Yun Zheng stood still, not reaching for the token.
The Marchioness frowned, displeased. “Hurry and take it.”
Yun Zheng looked blank. “Huh? What’s this for?”
Seeing her play dumb, the Marchioness’s temper flared again. “Of course it’s for managing the household.”
Yun Zheng asked curiously, “When did I ever agree to manage the household?”
Indeed, she hadn’t agreed—she had only asked questions. It was all their self‑talk, arranging everything clearly for her.
But Yun Zheng had no intention of following their script.
The Marquis household’s smiles froze. She refused to take charge? What now?
The Marchioness’s face darkened. “You are a daughter‑in‑law of this house. You should share its burdens.”
Yun Zheng was unfazed. “Those who are capable should do more. Let elder sister handle it. As for me—I prefer to eat and wait for death.”
Laughable. A household that couldn’t even pay its servants’ monthly wages—what was there to covet?
She turned to Nanny Ji. “When will the palace send people?”
Nanny Ji bowed. “In three days.”
Yun Zheng smiled brightly. “Then before that, let’s sort out the dowry. Whatever can be converted into silver must be handled early. Marquis, I’ll need to return home to discuss with my parents and ask for their cooperation. I can’t do it alone.”
Her dowry was varied, with all sorts of items—silver was actually scarce. But the court wanted only silver.
The Marquis household’s hearts bled. That was their silver!
The Marchioness’s mood soured completely. “You are a new bride. You may only return home after three days. But if you take charge of household management, you may leave at any time.”
This was deliberate obstruction.
Yun Zheng chuckled. “Are you out of your mind?”
The Marchioness was furious. “You curse me!”
Yun Zheng widened her innocent eyes. “Then is it the household that has problems? Is it so poor you can’t even keep the pot boiling, and need me to plug the hole with my dowry?”
At her words, everyone’s faces changed. Since ancient times, a woman’s dowry was meant for her children. If the husband’s family used it, they would be despised.
How could a noble Marquis household ever openly ask for silver? Of course, if Yun Zheng offered it herself—crying as she spent—it would leave outsiders with no grounds for criticism.
Jiang Wenzhou lifted his chin, proud and arrogant. “How could that be? We are a century‑old Marquis house, our wealth accumulated over generations, rich as a nation. We are not short of money.”
Marquis Pingxi’s expression was stern. “As nobles of merit, how could we ever use a daughter‑in‑law’s dowry? You are overthinking.”
To the world, the Pingxi household appeared splendid: servants surrounding them when they went out, lords eating the finest, using the finest, living in decadent luxury—a picture of grandeur. But that façade only fooled outsiders. Yun Zheng knew their reality best.
The Jiang family only knew how to spend. None could manage or accumulate wealth. The previous generation had produced wastrels who squandered fortunes in brothels and taverns, throwing away ancestral property long ago. Now, to maintain appearances, they were already living beyond their means.
Yun Zheng smiled faintly. “Marquis, how generous. I had thought, as family, I might help with money matters. But clearly, I was mistaken. Rest assured—I will never sully your noble character with silver.”
Faces turned pale, then green. If only she had said so earlier—they felt as though they had just lost a million taels of silver. Their hearts ached.
Jiang Mingyue grew anxious. “Actually…” She would have loved to be buried in silver!
But before she could finish, Yun Zheng cut her off. “It’s late. Don’t delay the court’s business. If the silver isn’t delivered, suspicion may fall that the Marquis household is unwilling, deliberately obstructing. That would be unjust.”
At those words, they could hardly stop her from leaving.
Marquis Pingxi’s mind shifted. He signaled his son. “Wenzhou, escort Zheng’er back to her family. Show utmost respect to your in‑laws.”
The escort was a pretense—the surveillance was real.
“Madam, prepare a generous gift for our in‑laws. Give Zheng’er proper dignity.”
Moments ago Yun Zheng had been fierce. Now she smiled sweetly. “That’s wonderful. Thank you, Marquis. Truly wise—no wonder you are the Emperor’s most favored minister.”
As ruthless as she had been before, now she was just as honeyed.
Jiang Wenzhou despised her all the more—a merchant’s daughter, currying favor, chasing profit, without the ethereal purity of his cousin.
Ye Yizhen’s face shifted repeatedly. Why should Yun Zheng gain the advantage? Even if she had no family to return to, she could not bear Yun Zheng having what she lacked. If I don’t have it, she mustn’t either!
Under Marquis Pingxi’s stern gaze, Ye Yizhen dared not speak, only pitifully watching them depart.
Marquis Pingxi’s face darkened inch by inch as he watched Yun Zheng’s figure recede. This daughter‑in‑law seemed reckless and unrefined, but in truth, she was extremely shrewd. She advanced when needed, retreated when necessary, flexible and adaptable, changing her expression as easily as turning a page. She was far more difficult to deal with, far deeper in calculation, than he had imagined.
The Marchioness spoke cautiously. “Husband, she yields to neither soft nor hard tactics. What should we do?”
After all their probing, the results were disappointing.
Marquis Pingxi’s face was heavy as water. “Many eyes are upon us now. At this storm’s peak, we must endure. When the uproar fades, when the world forgets, then we will deal with her.”
He was wary—especially of the ruthless Lord Qiansui.
The Marchioness hesitated. “And the palace, and Lord Qiansui?”
Marquis Pingxi’s heart ached at losing half the dowry. But at least half remained—enough to feed the family for a lifetime.
As long as Yun Zheng lived, Lord Qiansui had no reason to seize the inheritance. Later, they could adopt a child for her. Then the dowry would naturally fall to that child.
“Great nobles are busy with affairs of state. They have no spare energy to watch a trivial woman. Soon she will be forgotten. That will be our chance.”
The Marchioness found this reasonable, her mood lightening. “But how long must we wait?”
“Half a year, a year—that’s enough. Those who achieve great things don’t fuss over trifles. Let her strut for a few days.”
Meanwhile, Yun Zheng sat in the carriage. As the curtain fell, her expression changed, lips curving faintly.
In her past life, she had been trapped in the inner courtyard, never leaving the Marquis household until death. Now, she had finally stepped out. How wonderful. In truth, while the household tested her in every way, she had also been testing their limits. At present, she lacked the strength to confront them directly. She could only borrow power against power. But that was not a lasting solution. So—trade time for space. It would depend on whose moves were faster, whose methods sharper.
As the saying went: *East for nobles, West for wealth; South is poor, North is cold.* Nobles clustered in the eastern city, while the rich lived in the west. The Yun family was in the west.
Passing through the bustling district, Yun Zheng lifted the curtain. The cries of vendors, the clamor of voices, and children’s laughter mingled together—lively, vibrant. This—this was the true breath of human life.
Her gaze fell on a young man riding a horse not far away, her eyes flickering.
“Heir, since you’re personally escorting me home, my parents will be delighted; their faces radiant. And the neighbors will see the grandeur of the Marquis heir.”
Jiang Wenzhou was already reluctant. Hearing this made him even more displeased. “You want me to give you face? Dream on.”
Yun Zheng sneered. “So what if you hate me? So what if you don’t want to marry me? You still have to obediently escort me back to my family. Whatever you’re told to do, you do. You’re nothing but a puppet in your father’s hands. What pride do you have?”
Jiang Wenzhou could not bear these words. Rage surged, and he glared at her viciously. “Go back yourself.” He cracked his whip, spurred his horse, and galloped away.
Yun Zheng let out a long breath. Finally, that eyesore was gone. Now, she could quietly begin her schemes.