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The family of Jiang Ningbao’s uncle resided in a place far away from the capital which led them to travel through the water road. Although the water road was faster, a lot of people in ancient times would feel uncomfortable boarding the ship. It was easy to get sea-sickness.
When the sky slowly turned dark, as an unmarried lady, it was not fitting for her to get out of the residence. Hence, the job of welcoming their uncle’s family was given to her older brother, Jiang Jin. She went to the wine cellar and took two earthen jars of medicinal wines that calmed the heart and the mind which she gave to her older brother.
“Brother, these two earthen jugs of medicinal wines are for uncle and the others. It can heal the uncomfortable parts of the body.”
This wine was suitable to be drunk by people with sea-sickness. It could stop vomiting and the headache. Not only that, it could also refresh one’s mind and the body would feel comfortable.
Jiang Jin did not think that Jiang Ningbao would took out the medicinal wines and his handsome face was filled with surprise.
“Ningbao, I shall go to see uncle and the others so I might return late. You should rest early.” Jiang Jin rubbed Jiang Ningbao’s head affectionately. Then, he hugged the two earthen jugs of medicinal wines and left hastily.
Jiang Ningbao stared at her older brother’s leaving back and returned to her room with a small smile. Her uncle’s family’s punctual arrival made Jiang Ningbao release a breath.
On the day of adding dowry, no relative or friends or the second branch came. Even Second Madam Xie who was rescued by Jiang Ningbao’s mother did not come, only sending someone to give a dowry gify to her.
A very common dowry gift.
Jiang Ningbao did not care about it. Second Madam Xie probably hated her guts since someone who had her engagement annulled climbed to Duke Ding and would step on her son’s head.
Once she gave birth to the duke’s son, the position of the duke residence would not fall into Xie Jingyi’s hand.
Jiang Ningbao thought in her heart that if it was possible, perhaps Second Madam Xie would not even send any gift, but everyone knew that Jiang Ningbao’s mother rescued Second Madam Xie once so Second Madam Xie could not act ungrateful and ruined her own reputation.
“Lady, your uncle and his family have arrived. Our second branch can finally hold our heads high! This servant once heard the other servants rambling that our lady has no living elders and had to rely on their first branch masters for help. This servant can finally let out frustration.”
Chun Xi spoke with an angry manner.
Jiang Ningbao sipped her tea and her lips curved to a small smile. “Their mouths grow on their own faces so we cannot control it. Moreover, we indeed needed first branch’s help to entertain the guests.”
“If the second master and the second madam were still alive, where would there be space for the first branch? ” Chun Xi felt unresigned in her heart. Her lady was about to get married to Duke Ding and the noble madams who came to add dowry all had high status.
Because of this, First Madam personally greeted those madams and borrowed this opportunity to widen her connections. Entertaining the count residence’s friends and relatives were given to the First Madam who now sat on that place without shaking.
Jiang Ningbao became silent.
If there’s gain then there would loss, she guessed. As long as her parents were alive, she was fine with it.
“Not only that, the servants in the courtyard told this servant that there were guests who said that the lady did not show off your dowry because you are afraid of being said as poor and had nothing to show for, only able to rely on Duke Ding’s betrothal gifts to hold your face.’ Chun Le spoke with resentment.
Adding the dowry was obviously a good day, but there were few people who ran their mouths off.
“Who said that lady had nothing to show for? It’s just that our lady does not want to show,” Chun Xi harrumphed and explained with a furious face.
Jiang Ningbao let out a light laugh and spoke with indifference, “Whether my dowry is a lot or little, it’s fine if we’re the only ones who know. There is no need to let others know.”
“Showing off one’s wealth in a haughty manner is not a good thing.”
Most of the noble ladies would show off their dowry during the time of adding the dowry. Jiang Ningbao had no intention to show her dowry. Whether it was the part which she prepared herself or the betrothal gifts from Duke Ding, they were all a lot.
Even only the wooden tools, aside from a small part that used yellow rosewood, golden-thread nanmu wood and red sandalwood, especially the red sandalwood wooden comb dressing table. It was breath-taking.
Jiang Ningbao was not intending on showing her dowry and neither did First Madam Zhang.
Jiang Mingyao would be wed on tenth of May and with the nearing wedding date, Madam Zhang already prepared to show off Jiang Mingayo’s dowry. Hence, she would not let Jiang Ningbao steal the spotlight.
Madam Zhang once saw the list of betrothal gifts Duke Ding gave and envy made her eyes red. If her niece wanted to show off her dowry, she must stop her. The fact that the marquis residence did not prepare any dowry for her niece must not be leaked.
Because of this, the people visiting knew that Jiang Ningbao did not want to show off her dowry and thought that Jiang Fourth Miss relied on Duke Ding’s betrothal gifts to hold her face so she was embarrassed to show it off.
After knowing that Jiang Ningbao did not show off her dowry, Yang Shuqing had a ridiculing smile on her face. At least Jiang Ningbao knew her place. Based on Jiang Ningbao’s position in the count residence, the count residence would not give her much to her dowry.
But once she thought that Jiang Ningbao would be her mother-in-law, her heart felt disgusted.
That night, Jiang Ningbao was very happy whenever she thought that her uncle and the others would be visiting her. She even forgot to write a letter to Duke Ding so their feelings would grow. She immediately slept after washing up.
When Duke Ding did not receive the little lady’s letter until nine o’clock at night, his heart went fidgety. His expressionless handsome face was covered in a layer of first that was cold to the bone.
The black clothed personal guards all lowered their heads.
Xie Qi felt that the duke’s abnormality that night was related to Jiang Fourth Miss and he could not stop from hardening his guts to step forward and speak respectfully, “Master, today is the day when many people came to the count residence to add dowry and the guests are countless. Jiang Fourth Miss had received the guests for one whole day and she must be very tired. I think that she had gone to rest.”
Duke Ding’s sword brows furrowed and a trace of heartache flashed through the bottom of his eyes.
It seemed that the little lady was really tired.
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