Chapter 168: Betrothal Gifts

Shen house—strange mood—decree—clouds under forced cheer.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan out early—seeking escape—empty hands. Public decree—block resistance—emperor's word water spilled—past princess loved top scholar—scholar had wife—"word is bond"—divorce and remarry.
Shen Qiu guilty—rare treasures—"Brother useless—only trinkets."
Shen Miao speechless—knew not so bad—couldn't tell family—Shen Xin learned Xie's true aim—explosion.
Ming Qi—family ties—hands tied—Great Li under Xie's name—easier.
Others thought her pretending—reading—Bailu rushed—"Miss—mistress wants hall—Rui Manor sent gift list!"
Gift list?
Bold—family hates him—add fuel—his style.
Hall—Luo Xueyan holding long scroll—Shen Qiu and Shen Xin craning—Luo Tan hands over mouth—Luo Ling complex—strange faces.
Step in—stranger—recognize—bearded middle man—Xie's guard—Congyang called him Tieyi—fierce—today big red robe—gold peach-thread phoenix clouds—festive—dark skin—heroism buried—looked foolish.
Bow—"Princess Consort."
Qiu coughed—glared—"Don't!"
Tieyi ignored.
Almost laugh—Xie sabotage? Gift list needs festive matron—Rui rich—send this bear—joke on purpose.
Luo Tan—"Standing dumb—look at the list!" Wink—excited.
Walked over.
Fine scroll—gold-dust fragrant wood—green cat's eye on cover—luxury—list itself costly—parents not vain—still showed regard—faces eased.
Luo Xueyan to Tieyi—"Read."
Custom—groom's man chants—longer—richer—bride's honor.
Tieyi unaccustomed—page one dry—"Huanghuali canopy bed with crabapple… red sandalwood screen bed… cabinets… nanmu bookcases… paired curio shelves… cowpea-red vases… mother-of-pearl table… inlaid money cabinets…"
Furniture—stunned—won't fit Shen Manor—three houses worth!
Page two ornaments—"Agarwood jade ruyi… jade ruyi… tin lamp… gilt clock… silver watch… jade bamboo… silver plum stone… famille rose plate… tea jar… wine… mirrors… screens…"
Each item—years of common life—pile of wealth—Luo Tan sniffed—pulled sleeve—"What does Rui family do—salt merchants?"
Parents frowned—too rich.
Page three daily—"Boxwood combs… bamboo picks… rosewood vanity… basins… soap… curtains… bead curtains… tassels… paired pillows… eight spreads eight covers…"
All: "……"
Page four clothes—"Fur flag robes… sable… grey sable… sheepskin… pearl fleece… twelve cotton sets… thirty-two layered sets… gauze… twelve open coats… auspicious patterns… thirty rolls silk… six fragrant cloud gauze… twenty brocade… ten cloud brocade… twelve gauze… thirty-six quilt faces… twenty embroidered shoes… forty silk socks…"
Luo Xueyan—"Young brother—wrong list?"
Not bride—princess marriage—princess less!
Tieyi blank—"Only one list—please continue."
Page five jewels—"Coral court beads… gold foil… amber… agarwood… jade pendants… crystal… pearl strings…"
Page six antiques—"Woven gold porcelain… Langyao… Chenghua… Xuande…"
Page seven books four chests—scholar's tools one chest.
Page eight maids servants—dedicated guards.
Page nine horses carriages.
Page ten…
All: "……"
Tieyi smoother—opera veteran—silver vision each line—final note—breath—closed—looked at Shen Miao.
"Estates not on list—they're in Great Li." Honest smile—"All converted—ten thousand jin gold."
Ten thousand jin!
Luo Tan near fainted.
"Also—all houses between Rui Manor and Shen residence—deeds later." Scroll to Luo Xueyan—"Please accept."
She didn't.
Room stone—dared not.
Ten thousand jin—long list—Ming Qi's richest?
Rui moved Great Li treasury?
Mad?
Shen Xin frowned—Qiu first—careful—"Does your emperor know this list?"
Tieyi paused—understood—smile—"His Majesty cares little for things—not a large sum."
Shock—Tieyi—"In Great Li royalty—gold pearls like sand everywhere."
Respect—Great Li rich—Ming Qi treasury filled by dowry—still pebbles to them.
"Rest assured—Princess Consort—by Great Li royal rites."
Parents eased—not greedy—care ceremony—this exceeded empress's wedding half.
Common ministers can't outshine throne—Rui foreign—no rule—grandest since founding.
Comfort—decree fixed—splendid exit—many girls' dream—compensation.
Grudge faded—bearded man kinder.
"Why no birth charts yet?"
Imperial match—skipped.
"Master had monks calculate—heaven-made pair—five hundred years—send yours—his with deeds."
Earnest—no fault to find.
Luo Tan—"Wedding when—decree no date?"
Smile—"Betrothal letter ready—after New Year return Great Li—grand wedding day—red procession to capital gates."
Ming Qi rites—then announce to Great Li subjects—high position—Rui consort to the world.
Parents exchanged doubt—so attentive—real affection?
Impossible—barely met!
Luo Ling eyes dim—studied floor.
Reactions varied—Shen Miao flat—nod—"Thank you."
Tieyi humble—more deliveries—left.
After—parents sensed odd—if goal was split Shen and throne—decree enough—why spectacle—silver doesn't weigh—unless treasury overflow—why Ming Qi?
Redundant?
Qiu missed that—angry—"Weasel New Year visit—no good—think Shen greedy—sell daughter not marry—envy Shen?"
Silence.
Royal envy—ordinary worse—Great Li sender—no one dares touch—sleepless Dingjing—Shen Xin's enemies vomit blood.
Luo Tan grin—"Generous brother-in-law beats stingy—man who spends on girl is good—not married yet—this much—married won't suffer." "Brother-in-law"—eyes ache.
Shen Xin head—"Where stack?"
"Warehouse full—furniture cloth—build granary?"
Almost laugh—"He bought those houses—ours after—guards store—or live Rui Manor."
Shen Xin shook head—"Yanqing Lane—not for us—royal kin—what would people say—" Tieyi's words—pain flash—"After New Year he goes—Jiaojiao—"
After New Year—Great Li.
Silence.
Parting—kin—never sweet.
Divert—"Such gifts—what dowry?"
Luo Tan thirsty—tea—sprayed Luo Ling—"Dowry? Heaven!"
Thunder on heads.
Custom—match gifts—needn't exceed—can't far less—pressed in husband's house—close means favor.
Shen Xin dotes—but dowry—match this—empty Ming Qi treasury—
Rui's puzzle.
……
Night—lamplight—Tieyi chanting long list—wanted laugh.
Xie too wild—envy and hate Shen house—list will leak—timing only.
Did Yongle know? Bitter.
Past life Fu's gifts—paltry—even good officials better—Ding Manor poor—simple nature—she believed—parents gave half Shen harvest dowry.
All subsidized Fu.
Buy loyalty—silver—she counted pennies—sold old antiques—years she paid—Fu never returned—love voluntary—still cold.
After throne—Fu generous to Mei and Fu Sheng—slap in face.
Marry Xie—unclear—stirring—not past life's fire—yet beyond imagination.
Unexpected anticipation.
Knock knock—Congyang outside—opened—bow—"Princess Consort—master asks you come."
Stunned—then brisk—"Good." Words for him.
Not first awkwardness—Rui Manor familiar—poor Congyang—straw stacks for wall climb—maybe knock through all walls.
Servants saw her—stopped—"Princess Consort!"
Her: "……"
Congyang happy—"Everyone likes you."
Awkward—mixed feelings.
Backyard—white fur ball pounced—chewed hem.
Lazy voice in dark—"Jiaojiao—come."
Tree—Xie arms folded—smiling at her—and the white tiger below—unclear which he called.
Walked—tiger happy tail—familiar after few meetings—never played—like she'd raised it.
Beside him—"Why summon me?"
Brow—"Measure clothes."
"Measure?" Suspicious—pulled into brief hug—released.
Too fast—hold breath—petty to mention—yet cheated.
"Your temper—won't embroider quietly—best Great Li seamstresses—need size—" Looked up down—meaningful—"Hug tells."
"Shameless."
Lazy oh—"You seemed to like it."
Three sentences to rage—"Skilled—size from hug—much practice?"
Stared until spine crawl—grin—"Jealous? Hug back." Arms open—take your fill.
"Who'd hug you—" Disdain—"Question—why such gifts—house won't hold—can't match dowry—trouble on purpose?"
"That?" Idle—"Planned more."
About to speak—guard rushed—trouble—"Your Highness—outsider—shouting your name—held—"
"So?"
"Pingnan Earl's heir Su Mingfeng."
Head up sharp.
Front hall—bound young man—mummy ropes—gag—furious eyes—struggling vain.
Su Mingfeng.
Long watched Rui Manor—Shen house—princess manor—suspicion deepened—Rui is dead Xie—absurd—rooted stronger.
Xie and Shen—decree to Rui—if same person—clear.
Obsession others couldn't grasp—childhood friend—shaped his life.
Must verify—mask off—truth plain.
Mad—but necessary—not enter alone—decoy front—slip in—
Rui guards seasoned—caught.
Disappointed—caught anyway—might as well learn—struggle—name himself—draw Rui out.
Door—bearded guard—stopped.
Heart tight—signal—untie—remove gag.
"Master will see you—follow."