"Don't you think Mother is too cruel?"
Zhou Yuqing shook her head: "Mother was only trying to protect me; it was Father and the others who went too far."
"Yuqing, how can people be so evil? They can disregard life just to get what they want. Isn't it better to work hard themselves?"
"Because they know that it would be difficult to achieve such results through their own efforts."
"I didn't want it to be this fast." Song Xia sighed softly. She was thinking of taking it slow and slowly tormenting this family, but since they couldn't wait, they shouldn't blame her for being ruthless.
Unfortunately, we still can't completely destroy Zhou Yongli. After all, this is a feudal society, and if something happens to Zhou Yongli, Yuqing will inevitably be affected as well.
And then there's the Zhou family's property. They've suffered so much, and they're giving it up before they've even gotten anything. It just doesn't feel worth it.
This is alright for now; at least these people are keeping quiet for the time being and won't cause any more trouble in front of her and Yuqing.
By the time the Zhou family learned the news, Song Xia had already taken care of everything. Seeing how she had subdued Old Madam Liu and Zhou Yongli, the Zhou family members became even more respectful towards her.
Zhou Yongli couldn't remain depressed forever, so Song Xia gave him only three days to make up for the deficit in the accounts.
He personally visited the Liu family, but even if he sold all of the Liu family's assets now, it wouldn't be enough to make up for the losses.
According to the old lady of the Liu family, the Liu family had started selling off their servants to raise money. Fortunately, she was someone the old lady of the Liu family was used to, so she didn't leave.
Then, Song Xia heard that Zhou Yongli went to Liu Fangniang's Qinyaxuan and had several boxes carried out. Next, he went to Zhou Ying's Yingyuege and Zhou Shuqing's Junzilou. Finally, he didn't even spare his mother's Fushoutang.
As Zhou Yongli checked the account books, he was surprised to find that the Liu family had received so much wealth from the Zhou family over the years!
The Liu family is even more extravagant than the Zhou family! How dare they?
Mother and Fangniang have spoiled them way too much! No wonder Song Xiafa is so angry.
While Zhou Yongli deeply resented Song Xia, he also felt a certain understanding of his mother and the others; they had gone too far.
Not only that, this time he also discovered that the Liu family had actually used his name to do many bad things. Zhou Yongli broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, he found out it himself. If the censors had submitted a memorial, would His Majesty have forgiven him?
"Mother, you should not see anyone from the Liu family again."
The old lady watched with tears in her eyes as her precious treasures were taken away, and she fell seriously ill. These were all the things she wanted to leave to her beloved grandson!
"You're trying to kill me! Song Xia said I can't touch the things in the public treasury because of the rules, and now you're taking them away too. What will I leave for Shu-ge'er in the future?"
In just two days, Zhou Yongli seemed to have aged several years, and his voice was hoarse: "Mother, the Liu family can't raise any more money, and I have no choice."
He couldn't help but complain, "All these years, the Liu family has been asking for things, and you've just been giving in to their demands? Do you even know how much they've actually received?"
The old woman sobbed, "But that's my maternal home. My mother is still alive. How can I abandon her?"
“Every cause has its effect. If these things can’t be made up for, Song Xia won’t let this matter go easily.”
The old woman pounded the bed and cursed, "What does she need so much money for? Can she and Zhou Yuqing spend it all? Why isn't that short-lived wretch dead yet?"
"Mother!" Zhou Yongli looked at the courtyard outside with a frightened expression. "You must never say such things again."
The old lady regretted her words, but taking away her money was really going to be the death of her!
Zhou Yongli comforted him, saying, "After all, I am still the head of this family. I can still access the money in this house, and I will find a way to make it up to you later."
“You said it yourself. If Song Xia stays, Shu Ge’er and Ying Jie’er will never have an easy life. Mother will have to save up family property and dowry for them.”
The old lady kept muttering to herself, her heart aching at the thought that the Zhou family's wealth would ultimately benefit Zhou Yuqing.
In the end, Zhou Yongli also included his own belongings, and finally managed to make up for most of what he had given to the Liu family over the years.
Song Xia glanced at the ledger and thought, "Wow, it's a number that even makes my heart flutter. It was worth all the fuss I put on this time."
If you calculate it, it was my sister-in-law who caused this mess. I'll send Runsheng and Baoning some more expensive gifts tomorrow.
Having retrieved the money, the rest of the household settled down, and now they could enjoy a good New Year.
Her Ruyi Courtyard and Zhou Yuqing's Hanhui Courtyard were filled with joy, while the other courtyards were deathly silent.
The two newly acquired concubines would come to pay their respects to her every day without fail. Since Zhou Yongli didn't visit their courtyards, Song Xia really had no choice but to send more things to their courtyards.
However, Zhou Yongli couldn't be allowed to continue to be depressed. The more he did, the more guilty he felt towards Liu Fangniang, Zhou Shuqing, and Zhou Ying. What she wanted was for Zhou Yongli to stop focusing solely on them.
A family? Ha, even if you're down on your luck, you still can't be united.
"Tomorrow is the New Year. Find a way to get the master to drink some wine. He likes gentle and dependent women the most."
Having received Song Xia's advice, the two returned home with smiles on their faces.
This year, the Zhou family was destined not to be able to eat New Year's Eve dinner at the same table. Ever since the old lady fell ill, she had not recovered. Zhou Yongli locked himself in his study every day and would not see anyone except Zhou Shuqing.
Zhou Ying came to pay her respects to Song Xia every day, but aside from that greeting, she didn't say a single word more.
With her head bowed and silent, no one would guess that just three months ago, she was still hurling insults at Song Xia in the courtyard.
People always have to suffer losses to learn their lesson. If they don't live a good life before and insist on courting disaster, who can they blame?
Sons and daughters born out of wedlock should behave themselves. Do they really think that being favored gives them the right to act lawlessly? They should see if Zhou Yongli has the ability to protect them!
Seeing his sister like this, Zhou Shuqing felt particularly sorry for her, and he secretly vowed to change the situation.
"Don't be afraid, your aunt is still waiting for us to pull ourselves together."
Zhou Ying raised her head, and tears streamed from her lifeless eyes.
Zhou Shuqing glanced around warily: "We still have our father, and you still have me. No matter how vicious she is, she can't just take our lives. As long as we're alive, there's still hope."
Zhou Ying opened her mouth, as if asking if it was possible.
"I'll definitely succeed. I'll make you the top scholar in the imperial examination. Once I achieve fame and success, you'll be able to marry into a good family. No matter how capable Song Xia is, she can't possibly reach into your husband's family."
Zhou Shuqing did not expect that his words would give Zhou Ying a different idea. Song Xia was a member of the royal family, so she would try to marry into the royal family. Even if the Prince Cheng's Mansion was favored by His Majesty, could it be more important than His Majesty's own son?
Zhou Ying became more and more excited as she thought about it. If the person she married became the emperor in the future, wouldn't she be in charge of the Zhou family? At that time, she would also be in charge of Song Xia's fate!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
