"We're still short 20,000 taels."

Xiao Qingyin flicked the silver notes in her hand.

"I wonder how Lord Xiao plans to repay this debt?"

"I'll pay you back once I've saved enough money."

Xiao Shengyuan said weakly.

"I'm afraid it will take quite a while to accumulate. Lord Xiao hasn't received his salary for the past year, has he?"

Her reminder brought to mind the incident where Xiao Shengyuan was fined a year's salary by the Emperor because Xiao Qingrong's wearing of an osmanthus sachet caused the Princess to have asthma.

Another wave of heartache washed over me.

"Just write me an IOU and agree on when to pay it back."

Xiao Qingyin smiled.

Left with no other choice, Xiao Shengyuan wrote an IOU.

Xiao Qingyin carefully put away the IOU and smiled, "I believe that with Lord Xiao's character, he wouldn't renege on his debt. After all, you can run away, but you can't hide."

Xiao Shengyuan understood what she meant.

This was a threat; if he didn't pay back the money, they would go to the Ministry of Revenue to demand it.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, a sharp pain shot through his chest, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Lord Xiao, please take good care of yourself. You still have debts to pay off."

Xiao Qingyin offered a word of comfort.

"Since you've been so cooperative, here's a free piece of trivia for you."

She looked at Xiao Qingheng, whose face was filled with hatred.

"Large ears are a dominant trait. You and Yao both have large ears, yet you had a son with small ears. It's quite intriguing."

After saying that, she said to the people carrying the dowry, "Let's go."

The group left the Xiao residence in a grand procession.

Xiao Shengyuan looked at his son's little ears.

My mind went completely blank.

Yao Shi, could it be...?

"Master! Master, what's wrong!"

The butler was shocked to see Xiao Shengyuan suddenly collapse.

"Quickly call a doctor."

...

Peony Garden.

Xiao Qingrong's room was empty, with only one piece of furniture remaining—the bed she was lying on.

Just now, the steward came over with a few old women and moved all the other things away, saying it was to make up for Yun's dowry.

Xiao Qingrong was unable to move and could only watch this scene unfold.

If time could turn back, to the day Xiao Qingyin returned, she would definitely kill her without hesitation.

But there are no "what ifs".

She can only lie in bed like a living dead person now.

My heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and lungs were all aching from the burning anger.

A mouthful of phlegm suddenly welled up in her throat, but she couldn't cough it up and felt suffocated.

The maids have disappeared.

Xiao Qingrong stared so hard her eyes almost popped out, but no one paid any attention.

They could only sink into darkness in endless suffocation.

She thought she was going to die, but then she had a dream.

Xiao Qingyin in my dream died in the countryside three years ago.