Chapter 489 Old Friends Reunited

Chapter 489: An Old Friend Reunited

Seeing Xu clinging to the cash box and turning to leave, he quickly spoke up: "Madam Xu, hold on a moment. Our Princess also said that since the Prince Ye mansion has shown such sincerity with the betrothal gifts, Miss Zhong's dowry naturally shouldn't lag too far behind."

"Please go back and help Miss Zhong make the preparations. When she marries tomorrow, the dowry should be brought along as well."

"After all, this concerns Miss Zhong's status and treatment in the Prince Ye mansion, so we can't afford to be careless about this."

Xu's body stiffened, and the smile on her face froze.

That little hussy Zhong Xinyu was already dead—who was she supposed to prepare a dowry for?

Besides, the betrothal gifts sent by the Prince Ye mansion were worth at least two hundred thousand taels.

Where was she supposed to get that kind of money?

With this in mind, Xu turned around with an ingratiating smile plastered on her face.

She said to Chen Hu, "Brother, our Xinyu is a madwoman. After she marries into the household, you'll only need to send someone to look after her at most. She won't cause any trouble for Prince Ye or Princess Ye, nor will she threaten Princess Ye's position."

"Could you go back and put in a good word with Princess Ye? Could the dowry be reduced a bit?"

Chen Hu let out a cold snort. "Madam, you know your daughter isn't right in the head. It was you who wanted to marry her off, and it's still you who wants our prince to step up and take responsibility. Now that our Princess has shown such sincerity, you actually dare to hope for a smaller dowry? What makes you think that's possible?"

"Do you realize that once your daughter arrives at the Prince Ye mansion, her meals, daily needs, medical care, and greasing the right hands—every single thing requires silver? You can't expect to get something for nothing, can you?"

Xu immediately became agitated. "How dare you speak to me like that! Don't think just because you're Princess Ye's man, I can't deal with you. You'd better watch your mouth—"

Before she could finish, Magistrate Zhong grabbed her and pulled her back.

"Friend, rest assured. Go back and tell Princess Ye that we will definitely prepare Xinyu's dowry properly. I promise it won't disappoint Prince Ye or Princess Ye."

Chen Hu lifted his chin, shot Xu a contemptuous glance, and said arrogantly, "Magistrate Zhong is far more reasonable. Madam Xu, as the Household Mistress, you should really learn from other ladies and think bigger."

"You—" Xu wanted to curse at Chen Hu, but he put down the betrothal gifts and left with the Prince Ye's guards without looking back!

She was furious and wanted to curse some more, but with pedestrians coming and going on the street watching, Xu had to bite her tongue.

The mansion had prepared plenty of tea and refreshments, yet Chen Hu and his men hadn't even set foot inside.

The moment she remembered she still had to prepare a dowry for Ming Xia, the joy of receiving the betrothal gifts drained out of Xu.

She turned on her heel and stormed inside without looking back!

Magistrate Zhong felt that Xu was being small-minded and had almost offended the people from the Prince Ye mansion.

Though dissatisfied, he kept his complaints to himself. Instead, he ordered the servants to haul all eighteen chests of betrothal gifts inside.

Meanwhile, Zhong Beiqing spent ten taels of silver to buy a cheap coffin for Zhong Xinyu.

He instructed two servants, "Put the young lady's body inside. After dark, sneak it out through the back door. Don't let anyone find out!"

"Remember, don't take her to the Zhong family ancestral grave. Just bury her in some random spot!"

The two servants nodded repeatedly. "Yes, sir, we'll do as you say."

By the time the sun set, the two servants sneaked the coffin out through the back gate of the Zhong mansion!

Little did they know, the entire Zhong mansion was under Ji Yuntang's watch.

When the scout at the back gate discovered this, he quickly reported, "Go notify Second Miss Pei immediately. The Zhong mansion's servants are carrying Miss Zhong's body out. They're heading toward the barren mountain out back."

At that moment, Pei Zhiyi was in a village, having found Zhong Xinyu's sweetheart, Young Master He.

She asked, "You're He Wei, right? Young Master He?"

He Wei had a handsome face and wore plain clothes and worn shoes. He was currently gathering up and laying out dried fish on wooden racks.

When he saw Pei Zhiyi, he immediately grew wary. "Who are you, and what business do you have with me?"

Pei Zhiyi noticed that his leg seemed to be injured and guessed this must indeed be He Wei!

Because at the time, Xu had broken his leg.

Pei Zhiyi said, "Young Master He, don't be afraid. I'm not a bad person. Someone asked me to find you."

"You know Zhong Xinyu, right?"

At the familiar name, He Wei's eyes lit up. "Xinyu, is she well?"

Pei Zhiyi didn't know what to say, so she simply replied, "Once you see her, you'll know!"

"Where is she? I'll go to her right now."

He Wei put down the dried fish and was about to head out, but Pei Zhiyi stopped him.

"Young Master He, it's not hard for you to see Miss Zhong, but her circumstances are complicated right now. She can't stay in the capital for long."

"If you still want to be with her, you need to be prepared to leave with her."

Without a second thought, He Wei said, "I've made up my mind. I'm willing to take Xinyu and leave, as long as I can be with her."

Just then, a guard whispered a few words into Pei Zhiyi's ear. She beamed with joy. "Great! Miss Zhong has been rescued. I'll take you to see her now."

When they arrived, the two servants—because it was getting dark and they didn't want to dig a grave—had already abandoned the coffin and run off!

The guards lifted the coffin lid, and He Wei immediately walked over.

"Xinyu, Xinyu, wake up."

He had learned from Pei Zhiyi that she wasn't dead—she had merely taken a fake death pill and fallen into a deep sleep.

Half an hour later, the woman in the coffin slowly stirred awake.

Seeing her beloved, she first looked incredulous, then her eyes reddened, and the two embraced tightly.

"Young Master He, it's really you. I thought I'd never see you again."

Seeing the lovers reunited, Pei Zhiyi didn't disturb them. She left them a note instead.

"Tomorrow at noon, when the rooster crows, someone will be waiting to receive them at the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside the city gate to send them off."

"Additionally, Ming Xia will also leave the capital with them."

Meanwhile, inside the Zhong mansion, a different scene was unfolding.

Xu was desperately clutching Magistrate Zhong's hand, refusing to let him take away her private savings.

"Husband, no! These hundred thousand taels of silver are what I've scrimped and saved to keep for our two sons to marry with. You can't take them to use as that dead girl's dowry!"

"She's just a servant girl—what has she done to deserve such a grand dowry?"

"Xu, let go of me!" Magistrate Zhong roared through gritted teeth, his face twisted with fury. "The Prince Ye mansion has set aside past grievances and is willing to accept Xinyu, sending all these betrothal gifts. If the Zhong mansion can't produce a matching dowry, how am I supposed to hold my head up in court as an Official?"

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