Xiao Yuan went to the Ji Family to deliver the dowry, and Cui Yiran also went over to enjoy the commotion.
After all, there were quite a few people watching the excitent at that ti, and Cui Yiran blended in with the crowd without standing out.
Cui Yiran was quite smug in his heart.
Because it was he who facilitated the marital engagent between Xiao Yuan and Ji Anning, he was eager to see what the Ji Family’s reaction would be when the poor Xiao Yuan arrived at their doorstep with the shabby dowry.
He arrived early and waited a while before Xiao Yuan showed up with people carrying the dowry.
The Ji Family’s housekeeper stood at the door at this ti, holding a list of the dowry items and reading each one aloud.
With each item announced, a murmur of envy rose from the crowd.
Watching Xiao Yuan bring so many dowry gifts, Cui Yiran’s face turned utterly black.
And when he saw the many valuable items among the dowry, Cui Yiran felt even more stifled in his heart.
He transmigrated to this world after reading a book, and when reading that book, he especially despised the character Ji Anning.
In that book, there were many won with diverse personalities, so frail and sensitive, so weak and gentle, so fierce and clever, and others with deep cunning; all these won were exceptionally beautiful, literate in poetry and books, and each possessed scholarly talents.
But Ji Anning was different from the others.
Born into a distinguished family, she was illiterate, yet she looked as gorgeous as an immortal concubine, with a ruthless and venomous temperant. Relying on her family background and her own talents, she suppressed n so that they could not prosper.
She was also extrely jealous, and for her own selfish interests, she secretly manipulated and hard many delicate won.
When Cui Yiran initially read the book, he had a strong dislike for the character Ji Anning, thinking her too cruel and her thods too ruthless. Furthermore, he believed that the Cui Family’s downfall and their ho being confiscated were all Ji Anning’s faults—if it were not for her, the Cui Family would not have t such a fate.
After reading the book, Cui Yiran would curse a few tis from ti to ti; he utterly loathed Ji Anning.
Who would have known that one night, he went to sleep and did not wake up—when he opened his eyes, he had beco Ji Anning’s husband, the Eldest Son of the Cui Family, Cui Yiran.
Fortunately, he arrived just in ti; Cui Yiran had not yet married Ji Anning, and the two families had just engaged their children, but the betrothal gifts had not yet been sent.
After observing for a few days, Cui Yiran began to devise a plan to break off this engagent.
That jealous and vicious Ji Anning was not what he wanted at all; if he was to marry, he preferred a gentle and virtuous lady, a scholar’s daughter, not a noblewoman like Ji Anning who couldn’t recognize a single character.
Cui Yiran had calculated a lot and exerted great efforts to finally take his revenge on Ji Anning.
He not only broke off the engagent, but he also managed to pair Ji Anning with a poor scholar.
Each ti he thought of this, Cui Yiran was particularly proud.
He just wanted to see Ji Anning’s downfall and make it so that she could not marry into a good family.
His thought was, if Ji Anning beca the wife of a poor man, what ability would she have to stir up trouble? She who is so proud, who looks down on those of lower status, let her experience poverty herself—I want to see if she can still be as arrogant.
Originally, Cui Yiran ca to the Ji ho with the intention of watching the excitent.
He just wanted to see Xiao Yuan’s impoverished state, so he could be happy for a few more days when he went back.
But who would have thought Xiao Yuan sohow got his hands on so money and actually bought such nice things as bridal gifts? Not only did it not embarrass Ji Anning, but it actually made her look good.
Thinking of how Ji Anning must be feeling smug at this mont, Cui Yiran’s mood got even worse.
Watching Housekeeper Ji happily welcoming Xiao Yuan into the residence, and hearing the envious murmurs from the crowd, he could no longer stay put.
Cui Yiran, with a flick of his sleeves, left. Over there, Anning was talking with Mrs. Ji in the main room.
Mrs. Ji also knew about the bridal gifts Xiao Yuan had given; her mood was obviously very good.
"Really didn’t expect it, Young Master Xiao is quite considerate. I’m not sure where he found all those nice items."
Mrs. Ji, brimming with smiles, talked with Anning: "I previously said that if you were to marry into the Xiao Family, you might have so difficult days ahead. But now it seems that living with the Xiao Family is not too bad after all. I am thus relieved."
Anning smiled and said: "I know Madam is worried about , but life is made by the people living it. You should know my capabilities, Madam. No matter where I go, I won’t live poorly. To speak frankly, the Xiao Family has a simple household. Marrying there actually saves a lot of trouble. I even feel it’s better than The Cuis. After all, The Cuis haven’t divided their household yet, there are too many people and too much drama, like a nest of dark-eyed chickens."
Mrs. Ji thought about it and agreed: "What you say is true. After marrying, you must live well with your husband, and also urge your husband to study diligently. If he could beco a scholar or Advanced Scholar, your uncle and I would no longer have to worry about you."
Anning smiled and agreed.
At this ti, a servant from Bai Bao Family ca in, holding a list in her hand: "Madam, this is what Aunt has sent over, saying it’s to congratulate Miss on her marriage."
Mrs. Ji took the list and glanced at it: "Go put these things in the storeroom for Miss. By the way, did Aunt say anything else?"
The Bai Bao servant smiled and said: "Nothing much, just that she’s been too busy lately and probably won’t be able to make it, but she said she would definitely co when Miss gets married."
Getting to this point, the Bai Bao servant leaned in and whispered: "It seems young Master is ill, Aunt is very anxious and upset about it."
"How is Siran?"
Mrs. Ji, startled, replied: "Remind tomorrow, we must send soone to check on The Cuis. Siran is a child with much concern on his mind, and next year he is to take the Imperial Examination again. It’s likely he’s exhausted from studying."
The Bai Bao servant expressed her opinion: "For a noble family like The Cuis, there really is no need to push young Master so hard to make progress. It’d be problematic if he ruins his health for the sake of the Imperial Examination. Young Master has always been frail; studying day and night without rest, how could he not fall ill?"
The Bai Bao servant, confident in her close relationship with Mrs. Ji, added a few more words.
Mrs. Ji gestured with her hand: "I rember there are a couple of good ginseng roots in the storeroom. Tomorrow, find them and have them sent to Aunt."
Anning sat aside, listening.
She did know who the young Master they were talking about was.
Ji Family’s Miss, that is, Anning’s Aunt, was married into The Cuis, and she had given birth to two sons and a daughter. The eldest son, nad Siran, was the young Master ntioned by the Bai Bao servant.
Cui Siran was handso, had a good temperant, and was very smart. He beca a scholar at an early age and planned to take the Advanced Scholar exams next year. To everyone’s surprise, he had fallen ill at this ti.
Anning did not think highly of the conduct of the other mbers of The Cuis, but her impression of Cui Siran was not bad, and she indeed had so concerns about him.
After going back, Anning called Moli over and said: "Tomorrow, follow the servant from Bai Bao Family to The Cuis to visit. I heard Siran, my cousin, is sick. Go on my behalf and find out how he is doing. Tell my cousin Siran for , don’t overthink, he must take good care of his health. While the weather is still not cold, he should recover properly, and not stay cooped up in his room all day. He should get out and walk around more. If he feels tired from reading, he could take a break and practice so boxing with the house servants too. The Imperial Examination is a tough process; one needs to be in solid health to undertake it."
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