Chapter 449 Emptying the Marquis's Mansion to Make Up for the Dowry

Everyone knew that she had been urgently summoned to the palace to meet the emperor.

As a result, she was carried out of the palace again in less than an hour.

I'm afraid that after a whole day of fermentation, the news that she was punished by Emperor Xiaozhao has already spread throughout the capital.

Just then, Wu's wailing came again: "Waaah... Mother, what should we do?..."

"Shut up!"

Min Qiao glared impatiently at Wu and shouted sharply, "Shut your mouth!"

"If you keep howling, get out of here!"

Ms. Wu covered her mouth in terror, but tears still streamed down her face.

Little Wu glanced at Min Qiao's expression, then obediently helped Wu to sit down by the window, away from the bed. She then returned and cautiously asked, "Grandmother, rumors are circulating that things are not going well for our Xuanping Marquis's residence. Should we make some preparations in advance?"

"And what about Princess Qi? We need to find a way to meet with her so we can make plans, right?"

Madam Min Qiao glanced at Madam Wu and nodded in satisfaction. That made more sense.

Min Rong and Wu Shi were both fools, but the daughter-in-law they chose was quite discerning.

Thinking of Min Rong, Madam Min Qiao finally turned her gaze to Min Rong, who had been sitting silently to the side.

More than half a year has passed since I last saw Min Rong. Her complexion has deteriorated significantly, and her health has also declined considerably. She looks listless and lacks energy.

Seeing that Madam Min Qiao was looking at him, Min Rong opened his mouth and called out, "Mother."

The voice was soft and weak.

Min Qiao did not respond and silently withdrew her gaze.

She looked at Madam Wu again, "These days, you and Madam He should take stock of the Marquis's estate and also take stock of your dowries."

“Check your mother-in-law’s, your own, and He’s dowry items one by one according to the dowry list.”

"If anyone has used their dowry to supplement the public funds, they should find a way to use the public funds' property to make up for it as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Min Rong immediately cried out in extreme exasperation, "What does Mother mean by this? Cough cough cough..."

Min Rong became anxious and couldn't help but cough, his breathing becoming very heavy.

After a long while, Min Rong finally suppressed his cough and said breathlessly, "Why should we use the public property to make up for their dowries?"

"They used their dowries to supplement the public funds voluntarily! Why should they return them?"

"I disagree!"

"No one is allowed to touch the Marquis's property!"

What a joke! Why should he return the wealth he painstakingly built up for the Marquis's mansion?

It doesn't matter what other people's are, there aren't many anyway.

But the dowry that Consort He brought into the mansion was truly substantial! Now, the expenses of the Marquis's mansion largely depend on Consort He's dowry!

If all of these are returned, wouldn't the Marquis's mansion become penniless again?

When he talked about being penniless, he couldn't help but think of Min Qiao's ruthlessness.

The Marquis's mansion had initially relied on Min Qiao's dowry for survival, but Min Qiao took it back without warning. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been in such a hurry to bring He Shi into the family.

He could have kept the He family mother and daughter outside and then found a way to slowly drain their resources.

As a result, because Min Qiaoshi refused to take responsibility, he had to bring Heshi into the house ahead of schedule.

But who would have thought that He was actually a spy planted by the Sun family next to him!

If it weren't for that rebellious daughter Min Yuexi stopping him, he would have kicked the He mother and daughter out long ago.

You still want him to return their dowry? You're dreaming!

Min Rong reacted strongly, and Wu Shi couldn't help but frown.

She stopped crying and fussing this time, and nodded whenever Min Rong spoke.

After Min Rong finished speaking, she chimed in, "Your Excellency is right! The subsidies for the public funds were all given voluntarily, so there's no reason to return them."

When she married into the Marquis's mansion, her dowry was only worth about a thousand taels of silver.

Now, she has nearly five thousand taels of silver in her possession. And most of that was squeezed out of He Shi.

As for the dowry that Madam He brought into the mansion, part of it was given to Min Yuexi as her dowry, and part of it was in her hands, but the majority of it had long been added to the Marquis's estate by Min Rong and confiscated.

Where can I return it to her?

She wasn't sure how much dowry Madam Wu still had, but it was true that Madam Wu had given Min Yuexi a considerable sum of money to help her when she got married.

This money was given to Ms. Wu voluntarily, so why should she be compensated?

Besides, where would the Marquis's mansion get the money to make up for it?

No! Absolutely not!

Neither Xiao Wu nor He should be given additional dowries!

Otherwise, the Marquis's mansion would truly become an empty shell!

She probably won't be able to keep the money she has!

Wu shook her head vigorously, her resistance no less than that of Min Rong.

Unlike Min Rong and Wu Shi's strong resistance, Xiao Wu Shi felt a sudden jolt in her heart after hearing Min Qiao Shi's words, and had a vague sense of unease.

If things are really as she guessed, then Min Qiao's words are their best option now.

However, as a junior, she couldn't say anything given her in-laws' strong opposition.

He could only look at Madam Min Qiao with eager eyes.

Min Qiaoshi understood Xiao Wushi's expectations and also saw through the selfishness and folly of Min Rong and his wife.

Well, this couple has been selfish and stupid for quite some time now.

Madam Min Qiao didn't allow them to waste any more words. She glanced at the two of them coldly and then said in an unyielding and domineering tone, "I'll give you two choices."

"First, return the dowry to Madam Wu and Madam He."

"Secondly, liquidate all of the existing properties of the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion to compensate for my dowry!"

"Don't forget, when Min Ji misappropriated my 500,000 taels of dowry money, he gave me an IOU!"

"When the family property was divided, you promised in front of everyone that you would gradually repay this money to me!"

Madam Min sneered and said coldly, "Choose. One or two?"

Little Wu's eyes lit up.

It has to be an old lady!

Wu and Min Rong, however, looked extremely grim.

Madam Wu hesitated for a long time before finally saying with resentment, "Mother, why are you suddenly asking for an additional dowry?"

"Now that the dowry has been replenished, will the Marquis's mansion still be able to live comfortably?"

Madam Min glanced at Madam Wu sideways, "So, you're not going to choose?"

Wu opened and closed her mouth for a long time, then turned her face away and didn't answer.

However, their resistance was quite obvious.

"And what about you?" Madam Min Qiao glanced at Min Rong.

Min Rong looked back with a cold smile and said in an unfriendly tone, "Didn't Mother already move out of the Marquis's mansion and sever ties with us?"

"Is it inappropriate for you to interfere in the affairs of the Marquis's residence now?"

Madam Min Qiao looked at Min Rong with a half-smile, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten."

"You were partly responsible for my being expelled from Beijing back then!"

"Standing in court with your enemies to target and frame your own mother, you really have some skills!"

Min Rong fell silent.

Yet there was clearly no remorse in his expression.

Without further ado, Madam Min Qiao made the decision directly: "Since none of you are choosing, then I will decide for you."

As she spoke, she looked at Madam Wu and said, "Have someone call Yang An here. When he comes, have him bring a few accountants to take stock of the Marquis's property, and then find someone to sell it off."

"It's time to pay back some interest on the dowry money that's owed me for decades!"

Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment, glancing at Min Qiao, then turning to look at Min Rong and his wife.

He was very dissatisfied with Wu and Min Rong.

At this point, if you still don't know which option to choose and insist on going against the old lady, what good will that do you?

Originally, she and Aunt He were given additional dowry money, but the money was still in their own hands.

Now all the money is in the old lady's hands!

Whether the old lady will still give them the tools then is another matter!