Chapter 849: Betrothal Gifts for Taohua

Lu Family was pricked with sarcasm by Gu Taohua and Tong Huaqiong, and anger bubbled up inside.

No wonder they’re coarse merchants, all they talk about is money, money, money.

She couldn’t fathom what Su Chengmin saw in Gu Taohua.

Lu Family didn’t want to give up persuading Gu Taohua and Tong Huaqiong.

Now that Old Mrs. Su still needed her care, once Su Shihang recovered, she might be sent away again.

Old Mrs. Su was never one for internal strife, adept at shifting blame, she pinned the failure of Su Chengmin and Gu Taohua’s engagement to be settled at the Su Mansion on Lu Family, saying it was all because Lu Family schemed for Su Chengmin to marry Lu Yiner which thoroughly enraged Su Chengmin, causing him to harbor resentment towards her and Su Shihang as well.

Lu Family dared not argue, attempting to persuade Gu Taohua so Su Chengmin would be willing to return to the Su Family.

Of course, deep down, Lu Family did not wish for Su Chengmin to return; the Su Family belonged to her son Su Chengji.

But now she could only focus on the present, first placating Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang, she could become the principal wife again, and wouldn’t she have a place for Su Chengji?

Lu Family took a deep breath, if reputation won’t work, then perhaps incentives will.

“Manager Tong, I’ve heard your younger son is quite talented in his studies, even my husband, a former top scholar, praises him.” Lu Family diverted the topic to Gu Jingzhe, “With the Spring Examinations approaching, barring any surprises, your younger son is sure to be on the golden list. We straight shooters won’t mince words. Young men entering officialdom for the first time always need someone to look out for them; the Mighty General is your fellow villager, he will definitely look after your younger son. But in the civil sphere, he’ll need support from civil officials, my husband, whom you know, is the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Personnel.”

Lu Family’s words were quite clear.

As Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Personnel, Su Shihang not only oversees officer evaluations, promotions, and demotions, but is also a model for literary scholars from humble backgrounds. Who wouldn’t want a smooth path after making the golden list? Who wouldn’t want someone to lend a hand upon entering officialdom?

With the House of Gu having no one in the court barring Lu Chaoyang, she didn’t believe Manager Tong wouldn’t be tempted by her proposal.

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, “Civil and Military have their divide? Since they look down on military generals, why did Su Shihang marry Min Baozhen? Wasn’t it because the Mighty General could be his pillar? Do you really think Su Shihang relied solely on himself to become Chief of Staff?”

“My Gu Jingzhe does not need to rely on Lord Su, lest he learns to be opportunistic and besmirches his reputation before even walking the path of officialdom.”

Since we’re speaking plainly, Tong Huaqiong bluntly pointed out Su Shihang’s rise to power.

Though Gu Jingzhe may need support, it definitely won’t be from Su Shihang.

Indeed, if he really relied on Su Shihang, Gu Jingzhe would just be used as a whetstone and scapegoat upon entering officialdom.

Lu Family gritted her teeth.

She hadn’t expected Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua to be so impervious.

Lu Family still wanted to say something, but Tong Huaqiong set down her teacup, adopting a stance to see her out.

“Manager Tong…”

Tong Huaqiong interrupted Lu Family impatiently, saying, “I haven’t seen the sincerity of Lord Su and Old Mrs. Su discussing the engagement, doesn’t every family send a matchmaker for such matters? The Su Family sends you, under what capacity have you come? As Su Chengmin’s stepmother or what?”

Lu Family’s face turned pale.

Tong Huaqiong thought she had to make the words harsh for them to be understood.

She really didn’t want to use status to speak, nor did she look down on concubines. She had fostered friendly relations with people like Aunt Tang of Lian Hengruo, but Lu Family’s conduct and actions repelled others regardless of status.

Even now as the mistress of Su Mansion, brazenly stepping in to meddle with Gu Taohua and Su Chengmin’s engagement, this is the attitude she gets.

If other words couldn’t silence Lu Family, then she’d suppress her with status.

“This is my family’s kindness, if it were another family sending someone with unclear status to discuss engagement, would you be escorted out? I wanted to grant you some dignity, but you just won’t understand straightforward words. We’ve said the engagement between Taohua and Chengmin has been settled. When will they marry, where will the wedding take place—these have been agreed upon; yet you insist on interfering. I can’t be bothered with your personal issues with the Min Family, but if you want to use Taohua’s engagement as the cornerstone for your position at the Su Mansion, then I won’t show courtesy.”

Tong Huaqiong showered with sarcasm and bites, and finally Lu Family quieted down.

“Since Manager Tong doesn’t show appreciation, then I have no need to say more. Farewell.”

Lu Family stood up.

Tong Huaqiong uttered a ‘see off’, and Lu Family was seen out of the House of Gu.

Gu Taohua said, “Lu Family has always disliked Chengmin, why does she magnanimously want Chengmin’s engagement settled at the Su Mansion this time?”

Tong Huaqiong sneered, “You think she’s turned a leaf, she’s courting favor with Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang.”

…

“How did it go?”

Returning home, Lu Family was summoned by Old Mrs. Su for questioning.

“That Manager Tong and Gu Taohua are hard-headed, they’d rather let Min Family meddle in the engagement than allow us Su Family to interfere.” Lu Family shifted all the blame onto Tong Huaqiong.

Old Mrs. Su scolded, “Useless thing.”

After treatment by the Imperial Physician, Old Mrs. Su’s body was somewhat mobile, but her mouth was crooked, speech unclear.

Her body was weaker than before, yet her temper worsened.

“If not for your filthy notion of marrying off your fine niece to Chengmin, how would Chengmin harbor resentment towards me? It’s been several months, he’s so enraged by you he’s scarcely visited.”

“Chengmin isn’t someone petty, on the night of rebellion during the Lantern Festival the Fifth Prince stirred trouble, he still saved his father, showing his affection for Su Family. His absence is purely your doing. Didn’t you say you could persuade Taohua to change Chengmin’s mind? Turns out a whole day was spent in vain, what’s the point of keeping you at the Su Mansion? Not even fit to wash hands and become a concubine.”

Old Mrs. Su said through gritted teeth.

Lu Family felt a chill.

Now her position at the Su Family was awkward.

Call her the original wife, yet she was suspended by Su Shihang; call her a concubine, yet Su Shihang hadn’t explicitly declared her one.

Returning from her homeland, Su Chengji told her Old Mrs. Su had begun arranging a new marriage for Su Shihang during her absence back at her native place.

However, Old Mrs. Su’s targets for the marriage were quite bizarre—Princess Ming Yue and some noble heirs—which remained unaccomplished.

If Old Mrs. Su lowered her standards, he would surely have had a new stepmother by now.

Lu Family was anxious, fearing Old Mrs. Su truly would set down a marriage for Su Shihang, then she’d have no chance to become Mrs. Su again.

For the first time, Lu Family wished fiercely for Old Mrs. Su to pass away.

“Mother, I admit my rhetoric failed to sway Manager Tong and Gu Taohua, but this matter can’t be entirely blamed on me, Gu Taohua said our family showed no sincerity, offering neither gold nor shop, yet wanted to discuss engagement, that’s just wishful thinking.” Lu Family restrained her inward hatred, speaking with downcast eyes.

“Why did you not remind me? Why didn’t you offer your private funds to Taohua? You just watched Su Family’s face fall! Didn’t you take quite a bit of Min Baozhen’s dowry before, cough it up and send it over to appease Taohua, in any case, Chengmin and Taohua’s marriage must take place at our Su Mansion.”

“Fork over the dowry you’ve squirreled away from Min Baozhen as a betrothal gift for Taohua.”

Old Mrs. Su’s reaction almost unsettled Lu Family.