Even if all their meager possessions were pooled and sold, it likely wouldn’t amount to a fraction of ten thousand taels. That is why , happiness erupted in every eye present, particularly those of the Fifth Old Man and Shang Yuding. Visions of how they would squander such a monumental bride price danced in their heads, their faces alight with greedy joy.[Read More Here]
Shang Qiniang, still shedding silent tears, couldn’t help but swallow hard at the mention of the sum offered . Throughout the year, she barely saw two or three taels of silver not to mention ,Ten thousand taels! Such an opportunity had never even graced her dreams. Suddenly, Prince Min’s advanced age seemed far less terrifying to her . Beneath her handkerchief that is she using to wipe her tears , the initial panic and confusion in her eyes began to morph into a fierce determination. At this moment, her sole thought was how to secure that bride price for herself and wrest it from the clutches of these relatives who would devour her whole.
Among all those gathered, only her mother, Lady Guo, felt her heart rend. She detested her own powerlessness, watching as her three daughters were married off like chattel, utterly unable to refuse. A deep sorrow for her daughters gnawed at her – what evil had they committed to be so ill-fated in their marriages? But an arm, however strong, could not twist a thigh. Even if she wept herself to death in this room, no one would truly care. For when the prospect of a ten thousand tael bride price glimmered before them, no one spared a thought for Qiniang’s ultimate fate. Their only desire was to finalize the matter swiftly and then reap the rewards onwards .
Thus, the Fifth Old Man, casting aside all shame, declared the match a grand success, even if his “grandson-in-law” was a mere ten years younger than himself. He pressed Shang Wulang with eager questions, “Wulang, such a grand marriage! When will the royal family come to formalize the betrothal?” His anxiousness was palpable, almost unseemly, yet everyone shared his eagerness, no one finding his haste untoward.
At this, Shang Wulang’s confident expression faltered, a hint of embarrassment clouding his face. He cleared his throat twice before admitting, “Grandpa, don’t panic. The matter isn’t finalized yet. I was simply afraid Seventh Sister might have concerns, so I rushed home as soon as I heard the news. Therefore, the palace hasn’t decided on a specific person yet. It’s just an opportunity for everyone .”
His words struck everyone like a splash of cold water. Shang Yuding, in particular, felt an urge to stomp on Shang Wulang, to punish his nephew for momentarily stealing the limelight from him in front of his father. He sputtered, “After all that, you can’t even guarantee Qiniang will enter the palace? What nonsense were you spouting then? You’ve wasted our time!” His disgust was as vile as the word “trash” that might have escaped his lips.
Shang Wulang and his second uncle were always at odds. If his own biological sister, Wu Niang, hadn’t already been married, would it even be Qiniang’s turn for such an opportunity? Far from receiving gratitude for delivering the news, he was now being berated. Shang Wulang bristled, ready to abandon the entire endeavor, but Shang Yu’an stepped in to smooth things over. “Second Brother, don’t be so anxious. Even though the specific person hasn’t been chosen yet, it’s good to know the news in advance. Otherwise, by the time the palace finds someone, our Qiniang might have missed her chance, no?”
Shang Yu’an’s calm words somewhat mollified Shang Yuding. Meanwhile, the Fifth Old Man, ever protective of his eldest grandson, scolded his eldest son. “As a father, you do nothing to find a good marriage for your daughter! Not only do you weary Wulang, who runs around outside, but you stand here picking and choosing! Humph, go back! I can’t stand the sight of you!”
At his outburst, Shang Yuding’s face flushed a mottled blue and white. He glared angrily at his brother and nephew, then, without a backward glance, stormed out of Yingjuan Courtyard. He had no status in this family anyway; he might as well seek solace in alcohol again.
With Shang Yuding gone, Lady Guo and Shang Qiniang were left without any support , like two lambs awaiting the butcher’s knife. Yet, the very butchers who were poised to strike now seemed remarkably amiable. For instance, Shang Yu’an turned to Lady Guo, his tone surprisingly gentle. “Second Sister-in-law, what are your thoughts on Qiniang’s marriage?”
Lady Guo, having been married for so many years with rarely anyone asking for her opinion, had long since developed a crippling timidity infront of her family . She stammered, her face turning crimson, but no words would come. Seeing her struggle, the Fifth Old Man and his wife grew visibly displeased, regretting ever marrying such a daughter-in-law to their son. She couldn’t bear grandsons and couldn’t even articulate a thought. Utterly useless.
The Fifth Old Lady then launched into a harsh, disrespectful tirade.[Read More Here] “All you do is cry all day! No wonder you can’t hold your husband’s affections! Look how much you’ve ruined Ding’er! Even the teacher said he was talented once, but ever since he married you, he’s failed every imperial examination, and so have our other son and grandsons! Bah, you’re a jinx! You deserve to be divorced!”
Her words reduced the already timid Lady Guo to silent tears. Though Shang Qiniang resented her mother’s weakness, she still cared for her. Despite her fear, she stepped forward and bravely addressed the Fifth Old Lady. “Grandma, please calm down. If this opportunity truly arises, your granddaughter is willing to marry whoever can contribute to the family.”
At her statement, Lady Guo, her mother, burst into renewed sobs. However, the faces of the Fifth Old Lady and the others visibly relaxed, a measure of relief washing over them. “Qiniang is a sensible, good child,” the Fifth Old Lady remarked with a softened tone. “It would be a great blessing if you could enter Prince Min’s Mansion. Even though Prince Min is older, he will surely cherish you.”
“That’s exactly what I think Grandma,” Wulang’s wife piped up, raising her head. “With Seventh Sister’s beauty and talent, she will surely shine in Prince Min’s palace. Didn’t the eldest sister achieve such a high position back then? Seventh Sister’s good fortune will simply come later.”
Others nodded in agreement. Only Shang Yu’an’s wife, Lady Ni, felt a pang of regret, a quiet sorrow that such a bright young woman might be reduced to serving others in this manner. But the matters of the fifth house were not hers to command, and so she held her tongue.
At this point, the fifth branch had reached a grim consensus: Shang Qiniang would be sent to Prince Min’s palace. The question now remained: how? Shang Wulang pondered for a moment, realizing he needed to delve deeper into the matter. Without proper connections, merely setting foot in Prince Min’s Mansion, let alone meeting a second-class steward, would be an impossible feat for their humble fifth branch.