Chapter 453: Cheng Lanying’s Regret

Chapter 453: Cheng Lanying's Remorse

"I've never seen such a lavish dowry in my life! Gold, silver, jewels, and even land and property! Good heavens, just the copper coins alone filled thirty crates!" exclaimed the maid Xiao Ying in astonishment.

"Of course, our Ningyang Marquis's Mansion has always been extremely wealthy!" Cheng Bingzhi glanced at her with pride and greed in his eyes. Just the thought of the dowries passing by him made his heart itch with desire.

When his eldest sister married, the Marquis's Mansion gave so much. Just how wealthy is our mansion!

"Third Young Master," Xiao Ying clung to his arm, flattering him, "when you get married, would the mansion give such a generous betrothal gift too?"

At this, Cheng Bingzhi's gaze instinctively shifted to his mother.

But his mother, Li Bihan, stayed silent.

"Third Young Master, I think you're also a young master of the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion. The mansion shouldn't give you less!" Xiao Ying continued.

"Of course, I'm a young master of the Marquis's Mansion. When I marry, the mansion would definitely give me a similar, no, even more wealth than Cheng Suying!" Cheng Bingzhi said smugly.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.

He was also a descendant of the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion. If Cheng Suying could take away so much when she got married, as a man, the mansion should give him even more!

This was the standard entitlement of the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion!

His share couldn't possibly be less than Cheng Suying's!

After he spoke, the plainly dressed woman trailing behind rolled her eyes and, without saying a word, quickened her pace to walk ahead.

"Second Miss, Second Miss!"

Wei Dahai, seeing her quicken her pace, hurried to catch up, "Don't hurry to carry water. Let me handle those chores!"

As he spoke, he caught up with Cheng Lanying's steps.

Cheng Bingzhi, observing the two so eager to work, didn't care at all and continued to calculate with his maid Xiao Ying how much money the mansion would give him if he were to get married.

Cheng Lanying was the first to return to the courtyard.

Work?

Naturally, she wasn't back to work.

She ducked her head and hurried into her room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

After closing the small, damp west wing room, Cheng Lanying's mind was filled with the image of Cheng Suying, carried out of the mansion by Cheng Binghao, adorned in luxurious silk and satin, with crates of gold and silver jewels, and sent off in a grand procession to Duke Xu's Mansion.

Back when they still lived together in the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion, she wasn't any less than Cheng Suying.

They ate similarly, used similar things, and whatever Cheng Suying had, she had too.

But now.

Cheng Suying was adorned in fine silks, with crates of gold and silver jewels, carried by her newly titled EverVictorious Marquis brother, and married off in grand style to Duke Xu's Mansion.

And she...

Their destinies were worlds apart!

Cheng Suying was a high cloud in the sky, while she was now the mud on the ground!

When Cheng Suying bid farewell to her mother Lu Lingyun, the red veil swayed slightly on her head, and their eyes met for a moment.

At that moment, Cheng Suying visibly startled when their eyes met.

As the bridal sedan passed by Cheng Lanying, she saw Cheng Suying sitting inside, smiling at her from beneath the half-covered wedding veil.

But in that instant, an indescribable feeling of disparity spread through her heart.

The two sisters met again: one adorned in jewels and finery, escorted in a grand procession to be married to the young master of the Duke's household.

The other stood among the crowd, dressed in plain and simple clothes like an ordinary village woman, wearing patched shoes with thin soles, watching her leave with longing.

A single pearl on the phoenix crown Cheng Suying wore was more valuable than everything Cheng Lanying had on her body.

Cheng Lanying watched as Cheng Suying passed by her.

At that moment, two celebration coins were tossed toward her, flipping in the air, representing two completely different lives.

Inside her room, Cheng Lanying silently shed tears.

It was impossible not to feel jealous.

She was so jealous it made her heart burn!

She envied Cheng Suying for marrying into a wealthy family in such splendor, for having two capable and doting brothers, and even more so for having a mother like Lu Lingyun!

Even though Cheng Suying wasn't her biological daughter, she was cherished like a treasure!

She was given everything good, and her mother worked tirelessly to secure her a good marriage...

But as for her...

At that moment, Li Bihan's voice called from outside her thin door.

"Lan Ying!"

"Cheng Lanying, where have you been!"

Hearing her mother's voice, she remained silent.

Her silence only provoked more urgent calls from outside, "What are you doing in there? Come out now! Your brother needs to eat, come and help me pick and wash the vegetables!"

Cheng Lanying remained silent, and just as Li Bihan was about to knock on the door in frustration, a deep male voice responded on her behalf.

"Madam, Second Miss is unwell and resting inside."

After Wei Dahai answered for her, Li Bihan stopped calling. She snorted disdainfully, "She's no fragile Miss, why is she acting so delicate?"

Hearing her mother's muttering outside, Cheng Lanying's tears flowed even more fiercely.

She was a Miss!

Back then, she was also a young lady of the Marquis's Mansion, her status no less than Cheng Suying's!

She was also the young lady whom the servants had to serve!

Tasks like picking and washing vegetables or mending clothes were never her duties!

How could she, after leaving the mansion with her mother, have become just a servant!

Cheng Lanying wept bitterly, filled with regret.

She couldn't stop herself from wondering.

If she had chosen to stay with the mistress back then, would she now be as fortunate as Cheng Suying!

While she was grieving and sad, Li Bihan outside had already cooked a few fresh dishes.

She first took the fresh dishes to her son's room, letting him eat first. Since Cheng Lanying hadn't come out yet, she could just have the leftovers later.

Upon entering Cheng Bingzhi's room, she immediately shot a glance at the maid Xiao Ying, "You, out."

Xiao Ying was just discussing with Cheng Bingzhi how much the Marquis's Mansion would allocate to him after his marriage and what status she would receive once they had money.

At Li Bihan's words, Xiao Ying quickly composed herself. She was shrewd, often bossing Cheng Lanying around, seeing her as the lowest in status, but she knew better than to overstep in front of Li Bian. Despite having Cheng Bingzhi's favor, she took the hint and left the room.

After she left, Cheng Bingzhi looked at his mother and eagerly asked, "Mom! If I get married, the Marquis's Mansion will surely give me a proper dowry, right?"

Li Bihan blinked at his words, "Have you visited the Marquis's Mansion recently?"

"Mom, don't mention it, I went there several times with gifts, and was turned away every time! I don't want to go anymore!" Cheng Bingzhi whined, "You go for me!"

Hearing this, Li Bihan said, "Son! What good would it do for me to go? Didn't you say you wanted more when you get married? If you want it, you have to go yourself!"