Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1955: Chapter 1954: Fuming with Rage

At this time, when a woman gets married, her close friends from the boudoir would come the day before the wedding to add to her trousseau. Although Bai Ruozhu was Si Yihuan’s future sister-in-law, they were also considered friends, so it was appropriate to add to the trousseau. Moreover, this would make the bride’s family feel that the groom’s family valued their daughter, fostering a more harmonious relationship between the sisters-in-law in the future.

Bai Ruozhu had prepared an East Pearl Necklace in advance. She asked Min Ju to bring the gift and accompany her to the Si Family.

The Si Family was exceptionally lively today. Given the Prime Minister Si’s position at the Imperial Court, even those aristocratic families not familiar with Si Yihuan came to contribute to the trousseau.

Bai Ruozhu heard that the Emperor was about to lead a campaign, and many officials had to stay in Beiyu City to continue handling administrative affairs. Since Danliang Country did not have a crown prince, the Emperor planned to let the Prime Minister Si temporarily manage affairs, with Meng Liangshen assisting.

She was certainly not the only one to have heard these rumors, so Si Yihuan’s marriage became an opportunity for many to curry favor with the Prime Minister Si.

The person welcoming guests at the door was Si Yihuan’s eldest brother. When he saw Bai Ruozhu, he hurried forward to perform the official ceremony, ”Master Bai has arrived, please come in quickly.”

Bai Ruozhu smiled and returned the courtesy. The Si Family did not put on airs; instead, they greeted her according to her official rank, clearly knowing the rules well.

The higher one’s position, the more one must know how to be modest and never let arrogance swell.

Most of the guests today were women. Bai Ruozhu was quickly led into the hall, where Si Yihuan sat on one side, looking very obedient.

”Yihuan, congratulations. This is my contribution to your trousseau.” Bai Ruozhu had Min Ju open and add it to the dowry.

”Oh, I thought it would be something valuable. Isn’t Madam Jiang known for her business acumen? How come she seems so stingy now?” An unharmonious voice sounded, causing those who were chatting to instantly fall silent.

Bai Ruozhu looked over and found it was Ma Linglong, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

This woman was found engaging in illicit relations with Saihan, ruining her reputation, and in the end, Saihan was taken down by Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun. Saihan couldn’t make Ma Linglong his concubine, and the Ma Family even entered the Palace, asking the Empress Dowager for justice for Ma Linglong.

Logically, for a woman of such indiscretion, who else can she blame when things go wrong? But the Ma Family and the Southern Town General Ma Tongfang were of the same lineage. The Ma Family did not have many descendants, and Ma Tongfang still cared about these nieces and nephews.

Moreover, at that time, Ma Tongfang went to fight against the Quanrong Clan, and the Emperor, not wanting Ma Tongfang to be affected, could only have the Empress Dowager agree with the Ma Family.

Now seeing Ma Linglong dressed as a married woman, it turns out she had been married. I really wonder which family is so unlucky to have taken on such a dishonor.

Ma Linglong looked in good spirits, her face even rounded a bit, as if life was going quite well. Besides, the fabric of her clothes was the most fashionable, and the garnet headpiece she wore was also quite valuable, suggesting that her husband’s family might not be in bad conditions.

But her manner of speaking hadn’t improved much. Bai Ruozhu, keeping her expression unchanged, replied with a faint smile, ”Adding to the trousseau is but a token of goodwill among sisters. It doesn’t have anything to do with whether one is stingy or not, does it?”

She wanted to give gifts to Si Yihuan, and there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. However, for this trousseau event, it shouldn’t be overly ostentatious.

Adding to the trousseau is a matter for women to offer gifts, and by the customs of Danliang Country, many are just tokens of goodwill among female friends. If an individual offers something overly luxurious, wouldn’t it embarrass the others?

The East Pearl Necklace was carefully selected by Bai Ruozhu, each bead full and lustrous, with a higher value than typical East Pearls. However, giving it away without much fanfare exemplifies humility and elegance.

Si Yihuan quickly began smoothing things over, ”Thank you all for coming to celebrate, but please don’t spend too much. Otherwise, I would feel uneasy.”

She seemed somewhat displeased as she spoke. Bai Ruozhu quickly assessed and understood why Si Yihuan was discontent.

This displeasure was certainly not directed at Bai Ruozhu, but rather at the fact that many had contributed to the trousseau far more than usual, with values being several times that of what was typical for noble daughters.

Si Yihuan was a smart woman and naturally understood that these people wanted to ingratiate themselves with her Grandpa, but it put her in a difficult position.

She smiled gratefully at Bai Ruozhu, agreeing with Bai Ruozhu’s sentiment that ”adding to the trousseau is a token of goodwill among sisters.”

Ma Linglong, however, refused to back down, saying, ”But Madam Jiang is an exception, isn’t she? With her wealth and as Yihuan’s future sister-in-law, shouldn’t she be a little different?”

She smiled slyly at Bai Ruozhu, ”Madam Jiang, am I not correct? Surely you wouldn’t be stingy?”

Look at that, attempting to sow discord between her and Si Yihuan, but Ma Linglong’s intellect was not very high, and her combat ability could only be seen as average.

”Indeed, I truly am stingy.” Bai Ruozhu responded with a smile, which left the group stunned. They thought, having heard how formidable Master Bai was, how could she give way to Ma Linglong?

Even Ma Linglong was momentarily stunned. She had been ready for Bai Ruozhu to counterattack, but Bai Ruozhu went along with her words.

Bai Ruozhu curled up her lips, ”Besides, it’s not just me; even Yihuan is stingy. Our Bai Family had previously donated our savings to the Imperial Court, and with the army about to campaign, saving money to support the army is a good thing. So I have to be a bit thrifty, but once Yihuan marries into our Bai Family, when peace reigns, we certainly won’t be stingy with her.”

Si Yihuan hurriedly agreed, ”Yes, that’s what Ruozhu and I agreed on, Linglong, so don’t speak nonsense.”

Since the Ma Family and the Si Family were somewhat related, Si Yihuan had known Ma Linglong and Ma Jinan from a young age. On a day like this, she couldn’t outright embarrass Ma Linglong.

An observant young lady among the onlookers quickly spoke up, ”What Master Bai and Miss Si said is very admirable, too. I think, how about all of us emulate Miss Si today and contribute whatever we can to donate some silver for the army?”

There was immediate agreement, and soon, the women guests were enthusiastically donating money and supplies, creating quite a lively scene.

Though these donations came a bit late, they could ultimately augment the military funds, and Bai Ruozhu was happy to see that.

Ma Linglong gritted her teeth, and while people were donating silver, she whispered to Bai Ruozhu, ”I know you were behind it, but so what? I am still living leisurely, while a country bumpkin like you is only momentarily arrogant. What do you have to fight with me?”

She was referring to being caught with Saihan while in bed.

Bai Ruozhu smiled, ”Then continue living leisurely. Why prove anything to me? Allegedly, people like to flaunt what they lack. With all you’ve been flaunting, what is it that you lack?”

”What do you mean!” Ma Linglong shouted, instantly drawing the attention of others nearby.

Bai Ruozhu replied with a smile, ”Didn’t you just claim you are living leisurely? I would advise focusing on a harmonious marital life and having children soon!”

Her smile was like salt to Ma Linglong’s wounds, and she even cast a mocking glance at Ma Linglong. Ma Linglong felt uneasy. What did she mean? Could it be she knows something?

Bai Ruozhu turned to watch the women guests’ donations, but Ma Linglong behind her grew increasingly enraged, and, in a fit of anger, she lunged at Bai Ruozhu’s back...