"This is the list of betrothal gifts. Please review it, Your Excellency and Madam."
Accompanying Prince Ding was the steward of his manor. As Xu Lin could not show himself and Yang Zhao was far away in the southwest, this matter could only be handled by him.
"You are too kind, Your Highness."
Feng Hai and his wife had initially thought this was merely a formality, a way to reassure Emperor Qi. They did not expect the betrothal gifts to be particularly substantial.
However, their expressions changed drastically as soon as they saw the list.
Looking at the thin betrothal list, they assumed there wouldn't be many items. To their surprise, the dense, small characters on it made them swallow hard.
Though the characters were small, their strokes were clear and powerful, each one round and resonant.
Feng Hai looked up at Prince Ding. Although his expression was impassive, his eyes held a smile.
He had seen Prince Ding's calligraphy before, so there was no doubt this gift list was personally written by him!
The luminous pearls of the East Sea were calculated by the *hu*. The Qingyun brocade and Wan Yue silk from Jiangnan, each bolt worth a thousand gold, were sent by the jin. Jade, gold, and tourmaline were too numerous to count, and some items Feng Hai had never even heard of.
Prince Ding had even listed exotic items that seemed to have traveled across the seas.
Such a betrothal list was worth tens of thousands of gold.
He couldn't help but wonder how Prince Ding had amassed such wealth.
Having managed the national treasury for many years and seen much of the world, he felt that this betrothal gift list alone was equivalent to at least ten years of the national treasury's reserves.
For a moment, he was speechless.
Madam Feng's expression was also quite pleased. On one hand, she was delighted that Prince Ding's grand gesture was a testament to his deep affection for their daughter. On the other hand, her own meticulously prepared dowry was less than a tenth of this betrothal list, making it seem utterly meager.
Their expressions were clearly observed by the imperial guards secretly monitoring them. However, to the guards, it appeared as if Prince Ding's betrothal gifts were paltry, displeasing the Feng couple.
Truly, a performance staged to perfection.
"Your Highness... is most thoughtful."
"Lord Feng, you are too kind. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Feng Hai had intended to invite him to stay for lunch, but he was so stunned by the betrothal list that he forgot to extend the invitation.
It was Prince Ding himself who found a way to smooth things over.
"These chests were a gift from my late mother, bestowed by my father. They are rather heavy, and I fear the manor's servants might have difficulty moving them. My manor's people can assist in transporting them to the storeroom."
"Ah, yes, thank you, Your Highness. It is getting late. Perhaps Your Highness could stay for a simple meal? We will be family soon, and it is good to become more familiar with each other."
Feng Hai finally reacted and, following Prince Ding's lead, invited him to stay.
He was certainly willing, but he had to maintain appearances. The steward, being observant, knew that refusing a meal from the future father-in-law would be impolite. Thus, he spoke up.
"Your Highness has had a poor appetite recently, and the manor's cooks' dishes have not quite suited your taste. Perhaps you would like to try some of the Feng family's cooking? If you like it, this old servant can ask the chef to inform our cooks so they can improve."
"In that case, I shall stay."
What should have been a simple meal was made so complicated.
However, Xiao Tingyi ultimately stayed as planned. As for his actual destination, he was discreetly escorted to Ning'an Courtyard.
Even though he visited Feng Jin Yao every day, each meeting felt like a lifetime apart.
"Your Highness's betrothal gifts are too precious. I am unworthy to accept them."
"You may accept them with peace of mind. They are not solely from me. My father, my mother, and my maternal grandfather also contributed. Especially my maternal grandfather, who has longed for me to marry for many years, so his gifts naturally grew more generous."
Feng Jin Yao fell silent. No wonder, with so many people contributing, how could the gifts not be substantial?
Then, Xiao Tingyi suddenly spoke.
"Where did you keep the coming-of-age gift I gave you?"
Feng Jin Yao was momentarily stunned, then recalled.
At that time, she had avoided Prince Ding like the plague and dared not accept gifts so readily.
However, with the subsequent events, she had not had a chance to look at it and had kept it in a hidden compartment.
Retrieving the brocade box from the hidden compartment, Feng Jin Yao glanced at Xiao Tingyi.
Xiao Tingyi's eyes held anticipation. Feng Jin Yao, feeling somewhat suspicious, opened the box. Inside lay a dark, square seal. It was not large, but the jade was exceptionally rare.
It was described as ink jade, yet it appeared darker and harder. If it were black stone, its luster would be far superior.
Taking out the seal, Feng Jin Yao looked at Xiao Tingyi curiously.
He said nothing, but led her to the desk. Without even using ink paste, he pressed the seal directly onto the Xuan paper.
Four characters, "Ding Wang Si Yin" (Prince Ding's Private Seal), as black as iron with a hint of gold, appeared vividly on the paper.
Feng Jin Yao was astonished. Although she had never seen it, she knew the importance of a private seal!
"Your Highness, this is..."
"Seeing this seal is like seeing me. Not only all people and things within the manor, but also the secret guards and the Ding Wang Army will obey its command. A'yao, from the moment of your coming-of-age ceremony, I have considered you my wife. This will never change."
Hearing this, Feng Jin Yao was too shocked to speak.
This was a hundred times more precious than the betrothal gifts worth tens of thousands of gold. It was entrusting his entire being to her.
Feng Jin Yao did not know what she could say or do to be worthy of such profound trust and affection.
Compared to Prince Ding, her own contributions were far too little.
At least in terms of trust, she could not compare.
She felt a pang of guilt.
Xiao Tingyi knew that she harbored certain secrets, but he never wanted to pry. If Feng Jin Yao was willing, she would naturally share them with him. But if she was unwilling, his own investigation would profane their feelings.
He did not wish for that.
"You need not feel any burden. All of this is my own volition. A'yao, if you are willing to be open with me, I will be overjoyed. But if you wish to keep some secrets, I will not pursue them. You only need to live happily. This life, the next life, and the life after that, I will protect you."
These words made Feng Jin Yao unable to hold back any longer. She threw herself into his arms, speechless with emotion.
After a long while, her emotions gradually subsided.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked at the damp patch on his chest with a hint of shyness.
The secret of her rebirth had almost slipped out, but what use would such fantastical talk be, even if spoken?
Rather than dwelling on the ethereal past, it was better to live in the present with solid footing.
"The thing I am most grateful to heaven for is allowing me to meet Your Highness. All that has passed is but vanity. I only wish that in this life, I will be steadfast and never leave your side until we grow old together."
With Feng Jin Yao's answer, the missing piece in Prince Ding's heart was finally filled.
They embraced, looking together at the pomegranate tree outside the window, as if seeing their future: lush and verdant, with many descendants.