Cheng Yao added softly, “So hosting me and the Prince is a disgrace to you, Stepmother.”
Zhan Haoting’s expression turned cold as he turned his wheelchair to leave.
“No, Yao’er, War King Consort, your stepmother didn’t mean it that way.” Cheng Jiahui hurried to stop Zhan Haoting. “Your Highness, please don’t misunderstand. Qiuniang is just a woman who doesn’t know how to speak properly. Our entire family, even our whole clan, holds you in the highest esteem and would never dare show any disrespect. Please stay and have the Return-to-Home Meal, won’t you?”
Zhan Haoting glanced at Cheng Yao.
According to local customs, not returning home after marriage or refusing the Return-to-Home Meal was considered inauspicious. He might not believe in such things, but he had to respect the tradition.
Cheng Yao pursed her lips. “Father, do you even believe what you’re saying? You made me marry the Prince in Cheng Lan’s place, gave me less than a third of her dowry, and now you don’t even welcome us for the Return-to-Home Meal. Is this what you call ‘no disrespect’?”
“Ah, child, instead of helping your father explain, why are you making things worse and deepening the Prince’s misunderstanding?” Cheng Jiahui felt awkward. “You fainted before the wedding and were still confused when you woke up. By some twist of fate, you ended up in Lan’er’s bridal sedan. That dowry naturally belonged to Lan’er. Now that the mistake has been made, it’s too late to exchange the dowry. How about this—I’ll make it up to you with some additional gifts, alright?”
“Alright!” Cheng Yao replied brightly. “I don’t want gold, silver, or treasures. Just give me some manors, shops, residences, and farmland.”
Money and valuables were stored in the Treasury; she didn’t need him to give them to her, as they would eventually fall into her hands anyway. But for those properties, she needed the deeds to the houses and land, and she would have to go to the authorities to transfer ownership. If she took them directly, she would expose herself.
Cheng Jiahui: “…”
Zhan Haoting was also surprised and somewhat amused.
Just moments ago, she had been full of grievances and anger, but as soon as she heard about compensation, she immediately agreed. Clearly, she was a little money-grubber!
“Father, you’re not just saying this and are actually unwilling to give, are you?” Cheng Yao grew anxious. “Then what about my mother’s dowry…”
“I’ll give, I’ll give!” Cheng Jiahui was both angry and resentful. Wang Qiuniang, standing beside him, tried to say something, but he quickly covered her mouth.
He had finally realized that this daughter of his was no pushover. Her previous timidity had merely been an act, and now, with the support of the War King, she had come to settle scores with him.
He couldn’t even get angry; he had to force a smile. “Let’s go inside and discuss this.”
“Will you give it to me once we’re inside, Father?”
“Yes!”
“Alright then.” Cheng Yao reluctantly agreed. “Father, you must keep your word. The Prince is our witness.”
Cheng Jiahui’s face darkened like ink.
Once inside, he obediently gave Cheng Yao one manor, thirty acres of farmland, two shops, and a two-courtyard residence.
With another batch of properties easily acquired, Cheng Yao felt pleased but not satisfied.
Her original self’s maternal grandfather had been a merchant who ran a large business. At the time, he had prepared a dowry of one hundred and sixty chests for her mother, Yanqing, all filled with genuine gold and silver. The procession had been so grand it could circle the city twice, causing a sensation throughout the capital and bringing great glory.
Unfortunately, Yanqing had been a hopeless romantic. After learning that her husband kept a mistress, she fell into depression, became ill, and passed away early. Her dowry had instead benefited that despicable couple.
The mistress’s child was raised in luxury, while her own children suffered—her younger daughter was stolen, and her elder daughter, Cheng Qiong, was abused by Wang Qiuniang, living a miserable life. If she knew this in the afterlife, she would be heartbroken.
The original self was also unlucky. Shortly after she was brought back, her grandmother passed away.
Cheng Jiahui cursed her as a jinx and treated her with extreme harshness; her treatment in the mansion was even worse than that of a servant girl.
Her maternal grandparents, heartbroken for her, took her in to live with them for a while. But in less than half a month, her grandfather was killed while out, and her uncles, still young and having been spoiled growing up, couldn’t shoulder the responsibility after their father’s passing. As a result, the family business fell into decline and quickly collapsed.
And the charge of being a Sangmen xing—a bringer of misfortune—was one she could never shake off.
So, could she let Cheng Jiahui live so comfortably?
Absolutely not.
“Father, I remember Mother’s dowry included ten shops. What you’re giving is far too little.”
Cheng Jiahui’s eyes darted away. “Your father isn’t skilled in business and suffered heavy losses, so I transferred some away.”
Cheng Yao was stunned. She had only said it casually to bluff him, never expecting it to be true!
Was Yanqing that wealthy?
“Then you must still have at least eight shops left, right? Give me two more. Also, when my sister got married, you didn’t prepare much of a dowry for her. Why not give her the remaining ones? After all, they were my mother’s belongings. If you don’t give them to my sister and me, who else are you planning to leave them to?”
Cheng Yao spoke with such righteous confidence that Cheng Jiahui’s aged face flushed with alternating shades of red and green, his breathing growing rapid.
Wang Qiuniang pushed his hand away and said indignantly, “Cheng… War King Consort, your mother did bring a considerable dowry, but during the years she managed the household, she used up seventy to eighty percent of it to cover household expenses. Lan’er’s dowry was still prepared with your father’s own money. Now, your father has given you the profitable businesses, leaving the few loss-making shops for your three younger brothers. If you take everything, there truly won’t be anything left for us to rely on. How are we supposed to live?”
“If you can’t live, then don’t!” Cheng Yao’s eyes turned cold. “You drove my mother to her death, and now you want to use her dowry to raise the children you bore? How shameless can you be, huh?”
Wang Qiuniang was furious. “Cheng Yao, you wretched—”
Mo Baichuan sternly interrupted, “Insulting the Princess Consort adds another count to your crime.”
Immediately, the accompanying guards stepped forward, seized Wang Qiuniang, and began dragging her away for punishment.
Cheng Jiahui grew frantic, blocking her path. “This won’t do, War King Consort! If you punish your mother on your third-day return visit, what will people think?”
Cheng Yao thought to herself, I’m about to be exiled—who the hell has time to care what others think?
“Father, you’re just trying to smear my reputation. It’s the concubine who repeatedly broke the law—what does that have to do with me?”
Wang Qiuniang screamed as she was dragged away. “Master, save me, Master…”
The thought of Wang Qiuniang’s delicate skin being torn to shreds made Cheng Jiahui’s scalp tingle and his heart ache.
“Yao’er, War King Consort, your mother isn’t a bad person—she’s just not good with words. Spare her this once.” Seeing Cheng Yao’s indifferent expression, he gritted his teeth and steeled his heart. “I’ll give all of your mother’s dowry to you and Qiong’er. Just let your mother go, alright?”
Cheng Yao rolled her eyes inwardly. He’s even willing to spit out the wealth he swallowed—this scumbag father is truly devoted to his mistress. The more he acts this way, the less I’ll let him have his wish.
“Father, my mother passed away long ago. Where is this ‘mother’ you speak of? Besides, even the Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as commoners. The War King has already shown leniency in handling this. If you shield her, you’ll have to face punishment alongside Wang Qiuxiang.”
“Her name is Wang Qiuniang!” Cheng Jiahui snapped in frustration.
Even getting the stepmother’s name wrong—how much does this daughter despise Qiuxiang? No, Qiuniang!
Tsk, that’s not the point!
“Lord Cheng, you may also bear the punishment on behalf of Lady Cheng,” Zhan Haoting said coldly.
How could Cheng Jiahui agree?
His current status was entirely dependent on Ancestral Shade Protection and climbing the ranks through monetary donations. Even the one or two times he had been on the battlefield, he had been fully armored from head to toe.
He feared death, and he feared pain.
He stammered hesitantly, “I am the head of the household. If I were to suffer severe injury, who would uphold the family’s honor?”