Becoming The Darling Of An Imperial Bigshot After Breaking Off Her Marriage - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Making a Bet

The Ye family’s banquet, which should have been lively, was dreary because of Ye Ningxuan’s arrival.

Seeing that no one was talking, the eldest aunt rolled her eyes and said with a smile, “Dad, look at how Xuan’er brought so many gifts back today. Xuan’er is so sensible. I wonder what Ningxuan brought back for you? Ningxuan, take out the gift you brought back and let us broaden our horizons.”

There was a rule in Jiang City.

When a daughter married from her maiden family, she naturally had to bring a generous dowry.

The daughter would return three days after her marriage, and her husband’s family had to prepare a gift in return.

Usually, the richer the dowry, the richer the return gift prepared by the husband’s family.

Ye Ningxuan sneered. When she got married, the Ye family didn’t even prepare a bed for her. How could they expect her to bring back a gift?

“Ningxuan, don’t tell me you’re not prepared! However, you didn’t have parents since you were young and didn’t grow up by our side. It’s fine if you don’t know the rules. It’s just that Zhan family… Why don’t they even know this rule? Could it be that they’re not satisfied with you?” The eldest aunt covered her mouth and mocked.

The others also looked at Ye Ningxuan gloatingly.

She was even wearing a veil when eating. There was no telling how ugly she was. It was just that Zhan Hanjue’s reputation wasn’t good so he had no other choice. However, he definitely didn’t like her in his heart.

Zhan Hanjue frowned slightly. He didn’t expect the Ye family to bully an orphan girl like this.

“Bring up the return gift, Butler Wu,” Zhan Hanjue ordered coldly.

“Yes.”

Butler Wu immediately called in the people outside and presented the return gifts to the Ye family one by one.

There was an eight-piece set of exquisite gold jewelry, a half-meter-tall jade Guanyin, and an antique painted heart vase from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Old Master Ye was an antique collector.

Other things aside, he couldn’t take his eyes off this antique vase. The quality was so good, and it was well preserved. It was obviously expensive and rare.

The other items also made the others gape.

First Aunt couldn’t care less about being humiliated. She hurriedly smiled obsequiously and said, “Are these all gifts for us? President Zhan, you’re too polite. As expected of the richest man in Jiang City, you’re so generous.”

“Eldest Aunt, you must be joking.” Ye Ningxuan said slowly, “These are the return gifts prepared by the Zhan family. However, our family doesn’t have any dowry. How can we accept the return gifts from the Zhan family? The Zhan family prepared these because they know the rules. Our family can’t let others look down on us. Butler Wu, put everything away. Be careful not to break them. We still have to bring them back later.”

“Yes, Young Madam.” Butler Wu agreed respectfully and waved his hand to get someone to take the items back.

“Well…”

“Third Sister, the other things are fine, but Grandpa likes to collect antiques the most. Why don’t you leave that antique vase for Grandpa? I believe Mr. Zhan won’t object,” Ye Xuan said. She asked for the vase for Old Master Ye and looked at Zhan Hanjue with affection.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Hanjue said, “I have no objections, but I have never cared about these household matters. My wife is in charge.”

Ye Ningxuan’s beautiful eyes narrowed. “Sister, you’re really filial. However, Grandpa has a lot of collections. I don’t think he will care about such an ordinary thing.”

Old Master Ye’s face turned livid with anger.

Why didn’t he care?

He was dying for it.

But at his age, how could he have the nerve to ask a junior for it? Besides, he really didn’t prepare anything for this girl.

Ye Xuan’s expression turned ugly.

However, she quickly thought of a plan and looked at Zhan Hanjue with a smile. “Mr. Zhan, our family heard the rumors previously and didn’t consider it carefully. If we knew that Mr. Zhan was such a talent, we definitely wouldn’t have let our ugly third sister marry over. Our family still has a few other girls, so Mr. Zhan might as well take a look.”

With that, she deliberately puffed out her breasts and revealed what she thought was her most beautiful smile.

Lin Yuyang’s face turned livid, but he couldn’t flare up in front of everyone. He could only clench his fists hatefully.

Ye Ya was only seventeen years old. When she heard Ye Xuan’s words, she was ashamed and couldn’t help but blush and lower her head.

However, First Aunt was extremely excited and immediately pushed her daughter in the direction of Zhan Hanjue. “President Zhan, this is my daughter, Chen Nome. She’s the same age as Ningxuan and is much prettier than Ningxuan.”

If she married into the Zhan family, wouldn’t those gifts be hers?

Zhan Hanjue said coldly, “I think everyone has forgotten that I’m blind. Beauty and ugliness mean nothing to me.”

“…”

Ye Xuan was extremely vexed. Why was she so focused on looking at his face that she forgot that he was blind? She had wasted so much time posing.

“Besides, I don’t think Ningxuan is ugly.” Zhan Hanjue held Ye Ningxuan’s hand in public.

Ye Ningxuan’s hand was smooth and slender. It was warm in his hand, like a high-quality jade.

The moment he held her hand, Zhan Hanjue’s heart fluttered.

Ye Xuan snorted and tried to sow discord. “Mr. Zhan, even if you can’t see, don’t be deceived. She’s wearing a veil to hide her ugly appearance. Even if you don’t care, you have to think about the next generation.”

“That’s right, President Zhan. Ningxuan has been ugly since she was young. Our entire family knows that. My daughter is really beautiful. If you don’t believe me, you can let your butler see her and tell you,” the eldest aunt said impatiently.

“Eldest Aunt, how many years has it been since you last saw me? How dare you say that you know? Second Sister, must I be ugly if I have a veil on? Where did you get this idea from? It’s really funny and ridiculous.” Ye Ningxuan retorted rudely.

Ye Xuan widened her eyes. “Ye Ningxuan, you’re so arrogant. Since you’re so arrogant, why don’t you take off your veil? Seeing is believing. Let’s all see how beautiful you are.”

“That won’t be necessary. I came home to attend a family banquet, not a beauty pageant. I’m afraid that if I take off my veil, I’ll make you feel inferior.” Ye Ningxuan sounded like she was doing this for her own good.

Ye Xuan was about to explode from anger. She immediately stood up and shouted, “Ye Ningxuan, how dare you say such shameless words? You must take it off today.”

“I can take it off, but Sister, why don’t we make a bet?” Ye Ningxuan suggested.

“Bet? On what?”

“If everyone thinks that Second Sister is prettier than me, I won’t bring any of those return gifts back today. I’ll give them all to Second Sister.”

“Really? Keep your word. Don’t go back on your word.” Afraid that she would go back on her word, Ye Xuan shouted before she could finish.

“Of course I’ll keep my word. My husband has already said that I’ll be in charge, right?” Ye Ningxuan looked at Zhan Hanjue with a smile.

Zhan Hanjue said nothing, his face grim.

But if he didn’t object, it meant he agreed.

“But Second Sister, if everyone thinks that I’m prettier than Second Sister, Second Sister has to bet on something to. That’s only fair,” Ye Ningxuan added.

Ye Xuan snorted. “Sure, what do you want me to do?”

There were no strict boundaries between beauty and ugliness. No matter how one looked at it, there were more people on her side than on Ye Ningxuan’s side.

As long as everyone was on her side, what could Ye Ningxuan do?

“I just want the carved peony jade pendant in Second Sister’s dowry.”