Compared to her previous life, she seemed much happier in this one.
She recalled that when she got married in her previous life, the word "desolate" could perhaps describe it.
At that time, she hadn't even seen Aunt Liu. Aunt Liu had been confined for many days by the First Madam and had even been forgotten by Song Yuan.
When she married, since she was marrying into a royal prince's manor, the First Madam had prepared many chests for her dowry.
The first few chests, which looked luxurious, contained relatively valuable items. However, that was only the surface layer. The items underneath were mostly inexpensive silks and jewelry.
Even these items were pieced together by the other concubines in the household. They naturally wouldn't give their best things, but rather threw away what they didn't like or want to Song Chaoyu in her previous life as her dowry.
As for deeds and land titles, there were very few in her previous life! Only her paternal grandmother gave her one, according to the regulations for a concubine's daughter. Aunt Liu also gave her one, which she had saved up with all her might.
With so few deeds and land titles, it was even less than what a daughter from a small family in the capital would receive when marrying.
The rest of the chests, although many, were filled with items meant to make up the numbers. Even the servants carrying the chests could tell, let alone Prince Ning.
Therefore, on the day of Song Chaoyu's wedding in her previous life, she didn't even hear fewer whispers from others. Even the servants and attendants allocated from Prince Ning's manor to serve her dared to complain in front of her that they were incredibly unlucky to be assigned to serve someone as penniless as her.
Even so, within two days, Song Chaoyu in her previous life was confined to a small courtyard in Prince Ning's manor. Her already meager dowry was also taken away by Prince Ning, and she never saw it again.
But today was entirely different!
The chests containing Song Chaoyu's dowry filled an entire study!
Every chest contained solid, valuable items.
With the Old Madam's influence, the First Madam dared not prepare too shabby things for Song Chaoyu. Moreover, Aunt Liu had also been much "gentler" towards Song Yuan in recent days, whispering in Song Yuan's ear, urging Song Yuan to pressure the First Madam to provide good things for Song Chaoyu.
After giving birth to Little Qing'er, Aunt Liu no longer depended on Song Yuan as she did before.
For the sake of Song Chaoyu's future and Little Qing'er's future, she had started to become "tight-fisted."
Currently, she alone had added over ten properties and shops to Song Chaoyu's dowry. Coupled with the First Madam and the Old Madam providing many items for Song Chaoyu according to the standard set for Song Yanjiao's marriage, the deeds, land titles, business deeds, and property deeds in the first few dowry chests were enough to make others envious!
Not to mention the jewelry and ornaments filling the subsequent chests.
Most of them were gifts from the Imperial Consort and the Empress, as well as those prepared by Aunt Liu for Song Chaoyu.
Naturally, the Old Madam also gave Song Chaoyu several sets. Two of these sets were similar to Song Yanjiao's, as the Old Madam had said that since both girls were becoming princesses, they should be given the same specifications.
There were also two sets that the Old Madam had privately given to Song Chaoyu, telling her not to let the First Madam know.
Even the Second Aunt, who was in the nunnery, sent a set of precious jewelry to Song Chaoyu after learning about Song Yanrou's situation.
That was the only valuable thing the Second Aunt had left. Song Chaoyu didn't want it, but Song Yanrou stuffed it into her dowry chest, leaving her no choice but to accept.
Not to mention, Prince Chang had also secretly sent several sets to Song Chaoyu.
No matter how she tried to explain that she had enough, Xiao Ruizhi only had one sentence: "If Miss cannot accept it, then the Prince will break this servant's legs when he returns today!"
When calculated, the items in the first few chests were already more generous than what Song Yanjiao had received on her wedding day.
Not to mention, the subsequent chests contained precious silks, decorative items, and ready-made clothes...
Each of Song Chaoyu's dowry chests was so heavy that two strong men had to exert effort to lift them. Yet, a year ago, who would have thought that this illegitimate daughter, who had just been brought back to the Song manor from the estate, could receive such honor?
While Song Chaoyu was lost in thought, Nanny An had already taken out the bridal veil, which had taken over a dozen embroiderers from the Imperial Weaving Bureau a month to create, adorned with gold thread dragon and phoenix patterns and golden tassels. "Miss, don't be in a daze! We need to put on the bridal veil and go bid farewell to your parents."
Song Chaoyu slightly bent her knees, not daring to lower her head. The bright red and golden bridal veil, once placed, added more weight to her neck.
The bridal veil obscured everything in front of her eyes, allowing her to only slightly lower her gaze to see the two South Sea pearls on her shoe tips.
Tiaohong and Qiūqíng stood on either side, carefully supporting Song Chaoyu as she walked out.
Whether it was steps or thresholds, Nanny An was always by her side, reminding Song Chaoyu, "Princess Consort, be careful of your footing!"
At this moment, Nanny An's address to her had changed. Song Chaoyu could increasingly hear the bustling sounds from ahead.
By the time she was nearing the front hall, Nanny An handed one end of the red silk to Song Chaoyu and then carefully instructed, "Princess Consort, please listen. When we reach the main hall, Prince Chang will hold the other end of the red silk. You must not stand at the same level as Prince Chang; you need to stand slightly behind the Prince. The Prince's wheelchair will naturally be pushed by an eunuch, and you must stand in front of the eunuch, that is, close to the Prince's wheelchair, to show your noble status."
Song Chaoyu softly replied, "I understand."
Nanny An continued, "When leaving the main hall, your feet must not touch the ground. Your elder brother will carry you all the way to the sedan chair. Then, upon arriving at Prince Chang's manor gate, this servant will personally carry you. Only when you reach the brazier can you dismount to step over the brazier, and then you can walk on the ground. Do you understand?"
Song Jiayang's health was improving day by day, and Song Chaoyu believed he could carry her. However, she was truly worried about Nanny An, and could only thank her, "Thank you, Nanny."
Nanny An smiled and shook her head. "This servant will accompany you, Princess Consort, all day. Please rest assured."
As they spoke, Song Chaoyu had already stopped at the entrance of the main hall.
She heard Aunt Liu's soft, reluctant sobs from inside the hall and asked Tiaohong in a low voice, surprised, "Tiaohong, is my aunt here too?"
Logically speaking, given Aunt Liu's status, she shouldn't be present at such an occasion; the First Madam's presence would have been sufficient.
Tiaohong also quickly whispered to Song Chaoyu, "It was the Old Madam's wish. She said that Aunt Liu and Miss have deep mother-daughter affection, so she naturally had to come to see Miss off."