You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

"Madam Shen, what an outstanding woman my Wanwan is! She grew up under the care of the Empress and the Emperor, and was exceptionally granted the title of Princess Yongchang. Her marriage into your Shen family is the greatest blessing your family has ever received! How do you think you are, daring to make things difficult for her?"

Xie Yanting naturally exudes a certain authority; the aura of a general who fights on the battlefield is different from that of an ordinary person.

His words left Old Madam Shen speechless, and she obediently shut her mouth. After all, Xie Yanting had invoked the names of the Emperor and Empress, and she dared not compare herself to them.

Shen Cong'an clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"General Xie. Previously, my Shen family had wronged my sister-in-law Wanru. On behalf of my second brother and everyone in the Shen family, I apologize to you and Wanru. Let's not hurt the harmony between our two families."

Although he was respectful, Xie Yanting disliked everyone at this moment. "Young Master Shen, you'd better save your energy. Our Xie family dares not have any further dealings with your Shen family."

Shen Cong'an stopped talking. In fact, he was just going through the motions and being polite. After stepping aside, he winked at Xie Wanru and glanced at the red plate that Dongzhu was holding.

That plate contains Xie Wanru's dowry list.

Xie Wanru knew what he meant; he was implying that there was a problem with her dowry.

She had memories of her past life, so she naturally knew that the Shen family was now just a shell of its former self. Although they wouldn't openly touch her dowry, they had moved some inconspicuous items over the past two years.

Shen Nian'an felt a pang of inexplicable sorrow. It was as if he had suddenly realized that he had completely lost Xie Wanru. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but it turned into a helpless sigh.

Other members of the Shen family also spoke up to persuade her. Even Shen Nianqing felt a little regretful. After the divorce, how could she still get benefits from Xie Wanru? In her mind, Xie Wanru had always been a fool with a lot of money.

Xie Wanru remained unmoved.

When she looked at Shen Nian'an, her tone was calm yet resolute: "Let's begin."

At this moment, Xie Wanru seemed to be radiating golden light, brave, fearless, and dazzling.

Shen Nian'an felt a little reluctant, but it was no use.

Thus, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xie Wanru and Shen Nian'an finally signed the divorce papers.

This ill-fated relationship has come to an end.

Xie Wanru felt an unprecedented sense of relief. She had finally gotten rid of Shen Nian'an. As long as she and Shen Nian'an were no longer husband and wife, the risk of the Xie family being wiped out would be greatly reduced.

After the divorce papers were finalized, they needed to be submitted to the government. The clan elders could then handle those matters. Accompanied by Xie Yanting, Xie Wanru began to take stock of her dowry.

She and Shen Nian'an divorced through negotiation, so naturally she should return all of her dowry to her.

She looked at her dowry, which had been with her for many years. These were all her own things, along with the gifts from the palace. She wanted to take them all with her.

As expected, some things were missing.

Xie Wanru frowned slightly. She knew in her heart that this was the Shen family's last test of her, and also the moment for her to show her decisiveness.

Moreover, she never wanted to let things settle down. Now that she has signed the divorce papers, she and the Shen family are complete strangers.

"Dear members of the Shen family," she began slowly, her voice clear and firm, "the dowry list is here, and I have checked it one by one. You may also send someone to verify its authenticity. These are just small items, which are merely external possessions, and I do not care much about them. But from today onwards, I, Xie Wanru, have no further connection with the Shen family. I hope the Shen family will keep its promise and return all my dowry."

Madam Shen's face paled, clearly not expecting Xie Wanru to be so decisive, as those things were originally insignificant.

Shen Zhan, who had been silent all along, stood up. "What nonsense are you talking about? Our Shen family is a prestigious noble family, how could we possibly misappropriate the dowry of one of our daughters-in-law! Absolutely not!"

Shen Nian'an was also stunned. How could the Shen family possibly use Xie Wanru's dowry?

Shen Nianqing stopped pretending to be obedient at this moment and reverted to her old, arrogant and brainless self. "Xie Wanru, don't think you can just make baseless accusations just because someone is backing you up. How could our Shen family possibly touch your things! You're leaving and still coming here to disgust us! Bah!"

Xie Yanting sneered from the side, fully aware of the Shen family's intentions. He patted Xie Wanru's shoulder lightly to show his support: "With me here today, no one will dare to bully you."

Xie Wanru knew they wouldn't admit it, but the facts were the facts, and they couldn't deny them. With her third brother and the elders of the Xie family by her side, she naturally wouldn't back down.

"Since you haven't touched my things, when did the Empress give you the hairpin in your hair? And Madam Shen, I've never heard of the Empress giving either of you any gifts."

As soon as she said this, everyone's eyes fell on Old Madam Shen and Shen Nianqing. Although imperial gifts don't have special markings, they can be identified with a little effort.

Indeed, the Shen family has not received any honors since the old master passed away, and they should not possess anything belonging to the Empress. Of course, if the item belongs to Xie Wanru, then it makes sense.

After all, the Empress bestowed countless gifts upon Xie Wanru.

Moreover, everything in the palace is recorded in a list for reference, and Xie Wanru also has it recorded after receiving a reward.

All you need to do is have someone check the ledgers, and you'll immediately see what's missing.

Madam Shen was speechless; she had forgotten to hide the bracelet.

However, Xie Wanru had at least eight or ten of these things in her storeroom, so she assumed that Xie Wanru wouldn't recognize them.

Shen Nianqing, however, appeared completely self-righteous.

"You just think it looks familiar. Everything on my head has nothing to do with you. Take your junk and get out of the Shen family. You are not welcome in the Shen mansion."

Xie Wanru's lips curled into a cold smile, her gaze sharp and fearless as she stared directly at Shen Nianqing: "Since you are so certain, why don't you dare let someone check it? In fact, you don't know the origin of this hairpin at all. You only know that it is a good item, so you took it without permission. You think I have too many things to remember, is that right?"

Shen Nianqing's face turned pale and then red. She wanted to retort, but Xie Wanru interrupted her: "Right and wrong are clear to everyone. I would never wrong you for no reason. It's actually very easy to determine whether you took my things or not. Let's just find out the truth today."

Xie Yanting looked at Xie Wanru approvingly, then said to Shen Cong'an, "Then I would like to trouble your family to send someone with me to the palace to check the reward records, so as to clear your family's name and prevent any rumors from spreading and ruining the Shen family's reputation."

His words were so airtight that they left some people with nowhere to hide.