"What are you doing?" Jiang Yanqing's tone was icy, his peach blossom eyes filled with disgust as he looked at the hand about to reach for Lu Zhaozhao, wishing he could chop it off.
Jiang Yanqing quickly stepped forward, placing himself between Lu Zhaozhao and the Jiang Family's Second Son.
Seeing her handsome husband had returned, Lu Zhaozhao stopped pinning down the old lady and tearfully threw herself into his arms: "Husband, while you were away, they all bullied me. Mother stole my dowry money, and Second Son tried to get handsy…"
Lu Zhaozhao wept pitifully, her tears falling like rain.
In his previous life, Jiang Yanqing had risen to the highest ranks of the court, encountering all sorts of people. Combined with having witnessed his new bride's true nature just yesterday, he could naturally tell she was putting on an act.
Yet, despite knowing this clearly, a dull ache struck his heart.
As if something had hit him.
He liked the bright, captivating way she looked when she clung to him.
Just as he was feeling troubled, the little lady in his arms blinked at him.
A flicker of amusement passed through Jiang Yanqing's eyes—she really was adorable.
As Lu Zhaozhao got up from Old Lady Jiang, the old lady finally managed to scramble to her feet. Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao dared to play the victim first, she pointed at Jiang Yanqing and demanded: "Eldest Son! You must divorce this bitch for me immediately!
If you don't divorce this bitch, I'll go to the magistrate and accuse you! I'll accuse you of being unfilial!"
"I say, Madam Jiang, have you no conscience? Your eldest son has been burdened by you all these years. He finally managed to marry a wife, and you still torment and mistreat him? You take your daughter-in-law's dowry money and then threaten to accuse her?
Don't think your eldest son would agree to this. If you dare to go to the magistrate, we can all testify for this young couple!"
Sister-in-law Wu from next door hadn't left yet. Furious at Old Lady Jiang, she turned back, hands on her hips, and scolded.
"Pah! Who do you think you are? Stay out of our family's business!" Madam Jiang spat at her.
Her slanted eyes narrowed into slits, like a rat that had stolen lamp oil and turned into a spirit!
"We should indeed go to the magistrate." Jiang Yanqing held Lu Zhaozhao in his arms and suddenly spoke.
Madam Jiang looked smug: "That's more like it! Eldest Son, divorce this little bitch, and I'll find you a better one later."
Jiang Yanqing's gaze was cool: "I will go to the magistrate to dissolve my marriage with my wife. As for you, Mother, stealing Zhaozhao's property—one hundred taels of silver—you should serve whatever prison sentence the law prescribes."
Before the smug expression could fade from Madam Jiang's face, she froze completely.
"What? I didn't take anything!"
"The money isn't on me, and you're the only one who has been in this room. You also admitted it in front of everyone…" Lu Zhaozhao's gaze was distant. Without letting Madam Jiang speak, she continued: "The dowry was recorded on the supplementary page of the Marriage Certificate yesterday.
There's no denying it."
Lu Zhaozhao's large, fox-like eyes wore a pitiful expression.
Every word she spoke seemed aimed at pinning Madam Jiang firmly on the charge of theft.
Madam Jiang never dreamed that this daughter-in-law could be so unreasonable and stubborn!
"Eldest Son, I am your birth mother! If I go to prison for stealing, you… you won't be able to take the imperial exams either!" Madam Jiang shouted at Jiang Yanqing.
Jiang Yanqing remained expressionless, the malice in his eyes concealed: "It doesn't matter. If I can't take the exams, neither can Second Son. Then, we can both stay by your side and serve you."
Madam Jiang: …
She struggled for a long time but couldn't come up with any solution, so she simply sat on the ground and wailed, "Oh heavens! Did I raise a son or a scourge? He's trying to kill me!"
"What are you saying, Mother-in-law? I just want my dowry back. If you give me my dowry money, this matter naturally won't be taken to court again," Lu Zhaozhao said with an innocent expression.
Madam Jiang nearly had a heart attack.
She was so angry she almost rolled her eyes: "You, you!"
"Big brother, sister-in-law, let's discuss this matter behind closed doors. If Mother took sister-in-law's money, she will surely return it," Jiang Yanxuan said, seeing that the situation could no longer be glossed over. He was now also starting to doubt.
Did Mother really take the money?
Jiang Yanqing looked at them with indifference.
Lu Zhaozhao didn't indulge them either: "What kind of talk is that, Second Son? Even with the door open, you're acting like this. If we really close the door, won't my husband and I be tormented to death by you? Today, either Mother gives me the money, or…
she can write me an IOU.
I also know times are tough. Maybe Mother took my money to buy food.
I'll lend you this money. After all, I married my husband…"
As she spoke, Lu Zhaozhao pretended to wipe her tears with Jiang Yanqing's lapel, looking aggrieved.
Jiang Yanqing patted her head to comfort her.
He said to her guiltily, "I'm sorry, I've caused you so much suffering."
Madam Jiang was so angry she couldn't even speak.
Sister-in-law Wu sneered as she watched: "Madam Jiang, what are you pretending to be confused about? I see your Second Son is holding food. How poor is your family? Where did you get the money to buy food? Hurry up and write an IOU for your daughter-in-law!
She's willing to give you face, why are you still holding back?"
"That's right," said the old lady from the neighbor's house on the right, standing at the Jiang family's doorway.
Jiang Yanxuan naturally knew the money wasn't for that purpose, but now they couldn't explain themselves even if they tried.
"If Mother still doesn't give me justice, I'll go find the village chief to settle this," Lu Zhaozhao continued, seeing that she still hadn't moved.
At this, Madam Jiang couldn't sit still any longer.
She still planned to propose a marriage at the village chief's house!
Looking at Jiang Yanqing, who had become bold and dared to defy her after getting married, and then at the Little Bitch in his arms, Madam Jiang hated them to the core.
She had to get rid of this Little Bitch!
As for the eldest… when the Second Son makes something of himself in the future, and this family no longer needs him, then we'll see!
The stipend given to the scholar each month still has to support the Second Son's studies.
Studying is an expensive endeavor!
Thinking this, Madam Jiang gritted her teeth and said, "Fine! I'll write it! I don't know how to write. Eldest, you write it for me."
Jiang Yanqing looked at her coldly, unmoved: "Mother, my illness has flared up again today. I'm too weak to lift a brush. Let Second Son write it."
"You ungrateful wretch! Your own mother asks you to write something, and you can't even move?" Madam Jiang cursed angrily.
"If Mother-in-law keeps cursing my husband, we'll just go to court. I don't want the money anymore," Lu Zhaozhao warned. Her man was not someone others could mistreat.
Madam Jiang trembled all over from being rebuked.
Looking at the couple from the Eldest Branch, she wished she could perish together with them.
"I'll write it," Jiang Yanxuan said with a frown.
He had already looked into the village chief's daughter today—she was born with a fortune. Marrying her would surely help him go further.
The hundred taels of silver could be repaid to his elder brother and sister-in-law sooner or later. Even if his mother hadn't taken the money, he could settle the account later.
There was plenty of time ahead; there would always be a way!
For now, the most important thing was to cover up the matter.
Having made up his mind, Jiang Yanxuan quickly took out paper and brush to write an IOU.
At the signature spot, he used the ink pad: "Mother, press your fingerprint here."