Though Prince Ding was widely known to be useless, this “useless” prince was still the Great Chu Dynasty’s only hereditary prince of super-first rank. Thus, Minister Ye and the Ye family matriarch, who had never shown concern for Ye Li before, remarkably summoned her for a conversation.
The granddaughter paid her respects to her grandmother and father. When Ye Li arrived at the matriarch’s Hall of Glorified Joy, Minister Ye, Madam Wang, and Fourth Young Miss Ye Ying were already present.
The elderly Madam Ye nodded, smiling benevolently: “Li’er, you may rise. Now that you’re betrothed to Prince Ding, and Ying’er will marry Prince Li next month, our family truly has double happiness.”
Ye Li rose, keeping her eyes lowered respectfully to the ground: “For Grandmother to especially return from outside, your unfilial granddaughter has caused you trouble.” Though not particularly fond of Ye Li, the elderly Madam Ye was quite pleased with these few sentences, her face showing more warmth as she replied: “This is our family’s great joy, how could I not return? Are the two girls’ dowries prepared?”
Madam Wang hurriedly stood up, looking somewhat troubled as she addressed the matriarch: “Reporting to Old Madam, originally with just Fourth Miss marrying next month, we could have managed if we hurried. But now with Third Miss as well, I’m afraid…”
The elderly Madam Ye was too shrewd not to understand Madam Wang’s little calculations. After some thought, she said: “Li’er’s date hasn’t been set yet, let’s focus on Ying’er first.”
Having received the matriarch’s word, Madam Wang happily responded with agreement.
The elderly Madam Ye looked at her two granddaughters and ordered a maid to bring out two boxes, placing them on the table: “You two girls are both blessed, one marrying Prince Li, one marrying Prince Ding. As your grandmother, I won’t show favoritism. These items are one set each for you, and Fifth and Sixth Miss will receive the same in the future. I’m giving each of you one of my dowry estates. As for how much more the family will provide, that’s for your mother and father to decide.”
Madam Wang smiled ingratiatingly: “Old Madam truly loves her granddaughters. Your daughter-in-law has discussed with the Master – since Ying’er is marrying Prince Li, too small a dowry might displease the imperial family. The family treasury will provide twenty thousand taels for the dowry, along with six estates and six shops. I’ll also contribute two estates from my dowry.”
The elderly Madam Ye frowned: “Isn’t that somewhat excessive? Though it’s proper for Ye Ying to have a generous dowry when marrying a prince, if later daughters’ dowries differ too greatly, it would harm the Minister’s household’s reputation. What are your plans for Li’er’s dowry?”
The matriarch had more insight than Madam Wang – even if Prince Ding was useless, he came from a family with a profound heritage. If not for his circumstances, he might be even more prestigious than Prince Li. If they treated Ye Li’s dowry too poorly, those generations loyal to Prince Ding’s household would surely have something to say.
Madam Wang hadn’t expected such a direct question from the matriarch. After hesitating, she said: “Prince Ding is different from the Emperor’s full brother, and our household is somewhat… I was thinking perhaps we should wait to see what betrothal gifts Prince Ding’s household sends. Then we could add two estates.” Her implication was to use Prince Ding’s betrothal gifts as part of the dowry to send back, with the actual amount depending on her discretion.
Hearing this, the elderly Madam Ye’s face darkened: “Outrageous! Using betrothal gifts as dowry – how dare you even think of it! Do you care nothing for our Ye family’s reputation? For your reputation as a stepmother? True, the Xu family has declined in recent years, but they’re still far above what your Wang family could compare to!”
Faced with the matriarch’s merciless scolding, Madam Wang’s face turned crimson. She repeatedly protested her innocence: “Old Madam, you wrong me! When have I ever mistreated Third Miss these years? It’s just… it’s just… our household is somewhat strained, with several young ladies yet to be married, and Young Master Rong’s future marriage will need money too…”
The matriarch was angered by her short-sighted daughter-in-law’s words, rubbing her chest in frustration. Young Master Rong was only seven years old – his marriage was years away. She cast a glance at Minister Ye, who sat quietly to the side: “This is your daughter – what do you say should be done?” Fortunately, she had returned to ask about this; if they had let Madam Wang marry off Li’er this way, they would offend not only Prince Ding’s household but the Xu family as well. Though the Xu family had fewer officials in court these days, how could a century-old noble family be so easily offended?
Minister Ye looked awkwardly between his mother and wife, saying: “Third daughter is also a legitimate daughter – let’s treat her the same as Ying’er.” Having achieved the position of Minister, he wasn’t foolish and naturally understood his mother’s concerns.
“The same as Ying’er?!” Madam Wang shrieked: “Where will our household find so much money? Master, it’s not that I as stepmother want to mistreat Third Miss, but our finances are truly difficult! Ying’er is the full sister of Imperial Consort Ye, and she’s marrying the Emperor’s full brother. If the dowry is too small, it would look bad not only to the Prince but to the Imperial Consort as well. At most… at most, I can give Third Miss the two estates from my dowry that I was saving for Young Master Rong.” Madam Wang wiped tears while protesting, but inwardly she harbored a deep hatred for Ye Li who sat silently to the side. How could she let that cheap woman’s daughter have the same as her Ying’er? Absolutely not!
This… Minister Ye started, looking troubled at Ye Li. Currently, Imperial Consort Ye was highly favored in the palace and pregnant – if she bore a prince…
Seeing Minister Ye’s resolve wavering, Ye Ying bit her lip and said softly: “Father needn’t be troubled. I can share some of my dowry with Third Sister. We just can’t shortchange Big Sister in the palace’s expenses, and we should save some for Fifth and Sixth Sisters too.” Seeing his most beloved daughter being so sensible, Minister Ye’s expression softened, and he looked to Ye Li hoping she would say something as well.
Ye Li smiled faintly inside, raising her head to look at the four people present and speaking softly: “Father, Mother, and Fourth Sister need not trouble themselves.”
Hearing this, Madam Wang’s heart leaped with joy. All these years Ye Li had never fought or competed for anything, making Madam Wang think she was soft and easy to handle, assuming she would back down. But then Ye Li continued: “Before my mother passed away, she told me that when she married into the Ye family, my maternal grandfather and grandmother provided eight estates, twelve shops, and three forest properties as her dowry. These were all meant to be kept for my dowry. As for the rest, Father and Mother can arrange according to the Second Sister’s example, focusing more on the Fourth Sister.” The Ye family’s Second Miss had married the Imperial Censor’s third son two years ago, and Madam Wang had only provided a dowry of ten thousand taels.
“What?! How can this be?! Those are…” Madam Wang couldn’t help but shriek. Those were meant to be kept for her daughters’ dowries and Young Master Rong!
Ye Li looked at her strangely: “Are what?” She lowered her eyes slightly, looking somewhat shyly at the elderly Madam Ye: “Mother said at the time that her dowry was all to be kept for her daughter, and my maternal aunt knows this as well. Isn’t that right, Grandmother?”
The elderly Madam Ye’s expression also turned somewhat unpleasant. When Madam Xu had married into the Ye family, her dowry procession had stretched for ten li. If it all went to Ye Li, then Ye Ying’s dowry would look rather poor in comparison. In recent years, the Ye family had been spending money like water, barely making ends meet. Providing a dowry equal to Madam Xu’s would leave the family destitute after Ye Ying’s marriage. Yet what Ye Li said was correct – when Madam Xu was on her deathbed, the Xu family’s young madam had been present and personally heard Madam Xu’s final arrangements.
Seeing the elderly Madam Ye’s silence, Ye Li didn’t rush to speak. She merely laughed coldly inside – she didn’t have strong opinions about the size of the dowry, but her mother’s dowry couldn’t be given to Madam Wang’s daughters. Though she had gained memories of her previous life after Madam Xu’s death, it didn’t change the fact that Madam Xu was her mother. She hadn’t forgotten the careful nurturing, meticulous teaching, or the grievances her mother had suffered. From the day she married into the Ye family, Madam Xu hadn’t had a single happy day – one could say she died of depression. If they were to take her dowry to supplement her husband’s concubine’s daughters, even Ye Li, who didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, worried her mother might climb out of her grave.
After a long while, the elderly Madam Ye finally said: “Let’s set this matter aside for now. I’ll discuss it further with your mother and father later.”
Ye Li raised an eyebrow slightly, softly acknowledging with a “Yes.”