Chapter 1155: Chapter 1144: Dowry (29)
The smile of Prince Yun froze on his face, gradually cracking.
This time, he might genuinely have no escape.
The Minister of Ministry of Industry’s wife greeted them, bowing in courtesy, and apologized, "Sorry for the slight delay earlier, I failed to welcome you properly."
The reason for the delay by the Minister’s wife was known to the Princess Consort Yun.
She chuckled, "We’re all old acquaintances, frequently in contact, no need for a formal welcome."
"Exactly, exactly," laughed the Minister’s wife.
She understood the purpose of the visit by Princess Consort Yun, seeing Prince Yun as exceptionally talented, with a family background and education that spoke for itself. She wouldn’t mind having her daughter marry into Prince Yun’s Mansion.
However, whether it will happen still depends on fate.
Currently, her daughter was in the garden, so the Minister’s wife invited the Princess Consort Yun to the garden for some flower viewing.
Entering the garden, not seeing Miss Li, the Minister’s wife asked, "Where is the young lady?"
"The dog ran off somewhere, searched for quite a while but couldn’t find it, afraid that Young Master Su would grow impatient, so the young lady is also helping to find the dog," replied the servant.
Hearing this, Princess Consort Yun told Prince Yun, "You should go help find it too."
Prince Yun, "... ."
Mother is too much.
This is the Minister’s Mansion, not Prince Yun’s Mansion.
Unfamiliar with the place, how could he help find a dog?
With so many servants unable to find it, would he be able to?
And the Minister’s wife even added, echoing his mother’s words, "Greatly appreciate your assistance, Young Master."
Prince Yun’s head was spinning.
Looking around, he had no idea which direction to head.
The servant followed closely behind; wherever Prince Yun went, the servant followed.
The Minister’s Mansion garden was vast and serene, with decorative rocks, flowing streams, pavilions, and terraces, all in harmonious taste.
Prince Yun listened carefully but didn’t hear any dog barking.
He just wandered aimlessly wherever his feet took him.
Arriving at a rock formation, suddenly hearing the jingling sounds, followed by the maid’s shout, "Young lady, slow down, wait for me!"
Prince Yun stepped forward, and a young lady suddenly stumbled into his arms.
He instinctively held onto her.
Her cheeks flushed red, ears almost dripping with embarrassment.
Upon opening her eyes and seeing Prince Yun, her face turned even redder.
Their eyes met.
Until the maid caught up.
Miss Li came to her senses, hurriedly pushed Prince Yun away, and retreated.
As she backed away, she accidentally stepped on a stone, causing her to fall backward.
Behind her was the rock, surely she would hit her head if she fell.
Prince Yun extended his hand and pulled Miss Li back into his arms.
Prince Yun, "... ."
Miss Li, "... ."
Both faces grew redder than ever.
At that moment, Young Master Su and the others ran over, asking, "Did you find Little Black and his mate?"
"No, still haven’t found them... ."
Miss Li’s face blazed with fiery clouds.
Young Master Su thought they still hadn’t found them and went elsewhere to search.
However, Prince Yun heard the unease in Miss Li’s voice.
She had already found the dog.
But why did she hide it from Young Master Su and the others?
Miss Li bowed to Prince Yun, apologizing for bumping into him and thanking him for saving her.
After thanking him, she quickly left.
A bit further away, Miss Li instructed the maid, "Have the servant guard the gate and don’t let Young Master Su and the others enter."
The maid nodded and said, "Young lady, will we grow a needle eye from this?"
Holding her hot face, Miss Li glanced back, coincidentally just as Prince Yun turned to look at her.
Their gazes collided.
Miss Li swiftly turned and ran away.
Who would consider gracefulness now?
Prince Yun inadvertently smiled a curve, even he didn’t notice.
Young Master Su searched everywhere and still couldn’t find Little Black, slumping under a big tree, feeling lost.
Little Black must still be sulking, deliberately avoiding him.
"Should we keep searching?" Young Master Shen asked.
"Let’s search one more time, if we still can’t find them, forget about it!" Young Master Su gritted his teeth.
If this keeps up, when he returns, he’ll definitely hang Little Black up and starve him for a day!
The Minister’s wife and Princess Consort Yun were chatting happily.
The Minister himself stared at the betrothal gifts brought by Young Master Su with a head full of headaches.
Although there was only one large box, the items inside caused him a great unease.
That painting—
He had seen it in the Imperial Study.
If his guess wasn’t wrong, it was solicited by Marquis Dongxiang from the Emperor.
Now being sent as a betrothal gift to him, could he accept it?
Even if he could, he couldn’t bring himself to accept it, could the Minister’s Mansion really send a dog to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?
Wouldn’t that cause everyone to laugh their heads off?
Even if they wanted to ally with Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, this was not the way.
And most importantly, if the Emperor learned his painting was being used as a betrothal gift for a dog, wouldn’t that make him furious?
Although there weren’t many things in the box, each item was more precious than the last, the room Young Master Su stayed in was previously the youngest son’s room in Duke Chong’s Mansion, furnished with the best fixtures.
When they hurried to move, things from elsewhere couldn’t be moved over, let alone the room of Duke Chong’s young son.
But to Young Master Su, these things might not compare to ten taels of silver, as they are visible but uneatable, of what use are they?
He knew they were valuable, but that’s in other people’s eyes, could he pawn them for money?
As a little bandit, his ambition was to carry forward Qingyun Mountain, encompassing the nearby hundred or so peaks under Feihu Village, responding at a call, residing on one mountain head today and another village tomorrow, changing locations every two or three months.
But his father transformed into a Marquis, Feihu Village was gone, naturally, he wasn’t a little bandit anymore.
Robbery, sure, but pawning them was too humiliating.
Although he was still young, he couldn’t bear such humiliation.
Besides, Little Black accompanied him for several years, incomparable to these things.
Young Master Su thought of arranging a proper betrothal, openly welcoming Little Black’s mate back to the mansion, leaving others without reason to refuse, wasn’t that how his elder brother did it?
Yet Young Master Su only thought of the betrothal; the Minister of Ministry of Industry had to consider the dowry!
So, not only dared he not accept the gifts, but he also selected three or two precious items from his private storeroom and added them into the box to send back.
The Minister of Ministry of Industry, "... ."
The Minister’s face was filled with distress.
Just ask for the dog directly, wouldn’t that suffice?
Thinking of Young Master Su’s generosity, he couldn’t afford to be stingy.
But turning around, if the wife learned he was so generous with the dowry for a dog, when his daughter gets married, wouldn’t he empty half of his storeroom saved for over a decade?
He couldn’t afford to think about it anymore, or he’d leave the Emperor’s painting behind.
Promptly selected two items, placed them in the chest, and instructed the servant to carry them away, out of sight and out of mind.
Meanwhile, Young Master Su, having made a full round, still couldn’t find Little Black.
He left with Ninth Prince and the others.
But once he returned to the mansion dispirited, he saw Little Black chasing with a pale yellow furry pup.
Young Master Su’s face lit up with joy, "Little Black!"
He crouched down, opened his arms.
Little Black looked back at him once, then walked away with Dou Dou.
That wagging tail was utterly smug.
Young Master Su was fuming with smoke coming from his head.
Little Black really needs discipline.
Young Master Su planned to hang Little Black up like his father disciplined him.
But Little Black now had a mate, who was quite protective.
Chasing Young Master Su trying to bite him, seeing him directly chased up a tree.
Dou Dou barked at Young Master Su from below.
Young Master Su, "... ."
He couldn’t believe, being bullied by two dogs.
Young Master Su glared at Little Black under the tree, "You both behave and sit down, or I’ll stew you both in one pot!"
Dou Dou barked at Young Master Su.
Little Black sat obediently.
After Dou Dou barked a few times, it too sat down.
Young Master Su breathed a sigh of relief, jumping down from the tree.
Little Black circled Young Master Su with Dou Dou, seemingly reconciled.
Inside the main hall, Mrs. Tang looked at the big box baffled.
Mrs. Tang, along with Dongxiang Marquis, disciplined their sons strictly yet leniently, otherwise, such betrothal gifts wouldn’t have left the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Her son silly, offering betrothal gifts for a dog, while the Minister of Ministry of Industry even offered a dowry?
Mrs. Tang removed the two items added by the Minister of Ministry of Industry, and then had the maid fetch a mutton fat jade bracelet, asking the servant to send it to the Minister’s Mansion.
