Reborn as the Regent's Beloved

Xiao Fengyi wanted to find out the source of these betrothal gifts today. She didn't want the betrothal gifts, and she didn't want the spoils of war that she had stolen.

Moreover... if these betrothal gifts are displayed ostentatiously at the Duke of Xiao's mansion, they will definitely attract the attention of that ungrateful Xiao Qingyin. If she then gets Shen to twist the truth and cause a ruckus, these things might just become hers.

In her past life, Xiao Qingyin feigned weakness, saying how pitiful she was, and gave Feng Mingjing the betrothal gifts she had given her.

Ironically, she had no idea that those betrothal gifts were originally prepared by that heartless man for his beloved sister.

Yue Qi was unaware of her thoughts, assuming that Xiao Fengyi wanted to see her mistress. "My mistress is here tonight, Miss Xiao... Your Highness, I can take you to Prince Zhao's residence by carriage."

While Xiao Qishan and Shen Shi were studying the list, Xiao Fengyi pulled the guards to a secluded place.

"Yue Qi, wouldn't it be too conspicuous for me to go to Prince Zhao's residence in person? Could we ask His Highness Prince Zhao to come here tonight?"

She spoke sincerely and had no intention of offending her master.

Yue Qi felt that since the discussion was about removing the poison, and the other party was the master's fiancée, it didn't seem like she was condescending to come to the Duke of Xiao's mansion in the middle of the night.

"Your Highness, I will convey your message. As for... whether the master is willing to come, I do not know."

In his mind, his mistress was not the type to be manipulated by others; whether she came or not depended entirely on her own decision.

Xiao Fengyi didn't know if any man would be here that night, but she was still very happy when Yue Qi said he would pass on the message. "Thank you, Guard Yue Qi."

After they finished talking about this, they returned to Xiao Qishan's side.

As Xiao Qishan looked at the list, he kept frowning, probably worried that his youngest daughter's husband's family wouldn't be able to provide so many betrothal gifts. "Guard Yue Qi, these betrothal gifts are too complicated. Why don't we just keep five carriages and take the rest back?"

Upon hearing Xiao Qishan's words, Yue Qi immediately clasped his hands and smiled, "Lord Duke, are you really father and son with the Princess? She also said she wanted to return these betrothal gifts, but I really can't make that decision for Your Highness. Since Your Highness asked us to bring them here, you have no intention of taking them back."

Xiao Qishan did not persist after hearing the other party's refusal.

"Alright then, I'll keep these betrothal gifts for Fengyi."

After saying these words, he handed the gift list and the key to Madam Shen.

When Shen received the gift list, besides being taken aback, she also felt a sense of greed, as if she wanted to embezzle these things.

Fortunately, the nanny beside Liu was quick-witted and snatched the betrothal gift list.

Xiao Qishan said to the old woman, "Why did you take away the young lady's betrothal gift list?"

The old woman didn't say much, but looked at the old lady beside her and said, "Reporting to the Duke, it was the old lady who asked me to take it away."

Upon hearing that it was his mother who had instructed him to take the items, Xiao Qishan dared not say anything more and immediately abandoned his original intention to take valuable items from the betrothal gifts given to Xiao Fengyi by Prince Zhao for his youngest daughter.

"Mother, didn't you have Shen manage the household? Why did you take away Fengyi's wedding gift list?"

Liu took the gift list from the nanny's hands and held it in her own.

"Hmph, these are the betrothal gifts from Prince Zhao to Fengyi. How can they be given to a woman who mistreats Fengyi? I think it would be better to let Fengyi keep them herself. That way, she can find out where these betrothal gifts went and decide whether to return them to Prince Zhao or keep them for herself. If Luo Zhi gets them into someone else's hands, it will be difficult to return them later."

Grandmother understood her best.

Upon hearing Liu's words, Xiao Fengyi immediately thought of this matter. Her grandmother must have realized that she didn't want the betrothal gifts and wanted to return them to Feng Xingye.

Because of this idea, the gift list and keys cannot be entrusted to others, especially not to someone like the Shen family with ulterior motives.

Taking the keys and gift list from Liu, Xiao Fengyi bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Grandmother."

To grant a wish, what a beautiful thing it is, yet some people just can't understand it.

This wasn't the first or second time that Madam Shen had been humiliated by her mother-in-law. She looked embarrassed, but she couldn't complain too much. She could only look at Xiao Qishan with a wronged expression, and have her daughter look at the head of the family with pity, hoping that he could help her get revenge.

This isn't the first time Xiao Qishan has failed to distinguish right from wrong; each time, it's because the Shen mother and daughter feigned pitifulness, which aroused his sympathy.

He dared not accuse Liu of mistreating her daughter-in-law, so he could only vent his anger on the younger generation, "Fengyi, do you have any manners? This betrothal gift is not for you, but for the Duke's mansion. What's the meaning of you keeping all the keys to the boxes? Return them to your mother immediately."

Xiao Fengyi was enraged by Xiao Qishan's indiscriminate words and was about to argue her point when Yue Qi beat her to it.

Yue Qi clasped his hands and said, “Lord Duke, you’ve probably made a mistake. These betrothal gifts were given to Miss Xiao by our master, Prince Zhao. They are not for your Duke’s mansion. It is only right that they be given to Miss Xiao to manage herself.”

These words immediately gave Xiao Qishan the feeling of being slapped in the face and unable to retaliate. He didn't know what to say, so he could only say sarcastically, "Guard Yue Qi, I was just following the rules. When other families marry off their daughters, the betrothal gifts from the husband's family are always handed over to the mistress. There is no precedent for the girl to keep them herself."

"Then I'll set this precedent."

Holding up the imperial edict and the key, Xiao Fengyi made a powerful declaration, as if she were declaring war on Xiao Qishan.

Xiao Qishan was about to hit her again, but this time she dodged it herself. "Father, you really have a lot of nerve. I have His Majesty's imperial edict in my hand, and you still dare to hit me. Aren't you afraid of offending the Emperor's majesty?"

Hearing these words, which were considered offensive to the emperor, and glancing at the imperial edict that was flashing in his eldest daughter's hand, the man nearly fainted.

"You unfilial daughter, why do you always have to suppress your father in everything you say and do? You won't be satisfied until you drive me to my death, will you?" He was supported by Madam Shen and Xiao Qingyin to prevent him from falling.

Xiao Fengyi laughed and said, "Father, it's not that I'm unfilial, but you're all too aggressive. Humph, you gave my betrothal gifts to my aunt, and I have no idea how much is left for me. It's better to let me keep it myself. By the way, didn't you just want to return the betrothal gifts to His Highness Prince Zhao? Wouldn't it be more sincere if I returned them to him personally?"

She said that she would personally return the betrothal gifts to the Ninth Prince, which Xiao Qishan could not refute, because he was the one who proposed returning the betrothal gifts. If he objected now, he would be contradicting himself.

He pointed at Xiao Fengyi angrily, "Fine, you think you're all grown up now and don't need me and your mother to discipline you anymore? Then you can decide for yourself. And when you get married, your mother won't have to escort you off. What do you think of that?"

Who cares if she's the one escorting the bride!

It's best not to come!