Chapter 31: It’s Hard to Guard Against a Thief Within
Shen Qingtan remembered the counterfeits in the warehouse: "The dowry that Second Aunt returned to me was all fakes that looked real. If someone doesn't know the goods, they can be easily fooled."
The eldest lady's mind was moved: "She is selling fakes for profit?"
Shen Qingtan shook his head: "It's just a guess, I need to verify it."
The first lady took this matter to heart, stood up and walked to the small window, only to see the second lady's back as she left.
She frowned and asked, "She only pawned 30,000 taels, why is she willing to pay 90,000 more taels?"
"Grandfather disliked fratricide and bureaucracy. Before our ancestor of the Zhao family became wealthy, he opened a security agency. However, he was oppressed by powerful forces and his family was destroyed."
Shen Qingtan said slowly, "He left his hometown alone, met a noble man, and made great contributions to the founding of the country, which is why he was awarded his current title. Our ancestors recorded this in the family motto and warned future generations."
She had once heard Zhao Jue mention this family motto: One should not bully others just because their father and brother are powerful, as they suffered greatly when their ancestors were weak. She hoped that future generations would reflect on this, become good officials, famous generals, and upright people.
He was determined to become a famous general, but everything he did was like a villain.
“Second Aunt has always wanted to obtain the title of Duke, and because of the exchange marriage, she has already violated the first rule.
Zhao Jue took on the task of buying military rations in order to make up for his mistake.
They pawned my dowry to buy food, and now they are using their power to oppress others in order to redeem it, thus violating the second rule."
Shen Qingtan raised the corner of his lips slightly: "She is now in a dilemma. She has to return my dowry and has offended the pawnshop. In order to keep the peace, she has to bite her teeth and swallow this loss."
The eldest lady had heard about the Zhao family's ancestors, but she didn't think about it so deeply.
"Unless Second Aunt doesn't want the title, the pawnshop won't be able to control her." Shen Qingtan said with a smile: "As the master of the Duke's Mansion, what does this hundreds of thousands of taels of silver mean to me?"
Even if the second wife knew that she was being ripped off, she had to obediently hand over the silver.
"You're holding onto her weak spot, waiting to trick her." The eldest lady, after sorting out the pros and cons, marveled, "How did you know she'd come here to pawn her things?"
"I don't know." Shen Qingtan blinked, looking a little innocent. "I only knew that Zhao Jue was short of money to buy food, and Second Aunt would pawn my dowry. I was thinking of using it as leverage to force her to redeem it and return it to me."
When the second wife came to Dechang Pawnshop, she made a lot of money by cheating people.
When the second wife went to another pawnshop, she cooperated with the people in the pawnshop to cheat the second wife and make less money.
The first lady was enlightened, but she felt very happy when she thought that Shen Qingtan had cheated the second lady and made a huge profit of 90,000 taels.
"Luo Lingzhi is greedy for money. She's got her hands on everything, whether it's hers or not. She deserves it." The eldest lady smiled and said, "I have a good eye. I fell in love with you at first sight."
Shen Qingtan: “…”
"Isn't it?" Mama Guan echoed, "Second Master and Second Madam are a perfect match. They both have a lot of tricks up their sleeves."
Shen Qingtan: “…”
You people who come from military families, are you so different in the way you praise others?
——
After Shen Qingtan returned to the Duke's Mansion, he sent Liu Yue to Zhao Yi's study to ask Jiang Chao to borrow a copy of the family precepts. He leaned on the short couch and read it with great interest.
As the sky darkened, all the masters in the mansion returned from their duties, and someone from Shi'an Hall came to invite her over.
Shen Qingtan brought Liu Yue to Shi'an Hall, only then did he realize that everyone was there.
Duke Zhao and the old lady sat in the main seats. The four masters and four ladies in the mansion were all there. The only younger generations were her, Zhao Yi, and Zhao Jue and Shen Mingzhu.
The atmosphere in the room was solemn, as if a storm was brewing.
After greeting everyone one by one, she sat next to Zhao Yi, and her eyes couldn't help but look at Duke Zhao who was sitting in the main seat.
Duke Zhao wore a black gauze hat, a bright red round-necked robe, a qilin patch embroidered with gold thread on his chest, a jade leather belt around his waist, and black leather boots on his feet.
He hadn't changed out of his casual clothes yet, and it was obvious that he had gone to Shi'an Hall as soon as he returned home.
He sat upright in the main seat, and without saying a word, he displayed the majesty of a superior.
"Everyone is here," the old lady said slowly. "There was a thief in the mansion, and Tan'er's dowry was stolen and pawned. Her dowry passed through the hands of the second son's wife, who took the initiative to take on this task. She has already found out that the dowry was not pawned, but was found in the abandoned west courtyard."
The second wife had emptied the family savings and was in a state of exhaustion. She just wanted to settle the matter as soon as possible.
Dechang Pawnshop refused to admit that the owner behind it was Madam Shen, so naturally they would not side with her.
If she continues to falsely accuse Shen Qingtan of directing and acting in the incident, the old lady only needs to send someone to ask, and the truth will be revealed.
The Second Madam said stiffly, "My niece, the West Courtyard is a deserted place. The masters and servants of the mansion would not go there easily. Your dowry is not just one or two pieces. If you stole it and sold it all at once, it would be easily discovered. That's why the thief hid the things in the West Courtyard."
"Really? In the West Courtyard?" Shen Qingtan glanced at Liu Yue and asked, "Didn't you say you saw it in the pawnshop?"
Liu Yue quickly said, "Second Madam, I didn't lie."
"Yes, yes, Liu Yue didn't lie." The Second Madam smiled reluctantly. "I took inventory and found that the items Liu Yue mentioned were indeed missing. I went to Dechang Pawn Shop to redeem them myself."
"Is that so?" Shen Qingtan asked again, "Did Second Aunt find out who stole it?"
"We haven't found out yet. The thief is cunning and hired beggars to pawn his belongings. Now that we've alerted the enemy, it won't be easy to catch him. But don't worry, I will continue to track him down."
The Second Lady expressed her determination and then said thankfully, "Thankfully, everything was recovered. Nothing was missing."
Shen Qingtan listened to the Second Madam's words which were full of loopholes, but did not expose them.
Everyone present here is smart, how could they not know that the Second Madam is just making up an excuse to cover up her shame?
Duke Zhao and the old lady wanted to maintain superficial peace, so they would "believe" what the second lady said.
Anyway, she didn't intend to overthrow the second branch all at once. It was good enough that Duke Zhao was disappointed in them.
If there are too many disappointments and one more straw breaks the camel’s back, the second wife’s luck will be over.
What's more, she made 90,000 taels of silver for nothing.
Shen Qingtan said gratefully, "Then I'll trouble you, Second Aunt, and I'll give you the silver for redeeming your dowry privately."
"It's not much money, just think of it as a wedding gift from me, the elder, to the younger generation."
"If I refuse a gift from an elder, it would be disrespectful." Shen Qingtan bowed to the Second Madam and said, "Second Aunt, I will remember your kindness in my heart."
The second lady could no longer maintain the fake smile on her face and gave a few instructions to the maid beside her.
After the maid was out for a while, a servant came in carrying the dowry. Boxes and crates were placed all over the room, and the lids were all opened.
The Second Madam glanced at the glittering gold, silver, and jewelry, and her heart ached: "Niece-in-law, please count carefully, there is something wrong with these dowries."
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