Upon hearing this, Zhao Qianlan gritted her teeth.
She didn't expect Song Xizhi to bring up this matter, but the matter had long since passed and there was no way to verify it. Even if she insisted on denying it, there was nothing Song Xizhi could do.
"Your mother passed away more than ten years ago. The dowry she left behind has been used to pay for your food, drink and other expenses. How much is left?"
"And your mother mismanaged the business, the shop went bankrupt, and she lost a lot of money. I used my own savings to fill that hole!"
As Zhao Qianlan spoke, she began to throw a tantrum: "Everyone says it's hard to be a stepmother! I didn't tell you before because you were young, and I took it all on my own. I never expected you to doubt me!"
She and Song Ruoan, mother and daughter, both seemed to have suffered a great injustice and began to sob.
Song Juncai and He Yunze were heartbroken to hear this.
"Did you hear me! Song Xizhi, quickly apologize to your mother!" Song Juncai roared.
But at that moment, a powerful voice came from outside the door: "My daughter's dowry is all gone? I don't think so!"
"Everything that comes into view is part of my daughter's dowry."
An old man with a white beard, dressed in a simple blue robe, strode in. He looked at He Yunce first and frowned slightly.
He quickly shifted his gaze to Song Xizhi's face, his eyes softening instantly.
“…Father-in-law?” Song Juncai swallowed hard and exclaimed in disbelief.
His arrival surprised everyone.
But Song Xizhi wasn't surprised at all, because she was the one who invited him.
This is Su Shaoyuan, Song Xizhi's maternal grandfather.
Song Juncai's expression changed slightly, but he quickly recovered and said, "Father-in-law, you're joking. Times have changed. Xizhi's mother has been dead for more than ten years. She spent a lot of money on medical treatment in the past, so where would she get a dowry?"
Su Shaoyuan sneered, took out a dowry list from his pocket, and with a flick of his wrists, the long dowry list was unfurled and dragged to the ground.
“You say no, but I remember every single one of these details very clearly.”
As he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly: "Back then, when my daughter married you, the whole capital knew about the ten-mile-long red procession and the five hundred-bearer dowry!"
While checking the dowry list in his hand, Su Shaoyuan pulled the screen in the flower hall next to Song Xizhi.
"A sandalwood and coral screen, my dear grandson, this is your mother's!"
He grabbed the vase from the coffee table and shoved it into Song Xizhi's arms: "The blue and white lotus vase is your mother's too!"
Su Shaoyuan's actions left everyone dumbfounded; he was extremely fast, and his movements even left afterimages.
Before Song Juncai could even call for someone to stop him, with lightning speed, he tore off the jade pendant from Zhao Qianlan's body and threw it into Song Xizhi's arms: "The jade pendant with carved flowers, bestowed by His Majesty himself, is also your mother's!"
Su Shaoyuan's sudden action shocked everyone present.
Zhao Qianlan and Song Ruoan almost screamed when they saw his bandit-like behavior.
He Yunze found it utterly unbelievable. He stepped forward and stood in front of Song Ruoan, saying, "This is blatant robbery..."
Before he could finish speaking, Su Shaoyuan suddenly jumped up and roughly pulled the jade hairpin out of He Yunce's hair without the slightest hesitation.
In an instant, He Yunze's neatly tied hair was freed from its restraints, cascading down his shoulders like a waterfall, then brushing across his cheeks and obscuring his vision.
Being improperly dressed is a great disgrace.
He Yunze's mind went blank for a moment.
This jade hairpin was given to me by Song Ruoan this morning!
His hair was styled in the same bun as in his previous life, thanks to Song Ruoan's patient styling!
In her previous life, Song Ruoan had explained the origin of this hairpin to him. Long hair binds the heart of the husband. When she got married, she held this jade hairpin tightly, intending to personally comb and style her husband's hair.
Since there was no chance on their wedding night, Ruo'an combed his hair into a bun early this morning and put this jade hairpin on him.
This jade hairpin was their token of love!
He Yunze was instantly filled with boundless rage: "Outrageous! Even if you are old, you cannot act so recklessly!"
"You stole the token of our love and publicly humiliated me! I will report you to the authorities! I will definitely report you to the authorities!"
Su Shaoyuan stroked the hairpin in his hand with deep longing. He laughed desolately twice, trembling with anger: "A token of love? So your feelings are worthless!"
"This white jade hairpin with a bright moon design was carved by me personally for my daughter before her marriage! There's also the character 'Su' engraved at the end of the hairpin. You're saying this is your hairpin?"
Su Shaoyuan showed the jade hairpin to He Yunce. He Yunce hurriedly brushed aside the hair in front of his eyes and stared intently at the end of the hairpin, where the character "Su" was engraved.
If you don't look closely, you might mistake it for a pattern.
He Yunze froze, but Su Shaoyuan stared at him with amusement: "Long hair binds your heart, your heart is turned towards the bright moon. Since the token of love was stolen, no one has ever said these sweet words to you, right?"
Song Xizhi's mother, Su Mingyue, was a very talented woman. These were the words she said to Song Juncai when they got married.
He Yunze was pale and drenched in sweat. He was breathing heavily, unwilling to believe what was happening before his eyes.
Song Xizhi smiled and shook his head: "Not only did my father swallow my mother's dowry and abuse his daughter, but Song Ruo'an also plagiarized my mother's sweet nothings and deceived an ignorant young man!"
Su Shaoyuan sneered, "When Mingyue died, Xizhi was only three years old! Song Juncai only remarried afterward, but Song Ruoan looks about the same age as Xizhi! If you don't return the dowry, we'll go to the government office and have a proper talk with you!"
Seeing his maternal grandfather being so helpful, Song Xizhi looked at He Yunce with a leisurely air: "I was cheated out of money, and you were cheated out of your feelings. Good brother, let's report this to the authorities together?"
"Seeing your pale face, you've been so badly deceived. As your sister-in-law, I really can't bear it."
The faces of everyone in the Song family turned pale in an instant. Song Ruoan hurriedly grasped He Yunce's hand, her voice trembling with tears.
"Husband, this is all a misunderstanding, I have no idea what happened..."
Feeling the warmth of Song Ruoan's hands, He Yunze suddenly came to his senses. He stared into Song Xizhi's smiling eyes and understood everything in an instant.
This must be another of Song Xizhi's schemes; she must be up to something again!
That viperous woman, what a wicked and insidious mind she has!
She wanted to ruin Ruo'an's long-awaited homecoming!
He Yunze's eyes were like knives, filled with such hatred that he almost wanted to tear Song Xizhi's flesh off.
Seeing that things had escalated to this point, Song Juncai panicked. He needed to maintain his reputation as an official!
So he hurriedly said, "This is all a misunderstanding, a family matter! It's not good to make such a big fuss. Let's talk it out today."
They really won't shed tears until they see the coffin.
Song Xizhi nodded in satisfaction: "Since you admit it was a misunderstanding, then return my mother's dowry to me according to the dowry list. I will also return Song Ruoan's dowry to her."
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