Song Chaoyu was happy to be at ease, but she found that Song Yanrou was nowhere to be seen.
By rights, since Song Yuan had reluctantly agreed to let her go out today, Song Yanrou should have been there.
However, Song Chaoyu could not afford to worry about that anymore. She was serving the Old Madam of the Song family and helping the First Madam count the dowry items in the courtyard.
Speaking of this dowry, which was piled up like mountains, Song Chaoyu knew that the First Madam had poured all her effort into Song Yanjiao.
The Song family was originally a family of a third-rank minister. In fact, according to regulations, the dowry prepared for Song Yanjiao would not be small.
But Madam Song still did her best to give Song Yanjiao the best.
Her own dowry when she married into the Song family was, of course, not to be mentioned. As long as there was anything left, she put it all into Song Yanjiao's dowry chests.
From food, clothing, to housing and transportation, even a basin or a pair of bowls and chopsticks, all had been carefully selected by the First Madam before being placed in Song Yanjiao's dowry chests.
These were still minor items. The jewelry and ornaments that the First Madam had collected from various places, along with the contributions from the Old Madam and several concubines, filled an entire large chest for Song Yanjiao!
The items in just one chest were more than what ordinary people in the lower classes might obtain in a lifetime.
In addition to these, the most valuable were some land deeds and business deeds.
The First Madam had prepared a whole large box of these items for Song Yanjiao, placing them on top of the most valuable chest of jewelry.
This was so that after Song Yanjiao married, everyone in the capital would know how grand her dowry was. This was also a means of deterring the groom's family, letting Prince Ning know that although they were Prince Ning's mansion, they could not underestimate Song Yanjiao.
The amount of a woman's dowry often represented her future status in her husband's family.
Song Chaoyu carefully counted. Besides the box containing the land deeds, the First Madam had prepared a total of one hundred and sixty-six large, fully packed chests for Song Yanjiao!
This also implied the meaning of "smooth sailing in all matters." The grandeur of the Minister's mansion marrying off a daughter was truly immense!
However, it reminded Song Chaoyu that when they had asked her to impersonate in her previous life, they had not even managed to get a fraction of these one hundred and sixty-six chests! Moreover, many of them were added by Concubine Liu, who said she had to at least help her save face.
She married into Prince Ning's mansion with that meager dowry. Not to mention Prince Ning Mu Hansu, even the maids and servants often mocked her for being petty.
Looking at Song Yanjiao's ten-mile dowry now, the First Madam had truly put all her heart into it for her.
Song Chaoyu was neither jealous nor resentful, because she knew that even if she could not have such a magnificent dowry in this life, she would never be like she was in her previous life.
For her own sake, she had to fight for a way out and not be looked down upon by others!
As the sky gradually brightened, the outside also became lively.
Prince Ning's welcoming procession arrived at the gate of the Song family when the sky was just beginning to lighten.
However, someone from the Song family was "blocking the door," and they would have to make a fuss at the gate for a while longer.
Song Chaoyu, along with the Old Madam, went to Song Yanjiao's room in the back courtyard.
Today, Song Yanjiao was wearing a wedding dress with twin phoenixes flying together, and a phoenix coronet woven with pure gold threads and adorned with pearls, which was dazzling and magnificent.
She was like a phoenix about to soar into the sky, proud and confident.
Song Yanjiao's beauty was well-known throughout the capital.
This wedding dress, worn on her, made her the most radiant and passionate woman in the world.
Seeing Song Chaoyu and the Old Madam arrive, she smiled and stood up, her cheeks flushed, "Grandmother is here? Fourth Sister is also here?"
Seeing such shyness in her eyes, which was rare, Song Chaoyu smiled slightly.
The Old Madam, who cared about Song Yanjiao, took off a noble concubine bracelet with an emerald jade that she had worn for many years and placed it into Song Yanjiao's hand.
The Old Madam, being old, felt her eyes well up at the thought of parting with her granddaughter. "Second girl, you are the only legitimate daughter in the mansion. After entering Prince Ning's mansion, you must always abide by the rules and think of the Song family. You cannot be like a married daughter who is like spilled water, understand?"
Song Yanjiao nodded, happily accepting the emerald jade bracelet, "Yes, Grandmother, your granddaughter understands! Your granddaughter will also do her best as an elder sister and look after her younger brothers and sisters! Grandmother, please rest assured, your granddaughter and Prince Ning will keep Fourth Sister's marriage in mind!"
Song Chaoyu did not know what was wrong with Song Yanjiao. She had always been intelligent, so why had she become so foolish in every way after getting engaged to Mu Hansu?
When Song Yanjiao mentioned Song Chaoyu's marriage at this moment, Song Chaoyu saw the Old Madam's face turn cold, "Didn't I say? You don't need to worry about this matter! I have my own plans for Fourth Girl's marriage. You just need to be a good Princess Ning and look after the Song family's reputation. You don't need to worry about other things."
The Old Madam, who had been holding Song Yanjiao's hand, let go.
It was only because today was Song Yanjiao's happy day that the Old Madam did not continue to lose her temper, but her smile had also disappeared.
"Come, come, make way, I'm here to give Second Sister a big gift!"
Just as Song Yanjiao was at a loss, Song Yanrou's voice suddenly came from outside.
Having not seen Song Yanrou all day, her sudden appearance made Song Chaoyu look outside.
Song Yanrou was also wearing a new dress today. As if to congratulate Song Yanjiao on her wedding, her eyes were full of smiles.
However, this smile, which did not reach her eyes, always gave Song Chaoyu a sense of danger.
She pulled the Old Madam and stood aside, looking curiously at Song Yanrou's hands.
In Song Yanrou's hands was a large box.
The four corners of the box were sealed, and it was unclear what was inside. Song Yanrou did not let anyone else hold it, but kept it in her own hands, appearing to be very precious.
Song Yanjiao did not see the coldness in Song Yanrou's eyes. She was only focused on diverting the Old Madam's unhappiness from earlier, and quickly smiled and welcomed Song Yanrou into the room, "Third Sister, you're quite late! Didn't your courtyard already send gifts? Why are you personally delivering something? What is this?"
Song Yanjiao gestured for the maid beside her to take the box, but Song Yanrou dodged it, "Since I'm here to congratulate Second Sister on becoming Princess Ning, of course I have to deliver this personally to feel at ease. Shall I open it for Second Sister? I wish Second Sister and His Highness Prince Ning a harmonious life until old age and a loving marriage!"
Her words made Song Yanjiao overjoyed, thinking that she just wanted to continue flattering her.
Song Yanrou glanced back at Song Chaoyu, which made Song Chaoyu have a bad feeling.
She pulled the Old Madam further back, and then watched as Song Yanrou opened the box.
Her body suddenly moved violently!