Chapter 211 Demanding a dowry from Zhou Ruyuan!
The Shen family fell silent!
To outsiders, the Shen family may seem incredibly successful, but only they themselves know the truth.
When the Shen family was sentenced to have their property confiscated and be exiled, the first thing Shen Congwen did after returning to the capital was to take the imperial edict to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue.
The purpose of going to the Ministry of Justice was to clarify the matter to the officials, to tell them that the Shen family was innocent, and to inquire about the whereabouts of their family's wealth.
The Ministry of Justice's results greatly displeased Shen Congwen. The case file stated that very little of the family's wealth had been confiscated, totaling less than 500 taels of silver. The most valuable items were the shops owned by the Shen family, but these shops had already been auctioned off by the Ministry of Revenue.
Shen Congwen also came from the Ministry of Revenue and knew the rules of officialdom. Although it was called an auction, it was actually divided up by the powerful and wealthy, and the good shops were nowhere to be found.
He then went to the Ministry of Revenue.
When he went there, he also brought the official documents confirming his reinstatement. He spent most of the day at the Ministry of Revenue, only to receive a few thousand taels of rent. He should have received some compensation, but the national treasury was empty. The people at the Ministry of Revenue hinted to Shen Congwen that even if he petitioned His Majesty, he wouldn't get it back, and might even incur His Majesty's displeasure.
After all, nobody likes being asked for money. If Shen Congwen dared to submit a memorial, he would be slapping His Majesty in the face.
The shop lease signed by the Shen family was for one year, and anyone could see that the ink on it was fresh. However, the Ministry of Revenue's ruling was reasonable and justified, and there was nothing unreasonable about it. Shen Congwen could only accept his fate. He could only take back the shop after a year.
Many of the imperial gifts bestowed upon the Shen family were things that not just anyone would dare to embezzle. There was only one possibility: those things either ended up in the royal family's coffers or in the national treasury.
No matter where he goes, it's not something he can ask for.
Shen Congwen could only suppress his anger and return home with several thousand taels of silver and a few contracts.
After they returned to the capital, they needed to buy everything they wanted. Initially, only the eldest son's family was doing well; he used his money to purchase some things. Later, they spent some more money at the palace. Those items were manageable, as the palace later bestowed many rewards upon them, not only offsetting the cost but also leaving them with a considerable surplus.
The return of the rest of the Shen family was a huge expense. Adding to that, the welcome banquet, which involved buying clothes and jewelry from head to toe, not only depleted all their previous savings but also left them with considerable debt.
The Shen family is really short of money right now!
What does Shen Lanxi mean by saying that?
Shen Lanxi laughed and said, "Have you all forgotten that Zhou Ruyuan and I divorced amicably? According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a divorced woman must return all her dowry!"
Shen Congwen immediately looked at Madam Shen.
As the head of the household, Mother knows best what the family situation is like. Otherwise, why would she accept gifts so easily?
Shen Lanxi: "My dowry includes gifts from the imperial palace, as well as items provided by the Shen family. After I bring them back, I won't distinguish which were gifts; I'll give half to the Shen family and half to each of us!"
Shen Congwen stared intently at Shen Lanxi, his gaze flickering slightly.
Shen Lanxi's intention was definitely for them to ask the Prince of Zhennan for the dowry. The Shen family was now keeping a low profile and dared not provoke anyone.
What if we anger the Prince of Zhennan and displease His Majesty?
Shen Lanxi: "You don't have to go, I'll go by myself. You can forget about the dowry!"
Madam Shen said, "It is only right and proper for Congwen to return the dowry to the divorced woman, and it is only reasonable for our Shen family to take it!"
Shen Congwen quickly bowed his head and said, "Mother is right, I'll go find a car right away!"
Shen Lanxi: "Father, is there a list of my dowry at home?"
Shen Congwen was stunned. Even if there were some at home, they would have been lost during the ransacking.
Wei Rulan quickly reminded them, "The Imperial Household Department should have a backup!"
Shen Congwen quickly nodded: "Yes, the royal family was involved in organizing this wedding. The dowry list is not only available from the Imperial Household Department, but also from the local government offices!"
Shen Yuanjing hurriedly said, "Father, I'll go to the yamen to get the dowry list right now!"
Shen Congwen was completely confused, but when he heard his son say that, he quickly nodded.
Shen Yuanxu: "I'll go call a car!"
When Shen Lanxi got married, the procession stretched for miles in red, and the dowry alone numbered over a hundred palanquins, each one crammed full and heavy.
If it weren't for the restrictions, those items could have been packed into dozens more boxes.
Thinking of the empty storeroom in the house, and then of Shen Lanxi's dowry stretching for miles when she got married, Old Madam Shen's palms were sweating with excitement.
Even if only half of it were given away, the Shen family's warehouse would be completely filled.
Her dowry list back then made countless people green with envy and tear their handkerchiefs to shreds.
In less than a quarter of an hour, all the manpower and carriages had arrived.
Shen Lanxi walked at the very front, riding a tall horse, and every now and then someone would call out to her.
"Shen family, Shen Lanxi, go to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion to collect your dowry!"
If Zhou Ruyuan and Bai Qingling dare to trip her up, she'll make sure they both fall!
Zhou Ruyuan went to Chaoyun Palace and spoke with Consort Shu for a while, then hurriedly returned to his residence with the imperial physician.
No sooner had he taken the imperial physician to see Bai Qingling than he received a report from someone in the manor.
"Your Highness, the Shen family has arrived. There are many of them. They say they've come to collect the dowry!"
Zhou Ruyuan and Bai Qingling's expressions changed instantly.
"Your Highness, there is nothing of hers left in our manor!" Bai Qingling had been living in fear these past few days, afraid of being assassinated. She couldn't eat or drink, and couldn't rest well. In just a few days, she looked like she had aged several years.
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes were dark and his face was expressionless. When Bai Qingling saw him like this, her heart clenched.
“Your Highness, more than two years ago, the Prince’s Mansion was robbed. The whole capital knew about it, and the yamen had also reported it.” Bai Qingling felt a pang of heartache whenever she thought of the things that were lost.
Seeing Bai Qingling crying with tears streaming down her face, Zhou Ruyuan comforted her, "You should rest well, I'll go out and take a look!"
Bai Qingling had shown signs of miscarriage a couple of days ago and had been bedridden for the past few days, barely daring to move, needing to be served food and water. When she heard Zhou Ruyuan say this, she struggled to get up and go with him.
The imperial physician quickly advised, "There are already signs of miscarriage; you must not move around anymore!"
Zhou Ruyuan glanced back and saw that Bai Qingling had stopped, then turned and went out the door.
The gates of the Prince's Mansion opened, and Zhou Ruyuan came out.
Sitting on her horse, Shen Lanxi raised her voice: "The people of the capital are here today to bear witness for me, Shen Lanxi, that my Shen family has come to reclaim our dowry!"
Chunxue opened the imperial edict of divorce and read it aloud to everyone!
Zhou Ruyuan walked up to Shen Lanxi with a sullen face.
"Could you grant me a few days?"
Shen Lanxi: "That's possible, but I need to take a portion with me, and the rest must be returned in writing, specifying the date!"
Zhou Ruyuan stared blankly at Shen Lanxi as she spoke eloquently, then frowned again as he thought of the Prince's Treasury.
"housekeeper!"
The prince's steward quickly stepped forward.
"How much stuff is left in the Prince's mansion's storeroom?"
The steward said with difficulty, "Your Highness, what is there left? It's exactly the same as it was when you left the palace for the Northwest!"
If it weren't for selling some of the Prince's Mansion's belongings back then, they wouldn't even be able to get their monthly wages!
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