Tao Qingge gritted his teeth, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and a cold look flashed in his eyes.
She knew very well that as long as that woman stepped into the general's mansion, she would experience firsthand the power and shamelessness of those people.
By then, she will have to suffer. She just needs to wait for the opportunity, lurking like a cheetah, waiting for the best attack.
As the night deepened, the moonlight shone through the window lattice onto Tao Qingge's quiet face, adding a touch of coolness to her.
She slowly exhaled, a plan already in mind.
On the other side, Song Jiao returned to her courtyard with light steps. Before she entered the door, she saw her maid Shan Ye coming towards her with an anxious look on her face, her eyes full of worry.
"Miss, I've heard all the rumors outside. Why would the Second Miss give up this marriage offer from the General's Mansion? There must be something fishy about it!" Shan Ye's voice was filled with anxiety. She knew the Second Miss's usual behavior very well, and this action was really puzzling.
You have to know that in the past, even for a piece of clothing, the Second Young Lady would fight to the death.
Now all of a sudden...
Song Jiao smiled gently, but there was a deep meaning hidden in that smile.
"It's okay. If she wants to play with fire, I'll accompany her." As she spoke, she walked into the house and found a seat by the window. The moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a soft halo on her.
She raised her hand and gently stroked the teacup on the table, her tone calm, "Go find some hooligans and have them pester Bai Zimo every day, setting all kinds of traps to make him deeply in debt. If he can't repay, use his childhood sweetheart to pay off the debt. It will be considered a lesson for him."
Shan Ye was stunned for a moment when she heard this, then a glimmer of understanding flashed in her eyes, and she immediately responded, "Don't worry, young lady. My distant cousin has quite good connections with those ruffians, so this matter can be handled properly. However..." She paused slightly, as if thinking, "If this matter is discovered, it may implicate young lady."
Song Jiao shook her head slightly, a glint of wisdom in her eyes. "Be careful, and you'll be able to escape unscathed. Furthermore, find an opportunity to quietly spread the news of Tao Qingge's house arrest, so that the Second Young Lady can also experience the feeling of being pointed at by the world."
Shan Ye took the order and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.
Inside the house, Song Jiao was sipping tea alone, with a sneer on her lips and a calculating gleam in her eyes.
In this game, she is both the planner and the observer. Let's see how Tao Qingge struggles on the chessboard and finally falls into the trap she set.
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the window lattice, scattering patches of light onto Song Jiao's delicate face, adding a soft glow to her.
She responded to Tao's father's call and walked slowly towards the study, with a plan in mind.
In the study, Tao's father was sitting at the desk with a faint smile on his face. However, this smile froze the moment Song Jiao stepped over the threshold.
He slowly took out a list from the drawer and gently placed it on the table. "Qingyue, this is your mother's dowry. Please count it carefully."
Song Jiao stepped forward and gracefully took the list. With just one glance, she understood the secret.
She smiled slightly, but there was a sharp edge hidden in that smile. "Father, when mother married into the Tao Mansion, the wedding was a grand affair that lasted ten miles and made a sensation in the whole city. The dowry was a full 180 loads. Now, when my daughter gets married, why has the dowry been reduced to 33 loads? This gap seems a bit too big, doesn't it?"
Others may not know, but Song Jiao knows that in the early years, the entire Marquis' Mansion was supported by the dowry of the original owner's mother.
But outsiders don’t know, is this an attempt to conceal the truth?
Mr. Tao's face suddenly turned gloomy, his brows were furrowed as if water could drip out of them.
"After your mother passed away, our family fell on hard times, and I, your father, also went through a few years of hardship. It's reasonable for me to spend some of it."
His voice was low and suppressed, trying to suppress Song Jiao's doubts with his father's authority.
Song Jiao did not back down. She smiled sweetly, with wisdom glittering in her eyes.
"I understand that some of it was used up. But isn't the difference in the amounts too great? Before her death, mother gave her the dowry list. Her spirit in heaven would surely wish for her to marry in style. Father, you wouldn't want the reputation of the Marquisate to be damaged because of a mere dowry issue, would you?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Tao's face became even gloomier. He slammed the table, and the brush fell to the ground, splashing a pool of ink.
"Are you threatening me?" His voice was low and majestic, trying to cover up his inner panic with anger.
Song Jiao remained calm and composed. She bowed lightly, her tone filled with unquestionable firmness.
"I am only speaking the truth. How dare I threaten you, father? I just hope you will think twice before you act, and not give away my dowry to those questionable people. After all, my dowry is already recorded in the book, and it is of no small value."
After saying this, she turned and was about to leave, her steps firm and graceful.
Behind him, from the study came the sound of Tao's father roaring angrily and smashing things, as if he wanted to vent all his dissatisfaction and anger.
Song Jiao curled her lips into a sneer. Has her defense been broken already?
The servant came hurriedly and whispered in Chen's ear about the commotion that had just occurred in the study.
Upon hearing this, Chen frowned slightly, then lifted her skirt and hurried to the study.
As soon as she stepped over the threshold, her eyes were attracted by the booklets scattered on the ground. Upon closer inspection, she found that it was the dowry list.
"How could this list be left here?" Chen whispered to herself, revealing a hint of doubt in her words.
Father Tao sat at his desk, his face gloomy as if water could drip out of it. He glanced coldly at the list on the ground, his tone filled with undisguised anger: "It's all because of that girl Qingge. She's so dissatisfied with the dowry list I gave her. She keeps saying that when her mother married into the Tao Mansion, the dowry was a full 108 loads, and it was all recorded in the book. There seems to be dissatisfaction in her words."
After hearing this, a barely perceptible irritation and worry flashed across Chen's eyes.
She knew very well that the dowry had now all fallen into her and her daughter's hands. If Qingge really wanted to investigate...
"Does she want all the dowry back?" Chen's voice trembled slightly, and it was obvious that she was not calm inside.
Father Tao snorted coldly, his expression becoming even more displeased: "She's forcing me! But those were the dowries we agreed to give her. How can I take them back so easily?"
Upon hearing this, Chen was silent for a moment, then slowly walked over to Tao's father, gently stroked his shoulder, and said in a gentle but firm tone: "Master, please don't be anxious. Although Qingge is willing to fight for it, she is still young and doesn't understand many things. We just need to..."
At this point, a hint of cunning flashed in Chen's eyes, and she leaned close to Tao's ear and whispered a few words.
After hearing this, Mr. Tao's expression gradually relaxed and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.
"Okay, as you say." Father Tao nodded in agreement, his expression revealing his trust and reliance on Chen. "You go and handle it. Make sure Qingge gives up without losing face for our Tao family."
Chen smiled slightly, that smile was both gentle and resolute: "Don't worry, Master, I know what to do."
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