Mu Shi handed over the authority to manage the household.

She never lets them go to pay respects; household matters are always discussed together, and she always speaks to them in gentle, harmonious tones.

Fortunately the Qian Family does not reject Zihan; both sides have met and are very satisfied with each other, so Wang Furen wrote a letter to Wang Zongsheng, urging him to rush to Jingcheng.

"Mother, I am feeling weighed down now, managing the household is difficult, and Qingling has just entered, so I'll hand it to her; if there's anything she doesn't understand, I can teach her."

"Which part?"

Many people privately lodged complaints in the palace; when the Emperor heard this, he initially considered rewarding Yuan Jiaqi with a few palace maids, but then changed his mind.

Scolding others is not out of goodwill; sending women is deliberately meant to cause discord with his wife, to make him a faithless man, and to disturb his household's peace.

"My husband may be a Fourth Rank official, but that's only because he doesn't want to return to Jingcheng; otherwise he'd already be First Rank. How can he look down on others with such a narrow view?"

"I have asked, and she says she can't recall anything; it's better that she can't, lest she pines for another's husband and makes the world laugh at me."

On the day of the return ceremony, this mother‑in‑law Qiao Mai prepared a return‑home gift that matched the one the elder daughter‑in‑law gave originally, achieving true fairness.

Jixiang Yuan is like a copper wall and iron barrier; many families envy it, wanting to enter but cannot.

"When the Princess returned from Beifang, she seemed to have completely forgotten Lord Yuan; she agreed to the marriage you arranged, even obediently married, which is not the Princess's usual temperament."

June brought the southern rainy season, yet living in Jixiang Yuan remained exceptionally refreshing.

The rain fell and cleared instantly, leaving the ground always spotless; Wang Furen grew accustomed to living here and didn't want to leave.

"You two handle it as you see fit; whoever manages the household is fine, just keep the family affairs in order."

When there's something good, they first think of the daughters‑in‑law; any reasonable request they make is never denied.

He even rebuked those who complained; the officials he values must be protected. Not taking women isn't a flaw; if someone can't accept it, forcing them to give women is just inviting scolding.

Thus, for these two years, the Qiao Family has lived very quietly.

He went out to welcome Wang Furen into the house, and she came to sit opposite Qiao Mai.

"I heard her natal family are also high officials in the court; I wonder who they are?"

"Hehe, I heard Lord Yuan is kept tightly under Lady Qiao's control, never approaching any women."

"How much silver did you spend on today's banquet?"

"Only the ingredients cost a hundred thousand taels of silver, which is quite a lot."

Having completed another task, Qiao Mai's mood relaxed a bit more, and both daughters‑in‑law are wholly devoted to the Qiao Family.

Only when they are scolded do they get angry and clash with him; that way no one sends women, and Yuan Jiaqi doesn't care about royalty, noble families, or great wealth—anyone who sends a woman he will rebuke.

"Speaking of this, the servant finds it very strange."

"Just now she asked about today's ingredient price—what does that mean?"

"Pale—very pale, with ice‑like skin and jade‑like bones, a fitting description."

Immediately they were scolded away by Qiao Mai, Mu Shi, and Xiao Shi; the three women put on a performance, the mother‑in‑law gripping her daughter‑in‑law's waist, standing at the gate of Jixiang Yuan like three tigresses, and they became famous throughout Jingcheng.

She set her sights on the legitimate second daughter of the Minister of Rites family, but they, through a matchmaker, said the match was with Chuan'er, because this Wang's wife had been holding a grudge for a long time.

When Mu Shi and Xiao Shi were alone together, they often felt grateful to have a good mother‑in‑law.

"Zihan, on the day of the grand wedding, could you lend me your family's cook and also provide me with ingredients like today's?"

Actually they do not look down on her; in ancient times the principle was matching families of equal status, and the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Personnel are both first‑rank officials, equal in prestige, so they are the most suitable as in‑laws.

Wang's wife left, Yuan Jiaqi escorted her to the courtyard gate, and after returning saw Qiao Mai with a sullen face.

"Hmm, I know that point; otherwise my Yihe Gongzhu would not have married him back then—she would rather die than obey, all for this woman. Indeed, a husband is truly worthy."

Yubao lowered his head and said nothing further; his eyes flickered, as if brewing something.

Some people, seeing that Yuan Jiaqi could not deliver, wanted to give it to the Fengyun brothers; there was one that was unattractive, and just a few days after Xiao Qingling entered the house, they wanted to send their maiden to become a concubine.

This became a celebrated story in Jingcheng; the Old Emperor, upon hearing it, sighed, and Yubao, standing aside, asked in confusion.

Why must we scold? If we speak to them properly… these people won't listen.

"I've come to discuss something with you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Hmm, one virtue can cover three flaws; the great minister I favor could never marry a woman of no merit."

"I don't know, nor do I want to know; love whomever, the highest is just a first‑rank official. Even if they grant titles or kingship, I'm not afraid. The reason I give her face is solely out of respect for the old master and the old lady."

In mid‑June, the matchmaker went to the Qian Family to propose marriage; at the end of the month, Wang Zongsheng, with his wife and son, went to the Qian Family for the betrothal.

In July, Wang Zongsheng took his wife and son to stay at Bichun Garden; the engagement ceremony was to be held, and the betrothal gifts could not come from Jixiang Yuan.

No matter how good the relationship, this is still another family; there is no reason to give the gifts from their side.

Even Wang Zongsheng understands this principle, yet this Wang's wife is still displeased; marrying a wife in Jixiang Yuan is too prestigious, and Mrs. Wang cares a lot about face.

(End of chapter)