Chapter 212 Your Highness, we cannot agree to this!
Shen Lanxi raised her voice and said, "Why is it that your royal palace's storeroom is never empty, but only empty when I come to collect my dowry? Do you not want to return my dowry to me?"
Zhou Ruyuan's face darkened, and he said in a stiff tone, "Two years ago, the Prince's mansion was robbed, and everything in the storeroom was gone. The government has records of this."
Shen Lanxi chuckled, "I don't care about any records or anything. All I know is that when I come to ask you for my dowry, you should just say the storeroom was stolen."
"If I borrow something from someone and leave it at home, and that person comes to ask for it back, can I just say it was stolen and not have to return it?"
Zhou Ruyuan's mood was originally complicated, but after hearing what she said, he immediately became annoyed.
"Shen Lanxi, I never said I wouldn't give it to you!"
Shen Lanxi: "Then give it to me! I never said you wanted to keep my dowry. Why are you shouting like that? You're not angry because I hit a nerve, are you?"
Zhou Ruyuan's face turned red with anger: "Shen Lanxi, don't make false accusations!"
Shen Lanxi: "If you return all your dowry now, I'll immediately bow my head and admit my mistake!"
Zhou Ruyuan looked at Shen Lanxi with annoyance, but he couldn't do anything about it.
He can't afford the dowry!
"You just said you could give me a few more days!" In front of so many people, how dare she go back on her word?
Shen Lanxi: "As I said, we will take a portion, not much, just one-third. The rest must be delivered to the Shen residence within two days."
Two days? That's not enough!
"No, Your Highness, we can't agree to that!" Bai Qingling was carried out lying on the bed.
When Zhou Ruyuan saw her come out, he immediately scolded, "What are you doing out here? Go back right now!"
Ban Sicao: "General Shen, is this the concubine who called for water three times in one night?"
Zhou Ruyuan's head spun, and he felt his blood rush to his head. He wished he could tear the person who said those words to pieces!
"Shut up!" Zhou Ruyuan attacked Ban Sicao directly.
This isn't the imperial palace. Shen Lanxi kicked Zhou Ruyuan, sending him staggering back more than ten steps before he lost his balance and fell next to Bai Qingling.
"Your Highness..." Bai Qingling exclaimed in surprise.
"Are you all dead? She actually harmed the prince! Seize her at once!" Harming a royal heir, especially a prince with such distinguished military achievements, Shen Lanxi must die today!
The guards of the Prince's Palace swarmed forward!
Zhou Ruyuan's blood and qi surged, and he only felt better after spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Stop!"
Bai Qingling looked at Zhou Ruyuan in disbelief. Shen Lanxi had even attacked him, injuring him to the point of vomiting blood, yet he still refused to harm her. He truly cared for her!
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
"Quickly, go and summon the imperial physician!"
"Shen Lanxi, don't take advantage of being a woman to act recklessly. If the Prince is unwilling to lay a hand on a woman, I, Bai Qingling, am willing!" Bai Qingling struggled to sit up from the soft chair.
Zhou Ruyuan was deeply moved by Bai Qingling's concern for him.
"Qingling, I'm fine. Don't get agitated, take care of yourself and our baby!"
Bai Qingling glared fiercely at Shen Lanxi, and even tearing her apart wouldn't be enough to quell the hatred in her heart!
Shen Lanxi smiled contemptuously: "The one who strikes first gets beaten to the point of spitting blood by the one who retaliates. Is the one who retaliates guilty and not allowed to fight back?"
Zhou Ruyuan froze.
"Bai Qingling, you were stupid before, and you haven't improved at all. I'm here to get my dowry back. Do you dare refuse? Do you think your words are greater than the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"
A fleeting look of panic crossed Bai Qingling's eyes; she couldn't let Shen Lanxi disturb her composure.
"Your dowry, along with the valuables of the Prince's mansion, has all been stolen. If you want your dowry, go find the thief who stole it. Our Prince's mansion is also a victim!" Bai Qingling bit her tongue hard to concentrate.
Shen Lanxi scoffed, "You think you can just call it theft? Do you have any evidence?"
“The Prince of Zhennan’s mansion is located in a bustling area. With so much wealth, if they wanted to move it out, someone would definitely have seen it. Tell me, did anyone see the thieves transporting things out?”
Bai Qingling: "Since it's a thief, they must be highly skilled. You should ask the thief about that. At most, our royal residence will only be charged with negligence in guarding your property. We haven't even asked you for the guarding fees for all that dowry you left here."
Shen Lanxi immediately applauded Bai Qingling, saying, "What a great performance!"
“Coincidentally, when my younger brother went to the yamen to pick up the dowry list, he also brought the case file of the theft from the Prince’s mansion. No one saw the thief carrying the valuables out, so whether the thief existed or not, no one can confirm it.”
Bai Qingling said angrily, "Are you saying that our Prince's Mansion hid the things ourselves?"
Shen Lanxi glanced at her: "That possibility cannot be ruled out. Moreover, the case file states that the theft occurred around the time of the divorce. So, I don't understand why you shamelessly demand a guarding fee from me when the item has been missing for a long time. Does your royal palace really need this little bit of guarding fee?"
Bai Qingling felt a sharp pain in her stomach, and her face turned deathly pale.
"Enough!" Zhou Ruyuan roared.
"Shen Lanxi, I never said I wouldn't return your dowry, so why are you being so aggressive?"
Shen Lanxi scoffed contemptuously, "Zhou Ruyuan, you really know how to twist the truth. The one who keeps making excuses for not returning my dowry, isn't she a member of your Prince's Mansion? Do you dare say she's not from your Zhennan Prince's Mansion and has no relation to you whatsoever?"
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes flashed, and he glared angrily at Bai Qingling.
Bai Qingling panicked, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over Ban Sicao. A plan formed in her mind.
"Shen Lanxi, no matter what, you were once a royal consort. Today, you brought your lover and openly came to my Zhennan Prince's Mansion, embarrassing the Prince. How can you so disrespect the royal family!"
"Even if the prince doesn't return your dowry, it's within his rights. If you continue to make trouble, be careful that the prince punishes the men around you for the crime of disrespect!"
All eyes were drawn to Ban Sicao.
The same applies to Zhou Ruyuan.
His gaze shifted from contemplation to hatred.
No wonder Shen Lanxi asked him for her dowry today; it turns out someone was instigating her behind the scenes!
Shen Lanxi sneered: "What does his status have to do with me asking for my dowry? Does the fact that he's my lover mean you can refuse to return my dowry? The laws of the Great Zhou state that a divorced woman has two years to divorce and can remarry, does that mean you can withhold her dowry?"
No!
It's been over two years since the divorce. Even if she remarries, her ex-husband has no say in the matter!
Everyone's attention was once again drawn back to Shen Lanxi's dowry.
Shen Lanxi: "The Zhennan Prince's Mansion has such a fine family tradition. In order not to return the dowry of the divorced woman, they actually made up accusations and excuses. I wonder what the world will say when this gets out, and how His Majesty will view this matter?"
Dark clouds rolled in Zhou Ruyuan's eyes. The last divorce had already made him lose face. If he were to be labeled as a divorced woman with a dowry, he would be unable to clear his name even if he jumped into the river.
"I'll pay!"
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