The marriage differences between children born of concubines and legitimate wives

  As expected, Ruyu knew that Yushi's performance was indeed a bit weak, but at this time, she couldn't help jumping out to relieve her. "Brother, you can't just blame your sister-in-law all the time. Your sister-in-law did this for your sake, I think her original intention was that if she offended Huang Furen, wouldn't it be another enemy for you in the officialdom? Sister-in-law, what I said is right, isn't it?"

  Yu nodded hastily, "Right, right, I indeed had this idea, husband, I know that Mrs. Huang is really hateful, but if we rashly offend her, won't you be making another enemy in the official circle?"

  "An enemy?" Zhi Yi sneered and sat down calmly, "A mere Huang family dares to make an enemy of me? They can barely protect themselves."

  Then he didn't hide the truth from them, explaining that he and Li Xiao and Fu Yuan had already grasped conclusive evidence of the Huang family's collusion with the bandits, but since it was approaching the New Year, it wasn't suitable to kill them, so they temporarily endured it. Come next spring, the first ones to be executed would be them.

  As soon as he heard this, he clapped his hands and laughed, and then asked what would happen to the Huang family if they were convicted of colluding with bandits. Zhiyi replied: "Dismissal from office, beheading of the ringleader in public. However, I have changed my mind now." Zhiyi's words were light and casual, but full of murderous intent. "Dismissal from office, confiscation of property, beheading of the ringleader, all family members within three generations will be demoted to a lower social status, let them see how noble their identity is."

  On the snowy New Year's Eve, it was warm and joyful, like a reward from the heavens. The Yu family gave a thick, purple embroidered pouch filled with plump, round gold beans. Zhiyi gave a complete set of golden and silver hair accessories. Like Xiang received the delicate, almost weighty box, opened the intricately inlaid silver red wood chest, and was blinded by the bright yellow color. Suddenly, she was speechless: this extremely black-bellied brother had previously claimed to have good taste, saying he was a low-key, wealthy gentleman. Now, it seemed that he was indeed a big spender who had struck gold. Afraid that others wouldn't know that he had received the emperor's reward of pure gold and silver, this chest of accessories was all made of pure gold: hairpins, pearl hairpins, large hanging pearl hairpins, forehead decorations, earrings, golden foot pendants, bracelets, necklaces, protective lockets... But such heavy headgear, worn on the head and body, would probably make one's neck ache.

  The meaning is that it's a gift prepared in advance for the wedding, at first, the couple was quite happy about it, but now, it's all bitter water...

  But as for Qingshang, who is so big, he has never seen such a neat and tidy head, although he secretly despises the vulgarity of gold, he still held the wooden box and was delighted for a long time.

  Outside, the sound of firecrackers came in waves, but for fear of startling the two young masters, the General's mansion was quiet and still. It seemed that after a bout of pyrotechnic madness, they had stopped setting off fireworks and were now sitting inside, counting their private stores with Xiang Ling.

  At this time, Zhiyi arrived at Linlang Garden with a body of wind and snow.

  "Brother, is there still something going on so late?" Yu hurriedly put away the box and took off his shoes from the kang, got down to the ground, and greeted Zhiyi who had just entered from outside.

  Chen Xiang personally took the dark black velvet cloak from Zhi Yi's body and hung it on a wooden frame beside him. Linglong hurriedly poured hot tea, and with tongs, she stirred up the fire in the stove, making the room warm as spring. The faint scent of incense wafted from the censer, and on the red wood high-waisted square table was placed a beautiful white-based celadon vase, in which was inserted a bunch of blooming winter plum blossoms, now exuding a refreshing fragrance. Zhi Yi took a deep breath, with Ruyi just across the narrow edge of the small square table, and the sweet scent lingering around his nose, he couldn't tell whether it came from the winter plum blossoms or from his own sister's body.

  She was dressed in a simple white silk skirt and a small jacket, with no jewelry on her head. She had combed her hair back and secured it with a gold chain, revealing a pair of calm and serene eyes that sparkled like strange fireworks under the soft light of the candles made of sheep fat jade.

  Carefully sizing up this girl, on her face that had not yet applied powder, the round and tender face was quiet, delicate and pure beauty, but also had a maturity and melancholy that did not match her age. Putting aside her identity, this girl's appearance is indeed good-looking, unlike Zhang Niang's weakness and gentleness when she was young, nor does it have the kind of bold and aggressive beauty of the county princess, nor does it have Fei Yan's coquettishness and seductive charm that penetrates to the bone. However, this girl is more comfortable to look at the more you see her, if she were to marry into the Xiang family, it would indeed be a waste.

  But...

  Ruoxi looked at Zhiyi with a strange expression and said softly: "Brother, what's troubling you again?"

  Zhi Yi turned his eyes, shook his head, and said lightly: "Nothing, it's just that next year when spring begins, you'll have to return to the capital. It's just a bit sentimental."

  It's been two years since she came here, and although she had encountered some frustrating things, overall, it was more comfortable than the Fang family in Beijing. This second brother may not be good at expressing himself, but he silently paid out for her in his own way. Sister-in-law Yu also treated her well, and she lived like a fish in water here, really unwilling to return to that Fang Fu which was full of calculations and struggles everywhere.

  But alas, all banquets in this world must come to an end...

  "Brother can't bear to part with his sister? Alas, I also can't bear to part with brother, and sister-in-law, and Yuan Ge, and Chun Ge." If she had known Datong was so much fun, she shouldn't have gotten engaged so early.

  Zhī Yì was silent for a while before suddenly saying: "Once we've agreed to marry into the Xiang family, can't it be changed or called off?"

  As if lost in thought, she stared at her elder brother's ancient copper-colored face. Her second brother had always been handsome, and the trials of time and war had filled him with a heartbreaking dignity from head to toe. At this moment, however, his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, not as if he was annoyed, but rather as if he was plotting something.

  "As the engagement has been made, there is no reason to cancel it." Once an engagement is made and a written document is drawn up, it has legal effect and cannot be easily cancelled unless one party commits a serious wrongdoing.

  "Why are you asking this, brother?" Ruo Qing knew that her family had never thought highly of the Xiang family, and that they looked down on them. They were afraid that she would suffer if she married into their family. However, Ruo Qing felt that the Xiang family was not bad, they were simple people who didn't require much fuss. Moreover, as a concubine's daughter, being able to marry into the Xiang family was already quite good. The difference between a concubine's daughter and a legitimate daughter couldn't be seen when they were young, but it would become apparent when choosing a husband's family.

  Although she had been suffocated before, she still didn't have the courage and perseverance to confront the entire clan's etiquette, so even if she was dissatisfied, she could only hide it in her heart, comfort herself, and follow the customs.

  Zhi Yi gazed at Ruo Qing's lovely face, let out a soft sigh, and said no more. He could only regret that when Ruo Qing was betrothed, he himself had not been in the capital to guard her.

  Digression

  The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, and foodies are starting to flood into the stores. Today's shipment was so busy that I didn't even have time to catch my breath until the last courier left. Sorry about that!