Chapter 10: Favoritism

“Third Young Miss, Third Young Miss! Today is your wedding day. You mustn’t ruin the auspicious atmosphere with impulsive actions!”

“Third Young Miss, please don’t be rash!”

A crowd stood between the two sisters, all trying to persuade Fu Qingqing.

Fu Qingqing quickly regained her composure. Covering her cheek, she shot Fu Junyao a hateful glare before turning and striding quickly toward the main hall.

The clan elders of the Fu family were already waiting in the main hall, chatting cheerfully and animatedly. After all, given the Fu family’s status, having one daughter marry the Heir Apparent of a ducal household and another marry the Commander both on the same day was a rare blessing that would be hard to find anywhere else in the capital.

Supported by the Wedding Matron, Fu Qingqing entered the hall. The clear imprint of a hand marked her porcelain-white cheek, and the corners of her beautiful phoenix eyes were reddened. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall but not quite doing so. With a pitiful expression, she looked at Fu Xiao and said, “Father, elder sister hit me.”

“Nonsense! What is that rebellious girl thinking, causing trouble on such an auspicious day?” Fu Xiao grew anxious immediately, his anger flaring up.

If the two sisters had grievances against each other, couldn’t they have settled them at any other time? Why did they have to choose this moment, and in front of all the clan elders, relatives, and guests?

To strike her own younger sister directly, did she not care about her own reputation at all?

“Someone, quickly fetch a boiled egg to soothe Qingqing’s face,” Fu Xiao urgently ordered. It was highly inappropriate to have visible injuries on such a joyous occasion.

Just then, the servant waiting at the entrance came in to report once more: “Master, the groom from the Cheng family has still not arrived.”

The clan elders’ expressions darkened, and they voiced their displeasure one after another: “The second girl is too unreasonable. Just because her groom is delayed doesn’t mean she should try to ruin the third girl’s wedding as well.”

“Exactly! How could she hit someone on such a happy day? It’s utterly excessive!”

“Fu Xiao, you must discipline the second girl properly! Otherwise, even if she successfully marries into the Cheng family, who knows if she might bring disaster upon the Fu family in the future?”

Fu Xiao’s anxiety mounted. His son hadn’t returned on time, the groom was late for the wedding procession, and now Yao Yao was causing trouble. Yet, despite his anger, he retained his composure. He beckoned to the steward and said, “Qingqing has been wronged today. Go to my study and fetch another ten thousand taels (Tael is a Chinese unit of weight) in banknotes as compensation for her.”

“As for that rebellious girl Yao Yao, today is not the day to punish her. I will deal with her properly when she returns for the third-day visit.”

One slap in exchange for ten thousand taels (Tael is a Chinese unit of weight) even if Fu Qingqing still felt aggrieved, she knew when to stop. She bowed gracefully to Fu Xiao and said, “Thank you, Father, for standing up for me.”

The clan’s elders nodded in approval, repeatedly praising the third young miss for her understanding. Despite suffering such great injustice, she knew how to prioritize the bigger picture, refraining from crying or making a scene.

After hitting Fu Qingqing, Fu Junyao grew even more restless. She stood on the main path outside the central courtyard, constantly looking outward.

The Wedding Matron urged her repeatedly to go inside, but how could she possibly focus on a time like this?

It wasn’t until she heard Xiang’er’s excited voice exclaim, “Young Miss, the Eldest Young Master has returned!” that her heart finally settled with relief. Overjoyed, she rushed out to greet him.

Fu Junyan came running in, breathless from his sprint. Seeing his sister in her wedding dress, her face radiant with joy as she hurried toward him, he let out a long sigh of relief. He had made it he had finally made it in time.

“Brother—” Fu Junyao was startled to see Fu Junyan covered in dust with dried blood on his clothes. She rushed over and grabbed his arm, anxiously asking, “Brother, where are you hurt?”

Fu Junyan shook his head with a smile. “It’s nothing, this isn’t my blood. We encountered bandits on the road, but fortunately A Lang arrived in time. I’m not injured.”

Hearing the commotion, people from the main courtyard came out and were all shocked to see Fu Junyan’s disheveled state.

After briefly explaining that he was fine, Fu Junyan urgently pulled a box from his robe and pressed it into Fu Junyao’s hands. “Little sister, this is your dowry money. Keep it safe. I’ll go wash up quickly so I can carry you to the bridal sedan.”

When he rushed in earlier, he had seen Feng Ning passing the third gate challenge. The sedan departure time was approaching, and he couldn’t remain in his current state.

Fu Xiao waved his hand, urging him to hurry.

A servant came running in with a joyful expression, announcing, “The Cheng family groom’s procession has arrived to fetch the bride.”

Only then did Fu Xiao completely relax, calling out, “Quick! Quick! Quick! Everyone gets ready immediately!”

Only Fu Qingqing kept her eyes fixed intently on the box in Fu Junyao’s hands.

Elder brother had prepared dowry money for Fu Junyao but hadn’t given her even a single tael of silver!

She wondered exactly how much elder brother had given Fu Junyao. If it was more than what father had given her, then wouldn’t that slap she received have been for nothing!

After quickly changing clothes, Fu Junyan returned to the main courtyard and was stunned to see both his younger sisters wearing wedding dresses while bidding farewell to their father.

“Father, what’s going on? Why is third sister also getting married today?”

Fu Xiao gave Fu Junyan a complicated look and pulled him aside. “Well, I’ll explain this matter to you later. First, carry your sister to the sedan.”

“Wait, then I haven’t prepared a gift for third sister,” Fu Junyan said with an embarrassed expression.

Apart from what he gave his sister, the rest of his silver in whole amounts had been given to Cheng Honglang. He only had some loose change left, what should he do?

What kind of rare auspicious day was today anyway, for everyone to choose the same date for weddings?

“Father, lend me one hundred thousand taels first, as my gift to third sister,” Fu Junyan could only borrow money for now.

Fu Xiao stared wide-eyed. “One hundred thousand taels (Tael is a Chinese unit of weight)? How would I have that much silver right now?”

With suddenly having to prepare for another daughter’s wedding, plus providing double the dowry, and having given away five shops worth over two hundred thousand taels (Tael is a Chinese unit of weight) …

He now had less than thirty thousand taels (Tael is a Chinese unit of weight) left.

“Whatever you have left, give it all to me,” Fu Junyan stretched out his hand.

Fu Xiao grew somewhat anxious and asked in a low voice, “Wait, exactly how much did you give Yao Yao? Does Qingqing need to get the same amount?”

Normally, shouldn’t an elder brother just give ten thousand or eight thousand taels (Tael is a Chinese unit of weight) as a token gesture?

“One million taels,” Fu Junyan declared proudly.

He hadn’t spent over a year in Jiangnan for nothing.

Ye’er, Fu Qingqing’s maid who had been secretly ordered to eavesdrop nearby, widened her eyes in shock upon hearing Fu Junyan’s words.

Had she heard correctly? The eldest young master had given the second young lady one million taels of dowry money.

One million taels (Tael is a Chinese unit of weight)!

Fu Xiao felt both proud and headache.

He knew this son of his could make money, but he never expected him to be this capable! In just over a year, he had earned one million taels for Yao Yao.

But if he only gave Qingqing twenty thousand taels (Tael is a Chinese unit of weight), when Qingqing eventually learned the truth, wouldn’t she resent him terribly?

This matter must be kept secret, absolutely concealed!

Fu Xiao had a servant fetch silver notes for Fu Junyan, which were also placed in a small box.

Fu Junyan approached Fu Qingqing and said apologetically, “Third Sister, I didn’t know you were also getting married today and didn’t have time to prepare anything else for you. I can only add some dowry silver as a token of your elder brother’s regard. Please don’t think poorly about it.”

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Zephyr Yizelle

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