Chapter 1003: Chapter 841, Prosper Together, Decline Together

The Empress Dowager had not done anything extreme, only spoke a few words against Xiao Yeyang in front of the ladies, and the emperor could not intervene.

Initially, it was just rumors about Xiao Yeyang, saying he defied the Empress Dowager, was unfilial, and arrogant due to his merits. Later on, Daohua also got dragged into it.

During gatherings of the womenfolk, they would whisper and say that Daohua clung to Xiao Yeyang and would not allow him to take a concubine, branding her a complete jealous wife.

Daohua, when she heard these rumors, did not get angry.

Xiao Yeyang glanced at her and asked with a smile, “They call you a jealous wife, and you’re not angry?”

Daohua glared at him, “I am a jealous wife indeed.” Saying this, she looked straight at Xiao Yeyang, “In this lifetime, I will never allow you to take a concubine or keep a mistress. I think being a jealous wife is quite good!”

Xiao Yeyang laughed, stretched out his hand and pinched the soft flesh on Daohua’s cheek, “I love how you brazenly claim me as your own.”

Daohua was amused by his words and swatted away his hand, “What are you talking about!”

Xiao Yeyang pulled her into his lap and rested his head on Daohua’s shoulder, “Marrying me, you’ve been wronged.”

Daohua turned to look at Xiao Yeyang, wrapped her arms around his neck, and looked at him square in the face, “Xiao Yeyang, marrying you, the only person who can wrong me is you. As for those gossiping women, what do they have to do with me?”

Hearing this, a pleased expression flashed across Xiao Yeyang’s eyes. He tightened his arms, his head pressed against Daohua’s forehead, “I am the unfilial son, you are the jealous wife, we truly are a perfect match!”

Daohua laughed too, and after being tender with Xiao Yeyang for a while, she spoke, “June 29th is the day my younger sister gets married, and we need to be at the Yan Residence. Do you have time?”

Xiao Yeyang said, “I’m currently idle at home, of course, I have time.” He paused, then added, “Let’s add more dowry gifts for my younger sister.”

“Recently, even though the Jiang Family has quieted down, Jiang Banchao truly has not earned his reputation for nothing. Those close to us have more or less been influenced.”

Daohua nodded, “You didn’t need to tell me, I would’ve done it anyway.”

She heard from her elder brother that recently, father and older brother had been facing quite a bit of ostracism at the Governor’s Office.

In Beijing, everyone was very aware of potential crises, and now that the Empress Dowager openly showed her dislike for her and Xiao Yeyang, to avoid trouble, people would also intentionally distance themselves from the Yan Family.

Yan Yishuang’s marriage ceremony would not be very lively.

…

On June 28th, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang brought the dowry gifts and returned early to the Yan Residence.

Xiao Yeyang left with Yan Zhigao, and Daohua headed to Madam Li’s courtyard.

Yan Yishuang’s dowries, prepared by Madam Li, were quite thoughtful, with sixty-four trousseaus neatly arranged in the courtyard.

“Although you are a concubine’s daughter, you are still the master’s daughter, why should a respectable girl’s marriage dowry be 120 trousseaus, but yours is cut in half?”

Madam Lin complained to Yan Yishuang.

Yan Yishuang glanced at her birth mother and sighed, “Aunt, be content. My elder sister’s dowry was larger because firstly, she married into the Prince Residence; secondly, my elder sister had more personal savings; and thirdly, my elder sister’s maternal uncle and teacher contributed more to her dowry.”

“In recent years, I have come to understand and I no longer wish to compete with my elder sister. The dowry my mother has prepared for me is genuinely substantial, with fields, shops, and attendants all accounted for; I am very satisfied.”

Madam Lin, frustrated, tapped Yan Yishuang on the head, “You foolish child, you are easily bought over by these things. You should seek out your father…”

Yan Yishuang interrupted Madam Lin’s word, her expression stern, “Auntie, you should stop harboring those impractical fantasies. If we behave and keep to ourselves we might receive more of father’s affection.”

“Auntie, after I’m married, you must quietly stay in Shuangxin Courtyard and not provoke Madam anymore. The current Madam is not someone you can afford to provoke. With elder sister and elder brother, as well as fourth brother backing her, if she insists on punishing you, father won’t be able to intervene.”

Madam Lin huffed, her expression unconvinced, “Fine, does mother need your teachings?”

Yan Yishuang was silent for a moment, then grasped Madam Lin’s hand, “Auntie, Fifth Brother told me that once he has passed his exams and gotten married, he intends to ask father for a posting abroad, and he will take you with him.”

Madam Lin’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

Yan Yishuang nodded, pressing on, “But, Auntie, the official world is perilous. Fifth Brother will need the family’s support, so you absolutely must not offend Madam, understand?”

Madam Lin grunted in agreement, her reluctance considerably less this time.

Seeing that she had finally persuaded her mother, Yan Yishuang also breathed a sigh of relief.

After her marriage, and with Fifth Brother busy with his studies and unable to constantly watch over Auntie, letting her calm down completely was the only way to ensure a better life in the Yan Residence.

Hearing from the maid that Daohua had returned, Madam Lin knew Daohua would definitely come to see her daughter and took the initiative to leave.

Yan Yishuang did not ask her to stay. Previously, she did not understand why her elder sister disliked Auntie so much, but now that she was about to be married, she suddenly understood.

The wife and concubines are never compatible.

After sitting for a while in Madam Lee’s room, Daohua arrived at Yan Yishuang’s courtyard with three sisters-in-law.

Yan Yishuang welcomed the four into the house with a smile.

In recent years, Yan Yishuang had become quite sociable, getting along well with Han Xinran and the other two, and there were no insurmountable conflicts between Daohua and her. The atmosphere was quite pleasant as they chatted together.

It was almost noon by the time Daohua and the others left.

As soon as they left, the Senior Maid brought in the dowry gifts from Daohua that were meant for Yan Yishuang, “The eldest sister sent over several boxes of things, who knows what all is in them?”

Yan Yishuang opened the largest wooden box and immediately a set of radiant gemstone headdresses caught her eye.

She quickly opened the other boxes, each filled with exquisite pearl hairpins and bracelets.

“After all, time makes a difference, when the Second Daughter was getting married, the gifts the Eldest Sister presented her were far less than what she has given you,” the maid said gleefully.

“Right, Miss, there are also several bolts of Shu Brocade and Yunjin outside, the designs are beautiful, all to your liking.”

Yan Yishuang smiled, “Elder sister has been thoughtful.” Pausing, she added, “But keep the gifts from the Eldest Sister quiet, lest Uncle and Aunt start coveting them again.”

On June 29th, Yan Yishuang was married.

Over the past two years, there had been many marriages within the Yan Family, but compared to her siblings’, Yan Yishuang’s marriage was the least lively; not many families attended.

Daohua stood in front of the grand entrance of Yan Residence, watching Yan Yishuang get into the bridal sedan. She surveyed the guests who had come for the wedding and felt deeply moved.

The Yan Family, due to her involvement with Prince Residence, had instantly risen dramatically in status, but now with her and Xiao Yeyang facing ostracism, the saying that the fortune of one affects the whole really seemed to be taken to the extreme.