After the replacement marriage, I was forced to fight at home

Stepping into the gate of Grand Yue Residence, Zhou Yingrong straightened her back, as if she was a warrior about to go to the battlefield.

"If the princess has other opinions, you don't need to say too much. I will say everything, and Third Aunt will also help us speak." Zhou Yingrong said softly. Meng Wan nodded. She thought that it would go very smoothly today as Hu promised to hand over Wang's dowry account book and then give her Wang's dowry to manage, because Hu had been making preparations since the end of last year, and she always thought she was well prepared.

"I asked you to ride in the sedan chair but you refused. Look, your forehead is sweating." Lin watched Zhou Yingrong come in, took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"It's only a few steps. Besides, the sun is shining brightly today. Walking a few more steps will help you feel better. It's been a long time since I enjoyed the scenery of the palace so slowly." Zhou Yingrong took Lin's handkerchief and said with a smile.

There were already many people sitting in the main hall of Junyueju, and everyone was discussing Zhou Yinghan's betrothal gift.

"Look at Sister Han's betrothal gift today. It's so beautiful. Let's wait and see what kind of dowry the princess will give to our daughter." Lin sat back and smiled at Hu.

Zhou Yingrong followed suit with a smile, "Don't worry, Third Aunt. The princess is a loving mother. I believe the dowry for Second Sister will not be small."

Several women in the family also echoed the sentiment. Mrs. Hu smiled lovingly, "Sister Han has been by my side for so many years. She has always been well-behaved and sensible. I will not treat her badly."

"With what the princess said, second sister can rest assured." Zhou Yingrong smiled at Zhou Yinghan who was standing next to Zhou Yingning.

Zhou Yingning turned her head with a "chuckle" and whispered something to a few young ladies in the Zhou family who she usually chatted with, causing those young ladies to look at Zhou Yinghan with malicious smiles on their faces.

Zhou Yinghan seemed to have seen nothing at all. He performed a standard blessing gesture to the princess and said words of thanks.

"Speaking of dowry, I remember that at the end of the year, my eldest sister-in-law mentioned that she wanted to give all of my late sister-in-law's dowry to Yu's wife to manage?" Lin's words successfully attracted the attention of all the female relatives present.

"If you ask me, do you think your sister-in-law is lazy? Brother Yu's wife has only been married for a short time, how can she manage everything? Everyone knows that when your sister-in-law first came into the family, she was a bridesmaid, and the farm and shops were all in the best locations with the most promising prospects. If you just leave it to them like this, how can they manage such a big business?"

Hu put away her smile. What did Lin mean by this? Was she reminding everyone how generous Wang's dowry was? If I didn't give out such a generous dowry, then it would be my fault?

"The princess has been doing her best to manage the dowry of the late princess over the years, and I have never seen her do anything wrong. In my opinion, she should just continue to manage it. At least she should wait until Yu's wife gives birth to her eldest son. They are still young, and they don't have the ability and energy to take over now." The woman in the clan who was on good terms with the Hu family said with her hand covering her mouth and laughing.

After hearing this, Mrs. Hu sighed, "I am only in charge. In fact, I discussed it with the prince at the beginning. At that time, Sister Rong had not yet married, so I just let Sister Rong take care of it. But the prince was worried and insisted that I take over, so I did it reluctantly. So many years have passed, and now there are too many things to do at home. I really can't spare the time, so I simply let Brother Yu and his wife take care of it themselves. I know what's going on."

Meng Wan stood up and said, "My daughter-in-law is young and doesn't know anything. Even her own dowry is managed by an experienced maid assigned by my mother. I heard that my mother-in-law's dowry is extremely large. I think that over the years, under the careful management of the princess, I don't know how many times it has increased. Now I am asked to take over, I really don't know where to start. I hope the princess can guide me more."

"My second niece, what do you mean by "an enormous amount"? What has brother Yu eaten, spent, used, and played with over the years, all of which cost money? As far as I know, all of Wang's dowry has been squandered by him." Zhou Yihuai's wife, Luo, said in a shrill voice.

"I don't understand what Second Aunt is saying. I've only heard of married women using their own dowries, but I've never heard of a son having his mother provide for his food and drink. Could it be that all the money my two cousins ​​have spent over the years was all from Second Aunt's dowries?" Zhou Yingrong raised her eyebrows, her eyes frosty.

The room suddenly became silent. Mrs. Hu looked up and told Zhou Yingning to take the young ladies to play in her yard.

After watching the young ladies leave the courtyard, Mrs. Hu stood up and said, "It just so happens that all the women in the clan are here today. I was originally thinking of handing over my sister's dowry during this period. Since my third sister-in-law mentioned this, I might as well ask everyone to be witnesses today, and we can talk about it."

"What is there to say? Who among us doesn't trust our sister-in-law's work? Who doesn't know what's going on? Just look at all these years, who hasn't received help from our sister-in-law? Let's be fair, Brother Yu has been a spendthrift since he was a child." Mrs. Luo, who is usually not good at speaking, spoke eloquently at this moment.

"That's right. No matter how much dowry the late princess had, it couldn't cover Brother Yu's spending over the years. But I heard that before Brother Yu got married, he couldn't leave without spending three or five hundred taels for a trip to Zuihualou. Listen, who in the capital can afford to provide such a large amount of entertainment for women?" someone whispered.

"Don't even mention the time before he got married. Even now that he's married, he's always seen going to places like that." A young wife from another clan wore heavy makeup and squinted at Meng Wan, with an expression that showed she was enjoying the fun.

"Oh? Sixth sister-in-law saw Yan Yun leaving? Did you note the time? Did anyone else see it?" Zhou Yingrong asked coldly.

The young wife put away her sneer and was about to speak again when her mother-in-law beside her pulled her clothes.

"Miss, there is no need to argue with us about this. You know better than anyone what Brother Yu was like in the past. You also know what the dowry your mother left behind was, except for what you took with you when you got married. I agree with what the princess said just now. After all, Brother Yu is married. No matter what Wang Shi has left, no matter how much, it is not good to keep it like this. After all, he is not your own child, and it is not pleasant to say anything." The clan leader's wife stood up and said with a serious expression.

Mrs. Hu wiped her eyes and said, "Aunt Xie said something fair. I have also figured it out. Rather than wasting my time like this, it is better to hand it over with a clean bill of health. Rong Jie and Yu Ge's wife don't have to listen to what others say. We have a score to settle. Over the years, I remember every penny your mother left behind.

"The harvest from the farm, the surplus from the shop, and the items and cash from the beginning, how much is left now, how much was lost, how much was sold, and how much was taken out by Brother Yu? Don't worry, not a penny will be wrong."

After saying this, he looked at everyone with an innocent face, "My mother once told me that being a stepmother is difficult, and asked me not to interfere too much in everything, just to ensure that they grow up safely, and let those who should get married get married. But I am both honest and soft-hearted. Thinking about the relationship with Sister Wang in the past, how could I really let it go? But even if I interfered, it would be like this now, which is really not my intention."

Mrs. Hu stood up and bowed to everyone, saying, "Fortunately, over the years, everyone has been open-minded and has seen my hard work. I thank everyone. However, these trivial matters at home cannot be laid out on the table for everyone to see. Why not wait until we have settled the accounts and there are no problems, and then invite everyone to be witnesses, so as to complete the friendship between me and Sister Wang over the years."

The clan leader's wife stood up and gently pulled Hu up, patting her hands again, "We know you're having a hard time. I have the most say in what kind of person you are. Since you became the princess, you have been compassionate to the poor and the weak in the clan. Everyone has received your kindness. Over the years, you have managed the inner house of the palace in an orderly manner, and everyone has seen how promising you have been in teaching Brother Zheng. Don't worry, if anyone talks nonsense, I will be the first one to disobey her."

After saying this, he looked at Zhou Yingrong with a cold gaze.

Zhou Yingrong supported her waist and stood up. "You don't have to be so insinuating. I still advise you not to say it too early. Don't wait until the end to find it difficult to make up for it. If you do, it won't be your face that will be lost."

Meng Wan also stood up and gently supported Zhou Yingrong.

"Let's go. Since the princess has made all the arrangements, you can just go back and wait for the letter. You can go when I ask you to check the accounts. Don't go to Junyueju to join in the fun at this time. Don't let anything get lost or the accounts not checked and then be blamed on you. You will regret it."

When the clan leader's wife heard Zhou Yingrong say this, her face turned unhappy. She wanted to say something, but when she saw Zhou Yingrong's bulging pregnant belly, she swallowed her words back.

Mrs. Hu pulled her handkerchief and said gently, "Go back. You can't work so hard in your current situation. Wait until your mother's account books are sorted out. If your body allows, come and take a look and bear witness to the truth."

Lin also stood up. "Then I'll trouble you, sister-in-law. Please send me a message. There were some things in her dowry. I also heard her talk about them."

Mrs. Hu was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Of course, don't worry, I will be the first to inform my third brother's wife."