Chapter 128: Chapter 128: How Could I Enter the Manor Like a Concubine

“Otherwise, with Lin Qingqing’s conduct, who would be willing to take her as a legitimate wife nowadays?” the old lady said coldly, “Mrs. Lin, you actually want an extravagant wedding, with a grand procession and splendid decorations, like any other family’s daughter marrying off with honor?”

The old lady sneered, “If that were possible, why would you be kneeling in front of me now?”

“I didn’t expose it before to save your face.” the old lady said, “But you can’t take advantage of my kindness and expect such a favorable outcome.”

Now the old lady was bluntly stripping away Mrs. Lin’s facade.

Mrs. Lin’s face turned blue and white with anger.

Yet she knew, though Madam Xiao’s words were harsh, they were indeed true.

It was because she saw that Madam Xiao’s attitude had been somewhat kind that she thought to fight for Lin Qingqing one last time.

“If you want to let Lin Qingqing marry with honor.” the old lady said plainly, “then find another family.”

“Madam.” Mrs. Lin quickly said, “I was thinking wrongly, it is better to keep it low-key and not draw attention.”

As time passes, others will naturally forget about the initial incident between Lin Qingqing and Xiao Fengxing.

The most urgent matter is to ensure Lin Qingqing’s status as a legitimate wife.

Madam Xiao then asked Nanny Wang to bring the almanac.

She flipped a few pages and said, “The twelfth of this month is a good day, let Lin Qingqing enter the house on that day.”

“Rest assured, although the wedding will be simple, she will still be granted the position of the main wife, and won’t let your family lose face,” the old lady said, “As for the banquet, your family can host it if you wish, but the Marquis’s residence will not.”

“The imperial exams are approaching, it’s not suitable to hold a big banquet, nor to distract Fengxing. Let him marry, settle his mind, and prepare for the exams without worry,” the old lady said.

Although Xiao Fengxing’s face injury wasn’t treated by Doctor Li, Doctor Li did see the injury today.

Doctor Li said that Xiao Fengxing’s face would heal without a trace, but it would probably not be in time for this round of exams.

Mrs. Lin, with a pale face, knew this was just an excuse Madam Xiao was making.

To make things sound better.

Just now she had thought well of it after Madam Xiao’s words, thinking she could fight for Lin Qingqing to enter with honor.

Only, the twelfth of this month felt really quick.

Mrs. Lin counted, and there were only five days left.

But at this moment, Mrs. Lin dared not bargain any further and quickly agreed, “Then it’s settled, thank you, Madam, for making it happen.”

Madam Xiao smiled and said to Nanny Wang, “Quick, help Mrs. Lin up.”

Mrs. Lin was helped up by Nanny Wang and did not stay long, hastily returning to the mansion to prepare.

Although everything was to be simple, the Lin family’s daughter’s dowry could not truly be simple. The necessary dowry was still needed.

Luckily, since Lin Qingqing’s birth, Mrs. Lin, knowing the family’s situation, started saving bit by bit for Lin Qingqing’s dowry.

No matter how difficult the Lin family was, she never touched Lin Qingqing’s dowry.

For marrying into the Marquis’s residence, it may not seem impressive.

But since it had to be a discreet entry, this dowry was considered enough.

With a solemn face, Mrs. Lin returned to the mansion.

Mr. Lin, upon hearing about this matter while at the Imperial College, felt that both colleagues and students were looking at him differently.

Unable to endure it, he took leave and returned home.

At this time, he, along with Lin Qingqing, eagerly looked at Mrs. Lin and asked, “How did it go?”

Upon seeing Lin Qingqing, Mrs. Lin was filled with anger and raised her hand as if to slap her.

But then she remembered that in five days she was to be married, and it wouldn’t do to leave a mark on her face, so she lowered her hand.

“I spoke with great difficulty, even kneeling before Madam Xiao, and finally managed to convince her to agree to Qingqing marrying Xiao Fengxing as the main wife.” Mrs. Lin said.

Mr. Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good, that’s good.”

“Good? What’s good?” Mrs. Lin said helplessly, “Do you really think she will marry gloriously?”

“Madam Xiao feels embarrassed and refuses to allow Xiao Fengxing a grand wedding, saying Qingqing may marry over but don’t expect a grand wedding. The Marquis’s residence will not go to welcome the bride, Qingqing can only enter the house discreetly in a single car.”

“This…” Lin Qingqing said angrily, “How can this be? I’m the main wife, how can I enter the house like a concubine?”

“Then you go and tell her!” Mrs. Lin snapped, “You can’t have it all ways!”

“Madam Xiao has never regarded our family highly, let alone you! They fundamentally don’t want you to enter the house, and now, you either become a nun or marry Xiao Fengxing. You choose!”

“I had thought since she loosened her stance, to negotiate that we set the engagement before the exams to restore your reputation. Then marry in half a year when the incident between you and Xiao Fengxing has been forgotten by everyone.”

“But that old lady isn’t foolish and refused to agree to anything. She knew that if you couldn’t marry Xiao Fengxing, no one in the capital would want you. She’s banking on our family having to retreat.”

“So in five days, you ride in the carriage to marry into the Marquis’s residence.”

“Five days?” Lin Qingqing asked with a pale face, “It’s simply impossible to prepare anything properly in five days!”

“Prepare what? With Xiao Fengxing’s face currently injured, it’s naturally impossible for him to show up to welcome you.” Mrs. Lin said, “And Madam Xiao bluntly said, with such a shameful event, the Marquis’s residence certainly couldn’t host a grand banquet.”

“She said it’s up to our mansion whether we hold any banquet or not.” Mrs. Lin said, “Sir, what do you say, should our mansion hold one?”

“Hold what? Do you want them to laugh at us?” Mr. Lin replied angrily, “Our family won’t hold one either.”

Lin Qingqing, biting her lip, endured her humiliation with tears falling.

“What’s the use of crying now?” Mrs. Lin said, thoroughly fed up for the day, “Save your tears for Xiao Fengxing, maybe then he’ll pay a bit more attention to you in the house.”

“Today, Aunt Liu shouted she didn’t want you to marry in, not even as a concubine.” Mrs. Lin said, “Prepare yourself mentally, once you enter the Marquis’s house, that Aunt Liu will certainly make life difficult for you.”

Mrs. Lin also recounted how she had slapped Aunt Liu.

“Mother, why did you do that?” Lin Qingqing complained, “If you can’t help me, at least don’t drag me down!”

“Drag you down? If I hadn’t slapped Aunt Liu to clearly show the Lin family’s stance, would Madam Xiao have loosened her stance?” Mrs. Lin retorted, “You really are foolish, how could I have ever thought you were smart before?”

“Now, with Xiao Chengyu alive and well, who knows when the title will fall to Xiao Fengxing. As long as Xiao Chengyu is around, the Marquis’s house is under Madam Xiao and Xiao Chengyu. You can only rely on them.”

“I also hinted to Madam Xiao that if Xiao Chengyu were gone, considering your conflict with Aunt Liu, we would side with Madam Xiao then.” Mrs. Lin said, “As for what happens in the future, you deal with it yourself. For now, you can only maintain Madam Xiao’s favor.”

“As a mother, I’ve done everything I can for you.” Mrs. Lin said loudly, “I won’t accept your complaints anymore!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep