The Yongning Marquis's residence was unusually lively today, with many people gathered outside to watch the excitement.
The news about the Yongning Marquis's mansion embezzling Yuan Zhao's dowry has been circulating in the capital for the past few days. As a result, today the Yongning Marquis's mansion opened its doors to publicly count Yuan Zhao's dowry.
It has to be said that this is quite bold.
Everyone assumed that it was done by the Yongning Marquis's residence, since the news had spread far and wide. The only way to clear their name was to let everyone know.
Ordinary people would never have seen such a large dowry, and even many aristocratic families would not prepare such a large dowry for their daughters. People still vividly remember Yuan Zhao's ten-mile-long red bridal procession back then.
The dowry was all piled up in the courtyard, covering half of it, which was astonishing.
However, some people still discovered something strange about it.
"Hey, why does it seem like the Crown Prince's wife's dowry is less?"
"Yes, I was there to see the spectacle back then. The Crown Prince's wife's dowry used to fill an entire courtyard. How come there's only half a courtyard left now?"
"..."
The onlookers began to discuss the spectacle.
Upon hearing these words, Yuan Zhao slowly curled the corners of his lips and nodded to Wen Feng.
Wen Feng took out the dowry list and began to count it. She read the contents of the dowry list aloud. Many people had never even heard of those things, let alone seen them. When they saw them taking them out to count, many people stood on tiptoe to look.
When Zhou Shiyuan arrived, he saw this lively scene. His face darkened, and he walked over to Yuan Zhao, gritting his teeth as he asked:
What are you planning to do now?
"After three years, the young master's eyesight has indeed deteriorated, and he always asks pointless questions."
Yuan Zhao said sarcastically.
Zhou Shiyuan suppressed his anger and asked in a low voice:
Why make such a big fuss?
"I also want to know if my dowry money is missing, so I'll let everyone be the witness."
Yuan Zhao smiled slowly at Zhou Shiyuan.
Yuan Zhao was naturally beautiful. Unlike ordinary women, perhaps because she grew up on the frontier, her features were exceptionally bold and bright. Unlike the delicate beauty that was popular at the time, she had her own unique radiance.
Her smile made her features even more radiant and dazzling, like a blooming peony.
Zhou Shiyuan felt his heart tremble, as if he had been struck heavily.
Looking at Yuan Zhao like this, he was speechless for a moment, forgetting what he wanted to say.
Seeing him staring at him intently, with undisguised desire in his eyes, Yuan Zhao was taken aback at first, then a look of disgust appeared in his eyes.
Ha! What kind of scions of noble families? What kind of scholars? They're disgusting!
Yuan Zhao's face turned cold, and Zhou Shiyuan quickly realized that he had just felt desire towards Yuan Zhao. His face showed embarrassment, but even more so, regret.
He's really gone mad!
Before he could finish feeling annoyed, Wen Feng's words struck him like a thunderbolt, instantly bringing him to his senses.
"Miss, the inventory is complete."
"Your dowry is missing 78,120 taels of silver, a box of fine jade, a box of pearls, two boxes of luminous pearls, two boxes of sapphires, and ten sets of jewelry..."
The more Wen Feng spoke, the darker Zhou Shiyuan's face became. Looking at the murmuring crowd, he hurriedly interrupted Wen Feng:
"You're talking nonsense!"
Wen Feng was not annoyed by being interrupted; he simply bowed respectfully to Zhou Shiyuan.
"If Your Highness does not believe me, you can see for yourself."
Zhou Shiyuan, refusing to believe it, took the dowry list and began to look at it himself. The more he looked, the more somber his face became. In the end, he gripped the dowry list tightly and remained silent.
Yuan Zhao watched his reaction from the side, his eyes full of mockery.
He really is a young master. Back then, when the Yongning Marquis's mansion was raided and all its possessions were confiscated, he was living a carefree and happy life outside, completely oblivious to how the people in the Marquis's mansion had spent the past three years.
Did he think they had all survived the past three years on air?
Suppressing the sarcasm in his eyes, Yuan Zhao stood up, revealing a perfectly timed look of surprise:
"Why is so much of the dowry missing?"
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