Wealth and glory seek stability

Lan Mei'er is the only daughter of Lan Cheng and also the legitimate daughter. She has a noble status. Unlike others, she has been taught etiquette by a maid in the palace since she was a child. Her every word and behavior is trained to imitate the mistress of a large family.

She knew that she had no say in her marriage, so she just said, "My father has the final say."

Anyway, she doesn't like Xuanyuan Chaocheng, so it will be the same no matter who she marries.

Lan An was carefree and didn't want his sister to marry the prince. "I've long disliked that prince. He's always been like a coward. Shen Nanxing looks better than him. I don't know what's wrong with His Majesty to make him the prince."

Lan Cheng slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Asshole, do you think you can talk about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? I haven't settled the score with you for the mess you caused last time. You'd better behave yourself these days. If you make a fool of yourself for that commoner girl, I will throw you to the Northwest Army for training. I have received news that at the birthday banquet of His Majesty the other day, Lin Yun has been canonized as the Crown Prince's concubine. We'll wait until the Crown Prince's concubine is selected and choose a date for the wedding."

"what?"

Lan An was surprised, how could it be?

"Third brother, you were fooled by that woman. She was clearly keeping you hanging and using you as a gun." In Lan Mei'er's eyes, Lin Yun's tricks were just like a child playing house, and Lan An was still eager to embarrass himself.

Lan An immediately retorted, "Mei'er, you are a lady from a wealthy family, how can you say that about Miss Lin? She was forced into a corner, it must have been the prince who forced her to do so."

"That's enough!" Lan Cheng was furious. "Isn't it embarrassing enough? Could it be that your sister would lie to you? Don't you look at your own status? You don't have the talent for martial arts that your two brothers have. They are stationed at the border for my Xuanyuan Dynasty, and what about you? You only know how to take advantage of your family's power to tease cats and dogs outside all day long. It's not decent. After the New Year, I will send you to your eldest brother to gain experience."

Lan Cheng made the decision without giving Lan An any chance to object.

The wife of Duke Lan said nothing. She might have a say in her daughter's upbringing, but she had to listen to Lan Cheng when it came to her son.

Lan An said reluctantly, "Yes."

no way.

Although the children of a big family seem to have a glorious life, they also have many frustrations. In the past, he could still challenge his father on some trivial matters, but when it comes to major events like this one concerning the development of the family, he has no choice, and the same goes for Lan Mei'er.

After New Year’s Eve, the days suddenly went by faster.

Jian Xi immediately let everyone in the mansion spread the word that she was seriously ill and could not get out of bed.

The purpose was to use illness as an excuse to turn down those cumbersome banquet invitations.

Even though I went to the banquet, it was just a formality and not interesting at all.

Who knew that I couldn't go to the party, but someone came to visit me.

Dongfang Wenying, whom she met once at the Hanmei Banquet, sent a visiting card, saying that she missed Jian Xi and wanted to come and visit.

Jian Xi specially picked a day when Shen Nanxing was away on business and invited Dongfang Wenying.

*

"Can you tell me?"

"Auntie, what do you want me to say?"

"Nonsense, of course it's my brother's marriage."

"Marriage matching is no joke. You don't even have your birth date, so there's nothing I can do."

Jian Xi looked at him disdainfully and asked, "Then can you read faces?"

Mo Chuan scratched his hair, feeling that he couldn't escape this disaster. This woman was not a quiet beauty at all, but clearly a queen of flower.

but--

"How do you know I can tell fortunes?"

Jian Xi picked up the Chengyao cup on the table and took a sip of tea. "Don't worry about this. I'm not asking you to calculate it for nothing. As long as you help me calculate this, I will naturally give you a generous gift as a thank you."

Mo Chuan's eyes rolled around, "But my master told me not to ask for divination within a year."

The teacup slammed heavily on the table.

Snapped!

"The one-year period has passed. If you don't count it, I can also go find the spiritual treasure." Jian Xi said as she was about to walk out the door.

Mo Chuan hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Jian Xi.

"How dare you!" Zi Cui shouted.

Mo Chuan was so scared that he quickly let go of her hand and said with a smile: "Hehehe, sorry for being rude, please don't blame me, young lady."

Jian Xi sat down on the chair at the door and said calmly, "How is it? Does it count?"

Mo Chuan put on a fawning smile and said cheerfully: "Of course it counts, but I don't know how much this precious gift will cost..." He pretended to be very embarrassed and rubbed his hands.

Jian Xi stretched out five fingers.

"Fifty taels?!" Mo Chuan screamed.

Then, as if afraid that Jian would go back on his word, he quickly agreed, "Deal, deal. I want cash. I'm ready when the payment is due." Mo Chuan took out a tortoise shell that looked very old from the cloth bag he was carrying and shook it in a pretentious manner.

Jian Xi:......

She originally wanted to say five thousand taels. Could this man be crazy because of poverty? Not only did he lower his own price, but he also acted like he got a bargain.

This is a good thing, it saves her a lot of money.

I just feel uneasy because I spend less money. After all, my cheap brother’s lifelong event should not be handled so hastily.

Never mind, let’s see if he has what it takes.

Dongfang Wenying came alone. After handing over the visiting card, Jian Xi pretended to be weak and put a thick layer of powder on her face, making her lips look pale, trying to look sick and weak.

Young ladies from wealthy families have many rules to follow, so Jian Xi specifically ordered the servants to hang a curtain on the road, and also sent a few maids who were used to doing rough work to carry the sedan chair to greet her.

Mother Lai, the maid who followed Dongfang Wenying, couldn't help but praise her: "I only heard that General Shen was born in a peasant family, but I didn't expect that his family has rules."

Dongfang Wenying naturally saw the curtains along the way. Because there were outsiders present, she reprimanded, "Mother Lai, don't be rude."

Her mother, Madam Wang, was worried about her coming to General Shen's residence alone, so she asked Lai Ma to accompany her, for she was afraid that the general's residence might not be polite and she would be wronged.

Unexpectedly, from the entrance to Jian Xi's Huashui Pavilion, he only met some maids and servants along the way. They all greeted the sedan chair and no one was seen talking behind the back. It can be seen that the family rules of the general's mansion are strict.

Dongfang Wenying nodded secretly. As expected, the last time she saw Jian Xi, she was already a beautiful and charming person.

There are rumors in the capital that General Shen was born into a peasant family and that his family behaves in a rude and dissolute manner. It can be seen that the rumors cannot be fully trusted.

When they arrived at Huashui Pavilion, Mother Xing, Xiaoshuang and Sujie were already waiting outside the door.

The old women carried the sedan chair away.

"The girl is finally here. Our girl has been waiting eagerly for the whole morning, and every once in a while she would send people to ask outside the second gate. Finally, the girl is here."

Mother Xing smiled and bowed.

Dongfang Wenying looked at the old woman in front of her. She had two cloud-shaped gold hairpins inlaid with gems on her hair, a pair of red agate earrings, a pair of white-green jade bracelets on her hands, and brown satin embroidered with dark flowers. Although the style was from two years ago, it was suitable for an old mother of her status.

The two maids behind were both wearing green and blue brocade satin, with two gold-plated sapphire butterfly accessories on their heads, rice-sized sapphire earrings, and a thin gold ring on each finger.

They were dressed even more luxuriously than the maids and servants in the Marquis's mansion, which showed that the Shen family was not one to treat their servants harshly.

Dongfang Wenying smiled and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? I'm here now."

"Miss, please come in quickly. The general has been away on business these days, and you are ill. Otherwise, he would have come out to greet you personally."

Mother Xing explained the whole cause and effect in a few words. Dongfang Wenying saw that the other party was so polite and considerate, so how could she blame her?