The ice lted and snow vanished, and soon another spring arrived.
Spring days were the perfect season for outings and leisurely excursions.
Changing into lightweight clothing, An Ning continued her daily routine of happily eating and drinking, occasionally accompanying her mother and little companions to various outings, collecting beautiful jewelry pieces, and sotis being summoned by the Empress Dowager to play in the palace.
Her little life was truly wonderful beyond words.
Right up until news ca of the Duke of Cheng'en's household welcoming their Young Master's Wife, the entire Yang household remained as quiet as ever.
With Yang's father's imposing presence upfront and news of the second young lady's death from illness having spread long ago, throughout the entire household, only the birth mother Concubine Sun had privately cried in secret. Even Yang Er's full brother from the sa mother didn't dare ntion it casually.
Even on the wedding day, not a single person from the Yang family attended, and the congratulatory gifts they sent were strictly proper and conventional.
eting Yang Yuan again—now she should be called Jiang Yuan—was on the day of this body's eldest sister's wedding.
As the Young Master's Wife, the newcor's makeup was undoubtedly exquisite. She wore a gold-printed white silk pleated skirt with a vermilion-colored Badaluo lantern-patterned brocade long jacket adorned above. A complete set of kingfisher feather headpieces added so brilliance to her originally delicate features.
Every part of her exuded grace and luxury, yet the bottomless gloom about her ultimately diminished her radiance sowhat.
Because of this completely different temperant, even though their appearances were similar, it was hard to see any trace of the forrly talented Second Miss Yang who had been renowned throughout the capital in this person.
Could this person truly be a distant cousin of the Duke of Cheng'en's household? So madams who had occasionally heard whispers wondered to themselves.
That said, due to Second Miss Yang's previous influence, among the gathered noble ladies, almost none actively stepped forward to socialize with this Young Master's Wife. Even the Young Master's own sister, Third Miss Huang, barely maintained a proper expression.
From beginning to end, the words exchanged between them could be counted on one hand.
An Ning even keenly noticed that beneath Third Miss Huang's wide sleeves, both wrists were tightly adorned with familiar jade talismans...
Yet Jiang Yuan before them seed already accustod to all this, her smiling expression remaining unchanged. Only when looking at the dowry procession—one carrying platform after another stretching almost beyond sight—did her gaze finally pause montarily.
As the legitimate eldest daughter of the Attendant Minister's household, Yang Wan's dowry was indeed impressive. Not only did the old madam supplent it, but as her own biological daughter, despite years of cooled affections, Yu didn't slight this eldest daughter in matters concerning her lifeti marriage provisions.
The private savings accumulated over the years included six complete sets of jewelry and headpieces alone. Pure gold, coral red jade, kingfisher feather pearl hairpins—truly everything one could want. There were also several farmland estates and shop fronts obtained from Yang's father.
Such extravagance even made Si Mo, Yang Wan's personal maid, montarily stunned:
"I never imagined Madam had such substantial resources!"
Including privately gifted silver, the value exceeded even what the old madam had given.
Looking at the list totaling no fewer than several pages, Si Mo couldn't conceal the amazent in her eyes.
After all, everyone in the household knew the madam's background wasn't outstanding—her birth mother died young, and her birth father had only been a fifth-rank official. Rumor had it that even her wedding dowry had been partially empty displays.
The old madam had been extrely displeased about this, frequently cursing the in-laws for being shallow-minded.
Besides, they hadn't been nearly this generous when the eldest young master got married earlier!
"Madam truly cares for our young lady after all!"
The young maid Si Mo couldn't help but exclaim.
Rubbing the finely crafted mutton fat jade bracelet in her hand, Yang Wan's eyes flickered montarily. Si Shu nearby lightly coughed:
"The old madam is getting older and needs to keep so personal savings, but her care for the young lady is always visible."
During a hair-styling break, Si Shu quietly leaned close to her ear, whispering in a voice only they could hear:
"Young lady mustn't forget—this marriage was obtained because the old madam set aside her pride to specifically request it for you. It's also because the old madam has extensive connections; this Cui family is a century-old prestigious lineage with generations of scholarly officials—ordinary people probably couldn't even find their gate..."
Pausing briefly, struggle flashed in Yang Wan's eyes before she finally set down the jade bracelet and instead put on the filigree phoenix bracelet that Si Shu personally presented—one previously awarded by the old madam...
"Mother has always been broad-minded—she likely won't care about these trivial matters."
Staring fixedly at the jade bracelet lying quietly in the jewelry box, as if comforting herself, Yang Wan couldn't help but murmur.
Si Shu nearby similarly smiled: "Yes, as long as it suits our young lady's heart. Madam is magnanimous—she won't mind these things at all..."
Listening to their conversation, Si Mo, who was organizing jewelry not far away, hesitated briefly as if wanting to say sothing. But seeing her young lady's determined eyes, she ultimately remained silent.
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