Chapter 5: The Commander Has Come to Deliver the Betrothal Gifts

Fu Xiao didn’t dare let Fu Junyao continue speaking. Grabbing Fu Qingqing’s arm, he immediately turned and left.

Fu Junyao’s face darkened.

She knew that although her father doted on her, he also treated Fu Qingqing very well. He wouldn’t permit her to make a scene over this matter and let the situation spiral further out of control.

Yet swallowing this insult was something she simply couldn’t do.

It was understandable for Fu Qingqing to fight for her own interests, but attempting to climb up by stepping on her and treating her like a fool showed utter ignorance of her own limitations.

Returning to his study, Fu Xiao was just pondering how to broach this matter with the Duke’s residence when a servant came to report that The Heir of the Duke had come to visit.

Fu Xiao took a deep breath, adjusted his composure, and finally said, “Show him in.”

Feng Ning stormed in with hurried steps, his face full of rage. The moment he saw Fu Xiao, he gave a perfunctory bow and demanded bluntly, “Uncle Fu, rumors are spreading through every street and alley that the Second Young Lady has lost her virtue. Our grand wedding is the day after tomorrow, and now this happens! Shouldn’t you give our Duke’s residence an explanation?”

Fu Xiao’s expression turned grim, but he couldn’t avoid the question. In a heavy tone, he replied, “Yao Yao has always been well-behaved and sensible. For such rumors to suddenly spread everywhere, someone must have set a trap for her.”

“Whoever this black-hearted scoundrel is, using such filthy methods against a young girl! They deserve to be struck by lightning and never enter the cycle of reincarnation even in death!”

The more Fu Xiao thought about it, the angrier he became. Unable to contain himself, he cursed aloud, completely missing Feng Ning’s increasingly gloomy expression.

Feng Ning interrupted him impatiently, “Enough! What’s the use of saying all this now? I came to discuss what we should do about the wedding the day after tomorrow.”

Forced to focus on the main issue, Fu Xiao suppressed his indignation and fury. After hesitating briefly, he finally said, “With things in such a state, I’m afraid the wedding the day after tomorrow may not be feasible…”

Before he could finish, Feng Ning slammed the table violently and said coldly, “Our Duke’s residence has prepared for this wedding for so long. The branch elders have traveled all the way from our ancestral lands, and the guests have already been invited. For you to now say it’s not feasible—as simple as a flick of the tongue! What does that make all our previous preparations? Are you treating our Duke’s residence’s dignity like something to be trampled underfoot?”

Fu Xiao’s face turned ashen at Feng Ning’s accusations.

As expected, he had known this matter wouldn’t be easily resolved.

“What, then, does the Duke’s residence propose?”

Feng Ning sneered and retorted, “You’re asking us what we propose? What can we propose? Isn’t this your ministerial residence’s problem? How could we have anticipated that a daughter of the Fu family would be so indiscreet? Grinding our Duke’s residence’s face into the dirt right before the wedding?”

Hearing him insult Fu Junyao, Fu Xiao exploded, “Heir Feng, if you don’t know how to speak properly, you can shut your mouth! My daughter is being slandered like this, and as her fiancé, instead of protecting and defending her, you’re leading the charge to kick her while she’s down? You’re worse than a beast!”

Feng Ning was stunned by the rebuke.

A woman’s reputation is more important than anything, and Fu Junyao’s name has already been tarnished, bringing shame upon the family. Logically, Fu Xiao should decisively abandon her and find ways to mitigate the losses. How could he still point his finger and curse at him for the sake of a daughter who is already ruined?

Has he lost his mind?

Wait, I heard Cheng Honglang went to the Ministry of Revenue to apologize and straightforwardly declared his intention to marry Fu Junyao. He must be defending Fu Junyao because of Cheng Honglang.

The rumors he had spread earlier probably wouldn’t hold up under scrutiny.

He couldn’t afford to complicate matters further.

Thinking this, Feng Ning abruptly stood up, sneering coldly, “Master Fu, don’t even think about morally blackmailing me. No one would be foolish enough to entangle themselves with a woman who has lost her chastity and reputation. If you’re scheming to force her into the Duke’s residence, let me tell you, it’s not happening!”

“Calling off the engagement now is also out of the question! In that case, Master Fu, you’d better find a way to compensate this heir with a pure and untainted legitimate daughter!”

Fu Xiao frowned.

What did Feng Ning mean by this? Had he come to the same idea as Qingqing, to resolve this with a substitute marriage?

Was this the heir’s own idea, or did everyone in the Duke’s residence think this way?

“I only have Yaoyao as my legitimate daughter, but I do have a concubine-born daughter whom the heir has met before. I plan to register her under my wife’s name, making her a rightful legitimate daughter,” Fu Xiao tentatively suggested.

Feng Ning’s eyes flickered, and he suddenly curled his lips into a mocking smile, meaningfully reminding him, “Turning a concubine-born daughter into a legitimate one—isn’t that a bit of a deception? What our Duke’s residence needs is sincerity.”

Fu Xiao sneered inwardly. Was this an attempt to extort him?

He had heard before that the Duke of Wu’s residence was beginning to decline, but he hadn’t expected them to be so shameless.

Had they agreed to marry Yaoyao in the first place, perhaps because they were after her dowry?

However, since they were willing to resolve the matter this way, spending a bit of silver would indeed save a lot of trouble.

Fu Xiao nodded, “Heir, rest assured, my younger daughter has also been raised according to the standards of a household mistress. As for the dowry, since she is marrying in haste and may feel wronged, I will have the steward prepare double the dowry for her as compensation.”

“Additionally, I heard the Duke has been looking for suitable shops recently. Our Fu residence owns five shops on Chengyang Street, all of which are thriving businesses with excellent operations. I will give them to the Duke.”

The five prosperous shops on Chengyang Street, including both the properties and their goods, were worth no less than two hundred thousand taels.

Having achieved his goal, Feng Ning did not linger any longer. He took the property deeds, stood up, and walked out, casually tossing back a remark, “In that case, this heir will return to continue preparing for the wedding.”

With the problem resolved so easily, Fu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Any problem that could be solved with money was not a problem at all. After all, his eldest son could earn, and the Fu family was not short on such trivial sums. He let out a long breath and had just picked up his teacup to take a sip when the steward hurriedly ran to find him.

Frowning, he asked, “What is it now?”

“Commander Cheng has come to present the betrothal gifts!” the steward gasped, out of breath.

Fu Xiao quickly stood up and went out to see.

They’re stood Cheng Honglang, his left hand gripping the hilt of the Embroidered Spring Blade and his right hand holding a pair of wild geese, his face stern as he stood rigidly upright in the center of the courtyard.

Old General Cheng, Old Madam Cheng, General Cheng, Madam Cheng, Second Master Cheng, Second Madam Cheng, Third Master Cheng, Third Madam Cheng, Fourth Master Cheng, and Fourth Madam Cheng all stood by with looks of utter disdain as they watched Cheng Honglang.

Their critical expressions—finding fault with everything—would make anyone who didn’t know better think they were from the bride’s family.

Madam Cheng couldn’t help but remind him, “Can you at least smile? Those who know think you’re here to present betrothal gifts; those who wouldn’t think you’re here to snatch the bride by force.”

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