Hua Manman called out to the system again.
"What is this medicine for?"
This time, the system finally responded.
[This is Snow Jade Ointment. It improves circulation to clear up bruises, reduces swelling and pain, removes scars, and makes your skin more delicate and smooth.]
Hua Manman took the opportunity to ask about the plot deviating from the main story.
The system crashed again, becoming unresponsive.
Hua Manman was starting to figure it out. When it came to the plot, the system wouldn't say a single extra word.
She sat down before the vanity mirror and carefully applied the Snow Jade Ointment to her face.
The ointment was white, but it turned transparent as she spread it on her face. It was absorbed quickly, leaving a cool, refreshing sensation.
'It's surprisingly comfortable.'
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt like the redness and swelling on her face had already started to go down.
When her mother came in, she first showered her daughter with compliments upon seeing her, then couldn't help but sigh.
"This must be so hard on you. Sacrificing yourself for our Uncle's Mansion, marrying a man you don't even like."
Prince Zhao may be powerful and hold a high position, but he was a cripple.
She herself had seen Prince Zhao in a wheelchair that day.
The thought of her precious daughter marrying a cripple made her heart ache.
Mrs. He said, "Why don't I go talk to your father again? I'll ask him to find a way to call off this marriage."
Hua Manman quickly grabbed her mother.
"That's not necessary! Marrying Prince Zhao is fine, really."
Her mother looked at her, astonished.
'Her daughter had tried every trick in the book to avoid marrying Prince Zhao. Why the sudden change of heart?'
Hua Manman knew she couldn't break character, or she would easily arouse suspicion.
She pouted and grumbled.
"After what happened yesterday, I've realized something. Father is never going to call off this marriage. Even if you go and argue with him, Mother, you won't change his mind. So just let it go. I've accepted my fate. Don't go fighting with Father because of me anymore. It's so annoying when you two argue."
Her mother sighed.
As Mr. Bo's primary wife, she knew her husband was dead set on an alliance with the Prince Zhao Mansion.
Unless the Prince Zhao Mansion itself was the one to call off the engagement, no one could change Mr. Bo's mind.
Mrs. He simply couldn't accept it. She didn't want to stand by and watch her daughter marry into the Prince Mansion only to suffer.
She looked at her beautiful daughter and said helplessly,
"I always wanted you to marry Zhiyuan. I watched that boy grow up. You're cousins, after all. If you had married him, I know he would have treated you well, and his family wouldn't have mistreated you. What a pity…"
But alas, man proposes, and Heaven disposes.
While Hua Manman comforted her mother, she was secretly relieved.
'Thank goodness I didn't have to marry Cousin Zhiyuan.'
'I could never accept marrying a close relative.'
So that her daughter wouldn't be looked down upon by the people of the Prince Mansion, Mrs. He prepared an especially large dowry for her. Land deeds, shops, gold, silver, jewels, fine silks, antiques, and paintings—anything Mrs. He could get her hands on, she added to her daughter's dowry list.
This drew the ire of the Old Madam, as well as the Second and Third Households.
The dowries for the daughters of the Uncle's Mansion were set at a fixed value. Even if Hua Manman was marrying a Prince, her dowry couldn't be four or five times the standard amount, could it? That was simply outrageous!
The Old Madam summoned Hua Dingzong and Mrs. He, intending to make them cut Hua Manman's dowry in half.
Though Mrs. He now managed the household of the Uncle's Mansion, the Old Madam still held considerable power. On any other matter, Mrs. He would have been willing to compromise. But this concerned her daughter's future well-being in the Prince Mansion, and on this, she would not back down an inch!
This thoroughly enraged the Old Madam.