Chapter 45: Too much bullying!
With the support of Mrs. Xiao, Shen Qingyuan and Chunxi went back to inform their families the next day.
Madam Mo was delighted to hear the news, but she expressed disapproval. "That woman named Chunxi is of too low a status, and Wei Lingze had previously taken her out to various banquets. Everyone knows that she served Wei Lingze personally for three years. How could she be your wife?"
Mrs. Mo frowned, her tone anxious. Before Shen Qingyuan could speak, she sneered, "You've only been recuperating at the Xiao family for a few days, and your aunt has thrust such a worthless woman into your hands to rid her granddaughter of future trouble. Yuan'er, now you know who truly cares for you, right?"
As Mrs. Mo spoke, she wiped the corners of her eyes with a silk handkerchief, as if she was deeply troubled by Shen Qingyuan's affairs.
Shen Qingyuan didn't expose Mo's poor acting skills, but simply said calmly: "The matter has been decided. I just informed mother today and asked her to open the storehouse so that I can ask Qingshu to bring people to carry my mother's dowry to my private storehouse."
Mrs. Mo suddenly looked up and glared at Shen Qingyuan, her expression a little broken: "Why do you want your mother's dowry for no reason?"
Shen Qingyuan asked back: "Why, I can't have it?"
In Zhaoling, when a woman died after getting married, her dowry would be inherited by her own flesh and blood.
It was only natural for Shen Qingyuan to ask for his mother's dowry.
But he had never mentioned this matter to the two women he had married before, so Mrs. Mo put it behind her.
"Of course you can have it, but aren't we a family? You haven't separated your family before, so why do you have to make such a clear distinction?"
Mrs. Mo softened her tone because the joy brought by this marriage had mostly dissipated.
The years when Xiao married into the mansion were the most glorious time for the Marquisate. But later, when the empire was settled, the Marquis of Qingyuan, a humble warrior, was no longer favored by the powerful people in Hanjing. After Xiao died of illness, the Marquis of Qingyuan was looked down upon everywhere.
Marquis Qingyuan realized that he was just a poor guy working for the royal family. He lost the ambition to climb up the social ladder and became completely addicted to wine and women. In the past two years, he even spent his time hanging out with prostitutes in the farm outside the city and didn't even go home.
Mo was just a concubine's daughter in the family. She didn't know the whole story back then, and she used all her tricks to climb into the bed of Marquis Qingyuan before she took over the position of the Marquis' wife. Because of her dishonorable status, she didn't have much dowry. Upon closer inspection, it was found that the dignity of the Marquis' Mansion over the years was maintained entirely by the dowry left by Xiao.
Shen Qingyuan took away all of Xiao’s dowry. What should they do?
Mrs. Mo quickly thought of a bunch of persuasive words, but before she could say anything, she heard Shen Qingyuan say, "Mother is right. I really should consider the matter of dividing the mansion."
Once the mansion is divided, the dowry will have nothing to do with the Marquis's Mansion anymore.
Mrs. Mo's scalp tingled, and tears actually fell this time: "Yuan'er, I know you're still angry with Nanny Jia. It was my fault before. I believed Nanny Jia's slander and sent your things to the Xiao family, which hurt you. But I have been sincere to you all these years. Yue'er, Yu'er, and Chi'er all treat you as their own brother. How could you want to move out of the mansion?"
"Besides, your fiancée was just a little maid before. How could she know how to manage the household and socialize? What if she makes a fool of herself? Living at home, your mother can help you teach her, right?"
"I will teach her, so mother won't have to worry about it."
Shen Qingyuan remained indifferent. Without waiting for Madam Mo to speak again, he asked coldly, "Mother, you are being so reluctant. Could it be that you have embezzled all my mother's dowry over the years?"
Mrs. Mo had no right to use Mrs. Xiao's dowry.
If the news gets out, not only will the Mo family's reputation be ruined, but Shen Qingyue and Shen Qingyu will also be affected, and even the entire Mo family will be criticized.
Mrs. Mo's face turned pale and she quickly shook her head: "No, why would I touch my sister's dowry?"
Shen Qingyuan stopped talking and looked at Mo quietly.
Mo Shi felt like she was on edge, and she couldn't bear it any longer. She took out the key to the storeroom, but she didn't expect that the next moment, Shen Qingyuan handed a list to Qingshu: "This is the list of my mother's dowry. Count it carefully."
Mrs. Mo was so angry that she almost broke her teeth.
Even the dowry list has been prepared. It must have been instigated by that old man from the Xiao family.
She just wanted to take the opportunity to alienate their relationship, but the old man took revenge on her by cutting off the source of the problem. How hateful!
It would have been better if Xiao had given birth to a girl. A girl would not have usurped the throne of the crown prince and would have been easier to control. She could have been raised to age and married off to a decent family. How could she have been as annoying as this unfilial son?
After an inventory, it was found that one third of Xiao's dowry had been used. Mo immediately put the blame on Qingyuan Hou. Shen Qingyuan didn't believe a word of it and immediately asked Qingshu to go to Jingzhao Prefecture to report to the authorities.
Seeing that he was serious, Mrs. Mo could only change her words: "Although your father was a bit absurd, it was also my fault for not managing the household well. He had to embezzle your sister's dowry to fill the hole. As for the things that are missing, mother will find a way to make up for it for you, okay?"
"Father's monthly salary is quite high, and he owns a lot of good land. Mother has always been frugal and thrifty, so the mansion doesn't have any major expenses. I think there must be a traitor within the mansion. Let the authorities investigate to prevent Mother from being wronged."
Shen Qingyuan spoke seriously, and Mrs. Mo's face was burning.
Over the years, she has been frugal with Shen Qingyuan, but very generous to her son and daughter. Every time she returns to her parents' home, she prepares generous gifts and shows off.
"Even if there is a traitor, it's because I didn't rule strictly enough. Family disgrace should not be made public, so let it go."
Mrs. Mo persuaded Shen Qingyuan softly, but he didn't insist. He nodded and said, "Then I'll do as mother asks. Qingshu, go get the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone."
Mo had a bad feeling: "What are you doing with the pen, ink, paper and inkstone?"
"Of course I have to sign a document, to avoid what happens if my mother gets old and confused, or someone doesn't know the truth and misunderstands me asking her for money?"
“…”
Treason!
This is too much!
Meanwhile, at the Cao family, Wang's face was also extremely grim: "What do you mean by no dowry, no betrothal gifts? You even own a shop. Isn't it a loss to marry him like this?"
"Now that rumors are everywhere and my reputation is ruined, it's already a great favor that Lord Shen is willing to marry me as his second wife. Do you think my shop is a treasure trove?"
Shen Qingyuan was an official. Apart from his majestic and stern appearance, he was actually very handsome. He was also a descendant of a marquisate. Even though he had killed two of his wives, he was still an unattainable existence for the Cao family.
Chunxi's shop is not good enough at all.
But Wang was still unwilling to give in.
She has raised her daughter for so many years, how could she just marry him off for nothing?
Even if it's just for show, you should at least give me a little.
Otherwise, what's the point?
Wang was about to persuade him, but Chunxi spoke first, "I'm about to marry Lord Shen, so I should return the favors Young Master Liu gave me."
Wang's eyelids twitched, and she blurted out, "Yes, you are engaged to the Liu family first, you can't marry anyone else!"
"Mother, are you trying to force your daughter to fight to the death with the people hiding behind the Liu family?"
Chunxi said this expressionlessly, and Wang's eyes widened in shock.
This damn girl actually knew the truth!
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