coobybook Chapter 305 Sisters Whisper
Chapter 305 Sisters Whisper
The Spring Festival is undoubtedly a time for hosting and being hosted. The Li family finally breathed a sigh of relief after the Lantern Festival.
The New Year celebrations are truly over, and next comes spring plowing.
But Li Xiaonuan still had one thing to do: find a place to build a house for Sang Moyun and her daughter.
Li Xiaonuan once asked Sang Moyun why he would give up the bustling capital city and choose to live in Zhoucun, a small village in the south.
This is how Sang Moyun answered.
“My mother and I didn’t like the capital city to begin with. If that person hadn’t tried to use my grandfather’s influence to get promoted and deceived my mother, she would have wanted to marry out of the capital. Besides, this is my grandfather’s hometown.”
Sang Moyun's maternal grandfather was from the prefectural city, born in the countryside and rising to prominence in the imperial court. But in the end, he could not escape the cruel crushing of the regime and became one of the first loyal officials to be framed by the Wang family.
What's most chilling is that the person who helped Wang frame Sang Moyun's maternal grandfather was Sang Moyun's own father.
Before returning, Li Xiaonuan learned from Qi Ji that Sang Moyun's father had been sent to the Northwest.
Because Sang Moyun and her daughter cut off supplies to the Sang family, the family is now in dire financial straits. The mistress of the house, who also serves as the steward, has already dismissed many servants in an effort to reduce expenses.
Furthermore, the young master Qu, who originally had a verbal engagement with Sang Moyun, also dissolved his engagement with the second young lady of the Sang family.
Of course, Sang Moyun and her daughter knew all about these things. However, they both acted indifferently, as if they didn't know that family at all.
"I heard that before we came back, that mother and daughter caused a scene at your estate?" Li Xiaonuan was quite curious about that incident.
It was because of that incident that the second young lady of the Sang family's engagement was dissolved. Furthermore, the concubine was also ostracized by the noblewomen's circles in the capital.
"Hmph, what else could they possibly be up to? It's all about money. They brought a lot of people to our door, claiming they were taking over the Sang family's businesses. They even said that as the principal wife of the Sang family, my mother should return to the mansion to manage the household affairs," Sang Moyun said nonchalantly.
"Is it really that simple?" Li Xiaonuan didn't believe it.
"What else could they do? They just wanted to take my mother and me back to their manor and imprison us because they outnumbered us. They think the people they've planted on the estate and in the shops over the years are very useful. Little do they know that those people have long been controlled by my mother's dowry." As Sang Moyun spoke, a hint of anger appeared on her face.
Li Xiaonuan could tell that something else must have happened during that time.
"Could it be that one of the dowry members betrayed their own family?" Li Xiaonuan asked tentatively.
"Oh my, how come you guessed it so easily? There were a few bad apples, weren't there? Luckily, my mother knew to hide those indentures well, otherwise those people would have caused a huge uproar. Guess what they did?" Sang Moyun asked mysteriously.
"Besides seizing property and fabricating indentures to smuggle themselves out of the family register, they probably won't do anything else. Maybe they're even colluding with that concubine to try and take over all of your mother's dowry?" Li Xiaonuan thought that if that were the case, it would be terrifying.
"Oh dear, how come you always guess right? Just like you said. Luckily, my grandfather was farsighted and tampered with the indentures long ago. That's why we sold all those wicked slaves before we came here," Sang Moyun said again, seemingly nonchalantly.
"Did those people make a scene when they were sold off? And then your second young lady suffered the consequences?" Li Xiaonuan asked.
Sang Moyun replied, "That has nothing to do with me. It was the second young lady who promised them that Young Master Qu would help them settle the matter of the indenture. Besides, the second young lady took so many good things from my mother's shop, she didn't lose out, did she?"
She didn't suffer any loss, but her reputation was ruined, and she could never marry into a good family again.
“That…that Young Master Qu…” Li Xiaonuan wanted to know why Young Master Qu wanted to get engaged to Miss Sang.
"Hmph, it was just a trap set by that mother and daughter, who threatened him with their reputation and lives. Fortunately, that Young Master Qu hadn't married her before this." Sang Moyun's voice was calm and even.
"What if that Young Master Qu brings up that verbal marriage agreement and comes to your door to propose again?" Sang Moyun's maternal grandfather had made a verbal marriage agreement with Young Master Qu's father.
"If he has the nerve to come, then come. Anyway, if he really dares to come, I'll publicly refuse the marriage proposal," Sang Moyun said nonchalantly.
When her maternal grandfather was convicted, the Naqu family stood by and did nothing to help.
Poor Sang Moyun's maternal grandfather still took good care of and helped that Qu father.
Now things are better. Sang Moyun's maternal grandfather was exonerated and posthumously granted an official title. As the only surviving bloodline of her grandfather, Sang's mother received protection and was granted the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree.
This decision was made by the emperor after careful consideration, upon learning of the ordeal that Sang Moyun and her daughter had endured at the Sang residence.
Originally, the emperor thought that Sang's mother could divorce Sang's father. However, Sang's mother refused, saying that she could not delay Sang Moyun's life-long marriage.
After some thought, the emperor finally issued an imperial edict, allowing Sang's mother to choose her own life from now on, and Sang's father was not allowed to interfere.
From then on, Sang Muyun's parents became a couple in name only.
"Mo Yun, if Doctor Qi were to propose marriage, would you accept or refuse?" Li Xiaonuan could tell that both of them actually had feelings for each other.
Upon hearing Li Xiaonuan mention Qi Ji, Sang Moyun's expression stiffened. However, she quickly regained her composure.
"Don't joke with me. Doctor Qi is currently discussing marriage with Princess Lingyao. Besides, I've thought it through. I'll spend the rest of my life taking care of my mother. If there really is someone willing to take care of my mother with me, then I'll marry him." As Sang Moyun spoke, her gaze drifted into the distance.
"Actually, I think Dr. Qi is quite good to you. Why don't you consider him?" Li Xiaonuan always felt that something had happened between the two of them.
Sang Moyun glanced at Li Xiaonuan impatiently, then asked curiously, "Stop talking about me. Tell me, what do you think of Brother Yu? If he were to propose to you, would you agree?"
Well, he's hoisted himself by his own petard.
“Mo Yun, Wei Yu and I are not meant to be. We are too different, and I don’t like his complicated family. So, I plan to remain single. Anyway, my reputation is already ruined, so it will be difficult for me to get married.” Li Xiaonuan has been worried about Wei Yu lately.
Although she couldn't marry him, it didn't mean that Li Xiaonuan wouldn't care about him.
He's been in the border town for two months now, and I don't know how things are going.
Remembering what the old Taoist had said about Wei Yu's near-death experience, Li Xiaonuan felt anxious.
However, she didn't know where to inquire about Wei Yu, so she could only keep her worries to herself.
“How can there be no fate? Let me tell you, Brother Yu won’t stay in that house for long. He said before that if he gets married in the future, he must find a place far away from the capital to live a carefree life.” Sang Moyun tried to gain points for Wei Yu.
"Stop talking. If he comes back alive, it will be a great achievement. Then, he will be powerless to resist. Don't even mention me, Brother Liu Fei and Miss Chu are getting married on the second day of the second lunar month. What are you planning to give him?" Li Xiaonuan quickly changed the subject.
"Ah~ Grandma Yu agreed to the marriage between those two people?" Sang Moyun asked in surprise.