Hua Manman and Li Ji weren’t speaking loudly, but their voices weren’t particularly quiet either.
The Jin siblings and the High Family Steward standing nearby heard them.
A look of contempt crossed the High Family Steward’s eyes.
If it weren’t for the token and marriage contract in Jin Ling’er’s hands, he wouldn’t have even bothered to spare these four paupers a glance.
Jin Ling’er didn’t notice the change in the High Family Steward’s expression.
But she wasn’t so naive, clueless girl either.
Right now, she was worried.
Her parents were gone, leaving her and her brother with no one to rely on. What if the Gao family saw her as an easy target and refused to acknowledge the marriage?
The Li Ergou couple didn’t seem like ordinary people.
Especially Li Ergou. His entire deanor was nothing like that of a refugee.
Plus, he knew martial arts. If she could get the couple to accompany her to the Gao family, she would definitely feel much more at ease.
So, Jin Ling’er asked cautiously.
"Sister-in-law, why don’t you two accompany us to the Gao family? Afterward, I can help you ask Mr. Gao—perhaps we can borrow a little money from them."
When Hua Manman heard the words "Sister-in-law," her expression froze for a mont.
But she quickly recovered and said, overjoyed.
"Thank you so much."
She turned to look at Prince Zhao and asked in an expectant tone.
"Er Gou, what do you think?"
Li Ji: "..."
’This little thing really refuses to be at a disadvantage.’
Li Ji had actually heard Jin Ling’er’s thoughts and knew she had her own little sche.
But he didn’t mind. He wanted to check out the Gao family anyway, so he gave a slight nod in agreent.
The group continued on their way.
When they arrived at the Gao Mansion, the High Family Steward led the four of them to the flower hall, tossed out a "Wait here for a mont," and then scurried off to inform the master and mistress.
The four of them waited for a long ti, but Mr. Gao and his wife never appeared. They weren’t even served a cup of hot tea.
The intention to slight them was perfectly clear.
Jin Ling’er’s heart sank bit by bit, and her expression grew more and more strained.
She held her brother’s hand tightly, as if clinging to her last bit of support.
Hua Manman was tired of standing, so she plopped down on a low couch, casually picked up the teapot from the small table, and poured herself a cup of cold tea.
She then asked Li Ji.
"Er Gou, want to sit down and rest for a bit?"
’I’ll make this little thing copy the word ’Ergou’ countless tis until she pukes when we get back.’
He walked over and sat down beside Hua Manman.
Hua Manman asked if he wanted so tea.
Li Ji refused.
Seeing the Jin siblings still standing there pitifully, Hua Manman called out to them.
"Don’t just stand there like fools. Co sit."
Jin Sinian was already tired of standing and looked eagerly at his sister.
Jin Ling’er hesitated for a mont, but finally gritted her teeth and led her brother over to sit down.
Hua Manman poured a cup of tea for each of the siblings.
Jin Sinian picked up his cup and drank it all in one gulp.
So Hua Manman poured him another.
Jin Ling’er clutched her teacup and asked cautiously, "But that steward from before didn’t tell us to sit. Is this... really okay?"
Hua Manman said with a wide smile.
"In life, you have to believe in reciprocity.
They aren’t treating us with courtesy, so why should we give them so much face? Naturally, we should just do whatever makes us comfortable."
Despite her words, Jin Ling’er still couldn’t be as calm and at ease as the Li Ergou couple. Her nerves were constantly on edge, and she felt extrely uneasy.
After waiting a while longer, a beautiful woman finally approached with graceful steps.
When she saw the four of them sprawled brazenly on the low couch drinking tea, her steps faltered slightly. Her lovely, willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed, revealing a hint of displeasure.
Seeing this, Jin Ling’er quickly pulled her brother to his feet.
Hua Manman and Li Ji also rose unhurriedly from the low couch and stood behind the Jin siblings.
The beautiful woman pointed to the cushions the four of them had sat on and said flatly.
"Take those four cushions away to be washed."
Those light words were no different from a hard slap across Jin Ling’er’s face.
The young girl’s face imdiately flushed bright red.
Servants imdiately ca in and took the four cushions away.
The beautiful woman walked straight past the four of them and sat in the main seat.
Only then did the High Family Steward speak up to make an introduction.
"This is our Gao family’s Eldest Young Mistress."
The Gao family had four young masters. The eldest and youngest were born of the principal wife, and this beautiful woman was the primary wife of the eldest young master, Mrs. Shu.
Jin Ling’er quickly pulled her brother along to greet her.
"Greetings, Eldest Young Mistress."
Mrs. Shu sized up the brother and sister from head to toe. They looked even more shabby than she had imagined.
With the Gao family’s status, it was simply impossible for them to be joined by marriage to such a poor, miserable family.
’Mrs. Shu now understood the situation, and her expression grew even colder.’
"The master and mistress have been very busy lately and have no ti to see you. If you have sothing to say, just tell directly."
In truth, Mr. Gao and his wife simply didn’t want to see Jin Ling’er. "Being busy" was just an excuse.
They didn’t want to acknowledge their youngest son’s marriage to Jin Ling’er, but they were unwilling to lower themselves to negotiate properly with a junior, so they pushed out their eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Shu.
They believed that with Mrs. Shu’s thods, it would be easy to deal with a little country girl like her.
Jin Ling’er took out the token and the marriage contract from her robes and briefly explained the matter of the engagent.
Mrs. Shu’s gaze fell upon the token and the marriage contract, and she extended a slender, delicate hand.
"Let see them."
Li Ji looked into Mrs. Shu’s eyes and clearly heard her current thoughts—
’As long as I can destroy the token and the marriage contract, the Gao family can righteously refuse to acknowledge this marriage. Then it won’t matter how much of a fuss this girl makes.’
Jin Ling’er didn’t think twice and was about to hand over the token and marriage contract when Hua Manman stopped her.
"Wait a mont."
Jin Ling’er paused and looked at her instinctively. "Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?"
Perhaps from hearing it so often, Hua Manman was now almost immune to the words "Sister-in-law."
She said without a change in her expression.
"The token and the marriage contract are such important items. How can you just show them to anyone? What if soone were to ’accidentally’ destroy them?"
She might not have the Mind Reading Technique, but she wasn’t a fool.
The Gao family was being so obviously cold; they clearly intended to break off the engagent. Handing over the token and marriage contract now would be like sending a lamb into a tiger’s den—gone for good.
Sure enough.
When Mrs. Shu heard Hua Manman’s words, her expression imdiately beca unnatural.
Seeing this, Jin Ling’er imdiately beca wary.
She quickly pulled the token and marriage contract back into her robes, stating that she would only take them out again when she saw Mr. Gao in person.
Mrs. Shu shot a glare at Hua Manman.
’She had been so close to tricking them out of the token and marriage contract. It was all this woman’s fault for ddling!’
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