Chapter 72 I Don't Believe
Song, the Vice Minister, was furious, but managed to keep his mind clear.
He forcefully suppressed his anger and lowered his voice to coax Song Yi.
“There might be some misunderstanding here. This is our family matter. What kind of behavior is it for you to make a scene in the street?”
"Come on, let's go home. Your mother and I will explain it to you when we get home."
As he spoke, he reached out to pull Song Yi's arm.
Song Yi took two steps back, shaking her head repeatedly, her face showing a hint of panic.
"Is Father going to beat me with the rattan cane again? Or is he going to poison me with strychnine again? I'm scared, I really don't dare to step through this door again."
"Shut up!"
Song Shilang growled in a low voice, his face dark.
Then, although Song Yi's eyes were filled with tears and her voice was choked, her voice still clearly reached the ears of those around her.
The surrounding chatter grew louder and louder.
"I heard the other day that the wife of the Marquis of Anping returned to the Song family and was forced by her own father to hand over the silver in her dowry shop. When she refused, she was punished according to family law."
“Oh dear, I saw it with my own eyes. That day, Lady Song was practically carried out of the Song family’s residence.”
"To poison one's own daughter with strychnine? My God, even a beast wouldn't do such a thing!"
The surrounding chatter grew louder and louder. Minister Song was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged, but he could only grit his teeth and withdraw his outstretched hand.
Song Yi said, "There's nothing wrong with talking to people. If Father has a clear conscience, then explain to me right here why Mother's dowry list is missing ten shops and one hundred acres of fertile land?"
Minister Song was seething with anger, but he couldn't do anything about Song Yi.
Enraged, he flicked his sleeve and gave Zhang a meaningful look.
“I can’t get through to her, you explain it to her.”
Zhang understood, stepped forward, and sighed deeply.
“Our family has always been a family of scholars and farmers, and we have no one who knows how to do business or manage a business. The shop that your mother brought as part of her dowry has already lost money.”
The master had no choice but to have the shops sold off, leaving only two small shops that were barely profitable. Those shops were later given to you as part of your dowry.
"And those hundred acres of land, you've never farmed before, you don't understand that farmers have to rely on the weather for their livelihood."
For several years there was a drought, and the fields yielded no harvest. The head of the village was a member of the Han family, and he was a heartless man who led the deception of your father.
After discussing it, we decided to sell the land as well. The money from selling the shops and the land will be used to prepare your dowry.
Zhang looked extremely aggrieved, and pressed down hard on the corners of her eyes, which instantly turned red.
"We were afraid you would be upset if you knew these things, so we didn't tell you. Yes, it was wrong of us to keep it from you."
But what parents really want is for their children to get married happily, right? Although it's a bit meager that there are only two shops as dowry.
We still bought you another fifty mu of paddy fields, and the money came from my dowry.
His words left the onlookers looking at each other in bewilderment.
"It seems that Madam Song isn't so bad after all. Could there be some misunderstanding?"
"Everyone says it's hard to be a stepmother, and Madam Song has had it tough too."
As Zhang listened to the surrounding chatter, a smug glint flashed in her eyes.
Then, continuing to feign a heartbroken and grief-stricken expression, tears streamed down her face.
"From childhood to adulthood, I, as your stepmother, have never mistreated you in terms of food, clothing, or daily necessities."
If you have any questions about the dowry, just come to our house and ask me and your father directly. Why bring so many people to make such a big scene at our doorstep?
Are you trying to force your father and me to our deaths? What good will it do you to do that? You child, how can you be so heartless?
Song Yi was so angry at Zhang's quick and blaming behavior that she trembled all over, her chest heaving violently.
"Madam said that my mother's dowry shops and fields have already been sold?"
Zhang nodded.
"Madam, can you swear that everything you just said is true?"
Zhang opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Song Yi stared at her intently and added another sentence.
"I swear on the careers of my father and brother, madam, do you dare?"
Zhang's face stiffened.
Of course she wouldn't dare.
Minister Song roared, "You wretched child, what exactly do you want by forcing us like this?"
"All I want is the truth, I want justice!"
Song Yi's trembling voice suddenly rose two octaves, and a suppressed sob escaped her throat.
"From childhood to adulthood, you've always favored your younger siblings, treated me coldly, and fooled me like an idiot. That's one thing."
I tolerated all of this, even though I knew that Zhang was secretly stealing the profits from my dowry shop.
Now all I want is to find out where the things my mother left me have gone, is that not even allowed?
Song Yi raised her hand to wipe away the tears that fell, and her gaze toward Zhang Shi grew colder.
"Madam dared not swear an oath, so it seems that what she said just now was all a lie?"
Zhang's expression changed slightly, and she blurted out.
“Who says I wouldn’t dare to swear an oath? I just feel that we’re all family. If you trust me, you’ll trust me even if I don’t swear an oath. If you don’t trust me, you won’t believe me even if I swear an oath.”
Song Yi sniffed. "You swear first, then I'll decide whether you believe me or not."
"you!"
Zhang was carried up, so angry she almost ground her teeth to powder.
But if she didn't swear an oath in front of everyone, wouldn't that be admitting that she had embezzled Han's dowry?
While praying to Buddha in his heart, he prayed that Buddha would not hear his vow.
He raised his hand and stammered an oath.
"I swear everything I just said is true. If... if there is even a single lie, may my husband and son... never achieve their goals in their official careers!"
The onlookers showed a hint of reluctance.
"A career in government is so important to a scholar. He's made such a solemn vow. It seems Madam Song wasn't lying."
"Yes, perhaps the wife of the Marquis of Anping has misunderstood."
"We're all family, it's really not good for things to turn out like this."
Zhang looked at Song Yi with a pitiful expression.
"Is this alright now? Can you believe me?"
With a dark expression, Vice Minister Song pointed at Song Yi and said, "You wretched girl, are you satisfied now? Get out of here!"
Song Yi shook her head.
"I don't believe it."
"Madam is really playing a clever game, wanting to both embezzle my mother's dowry and maintain a good reputation."
But what goes around comes around. Aren't you afraid that such a vicious oath will come true, and that your father and brother will resent you in the future?
"You! You!"
Zhang was so angry she nearly fell backward.
Enraged, Vice Minister Song slapped him across the face without thinking.
"You bastard."
Song Yi took two steps back, avoiding his slap, her red eyes flashing with coldness.
"Is Father so angry because I exposed your dishonorable act of spending your first wife's dowry to your face?"
Or is it because I forced Zhang to swear an oath, which involves your career, and you're afraid the oath will come true, that you're angry?"
Vice Minister Song: "You scoundrel, why should I be guilty? On the contrary, you are the one spouting nonsense. Where is the evidence? I'm asking you, where is the evidence?"
"Without evidence, you're slandering your own father; I wouldn't be too harsh on you even if I beat you to death."
As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp voice rang out from behind him.
"The evidence is here!"
Li Nanke squeezed out of the crowd and waved the thing in his hand.
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