For some reason, seeing Yuan Zhao's smile only intensified Zhou's mother's unease.

She couldn't quite explain her feelings, but a voice inside her was telling her to hurry back home, or things might not turn out so easily this time.

Thinking of this, she quickly said:

“Zhaozhao, you really have been wronged this time. Shiyuan has been away for the past few years and he also lost his memory before. He has no idea about the family situation or how much you have done for this family.”

“Mother will talk to him. We will make up for your dowry in the future. Come on, let’s go inside and talk.”

After saying that, Zhou's mother gave Zhou Shiyuan a wink, signaling him to take Yuan Zhao back.

Zhou Shiyuan finally understood the current situation. He was about to step forward to persuade Yuan Zhao when a voice suddenly rang out from outside.

"Why is it so lively here, Madam? I've brought all the jewelry you requested."

The onlookers recognized the speaker as the manager of the largest silver shop in the capital.

Upon seeing him, Zhou's mother's expression changed drastically, and she quickly said:

What are you doing here?

The shopkeeper looked puzzled upon hearing this:

"Didn't you send a message asking me to bring the most expensive and best jewelry and hairpins from the shop for your selection?"

Zhou's mother immediately became furious: "When did I send you a message?"

She's been locked up in the ancestral hall for the past few days, how could she possibly be sending messages to the shopkeeper?

The shopkeeper panicked too:

"Madam, what's wrong? In the past, whenever the store received new goods, you would always have me bring them over so that you could choose first."

"I've brought not only new jewelry this time, but also last month's bill. Would it be convenient for you to settle it for me?"

As soon as the shopkeeper spoke, a murmur of discussion immediately arose from the surrounding crowd.

"No way? Just now the Marquis's wife said that the manor was in financial difficulty and had no choice but to use the heir apparent's dowry, but they are buying new jewelry every month."

"Yeah, that's a quick slap in the face."

"This family is truly shameless for using their daughter-in-law's dowry to buy jewelry."

"..."

Hearing the murmurs and comments, Zhou's mother's expression instantly changed:

"This is a frame-up; it's not true."

"Manager Xu, don't talk nonsense!"

Zhou's mother's eyes held a warning, little did she know that her address of "Manager Xu" had already said it all.

If you weren't familiar with them, how could you possibly call out the shopkeeper's name so quickly?

The surrounding jeers grew louder and louder, and Zhou's mother couldn't take it anymore. She kept saying that it was a setup.

Just then, another person arrived. It was the manager of the largest silk shop in the capital. She came with her people, saying that she had received a message from Madam Zhou that she needed to make clothes for the people in the mansion and settle the previous month's wages.

Following her, people from restaurants and cosmetic shops all arrived one after another.

They all brought new products and took the opportunity to settle their accounts for the previous month.

After seeing this, what else could Zhou's mother not understand?

One or two coincidences could be coincidences, but when they all gather together, it can't be a coincidence.

It's Yuan Zhao!

Zhou's mother glared fiercely at Yuan Zhao:

"You bitch, you dare to harm me?"

Zhou's mother was used to scolding, and it wasn't until the words left her mouth that she realized something was wrong. This was outside, and in front of so many people.

Sure enough, her words only made the onlookers noisier.

"How shameless! Using this daughter-in-law's dowry and then calling her a slut, this Marquis's wife is truly..."

"Who can argue with that? Look at the bills in the hands of these shopkeepers. Just this month, their food and other expenses alone amount to several thousand taels."

"No wonder the young master's wife lost half of her dowry in just three years. The Yongning Marquis's mansion is truly ruthless and heartless."

"That's right. Even the heir apparent's daughter, who is also the daughter of the Great General, has been bullied so badly. Who would dare to propose marriage to the Yongning Marquis's family in the future? If she were to marry into their household, wouldn't she be left with nothing but bones?"

"..."

Upon hearing these words, Zhou's mother immediately became anxious. Her previous composure and smugness vanished, replaced by a ferocious expression born of anger, her face already bearing the marks of time.

"You bitch, how dare you harm me?"

She stormed towards Yuan Zhao in a rage, ignoring Zhou Shiyuan's attempts to stop her. She shoved Linglong and Wenfeng aside, who were blocking Yuan Zhao's way, and raised her hand to slap Yuan Zhao's face.