Chapter 24: Taking Back Mother’s Dowry

Li Qingqiu saw Tang Chuyao, gentle and meek, devoted to her son. She said, “Chuyao, I am Huaifeng’s mother, and I will be your mother in the future. I have always treated you as my own daughter!”

“There’s something I don’t know if I should say…”

Tang Chuyao said very politely, “Madam, please speak your mind.”

“Chuyao, you know that Huaifeng is destined to be the heir apparent. You will be the heir apparent’s wife when you marry him!”

“Although I treat you as my own daughter, if you want people in the capital to look up to you, you need a decent dowry, don’t you?”

Tang Chuyao seemed to be persuaded and kept nodding.

Li Qingqiu saw that her goal had been achieved, so she didn’t say anything more. She walked into Meixiang Courtyard with Tang Chuyao.

Aunt Mei was suffering from a terrible headache. She was lying on the chaise lounge, and Haitang was massaging her head.

Bitao came in to report, “Reporting to Madam, the Xuanping Marquis’ wife and the Eldest Miss have arrived!”

Aunt Mei instantly sat up. She knew why Tang Chuyao had come, but why was the Xuanping Marquis’ wife here at this time?

Li Qingqiu led Tang Chuyao in, and they exchanged pleasantries.

Tang Chuyao sat aside and drank tea, completely ignoring Li Qingqiu, who was winking at her.

Li Qingqiu was so angry that she almost dropped her teacup. Hadn’t she made it clear to Tang Chuyao just now?

How could this stupid girl not understand? Or was she just a fool!

Forget it, it was for the sake of the Marquis Mansion!

All these years, she had been managing the Marquis Mansion, and the Marquis didn’t have any official position. The expenses of such a large mansion were overwhelming for her!

Tang Chuyao was about to marry into the Marquis Mansion, so she should shoulder some responsibility for the mansion!

That ugly Tang Chuyao! If it weren’t for her grandfather being the General and the Noble Concubine being her aunt, she wouldn’t even be worthy to carry Huaifeng’s shoes!

Any maid in the mansion was a hundred times prettier than that stupid Tang Chuyao!

It was her honor that the Xuanping Marquis Mansion was after her mother’s dowry!

“Aunt Mei, this Madam came here today because she heard some rumors about your mansion recently…”

Aunt Mei didn’t understand Li Qingqiu’s meaning for a moment. Was she here to break off the engagement? So she said, “Since they are just rumors, Madam, you don’t need to worry. The innocent will be cleared.”

Her words were very eloquent.

Li Qingqiu didn’t give her this opportunity. She got straight to the point, “This Madam doesn’t care about rumors or anything like that, but when it comes to the matter of Chuyao’s mother’s dowry, this Madam came to ask about it.”

Aunt Mei frowned. She didn’t expect Li Qingqiu to be after the dowry as well!

Was this Tang Chuyao’s idea or the Xuanping Marquis Mansion’s?

“Madam, you’re joking,” Aunt Mei forced a smile, “The dowry of the late Madam has already been returned to the Eldest Miss!”

“I don’t have any of the late Madam’s dowry here!”

Aunt Mei was counting on the fact that Tang Chuyao didn’t have the dowry list!

But Tang Chuyao reached out and took out both the dowry list given by Mei Xia’e and the list given by Mama Rong.

“Aunt Mei, what else can you say now?” Li Qingqiu looked at Aunt Mei with disdain, “At this critical juncture, are you still going to defy the wind?”

“Chuying is not young anymore. If she marries into a good family in the future, she can help Chunan, can’t she?”

Li Qingqiu said something unrelated to the dowry, and Aunt Mei’s face changed drastically.

This bitch Li Qingqiu was actually threatening her with Ying’er and Nan’er!

It was true that Ying’er had already given herself to Gu Huaifeng. If she didn’t marry Gu Huaifeng in the future, it would be difficult for her to find a good match!

The Xuanping Marquis Mansion was indeed a very good choice, especially since the Xuanping Marquis also had a younger brother who was the Regent!

Although Chunan is only eight years old now, his future career will still depend on the Xuanping Marquis Mansion!

The old master doesn’t hold any official position, and by their generation, the Wenyong Bo Mansion has already declined…

Aunt Mei didn’t say anything. Tang Chuyao understood. Li Qingqiu really knew how to handle Mei Xia’e! She must have used the same tactics to control Aunt Mei in the past!

If Li Qingqiu finds out later that she helped Tang Chuyao reclaim her dowry but didn’t get a single penny herself, wouldn’t she be furious enough to spit blood?

Tang Chuyao’s lips curled into a smile. She was looking forward to it…

Finally, Mei Xia’e relented. Faced with a generous dowry and the future of her two children, she chose the latter!

Li Qingqiu, with a happy expression, instructed the servants she brought to move the things from Aunt Mei’s courtyard to Luoying Pavilion…

Aunt Mei wanted to secretly keep a few things, but Tang Chuyao had the dowry list of Chi Ran!

Her face was not good, but then she thought that the old lady’s things were probably also emptied, so she felt a little better!

Finally, they wouldn’t be spending money together, with her taking the blame and everyone sharing the responsibility!

Li Qingqiu’s people were not to be trifled with. They quickly moved two-thirds of the things from Meixiang Courtyard!

Then, Dujian, with the list in hand, led them to Ziying Pavilion…

Aunt Mei clenched her fists, her face ashen, her silver teeth almost shattered!

Looking at the empty room, she was so angry that she wanted to smash the teacup on the table, but Haitang stopped her, “Madam, if you break this teacup, we won’t have any left!”

Aunt Mei was so angry that her blood surged, and a wave of sweet nausea rose in her throat. Then, she fainted…

Ziying Pavilion was half-empty. Tang Chuying saw that Li Qingqiu was the one who brought people to move things. She was furious but dared not say anything. She could only stand silently aside.

After everyone left, Tang Chuying stomped around the courtyard in anger, screaming and shouting.

Bixing quickly stopped Tang Chuying, “Miss, Miss, don’t be angry!”

“These valuables have just been moved to a different location!”

Tang Chuying stopped yelling and looked at Bixing, puzzled, “What do you mean?”

“Miss, think about it. According to Young Master Gu’s admiration for you, even if the Eldest Miss brings these dowries into the Xuanping Marquis Mansion, they will still be handed over to you in the future!”

“Young Master Gu will definitely let you manage the household!”

Tang Chuying thought of Gu Huaifeng, her face flushed red. It was true, Gu Huaifeng was still very infatuated with her!

Especially in bed, Gu Huaifeng’s eager appearance made her blush…

Tang Chuyao, what good is it to you if you have all the money in the world?

The man you love only loves me!

In Luoying Pavilion, the two mamas were surprised when they saw the servants carrying boxes of various sizes and all sorts of ornaments and furniture.

Li Qingqiu, seeing that everything was done, had already taken Chuntao back to the Xuanping Marquis Mansion by carriage…

As for the servants, after they finished moving the things, they were ordered by Tang Chuyao to organize the dowry for half a day before returning to the mansion…

Tang Chuyao wanted these servants to go back and report the amount of dowry to Li Qingqiu. The clearer Li Qingqiu was about this, the more regretful she would be later!

After the two mamas had finished everything, they returned to the palace to report.

In the evening, Tang Chuyao took Dujian and Huang Xiaoyu to check on the shops.

Her mother’s dowry included several shops in prime locations, but when she saw the accounts, Tang Chuyao was a little surprised!

The accounts didn’t match what she knew!

When she arrived at Wangyou Pavilion, number ten on Tianjie Street, the shop was packed with people.

Wangyou Pavilion was a restaurant, and its most famous dish was “Wangyou” (Forgetfulness). Many people came here for it.