The atmosphere in the room instantly turned cold.
As if oblivious, Mrs. He scolded with a cold face, "You're already of marriageable age and now engaged. You're no longer a young girl who can act willfully and recklessly while the family dotes on you. You'll be getting married soon. Do you plan to act like this in your husband's family and make a fool of yourself? Do you wish everyone to know that the girl raised by the Bai family is so ignorant of etiquette?"
"Mother..." Mrs. Lin turned pale at these words and couldn't help but speak up to persuade.
Mrs. He cast a disdainful glance at her and said, "I know why the third young lady is so ignorant of etiquette. It's because the upper beam is not straight, and the lower beam is crooked. When the mother - in - law is speaking, is it your place as a daughter - in - law to butt in?"
Being scolded by Mrs. He in front of everyone, Mrs. Lin's eyes immediately turned red.
A cold glint flashed in Bai Zheng's eyes, but on the surface, she only appeared to be holding back her sadness. She stepped forward and gently comforted Mrs. Lin.
Seeing Mrs. He's sarcastic and relentless attitude while Bai Zheng always hung her head, neither crying nor making a fuss, and saying little, everyone had their own thoughts. It seemed that the second branch of the Bai family was indeed out of favor. Mrs. He clearly disliked her own granddaughter and seemed to be looking for faults everywhere.
The Princess of Wen understood the situation clearly and laughed, saying, "Mrs. Bai, you can say what you want today in front of us. But in the future, be more careful not to let others hear. After all, Miss Bai San has won A Yuan's heart. Even if he doesn't show it on his face, he might resent you in his heart if he hears you talking about his delicate wife like this."
Hearing the name Feng Linyuan, Mrs. He stiffened.
Then, the elderly Mrs. Zhou, whose words had been interrupted earlier, also laughed and said, "Yes, they say a man forgets his mother once he marries a wife. What's more, you're just your granddaughter's maternal grandmother. In the end, Miss Bai San has good fortune. Marquis Dingyuan is a kind - hearted man, and there are no mother - in - law, sisters - in - law in the marquis's mansion. She'll be the only one there. It's okay for her to be a bit spoiled."
The other ladies present all echoed:
"Yes, yes. Unlike us when we first got married, we had to be obedient and cautious every day, afraid of doing something wrong to displease our mother - in - law. There's no such worry in the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion."
"Once Miss Bai San marries in, she'll be the only one in the marquis's mansion. Look at the list of betrothal gifts from our marquis. He truly values Miss San from the bottom of his heart. Miss San surely won't suffer."
"I think Miss San is well - educated and polite. She's not as bad as Mrs. Bai described. The Bai family has always had good family teachings. Mrs. Bai, don't worry. Maybe she was just shy today and stayed in the room for a long time. It's understandable."
Bai Zheng hung her head, and a faint blush tinted her fair and pretty face in due time.
Mrs. He, being choked by everyone's words, turned completely black - faced. But she didn't dare to flare up and had to endure it.
"Good child, come here. Let this old woman take a look at you." The Princess of Wen waved at Bai Zheng affectionately, her somewhat cloudy old eyes filled with kind smiles.
Bai Zheng obediently stepped forward and said, "Your Highness the Princess."
The Princess of Wen took her hand, looked at it left and right, and then laughed, "Mrs. Bai is really blessed. Miss San is such a lovable girl. No wonder A Yuan, who has refused to go out for years, specially came to ask my old man to propose marriage this time."
Bai Zheng blushed shyly and said in a low voice, "His Highness the Prince of Wen has been out of worldly affairs for many years. But today, he has taken so much trouble for Zheng'er's matter. Zheng'er really..."
Seeing this, the Princess of Wen exchanged a glance with Mrs. Zhou and nodded secretly. She neither cried nor made a fuss when being embarrassed in public, and was dignified and proper when dealing with elders. She was completely free from the arrogance and willfulness of ordinary young ladies. Such a woman was surely capable of holding up the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion.
Thinking of this, the smile on the Princess of Wen's face grew broader. She patted Bai Zheng's hand and said, "My old man is idle anyway. A Yuan's marriage has always been our greatest concern. Now, it can be regarded as fulfilling our wish. In the future, you'll be a family. You should live a good life..."
Just as Bai Zheng shyly smiled and responded, the voice of a pageboy came from outside the door.
"Marquis Dingyuan is here."
Bai Zheng couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, she was saved.
"I was promised in the womb to marry your late marquis back then. It's a pity I didn't give birth to a girl. But you're like half of my own son. It's nothing for me to take this trouble for you." Before the person entered, the loud laughter of the elderly Duke Zhou came in.
Bai Zheng couldn't help but curl her lips. The voice sounded hearty and powerful. One could tell at once that the owner of the voice must be a battle - hardened general, which made people feel good about him.
"Then this trip will depend entirely on the old duke and Uncle Wenwang." Feng Linyuan's voice was soft, with a gentle smile.
As the voice faded, Bai Yinan led them into the room.
Bai Zheng looked up and saw that beside Feng Linyuan stood two white - haired and bearded old men who were nearly in their seventies. Both of them were energetic and imposing.
The first one scanned the room, and his eyes fixed on Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng stepped forward, curtsied, and said, "Bai Zheng pays respects to His Highness the Prince of Wen and the elderly Duke Zhou."
The Prince of Wen sized her up. Seeing her smiling with her head down, calm and elegant, he nodded with a smile and said, "You're a good girl. There's no need for so much formality, girl."
Feng Linyuan glanced at Bai Zheng and smiled without saying a word.
After helping Bai Zheng up, the Prince of Wen stroked his white beard and walked up to Mrs. He. "Mrs. Bai, congratulations! Today, entrusted by Marquis Dingyuan, I've come to pay the betrothal gifts to ask for the hand of Miss Bai San. Please take a look at the list of betrothal gifts. I wonder if the Bai family has any dissatisfaction with the gifts? If there's anything missing, just say it. I'll immediately urge A Yuan to make it up."
Mrs. He was originally not interested and just glanced roughly at the list of betrothal gifts. She only thought the list was very long. Now being asked by the Prince of Wen, she forced a smile and said, "Your Highness the Prince of Wen's words make this old woman feel unworthy. My third girl is plain - looking and lacking in talent. How can she deserve the marquis's painstaking efforts? These so many betrothal gifts will really take away the girl's good fortune."
Hearing this, the Prince of Wen was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but turn to exchange a glance with the elderly Duke Zhou. Mrs. He's words seemed to be self - deprecating on the surface, but actually carried a strong sense of looking down on Bai Zheng. Even the last sentence, saying that accepting these betrothal gifts would take away good fortune, could even be regarded as a curse.
"Mrs. Bai thinks that Zheng'er doesn't deserve my betrothal gifts. Then who does?" Feng Linyuan said calmly.
Mrs. He smiled slightly and said, "Naturally, it's those girls with excellent character, talent, and looks. But this old woman is old and has rarely socialized for a long time. I'm not very familiar with the people outside. I'm afraid I can't answer the marquis's question for the moment."
"Mrs. Bai is right," Feng Linyuan nodded.
"A Yuan?" Mrs. Zhou frowned and was about to scold him in a low voice for agreeing with Mrs. He in front of everyone and making Bai Zheng lose face. Just then, Feng Linyuan's cold voice rang out.
"Mrs. Bai is really old. It's inevitable that she's blind and heartless."