Song Jiao stood quietly in the yard, staring at the two figures on the system screen who had reached a tacit understanding. Every word of their conversation came clearly into her ears.
A sneer appeared on her lips, and she thought to herself: Want to use the expenses to calculate her? This method is nothing but a futile joke in front of her, Song Jiao.
The sunlight filtered through the window lattice, scattering mottled patterns on Song Jiao's delicate face, adding a touch of cool elegance to her.
At this time, Chen walked into Song Jiao's yard with light steps.
The courtyard is filled with the fragrance of flowers and shaded by green trees, creating a peaceful and harmonious scene.
However, this harmonious atmosphere failed to soothe Chen's anxiety.
Song Jiao is painting attentively at the stone table. The ink flows and her brushstrokes reveal her unique charm.
Hearing Chen's footsteps, she simply raised her head slightly, a barely perceptible coldness flashing across her eyes. "Auntie, you are so honored to be here today. What brings you here?"
Chen's heart tightened. She hated it most when others mentioned her identity, especially the title of "aunt".
But today, because of the dowry, she had to force a smile and said, "Qingyue, I came here today to talk to you about the dowry. Your father was an honest official, and our family was poor in his early years, so he used your mother's dowry to give you a better life."
"Besides, haven't you been enjoying the best food and drink in the mansion these years?"
Song Jiao gently put down the brush in her hand, and the ink left a faint mark on the rice paper. Her voice was cold and clear, "Auntie, do you really think that the food and drink I eat and drink in the mansion are all the best?"
Her gaze was as sharp as a torch, staring directly into Chen's eyes. "If I remember correctly, I haven't had any new clothes in three years, right? Auntie, you haven't forgotten about it, have you? Or is it that Auntie only cares about her own daughter and has long forgotten about me, the daughter born to the first wife?"
Chen hadn't expected Song Jiao to be so confrontational, but she was experienced after all, and quickly adjusted her mood, still maintaining that fake smile, "How could that be? Qingyue, you grew up under my aunt's care, and I treat you and Qingge the same."
When Song Jiao heard this, an even more sarcastic smile appeared on her lips.
She slowly stood up and walked to Chen's front. Her eyes were like knives, piercing Chen's heart. "Auntie, do you dare to swear? If I don't treat everyone equally, I will be punished by heaven and die a miserable death. Your precious daughter Qingge will also definitely die a violent death. Auntie, do you dare?"
Chen's face turned pale in an instant. She didn't expect Song Jiao to be so decisive and ruthless.
Under Song Jiao's sharp gaze, she seemed to have been stripped of all her disguises, leaving only her trembling heart.
"Qingyue, you have grown up now and are about to become a wife. Why are you still so aggressive? Everything I do is for your own good." There was a hint of panic in Chen's voice, and her eyes flickered. She was obviously intimidated by Song Jiao's momentum.
A cold flash flashed in Song Jiao's eyes. She slowly reached out and grabbed Chen's neck. Her voice was low and powerful: "Aggressive? For my own good? Auntie, have you forgotten how my mother died? Didn't you deliberately feed my mother those poisons, causing her to die with hatred?"
"If you want Qingge to get married smoothly, then return the things you took away intact, otherwise..."
Her words were like a sharp blade in the cold wind, causing Chen's body to tremble involuntarily.
"If you don't want to, I have a thousand ways to destroy your Qingge's reputation and ruin her reputation, leaving her with no place in this world."
Chen's face turned pale, and her heart was filled with fear and confusion.
Why? Why did this bitch know all that? She had secretly executed everyone who knew about this, so why would she leak it out?
Song Jiao's hands gradually became stronger, and Chen felt that breathing became more and more difficult, as if she would suffocate to death at any time.
Just as she was about to collapse, Song Jiao suddenly let go of her hand, her voice cold and resolute: "Auntie, you only have three days. If you can't return those things intact, you will bear the consequences."
After saying that, she turned around and was about to leave, leaving Chen alone to gasp for breath.
Chen shouted in a trembling voice: "Qingyue, you...you should not go too far!"
Song Jiao stopped and turned around to give her a cold look: "Really? Then you can give it a try! I have something else to do, please go back!"
Chen almost fled from Song Jiao's yard, and as soon as she returned to her residence, she immediately told Tao's father about these things.
After hearing this, Tao's father was so angry that he threw the inkstone in his hand and shouted angrily: "This evil girl! If she didn't want to use her to find a wife, who does she think she is!"
Chen asked anxiously, "Master, what should we do now? She said she only gave me three days, and she doesn't look like she's acting. It seems like she really has some evidence and means."
If he hadn't wanted to use her to get married, he would have taken action against this evil girl long ago.
Tao's father gnashed his teeth and said, "That bitch! Now, because I've joined the Third Prince, I'm being targeted too. If they catch me... well, just do as she says, as long as it can calm her down first. Hurry and prepare, and return those things to her intact!"
Although Chen was unwilling, she did not dare to disobey Tao's father's orders.
She hesitated for a moment, then said, "But...that's hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, and countless rare treasures."
Father Tao glared at her and shouted angrily, "No buts! Go now! Do you still want our entire Tao family to be buried with you?"
Chen left Song Jiao's yard in shame, feeling very confused.
She knew very well that recovering those rare treasures that had been pawned and sold within three days would be as difficult as climbing to heaven.
However, she knew better that if she didn't do so, unpredictable disasters would be waiting for her and the Tao family.
After returning to her residence, Chen immediately started running around. She sent her men to search for items that could be pawned, and even pawned her own jewelry one by one, just to raise enough silver to redeem the property that Song Jiao asked her to return.
The three-day period passed in a flash.
In Tao Qingge's yard in Xiyuan, the sunlight shines through the gaps between the leaves, casting mottled light and shadows.
Chen led a group of people into the courtyard. Her eyes were firm and cold, as if every step was filled with endless determination.
Tao Qingge was leisurely enjoying the flowers in the courtyard. When she saw Chen and his men coming in a menacing manner, her heart tightened.
She hurried forward and asked, "Mom, what are you doing? Why did you bring so many people with you?"
Chen did not answer, but just looked at her coldly, and then directed his men to start moving the treasures and silver piled in the house.
Seeing this, Tao Qingge became anxious and shouted, "Mom, what are you doing? These things are all mine!"
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