Qin Huaiyuan looked at the Old Dowager’s eyes, which were like a child’s expectant gaze for candy, and found himself momentarily speechless.

His Adam’s apple bobbed for a long while before he said: “Mother, we cannot keep these betrothal gifts.”

“Why not!” The Old Dowager suddenly stood up, shrilly shouting: “Did that jinx Sun Shi say something to you? Do you now refuse to listen even to your mother’s words! I say we keep them, so we must keep them! Not just the small gold ingots—many other things among them, we must keep them all!

“You don’t manage the household, so you don’t know how expensive firewood and rice are! With such a large family all depending on that little salary, is it enough? Your third brother’s business is still being transferred here bit by bit—do you know how much loss the business has suffered!

“Your wife says no, so it’s no—her brain must have been kicked by a donkey’s hoof! She’s lacking sense, but are you lacking sense too! She says she’s afraid Yining will be looked down upon at her in-laws’? That’s laughable! Yining was already taken by Prince Zhongshun—what should have happened already happened. Her in-laws should already look down on her. Would they respect her just because she brings back some betrothal gifts?”

Qin Huaiyuan silently looked at the Old Dowager for a long moment before saying: “Mother, are these words that a grandmother should speak on the eve of her granddaughter’s wedding?”

“You… Meng Ge’er, what do you mean?” The Old Dowager looked at Qin Huaiyuan in disbelief.

Qin Huaiyuan said: “The family’s silver was lost, but it wasn’t Yining who lost it. Why should we use her betrothal gifts to make up for it?”

“How is this making up for anything? Since Yining is a member of the Qin family, everything she possesses belongs to the Qin family. She’s already so wealthy and will become a princess consort in the future—what’s wrong with taking out some wealth to supplement the family?”

Qin Huaiyuan shook his head: “Mother, your calculation is wrong. Yining owes our family nothing. On the contrary, I, as her father, owe her greatly. Because of this ‘country and world,’ for various reasons, I’ve sacrificed her.

“Though this marriage arrangement is barely satisfactory, it’s at least an imperial decree and somewhat respectable. As the daughter of a fallen Great Yan minister, how can she establish herself in the prince’s mansion? We as her natal family, even if we can’t be her support, we certainly can’t drag her down. If we keep this silver and treasures, how can Yining hold her head up in the prince’s mansion?

“Moreover, Mother doesn’t know one thing. When your son first came to Great Zhou, where did I get the silver? The house our entire family now lives in—Yining bought it with her own private money.”

“What?” The Old Dowager clearly couldn’t believe it, shaking her head: “Impossible!”

“How is it impossible? Don’t you know Yining’s character? She knew I had no silver, so she used my name and paid all the expenses herself. She didn’t tell everyone because she was afraid the Old Dowager and uncles would feel uncomfortable living there. She’s a filial child—she didn’t cause you to lose the family wealth, so why can’t you be more understanding toward her?”

The Old Dowager pressed her lips together, standing in place and looking at Qin Huaiyuan’s serious face, feeling that her position in the family was truly precarious.

Now even the most filial Meng Ge’er wouldn’t listen to her—what more was there to say?

“Fine, fine. When I said to keep the silver, was it for my own use? Wasn’t it also for this family? Since you say not to keep it, then we won’t keep it.”

Qin Huaiyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief: “It’s good that Mother can see reason. Your son has only this one daughter—I just want to treat her as well as possible. I hope Mother can understand your son’s feelings.”

“Understand, understand. Things have come to this point—how else do you want us to understand?”

Seeing the Old Dowager was still unhappy, Qin Huaiyuan lowered his voice to speak of some pleasant things to coax her.

Qin Yining knew nothing of all this.

Because after washing up, she had gone to bed early.

The next morning, Qin Yining was awakened by Sun Shi.

“Yining, quickly get up to do your hair. It’s already getting late.”

Sun Shi wore festive red clothes today, glowing red and looking very happy.

Qin Yining rubbed the corners of her eyes: “Mother, doesn’t the groom come in the evening? Why am I getting up so early?”

“You silly girl, have you seen any bride sleep until the sun is high in the sky? There are many things to do—if you don’t get up now, the blessed woman for doing your hair will arrive soon.”

Qin Yining had no choice but to listen to Sun Shi, get up to wash, casually eat a bite of pastry for breakfast, then was seated before her dressing table.

Mother and daughter’s gazes met in the mirror, both looking at each other and revealing smiles.

Sun Shi pinched Qin Yining’s cheek and sighed: “Time passes so quickly. Yining just returned not many days ago, and now she’s leaving the family. As your mother, I haven’t had enough time to be close with you.”

As Sun Shi spoke, tears welled up.

Qin Yining quickly stood to embrace Sun Shi, comforting her: “Mother, please don’t be sad or worried. The prince will treat your daughter well. Moreover, the prince’s mansion is in the capital—it will be easy for us to meet in the future.”

“I know. I’m not sad—I’m just happy.” Sun Shi sniffed and smiled again, looking at the group of maids in the room. “You’ve all been through life and death with Yining—I trust you the most. When Yining goes to the prince’s mansion, you must also take good care of her and guide her.”

“Yes, Madam, we all understand.” Bingtang and the others bowed in acknowledgment.

“Sister-in-law, the blessed woman has arrived.” Outside the door, the Second Madam announced and went to receive the blessed woman.

The selection of the blessed woman had been decided by Pang Xiao and Qin Huaiyuan, with Pang Xiao making the invitation.

He had invited Old Madam Miao Shi from the Champion Marquis Su family.

This madam had a harmonious family, loving marriage, complete children, and grandchildren filling her halls—she was truly a blessed woman in every way.

Sun Shi hurried to the door to welcome her, joining the Second Madam in leading Madam Miao inside.

Madam Miao was in her early sixties, but her hair was black and lustrous, and her figure showed no signs of old age.

When Qin Yining’s gaze met hers in the mirror, Madam Miao praised: “What a beautiful girl.”

Taking cotton thread and dipping it in powder, she began threading Qin Yining’s facial hair while reciting auspicious words.

After threading, she trimmed the messy hair at her temples.

Then she took a rhinoceros horn comb to do Qin Yining’s hair.

Hair-combing also had its customs—while combing, she had to say auspicious phrases like “First combing for mutual respect like Meng Guang and Liang Hong, second combing for family fortune and prosperity…”

Qin Yining remained silent, following Madam Miao’s movements and looking at herself in the mirror. Thinking that today was truly her wedding day, Qin Yining still found it somewhat hard to accept.

Time had really passed too quickly. It seemed like just yesterday she was still worried about her and Pang Xiao’s future, yet now all the problems had already been completely resolved.

How fortunate she was to have family who loved her so much and Pang Xiao who was so sincere toward her?

Perhaps the hardships of the past dozen years were all to save up all the good fortune for use now?

“Miss, this phoenix crown is truly the most unique I’ve ever seen.” Madam Miao placed the three-phoenix crown with phoenixes perching on parasol trees on Qin Yining’s head and arranged the red ruby bead tassels hanging in front of her face.

Qin Yining smiled slightly. Made of nothing but gold and gems—would Pang Xiao spend all his silver marrying her this once?