Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 404

After Shen Lingjun returned to the Yongning Marquis's residence, he sent Hong Qing to keep an eye on the Yin residence.

Although Hong Qing couldn't sneak into the Yin residence undetected like Mo Zhonggui's bodyguards, she could still secretly observe Shen Lingxia's movements.

It was soon discovered that Shen Lingxia did not stay in the Yin residence all the time; she went out every day and seemed quite busy, having taken over several shops in Kyoto.

However, even when she was outside, the old woman still followed her closely.

Shen Lingjun used the same trick again. When Shen Lingxia was in the backyard of a shop and no one else was around, he had Hong Qing release a wisp of sleeping powder and knock out the old woman.

Shen Lingxia was startled, and Shen Lingjun quickly came out and whispered, "Second sister, it's me."

Shen Lingxia was both surprised and delighted: "Lingjun, how did you...?"

Shen Lingjun looked around. The shop had just been taken over and hadn't opened yet, so there was no one in the backyard except for the nanny lying unconscious on the ground. It should be fine.

Shen Lingjun pulled Shen Lingxia to sit down in the next room: "There's no one else here now, Second Sister, tell me properly, how exactly has the Yin family treated you?"

Shen Lingxia's face immediately darkened, and she opened her mouth, still looking like she didn't know where to begin.

Shen Lingjun then started a conversation, asking, "I've seen you've been busy these past few days, taking over several shops. You must be financially well-off, right?"

She had initially thought that Shen Lingxia was confined to the inner quarters of the Yin family, isolated from the outside world, and unable to even contact her own family. However, it seems she still has some autonomy, at least she still owns her own businesses.

Shen Lingxia finally opened up, smiling wryly, "Those are all shops owned by the Yin family, not mine... You know the Yin family, a whole family of scholars, only interested in academics, clueless about practical matters. With their meager salaries, how could they possibly support such a large family? When I married into the family..."

She paused before continuing, "...When I married into the family, I didn't bring much dowry, and we were really struggling financially. After arriving in Qizhou, I managed to acquire some businesses, which were quite successful, and things got better for us. This time, my father-in-law was transferred back to the capital, so I sold all the shops and estates in Qizhou and brought the money back with me, planning to start over in the capital."

Shen Lingxia wasn't particularly good at business; she was just at the level of an ordinary housewife managing household affairs. She devoted herself wholeheartedly to these businesses, working tirelessly to earn a relatively substantial income. But compared to the Yin family, it was already quite good.

The Yin family are all scholars who are extraordinary and unconventional, and they know nothing about finance and economics. If you talk to them too much, you will be considered vulgar, and they will talk about money and gold all the time.

Shen Lingjun was stunned.

"So you're saying that the Yin family's money is actually all in your hands, and they rely on you to support most of their income? ...Then what are you afraid of them for? If anyone upsets you, just cut off their pay for a few months, and they'll all be begging you with smiles on their faces?"

Shen Lingxia looked embarrassed and guilty, and lowered her head.

"But... I've been married into the Yin family for eight years without bearing a child. If it were any other woman without a powerful family background, she would have been divorced long ago. But Bo Hong has remained devoted to me, never taking a concubine or maidservant. My in-laws have also treated me well, never scolding or mistreating me... I... I feel I've already let them down so badly, I owe them so much... It's only right that I do more for them..."

Shen Lingjun frowned and said, "Just because they didn't scold or mistreat you doesn't mean they're good to you. I think they acted very kindly on the surface, but they've been suppressing you a lot behind the scenes. They're just using your self-blame to control you."

As she spoke, Shen Lingjun recalled the last time she wanted to take Shen Lingxia's pulse, but Old Madam Yin snatched Shen Lingxia's hand back.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, she quickly checked on Shen Lingxia to see what was going on.

"Give me your hand, let me see if your inability to have children is really your problem."

Shen Lingxia stretched out her hand, and Shen Lingjun took her pulse.

To her utter surprise, the result of the pulse diagnosis was far beyond her expectations!

Shen Lingjun was so shocked that he was speechless again!