CHAPTER 21
Song Yuanzhi looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar young man in front of her, and the circuits of her mind flashed wildly:
“Why did the elder brother become the marquis?”
“What! I treat you as a brother, but you are my husband.”
“How come the husband who was supposed to die in the war is back?”
Song Yan looked at Song Yuanzhi’s troubled expression and quickly tried to make up for her, carefully explaining to Lu Shaoyou: “This is because she is so happy to know that Zhenbei Marquis has returned safely.”
Lu Shaoyou said to his heart that she was not happy. Yes, you were fooled by me. I don’t know if you will be angry when you come to your senses later.
Song Yuanzhi lost her composure for just a moment. After hearing Song Yan’s words, Song Yuanzhi immediately came back to her senses and looked at Lu Shaoyou with complicated eyes. After a while, she smiled and bowed. “Nice to meet you, Marquis of Zhenbei.”
Lu Shaoyou hurriedly gave way to the side and stretched out his hand to help her up, but felt it was inappropriate. He turned his right hand in mid-air and returned it to his back. He forced himself to calm down and said, “No need to be polite.”
Madam Liu and Song Lilan were already dumbfounded. Well, they had previously ridiculed Song Yuanzhi, saying that she would become a widow after marrying into the Marquis Mansion. Now that the Marquis of Zhenbei was standing in front of them, how could they dare to talk nonsense? This is a master who kills without blinking an eye. He fights on the battlefield, has countless dead souls on his hands, and is the one and only god of war. Who dares to talk in front of him?
Madam Liu’s was really regretting it at this moment. She was the one who matched the marriage between Song Yuanzhi and Lu Shaoyou. She originally thought that it would not only allow Song Yan to use the value of marriage to gain benefits for the Song family but also make Song Yuanzhi miserable. How could it be so easy to be a widow? She would have not been able to live in peace for the rest of her life!
As a result, despite all the calculations, Madam Liu didn’t expect that Lu Shaoyou would come back alive!
Lu Shaoyou is dead. Song Yuanzhi was married and widowed. She may have been happy on the outside but would have suffered a lot on the inside. Her plan was very well thought out. But now that Lu Shaoyou is back alive, all of that will fall away.
After thinking about it, it was Madam Liu herself who contributed to Song Yuanzhi’s bright future; her throat felt sour, and she almost spurted out a mouthful of blood. However, Lu Shaoyou and Song Yan were both there. Madam Liu was not able to lose her composure, so she could only swallow everything. She had to force out a smile to congratulate Song Yuanzhi: “Good people have their own destiny, and the Marquis has returned safely. This is really great. What a blessing!”
Song Lilan glanced at Lu Shaoyou quietly and felt her heart pounding. The young man in front of her was as majestic as a crown jewel. With a smile on his face, he had an aura of majesty after years of fighting. Though he was still young, his eyes were full of dignity and vitality, with every gesture full of high spirits, and most importantly, he is actually more dazzling than Xuanyuan Shizi.
Song Lilan was filled with jealousy and resentment. She glared at Song Yuanzhi hatefully and stood behind Madam Liu with her mouth pouted sulkingly.
Lu Shaoyou saw that Song Yuanzhi’s expression was calm and showed no emotion, and his heart skipped a beat again. He pretended to be calm and pointed at the dowry list in Song Yuanzhi’s hand and asked warmly, “Is this the dowry list left by my mother-in-law?”
Song Yan next to him also had a very good-looking face. When Lu Shaoyou met him just now, he referred to him as “Mr. Song.” Who knew that when he mentioned the dead Madam Shen, he referred to her as “Mother-in-law” instead?
Song Yan’s face didn’t look good, and Madam Liu’s face also didn’t look good either. Lu Shaoyou calls Madam Shen his mother-in-law, and he didn’t even look at Madam Liu. This kind of different treatment can make even a small-minded person faint from anger.
Seeing that they were unhappy, Song Yuanzhi became happy and gave Lu Shaoyou a look that said, “I’ll settle your accounts later.” Then she handed him the dowry list aggrievedly and whispered, “This is what my mother left for me. His Majesty granted me a marriage, and I was afraid of losing face for His Majesty, so I had no choice but to go to my mother to ask for it, but I didn’t know what made my mother angry that she tried to obstruct me in every possible way.”
Madam Liu’s brows twitched, and Song Yan’s expression also changed. Regardless of Lu Shaoyou’s indifferent treatment of him, he quickly explained to Madam Liu: “The things your mother left behind have been kept for so many years. Your mother always has to see which things have worn out before giving them to you, so as not to mistreat you. ”
Madam Liu took the hint and answered quickly with a smile: “Yes, your mother left a lot of fabrics. It will inevitably deteriorate after being stored for so many years. And the jewelry will no longer be fashionable. How can I give these things to you as dowry? Your Majesty’s marriage is a great honor. I’ll look at the things your mother left behind and replace all the old ones with new ones so that you can marry into the Marquis Mansion in style.”
Song Yuanzhi pulled her lips and smiled. Madam Liu is always good at making up excuses. As these words she said are very considerate. If she didn’t know her, then she would have thought Madam Liu was peerless and a good stepmother, but it’s a pity that she was evil and the original owner was forced to have no foothold because of her.
And Song Yan, a hypocrite, had sworn in front of herself that Madam Liu would not covet the things belonging to the Shen family, so why should he give excuse to Madam Liu in front of Lu Shaoyou now, going round and round to find various reasons, just to prevent Song Yuanzhi from opening the warehouse for inspection and take away the dowry left by Madam Shen?
This snob clearly knows everything about Madam Liu’s misappropriation of Madam Shen’s dowry!
Song Yuanzhi’s anger rose immediately. This family was not human and had pushed the original owner into a desperate situation. It was too late for them to beg for mercy from herself now!
Song Yuanzhi just pretended not to see the wink Song Yan secretly gave her and said innocently, “That’s not possible; wouldn’t it cost mother money? Besides, since these are the things my mother left me, even if they are broken, I will also want to keep them, just to have my mother’s memories about them.”
After saying that, Song Yuanzhi’s tears rolled down, looking like a filial daughter who missed her late mother, but Song Yan could not find any other reason to comfort her.
Although Lu Shaoyou knew that Song Yuanzhi’s tears at the moment were mostly for show, when he saw her crying, Lu Shaoyou felt as if a big stone was blocked in his heart, and he felt so depressed.
Without having time to think about why he had such emotions, Lu Shaoyou decisively supported Song Yuanzhi. “Ah-yuan is right. Although Mr. Song has been in office for many years, he is only a fifth-rank official with a small salary he has to support a large family. How can Mrs. Song subsidize this dowry? Mrs. Song must either use the public account or use her own dowry to subsidize it. Ah-yuan is my wife, the Marquis of Zhenbei. Why not, Mrs. Song, just open the warehouse? If there are any old or broken things, I will repair them myself. ”
Madam Liu’s face turned green and white, and then she forced a smile and said, “Marquis, this is against the rules. The husband’s family is here to ask for the dowry even before the woman is married. It would be a big joke if anyone heard it.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Lu Shaoyou also noticed something strange at this moment, his eyes fixed on Song Yuanzhi, and he smiled warmly: “When the news came that I died in the battle, Ah-yuan was the only one willing to marry. Now I am here, so why can’t I help her get some dowry? What problem is there in this? If my mother knew about it, she would have already urged me to buy something for Ah-yuan. My mother even wants to empty out the whole warehouse of the Marquis Mansion. Even if the news spreads, others will only envy the Marquis Mansion and feel sorry for Ah-yuan. How can they laugh at her? ”
Lu Shaoyou’s words were shameless. In this conservative era, he told the girl’s family that he felt sorry for her. If he hadn’t been of high status, Song Yan would have been kicked out of the Song family.
So what if you’re engaged? Don’t be so arrogant.
However, Lu Shaoyou was too powerful. Although he had a smile on his face, there was a knife hidden in his eyes when he looked at them. It was very scary. Song Yan and Marquis Mansion couldn’t show off their status as father-in-law and mother-in-law in front of Lu Shaoyou, and they were frozen for a moment. They didn’t know how to respond.
While Song Lilan became even more jealous. Although her heart was with Xuanyuan Yu, she could not see Song Yuanzhi living well. In particular, Xuanyuan Yu disliked her very much. He was hot and cold at times and needed her to please him. In contrast, Song Yuanzhi didn’t have to do anything, but Lu Shaoyou just favored her. He gave Song Yuanzhi enough dignity, both in and out of words. In this comparison, she and Song Yuanzhi are as good as heaven and earth; how can she not be jealous?
Song Lilan could not accept losing to Song Yuanzhi the most. She had always been favored, and it was impossible for the Song family to tell her about the misappropriation of Madam Shen’s dowry. Now Song Lilan was full of jealousy and had no place to vent her anger. Listening to Song Yuanzhi wanting to see her biological mother’s dowry and Lu Shaoyou still cooperating and saying that he was willing to subsidize her, Song Lilan became angry and couldn’t help but say loudly, “Dad, Mom, since she is ungrateful and wants to lose face in front of the Marquis, just let her do it. Does she really think other people care about your petty things?”
Song Yan and Madam Liu almost cried out loud. They tried their best to cover up the opening of the warehouse. They thought that their biggest opponent was Lu Shaoyou, who was talking on behalf of Song Yuanzhi. Unexpectedly, they were stabbed in the back by their own teammates. The road was cut off, and they were stunned for a moment, not knowing what to do.
When Song Yan reacted, he became furious, slapped Song Lilan with his backhand, and said angrily, “I’m talking to Marquis Lu; how can you interrupt? You’re so mean at a young age and haven’t learned anything from your mother. Be gentle and kind; go back and reflect on yourself!”
This was the first time Song Lilan was beaten. After being stunned for a while, she broke down and cried. She turned around and ran away, “Get lost!”
Song Yan’s old face turned blue and purple. After adjusting his breath for a long time, he confessed to Lu Shaoyou, “My second daughter is rude; we made the Marquis laugh.”
He thought Lu Shaoyou would smooth things over, but unexpectedly Lu Shaoyou just nodded straightforwardly, “She really has no etiquette.”
Madam Liu was feeling sorry for her daughter, who had been beaten, but when she heard this, her heart felt heavy again. Before she could speak, Lu Shaoyou said straightforwardly again, “Mrs. Song should open the warehouse soon. It’s enough that Ah-yuan and I are here to count the mother-in-law’s dowry. Your daughter was beaten, and she must be feeling aggrieved. Madam should hurry over and comfort her. Otherwise, if Prince Nan’an finds out, he is not as good-tempered as me.”
Madam Liu looked at Song Yuanzhi with a bit of murderous intent. She gritted her teeth and asked, “Do you really want to open the warehouse?”
Song Yuanzhi sneered, “Otherwise? Could it be that mother thought I was here for fun?”
Song Yan didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of outsiders, so he suppressed his anger and warned Song Yuanzhi, “It’s just a few days delay, and it’s not like we are holding back the dowry, but you are so aggressive; do you think we were treating you badly?”
Song Yuanzhi just rolled her eyes. Didn’t you treat me badly? Isn’t it just to warn me not to make trouble anymore; otherwise, you will break up your relationship with me and no one will help me anymore? I’m sorry, Song Yuanzhi really doesn’t care about this family. She will break up with you guys as soon as possible. Song Yuanzhi feels happy to be able to peel off the hypocrisy of Song Yan and Madam Liu.
Lu Shaoyou glanced at Song Yan with cold eyes. Song Yan shook his body subconsciously, and the anger that had just accumulated dissipated. He said dejectedly, “Why are you forcing us so much?”
Song Yuanzhi pretended to be stupid: “I just want to take the dowry that my mother left me. How come I am forcing you to do so? How did getting dowry come to this point, or are you stopping me from taking the dowry?”
She actually silenced Song Yan by copying everything he had said to fool her before.
Madam Liu looked dejected and could no longer hide her malice towards Song Yuanzhi. She looked at Song Yuanzhi with eyes that were quenched with poison. She gritted her teeth and said, “Daughter has made a joke; how can we stop you from it?”
Song Yan’s face was as dark as water, and he also pressed hard on Song Yuanzhi with his eyes, trying to threaten her into compromising.
Lu Shaoyou took a step forward, blocking their malicious glances at Song Yuanzhi, and said calmly, “The matter is over; it’s useless to talk more; let’s open the warehouse.”
Madam Liu acted like a rogue and snorted coldly, “The key is lost; it can’t be opened!”
Lu Shaoyou frowned and looked at the old woman behind Madam Liu with a stern look, “Key.”
The old woman shuddered, and her mind went blank in fright, and she subconsciously took out the key to the warehouse from her waist.
Madam Liu had been reminded by Song Yan earlier and had other thoughts. The jewelry, ornaments, calligraphy, and paintings that had been sold by her would definitely not return, so she simply asked people to look around the market to buy some fakes to fool Song Yuanzhi. As long as the dowry came to Marquis Mansion, they have nothing to do with her anymore, and Song Yuanzhi can only suffer the loss of being dumb.
Who knew that Song Yuanzhi did not follow common sense and came to ask for dowry, and she also had the support of the Marquis Lu? The fakes she sent to prepare haven’t arrived yet, so how can they open the warehouse?
However, now that the key has been obtained, it is not Madam Liu who has the final say whether the warehouse can be opened or not.
Lu Shaoyou threw the key directly to the guard behind him. The guard stepped forward and opened the lock neatly.
Madam Liu was over, so she felt uneasy. She wanted to faint, but she was stared at closely by Momo Liu. If she dared to faint, Momo Liu would give her a gift package of acupuncture, so she could only endure it.
Song Yuanzhi finally saw the dowry left by the Shen family.
Madam Shen’s dowry list was written on three large pieces of paper. The gold and silver jewelry on the field shop was just ordinary. The richest items were calligraphy and painting antiques, which were hard to find, but most of them were sold or used by Madam Liu.
Song Yuanzhi didn’t save any faces for Song Yan and Madam Liu. She pointed to the missing items on the dowry list and asked Song Yan with a smile, “Is this what Father said? My mother will not use my mother’s things.”
Song Yan had the best life in his life. Now that his daughter had stripped him of his face and trampled it on the ground, his face turned red. He wanted to beat this unfilial daughter to death immediately. He became angry and said, “Now that the family is in chaos, are you satisfied?”
He turned around and gave Madam Liu a tight slap on her face and said, “Bitch, why do I trust you so much? Is this how you manage the house?”
Madam Liu was ashamed and angry and wanted to say that if she hadn’t used Madam Shen’s dowry, would you have had such good food and clothing? However, Madam Liu did not dare to separate with Song Yan like Song Yuanzhi did. She covered her face and did not dare to say anything. She only cried and admitted her mistake: “I apologize to Madam Shen and Zhi’er.”
“You really can’t be sorry to us. “Song Yuanzhi let out a breath of anger and looked at Madam Liu calmly. “If you had a little compassion, you wouldn’t have forced me to have no place in this house, and the trouble in this house for me wouldn’t have reached this level. ”
You guys, One was sweet and cruel, the other pretended to be deaf and mute, and the other was a domineering and vicious daughter. Together they forced the good-tempered original owner to death and allowed me, a lonely soul from another world, to pass through. If you had any goodwill towards the original owner, I wouldn’t have transmigrated here, and my bad temper wouldn’t have caused trouble in the Song Mansion.
It can only be said that the cause of today is the result of yesterday. You have committed too many sins, and you have finally received your retribution.
After hearing Song Yuanzhi’s words, Song Yan and Madam Liu slumped to the ground, as if their energy had been sucked away.
After a long while, Madam Liu sneered and looked at Lu Shaoyou. “Marquis Lu, do you dare to marry such an unfilial and disloyal person who drove her parents to death without caring about them?”
Lu Shaoyou glanced at Madam Liu lightly, but there was nothing in that look, but it chilled Madam Liu to her bones—that look was like looking at a dead person.
Lu Shaoyou calmly held Song Yuanzhi’s hand and refuted Madam Liu one by one, “Unfilial and disloyal? Her biological mother’s dowry was misused by you.She just sought justice for her biological mother. How could she not be filial? As for forcing her parents to die? Do you deserve to call yourself her mother?”
He pointed at Song Yan, “As a remarried husband, it is incompetent to allow your step-wife to misuse your original wife’s dowry; as a father, it is useless to be unable to protect your children. You are treating Ah-yuan harshly even with the property left by Ah-yuan’s biological mother, but you accuse her of being unfilial? When it comes to shamelessness, you and your wife are really unmatched.”
“Furthermore, your Majesty’s imperial decree clearly states that the eldest daughter of the Song family is well-behaved and gentle, but you said that Ah-yuan is unfilial and disloyal. Do you think His Majesty is blind?”
Song Yan and Madam Liu trembled again; their faces turned pale, and they could no longer say anything.
After a long time, Song Yan gritted his teeth and said to Song Yuanzhi, “On the day you get married, you still have to marry from the Song Mansion, and we are the ones to handle the marriage!”
Lu Shaoyou looked at Song Yan with a razor-sharp gaze and sneered, “Do you know the last person who dared to threaten me? Where is the person now? ”
The grass on their grave is eight feet high!
“If you dare to interfere with the marriage, just wait until you pack up and go back to your hometown to farm!”
Song Yuanzhi turned her head and looked at Lu Shaoyou, feeling that he was even more handsome today. Ever since her mother died unexpectedly, no one has ever protected her so wholeheartedly.
Originally, Song Yuanzhi thought about not steaming the steamed buns to gain some kudos, but the original owner’s life could not be lost like this. Even if she was looked down upon in the Marquis Mansion, she would still cause such a scene at home.
But unexpectedly, Yu Zhi turned out to be Lu Shaoyou, and he was dedicated to protecting her.
Song Yuanzhi’s heart suddenly felt sweet, and her eyes looking at Lu Shaoyou became a little softer. The tips of Lu Shaoyou’s ears turned red, and he held Song Yuanzhi’s hand tightly, trying his best to remain calm. “I will send guards and maids over, and Mrs. Song will not have the authority to interfere with your expenses in the Song Mansion in the future.”
He actually considered this thoughtfully. Her next life in the Song Mansion may be very difficult, and all future troubles will be eliminated.
Song Yuanzhi pursed her lips slightly, feeling increasingly guilty. Instead of taking her hand away, she pressed the back of Lu Shaoyou’s hand and whispered, “I have something to tell you.”
Translator’s Note:- Hey guys, as a Christmas Gift I have decided to do mass release (10 chapters) of the novel which gets most votes in the poll posted on my Ko-fi page.
If you want mass release for this novel then vote for this novel in the poll.
This is the link to the poll: https://ko-fi.com/polls/Which-Novel-Mass-Release-do-you-want-V7V217M3GX
