Chapter 131: The Yuan Family Arrives at Yang Zhou Dock [Heartfelt Thanks for Everyone's Support

"Eldest Son, I have just given the matter further deep consideration in the cabin. After you negotiate with the Sheng family and they agree to unload the betrothal gifts, tell them that because the Earl's health is poor, they should let that Sheng girl—"

Little Xiao Zhangshi added from the side: "Sheng Sheng Hualan."

"Yes, let that Sheng girl return to the capital with us. Let the marriage be concluded early; otherwise, if anything unforeseen happens to the Earl, their girl will have to wait another two or three years!"

"Yes, Mother."

Having spoken, the elder and younger Xiao Zhangshi stood at the prow, gazing upon the bustling Yang Zhou, before the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law lowered their heads, whispering as they walked toward the cabin, allowing Yuan Yuan Wenchun to catch amidst the wind: "The Sheng family are also wealthy households... if we seize her dowry list, we can straighten our waists."

Ever since Yuan Bingkai fainted, it seemed the elder and younger Xiao Zhangshi, no longer restrained, had begun acting increasingly strange and vicious.

Yet regardless of how things unfolded, the greatest beneficiary remained he, Yuan Yuan Wenchun.

Inside the cabin,

In a blur, Yuan Bingkai dreamed of his youth in Bianjing, treating cattle and sheep to earn silver, then braving the cold winter wind to deliver warming fetal-nourishing medicinal supplements to the Huang family for his own elder sister.

That was the first sum of money Yuan Bingkai had earned with his own hands after transforming from the legitimate son of a Count's manor into a beast physician in Bianjing.

He still remembered purchasing the medicinal formula from the Ren family, whose members served as medical officials within the palace city specializing in gynecology.

Alas, his funds were scant; he could not afford the finest, and emptying his pockets bought him only the medium grade.

Just as he waited eagerly at the Huang family gate, about to see his own sister, Yuan Bingkai leisurely opened his eyes.

He saw the person beside the table but made no sound.

Yet that person by the table, possessing keen senses, looked over and said softly:

"Earl, you have awakened."

Yuan Bingkai spoke weakly: "How is it you are here attending me? Although you are a concubine, you are still half a mistress!"

"Concubine Man... this slave was born a servant."

Yuan Bingkai, seeming somewhat weary, closed his eyes and said softly: "What hour is it?"

"It is roughly a few ke past the Yin hour; the steward servants have all slept."

Yuan Bingkai said: "You have worked hard, staying so late to attend to this old man with such dedication. Who has been guarding outside the cabin these past few days?"

"The steward servants who came as part of the Zhang family's dowry."

"Then do you think I can still survive?"

Silence followed, before this person said: "... Today, observing the Eldest Young Master's demeanor, he seems about to be persuaded."

"You also understand that if I die, the title becomes his... then can you survive?"

"This slave..."

"Do you know how many days remain until we reach Yang Zhou?"

"Tomorrow."

"Mm, I shall call you Zhu Manniang then. Regardless of whether they obtain the Sheng family's dowry, they will not let me die. My ailment is merely a head complaint; even a skilled Physician would detect nothing while I sleep. Once they drug me, we can return to Bianjing! But you..."

Yuan Bingkai continued: "You are not one who can conceal your thoughts. If you understand the crux of this matter, others will surely spot the clues, and you will lose any chance of survival."

Hearing these words, Zhu Zhu Manniang's eyes darted around in panic. Yuan Bingkai continued: "See, you are so young, barely having reached your hair-pinning ceremony; one fright from me, and everything is written upon your face."

"Slave..."

"Tomorrow you still have a sliver of a chance to survive, but I do not know if you will gamble on it."

Having spoken, Yuan Bingkai seemed exhausted and closed his eyes.

Beside him, Zhu Zhu Manniang's eyes moved ceaselessly, clearly pondering something.

"Tomorrow, if you can achieve merit, I swear in the name of my parents that I will secure for you the position of a noble concubine in Yuan Erlang's quarters," Yuan Bingkai whispered.

Zhu Zhu Manniang gazed silently at Yuan Bingkai; had he promised her the position of a principal wife, she might have immediately reported him to the elder and younger Xiao Zhangshi, but a noble concubine stirred her heart.

Judging by appearances, the title was eighty percent likely to go to Yuan Yuan Wenshao; being a noble concubine of a Count's household was quite good indeed.

At this time, Zhu Zhu Manniang had not yet been nourished by Gu Gu Tingye's affection, nor had she spent three or four years alongside Gu Gu Tingye acting as a matriarch at the White Deer Grotto Academy, her ambition growing into a towering tree.

Instead, she had directly become a concubine of the Loyalty and Diligence Count's Manor, suffering everything a concubine ought to suffer; her ambition had long been crushed, and she knew her life might soon end, surviving now only because Yuan Yuan Wenchun had not yet been fully persuaded.

Now hearing Yuan Bingkai's words, Zhu Zhu Manniang knelt before the couch, saying: "Earl, this slave will gamble!"

"Good. Tomorrow, when the two families..."

On the day the Yuan family's boat arrived.

The Sheng household.

Sheng Hong did not go to the government office but sat in the front courtyard of the Sheng residence with Wang Shi, waiting for Yuan Bingkai to come and apologize, since everything was now clear.

But what arrived instead were servants sent by the Yuan family to urge the unloading of the betrothal gifts; only upon questioning these servants did they learn that it was Yuan Yuan Wenchun on the Yuan family's prow, while Yuan Bingkai had collapsed ill aboard the ship.

Sheng Hong hastily rose and went to Shou'an Hall; after hearing Sheng Hong's account, the Old Lady Sheng glanced at Feng Shi and said: "In that case, whether this is true or false, you cannot remain sitting here. Take Sheng Changbai and go to the dock. Even if that Earl is feigning a faint, we must go!"

"Yes, Mother."

The Old Lady Sheng said: "Bring your Eldest Lady as well!"

Feng Shi also rose, saying: "Old Lady, I shall go too. Nearly dozens of sheets of the gazette have been copied; I will have the servants bring them along, just in case."

The Old Lady Sheng said: "Truly, thank you, Aunt-in-law!"

"We are all one family." Having spoken, Feng Shi followed them out.

With all this coming and going, by the Si hour (before eleven o'clock) in the morning, no one from the Yuan family had allowed the betrothal gifts to be unloaded.

The porters who had been summoned debated amongst themselves, after all, this delay hindered their earnings.

There were also official families in Yang Zhou, such as the Hong and Qi families, who, having heard the news, came to nearby wine houses or high vantage points, waiting to receive the noble guests of the Hou Fu while watching the commotion at the dock.

Some handkerchief-sisters close to Sheng Hualan also came to this place, hoping that after observing a bit more, they could offer Sheng Hualan some comfort and relief.

At this moment, the carriages of the Sheng and Wang families arrived at the dock, where Yamen Runners and Retainers naturally cleared an open space.

Sheng Hong lifted the curtain of the carriage, took a furtive glance, and said: "Sheng Changbai, you go and speak to him. Since the Yuan Earl is not present, it is improper for me to appear."

Though young, Sheng Sheng Changbai, who rarely smiled, rode his horse to the side of the Yuan family's boat, bowed with clasped hands, and declared loudly: "Your family's affairs are known throughout Bianjing; please cease this behavior and preserve some face for all parties!"

Yuan Yuan Wenchun forced a smile and said: "What matter concerns my family? How would I know! If you wish to break the engagement, please inform us!"

Sheng Changbai's face froze as he shouted, "You!!!"

Since he was on the boat and standing higher up, Yuan Wen raised his voice loudly, "My entire Yuan family traveled a thousand li from Bianjing to Yang Zhou for this joyous occasion to seek the hand of a Sheng daughter; my father even fell ill from the hardships of the journey and now lies bedridden—is this how you treat your guests?"

Sheng Changbai's face flushed red as he shouted back, "Must I expose your family's shameful deeds before you will desist?"

At this moment, Xiao Xiao Zhangshi stepped up beside Yuan Wen and said, "What shameful deeds? Do you think that just because the Sheng family is a scholarly house with generations of officials, you are above hearing rumors, or that you should believe the nonsense spouted by rotten-mouthed fools?"

Meanwhile, on the dock, the gathered commoners buzzed with discussion; after someone in the crowd brought up the Yuan family's affairs, the people began talking amongst themselves, pointing toward the Yuan family's boat.

Seeing everyone pointing and gossiping, the couple, Yuan Wen and his wife, looked distressed and slowly retreated under the weight of the accusations.

Soon after, the couple saw Lady Xiao Xiao Zhangshi, dressed in the full regalia of a Countess, standing at the prow of the boat and declaring, "We are the Yuan family, Countesses of Bianjing! Keep your eyes open; whoever is gossiping about our Count's household shall be seized and delivered to the authorities first thing!"

The Yuan family servants waiting below on the shore scanned the crowd; this shout proved highly effective, and the voices of the surrounding commoners dropped significantly.

From the boat, Lady Xiao Xiao Zhangshi shrieked, "These rumors are nothing but malicious gossip designed to ruin our family's reputation! My Lord Count, worried that such slander would reach Yang Zhou, traveled day and night without rest, which is precisely why he fell ill! I never expected the Sheng family to treat guests in such a manner; having been a Countess for so long, today I truly witness the rare spectacle of such chaotic nonsense!"

Speaking thus, Lady Xiao Xiao Zhangshi disembarked from the betrothal boat, approached the commoners, and roared:

"Your Sheng family is merely marrying above your station! The Yuan family of the Count's Manor is a prestigious house of Bianjing with an upright family ethos! We originally did not even need to come to deliver the betrothal gifts! I persuaded my Lord Count for three days—three days! —before finally convincing him! But! But! I never expected that I would be the one to harm my Lord! His body was exhausted by the thousand-li journey; it is all this old woman's fault!"

As she spoke, Lady Xiao Xiao Zhangshi seemed to be venting the immense pressure in her heart and actually began to weep.

"Has our Yuan family, the Loyal and Diligent Count, done something wrong by being so courteous!!!"

Inside the Sheng family's carriage, Sheng Hong could not hold Wang Shi back at all!

Wang Wang Ruofu stormed off the carriage in a huff, while Sheng Hong shouted from inside the vehicle, "What are you going to do???? Hold her back!!"

But the maids and the old woman Guan Guan Pozi beside Wang Wang Ruofu, seeing her look as if she wanted to eat people alive, dared not try to restrain her; when Cai Zhao Huan attempted to intervene, she received a slap from Wang Wang Ruofu instead.

Dong Rong followed behind, but since Wu Da Da Niangzi was a woman, he could not physically intervene or block her path to her face.

The result was that Wang Wang Ruofu walked forward with eyes red from anger.

Upon reaching the dock, Mama Liu, Cai Zhao Huan, and the other maids hurried to follow.

At this time, Sheng Changbai was still young; faced with such shrewish words from Lady Xiao Xiao Zhangshi, who was also his elder, he found it difficult to say much or offer reprimands.

When he saw his mother approaching, he quickly dismounted and stepped aside.

Merged later, four thousand words.

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(End of Chapter)