Chapter 213 What is Bai Qingling's identity? Is she a princess or a concubine?
"Your Highness, you mustn't!" Bai Qingling pleaded in a low voice.
Ban Sicao: "The prince is a real man. As for this woman, tsk... she's not worthy of him at all!"
Zhou Ruyuan glared fiercely at Ban Sicao and angrily asked Shen Lanxi, "Who is he to dare speak to me like that? Aren't you afraid I'll charge him with disrespect for the royal family?"
Shen Lanxi's eyes were sharp as she looked straight at Bai Qingling: "What is Bai Qingling's identity? How dare she speak on behalf of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, obstruct your decisions, and interfere in the matter of returning my dowry? Is she the Princess Consort of Zhennan, or perhaps a concubine who has already been added to the royal family's list?"
Bai Qingling stared intently at Shen Lanxi, clenching her teeth tightly. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her stomach, and a surge of heat rushed down her spine.
His expression changed drastically.
"Imperial Physician, please save my child!"
Shen Lanxi: "Without a name, title, rank, or position, she dares to flaunt her power against an official of the imperial court by taking advantage of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. Isn't she afraid that the court will punish her for the crime of disrespecting an official of the imperial court?"
Zhou Ruyuan stared intently at Shen Lanxi. On one side was Bai Qingling, who was being carried in in a panic, and on the other side was the aggressive Shen Lanxi. At this moment, he felt as if he was being torn in two.
Ban Sicao: "Why don't you say something? A grown man is so indecisive, what kind of war god are you?" He was originally worried that saying too much would cause trouble for Shen Lanxi, but now he is not afraid.
There's someone dragging Zhou Ruyuan down!
I don't know what's wrong with his eyes. He has such a dazzling pearl to give up, but he insists on having a pair of dead fish eyes.
Does he even know what he's missed out on?
"Here, I'll go and take stock of the valuables and have someone write a receipt!" Zhou Ruyuan stared intently at Ban Sicao.
“I, Zhou Ruyuan, would never do such a despicable thing as seizing a dowry. It’s just that the Prince’s mansion was robbed, and I can’t come up with that much stuff all at once. I’ll try my best to give you a third of it today. If you have something, you can exchange it for something else; if not, you can have cash!”
Shen Lanxi laughed and said, "The Prince of Zhennan truly lives up to his title as the God of War of the Great Zhou Dynasty; he has great spirit!"
Zhou Ruyuan felt that these words were full of sarcasm. Did Shen Lanxi know that after making such a scene today, she would never be able to step into the Zhennan Prince's Mansion again?
Does she really not leave herself any way out?
Zhou Ruyuan didn't believe it. Shen Lanxi didn't understand what her father and empress meant by their actions today.
After receiving Zhou Ruyuan's instruction, the steward immediately went to take inventory of the Prince's mansion's valuables.
All that's left in the Prince's mansion are antique paintings and calligraphy for decoration, and some ornaments. The Prince just returned from the palace, bringing back a lot of medicinal herbs and gifts from Consort Shu, so these are still worth some money. Back when Shen Lanxi married into the Prince's mansion, her dowry list was a thick book; it was practically like moving mountains of gold and silver into the mansion.
Those things aren't even enough to offset a third of the cost!
Zhou Ruyuan gave Shen Lanxi a deep look, then turned and entered the palace.
Before long, the people in the Prince's mansion began to carry things out.
The Shen family took out the dowry list to check it.
"A double-eared vase, valued at one thousand taels, is a perfect dowry treasure basin!"
"A single piece of calligraphy or painting by a famous artist can be worth as much as a dowry of calligraphy and paintings!"
"One jade ornament is equivalent to one other ornament..."
...
Before long, it got dark.
Zhou Ruyuan rushed back and handed a stack of silver notes and a box to the steward!
The steward had already reached his limit. For the sake of the Prince's reputation, he had even had the imperial ivory bed carried out. If the Prince didn't return soon, he would have no choice but to have the Prince's valuable tables and chairs carried out.
That was close!
"The rest can be paid with silver notes and these jewelry pieces."
The housekeeper quickly went to hand over the responsibilities to the Shen family.
In the end, all the silver notes were used as collateral, and only one hairpin remained in the jewelry box, which was only one-third of the total value!
Shen Lanxi signed the document with a deft hand.
"Two days later, I request that Prince Zhennan, as stated in the document, personally deliver the remaining two-thirds to the Shen family!"
"A copy of the dowry list has already been made; this copy will be kept at the Prince's residence for verification!"
Shen Lanxi mounted her horse and, with her family and six cartloads of goods, departed in a grand procession!
Ban Sicao announced loudly, "The Shen family has good news! Anyone who comes to congratulate them tomorrow will receive two copper coins!"
Zhou Ruyuan's vision blurred, and he felt his blood churning in his chest, as if a fire was burning fiercely inside.
Unable to hold back any longer, he coughed up blood and slumped to the side.
"Your Highness, quick, help Your Highness up..."
Shen Lanxi returned to the Shen residence in a very ostentatious manner!
"I'll take the silver notes and the money; the rest is yours!" After arriving at the Shen family, she acted swiftly and decisively, dividing up one-third of her dowry.
"Do you have any objections?" Shen Lanxi looked around.
No one spoke.
"Since no one objects, let's do it this way! Send the remaining two-thirds over, and then we'll divide them!"
She stood up to leave.
"Lanxi, aren't you afraid of offending Zhou Ruyuan?" Shen Congwen asked, frowning.
After Zhou Ruyuan vomited blood, he already regretted it. But by then, he had already reached that point, and there was no turning back.
Shen Lanxi: "You all saw it. He humiliated me like this at the welcoming banquet today. If I don't retaliate, won't all the officials think that our Shen family is spineless?"
Shen Congwen, with a stern face, did not agree with Shen Lanxi's statement.
"Today, Her Majesty the Empress intends to match you with Zhou Ruyuan. If you make such a scene, how can you expect Zhou Ruyuan to accept you in the future?"
Shen Lanxi knew the Shen family would think that way.
"There is absolutely no possibility between me and Zhou Ruyuan. Instead of worrying about my affairs, you should think about how to seek justice for our Shen family!"
So much so that the Shen family had forgotten about the dowry issue.
"Alright, it's already this late, let's eat first."
Miao and Tian stared intently outside, both wanting the same thing but unwilling to be the first to speak.
Tian's eyes lit up: "Sister-in-law, today I saw many daughters of officials staring at Yuanxu and Yuankun. It's time to make preparations for the marriage of these two children."
Liu said irritably, "Does hiring an official matchmaker cost nothing? Those official matchmakers are the most snobbish. If you don't have money to pave the way, they'll all stay far away."
Liu's eyes lit up: "Mother, Yuanxu and Yuankun came back in such a hurry this time that they didn't even bring two sets of clothes. It is said that one should respect the clothes before respecting the person. If they are not dressed well, those families with daughters will look down on our family!"
With a dark expression, Madam Shen first glared at Madam Tian, and then gave Madam Liu a disapproving look.
Those brainless idiots always make others their scapegoats!
"I'll take care of their affairs. Alright, I'm tired. Have someone bring the food for me and your father to our room. Everyone, you may leave!"
That evening, six large carts of goods were transported. Four carts went into the old lady's private treasury, and two carts went into the Shen family's public storeroom.
Royal Palace
"Did she really take the dowry away?" Emperor Renxiao put down the memorial and asked calmly.
Wang Bao bowed and replied, "They've been taken away, a full six cartloads. I heard the Prince's mansion is now empty!"
Emperor Renxiao chuckled: "You really have a childish temper!"
Oh, woman~
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