Seeing that nothing had happened, Mo Jiuye was relieved.
He stated the purpose of his visit this time.
"Brother Meng, I've come this time because I wanted to inquire about some things."
"Brother Jiu, please feel free to ask me anything." Meng Huaining had long regarded Mo Jiuye as one of his own family.
Especially after he was engaged to Mo Hanyue, he felt even closer to her few elder brothers.
"I heard that the Ninth Prince in the capital city colluded with the Gu Masters from the Southern Border to frame several important court ministers."
Meng Huaining was quite surprised that Mo Jiuye knew about this matter.
Based on his understanding of the Mo family, they had already lost confidence in the imperial court, and didn't even want to care about it at all.
"How did Brother Jiu come to know about this?" Meng Huaining was not trying to pry anything from Mo Jiuye, he was just simply asking.
Since his mother-in-law had come to accompany Lady Ran in the northwest for the impending childbirth, it was impossible for this to be a secret from Meng Huaining who was about to marry Mo Hanyue, so Mo Jiuye did not intend to conceal it either.
"It was because my mother-in-law came from the capital city and mentioned this matter a few days ago."
"I see." Meng Huaining glanced outside the door and saw no one approaching before saying in a low voice, "I also only received the news a few days ago. Indeed it is as Brother Jiu said, several important ministers have been poisoned by Gu."
"I heard that Emperor Shunwu has already sent people to look for Gu masters to undo the poison, may I ask if there has been any progress on this matter?" This was what Mo Jiuye cared about the most.
Since his mother-in-law came from the capital city, what she knew was the situation from at least twenty days ago. No one could say clearly what was happening now.
He knew that there were carrier pigeons transmitting letters between Meng Huaining and Fei Nanyu. Although pigeon speed was not as fast as his little white bird, they still had a travel time of three to four days.
That meant the news Meng Huaining received was from the last five or six days, which showed that Emperor Shunwu still had not found the Gu masters to undo the poison yet.
Mo Jiuye had told his family that he went out this time to purchase dowries for Mo Hanyue, so it was still a bit early to return now.
He simply took a stroll around the city before rushing back in the carriage in the afternoon.
After dinner, Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran together handed over the dowry gifts packed neatly in a small wooden box to Mo Hanyue.
"Hanyue, this is the dowry the family has prepared for you. Take a look and see if you like it," He Zhiran pushed the small wooden box in front of Mo Hanyue.
When Mo Hanyue saw the courtyard and land her family had given her, she felt somewhat guilty.
The present Mo family was no longer like when they were in the capital city. Participating in farm work every day made her truly understand that it was not easy for the family to earn money.
For her wedding, all family members had donated money to build her a courtyard residence as dowry. Even the furnishings and beddings inside were the best quality.
The specifications were no less than those of distinguished noble families in the capital city, but rather were of an even higher class.
"Sister-in-law, this really won't do. You all have given me more than enough. I cannot accept these anymore," Mo Hanyue sincerely spoke from her heart. She did not want her family to spend more money for her sake.
As she spoke, she pushed the small wooden box back in front of He Zhiran.
"Sister-in-law, I really can't accept these. Keep them for when my little nephews get married in the future."
This made He Zhiran laugh, "How do you know they will be nephews and not nieces?"
"That's fine too. Keep them for their dowries when they get married in the future." In Mo Hanyue's mind, no matter whether Sister-in-law gives birth to boys or girls, she would love them all the same.
At this time, Old Lady Mo also spoke up.
"Hanyue already has such a large residence for her dowry, which is presentable enough. It's better not to give her these jewelries."
Speaking of which, Old Lady Mo also felt somewhat guilty.
Back when she married Mo Qing, she also brought a good dowry with her.
It was a pity that the Mo men were always away on military campaigns. All the wealth they obtained were used to provide relief for the dead and injured soldiers as well as their families, leaving nothing in the family home, let alone giving an outward appearance of deep financial resources.
Later, as news came of the successive deaths in battle of the Mo men, Old Lady Mo didn't wish for her widowed daughters-in-law to live in hardship, so she gradually drew from her own dowry to supplement the family funds.
The sisters-in-law were sensible. Seeing that mother-in-law took out her own dowry for the sake of their livelihood, they were unwilling to fall behind and also contributed their own dowries to the family.
At that time, Mo Jiuye was constantly away at war and did not know the situation at home. He allocated all war spoils obtained to the soldiers who fought alongside him through life and death.
This resulted in He Zhiran not salvaging many valuable items when ransacking the Mo residence before they were exiled.
These were also the reasons behind Old Lady Mo's guilt.
As a mother, it was incumbent on her to prepare the dowry for her daughter's wedding.
Yet now, not to mention dowry, if not for the hard work of her daughter-in-law all this while, it was likely the whole family could not even afford meals.
And now her daughter-in-law had prepared a box of jewelry for her daughter. How could she as the mother feel at ease accepting this?
"These were originally things that I as her mother should have prepared. Now lacking the means to do so myself, yet needing you as sister-in-law to make these preparations, this pains my heart."
Seeing this, the sisters-in-law also gathered around to show their support, concurring with mother-in-law's words only halfway.
Before He Zhiran married into the family, the sisters-in-law always deferred to Eldest Sister-in-law's words. So this time, Eldest Sister-in-law took the lead to speak up first.
"Hanyue is the only daughter in our Mo family. Not only must her wedding be celebrated in splendor, but her dowry must not wrong her either.
Since little sister is willing to arrange the jewelry for Hanyue, why don't we sisters contribute the silver for it together?
This way, we married-in sisters can also feel more at ease."
Second Sister-in-Law also stepped forward to show her support, "Little sister, just listen to Eldest Sister's suggestion. I am also willing to contribute a share of silver for the jewelry."
"I am also willing..."
"And I am willing too..."
Without exception, all eight sisters-in-law voiced their willingness to share the costs. Moreover, they spoke with utmost sincerity, showing not the slightest reluctance.
Although not wealthy, the solidarity of the nine sisters-in-law was what He Zhiran loved most about the Mo family. Regardless of their great number, the sisters always cooperated seamlessly together, never dissenting over trivial matters.
She understood that her sisters-in-law were speaking genuinely, yet she did not wish for them to share the burden.
The jewelry was all purchased on Taobao Mall. For the wealthy He Zhiran, it was a drop in the ocean.
If converted to silver liang of this era, the value of the jewelry would easily amount to several thousand liang.
While it was true she distributed the due wages to her sisters-in-law on time every month, and the sums were not inconsiderable, those incomes were still outstanding compared to the earnings of common folk in the northwest. Even if the sisters exhausted all their family savings, it was doubtful they could contribute an equal share of silver for the jewelry.
Of course, only He Zhiran knew the true value of the jewelry. She would not allow her sisters-in-law to share costs for it.
"Sisters, I understand your kind intentions, but do not forget - presently the Mo family affairs are all managed by me. Other than the monthly wages I distribute to you, all remaining income is under my administration."
