Chapter 5: Unfortunate Beginning

The nanny indulged herself, wiped the oil off her mouth, chewed some tea leaves to freshen her breath, and then took the empty food box back to check the situation.

Mrs. Qian took the food box in her hand and shook it gently without a word. Confirming it was empty and that the Xia family had not reciprocated, she coldly snorted. This Mrs. Xue was truly a miserly penny-pincher.

She turned to Ansheng with a smile and said, "Your grandmother steamed a total of thirty-six dumplings and sixteen red bean sticky rice cakes. Although they are not rare items, remember to personally serve some to your mother and sisters later."

Ansheng understood and readily agreed with a sly smile.

The nanny's face turned as red as a pig's liver.

Once Mrs. Qian left, the nanny became exceptionally attentive, showering Ansheng with flattery and welcoming words. Her face, like a steamed bun, trembled with folds, looking just like the buns at Qingfeng Restaurant.

She might not care much for Ansheng and her sister, but rules were rules. When it came to Mrs. Xue, she couldn't afford to be greedy or negligent. Mrs. Xue had specifically instructed her to keep a close eye on Mrs. Qian and Ansheng.

Little did she expect Mrs. Qian to be so meticulous. It served her right for being nothing more than a lowly merchant all her life.

Ansheng sent Qingju to bring some snacks from the kitchen.

After peeling off layer by layer, only half of the snacks remained.

Ansheng stared meaningfully at the plate of soup dumplings, counting them one by one.

She harbored deep hatred for the nanny, who had been an accomplice in her mother's death. But now, with her sister's marriage at stake, she had to suppress her anger and couldn't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture. A small punishment for a big lesson was all she could do.

The nanny, knowing her place, immediately knelt down before Ansheng.

"Miss, the nanny couldn't resist and had two of the snacks in the kitchen. Please forgive me, I won't dare to do it again."

Ansheng raised her face and blinked at the nanny. "Did you go out just now?"

The nanny was momentarily stunned, then instantly understood Ansheng's meaning. "No, I've been right here all along, never leaving."

Ansheng pushed the plate in her hand. "Then could you please take this plate of snacks to my mother?"

The nanny nodded vigorously, smiling obsequiously. "I will certainly follow your orders, Miss."

Ansheng smiled faintly and waved her hand. "If my mother asks, you should know what to say."

"Of course, of course."

Relieved, the nanny got up and hurriedly carried the snacks to Mrs. Xue's room, feeling guilty for being caught by Ansheng and not daring to speak carelessly.

Ansheng and Anran endured the first night in eager anticipation and the second day in anxious unease, feeling like an eternity.

Now it was the last day, and the wedding procession would arrive tomorrow. The front yard remained calm, and there was no news from the Meng family, as usual.

Anran was on edge, with even a fine layer of sweat on her nose.

Ansheng was also filled with anxiety, sweating in her palms, listening intently to the commotion in the front yard.

The entire Xia Mansion was filled with the joy of Mrs. Xue's bustling excitement, with laughter and cheers echoing through the air. Mrs. Xue's laughter, in particular, was as loud as a hen that had just laid an egg.

How she hoped that the laughter would suddenly stop, getting stuck in Mrs. Xue's throat, signaling a turning point in the situation.

Her heart sank inch by inch, and hope became increasingly faint.

Mrs. Qian stepped over the newly polished threshold of the Meng Mansion, glancing down at the embroidered fabric wrapped in red cloth in her arms, and smiled contentedly.

The marriage of a daughter from the Xia family had caused chaos for Mrs. Xue alone. In contrast, the Meng Mansion was orderly, reflecting the competence and adherence to tradition of the mistress of the house.

Due to her previous acquaintance with Mrs. Meng, Mrs. Qian was brought to her presence, where she paid her respects and offered tea, with a subtle air of aloofness.

"I heard of the joyous occasion at your mansion. I came to congratulate Mrs. Meng and, in business, I brought a fine piece of embroidery for her to see, to see if it meets the standards of your scholarly family."

Mrs. Qian carefully wore a smile, openly stating her purpose and slowly unfolding the embroidered "Distant Mountains at Sunset" in front of Mrs. Meng, observing her reaction.

Mrs. Meng only glanced at it perfunctorily, and before she could politely decline, she was struck by its beauty.

"What a serene and elegant artistic conception. It would make a good table screen. My husband appreciates such transcendent imagery."

Mrs. Qian brought the embroidery closer to Mrs. Meng. "Especially the embroidery and needlework. Mrs. Meng, as a connoisseur, could you offer some guidance?"

Mrs. Meng became interested and carefully examined it, suddenly filled with suspicion. How could this embroidery have the exact same technique as the two embroidered screens sent as gifts from the Xia family?

Her eyes flickered, she straightened her back, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and calmly said, "Not bad."

Seeing that she wasn't taking the bait, Mrs. Qian cursed inwardly at her cunningness and, with a disappointed expression, sighed and made it clear, "I won't hide it from you. This embroidery was done by my talented niece, Xia Anran."

Mrs. Meng's hand holding the teacup stiffened, and she raised an eyebrow nonchalantly.

Mrs. Qian had been talking to herself all along and felt a bit embarrassed. She carefully observed Mrs. Meng's reaction, sighed regretfully, and frankly said, "If it weren't for her own mother's early passing and the stepmother's favoritism, allowing her own daughter to take her place in your family's marriage negotiations, we would still be the closest of in-laws."

Lady Meng sneered coldly, her face stiffened as she slammed the teacup in her hand onto the nearby table, splashing the clear and bright tea, still emitting wisps of steam.

"What nonsense is the Qin family's daughter-in-law talking about? I personally inspected the Xia family's young lady, who is as smart as ice and snow, with a dignified appearance, which is why the marriage alliance between the Qin and Jin families was formed. Where does the talk of deceit and substitution come from?"

"In the beginning, it was clearly arranged by my family's grandmother for the Xia family's young lady. The birth dates on the engagement letter were clear. Xia Ziyu has just come of age, and she is born of a concubine."

Lady Meng suddenly stood up, "My Meng family upholds integrity and righteousness, values trust and old relationships. I agreed to this marriage alliance, and we also proposed to marry a daughter from the Xia family. Whether the Xia family is willing to betroth which daughter to my son is their own business. If your slanderous words spread and cause gossip, won't it tarnish the reputation of our Meng family, which upholds the teachings of Confucius and Mencius?"

As Lady Meng interrupted, Mrs. Qian's face couldn't hold back her embarrassment. It turns out that the Meng family is cunning and tacitly aware of the Xia family's deceit.

Upon further thought, the Xia family also has an ambitious eldest son behind them. Marrying the favored Xia Ziyu will naturally benefit him in the future. Today, she has really come to court disaster by rushing to be humiliated.

She was unwilling to give up, "Choosing a wife should be based on virtue. Does the lady know the usual character of the third young lady? She is malicious and arrogant..."

"Hmph, just because Xia Anran shamelessly invited the matchmaker to come and propose marriage today, it shows that she is usually undisciplined and unruly." Lady Meng coldly interrupted Mrs. Qian's words, mocking and ridiculing her, and directly issued an order to leave, "The wedding is approaching, and there are many trivial matters to attend to. You may leave now, and we won't see you off!"

Mrs. Qian was completely embarrassed and had no place to show her face. With a cold snort, she turned and left the residence.