She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

"Listen to what you're saying!" The second madam stood on the steps in front of the door, looking down at Liu Mama: "Your second mistress's dowry was carried into the storeroom of Lanxue Garden by the dowry delivery people yesterday morning."

If the numbers don't match, you should ask the person guarding the storeroom or the person delivering the dowry. Instead, you're asking my second wife for a dowry.

Does that mean that from now on, if your second grandmother is short even a single penny, she'll have to ask me to make up for it?

Even if I were the goddess Nuwa, I couldn't fill this enormous hole.

"Replying to Second Madam, Second Madam asked the storeroom manager, and it turns out that the sixteen loads of Third Madam's dowry were carried into Lanxue Garden, while Second Madam's more than one hundred loads of dowry went into the Second Household Storeroom." Liu Mama said with a smile, "Second Madam said that you are reasonable and agreed to let us carry the dowry away when we were serving tea."

The second wife agreed out of necessity, not daring to act presumptuously in front of the old lady.

These more than one hundred loads of dowry were originally intended for Shen Mingzhu, but the Shen family deliberately used Shen Qingtan's name as part of the dowry to enhance their reputation.

Originally, the blame for switching brides was to be placed on Shen Qingtan. The Shen family doted on her, which made her arrogant and shameless, and she stole Shen Mingzhu's husband.

The Shen family then decided, to compensate Shen Mingzhu, to place all of the more than one hundred loads of dowry intended for Shen Qingtan under Shen Mingzhu's name.

Who knew that the eldest son's family would expose the matter first, leaving them to suffer in silence.

“It’s no use being reasonable. The dowry is in Zhu’er’s hands. You have to ask her for it.” The second madam sighed and said helplessly, “As soon as Zhu’er came back, she sat in her room and cried. She felt that she was not capable enough and that her sister had to take care of the dowry for two people by herself.”

If she hadn't suffered these past ten years of hardship outside, she could have enjoyed a life of luxury in the mansion like her sister, starting her education at a private school from a young age and having her own mother teach her how to manage accounts.

The Shen family wouldn't attribute her dowry solely to her sister; she could also help share the burden.

Zhu'er didn't compete or fight, and took the initiative to ask her older sister to move the dowry. Who knew that this older sister, while verbally agreeing that her mother would take good care of her younger sister, acted without giving in the slightest, as if afraid that her younger sister would embezzle the dowry. She came to take the dowry right after serving tea, without giving her any face at all.

If I had a younger sister who had suffered so much, I would definitely give her half of my dowry. If she doesn't know how to manage accounts, I'll teach her myself; we weren't born knowing everything.

When Liu Mama saw that the Second Madam was making sarcastic accusations against Shen Qingtan for being heartless, she realized that she actually wanted to take the dowry.

"Heaven have mercy, it's all that midwife's evil deeds that have caused Third Mistress so much suffering. How could Second Mistress not feel sorry for her? It is precisely because she feels sorry for Third Mistress that she takes on all the responsibilities herself. She suffers and endures hardships, but she can't confide in anyone. After all, how can these hardships compare to the suffering Third Mistress endures outside?"

Liu Mama wiped her eyes with her sleeve, her throat tightening slightly: "Second Madam is the most filial person. She wanted to give half of her dowry to Third Madam, but she dared not disobey the Marquis's orders. Those who know her think that Second Madam loves her younger sister, but those who don't might think that Second Madam has become independent after getting married and dares to disobey the Marquis."

In short, the second grandmother was suffering in silence, and no matter what she did, she would be misunderstood.

The second wife choked.

"Second Madam is in such a hurry to take away the dowry because of what people say. She's worried that rumors will spread that Third Madam wants to take away her eldest sister's dowry, which would ruin her reputation." Liu Mama suggested, "Second Madam, why don't I take the dowry back today, and when we return to our bride's home in a couple of days, let Second Madam discuss with Madam Hou about redistributing some of the dowry to Third Madam?"

The second wife forced a smile and said, "It was I who misunderstood my niece-in-law. It's just that this dowry is mixed in with my other private belongings. I've stored quite a few valuables here, and I don't have anyone available to help me..."

Seeing that the Second Madam was still trying to refuse, Liu Mama directly took out a dowry list: "The dowry prepared by the Second Madam before her marriage, the government and the Shen family each have a list."

Since you have no one to help you count the items, and the people I brought are clumsy and might damage your personal belongings, why don't you send someone to the government office to ask the officials to come and count the dowry items for us with the registered dowry list?

Those officials handle many cases; they are both steady and efficient, and would never damage the valuable items inside.

The second wife clenched the handkerchief in her hand. She was filled with hatred and anger at being driven to this point by a wicked servant.

How could she dare to let Liu's mother go to the government to ask for help?

If this matter gets to the authorities and damages the reputation of the Duke's mansion, the second branch of the family will truly be finished!

“There’s no need to alarm outsiders. You’re an old hand in the household, and I trust you to handle things.” No matter how unwilling the Second Madam was, she had to reluctantly return the dowry. With a cold face, she instructed Cao Mama beside her, “Go and invite the Third Madam over, and open the storeroom door for them to carry the dowry.”

"Yes." Cao Mama went to Meiying Garden with her feet barely touching the ground.

A short while later, Shen Mingzhu and Cao's mother hurried over.

Shen Mingzhu had already heard that Shen Qingtan had sent people to carry the dowry. She deliberately hid in the courtyard and did not show herself, hoping that the second madam would leave this dowry behind.

Now that even the second wife couldn't be kept, she couldn't bring herself to speak up, since she was the one who first asked Shen Qingtan to bring the dowry. If she were to renege on her promise, her reputation would be ruined.

The only option was to let Shen Qingtan take the dowry with her for the time being, and then ask her mother to make the decision and instruct Shen Qingtan to distribute the dowry to her when she returned to her parents' home.

Shen Mingzhu took out a key and handed it to Liu's mother: "Go open it yourself. After you're done, send someone to return the key to me."

"This old servant thanks Third Madam for her consideration." Liu Mama took the keys with both hands and looked at the Second Madam: "Please leave Cao Mama here to lend a hand. This old servant will finish carrying the dowry as soon as possible so as not to disturb the masters' peace and quiet."

The second wife knew exactly what Liu Mama was thinking; she was simply afraid that without someone from the second branch of the family guarding them, they would be falsely accused of theft.

She was in a bad mood and impatient with further entanglement, so she waved her hand, signaling Cao's mother to follow.

Liu Mama led the people away from the front courtyard of Mingde Hall. The door to the study opened, and the Second Master and Zhao Jue came out from inside.

The second master frowned deeply: "How can we take the dowry back to them? Jue'er has taken on a job and is still short tens of thousands of taels of silver, which will be needed with this dowry."

The second wife glanced at Shen Mingzhu, secretly annoyed that the second master was so loose-lipped, discussing the misappropriation of dowry in front of others.

Shen Mingzhu's eyelashes trembled, and she said softly, "Mother, my husband and I have discussed it privately. We will lend this dowry to him for his work."

Upon hearing this, the second wife's brow relaxed, and she explained, "I agreed to return the dowry to Shen Qingtan in front of the old lady. If we hadn't returned it, the old lady would have thought we were short-sighted and incapable of achieving anything great, so how could she have given the title to our second branch of the family?"

The Second Master and Zhao Jue originally planned to use the dowry to buy military rations. When Shen Qingtan complained to the Duke, they said that the situation was urgent and they had to act expediently. The grain merchants were raising prices on the spot, and they were short of money to buy grain, so they had to borrow the dowry first and would repay Shen Qingtan slowly later.

As for when the debt will be repaid, that's up to them to decide.

The old Duke always prioritized state affairs and would not blame them.

Unexpectedly, Shen Qingtan took back the dowry.

The second master was worried: "What about the money to buy military rations?"

Shen Mingzhu said ingratiatingly, "Father, Mother, after I return to my parents' home, I will ask the Marquis's mansion to find a way to replenish the money for buying military rations."

The group knew perfectly well that they were going to take back the dowry from Shen Qingtan to make up for it.

Upon hearing this, the second master and his wife beamed with joy and praised him several times.

Zhao Jue said in a low voice, "My wife, thank you for your trouble."

Seeing their change in attitude, Shen Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief; she had found a way to please her husband's family.

Hearing Zhao Jue's words, she blushed and said, "Husband, I am very happy to be able to share your worries and relieve your troubles."

Seeing her sincerity, Zhao Jue's expression softened: "I'll take you back to your room."

Shen Mingzhu nodded gently. This was the first kind look Zhao Jue had given her after the tea ceremony, and she cherished it all the more.

-

With the dowry list in her hand, Liu's mother opened each box to compare and carefully checked it. Only after confirming that everything was correct did she have it carried back to Lanxue Garden.

Shen Qingtan just came out of the house and saw servants carrying the dowry in a single file, filling the front courtyard of Lanxue Garden.

She then went back inside to wait.

By the time all the dowry was brought back, it was already noon.

Having accomplished something important, Liu Mama returned briskly and asked upon entering the room, "Second Madam, the dowry is all here. Would you like to take a look?"

“Alright.” Shen Qingtan glanced at the dowry filling the courtyard and said gently, “You’ve all worked hard today. Liu Mama, go to the chest and take out a few taels of silver later to treat them to a meal.”

"Yes!" Liu Mama readily agreed, saying happily, "This old servant thanks Second Madam for her kindness on their behalf."

Shen Qingtan came out of the house, went down three or five steps, stood in front of the nearest box, and casually opened the lid.

Inside were several scrolls made of sandalwood. Even before the scrolls were unrolled, the scent of sandalwood alone made her feel uneasy.