Madam Zhao, desperate to save her son, was determined to force her to pay the ransom. With an unyielding attitude, she declared, “The other party explicitly said that the mistress of the house must bring the money to redeem him. The Liu family has no other choice.”
Wang Yuzheng countered, “Ever since I married into the Liu family, I have never shown my face in public. Who on the outside even knows what the mistress of the Liu family looks like?
“If this were a normal redemption, I wouldn’t hesitate. But that is a den of bandits! As a mere woman, if I enter a place like that, won’t I be skinned and picked clean down to the bone?
“Mother, in your anxiety to save your son, you want to trade the life of a daughter of the Wang family for his. What kind of logic is that? Could it be that you’re coveting the one thousand two hundred strings of cash I brought in as my dowry?”
These words infuriated Madam Zhao, causing her to lose her composure. “Wang氏, stop talking such nonsense!”
Wang Yuzheng said bluntly, “The dowry I brought in has always been controlled by all of you. I couldn’t even take anything from it without going through my in-laws.
“Mother, heaven is watching what people do. Ask yourself honestly: ever since I married into the Liu family, how has Erlang treated me?
“He gave me a severe beating and locked me in the firewood shed without even giving me food. Not only that, fearing I would cause a scene outside and make us a laughingstock, he seized my dowry to use as blackmail against me.
“With an in-law family that treats me like this, how could I, Wang Yuzheng, ever hand over my sincere heart?”
Question after question rained down on Madam Zhao, leaving her momentarily speechless and unable to reply.
Fearing that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would completely fall out, the servant Madam Qin rushed in to smooth things over, saying, “Young Mistress, please do not be angry.”
Who could have guessed that Wang Yuzheng would give her no face at all? She berated, “When masters are speaking, why is a servant blabbering?”
Madam Qin’s face stiffened. Madam Zhao said in annoyance, “Wang氏, do not be so arrogant!”
Wang Yuzheng raised her chin, met her eyes directly, and reminded her, “Mother, right now, you are begging me to take the ransom money to redeem him, aren’t you?”
This single sentence choked Madam Zhao into silence.
Wang Yuzheng said solemnly, “Your attitude makes me quite frightened. Whenever I’m frightened, my legs go weak, and whenever my legs go weak, I can’t leave the house.”
“You!”
“It’s getting late now. Mother is advanced in years and cannot handle all this turmoil. You should rest early.”
Without caring about the other party’s reaction, she stood up on her own, bowed to Madam Zhao, and walked out supported by Nanny Xu.
To everyone’s surprise, Madam Zhao didn’t stop her. She merely stared with a dark face at the departing backs of the mistress and servant, without saying a word.
Only after the two had left did Madam Qin say with a trembling heart, “Old Mistress, please calm your anger. That girl is indeed sharp-tongued, but no matter how sharp her tongue is, as long as she stays in the Liu family for a day, she won’t be able to turn the tides.”
Madam Zhao snorted coldly and said sinisterly, “She’s just a yellow-haired girl. There will be plenty of bitter fruit for her to eat in the future.”
Madam Qin said, “Right now, saving Erlang is what matters. We must coax her into going to Yanjun Mountain. Once Erlang returns safely, it won’t be too late to torment her to vent our hatred.”
Ginger is indeed spicier when aged.
Madam Zhao suppressed the resentment in her heart, knowing that tearing off all face with Wang Yuzheng at this critical juncture would bring no benefit whatsoever.
“Tomorrow morning, go to Shaoguang Courtyard and sound her out. No matter what, we must find a way to make her take the ransom money and redeem him.”
“Old Mistress, rest assured. This old servant knows how to persuade her.”
On the other side, Wang Yuzheng returned to Shaoguang Courtyard, where Nanny Xu attended her to change clothes and wash up.
While handing over a towel, Nanny Xu said with deep worry, “Young Mistress was so unyielding just now. I’m afraid you’ve angered the Old Mistress.”
Wang Yuzheng took the towel and said dismissively, “Things have already been said to this extent. Even if I softened my attitude, would that stop me from offending her?”
Nanny Xu was choked up and couldn’t answer.
Wang Yuzheng said disdainfully, “Wanting me to take the ransom money to save him? Not a chance.”
Nanny Xu frowned tightly. “But right now, Young Mistress’s situation isn’t good either. If the Liu family wants to torment you, they have plenty of ways.”
Wang Yuzheng took these words to heart. “I’m feeling annoyed. We’ll talk about everything tomorrow.”
Nanny Xu wanted to say more, but seeing her impatient expression, she had no choice but to swallow her words.
The next day, after Wang Yuzheng finished her morning meal, Madam Qin paid a visit.
The servants invited her into the front hall, and Madam Qin performed her bow properly according to etiquette.
Wang Yuzheng measured her up and down, saying rudely, “Nanny Qin, don’t waste your breath. When I say I’m not going, I’m not going.”
Madam Qin tried politeness before resorting to pressure, lowering her posture as she said, “The Old Mistress said that Young Mistress may raise any conditions with her. As long as the Liu family can fulfill them, we will naturally not decline.”
Wang Yuzheng tilted her head to look at her, testing her baseline. “What if I refuse?”
Madam Qin maintained her smile, though her gaze turned somewhat chilling as she pointed toward the high walls outside.
“Women like us are trapped inside the four corners of the inner court our whole lives. What kind of life we live—how could outsiders ever know?
“Young Mistress is so young. If you become a widow and, in a moment of despair, follow Erlang to the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, it could even be praised as a story of deep marital devotion.”
These words terrified Nanny Xu, making the veins at her temples throb violently. “Nanny Qin, stop intimidating people!”
Madam Qin said coldly, “This old servant is telling the truth. What kind of life a widow who lost her husband leads—Young Mistress is young and doesn’t know better, but Nanny Xu, you’ve experienced things. You should know how difficult it is.”
Nanny Xu’s lips trembled, and she unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.
Wang Yuzheng, on the other hand, remained calm. “So speaking like this, I have no choice at all?”
Madam Qin said mildly, “The Old Mistress said that since Young Mistress has entered the Liu family’s doors, in life you belong to the Liu family, and in death you are a ghost of the Liu family.
“As for how to choose, Young Mistress is a smart person; you shouldn’t need anyone else to teach you.”
Wang Yuzheng remained silent.
Madam Qin continued, “If Young Mistress thinks it through, you may send someone to find this old servant at any time.”
With that, she bowed and took her leave.
Nanny Xu stepped forward in anger to block her, shouting sharply, “You in the Liu family are going too far!”
Madam Qin did not reply, only turning her head to look at Wang Yuzheng.
The other party seemed to have long known her own difficult predicament. Without a natal family to back her up, going head-to-head with the Liu family was not a good way out.
Sure enough, Wang Yuzheng stepped back and agreed, “My one thousand two hundred strings of cash dowry must be returned to its original owner, without missing a single coin.”
Seeing signs that she was giving ground, Madam Qin hurriedly said, “That can be granted.”
Who could have expected Wang Yuzheng to make another demand? “The three storefronts owned by the Liu family on East Street, and a villa in Wuyi Lane, must be transferred under my name, Wang Yuzheng, as a gift. If the Old Mistress does not agree, we won’t talk about this at all.”
Seeming not to expect her to open her mouth so wide, Madam Qin froze for a good while before coming back to her senses, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Wang Yuzheng said impatiently, “Did Nanny Qin not hear clearly?”
Madam Qin cursed silently in her heart, but didn’t show it on her face, only saying, “This old servant can decide on the matter of the dowry, but as for the storefronts and the villa, the Old Mistress must give the word.”
Wang Yuzheng made a dismissive gesture, and Madam Qin bowed and took her leave.
After she left, Nanny Xu said anxiously, “How could Young Mistress agree to venture into danger for her? That’s a den of bandits!”
Wang Yuzheng frowned. “Nanny Xu, don’t forget that I’ve already died once in that firewood shed.”
Nanny Xu’s heart tightened.
Wang Yuzheng said coldly, “Back then, did Nanny Xu think of any way to rescue me out?”
“Young Mistress…”
“Look, inside these high gates and grand courtyards, no one can save me. As long as the Liu family closes its main doors, who would care whether I live or die?”
“Young Mistress…”
“I have no choice. First, I can’t escape; second, I don’t have a single penny; third, I have no outside help. Either way, it’s a dead end.”
Nanny Xu looked with difficulty at that youthful face, her eyes faintly growing red.
Wang Yuzheng dropped her intense aura and asked calmly, “Nanny Xu, you are the only person by my side I can trust. Are you trustworthy?”
Nanny Xu hurriedly dropped to her knees. “Young Mistress is someone this old servant watched grow up from childhood. Now that you are trapped in a cage, this old servant will risk her life to protect you once.”
Wang Yuzheng helped her up. “Don’t bring up ‘death’ so easily; it’s bad luck. I need to live, live well, and live like a proper human being.”
These words caused Nanny Xu’s emotions to surge, a lump forming in her throat. “But…”
Wang Yuzheng interrupted, “Wealth is sought amidst danger. Who knows what the situation will be in the future?” She added, “If a single trip outside can net me the best storefronts in the prime location of Fancheng, it’s a massive profit!”
Nanny Xu: “…”
Her life was nearly forfeit, yet she was still eyeing the Liu family’s fortune. She was truly speechless.
This was having the life to earn it, but not the life to spend it!
Indeed, Madam Qin also felt that Wang Yuzheng was insatably greedy.
Those three storefronts on East Street were located right in Fancheng’s commercial hub, worth over three hundred strings of cash! Adding the two-entry villa in Wuyi Lane, it all added up to four hundred strings of cash.
That was no small sum.
It was practically kicking someone while they were down!
Madam Qin was full of complaints as she told Madam Zhao about Wang Yuzheng’s greedy face, which made Madam Zhao laugh out of sheer anger.
Clutching her handkerchief, she originally wanted to smash a teacup to vent her wrath, but she quickly suppressed her temper and said unexpectedly, “Then give them to her.”
Madam Qin was stunned, thinking she had misheard, and said in disbelief, “Old Mistress, this is…”
Madam Zhao sneered, “She wants to extort the Liu family’s wealth, but she has to have the life to spend it.” She added, “As long as she remains in the Liu family for a day, no matter how much wealth she holds in her hands, isn’t it still my Liu family’s property?”
Madam Qin said indignantly, “This person is truly abominable to the extreme…”
Madam Zhao raised her hand to interrupt, “The top priority is to redeem Erlang. Once he returns safely, I will settle scores with that villainous woman.”
“But…”
“Don’t delay the matter. Have Steward Xu take care of this immediately. If she wants the Liu family’s things, she must remain a daughter-in-law of the Liu family for her entire life. If anything happens to Erlang, she’ll have to be a widow for the rest of her life.”
This was the condition Madam Zhao imposed.
Wanting the storefronts and villa was fine, but the prerequisite was that she must remain a daughter-in-law of the Liu family. If she wanted to divorce or remarry and take away the Liu family’s property, there wasn’t a chance.
As long as she was still a daughter-in-law of the Liu family, a mother-in-law would always find ways to torment her.
In truth, Wang Yuzheng didn’t overthink it; she simply wanted to secure the best possible interests within her limited circumstances.
Having received the order, Madam Qin had all of her dowry carried over to Shaoguang Courtyard.
Wang Yuzheng sat in her chair and told Nanny Xu to take the gift registry and check off every single item, missing not even one.
When she originally married into the Liu family, the original host had brought all the accumulated wealth of the Wang family through the doors. Wang Yuzheng found it inconvenient to keep physical items on hand, so she instructed Nanny Xu to convert all the dowry items into silver and deposit them into Huifeng Bank, the largest bank in the city.
Nanny Xu had no choice but to comply.
While she was handling the dowry, Madam Zhao agreed to transfer the storefronts and the villa.
However, there was a condition: if Wang Yuzheng ever divorced or remarried, she couldn’t take a single coin of the Liu family’s property with her.
Black ink on white paper served as proof, which could be used for judgment if it ever went to court in the future.
Wang Yuzheng signed and pressed her thumbprint straightforwardly. She had no interest in men anyway, let alone men of this feudal era.
It didn’t matter if she couldn’t divorce; a husband could die, leaving her a widow—a extraordinarily wealthy widow.
In order to make her send the ransom money to Yanjun Mountain as soon as possible, the Liu family spent silver at the magistrate’s office, so the transfer went quite fast, wrapping up in just three to five days.
Having obtained the property deeds for the storefronts and villa, Wang Yuzheng knew she couldn’t guard them on her own. So she took a bold, unorthodox path and told Nanny Xu to deliver them into the hands of her Wang family clan relatives.
If something went wrong with her in the Liu family in the future, she would let those clan relatives come to the door to demand the storefronts and villa.
That group was the greediest of all, thinking every day about devouring the estate of a family without male heirs. Now that benefits were delivered right to their doorstep, she didn’t believe they wouldn’t take the bait.
Just like that, from the moment the news arrived to taking the ransom money on the road, no more than seven days had passed.
Madam Zhao was sly after all. Knowing that Nanny Xu was Wang Yuzheng’s weak spot, she deliberately detained her in the house and didn’t let her go along.
If Wang Yuzheng dared to run away, Nanny Xu would surely die.
This move indeed pinched Wang Yuzheng’s vital spot.
Logically speaking, she was merely a lonely spirit, possessing no affection to speak of for the people of this era.
However, Nanny Xu was the original host’s only remaining family member in the world.
Although Wang Yuzheng put profit before righteousness, since she had gained the original host’s body to live anew, she naturally had to bear the karma that came with it.
Therefore, as for Nanny Xu, she would find a way to preserve her life, treating it as an accounting to the original host.
Escorted by Zhang Baixiang and others, Wang Yuzheng boarded the carriage and left the Liu family home.
Nanny Xu wept uncontrollably as she was forcibly dragged away by the household servants.
Wang Yuzheng knew what she was about to face, yet she remained calm.
Passing through the bustling market, she quietly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to peek outside.
This was her first time stepping outside since transmigrating here; previously, she had been kept under guard without any freedom.
Recalling her experience in the firewood shed, how could she ever allow Liu Ming, that abusive husband, to return alive and continue tormenting her?
She simply couldn’t bring herself to do it.