Chapter 221: The Betrothal Gifts

Chapter 221: The Betrothal Gifts

"Get out! All of you, just get out!"

Madam Jiang had completely fallen out with her natal family, driving Jiang Qianzhu and her relatives away.

As they left, they cursed, saying that the ungrateful Madam Jiang would suffer in the future and that she would have no one from her natal family to support her!

Madam Jiang was so furious that it felt like every part of her body ached.

When had she ever received any help from her natal family?

All she had ever done was support the Jiang family!

She couldn’t bear to think about what would happen if something went wrong—her family would likely turn their backs on her when she needed them most!

"Don't worry, just consider it as having seen through their true faces and cut ties with them," Lu Lingyun comforted Madam Jiang.

In her previous life, when the Wang family fell into trouble, the Jiang family didn’t lift a finger to help, and even disappeared without a trace.

Madam Jiang wiped her last tear away. "Anyway, my parents are gone, so consider me as having no natal family!"

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun felt a sense of relief. It was indeed a good thing that Madam Jiang could distance herself from these people.

She looked at Jiang Qianzhu, who was smug and waiting to marry into a high-ranking family.

Jiang Qianzhu’s biggest mistake wasn’t her arrogance, but her failure to realize something—how different was she from Madam Jiang in the eyes of the Jiang family?

If the Jiang family could treat Madam Jiang like this, they would treat her the same in the future.

If she lost her value to the Jiang family, how would they treat her, now that she’s an outsider by marriage?

Lu Lingyun was waiting to see how much Jiang Qianzhu would regret it!

The Jiang family, after all, didn’t go to the inn. They rented a courtyard temporarily.

After all, they were marrying off a daughter, and it was a high marriage. It wouldn’t look good to get married at an inn.

Even though the Jiang family had fallen on hard times, renting a courtyard was still within their means.

However, when Madam Yang learned that they had rented a courtyard to discuss the marriage separately, her enthusiastic expression cooled significantly.

After learning that Madam Jiang had cut ties with them, she remained silent for a long time. As the Jiang family grew anxious, fearing the marriage might be called off, Madam Yang finally smiled and confirmed that the marriage would proceed.

But she had one condition—the betrothal gifts were to be presented at General Wang’s residence.

Because of this, they sought out Madam Jiang once more.

Lu Lingyun had been accompanying Madam Jiang these past few days. She was sitting in the Wang family’s residence, together with Madam Jiang, when they received a letter from Wang Qiluo.

The letter mentioned that the Holy Light Cult issue in Jiangnan had been resolved. Under Liu Shuhui’s leadership, they captured 90% of the cult’s key members, effectively dismantling the Holy Light Cult.

Liu Shuhui was being commended and had become famous in Jiangnan, with everyone following his example.

Hearing this, Madam Jiang’s days of frustration finally lifted.

"Yun’er, you really know how to spot talent. Out of all the candidates, you immediately recognized Shuhui’s potential and found a perfect match for Qiluo!" Madam Jiang praised.

"It’s all thanks to Qiluo’s good luck," Lu Lingyun said with a smile.

"No, it's still thanks to your good judgment. Back then, both I and Qiluo’s father were blind. We almost married her off to that scoundrel Luo Heng!" Madam Jiang exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Lu Lingyun.

Now she felt even more strongly that Lu Lingyun truly had great wisdom. Her foster daughter was born with good fortune, and listening to her would never lead to mistakes!

As she was speaking, the servants came to report.

"Madam, the Jiang family has arrived."

"What do they want again!" Madam Jiang's face fell. "Tell them to leave."

Before Madam Jiang could reprimand the guards, Liu Shi entered with Jiang Qianzhu. "Aunt, are you still angry?"

Madam Jiang: "......"

The doorkeepers were Madam Jiang’s people, brought from the Jiang family, and Liu Shi used this connection to barge in.

Before Madam Jiang could speak, Jiang Qianzhu said in a clear voice, "Aunt, I was wrong."

Ha!

When they needed her, they admitted their mistake, but once they didn't need her, they immediately turned into ungrateful ingrates.

Before Madam Jiang could say anything, Lu Lingyun spoke up for her. "How is it that just a few days ago someone was saying they would cut off ties with my foster mother, claiming she had no family and that they wouldn't support her? And now here they are calling her 'Aunt'? What kind of relatives are you?"

Lu Lingyun's words caused the Jiang family to blush in embarrassment. They had just said they would sever ties, only to come back so soon, unable to save face.

However, Jiang Qianzhu hid a glint in her eyes. "Aunt, we are still family, connected by blood. Blood is thicker than water. I, Qianzhu, spoke wrongly, but you are still my real aunt. Aren't there any feelings left after all these years, Aunt?"

"Aunt, please help your niece. Qianzhu was raised under your care!"

Madam Jiang looked at these people playing the emotional card. "What do you want?"

"We have already arranged the betrothal with the Luo family, set for the day after tomorrow to pass the gifts. The Luo family said they would like the ceremony to be held at your residence, to add to the grandeur. We thought so too. After all, in the entire Imperial City, you are the only family Qianzhu has. In the future, when Qianzhu marries into the Luo family, she can also bring honor to you, no?"

Madam Jiang sneered. "I can't count on her!"

"Aunt, please help me just this once!" As she spoke, Jiang Qianzhu suddenly knelt down.

She had changed from her previous coquettish or threatening demeanor of relying on favors to a look of pleading and regret as she looked at Madam Jiang.

"Aunt, I truly know I was wrong. Please let me pass the gifts at your home. I will remember your kindness even after I marry!"

Madam Jiang, seeing her like this, frowned tightly.

She had never seen Jiang Qianzhu look so humble and pitiful.

After a pause, she replied, "You don't need to remember my kindness; just hold the ceremony here in three days. After you marry, your good or bad will have nothing to do with me!"

"Thank you, Aunt!" Jiang Qianzhu bowed her head deeply, and in a place unseen by anyone, a glint flashed in her eyes.

The Jiang family left.

After they left, Lu Lingyun couldn't help but call out, "Foster mother."

She frowned, knowing that Liu Shi must have an ulterior motive, and it was aimed at the Wang family. Originally, getting rid of the Jiang family would have eliminated the hidden danger, but now, Liu Shi had twisted things to bring them back. They appeared to be coming with great momentum.

Madam Jiang looked at her, her gaze intense and thoughtful, "Good child, your godmother knows what she’s doing."

After those men left, Madam Jiang thoroughly took control of the Wang household, sending all the old servants who still harbored loyalty to the Jiang family to the estate, replacing them with new servants to manage the household.

And so it was three days later.

The Luo Family arrived in a grand procession, bringing the wedding gifts.

Boxes of bright red gifts were carried into the rear courtyard of the Wang family.

There were a total of sixty-eight boxes.

Though not the most extravagant, it was still a grand display of respect.

The Wang family’s inner courtyard was buzzing with activity, with people moving in and out.

Lu Lingyun came to see what was happening, since she still didn’t understand what Madam Yang was up to.

Just then, Madam Jiang’s nanny rushed over to report, "Madam, just now someone was trying to sneak into the main courtyard. They fled as soon as they spotted us."

"Who were they?"