Chapter 26: Pawning the Dowry and Returning the Private Property
Zhao Jue frowned, "Your dowry is just a drop in the bucket."
The Second Madam could no longer conceal the truth and confessed, "Shen Qingtan is not the daughter of the Marquis' Mansion. The Marquis' Mansion's dowry naturally cannot be given to her for nothing. I replaced the dowry. Her share is a fake."
Zhao Jue disdained the Second Madam's dishonorable tactics. He was in desperate need of money and didn't object. He said coldly, "Give me your dowry and I'll take it to the pawnshop to mortgage it."
"Jue'er, we don't know when we can come up with 50,000 taels of silver. If we pawn it for a year or two, the monthly interest will be three percent. If you meet a dishonest person, they may ask for five percent." The second wife's eyes flashed, and she had another plan in mind: "You are in need of silver, so we can pawn it and get more silver."
Zhao Jue acquiesced.
He came out of Mingde Hall and saw Liu Yue standing outside the courtyard, holding a wooden box in her hands.
"Third Master." Liu Yue walked towards Zhao Jue and bowed. "Second Madam instructed me to return the things to you."
She handed the wooden box to Zhao Jue.
Zhao Jue's face instantly turned pale. He glanced at the wooden box and said with a double meaning, "How can you take back what you have given away?"
"Our Second Madam doesn't accept personal belongings from men outside her family. Second Master will prepare everything she needs." Liu Yue said calmly, "Third Master, if he cares about our friendship of more than ten years, he won't let Second Madam tarnish her reputation."
Having said that, Zhao Jue had no choice but to take the wooden box.
Liu Yue took out a list from her sleeve and said, "Third Master, please collect the things Second Madam gave you and bring them back to me."
Zhao Jue longed for power and was not obsessed with beauty. Women were just accessories to him, so after learning that Shen Qingtan was not the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family, he was able to quickly withdraw.
But when Shen Qingtan wanted to draw a clear line with him, a nameless anger rose in his heart.
His jaw tightened. "How could I possibly keep everything she's given me since I was little?"
"Second Madam said that if the items don't match the number and are not serious, then forget it." Liu Yue saw that Zhao Jue's expression had eased slightly, and changed the subject: "If it will damage her reputation, she will go to the old lady and report to the elders in the mansion and make the matter clear. You know that the Second Master is frail and cannot be overly happy or sad. Second Madam doesn't want the absurd things in the past to make him sad."
Ridiculous thing?
Very good!
Zhao Jue laughed out of anger. This woman was even more heartless than him.
"Wait."
Zhao Jue exuded a cold aura as he strode back to the study and took out a pile of things by comparing them with the list.
From small things like sachets and silk handkerchiefs embroidered by her own hands, silk ribbons for waist binding, to folding fans with her own paintings and inscriptions.
From large items like sleeve warmers, seals, and unique copies, etc.
In the past, I didn’t feel much when I received these gifts. But now, after collecting all the things and piling them on the couch like a small mountain, an indescribable feeling arises in my heart.
His gaze lingered on a certain spot, and he reached out to pick up a sachet embroidered with a pattern of a galloping horse stepping on auspicious clouds. She had given it to him during the Dragon Boat Festival, the first year of their engagement.
At that time, she said that this was the first sachet she had learned needlework from and although it was not very beautiful, she believed that her needlework skills would get better and better in the future.
Every Dragon Boat Festival after that, she would give him a sachet, and the embroidery became better and better every year.
But this first sachet was different in his mind.
Zhao Jue collected his thoughts and packed the things into the box one by one. Until his fingers touched a pile of rare ancient books, his mood inevitably fluctuated.
Shen Qingtan loved all things elegant and Zen-like, and especially loved reading. He could spend half a day reading a book, ignoring anyone. In order to get closer to her, he said he loved reading and asked her to borrow a book to read.
But he didn't like reading, he only liked to play with swords and guns, so he showed the borrowed books to Zhao Yi and asked him what the book was about and what his opinions were.
Later, when returning the book, I took the opportunity to say a few more words to Shen Qingtan.
This method really worked. Shen Qingtan's attitude towards him became increasingly warm. When he saw him, he would take the initiative to talk to him and discuss the insights in ancient books.
Later I learned that he loved the works of some ancient sages and scholars, so I would give him a copy every year on his birthday.
He only knows about the famous generals, but how could he know about the sages and great scholars?
These books are all Zhao Yi's favorites.
Zhao Jue was unwilling to return the books and let Zhao Yi get away with it, but he had to save face, so he put the pile of ancient books into the box with a serious face, closed the lid with a "snap", carried it out and threw it at Liu Yue's feet.
"It's all here, take it and go."
Liu Yue was not annoyed and didn't want to say a word to him.
The box was heavy, but she looked at its thin arms and legs, yet it was effortless for her to pick it up and walk away with ease.
There was a gloom in Zhao Jue's eyes. When Liu Yue disappeared from his sight holding the box, his heart seemed to be empty as well.
He told himself in his heart: I will not regret my choice.
Never regret it!
——
When Zhao Yi returned home after finishing his business outside, it was already the hour of Xu, and the palace lanterns were lit in the mansion.
Jiang Mu was holding a lantern. When he heard Zhao Yi cough a few times, he turned and looked over. He saw that his face was pale and his eyes were tired. "Second Master, are you going back to the study or the bridal chamber?"
"Cough... cough..." Zhao Yi felt a little unwell: "I'll stay in the study tonight."
Jiang Chao happened to come over to pick up Zhao Yi and mentioned, "Second Master, Second Mistress asked Liu Yue to go to the second room and she came back with a large box."
Zhao Yi paused slightly, because he had heard Shen Qingtan say that she asked Liu Yue to ask for something.
His eyes were cold and he said calmly, "You don't have to inquire about Second Madam's affairs, and you don't have to tell me."
Jiang Chao opened his mouth to explain, but Jiang Mu nudged him with his elbow, and he closed his mouth.
The real reason was that the second house had been secretly targeting the first house, and Shen Qingtan had a special relationship with Zhao Jue. Now that she was married to Zhao Yi, she still had contact with Zhao Jue. Jiang Chao was worried that Shen Qingtan was on the side of the second house and would help it deal with the first house.
"Jiang Chao, go to the study and prepare some hot water." Zhao Yi ordered expressionlessly.
Today, I returned to the Cheng'en Marquis Mansion with Shen Qingtan and sat in the Bicheng Pavilion for a while. At night, Boss Qin sent a message to discuss the issue of military rations. I was already tired and just wanted to rest early.
His mind was unusually clear. He received the news at noon today that Zhao Jue went to Boss Qin to buy military rations.
Boss Qin refused to cooperate with Zhao Jue, but turned to him for cooperation. It was obvious that there was something going on.
Zhao Yi walked to the fork in the road and stepped onto the bluestone corridor leading to the study, but the next moment, he changed direction and went to Lanxue Garden.
Qiu Chan and Chun Jiao, who were guarding the door, saluted respectfully: "Second Master."
Zhao Yi nodded slightly. The door was not closed. He stepped into the house but did not see Shen Qingtan. Hearing the noise coming from the inner room, he slowly walked towards the inner room.
Shen Qingtan was seen wearing an apricot-red midriff-baring gown, lying on the short couch, her body soft and boneless. One corner of the hem of her gown was folded up, revealing her snow-white and delicate waist.
She was holding an ancient book in her hand and reading it, so engrossed that she didn't notice that her beauty was leaking out.
Even his arrival did not disturb her.
She flipped a page of the book and whispered softly, "Except for these ancient books, find a place to burn the rest."
"Okay." Liu Yue checked the list and noticed that a horse and auspicious cloud sachet was missing. Just as she was about to reply, she saw Zhao Yi standing at the door of the inner room. Her expression changed for a moment: "Second Master, you're back."
Shen Qingtan shuddered and realized that she had lost her manners. She quickly put down the ancient book, sat down on the short couch with dignity, and straightened her clothes.
Zhao Yi shifted his gaze and saw Liu Yue and Ting Xue squatting in front of a box filled with a bunch of odds and ends. He could recognize at a glance that they were some personal belongings used by the men.
Liu Yue woke up as if from a dream, and hurriedly covered the box, holding it and hurriedly left the inner room.
Tingxue followed him out and closed the door of the outer room very tactfully.
Only the couple were left in the room.
Shen Qingtan was only wearing a thin undershirt and felt uncomfortable under Zhao Yi's gaze. She pulled a thin blanket over her body and then looked up at Zhao Yi.
He was wearing a dark blue robe embroidered with ruyi patterns and a thin moon-white cloak, which made him look elegant and graceful.
"Second Master, have you had dinner yet?" Shen Qingtan got down from the couch, took out a coat and draped it over his shoulders, straightening the collar. "Shall I ask the servants to prepare some food for you?"
"No need, I've already had dinner." Zhao Yi stood at the doorway without entering. He glanced at the ancient book she had placed upside down on the couch. He recognized it as Meng An's work, the only copy he had been searching for for so long. "I've been busy these past few days, so I'll be staying in the study for now."
Shen Qingtan was stunned and couldn't help but think too much.
The two of them reached an agreement to treat each other with respect from now on.
Therefore, she asked him to go with her to Zhao Jue's invitation, and also took this opportunity to tell him that she had nothing to do with Zhao Jue anymore.
But now he suddenly suggested sleeping in the study. Was he very concerned about her involvement with Zhao Jue?
The more Shen Qingtan thought about it, the more he felt that his actions were inappropriate: "Second Master..."
Zhao Yi saw through her thoughts and explained, "You're a light sleeper. I'll wake you up if I leave early and come back late." He coughed a few times, his clear voice becoming hoarse. "I'm not feeling well too. If we sleep in the same room, I'll pass on my illness to you."
His face was pale, his thin lips were bloodless, and he coughed intermittently.
Shen Qingtan could see the fatigue in his eyes. He dragged his frail body, busy with official duties, and also took care of her considerately.
But she seemed to rarely consider him and was always focused on her own affairs.
When Shen Qingtan thought of Zhao Yi's indulgence towards her in the past few days, a warm feeling passed through her heart, but she also felt a bit guilty.
"If you're not feeling well, you should sleep here. There's no one to take care of you in the study." Shen Qingtan walked to the eight-immortal table and poured him a glass of warm water. "I'm in good health. When my mother was sick in the past, I was the one who took care of her personally, and I was fine. I only get a few days of minor illness during the transition from spring to summer."
Zhao Yi was silent for a moment, then reached out to take the teacup.
His fingers touched the back of her hand, and the temperature of his fingertips was as cold as ice. Shen Qingtan subconsciously wanted to hold his fingers to test his body temperature.
But thinking of his aversion to close contact, the hand that had just been raised fell down to his side again.
Zhao Yi caught her movement, pursed his thin lips slightly, drank a few sips of water, and suppressed the itch in his throat.
Shen Qingtan tried to persuade him from another angle: "If I were sick, you wouldn't abandon me and let me sleep in the study."
Zhao Yi: "I will."
Shen Qingtan: “……?”
Zhao Yi looked at her stunned expression, which was actually a bit silly. He turned around and placed the teacup on the table, a faint smile on his lips.
Shen Qingtan thought that his health was not good to begin with, and if he took care of her when she was sick, he might become even sicker than her, and it would be hard to say who would take care of whom.
She said sympathetically, "If I were you, I would do the same."
A low laugh escaped Zhao Yi's throat.
Very pleasant.
Shen Qingtan realized belatedly that he was teasing her on purpose?
Staring at him with a pair of watery eyes, Shen Qingtan took off his coat, lifted the quilt and went to sleep with his back to Zhao Yi.
——
The next morning, Shen Qingtan woke up and Zhao Yi had already gotten up.
After their wedding night, they each had their own quilt.
She tilted her head to look at the neatly folded bedding beside her, and memories of last night came flooding back. He went to the study to wash up without saying a word, and lay down beside her with a light scent of medicine on his body. His deep voice was particularly beautiful in the night.
"Then I will have Madam Lao take care of me."
Shen Qingtan just recalled the scene of last night, his face flushed red, embarrassed and annoyed, and he pulled the quilt up to cover his head.
"Second Madam, it's time to get up." Liu Yue came in with some hot water, lifted the soft and graceful wedding curtains and hung them on the hooks, then pulled back the quilt. "You can't cover your head with the quilt when you sleep... Hey, why is your face so red? Are you sick?"
As Liu Yue spoke, he touched Shen Qingtan's forehead with his hand.
Shen Qingtan blocked her hand and said in a muffled voice, "Keep it warm."
"Why do you act like a little girl?" Liu Yue joked. Seeing her gloomy expression, she said worriedly, "Let me ask the court doctor to come over and check your pulse."
Shen Qingtan naturally refused. If Zhao Yi knew about this, she would definitely laugh at her.
She threw back the quilt and got out of bed: "It's getting late, don't dawdle, I have to go and pay my respects."
While Liu Yue was helping Shen Qingtan change her clothes, she whispered in her ear, "The Second House sent a letter to Qiu Chan, but Qiu Chan didn't go to the Second House."
Shen Qingtan nodded slightly: "Continue to follow."
"yes."
Zhao Yi left the house. Shen Qingtan did not have breakfast and went to the eldest lady's courtyard to pay her respects first.
The old lady stipulated that the family should go to her courtyard to pay respects on the first and fifteenth day of each month and sit together to have breakfast, but this was not required at other times.
Shen Qingtan went to Jingde Hall, and the maid waiting at the door invited her in: "Second Madam, the Madam is in the inner room. Please sit on the stool and wait for a while."
As soon as Shen Qingtan entered the house, she saw the eldest lady coming out of the inner room. She looked unhappy. "Mother, did you not sleep well last night?"
"I haven't slept all night." The eldest lady sat on a rosewood chair, her brow furrowed as she spoke. "Luo Lingzhi was so proud of herself in front of me yesterday. Zhao Jue has collected 100,000 tons of military rations. If Zhao Jue is the one escorting the rations, I'm worried that something might happen to my father and brother."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
