Chapter 14: Second Concubine’s Belongings Are Missing Too

That night, Jiang Wei disguised herself as her late maternal grandfather and snuck into Scumbag Dad’s dream.

In the dream, Jiang Dahai was hugging his gold and silver treasures, grinning foolishly with his big yellow teeth.

Looking around, it wasn’t the same place as the last time he moved his assets.

No wonder people say even a cunning rabbit has three burrows—this man had hidden treasure in three different places.

Well then, let’s empty them all.

Jiang Wei imitated her grandfather’s voice, “Jiang… Dahai… Jiang Dahai!”

“Who’s there?” Jiang Dahai was blissfully fondling his gold when a bloodied head suddenly appeared, startling him so much that he was buried under the gold—but strangely, felt no pain. That’s when he realized… he was still dreaming.

“You unfilial brat! Don’t recognize your own father-in-law?!”

Jiang Wei floated up to him, fresh blood dripping from her face, staining his ugly face.

“F-Father-in-law?”

“You brat, kneel and kowtow! Or do you want me to drag you down to hell with me?!”

“No, no!” Jiang Dahai quickly kowtowed several times. “Father-in-law, you’ve been dead for years… why are you here in my dream?”

“I came to get you. Hell is cold and lonely—come keep me company~”

Suddenly, Jiang Dahai felt fingers choking his neck.

Gasping for breath, he had a flash of inspiration. “Cough, Father-in-law, I still have to prepare Little Wei’s dowry. Don’t you want her to marry with pride and glory too? Cough!”

“You still have a bit of conscience left!” ‘Shen Zhennan’ withdrew his long fingernails. “Since your conscience isn’t completely eaten by dogs, I’ll let you in on a little secret. You’ve always wondered where I hid my assets, right? Well, now I’ll tell you. Dig them up and give them to Wei girl as her dowry.”

Jiang Dahai’s mind turned quickly. “Why don’t you just tell Peirong or… Jiang Wei herself?”
Though to be fair, he did have a life-debt connection with his father-in-law (he took the man’s life).

“What use is it telling two weak women? Can they dig it up? Idiot!”

Jiang Dahai rolled his eyes. “Father-in-law is right.”

“It’s hidden in the backyard of the Huo family. That place used to be a ruined house. I buried the treasure just before the Huo family bought it. Later, I wanted to move it, but then I was killed by you, you cursed brat!”

“Ahem…” Jiang Dahai turned his head in guilt. Once he recalled who the Huo family was, his face turned grim. “You really knew how to hide it.”

“Even a rabbit has three burrows! And even a fool like you knows to hide assets in multiple places.”

“How did you know that?”

“Because I’m a ghost!” Shen Zhennan suddenly punched and kicked Jiang Dahai. “I not only know you split your assets—I also know Steward Zhao is about to move your stash. Be smart, and let him come down here and keep me company—”

“Ah!” Jiang Dahai woke with a start.

Everything hurt.

His whole body felt like he had actually been beaten up by a ghost.

Thirsty, he groped his way out of bed to find water. His hand suddenly landed on something soft, and he lashed out in fright with a flurry of punches.

“Master, stop! It’s me, Xiao Lu!”
The maid who had snuck into his bed never dreamed she’d get beaten by him.

Lighting a candle by the bed, Jiang Dahai glared. “Xiao Lu? Why are you in my bed again?”
Last time she snuck in, Second Concubine nearly beat her to death.

Last time, it was thanks to the First Miss begging for her life that she was allowed to stay in the manor.

Tears streamed down Xiao Lu’s face. “Master, please save me. Second Concubine found out I told you her whereabouts. She said she’d beat me to death. No one in this house can protect me except you!”

“But I promised Second Concubine I wouldn’t take any more concubines…”
To be honest, Jiang Dahai was tempted by the sight of the young, delicate figure before him.

“Master, why is it Second Concubine gets to fool around with Steward Zhao, and you still listen to her? You’re the head of this household! Or has it gotten so bad you can’t even take another concubine without her approval?”

“That’s right! I’m the one in charge of the Jiang manor!”
Jiang Dahai thought about how Jiang Wei bullied him during the day, and how Shen Zhennan’s ghost tormented him at night—he was burning with rage.
Today, he would take this concubine! It was time to remind everyone who was the real master of this house!

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The next day, Chen Xiaolian staggered tearfully to Jiang Dahai. “Master, the silver I brought back from Steward Zhao—and all the property and land deeds you told me to gather—are all gone!”

“What?!” Jiang Dahai was struck like thunder, his steps faltering. “What happened?! What’s going on?!”

“I don’t know! I carefully counted everything before I went to sleep… but when I woke up, it was all gone!”
With her pig-head-sized swollen face, Chen Xiaolian sought comfort from him.

Jiang Dahai instinctively backed away—her face made him nauseous.

Chen Xiaolian noticed his reaction. Then she caught a whiff of perfume on him and immediately exploded. “Master, did you sleep with the First Madam last night? No—that can’t be. Shen-shi never uses cosmetics. It must’ve been some slut in the manor!”

It wasn’t Shen-shi, and definitely not the Third Concubine who had someone else in her heart. Then who?

“It was me, Master. Hello, Second Sister.”
Xiao Lu came swaying in, dressed in red and green. “Master, you must be exhausted from last night. I woke up early to make you a vitality tonic.”

“Who’s your sister?! You shameless wench, I’ll kill you!” Second Concubine shrieked.

“Enough!” Jiang Dahai roared. “Can’t you stop being like that Shen-shi—always picking fights? Learn a thing or two from the gentle and virtuous Fourth Concubine! She made me tonic because she knows how hard I work, while you just throw tantrums!”

“When you loved me, it was passion. Now that you don’t, it’s drama?! Jiang Dahai, I gave up being a proper wife outside just to be your concubine, and this is how you treat me?!”

“Oh, come on. You didn’t say that when you arranged for me to take a Third Concubine. Didn’t you say Xiao Lu couldn’t help you secure your position because she was just a maid?”

The argument in Jiang Dahai’s courtyard attracted the whole manor.

Jiang Yan, exhausted after spending the night trying to convince Shen Peirong, peeked inside. “What’s going on?”

“Looks like Father took a Fourth Concubine without Second Madam’s permission.”

“What?!” Jiang Yan realized she was talking to Jiang Wei and frowned. “Why are you out of your room?”

“Oh, forgot to mention—Father’s new Fourth Concubine was the one guarding me, Xiao Lu. Now that she’s an official concubine, naturally she doesn’t need to stand watch anymore.”

“Mother, look at how heartless Little Sister is. She knows you’d be upset about Father taking a new concubine, yet she says it like that on purpose!”
Unable to outargue Jiang Wei, Jiang Yan went to fetch reinforcements.

Shen Peirong was numb with hopelessness. “It’s not the first time your father’s taken a concubine. I’m long used to it. Let’s go take a look. I thought I heard something about more missing items.”

Jiang Yan held Shen Peirong’s arm as they walked together like conjoined twins.

On the way, Jiang Yan cast smug glances at Jiang Wei, as if to say, Even though Mother knows I’m not her real daughter, I’m still her favorite.

Jiang Wei responded with a look that said, I don’t recycle trash.

She noticed a dark cloud hovering above Shen Peirong’s head—like Jiang Yan had sucked away all her luck overnight.

When someone absorbs too much luck from another, it drains their energy and can even manipulate their thoughts.

How could she break through this black cloud?

Just then, a bouncing Jiang Yunhe dashed up to Jiang Wei.

His complexion was rosy, his eyes bright—he didn’t look so foolish anymore.