The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 707: Chapter 707: Watching the Ceremony and Showing Off the Dowry

February 18th, the grand wedding of Prince Min.

Following the protocol, Song Ci dressed in formal attire and proceeded with the entourage to attend the ceremony at the Prince Mansion. This time, she only brought Madam Lu along.

No choice, among her four daughters-in-law, setting aside the Commandery Princess who is in confinement, the eldest daughter-in-law is pregnant, and the second daughter-in-law, besides managing the household, also has to take care of her daughter, so she could only bring Madam Lu.

Madam Lu also holds an Imperial Decree of the Fifth Rank, bringing her is actually suitable, though her status is slightly lower than the legitimate daughter-in-law; fortunately, Song Ci doesn’t mind.

Upon arriving at the Prince Mansion, Song Ci encountered Madam Wei. The two were old acquaintances, so naturally, they gathered to chat and watch the dowry display at the mansion, after all, this is the highlight of every wedding banquet.

The bride’s dowry is substantial, giving face to both her family and in-laws, so everyone would take a look.

”I heard that Princess Chongyang has a dowry of one hundred sixty-four carriages. It started entering the mansion from this end and has yet to finish coming in. Tsk tsk,” Madam Wei sighed, ”Even the Princesses’ dowries aren’t quite like this. In recent years, none of those Princesses have matched her.”

Song Ci softly corrected, ”You should call her Princess Consort Min now.”

”Well, hasn’t the ceremony not yet taken place?”

”Even so, one must be cautious to avoid being caught in a verbal trap; some people do like to nitpick,” Song Ci said, ”particularly those from the houses of Imperial Censors and those who love to stir trouble. Look at Madam Bai over there, isn’t she watching this side?”

Madam Wei: ”...”

I doubt she dares to, isn’t she afraid you’d verbally lash her to death?

Sure enough, when Song Ci glanced over, the counterpart behaved like a startled bird, quickly averting her gaze, with a look of being frightened.

Song Ci felt like chuckling, had Consort Bai’s miscarriage made her lose her nerve?

There was a sudden outcry.

Song Ci snapped back to attention, following their exclamations and pointing fingers, and was indeed somewhat amazed at Emperor Chu’s grand gesture.

How many villages and shops were bestowed? Look at those roof tiles, stacked layer upon layer; it’s truly magnificent.

”The Emperor’s gesture of appeasement this time is quite comprehensive,” Song Ci praised inwardly.

The one hundred sixty-four dowry carriages would be partly arranged by the Prince Xin Mansion, but mostly they are gifted by the Great Qing Royal Family, befitting the status of a Princess, or even surpassing that; each carriage was beyond intrusion.

Like this carriage of land estates, which are solid fixed assets, serving as a dowry. Just living off the income from these would ensure a lifetime without worries. To speak frankly, even if the Xia Dynasty had not fallen, even a secondary-born Commandery Princess like Chongyang wouldn’t possibly have such grandiose a dowry.

And this grandeur not only provides security and dignity for Princess Chongyang but it also serves as a gesture of the Imperial Family’s reassurance towards the former dynasty’s nobility, a Calming Pill, more importantly, sends a signal to the world that the Great Qing Royal Family is magnanimous and benevolent, able to encompass all.

This maneuver by Emperor Chu, likely most satisfies those great scholars who preach righteousness and morality, otherwise, try exterminating the surrendered royal family? They would definitely extol you a bit and let you experience the wrath of public censure.

There’s no alternative, the pen of a scholar is akin to a sharp steel blade, unstoppable.

So Song Ci commented that this advertisement publicizing the Imperial Family’s generosity was well done; just a few hundred dowries exchanged for stability and acclaim, it’s extremely worthwhile.

Furthermore, Princess Chongyang is marrying Prince Min. If she has children, this dowry would be left for them; if not, it returns to the Royal Family after her death, essentially shifting from one hand to the other, ultimately staying within the Great Qing’s ownership.

Hmm, it’s virtually a surefire gain!

Just that, if she can think of it, the Commandery Princess, if not foolish, ought to think of it too!