"You..." Yu Lu was furious. She frowned, ready to curse at the stepmother even more fiercely! In her opinion, Miss was now a woman favored by Marquis Jining. To put it bluntly, she no longer had any connection with this merchant family! She was just returning to visit her father, and then she would go to the capital with the Marquis to enjoy a life of luxury! Did they really think she was still coveting their courtyard and their property? One could only say that a frog in a well has such narrow vision!
However, before Yu Lu could utter a word, He Weifang subtly waved her hand, then turned to look at her father.
"Father! What do you think? Is there still a place for me in my maiden home in the future?" He Weifang was resentful seeing her father doting on her stepmother and younger brother so much. Originally, she hadn't intended to gain anything from her maiden family. This visit was simply to see her father and bid farewell to the whole family. But now, she wanted to see how much fatherly affection her father truly had for his daughter.
"Mudanya! Your mother is right too!" Father He hesitated, and finally said awkwardly, "Alright! I'll buy a courtyard elsewhere for you to live in. It's best not to return to this He residence unless there's something important."
He Weifang immediately laughed! Of course, she was laughing out of anger! Indeed, merchants prioritize profit! Even their own biological daughters can be abandoned without hesitation! Now that he had a stepmother and a younger brother, she was even more redundant! But thankfully, there was always one man in this world who genuinely doted on her!
"Master! Master!" At this moment, the steward suddenly stumbled and ran into the main hall, speaking to Father He, "A huge group of people has arrived outside! They're beating gongs and drums, and carrying many betrothal gifts adorned with red silk ribbons!"
"They say it's Marquis Jining from the capital! He's here to marry!"
"Could it be a mistake? Where around here is there a family who could be related by marriage to a Marquis's residence from the capital?" Father He was startled, then stood up, his brows furrowed. There were indeed many large families nearby, but they were all merchants doing business. Intermarriage among them was common, but for a wealthy noble family to propose marriage... this was the first time Father He had seen such a thing in his decades of life!
"No mistake!" At this moment, He Weifang slowly raised her head, then turned and said to the steward, "Please open the main gate and welcome the Marquis's procession inside!"
"Mudanya, you're..." The He couple were stunned, their eyes wide. At the same time, they muttered in their hearts if their daughter had lost her mind.
"It's our young mistress that Marquis Jining wants to marry!" Yu Lu was now very proud, shaking her head and saying triumphantly, "Some people see her as a jinx, while others treat her as a treasure! Some things in this world are truly unpredictable!"
"What?" Father He was completely dumbfounded! So, his daughter just got divorced yesterday, and she's getting married today? And she didn't even tell him, her father, about her marriage?! The most crucial thing was that her groom was actually Marquis Jining from the capital?
"Perhaps she's becoming a concubine?" He Weifang's stepmother suddenly whispered with a hint of jealousy in her eyes.
"A concubine?" Father He immediately reacted! That's right! It must be a concubine! After all, how could a Marquis's residence marry a merchant's daughter as their principal wife? One must know that when she was an unmarried maiden, marrying into a small official's family like the Liu family was considered a high marriage! He even paid a large amount of dowry just to barely form this in-law relationship! And the power, prestige, and status of a Marquis's residence were simply incomparable to that of a small official like the Liu family in Dongdu! Moreover, his daughter He Weifang was already a woman who had divorced! It was even more impossible for her to be taken back as a principal wife! So it must be a concubine!
However, even if she was to be a concubine, Father He was content. This way, wouldn't his He family also be connected to the Marquis Jining's residence? Perhaps he could even expand his business to the capital in the future?
"What if she's a concubine? Being a concubine is still Mudanya's good fortune!" Father He's face immediately beamed with joy at this thought.
"Who said she's becoming a concubine?" Yu Lu, however, pouted unhappily and said, "The master looks down on people! Our young mistress is entering Marquis Jining's residence as a co-wife!"
"What? Co-wife?" As these words were uttered, the He couple's eyes widened instantly! They both looked at He Weifang, and seeing no expression on her face, they guessed that what Yu Lu said was likely true. But on second thought, it made sense! Why would a concubine require a special procession to welcome the bride? This kind of grand display clearly indicated that she was at least a co-wife!
As the He couple were thinking about these things, they saw Wei Tingyu stride into the main hall, led by a servant. And the moment Father He saw Wei Tingyu, his eyes immediately lit up! Because he instantly recognized this person as Wei Tingyu, Marquis Jining, who had been making waves in Dongdu these past few days! Two days ago, he had also received news that the noble guests from the capital, Marquis Jining and the Princess, had taken up residence in his in-laws', the Liu family's residence. So he had also thought of going to meet them and curry favor! However, although he and the Liu residence were nominally in-laws, they were actually looked down upon. Therefore, he was not even qualified to sit in the front hall and could only glimpse Wei Tingyu from afar in the crowd.
"Commoner greets Marquis Jining!" Having confirmed that the Marquis Jining before him was indeed genuine, Father He immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply to Wei Tingyu without a word.
"Common woman greets Marquis!" And He Weifang's stepmother also quickly hugged her youngest son in her arms and tremblingly stepped forward to bow. However, she was half-hidden behind her husband, clearly very scared in her heart. After all, in this era, no matter how wealthy and noble people were, they still had to humble themselves before officials! Let alone someone of noble rank like Wei Tingyu?!
"No need for such formality, Lord He!" Wei Tingyu had come to marry their daughter, so he naturally spoke courteously to his future father-in-law and mother-in-law. However, as soon as his voice fell, he noticed that the atmosphere in the room seemed a little off! Not to mention that the He family, having secured a marriage with the Marquis Jining's residence, should be celebrating with gongs and drums and overflowing joy. Why did it feel a bit awkward now? Especially Yu Lu, whose expression at this moment was completely undisguised resentment! Could it be that He Weifang received a cold reception on her very first night back at her maiden home? Wei Tingyu thought to himself, then looked at He Weifang standing beside him. As long as she said a word, he would immediately stand up for her!
"Marquis!" He Weifang sighed helplessly. She thought to herself that she shouldn't tell her husband about her maiden family's affairs, lest he worry. So she stepped forward and bowed slightly, saying, "Didn't you say you would come to marry me tomorrow morning?" In fact, when she heard the steward report that a large procession had arrived at the mansion's gate, He Weifang was also a bit surprised. Of course, Wei Tingyu being so eager to marry her was also quite touching to He Weifang.
"I don't want to drag things out!" Wei Tingyu immediately stepped forward, gently took He Weifang's hand, and said, "Marrying you back to my side sooner will put my mind at ease!" Good heavens! This scene directly made everyone present afraid to even look! Including He Weifang's father and stepmother, who awkwardly averted their eyes. After all, their daughter had only been divorced for one day, and someone immediately came to propose marriage. This situation was already beyond their expectations. And the one who came to propose marriage was the high and mighty Marquis Jining, and it was clear that he truly doted on He Weifang. So much so that he disregarded etiquette, actually pulling her close in the main hall in front of his future father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Could it be that his daughter had already been flirting with Wei Tingyu even before divorcing the Liu family? Father He had heard some rumors from the Liu family before, but he had always thought they were just gossip from jealousy of He Weifang's good relationship with the Marquis's wife! Now it seemed that it wasn't baseless after all? There was a strong possibility that some truth was often hidden behind these rumors!
"The Marquis dotes on Mudanya so much; this is Mudanya's good fortune!" Thinking this, Father He's shrewd business sense immediately took over. He quickly stepped forward with a fawning smile and said to Wei Tingyu.
"So, my marriage with Mudanya... Lord He consents?" Although it was already expected, Wei Tingyu still deliberately asked again.
"Consent! Consent! Naturally, I consent!" Father He nodded repeatedly, wishing He Weifang and Wei Tingyu would consummate their marriage in his residence tonight! At this moment, he was the one most afraid of things changing if they dragged on.
"Please, Marquis, stay at our residence for now! I will immediately instruct the servants and maids to prepare a banquet and wedding ceremony overnight!" Father He now had only one thought: to firmly grasp this marquis son-in-law. He quickly said, "Our family will hold a continuous feast for three days! Of course, all these expenses will be borne by our family; there's no need to trouble the Marquis's residence!"
Upon seeing Father He's demeanor, Yu Lu finally couldn't help but roll her eyes, then complained, "The master's face changes too quickly! Did he just return from doing business in the Southwest and learn their unique acrobatics?"
"Yu Lu!" He Weifang knew Yu Lu was trying to stand up for her, but she still reminded her, after all, she shouldn't be too excessive in front of the Marquis.
"Master, forgive me, this servant spoke out of turn!" Yu Lu was startled, then reluctantly took two steps forward and bowed to Father He, apologizing.
"No matter, no matter! Today is a happy day!" Father He was originally quite awkward, but seeing Yu Lu give him an out, he quickly nodded and smiled, "In the future, you must continue to stay by Mudanya's side and take good care of her!"
"By the way! Father, please prepare a spacious courtyard for the Marquis!" He Weifang saw that her marriage to Wei Tingyu was basically set in stone, with no more variables, and finally felt relieved. Then she began to instruct her father.
"Isn't the Marquis staying with you in your previous small courtyard...?" Father He was startled upon hearing this, then subconsciously blinked. Although consummating the marriage before the wedding was against etiquette, at this moment, he genuinely wished his daughter and Wei Tingyu would sleep together tonight! For a businessman, reputation and face were truly not that important; the only thing of value was real profit! Moreover, in his opinion, He Weifang was already someone who had divorced once, so getting together with Wei Tingyu sooner would bring peace of mind sooner.
"The Marquis's principal wife and two concubines will also be staying at our mansion!" He Weifang pouted directly after hearing this and said, "My courtyard is too small; previously, only Yu Lu and I lived there alone, so it naturally can't accommodate that many people!"
"Ah?" Father He was stunned. He hadn't expected Wei Tingyu to bring his principal wife and two concubines to marry his daughter. However, on second thought, he didn't think it was a big deal! Anyway, his daughter was a co-wife in the past, and if she was a little nicer to the three female relatives Wei Tingyu brought with him, they would also give his daughter some good face in the future.
"Good, good, good! I'll have someone clean up right away! The Marquis can rest assured and stay here for a few days..." Father He, having understood this, nodded repeatedly, then bowed to Wei Tingyu.
"Master! Do you think this Marquis Jining's residence is reliable?" After a long hustle and bustle, Wei Tingyu and his four women had also gone back to rest. He Weifang's stepmother finally seized the opportunity to complain.
"Logically, shouldn't noble families be even more particular about etiquette?"
"Why did Marquis Jining come to marry our Mudanya and bring his wife and concubines with him?"
"I think Mudanya won't have a good life even when she gets to the Marquis's residence!"
"After all, she divorced her husband's family, and then her husband's family was cursed to death by her! Who knows, Marquis Jining might discard her in a few days!"
"At that time, perhaps a letter of divorce will throw her back to our He family, and then she'll really be stuck!"
...Listening to He Weifang's stepmother incessantly chattering and gossiping in his ear, Father He finally couldn't bear it anymore. He abruptly stood up and, without hesitation, gave her two slaps.
"Ah!" He Weifang's stepmother had completely unexpected this outcome! Because no matter how much she had gossiped in the past, Father He had never been so angry. Today was a first, directly awarding her two big slaps!
"I warn you! From now on, stop spouting such nonsense!" Father He finally stood firm for once, pointing at He Weifang's stepmother, who was knocked to the ground by the two slaps, and angrily rebuked, "Otherwise, I don't know if the Marquis will divorce Mudanya! I will definitely divorce you first!"
...617...
The next day, the He residence was adorned with lanterns and streamers. Merchants and wealthy households from far and wide all knew that the He family's daughter had remarried into Marquis Jining's residence as a co-wife, and they all came to offer congratulations. Father He also accepted the compliments with a radiant face, because he knew that from then on, his reputation and status in this area would undergo a qualitative leap compared to before!
After holding a continuous banquet for a day and a night, Wei Tingyu finally escaped the troublesome wedding ceremony and set off on his return journey to the capital with his four charming wives and concubines. However, the returning convoy was much longer than before! There were a full ten carriages carrying various jade artifacts, antique curios, and gold, silver, and silk, all part of He Weifang's dowry. Besides He Weifang's original dowry, which was returned without a single penny missing from the Liu family, Father He added another full double of dowry, which made He Weifang's stepmother's teeth itch with heartache!
At this time, besides the eighteen Golden Shadow Guards, Wei Tingyu also had forty-four Silver Shadow Guards protecting the carriages, so the safety of the journey was naturally completely assured. In addition, the He family had also provided more than a dozen young attendants and maids as part of the dowry, so although there were more carriages, there were also more people and horses, and the speed of the entire convoy was not slowed down. He Weifang, at this moment, was like a little bird that had escaped its cage. Sometimes she would chirp and chat lively with her three sisters, and sometimes she would curiously lift the curtain and look out at the scenery along the way. This was truly the moment in her past life that she was living as herself! And with He Weifang's addition, the interactions among the four women became even more lively and cheerful! This greatly improved Wei Tingyu's mood; he had a delightful time traveling with the four beauties, chatting and laughing and enjoying the scenery! The convoy returned to Dou Zhao's grandmother's manor in the capital suburbs after several days.
"Good! Good!" Old Madam Cui, seeing Wei Tingyu and his group return after touring her manor, with an additional co-wife, was quite displeased at this moment. She sat in the main hall, frowning as she looked at the younger generation.
"My grandson-in-law is truly extraordinary! Such methods are probably unmatched by many in the entire capital!"
"This old woman underestimated my grandson-in-law!"
Listening to Old Madam Cui's somewhat sarcastic words, Wei Tingyu could only shrink his neck. After all, He Weifang's status as a co-wife, compared to Miao Ansu and Zhao Zhangru, meant she was truly capable of threatening Dou Zhao's position as principal wife! Moreover, Old Madam Cui didn't know He Weifang before and had no affection for her at all. At this moment, she was naturally very wary of this woman who suddenly appeared by her grandson-in-law's side.
"Your granddaughter, He, greets Grandmother!" However, He Weifang smiled faintly, slowly stepped forward, and solemnly bowed to Old Madam Cui. After all, she could tell that Old Madam Cui was clearly the type of person who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside! Compared to the Liu family, who were like smiling tigers, He Weifang undoubtedly preferred this old lady who couldn't keep things bottled up and liked to speak her mind directly!