Jiang Qinshu and the others were completely taken aback to find that the dowry Su Liluo brought back was all fake, and they stood there dumbfounded for a long time, not knowing what to say.
The treasure keeper walked respectfully to Xiao Ye.
"Your Highness, everything here is fake; there isn't a single genuine item."
Xiao Ye nodded. "You may all leave now."
Then, he glanced at Su Liluo indifferently.
She smiled at him, then immediately feigned anger and lashed out at Jiang Qinshu and the others.
"How dare you! You actually dare to give me a fake dowry so that I can marry into the Crown Prince's palace. This is a crime of deceiving the emperor and an insult to the royal family!"
When Su's father and the others heard this serious accusation being leveled against them, how could they dare to admit it?
Deceiving the emperor is a capital offense!
So he quickly explained, "Your Highness, this must be a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! We didn't know these dowry items were fake!"
"Ha! Didn't you properly inspect the dowry for the royal family? You actually let a bunch of fakes into the Eastern Palace! Whether you knew it or not, you are all guilty!"
Su Liluo exuded an imposing aura, constantly mentioning the royal family.
They completely suppressed Su's father and his family.
Su Xuanlang was both surprised and nervous; he never expected the dowry to be a fake.
He only remembered that when Su Liluo got married, she only received part of the dowry from the first wife's family, and the second wife's family didn't give her anything.
So, does that mean the eldest son's wife gave a fake one? Was Wan Shi doing this intentionally, or...?
Su Xuanlang turned his gaze to Su Wanshi.
She asked softly, "Wanshi, what exactly happened?"
Everyone in the Su household turned to look at Su Wanshi.
Su Wanshi's face was deathly pale.
He stammered, "I...I don't know what happened. Maybe...someone...someone switched me with their body."
She dared not admit that she was the one who had it switched.
"Yes, a thief, it must be a thief! Our warehouse was emptied a few days ago, these things must have been done by that person!"
Jiang Qinshu felt she had suddenly found the key, and thought it must have been that damned thief who did it.
Su's father and Su Xuanlang also thought it made sense; their Su Wanshi was gentle and kind, and she certainly wouldn't have the courage to make the change.
"Your Highness, since it was done by a thief, we are also victims. Please don't blame us, okay?"
"Let the officials investigate. If they find out, we will definitely send the real dowry back to you!"
Su's father and Su Xuanlang then spoke.
Send it back?
Su Liluo chuckled inwardly. Did they really think they could find those things?
"Let's talk about that after you find the thief. Now you have to keep your promise and compensate me with double the dowry, and also---"
Su Liluo paused in her speech and took out the IOU they had signed at the gate of the mansion last time.
"I've come to collect two-thirds of the Su family's property that you promised me last time."
"What! We...we have no money!"
Jiang Qinshu cried out, unable to believe that Su Liluo was about to ask them for money.
Ever since the warehouse was emptied last time, the Su family has been struggling to make ends meet, and they even had to sell a courtyard to make ends meet.
Their cash and valuables were all stolen, leaving only their land, shops, and property deeds.
They were waiting for the profits from the shops this month to alleviate the crisis in the government, but now they're going to lose money again?
"If you don't have the money to pay, then you'll be going to jail! Second Aunt, last time you offended the Crown Prince's residence and humiliated the royal family, and this time you've given a fake dowry to show your contempt for the royal family. Do you still want to renege on your debt to the royal family?"
Su Liluo walked up to Jiang Qinshu and said lightly.
But every word she heard weighed heavily on her heart.
"Your Highness, our Su family is currently facing difficulties. Could you please grant us some more time?"
At this moment, Su Xuanlang pleaded earnestly.
He knew they couldn't force Su Liluo to pay him back; she was determined to make them pay.
Ultimately, she was forced to marry a disabled man in his place, which made her heartbroken and resentful.
Now we can only lower our stance and hope she'll give us some face.
"Grace period? One month or a year? Ha, I can't afford to wait."
Su Liluo didn't give her any face at all and refused outright.
"Today, you will compensate us with the deeds to your shops and land. If you don't have them, you will be imprisoned for your crimes. You can choose to compensate or go to jail."
"You...you're also a daughter of the Su family, don't you have any respect for us?"
Su Xuanlang panicked instantly; he hadn't expected Su Liluo to be so ruthless.
Su's father and the others were also furious. "I'm still your father! Are you trying to force us to our deaths?!"
Jiang Qinshu was so angry she was about to go crazy. She couldn't hold back anymore and started putting on airs again.
"Su Liluo, I am your mother! This is how you treat your family after becoming the Crown Princess! We have no money. If you want to be filial, leave now and don't ask us for money!"
Su Liluo ignored them completely and turned to look at Xiao Ye.
“Your Highness, you have witnessed everything that happened today. The second branch of the Su family refused to admit their mistakes and apologize, and repeatedly insulted the royal family. Now, I have put aside my own family ties and reported them to the authorities, sending them to prison. This cannot be considered as me committing treason!”
Xiao Ye then understood why Su Liluo wanted him to go back to her parents' home with her.
So he's using himself as a witness!
If he hadn't come today, and there were no other outsiders here, the Su family would probably have suppressed everything that happened today.
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