Then Wang Hao gave a crisp order to the bodyguards. "Open the betrothal chest and set everything on the table." At once, the bodyguards stepped forward, lifting the lacquered lid and carefully arranging each item for display. As one treasure after another was revealed, the Liu family's eyes shimmered with undisguised greed. With every new gift laid out, the corners of their mouths inched higher, their smiles stretching wider like hungry wolves catching the scent of fresh meat.
There were thick, weighty gold bangles - rich, gleaming, and nothing like the flimsy ones the Liu family had offered. A cascade of gold jewellery followed - ornate necklaces, phoenix-shaped hairpins, rings set with precious stones, and earrings heavy with craftsmanship.
Next came the jade pieces - exquisite carved jade bracelets, their surfaces smooth as water, alongside ruby and sapphire earrings that glittered like captured starlight.
Then the pearls - a complete wedding set as well as delicate pendant necklaces accompanied by matching earrings.
Finally, the bodyguard pulled out a grand jewellery chest, when opened, it revealed a trove of loose gems, glittering magnificently, each stone promising future masterpieces.
Besides the dazzling jewellery, the betrothal chest held layers of exquisite treasures. Luxurious fabrics spilled out - gold-thread embroidered wedding quilts, soft silk scarves and robes, and bolts of rare patterned cloth that even noble ladies seldom laid eyes on. A thick red envelope, weighted with an astonishing sum of money, rested a top the fabrics like a seal of the Wang family's boundless generosity.
But what truly made the Liu family's breaths hitch were the stacks of ownership deeds - lands, shops, and premium properties, each one worth far more than the entirety of the Liu mansion. And then came two more boxes, both guarded with reverent care. One contained the rarest medicinal pills, each a treasure sought by nobles and healers alike. The other brimmed with precious herbs, their fragrance alone enough to make anyone's knees weaken.
As for the Blessing Gifts, the bodyguards revealed a pair of tall red candles carved with intertwining dragon and phoenix motifs - symbols of eternal harmony. Beside them lay a pair of mandarin duck ornaments, their lacquered bodies gleaming under the hall's lights, embodying unbreakable marital devotion. A gold-plated bridal comb set completed the display, its delicate filigree catching the light like captured sunlight.
These auspicious gifts instantly brightened the elders' expressions, their smiles widening with every item unveiled. The Liu family's older generation was practically beaming, satisfied and delighted by the grandeur of the Wang family's generosity but on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum sat Liu Wuxin.
Her fingers tightened and her jaw clenched as she had never imagined that the Wang family would send such an extravagant betrothal gift. The sight of those treasures made her chest burn with jealousy wondering how could all of this go to that foolish girl? But then a new thought slithered into her mind, cooling her rage. No… these gifts are for the Liu family and whatever entered the Liu family's hands would eventually be hers.
She smirked inwardly. She knew her grandmother better than anyone, with just a few coaxing words, the old lady would surely persuade that stupid Wu Qingyi to leave everything behind at the Liu residence. In the end, these precious gifts would fall right into her lap.
However, none of them had expected that the seemingly simple-minded, naïve girl would refuse to leave even a single inch of the betrothal gifts behind. Her quiet stubbornness would soon become the greatest regret of the Liu family for choosing to push Wu Qingyi into the position of the Wang family's bride instead of Liu Wuxin.
Once all the gifts had been unveiled, Wu Qingyi finally spoke and her soft, clear voice struck the Liu family like a bolt of lightning. "Mr. Wang Hao, could you please place these betrothal gift boxes in the car along with the dowry items I've chosen to take to the Wang residence?"
For a moment, the entire hall froze. The Liu family stared at her in disbelief, their expressions twisting into horror. They had fully expected the foolish girl to obediently leave everything behind. Not even in their wildest calculations had they imagined she would dare to take away a single box, let alone all of them.
Before the old lady could find her tongue, and before Wang Hao could respond with his usual respectful "Yes, Young Madam," a piercing scream erupted. "Noooooo!" Liu Wuxin shrieked, her face contorting viciously. "You cannot take them with you! These are mine!"
"Are you Wang Lingxuan's bride?" Wu Qingyi asked back, her tone soft yet cutting, the innocence in her eyes shining like a blade wrapped in silk.
The hall fell into a suffocating silence. Liu Wuxin's lips trembled, but no sound came out. For the first time in her life, she found herself trapped in a question with no escape. If she said yes, she would be admitting her identity as the bride meaning she must marry the so-called cripple she had mocked and rejected. If she said no, then she would be acknowledging that the betrothal gifts had nothing to do with her.
Her face paled, her eyes darting helplessly between the glittering treasures and the expectant gazes around her. The realization hit her like a heavy blow, no matter how she responded, she would lose. In that silence, everyone understood that Liu Wuxin had been defeated without Wu Qingyi lifting even a finger. Only a single, simple question had cornered her completely.
The old lady cursed inwardly yet again, wondering what had gotten into her beloved granddaughter. How was Liu Wuxin managing to behave even more foolishly than the so-called stupid girl? But now was not the time to scold her. What mattered at this moment, more than pride, shame, or appearances was ensuring that these precious gifts remained within the walls of the Liu residence.
The old lady forced a gentle smile, though the muscles at the corners of her lips trembled from strain. "Qingyi, child," she coaxed softly, "these gifts are indeed yours without question. However, you are just one young girl. How could you possibly safeguard so many precious items all by yourself? It would be far safer to leave everything here at the Liu residence. We can keep them protected for you." Her tone was honeyed, but beneath that sweetness hid urgency and calculation, a desperate attempt to anchor the lavish betrothal gifts within her walls before they slipped through her fingers forever.
Wu Qingyi didn't even spare the old lady a glance. Instead, she turned to Wang Hao with earnest curiosity and asked, "Mr. Wang Hao… how capable are these bodyguards?"
For a moment, Wang Hao was stunned. He had been anxiously observing the Liu family's every subtle attempt to coax the gifts back into their hands, fearful that the naïve girl might eventually give in. But once again, she surprised him, her question slicing clean through the old lady's scheme like a blade.
Understanding instantly what she intended, Wang Hao straightened and answered with firm respect: "Young Madam, these men are elite. Every one of them is trained in military and special-operations units. They're among our highest-ranked bodyguards. Protecting a few chests of gifts is nothing for them and we have even more stationed at the Wang residence for added security."
The old lady's smile twitched, the edges stiffening. The polite excuse she had crafted to keep the betrothal gifts in the Liu residence collapsed in an instant. The bodyguards stood silently behind Wang Hao, their posture sharp and disciplined, unintentionally adding even more weight to his words.
Wu Qingyi's eyes brightened at Wang Hao's explanation, and she nodded earnestly as if everything finally made perfect sense. Turning back to the old lady, she offered a polite, grateful smile, the one that made the matriarch's eyelids twitch in frustration. "See, Grandmother," she said gently, "there are already so many capable people to protect these gifts. And you still have so many dowry items of your own to safeguard here. I really don't want to burden you with more things… or more worries." Her voice was soft, almost considerate but every word felt like a slap to the Liu family.
The old lady's smile stiffened, her expression cracking for a moment before she forcibly smoothed it over. Liu Wuxin trembled with outrage, her face twisting with jealousy and helplessness. The bodyguards stood straighter, suddenly proud under Young Madam's approving gaze, while Wang Hao lowered his head to hide the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. This "simple-minded" girl had just politely stolen every last betrothal gift right out of the Liu family's grasp leaving them no room to argue, no space to protest, and absolutely no dignity to salvage.
The old lady, sensing her plans slipping through her fingers, quickly shifted tactics. She softened her expression, her voice turning warm and melodious as if dripping with affection. "Dear child, you are right," she coaxed gently. "The Wang family indeed has far better means to safeguard such valuables. But… have you thought about how your husband might feel if you take everything away at once? Would he not assume that we, the Liu family, refused to accept the betrothal gifts? Won't that make him sad… upset even? To avoid hurting his feelings, wouldn't it be better to leave these gifts here for now?" Her tone was tender, but beneath the sugary surface lay the same iron-fisted intent to keep the treasures within the Liu residence at all costs.
Wang Hao could hardly believe the old matriarch still had the audacity to weave yet another trap, attempting to coax the girl into leaving the treasures behind. Before he could step in to stop Wu Qingyi from falling into their scheme, the supposedly naïve girl had already delivered a sharp and fitting reply.
"Grandmother," Wu Qingyi said gently, her voice soft yet firm, "he wouldn't feel sad at all. In fact, he would be relieved, comforted even that you aren't being forced to accept rare and expensive gifts. It would truly be unfair to burden you with such precious and flawless items." Her words carried the same polite phrasing the old lady had once used against her husband and now she returned it like a mirror reflecting every hidden intention.
(Earlier, the old lady had said: "We are comforted that we're not forcing strong, perfect children into caring for weakened ones. If Wuxin were the bride, it would be unfair to the young master, burdening him with someone flawless.")