There was a moment of silence at the scene, Shen Ruoxi softly chuckled, and Xiao Chengyi's face flushed instantly, "Zhen'er, stop talking nonsense."
Mrs. Zhou seemed to have heard something amusing; she simply didn't want to look at her. How could there be someone so foolish?
Old Mrs. Xiao coughed awkwardly; Ning Zhen felt a numbness on her face, realizing she had misspoken!
Chuntao, standing next to Shen Ruoxi, could no longer contain the anger in her heart.
She said indignantly, "Kneel to you? Are you mad! My lady's father is a First-class Marquis, her mother is even a First Rank titled lady, your three kowtows to her are a kindness to you.
Moreover, my lady is skilled in horseback riding and archery. If she hadn't married into your Xiao Family, who knows where she would be enjoying life!
She's not being looked down upon just because she married into your family, you don't remember her contributions to the Xiao Family. Now that there's someone new, you're dismissive of her, truly ungrateful."
Chuntao's words were powerful and stirred up a wave of echoes.
Ning Zhen dared not say another word, it seemed she still needed to work hard to suppress Shen Ruoxi.
Mrs. Zhou looked ashamed and lowered her head, feeling mixed emotions, having been spoken to her sore spot, she indeed couldn't show her face.
It was her, it was the Xiao Family that wronged such a good daughter-in-law.
"You ill-mannered wench, what are you saying! Here, it's the masters talking. Where do you have the place to interrupt? Do you not want to live?"
Xiao Chengyu said, raising her hand to teach Chuntao a lesson.
However, her wrist was once again firmly grasped by someone.
Shen Ruoxi's eyes were cold, staring at Xiao Chengyu, she asked coldly, "Xiao Chengyu, what are you trying to do?"
"A wench like her, daring to disrespect the master, full of disrespect, today I will beat her to death."
Xiao Chengyu said furiously.
"Chuntao is mine, I will see who dares to harm a single hair on her!" Shen Ruoxi rebuked coldly.
There was an inexplicable aura emanating from her, just like the feeling that day in her room.
It caused Xiao Chengyu's heart to tremble involuntarily, making her subconsciously want to retreat.
The old lady's face was gloomy, a wench daring to say the master is ungrateful, she clearly didn't want to live.
Besides, she was very dissatisfied with Shen Ruoxi and had long wanted to give her a stern warning. Since Chuntao walked into her line of fire, she could just as well use her maid as an example.
She said in a deep voice, "Ruoxi, your maid is too unruly, daring to commit such disrespect, someone, drag her down and give her thirty strikes!"
A few old wives instantly entered the room.
Shen Ruoxi stepped forward, her eyes calm and unruffled, "Grandmother, today is a day of great celebration for the General and Young Madam Ning's conferral, are you sure you want to beat Chuntao?"
"If this girl isn't taught a lesson, she will never learn. Ruoxi, you are too indulgent with her, she must be beaten." The old lady said angrily.
A few old wives could only go to seize Chuntao.
Shen Ruoxi stood in front of Chuntao, glancing coldly over the old wives. Although they were from the old lady's courtyard, most of them were very respectful to the young madam, and under her gaze, none of them dared to make a move.
Shen Ruoxi confronted the old lady head-on, sneering, "Indulgent? Today, I will indeed indulge Chuntao, and I'm curious to see who dares to touch a finger on her!"
The atmosphere immediately turned stiff and cold, the old lady's eyes darkened.
Shen Ruoxi, however, was not weak, her eyes sharp as knives, showing a strange and powerful aura that caused everyone present to feel a little intimidated, even the old lady who had seen great waves and winds almost couldn't withstand it.
At this moment, it was still Xiao Chengyi who broke the deadlock, he tried to mediate, "Grandmother, Chuntao acted without malice, let's not beat her. Today is a day of joy, let's not shed blood."
The old lady would never admit that she was intimidated by Shen Ruoxi's aura. She followed the slope Xiao Chengyi gave, "Since Chengyi pleads, and today is a joyful day, I will not pursue it.
Chuntao, go back to your room and reflect on yourself for three days. Ruoxi, you should return to your room and reflect as well."
Shen Ruoxi coldly chuckled in her heart, saying nothing more.
Ning Zhen, however, was intrigued by Chuntao's words, she curiously asked, "Ruoxi, can you really do martial arts? How about we spar sometime?"
Shen Ruoxi curled her lips into a contemptuous smile and said indifferently, "Mrs. Ning, please call me by my name, how could I compare with the high skills of Military Guard Ning?
Ruoxi takes her leave, won't accompany you." After saying this, she respectfully saluted Old Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Zhou, then turned away with Chuntao.
At this moment, Xiao Chengyu, seeing the Silver, felt very good and excitedly said to Xiao Chengyi, "Brother, can you use this Silver to get me a few sets of new clothes?
I've taken a fancy to the Rich Brocade Store's satin, it's the most fashionable fabric this spring, all the noble girls in the Capital City are wearing it, a hundred taels of Silver will suffice for me."
Xiao Chengyi, upon hearing this, had his face slightly changed.
He originally thought the Emperor might grant him more Silver Taels, but he only got one thousand taels, far from the promise of a thousand gold upon marrying Ning Zhen.
Moreover, Ning Zhen was an orphan without parents, and the wedding clothes and jewelry had to be provided by the Xiao Family, this one thousand taels of Silver couldn't be touched.
He had touched upon some expenses of the family yesterday, just like his grandmother's medicine, each prescription cost five taels of Silver, and the medicine alone cost one hundred and fifty taels a month.
Not to mention the other expenditures in the family.
And since Ning Zhen is someone close to his heart, how could he refuse her requests?
Now, with his sister suddenly asking for one hundred taels of Silver for clothes, how could that work?
Xiao Chengyi was about to refuse when he saw Ning Zhen generously say, "The wealth bestowed by the Emperor is rightfully ours in the Xiao Family, it should be used for the family, we are one family, Chengyu, take it if you need it."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengyu was overjoyed, "New sister-in-law, you are so wonderful! Unlike some others, so stingy. I'll go ahead then..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Mrs. Zhou suddenly coughed, interrupting her, "Chengyu, have a seat."
Xiao Chengyu pouted, discontentedly saying, "Mother, new sister-in-law agreed, why are you..."
"Sit back down." Mrs. Zhou's tone was indisputable.
Xiao Chengyu pouted unwillingly but obediently returned to her seat.
Then, Mrs. Zhou turned to Xiao Chengyi and asked, "Chengyi, how much Silver did you bring back to the Capital City this time?"
Xiao Chengyi's face stiffened, and he awkwardly replied, "Mother, didn't I hand over all my salary to the family? How much money could I save at the border city? I really don't have any money right now."
Mrs. Zhou responded calmly, "If that's the case, simply hold the wedding simply! After all, elevating the status isn't a first marriage, there's no need for extravagance."
Hearing this, Ning Zhen's face suddenly turned ugly.
Seeing this, the old lady immediately became angry, "How can marriage, such a big event, be simply handled? Not only can it not be simple, but it must be grand! Zhen'er is now a First Rank military officer with a salary, and this time I must hold their wedding grand and lively!"
Mrs. Zhou, being soft-spoken and indecisive, could only whisper in agreement upon hearing her mother-in-law's stance, "The daughter-in-law understands."
Then, she turned to Xiao Chengyu and said, "Chengyu, don't buy the clothes, after all, what clothes are worth a hundred taels of Silver?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengyu immediately showed a dissatisfied look.
Ning Zhen smiled and comforted her, "Chengyu, don't worry, later on, we will open our own ready-to-wear shop, and you can wear whatever fabric you like."
"Really?" Xiao Chengyu's eyes lit up instantly.
"Of course it's true, rest assured! Our Xiao Family's days will definitely be prosperous and flourishing." Ning Zhen gently patted her hand.
Seeing this scene, the old lady was very pleased. This new daughter-in-law was much better than Shen Ruoxi.