Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 589 - 587

Chapter 589: 587

"Princess Rui’an, don’t you think you’re playing favorites too much? When the Second Prince’s Consort got married, the gifts you added to her dowry weren’t nearly this sumptuous. Are you looking down on the Second Prince’s Consort? Do you think her background is inferior, therefore you’re trying to curry favor and presenting such lavish gifts for the princess while you were so stingy with the Second Prince’s Consort?" Jealousy filled Chu Die as she looked at the sets of jewelry and beautifully wrapped gift boxes on the long table.

Princess Rui’an had urged her to buy a painting by Master Shi as a gift for Princess Wanru which cost her 2,000 taels!

This caused quite a fuss with her sister-in-law, reducing her dowry to a pitiful amount! Because of the lack of dowry, she had been ridiculed by her younger sisters-in-law and her mother-in-law once she got married.

Now, Princess Rui’an’s gifts for Shangguan Wanru alone amounted to nearly 1,000 taels just for the jewelry!

How could she not be jealous!

Moreover, when she thought about who the two were marrying - royal princes from both their own and another country, with great looks to boot! Her own husband? Barely a minor official in the Ministry of War!

Xiao’er couldn’t bear to look at Chu Die’s stupidity! This was hardly the occasion for such divisive words, even if she did want to stir up trouble, she should’ve made her words more subtle!

She was practically earning herself animosity by speaking out like this!

Ruan Weizhen is merely the daughter of Fu Yin of Shuntian Mansion with no official rank, while Shangguan Wanru is a noble princess who is marrying off to a foreign country. Even the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress pity her for having to marry so far away from home, and thus, their gifts to her far outweigh the ones they gave to Ruan Weizhen.

Similarly, the ladies and young ladies present have also presented more generous gifts to Shangguan Wanru than to Ruan Weizhen.

Chu Die’s words were practically stirring up trouble for everyone present!

Xiao’er didn’t even need to say anything, there were already people schooling her on her place!

Ruan Weizhen, already the Second Prince’s Consort, was the first to retaliate: "Cousin is a princess and about to marry so far away, it’s difficult for us to see each other again. Everyone pities her and wants to give her more as mementos, what’s wrong with that? How did this normal behavior become currying favor in Mrs. Chu’s words?"

Ruan Weizhen’s words are clear, Chu Die is earning herself animosity.

Xiao’er glanced around at the people present, and sure enough, no one looked pleased.

"It is often said, ’If there’s Buddha in your heart, you see Buddha everywhere; if there’s filth in your heart, you see filth everywhere.’ This shows that the real one who’s currying favor is Mrs. Chu!" Fu Ranhui gave Xiao’er a reassuring look.

Xiao’er: My spirit is not that fragile.

All she did was sit there and quietly watch Chu Die dig her own grave!

The Fifth Princess also spoke out: "Princess Rui’an is a princess personally granted a title by the Emperor, her father is a Marquis and her future husband a prince. Even my royal parents adore Princess Rui’an, wish she were their own princess! I would like to know who she needs to curry favor with? I feel like her influence on her own is quite significant, why would she need to curry favor with anyone else?!"

"Absolutely, Princess Rui’an’s status is already so prestigious, why would she need to curry favor?"

The others present also echoed the princess’s words saying that Chu Die didn’t even understand basic etiquette! She can’t present a decent gift herself and is jealous of what others can give!

Hearing everyone’s words, Chu Die’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Fang, glared at Chu Die: "Did Chu wake up in a toilet? Why is she spouting foulness with every word she speaks!"

She left absolutely no face for Chu Die!

Being criticized by so many people, Chu Die had tears welling up in her eyes.

Mrs. Chu originally intended to reprimand her own daughter as well, but Mrs. Fang used such harsh words, she also became unhappy. Moreover, her daughter was currently under attack from all sides, how could she consciously add to her misery, so she said: "Die’er is a straightforward person who always seems eager to right perceived wrongs. When she saw that Princess Rui’an’s gifts for the princess were more generous than those for the Second Prince’s Consort, she felt it was unfair and merely spoke out on her behalf, she didn’t mean anything else, don’t be offended everyone."

Having offended enough people already, it’s best to try and be on the Second Prince’s Consort’s good side now.

"Eager to right wrongs? I don’t understand what’s so unfair about this! The etiquette of giving gifts calls for the consideration of the recipient’s status and the occasion. Everyone here understands this principle, the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress’s rewards today are also more plentiful than they used to be. Would Chu claim that they are also currying favor?"

Claiming that the royal family is currying favor? Shangguan Wanru is marrying off to Nangong Country as a crown princess. Is Chu insinuating that they are currying favor with Nangong Country? Is she suggesting that Minze Country is inferior to Nangong Country? If these words get out, does Chu even need to continue living? Princess Rui’an clearly wants to harm her!

Chu Die turned pale upon hearing this: "I didn’t mean it like that, don’t put words in my mouth!"

"Did I get it wrong? Or are you admitting that you don’t even understand basic etiquette, and that’s why you think it’s unfair that the dowry is generous? Mrs. Chu, is this how you raised your daughter? All the other young ladies of the Chu family won’t think there’s anything unfair, right? If that’s the case, I truly pity the future family who marries into the Chu family." Xiao’er seeing that Chu Diesel’s tenaciousness was boundless, decided to step in personally.

In a hierarchical society like this, understanding etiquette is crucial! If the gift you give to a high-level official is less valuable than what you give to a minor official, then you might as well pack your bags and prepare for the worst!

"Isn’t it just pitiful!" Chu Die’s sister-in-law, Fang Rou, chimed in after hearing Xiao’er’s words.

Xiao’er: This is divine intervention!

Chu Die’s sister-in-law looked even more displeased, she still had a daughter to marry off! All of them were being implicated by her sister-in-law!

Shangguan Wanru’s good mood was spoiled by Chu Die, she said irritably: "If you have fallen into a toilet, then you shouldn’t come out and see people! Who do you think you’re trying to charm! Leave now!"

She was getting married tomorrow, she didn’t need to save face for anyone. Shangguan Wanru decided to be capricious for once and start kicking people out! After all, no one would dare to criticize her!

Her own parents could hardly bear it!

"Guards, escort Mrs. Chu and her daughter out of the mansion, and make sure they’re clean before they set foot outside again." The face of Princess Consort An also darkened, and she instructed coldly.

Her daughter was getting married tomorrow! This was her last day in this household, on this land!

Without a word of blessing, Chu let her retain her best memories of her maiden days! But instead, she was creating difficulties for her daughter!

Since they didn’t know when to leave, daring to make a scene at this moment, she also had no reason to give them any face, she decided to kick them out directly!

Chu Die and Mrs. Chu both looked on in disbelief!

Mrs. Chu was a titled lady! Now being kicked out of the royal mansion, if the news got out, how would she show her face in public in the future!

No, not in the future, her face has been lost now!

Wasn’t there a significant number of ladies and young ladies present today? Nearly all the influential families from the Imperial City were here, aside from those who were ill and disabled!

Princess Consort An’s treatment of her had shamed her utterly, who in the future would dare to associate with her?