After speaking, Jiang Yao didn’t give the Pei family any chance to react, lifting her skirt hem as she rushed out sobbing.
Zhenzhu, who had been waiting outside under the corridor, hurriedly followed.
Jiang Yao first returned to her own courtyard in tears.
All the maids were in the courtyard, including Chen Momo who had come with her as part of her dowry.
Weeping, Jiang Yao went to retrieve the account books, tokens, and keys from her year of managing the household, then explained to Chen Momo with tear-filled eyes.
“Chen Momo, they’re bullying me. My sister-in-law saw the Buyao hairpin I was wearing and insisted I lend her the entire pink pearl jewelry set. But when has she ever returned any of the jewelry she’s borrowed from me? This set holds special meaning for me.”
“When I refused to lend it, she scolded me and even said it would be better if what happened at Dingguo Duke Manor happened to me instead. Since they look down on me so much, Chen Momo, please return these household management rights for me and guard my courtyard and private treasury well. I need to return to Wu’an Marquis Manor and ask my father to stand up for me.”
Chen Momo had watched Jiang Yao grow up since childhood and treated her like her own daughter in her heart.
Hearing her young mistress’s tearful account, she was also furious.
“Young Mistress, rest assured! This old servant will definitely return the household management rights and guard both your courtyard and private treasury well!”
She knew perfectly well that although the vast Pei family had allowed the young mistress to manage the household, they had been spending the young mistress’s dowry money all along!
How could they bite the hand that fed them and still act ungrateful after benefiting from her?
That Pei young lady was particularly shallow-minded – this pearl jewelry set was the most valuable item the Madame had given the young mistress as dowry, and she actually wanted to take it for herself. Truly shameless.
Jiang Yao then instructed Zhenzhu.
“Zhenzhu, prepare the carriage. We’re returning to Wu’an Marquis Manor.”
Chen Momo also agreed that the young mistress should first seek out the Marquis Wu’an.
At times like this, the young mistress’s biological father who held a noble title could better suppress the Pei Manor.
After Zhenzhu prepared the carriage, Jiang Yao immediately left Pei Manor with her.
Jiang Yao felt completely at ease going to Wu’an Marquis Manor with Zhenzhu.
Of the six maids and momos who came with her as dowry, all except You Qin were trustworthy.
Chen Momo especially had her best interests at heart.
So when she entrusted her courtyard to Chen Momo, she knew Chen Momo would definitely guard it well.
After Jiang Yao left with Zhenzhu, Chen Momo immediately went to Old Madam Pei’s courtyard.
The main courtyard had just been cleaned up.
Pei Xingyu was still inside crying, “Grandmother, Second Brother, you must stand up for me! She actually dared to throw soup at me and Mother!”
“Enough, stop crying!” Old Madam Pei’s head was buzzing from her crying.
“You really… she already said that jewelry set is important to her, why did you have to insist? Couldn’t you have asked for something else?”
Pei Xingyu didn’t think she had done anything wrong at all.
“It’s just a jewelry set. If she can’t even spare a jewelry set for me, and Second Brother will eventually earn her an Imperial Mandate.”
Madam Pei also cursed, “That little bitch has no manners at all, daring to splash her mother-in-law. Tomorrow we’ll make her properly learn her manners.”
“Mother.” Pei Xingyue’s eyes were red with anger, “Look how you’ve spoiled Xingyu. You knew what I needed to do when returning to my husband’s family, yet you let Xingyu cause trouble. Don’t you know I urgently need the deed to that house?”
She wanted the property deed to the house where Jiang Yao let her and her mother-in-law live.
Although it was only a three-section compound, its location was excellent.
Her husband was originally a Cultivated Talent, and after all these years, he had barely managed to pass the provincial examination to become a Jinshi. Advancing further seemed difficult, so he planned to purchase a minor official position and progress step by step.
Coincidentally, that official wanted a residence on South Street.
It must be known that the capital is an inch of land worth an inch of gold, crowded with aristocratic families, noble houses, high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, and more.
Thus, properties in the capital are precious and hard to come by, especially larger residences, which are rarely put up for sale.
That was why she wanted Jiang Yao to transfer the deed of that house to her.
“Eldest Sister, you are mistaken,” Pei Xingyu retorted indignantly. “Why is it considered proper business when you ask her for things, but when it comes to my matters, it’s dismissed as nonsense? I don’t even have any new jewelry to wear. No, didn’t she just say she was returning to Wu’an Marquis Manor? I’m going to her room to pick out a couple of new pieces.”
Pei Muzheng had remained silent all along, merely frowning.
Pei Xingyue was so infuriated by her own younger sister that she was about to argue when a maid entered from outside to announce.
“Old Madam, Chen Momo from the young mistress’s courtyard has come to see you.”
Old Madam Pei frowned. “Let her in.”
The entire family had not taken Jiang Yao’s earlier words seriously.
Moreover, amid the chaos, they hadn’t paid much attention to what Jiang Yao had said before.
When Chen Momo entered, she saw Liu Shi and Pei Xingyu with reddened faces, still applying ice to them, and noticed the shattered soup bowl fragments the maid had just swept away.
She realized that the young mistress had likely not been at a disadvantage but had instead made this troublesome mother-daughter pair suffer.
Only then did she feel relieved.
“Old Madam, these are the account books, tokens, and keys to the storerooms from the past year since the young mistress married into the family. The young mistress said that since Second Young Lady looks down on her so much, she is relinquishing her authority over household management. From now on, the household will be managed by you, Old Madam, or Madam Pei. The young mistress truly cannot bear the responsibility of managing the household anymore.”
“What!” Old Madam Pei panicked. “How can that be? She has managed the household very well, and what happened earlier was indeed Xingyu’s fault. I will make her apologize to Yao Yao.”
They absolutely could not take back the authority of household management.
Old Madam Pei was clear-headed and understood what her granddaughter-in-law’s surrender of authority meant.
For the past year, the Pei family had relied on the granddaughter-in-law’s dowry…
Wasn’t this just a threat to the Pei family? Yet, they had no choice but to yield.
Even Pei Muzheng’s figure stiffened slightly.
He was well aware that the family’s expenses in recent years had been subsidized by Jiang Yao.
Otherwise, as a mere sixth-rank official, how could he have enough salary to support such a large family?
And still provide them with the finest food, clothing, and amenities.
Only Liu Shi was overjoyed. Ignoring her mother-in-law’s earlier words, she eagerly took the stack of items from Chen Momo.
Seeing Madam Pei hastily accept these things, Chen Momo felt nothing but contempt.
The young mistress’s mother-in-law was truly foolish.
Did she really think that by taking over these items, she could freely access the young mistress’s Si Ku and use the belongings and silver inside to manage the household?
Chen Momo said, “Since Madam is willing to take on the responsibility of household management, it will be your burden from now on. This old servant will take her leave.”
With that, Chen Momo turned and left without any desire to linger.
As long as someone took over the items, they had nothing to do with the young mistress anymore.
Old Madam Pei had no time to stop her and could only watch helplessly as her foolish daughter-in-law accepted the authority.
She stared at her daughter-in-law, trembling with rage, her lips turning purple.
“Why did you take over the household management?”
Liu Shi was still gleefully saying, “Mother, wouldn’t it be better if we took charge of the household management ourselves? She’s been so stingy, only giving ten taels of silver as monthly allowance.”
Although the monthly allowance was ten taels, all other daily expenses for food, clothing, and necessities were provided according to the standards of the Hou Mansion.
Any additional expenses beyond that could also be drawn from the accounts.
Almost every member of the Pei family exceeded their allowance significantly each month.
Pei Xingyu couldn’t help but feel delighted as well.
“That’s right, Grandmother. Now that Mother has taken charge of the household, isn’t it better?”
Although their daily provisions were quite good, the monthly allowance was only ten taels, and the seasonal accessories provided were rather ordinary.
Now that Mother was in charge of Zhong Kui (Household Affairs), she could spend as much silver as she wanted on accessories.
Pei Muzheng looked at his mother and sister with mixed feelings.
Pei Xingyue also sighed helplessly, looking up at the sky.
The Pei family members were all intelligent.
How did these two fools end up among them!
Old Madam Pei was so angry she nearly fainted.
“Do you think our manor has any family fortune or silver to let you manage Zhong Kui (Household Affairs)? Don’t tell me you’re still thinking of using Jiang Yao’s dowry to manage the household?”
Liu Shi was stunned, then flew into a rage.
“Why shouldn’t she give it? However the household affairs were managed before, that’s how it should continue!”
Otherwise, why would she want this authority over household management? It would just be asking for trouble.
Old Madam Pei sneered, “Because that’s your daughter-in-law’s dowry! If you try to forcibly use your daughter-in-law’s dowry to subsidize the household management, you could be caned if it’s reported to the authorities!”
According to the “Hu Hun” (Household and Marriage) laws of the Da Ning Dynasty: If the wife dies, the dowry remains with the husband’s family or children. Additionally, if the wife is alive, coveting or forcibly using a married woman’s dowry is punishable by twenty lashes, or fifty lashes and three years imprisonment for severe cases.
Forcibly coveting and using a daughter-in-law’s dowry could be reported to the authorities!
She truly regretted it now – she shouldn’t have let her son marry her maternal cousin’s daughter back then.
Liu Shi was her cousin’s daughter.
When the Dongping Houfu (Marquis of Dongping Estate) incident occurred, it implicated her maternal family.
Because her maternal family was involved in that matter.
Her cousin and cousin’s husband lost their official positions.
This niece’s engagement was broken off, and her cousin came crying to her, blaming her for implicating their maternal family.
In the end, she had no choice but to let her son marry her niece.
This niece inherited her cousin’s naivety, with an extra dose of foolishness!
Liu Shi panicked briefly but still argued unreasonably.
“Anyway, I don’t care. However she managed the household before, that’s how I’ll manage it.”
Old Madam Pei sneered.
“Fine, if you’re not afraid of disgracing the Pei family, disgracing your son! If you’re not afraid of corporal punishment, then go ahead and make a scene at Jiang Yao’s courtyard, go forcibly open her Si Ku (private treasury)!”
Liu Shi was completely speechless.
While the Pei family was in turmoil, Jiang Yao had already returned to the Wu’an Marquis Manor with Zhenzhu.
On the way, Jiang Yao let herself cry freely. Now her eyes were slightly red and swollen, tears streaming down her face, looking pitiful enough to move anyone’s heart.
When they arrived at the Wu’an Marquis Manor,
Zhenzhu jumped off the carriage to knock on the door.
In the carriage, Jiang Yao’s pitiful expression instantly turned cold and detached.
There was no trace left of the poor, wronged appearance she had shown at the Pei family just moments before.
She had deliberately worn that pink pearl Buyao (hairpin) to Old Madam Pei’s courtyard.
She knew how shallow her sister-in-law was and that she would certainly covet it and make a scene. This way, she could take the opportunity to break with the Pei family and return the authority over household management.
What was there worth managing in a declining family’s household!
As for why she came to the Wu’an Marquis Manor instead of going to her adoptive parents’ Jiang family…
The Jiang family are now merchants. In her past life, they were falsely accused of treason and colluding with the enemy. Back then, Pei Muzheng personally led the raid on their home, confiscating all the Jiang family’s assets and handing them over to Shen Yuanwu.
She never believed the Jiang family would commit treason.
In her previous life, she had asked Pei Muzheng why he framed the Jiang family and raided their home.
Pei Muzheng insisted that the Jiang family had indeed committed treason, adding that the Jiangs favored her over Shen Yuanwu and neglected Shen Yuanwu, which was why they disliked the Jiang family.
What utter bullshit!
In her past life, Shen Yuanwu only went to the Jiang family when she needed money.
She never even called them father or mother.
Even though they were her biological parents, she acted as if associating with the Jiang family was like touching something filthy.
No wonder her parents couldn’t get close to her.
No matter what, she couldn’t openly show more affection toward the Jiang family.
If she went to the Jiang family now to complain, she feared it would only make Pei Muzheng resent the Jiang family even more.
Moreover, she needed to visit Wu’an Marquis Manor more often to find out what was really going on between Shen Yuanwu, the Marquis Manor, and the Jiang family!
She always felt that the baby-switching incident from years ago wasn’t quite right.