IBTSOME Chapter 17 Part 2: Dowry

I BECAME THE STEPMOTHER OF MY EX-HUSBAND

Chapter 17 Part 2: Dowry

 

^^

Lin Wei Xi's plan to move to her grandmother's place was stranded, and she could only continue to live in Yan Wang Mansion. Lin Wei Xi even moved on to the idea of ​​buying a house in the capital. It doesn't need to be big, a small three entry was enough. Lin Wei Xi over here was still thinking, and after a few days on the other side, Gao Ran's inexplicable headache could be said to getting better. What happened that day was also lightly revealed, Gao Ran was still the kind and generous Shizi Consort.

　　

Lin Wei Xi had already determined to let Gao Ran passed, but Gao Ran refused. Her hostility towards Lin Wei Xi grew deeper, because Lin Wei Xi embarrassed her, Gao Ran had to find other ways to make up for it.

　　

One morning, Gao Ran invited Lin Wei Xi to her courtyard again. Lin Wei Xi was extremely fed up, but she gave Gu Hui Yan face and didn't want to be too ugly with his daughter-in-law at Yan Wang Mansion, so she resisted her disgust.

　　

Not long after Lin Wei Xi sat down, she saw Ning Fu brought a gilded rabbit-shaped incense burner from outside. The carving was exquisite and the base even inlaid with fine rubies.

　　

Whether the materials or craftsmanship, it was an incomparable treasure.

　　

Lin Wei Xi’s eyes hurt when she saw this rabbit-shaped incense burner. Gao Ran put the incense burner on the high table, deliberately slowly lifted the lid, lit the scented stick, and said to Lin Wei Xi: "I am used to light fragrance at home. I’m not accustomed to the smell of agarwood in the mansion. This is the thousand-step incense from the shop under my name. It is the latest fragrance this year. Is it alright for you to smell it, Miss Lin?"

　　

Lin Wei Xi didn't even look at it, and said coldly, "The guest follows the host, you can burn it if you want."

 

At this time, Tao mama came out from the inner room with a delicate and complicatedly carved lacquer box in her hand, her expression seemed anxious: "Where did Shizi Consort’s filigree golden sapphire buyao¹ go? A complete set of sapphire head ornament, why is this one missing?"

　　

Inside and outside the house the maids respond one after another, after a while, this gorgeous buyao was finally found, Lin Wei Xi personally watched them put the buyao into the lacquer box. The luminous gems and glided shells on the lacquer box complemented each other, it hurt people’s eyes.

　　

Lin Wei Xi didn't know what to say. If Gao Ran wanted to scare her away with her family background, she should change a set of fine porcelain tea sets calmly. Showing off gold and silver jewelry, what is this?

　　

But Tao mama was still incessantly chattering in her ears, saying that this sets of head ornament was especially given to Gao Ran by Duke Yingguo madam, how much Shizi and the old lady (furen) valued Gao Ran and so on. Lin Wei Xi couldn't bear it, and asked carelessly: "Since the Duke Mansion put this kind of importance to Shizi Consort, why I haven't seen your house madam (taitai) come and talk to Shizi Consort in the past few days?"

　　

Tao mama chattering stopped all of sudden, even Gao Ran’s expression was stagnant.

　　

Madam (taitai) and grandma (nainai) were common addresses in large families. The grandchildren generation married women usually called it grandma (nainai), and mother-in-law's generation usually called madam (taitai). Only in the household that was granted honorable title, can you call it "lady" (furen).

　　

But obviously, no matter if it was madam (taitai) or lady (furen), these titles have nothing to do with the concubine room.

　　

Lin Wei Xi didn't plan to wait for an answer. She looked at the rabbit-shaped incense burner that was spitting incense, and gave a second blow: "This incense burner is made into a rabbit shape, I guess it’s a novelty. Are you born in the year of rabbit?"

　　

Gao Ran's expression was obviously embarrassed. Gao Ran was born in the year of dragon, she was one year younger than Gao Xi. The rabbit-shaped incense burner used to belong to Gao Xi, obviously, it was aimed for Gao Xi when it was created.

　　

The people in the room became quiet all of a sudden. Lin Wei Xi was very satisfied. With a smile on her lips, she issued a third blow: "I really envy the Shizi Consort who has ready-made gold and silver wares. In the future, I need to melt and forge new jewelry. Although my dad left me all the land deeds, Jin Shu Iron Deed, and court awards, these gold and silver wares were made under the supervision of the Ministry of Rites and had a special stamp on them. If I want to use gold, I can only go buy outside."

　　

Gao Ran inherited part of Gao Xi's dowry, followed by subsidies from her father and grandmother. It was true that she was rich, but could a dowry from the Duke Mansion was that the same as inheriting the entire Marquis Mansion's property?

　　

Lin Wei Xi was satisfied to see these group of people shut up. Did they actually want to compare wealth with her?

　　

Lin Wei Xi didn't want to care about these people, but they insisted for her to call them out. These people if they were not scolded would they feel uncomfortable?

　　

Gao Ran of course couldn't sit down here anymore, Lin Wei Xi sarcastically went back to her house. But as soon as she sat down, the expression on her face changed.

　　

"Miss?"

　　

Lin Wei Xi called Wan Xing over, and whispered in her ear, "You go out to inquire about Gao Ran's dowry. You don't have to ask about it, just pick up what you can while chatting."

　　

Wan Xing quickly took her orders and left. Lin Wei Xi looked at the delicate white porcelain vase on the pear-wood table, still angry till her teeth itchy.

　　

No, Lin Wei Xi was still a normal human being. She was definitely determined to turn everything over and restart her life again, but seeing Gao Ran's righteously occupied Lin Wei Xi's property, she was so angry that she wanted to poison Gao Ran.

　　

Enough is enough, in the end what is the dowry mean?

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1 Dangling women’s hair ornament.^↩

T/N:

I’m so confuse about the taitai and furen things. I’m sorry if it confused you too. Both means married women but from what I read taitai is more informal, and in ancient times furen is for titled married women.

In the story Tao mama was talking about the furen of duke mansion aka Gao Ran’s grandmother. But I think Lin Wei Xi asked about Gao Ran’s mother who is neither a taitai or a furen because she is a concubine.

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