Chapter 77 Pay First

Huang Yushi's words, combined with Song Yi's words, instantly gained the trust of the onlookers.

The crowd looked at Song Hui, Vice Minister Song, and Madam Zhang with disdain and anger.

"I never expected the deed of gift to be fake. Holding a fake deed of gift and still talking so confidently, what a shameless person."

"Phew, that was close. I almost got tricked by them and wronged the eldest daughter of the Song family."

"How dare you steal someone else's dowry? Good heavens! Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"

The accusations from everyone made Minister Song, Madam Zhang, and Song Hui's faces grow increasingly grim.

Song Yi looked coldly at Song Hui and questioned, "Did you imitate my handwriting when you wrote this letter of gift?"

"no."

Song Hui's eyes flickered slightly, and she subconsciously denied it.

Song Yileng.

"Really? Your mother didn't even know about the deed of gift. You brought it up as soon as you arrived, and your maid went in and brought out a deed of gift."

Song Hui, we grew up together and went to school together. Only you could imitate my handwriting back then. So many eyes are watching; don't think everyone else is stupid.

"You say you didn't write the deed of gift? Do you dare swear that? Do you dare risk your husband's future?"

Song Yi suddenly raised her hand, pointed at Zhao Hong, and then pointed to the sky.

"Heaven is watching what people do; be careful not to make a poisonous oath, or it may come true."

“I…” Song Hui’s face turned pale, and she couldn’t utter a single word.

Zhao Hong's expression darkened slightly.

Why is my sister-in-law being so aggressive?

"Am I being aggressive? If she has a clear conscience, her oath will naturally not come true. But why is my brother-in-law so anxious? Could it be that he was also involved?"

"You're making baseless accusations."

"Oh? If your brother-in-law didn't know, then it was Song Hui who did it all by herself?"

"you!"

Zhao Hong glared at Song Hui with a livid expression.

Song Hui opened her mouth, but her throat felt like it was blocked with cotton, and she couldn't utter a single word.

The gift deed came from her mouth, and now she has no way to refute it.

Since her rebirth, Song Hui has been able to remain calm and composed in the face of everything.

This was the first time she felt things were slipping out of her control.

After listening to a few words, Imperial Censor Huang roughly understood the ins and outs of the matter.

His eyes suddenly turned a glossy green, exceptionally bright.

I was just wondering who to impeach today, and look, here it is!

He first stroked his beard and said to Minister Song, "You have failed to properly educate your wife, allowing your second wife and daughter to seize the dowry left by your first wife."

Song Cheng, your own household is in such a mess, and you're supposed to be the Vice Minister of Rites. It's truly an eye-opener.

What I have seen today, I will truthfully report to Your Majesty.

Vice Minister Song's expression changed drastically.

His worst fears came true.

He immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in a humble manner, and asked, "Lord Huang, may I have a word with you in private?"

"I can't lend it to them, there's no way I can."

Imperial Censor Huang crossed his arms over his chest and sternly refused.

"I will never accept any private bribes. Instead of wasting your time, Vice Minister Song, you should think about how to explain yourself to His Majesty."

Vice Minister Song...

A huge wave of panic hit him.

While other censors' impeachments could be dismissed as baseless accusations, Censor Huang was the head of the Censorate, and his words carried considerable weight with His Majesty.

Moreover, Censor Huang witnessed it firsthand. If this impeachment memorial is submitted, his career will likely come to an end.

Ignoring Vice Minister Song, Imperial Censor Huang turned to Zhao Hong and sighed with disappointment.

"Imperial Censor Zhao, how can you maintain the imperial court if you can't even maintain your inner chambers? Your wife's behavior... tsk..."

Zhao Hong's face twitched, his expression a mixture of shame, annoyance, and anger.

He gritted his teeth and bowed deeply.

"I apologize for making a fool of myself in front of you, sir. I will certainly teach him a lesson when I get back."

After saying that, he glared fiercely at Song Hui.

"Aren't you coming back with me?"

Song Hui's hands, tucked into her sleeves, were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh, yet she didn't feel any pain.

With her head down, she followed Zhao Hong, intending to leave, but Song Yi grabbed her sleeve.

"No, you can't leave yet. Half of my mother's dowry is in your name, and you must return it to me today."

Song Hui subconsciously broke free from Song Yi.

"Let go."

"I won't let go."

Song Yi pulled Song Hui forcefully and turned to look at Imperial Censor Huang.

"We would like to ask Lord Huang to act as a witness and accompany us to the yamen to complete the transfer of ownership."

Imperial Censor Huang stroked his beard.

"Very well, now that I've gotten involved, I must act as a witness."

He then turned and glanced at Vice Minister Song.

"What are you still standing there for, Lord Song? Do you still intend to keep your daughter's dowry? Or was it your idea to seize the dowry in the first place?"

Vice Minister Song's expression changed.

"Of course not, it's this ignorant and foolish woman who acted viciously, and I only learned about it today."

Standing to the side, Zhang looked aggrieved and instinctively wanted to retort, but Song Hui forcibly pulled her back.

Song Hui shook her head secretly, signaling her mother to hold back for now.

We cannot afford to complicate matters further at this point.

Left with no other choice, Zhang had to take the blame.

Imperial Censor Huang curled his lip.

"Being kept in the dark by his own bedmate for so long, Lord Song doesn't seem very smart."

Minister Song was so angry that he almost vomited blood.

But they could only endure it.

It sounds better to be not very smart than to take over the original wife's dowry.

He forced a cold glance at Song Yi, barely containing his anger, and said, "Let's go."

Song Yi was about to leave when her hand was suddenly tugged.

She looked down and met her daughter Li Nanke's bright, grape-like eyes.

Li Nanke tiptoed closer to her ear and whispered, "Mother, have you forgotten? There's still a profit."

Song Yi suddenly realized.

Indeed, I almost forgot about it.

Fortunately, my daughter reminded me.

She stood up and said, "Wait a minute, there's something else."

Minister Song's expression was sinister. "What are you planning to do now?"

Song Yi said, "My mother's dowry has been in the Song family for so many years. The profits from before I got married can be considered as a way to show filial piety to my father."

"Since I got married, nearly nine years have passed. Please settle all the profits from those nine years with me today."

She paused, then continued, "Nine years, ten shops, give me 100,000 taels."

Zhang exclaimed in surprise.

"One hundred thousand taels? Why don't you just rob someone?"

Song Yi: "I don't know how to rob, but you have a lot of ways to take advantage. Teach me?"

"you!"

Song Yi ignored her and looked at Imperial Censor Huang with some trepidation.

"Lord Huang, ten shops, one hundred acres of fertile land, and nine years' worth of profits—I want a total of one hundred thousand taels. Isn't that a lot?"

This number was something she and Li Nanke had discussed at home.

Although Ke'er assured Song Yi that the amount was not large, Song Yi had never managed a household or run a business before, so she had no idea what it meant.

Imperial Censor Huang stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head.

"This price is very fair."

Song Yi breathed a sigh of relief and turned to extend her hand to Zhang Shi and Song Hui.

"Pay back the money first."

Both Zhang and Song Hui's faces turned a deep purplish-red.

Zhang looked at Song Hui instinctively.

Just yesterday, she transferred all the money she could from all the shops under her name to Song Hui to buy grain.

The money is now all in Song Hui's hands.

Song Hui did indeed have money. The money Zhang Shi gave her, plus her own, totaled 120,000 taels.

She planned to use all of it to buy grain.

Now Song Yi is asking for 100,000 taels of silver, which is tantamount to cutting off her flesh, drinking her blood, and removing her ladder!