Chapter 96 - Upset

Shen Ziqiao hadn’t stood up to object when she saw Old Madam Shen’s triumphant smile.

She knew that there was no point to say anything right now. If she objected to this, she’d immediately be considered unfilial, and she’d fall right into the old woman’s trap.Who knows where they’ll kick her this time.

“Let’s go back.” She watched as everyone escorted Old Madam Shen back to De’an Courtyard. Shen Ziqiao was unwilling to pretend to be a filial granddaughter anymore. She was dragged by Shen Zixin to kneel there the entire day. She was hungry and tired right now. She wanted to go back to eat and sleep before she would have the energy to mess up this wedding.

Lady Meng supported Shen Ziqiao and said softly, “The Lord might just be doing this to keep the old madam happy and he might not actually follow through.”

Was she scared that she might do something? Shen Ziqiao chuckled. “What do you mean? Maybe he really doesn’t want to reject the offer.”

Even Shen Zikai couldn’t stop this. Who was she in this family? How could she possibly stop this?

She just felt fortunate that Sheng Peiyin wasn’t the one that brought Chen Xueling over.

“Third Miss.” Lady Meng looked pitifully at her.

If Chen Xueling married into the family, Third Miss will probably live harder days than she did right now.

Shen Ziqiao chuckled. “What we need to be thinking about is how to get the old woman to give up the things that belonged to my mother before Chen Xueling married into the family.”

Seeing that Shen Ziqiao was still laughing and hadn’t forgotten her motive, Lady Meng chuckled. “Sigh, let’s go back and think this through.”

It wasn't that Shen Ziqiao had agreed to letting Shen Xiao marry Chen Xueling, but that she found it even more disgusting than swallowing tens of thousands of flies if she had to call that woman her mother in the future.

She was tired and unwilling to waste time with the stupid old hag.

She returned to Qiao Xin Courtyard and freshened up, eating some simple food before sleeping.

She didn’t wake up until the afternoon of the second day.

“Third Miss, the Lord had sent someone over. He wants you to go to the study” Hong Yu was brushing Shen Ziqiao’s hair and told her about the matter regarding Shen Xiao.

Shen Ziqiao’s gaze flickered and she said in a low voice, “Tell my father that I feel unwell and just want to rest.”

“Why are you holding a grudge with the Lord? He was forced to… and already really unhappy.” Lady Meng walked in and listened to Shen Ziqiao’s words, sighing.

“He’s unhappy, but I’m even more unhappy. Doesn’t he know the Old Madam? Doesn’t he know that old woman is more afraid of earth than anyone else? Would she really starve herself to death? Psh.” Shen Ziqiao said in disdain.

Likewise, Lady Meng felt disdained with Old Madam’s methods. However, she couldn’t really express her feelings. “Then what do you plan on doing? Are you going to keep this tense attitude towards the Lord?”

“I’ll see and wait.” Shen Ziqiao said.

Chen Xueling was angry and happy after finding out that Old Madam Shen finally got Shen Xiao to agree to marry her. She was angry because she knew that Shen Xiao wouldn’t really treat her nicely after what the Old Madam had done. She was happy because the marriage finally got settled. She didn’t have to be a single old lady.

She said goodbye to Old Madam Shen the next day and went back to Chen Family.

She planned on staying at home and waiting for Shen Family to propose marriage.

Shen Ziqiao just smiled when a servant reported this matter. She didn’t react.

For the next two days, Shen Ziqiao stayed at home but there were gradual rumors outside.

Rumors of Old Madam Shen keeping Pan Madam’s dowry away from her daughter had spread. Now, everyone in the capital all knew that Old Madam Shen coveted her daughter-in-law’s dowry and refused to give it back to her granddaughter.

For a moment, Old Madam Shen’s inferior status was exposed again. Everyone was commenting on how this madam lacked manners and elegance. She really lost Shen Family’s face.

Shen Family’s people hid this from her. No one dared to tell Old Madam about this, afraid of angering her to death.

For the past two days, Shen Ziqiao was unwilling to see Shen Xiao. But after hearing the rumors, she burst into laughter and said, “I wonder who spread the rumors. Oh my, that’s so hilarious.”

Lady Meng and the rest were all confused. Who would spread these rumors at this time?

Could it be the Lord?

Shen Ziqiao thought of Shen Zikai as well. Therefore, she recovered her energy and stopped claiming that she was tired and exhausted. She called Shen Zikai over and the two went to De’an Courtyard.

“Grandmother, since my father is getting remarried, it’s better for you to give my mother’s dowry back to me to prevent any issues in the future.” She didn’t bother to beat around the bush or try to please her. After Shen Ziqiao paid her respects, she clearly stated her intention.

Old Madam Shen was just feeling proud that she got her son to marry Chen Xueling, and planned on beating down Shen Ziqiao. Who knew that before she could do that, she wanted to faint from anger.

“What do you mean by dowry? You’re just an unmarried woman, and you don’t feel ashamed that you’re always talking about dowry?” Old Madam Shen said furiously.

“Grandmother, stop pretending to act dumb. Are you planning on giving my dowry to Chen Xueling so that she could manage it? What is this joke? Aren’t you afraid that my mother will look for her in them middle of the night to talk? I’ve done a good job managing the family, and the stores haven’t suffered any losses either. Shouldn’t you give me what’s rightfully mine back?”

“She’s your mother after she gets married into the family. It’s reasonable for her to manage your dowry.” Old Madam Shen said coldly.

Shen Ziqiao mocked the old woman with a flushed expression. “Grandmother, you hate my mother so much, yet you’re still taking the dowry my mother left for me. Don’t you feel revolted?”

“What is this nonsense?! If it weren’t that I was scared you’d be fooled by others, why would I do so much in order to guard the dowry for you?” Old Madam Shen refuted angrily.

Shen Ziqiao thought this was boring. She was tired of fooling around with this old woman.

“I’ve already grown up. You don’t need to worry about this.” She replied faintly.

“You siblings are here to force me to give up the dowry then?” Old Madam Shen sneered.

Shen Zikai bowed and said deeply, “Grandmother, Jiao Jiao is right. In order to avoid future problems, it’s better for her to manage her dowry.”

Even if he was given the label as being unfilial, he had to get justice for Jiao Jiao. He refused to let her be wronged in the future.

“That’s right. Everyone is commenting on Old Madam outside. In order to avoid Chen Xueling from suffering the same fate, it’s better for you to concede. After all, the rumors are quite shameful. We just need one person to suffer this fate.” Shen Ziqiao said.

“What are people saying about me?” Old Madam Shen said with a dark face. She didn’t believe that people would dare to comment on her.

Shen Ziqiao let out a shocking gasp. “Old Madam, you don’t know? People are saying that you stole your daughter-in-law’s dowry. It’s unclear who spread the rumors, but they’re just babbling nonsense. You’re just managing this for me. How could you possibly have stolen it?”

Shen Zikai couldn’t help but smile hearing his sister’s feign shock.

Mama Li anxiously exclaimed, “Third Miss, how can you listen to the words outside? Please don’t spew nonsense in front of Old Madam.”

“What does it have to do with me? I wasn’t the one to spread the rumors.” Shen Ziqiao smiled.

“What else did people say?” Old Madam Shen asked mockingly. She knew that many looked down on her background. They were just commenting on her background.

Shen Ziqiao was about to tell her about the rumors when she heard a maid report that the Lord was coming over.

“That lively?” Shen Xiao walked in to see his children both here. He thought that they were here to pay respects to the Old Madam, so he smiled faintly. He glanced at Shen Ziqiao who kept her head down and sighed secretly.

“Your children are here to demand repayment.” Old Madam Shen mocked.

The moment Shen Xiao heard this, he knew why his children were here. They actually went straight to Old Madam to ask for Pan Madam’s dowry instead of relying on him?

They stopped trusting him because he was going to get remarried? They thought that he wouldn’t consider them anymore?

Shen Xiao felt a bit upset.

“Mother, I think that Jiao Jiao is becoming older, and has the capability of managing her mother’s things. Why don’t you let go and let her…”

Old Madam Shen angrily interrupted him and asked, “Do you want to anger me to death too? You’re just an unmarried lady. Who would manage her own dowry? Do you want people to mock me for not being able to teach my own granddaughter?”

You never taught me! You’re scared that people will laugh at you? Shen Ziqiao mocked.

“Grandmother refuses to give my dowry back to me. Aren’t you just afraid that Pan Family thinks that you’re coveting after it? Later on, who knows what the people outside will say about you once my grandfather personally comes to ask for it.” Shen Ziqiao smiled as she said this. No matter what, she refused to be filial anymore. In the old woman’s eyes, she was unfilial, so she didn’t want to pretend anymore. She’d do whatever she wants.

When Old Madam Shen heard her mention Pan Family, she wore a sarcastic smile. “If Pan Family’s Lord personally asks and isn’t afraid that you’ll waste away your dowry, then I’ll immediately give it back to you.”

“Grandmother, do you mean it?” Shen Zikai immediately asked.

Back then, Shen Ziqiao had kicked Pan Madam’s aunt out. All these years, Pan Family wasn’t in the least concerned with her. Why would they stand up and support her, getting her dowry back? Old Madam Shen was sure that Pan Family would ignore her. “Of course.”

The moment she said this, she saw Cui Liu hurry in. “Pan Family’s… Pan Family’s Lord is here.”

Old Madam Shen and Shen Xiao both froze, their gazes landing on the two normal-looking siblings.

They already knew?

Shen Zikai said, “Grandfather is here? Jiao Jiao, let’s go out and welcome grandfather.”

“Okay.” Shen Ziqiao smiled and answered. She was really curious about the Pan Family’s people. She finally got to see them.

However, speaking of, she really didn’t think that Pan Family’s Lord would come right now. That was way too much of a coincidence. Today, she planned on struggling to death with the old woman.

As for Shen Zikai’s performance, she thought it was quite novel and new.

He didn’t seem to care that the old woman would call her unfilial. He didn’t listen to Shen Xiao as much anymore. It seemed like… she was his only family.

If Shen Xiao really got remarried, only Shen Ziqiao was Shen Zikai’s family in the Shen Family.

Shen Xiao was also unsure right now. He was sure that his father-in-law wasn’t here because he was going to get remarried. From Minyue to the capital, it was at least half a month’s journey. He only agreed to get remarried three days ago.

Then why was the Old Lord Pan at the capital?