Chapter 60 - 60 Dowry
60 Dowry
Gu Yanfei smiled with interest, her eyes curving slightly.
Only the bride’s dowry would follow her into the marriage with the Fang family. In other words, the Fang family was certain that the jade pendant would appear in the bride’s dowry.
“Meow, meow, meow!” The cat meowed a few more times, urging her. It meant that it had completed its mission according to her instructions, so where was its reward?
Gu Yanfei casually pushed the box containing the dried fish to it. The cat lowered its head and ate, making satisfied sounds.
Gu Yanfei sat down in front of the desk again and casually propped her elbows on the window sill. She clenched her right fist under her chin and looked at the withered flowers and trees outside the window in a daze, recalling what had happened in her previous life.
At that time, not long after she returned to the Marquis Mansion, her marriage with Fang Mingfeng was officially set. In February of the following year, her dowry was sent to the British Monarchy.
Later, the Fang family broke off the engagement on the grounds that she was chaste and flawed. Even her dowry was returned by the Fang family.
After the engagement was broken off, Madam Gu pushed all the blame on her and sent her to the nunnery to reflect on herself. She never even had the chance to count her dowry again.
In her previous life, did she have a jade pendant in her dowry?
Yes!
Half of her dowry was a public dowry, and the other half was her mother’s dowry. It was considered decent and had everything necessary, including jade pendants and all kinds of jewelry.
In her memory, the Gu family’s daughters were all equipped with ordinary items that were basically bought from jewelry shops in the capital.
So—
At this point, the answer clearly appeared in Gu Yanfei’s heart. The jade pendant that the Fang family wanted at all costs was most likely from her mother’s dowry.
“Meow?” Qing Guang finished the dried fish in the box and looked up. It licked its mouth with its pink tongue, then squatted in front of Gu Yanfei and meowed at her a few more times.
Even if Gu Yanfei did not understand cat language, she understood that this glutton had not eaten enough!
“Go away.” Gu Yanfei flicked the cat’s forehead with her finger.
As if it had suffered a heavy blow, the cat fell to the ground on all fours, revealing its snow-white and soft abdomen in front of Gu Yanfei. It curled its four claws and tried its best to act cute.
Gu Yanfei pretended not to see it and took out a booklet from the drawer.
This was the dowry list given to her by her mother, Madam Xie. It was given to her by her eldest brother, Gu Yuan, before he returned to the military camp.
Since she had nothing to do, it was time to count her mother’s dowry.
The greedy kitten refused to give up. One moment, it licked the back of Gu Yanfei’s hand, the next moment, it rubbed its cheek against her calf, and the very next moment, it twisted around on the desk like a caterpillar…
Gu Yanfei remained unmoved and flipped through the dowry booklet in front of her.
The Xie family was a military family and was not from a prestigious family. Therefore, her mother’s dowry was not considered generous, but it was very thorough. There were all kinds of gold, silver, and jewelry, silk, antique calligraphy, furnishings, farm houses, and so on.
In her previous life, Big Brother had also given her this dowry list. However, as soon as Big Brother left, the list was forcefully taken away by Granny Xu, who kept saying, “Second Lady, you don’t understand these things. Let Madam Gu keep this dowry list in case you’re deceived.”
Back then, she felt inferior and had an introverted personality, so she did not dare to say no to Granny Xu at all. Since she really did not understand common affairs, she thought that Granny Xu was right.
Gu Yanfei casually flipped through the dowry booklet and skimmed through it. Only when she reached the category of gold, silver, and jewelry did she become focused.
There were five jade pendants mentioned in the book. The first was a Pixiu jade pendant, the second was a Qilin cloud-patterned white jade pendant, and the third…
Closing the dowry booklet, Gu Yanfei stood up and smoothed her skirt. As she walked out, she asked Juan Bi, “Is Gu Yunrong still in the Benevolent Harmony Hall?”
Juan Bi hurriedly said, “Miss, after the British Duchess arrived at the Benevolent Harmony Hall, the Third Lady was sent back to Cai Ling Courtyard by Madam Gu… Just now, the British Duchess had already left. The maidservant guarding the Benevolent Harmony Hall said that she didn’t look too good when she left.”
Gu Yanfei looked at the calico cat on the table and smiled with interest. “Let’s go to Cai Ling Courtyard.” After saying this, she walked out of the house.
Juan Bi hurried after her.
Outside, the sky had turned a dull dark blue. A white crescent moon could be vaguely seen between the clouds. Lanterns hung everywhere in the Marquis Mansion, flickering in the air like fireflies.
Juan Bi held a palace lamp and led the way for Gu Yanfei.
Cai Ling Courtyard was not far from Yuheng Garden. The master and servant shuttled through the courtyard in the evening breeze and arrived at Cai Ling Courtyard in about half a cup of tea’s time.
The maidservant guarding the courtyard reported Gu Yanfei’s arrival and guided her to Gu Yunrong’s small study.
Under the sparkling candlelight, Gu Yunrong sat on a pear blossom wooden chair with her long hair half draped over her shoulders. She had changed into a water-red gown that was neither new nor old, and it was difficult to hide her exhaustion.
For the past few days, she had been attending to Madam Gu’s illness at the Benevolent Harmony Hall and had not rested well. She was really tired now.
“Second Sister.” Gu Yunrong bowed as a form of greeting. As she spoke, she no longer had her usual smile and instead looked at Gu Yanfei with dissatisfaction.
Gu Yanfei was too cold to her biological grandmother, Madam Gu.
Indeed, bloodline was not the most important.
Gu Yanfei did not stand on ceremony with Gu Yunrong and said with a smile, “I heard that Madam Gu gave you the key to my mother’s small storeroom. I specially came to get it.”
Gu Yunrong raised her eyebrows. She did not expect Gu Yanfei to come for this.
Gu Yanfei stood three steps away and looked at Gu Yunrong.
Her lips were naturally curled up, and there was a hint of a smile when she pursed her lips.
Looking at Gu Yanfei’s matter-of-fact expression, other than dissatisfaction, Gu Yunrong also felt uncomfortable.
As early as when she was 10 years old, Madam Gu had solemnly handed her the key to the storeroom and even told her, “Rong’er, this storeroom is filled with your mother’s dowry. Everything inside is for you. As for the farmland and silver in the dowry, you and your eldest brother will split it equally. Now, Grandma will take care of it for you first. When you reach marriageable age, I’ll give it to you.”
At that time, Gu Yuan also treated her as a pearl in his palm and said with a smile, “Rong’er, I’ll give you all of Mother’s dowry. I still have to earn more dowry for you.”
Madam Gu and Gu Yuan’s loving voices at that time rang in her ears, but…
A hidden corner in the depths of Gu Yunrong’s heart throbbed slightly. She felt empty, as if she had lost something, or as if everything that once belonged to her had been taken away bit by bit.
She retreated step by step, but Gu Yanfei did not care about her at all and pressed on.
The flickering candlelight reflected in Gu Yunrong’s eyes, as if an unknown flame was burning in her pupils.