Chapter 641: Results of the negotiation (2/2)

“This isn’t an impossible solution!” Ouyang Ning Nuo smiled.

Tang Zijin secretly rejoiced. This would not only save the Tang Clan face, but give their family a chance to infiltrate Cloud Realm Trade Consortium.

“Someone come, bring brush and ink!” Tang Zijin got straight to business, afraid that Ouyang Ning Nuo might change his mind.

Very soon, the contract was written and signed on paper. Tang Zijin had the great seal of the Tang Clan brought over and stamped the agreement personally, while Ouyang Ning Nuo took out the Cloud Realm Trade Consortium’s own great seal and affixed its stamp as well. The contract had an identical copy that was also stamped, thus deciding the fates of Tang Li and Ouyang Ning Jing’s lives.

Tang Li couldn’t see any of the proceedings, but he heard his father roll up the agreement well enough. Although he knew this was all a farce and that he’d never have children with Ouyang Ning Jing, the whole thing still left him with an indescribable feeling.

“Congratulations, hehe!” Han Yunxi laughed up her sleeve.

Tang Li only opened and closed his mouth, begging her to treat his poison. But Han Yunxi only smiled innocently and said, “The antidote to this particular toxin is time itself. It’ll wear off naturally after a couple of hours.”

Tang Li was too tired to even cry. He was suddenly glad that his true opponent was Ning Jing, not Han Yunxi. He stole a peek at Long Feiye. In the past, he hadn’t understood how she’d managed to overpower him. Now he had no idea how Long Feiye had managed to keep her in check in turn.

Meanwhile, Tang Zijin and Ouyang Ning Nuo concluded their agreement and began to negotiate other things. What else was there to set after the wedding?

Naturally, the betrothal gifts and dowry!

“Your Excellency Clan Head, as this one sees it, it’s better to have the wedding ceremony sooner than later. After all, with all these rumors floating about, a delay would only harm the young groom’s reputation.” Ouyang Ning Nuo began.

Han Yunxi was about to borrow Long Feiye’s voice-throwing technique to speak up when Lady Tang beat her to it. “Then please have Ouyang Ning Jing’s birthday and astrological details sent over. This lady will calculate a lucky date for the wedding and have a messenger deliver a formal proposal.”

“Alright!” Ouyang Ning Nuo agreed easily. “Ning Jing is our Cloud Realm Trade Consortium’s president and a member of its Chamber of Commerce. Her position is both exalted and important, so no sloppiness will be permitted for her wedding. Thus, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium shall host splendid feasts from the day the messenger comes until the actual wedding date itself.”

The details of the banquets would be left to the bride’s side of the family to manage. Ouyang Ning Nuo had no need to tell them these details, but did it anyways to hint to Tang Zijin that the consortium would surely be showing off their wealth and extravagance. In turn, they as the groom’s family would have to match the pomp and grandeur to avoid losing face for the Tang Clan.

As the wife of the Tang Clan head, Lady Tang knew exactly what he was implying. She lazily turned to her servant girl and asked, “Is the Pear Blossom Teardrop Rain needles still in the young clan master’s hands?”

“It has been with him this entire time,” the servant girl replied dutifully.

“Mm,” Lady Tang’s tone was noncommital.

Ouyang Ning Nuo was secretly delighted. Before he came, Ning Cheng had told him to get those needles if nothing else, no matter what. But Han Yunxi and Tang Li could barely keep from guffawing behind the wall. Indeed, the Pear Blossom Teardrop Rain needles were in Tang Li’s hands, but he’d used them all up ages ago while escaping from his wedding woes! Perhaps Tang Zijin was still in the dark about this fact, but Lady Tang should be fully aware.

Han Yunxi already had a good impression of the woman, but now she liked her even better. “Tang Li, your mother is really great.”

Tang Li couldn’t speak, but his face shone with pride.

Long Feiye only watched them silently from the side. Although his thoughts were unreadable, his lips suddenly quirked into a faint, melancholy smile.

Ouyang Ning Nuo had been waiting for Lady Tang to raise the subject of the dowrry the entire time. However, since she didn’t comment on the matter, he was all too happy to let it slide. Rising to his feet, he declared, “The rest of the trifling details can be left to the wedding nannies. It’s getting late, so this one should take my leave.”

Tang Zijin sighed. “Aye, Tang Li had a marriage agreement with Celestial Mountian’s Cang Clan first. Now that this has happened, the Tang Clan has no choice but to let them down.”

Ouyang Ning Nuo sighed as well to express his sympathy, but didn’t comment on the issue. Something like this was better left to the Tang Clan and Cang Qiuzi to work out amongst themselves. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium would never go offend Cang Qiuzi of their own accord!

“Farewell.” He was in a rush to leave, but Lady Tang suddenly called him back.

“Wait a moment!”

Nervous, Ouyang Ning Nuo wondered whether the Tang Clan had invited Celestial Mountain people to this meeting as well. But Lady Tang only said, “Gentleman Ouyang, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium has no need to prepare any dowry for that girl Ning Jing. Our Tang Clan is perfectly capable of supporting her on our own without any losses. All she has to do is dress prettily for her big wedding day, understood?”

Both Han Yunxi and Tang Li muffled their mouths so they wouldn’t burst out laughing again. Really, Lady Tang was too much! Her words were so aggressive. Would a personality like Ouyang Ning Jing’s bring any less than a full caravan of dowry goods to ride through the city?

Han Yunxi suddenly recalled an idiom: “Even the best of mothers can’t turn into a good mother-in-law for the groom’s wife!” In other words, they would always favor their own son over the new addition to the family.

Ouyang Ning Nuo’s heart sank. He knew that he’d lost again in this round of negotiations. He hadn’t met any of his expected outcomes. Now he was even beginning to suspect whether his own negotiation skills were getting rusty from lack of practice.

It was unknown what Ning Cheng felt about the outcome of this meeting, but Han Yunxi and company were all in excellent spirits when they walked out of their hiding room. Their matters were just about set! She turned to speak to Lady Tang, but that was when the silent Aunt Ru finally opened her mouth for the first time….