MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 3

 Glossary

· Qin Yuan: The female protagonist, reborn. Former wife of Lin Ziqi.

· Qin Wan: Qin Yuan's Di Mei, also reborn.

· Marquis of Dingbei: A military lord, Qin Wan's original fiancé.

· Lin Ziqi: A poor Juren scholar from a humble family.

· Hongye: Qin Yuan's maidservant.

· Cuiming: Qin Yuan's other maidservant.

· Cui Shi: The primary wife (Madame Cui), mother of Qin Wan and Qin Heng.

· Qin Heng: The younger brother.

· Chancellor Qin: Qin Yuan's father, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

· Di: Legitimate, referring to children born to the primary wife.

· Shu: Referring to children born to concubines.

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Chapter 3: Just a Wedding Dress

Qin Yuan spoke some obedient words and received a heap of goods in return.

When she returned to her room, the furnishings had been completely renewed. Matrons frequently delivered clothing, accessories, and decorations.

After all, she was soon to marry into the Marquis's residence, a cherished guest. Her previous standard of living was far too shabby. Madame Cui spent a considerable amount of silver and added many items before Chancellor Qin was satisfied.

Madame Cui was thoroughly disgusted. Her own daughter had foolishly thrown away such a splendid marriage, and now she had to subsidize Qin Yuan's trousseau.

She couldn't help complaining to Qin Wan: "Qin Yuan didn't come from my womb. She's ultimately separated from your brother by a layer of belly skin. Who knows if she'll help him in the future? Why did you discard the watermelon for a sesame seed?"

Chancellor Qin might be unaware, but Madame Cui could see exactly what foolishness Qin Wan had engaged in. However, things had reached this point, and she could only help cover it up.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Wan said with unwavering conviction, "Mother, believe me. Brother Lin will undoubtedly rise rapidly to high office and achieve spectacular success. Gu Jinghui is merely a military man. Even the Old Madame Gu wants her descendants to switch to the civil official path. He won't be any help to Younger Brother."

Hearing such nonsense, Madame Cui was too angry to speak.

Qin Wan added, "Mother, I told you Qin Yuan's engagement to the Marquis of Dingbei would be settled, and it was. I would never lie to you. Please set your heart at ease."

Madame Cui sighed. "I only wish for you to have a good life. I hope Lin Ziqi proves to be as you say. His family is truly too poor. He's relied on your father's occasional support all these years. That's why I never stopped Qin Yuan from getting close to him, thinking he was just a poor scholar with no family background."

A trace of jealousy colored Qin Wan's voice. "Qin Yuan was quite good at judging people, unfortunately…"

She didn't finish, but Madame Cui understood. "Unfortunately what? Didn't you compensate her with a life of wealth and honor? She's a Shu daughter. That she obtained this fortune is entirely due to your 'generosity'. Whether Lin Ziqi will achieve spectacular success is uncertain, but the Marquis of Dingbei's wealth and status are definite. Only you would trade a guaranteed fortune for something unsure."

Qin Wan fell silent.

Wealth and honor? Hah! One must have the fate to enjoy it.

Recalling the lonely, bitter days of her previous life, Qin Wan felt a lingering fear. Hadn't Heaven allowed her to live again precisely to compensate her, to let her enjoy great fortune?

As for Qin Yuan, a mere Shu daughter who should have been content with pleading and humbling herself before Qin Wan—how could she deserve a life of conjugal affection and luxury? She deserved to fall into the mire, live a wretched life, and suffer everything Qin Wan had endured.

Madame Cui, however, felt her daughter was bewitched. But since things were already thus, she could only try every means to mend the relationship before Qin Yuan married. She repeatedly ordered Qin Wan not to provoke Qin Yuan.

Initially, Qin Wan obeyed. But later, when Qin Yuan's wedding dress was also to be exchanged for hers, Qin Wan could sit still no longer. She stormed into Qin Yuan's courtyard with a crowd of matrons and maids, cornering Qin Yuan inside the room. "Sister, why are you seizing my wedding dress?"

Qin Yuan sighed. "Where is this coming from? Mother said we should exchange them. My previous wedding dress was made simply, as it was for marrying into the Lin family and didn't need to be fine. But now that I'm marrying into the Marquis's residence, how can I use the old one? Wouldn't the Marquis think our Qin family looks down on him?"

First, they switched the Di daughter for a Shu daughter recorded under the primary wife's name. Now, even the wedding dress was presentable? Anyone would think the Qin family despised the Dingbei Marquis's residence, wouldn't they?

Qin Wan was stumped, but she refused to yield the dress. After a pause, she said angrily, "This is my wedding dress. Sister, you've already climbed to this fine marriage. Aren't you satisfied? Must you steal my dress too?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The matrons and maids behind her surged forward to snatch the wedding dress. Cuiming and Hongye were pushed to the ground, unable to stop them.

Seeing the commotion had gone far enough, Qin Yuan covered her face and wailed loudly, "My dowry is meager enough! Now I don't even have a decent wedding dress! I won't marry! This isn't forming a marriage alliance; it's creating enmity! What kind of life can I expect in the Marquis's residence? I'd be better off becoming a nun. What's so difficult about living before the lonely lamp and ancient Buddha?"

Even Qin Heng, who had come to support Qin Wan, found this hard to listen to. He said to Qin Wan, "Sister, let it be. Just buy a new, fine one. It's only a wedding dress. Why fight over it?"

Qin Wan: "…"

Because Qin Yuan was engaged to the Marquis's residence, Qin Heng's attitude toward her had subtly changed. This was a bitter pill for Qin Wan to swallow.

The Qin residence was small. The noise drew Chancellor Qin and Madame Cui to the scene.

Upon learning what happened, Chancellor Qin said sternly, "There's no need to exchange the dresses. Go to Brocade Pavilion and buy a ready-made one for the Eldest Young Miss. Find a skilled embroiderer to alter it properly."

Madame Cui's face turned extremely ugly. Wedding dresses from Brocade Pavilion were not cheap. Without a prior appointment, rushing the order now would cost far more than Qin Wan's dress.

Qin Yuan wept. "Father, I…"

Her eyes, blurred with tears, looked at her father—full of grievance and stoic endurance, as if she didn't know what to say.

Chancellor Qin was moved, reminded of the long-deceased Concubine Chen. He added, "Your father was inconsiderate. Your dowry is indeed too scant. You are marrying into the Marquis's residence to resolve your sister's mess. The household funds will add another twenty percent to your dowry. Combined with the betrothal gifts from the Marquis's residence, it should appear respectable enough. No one will look down on you."

"Another twenty percent?" Madame Cui forgot her dignity as the primary wife and shrieked publicly. "Do you only care about marrying off a daughter and not about our sons' livelihoods?"

'Our sons' referred only to her Di son, Qin Heng. The Shu sons wouldn't inherit much family property anyway.

Chancellor Qin said, "Then let Qin Wan cede twenty percent of her dowry to her elder sister."

Madame Cui: "…"

It had started over a single wedding dress, and now it would cost so much more silver. Madame Cui felt too pained to stand steadily.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

It was Qin Heng, protective of his sister, who said, "Mother, use the household funds to supplement Elder Sister's dowry. The Lin family is too poor. Don't cut Second Sister's portion."

Qin Wan: "…"

Although she had kept her wedding dress, she felt no joy.

As she left, Qin Wan, unable to suppress her jealousy and resentment, glared at Qin Yuan and said, "Enjoy your gloat for these few days. Once you enter the Marquis's residence, you might not lead such a fine life."

Qin Yuan looked at Qin Wan in shock. "You are my sister, so I can overlook this. But don't let others hear such foolish words. Are you saying life in the Marquis's residence is nothing but hardship and misery?"

Qin Wan seemed to realize she had spoken carelessly. She shut her mouth, rolled her eyes, and said, "Hmph, I can't be bothered with you. Don't think marrying well means you can lord it over me. You'll regret it later. Don't come begging to me then."

With that, she cast a disdainful glance over the room's furnishings and utensils—all recently provided by Madame Cui—and said, shaking her head, "I don't care for these things at all. You? You're destined for a hard life."

Watching Qin Wan leave with her entourage in a grand procession, Hongye couldn't help scoffing. "Does the Second Young Miss have a brain ailment?"

Cuiming added, "Perhaps she's provoked because the Master increased your dowry again."

Hongye said, "She lifted the rock herself. Serves her right for dropping it on her own foot."

Qin Yuan thought that Qin Wan did indeed have a brain ailment, presuming she could become the Zaixiang's wife as in the previous life. Little did she know that without Qin Yuan, that Zaixiang position would never go to Lin Ziqi.

She would wait and see what kind of good life Qin Wan would lead then.

(End of Chapter)

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