Volume One, Chapter 9: Return My Dowry in Full

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“You! *cough, cough, cough*...” Madam Xie was deeply angered by Jiang Yutang’s words. Her once healthy body suddenly felt unwell. Her face flushed red as she clutched her chest, unable to stop the violent coughing that echoed sharply throughout the dining hall.

But this time, Jiang Yutang did not rush forward as usual to help clear her throat.

“Jiang Yutang, how can you act like this as a daughter-in-law? Look at what you’ve done to your mother!” Xie Chaoyu, seeing this, was furious. She abruptly rose from her seat, eyes wide with anger, glaring at Jiang Yutang as she shouted loudly.

“In this world, which man doesn’t have three or four wives? My brother just likes Yun Qianqian and doesn’t care for you—so what? Your family is all at the frontier; here in the capital, you’re all alone. Who are you throwing the noble lady tantrum at? Let me make it clear, no one in the Guogong Mansion will tolerate your nonsense.”

Though the Second Madam was unaware of the full household affairs, she understood the implication of Xie Chaoyu’s words and looked at Jiang Yutang with concern.

Indeed, Jiang Yutang had no family support in the capital; no one would stand up for her grievances. Apart from relying on her husband and pleasing her mother-in-law, she had no other choice.

How tragic for a woman to be pushed to such a point.

Just as Jiang Yutang was about to leave with Chun Tao, her steps suddenly halted upon hearing this. She slowly turned around, looking at the wide-eyed, furious Xie Chaoyu. Her gaze fell on the exquisite silk garments and jewelry adorning her—luxuries all purchased from renowned shops in the capital.

Yet Jiang Yutang herself wore old clothes daily, and without hesitation, she had been the one buying these lavish items for Xie Chaoyu.

With a cold expression and icy tone, Jiang Yutang said, “Take off those clothes and jewelry first, then come throw a tantrum at me.”

Xie Chaoyu immediately noticed the scrutinizing gazes from the onlookers, her blood rushing to her face until it turned bright red, as if about to bleed.

“Who cares about these worthless trinkets you bought? Do you really think I’d have nothing to wear or no jewelry if I didn’t have you? I’ll take them all off and return them to you!”

“Fine,” Jiang Yutang replied without hesitation, then turned to Madam Xie. “Since no one wants my things, Mother, please also return the dowry you’ve been keeping for me.”

Back then, the Jiang family had prepared a dowry filled with gold, silver, jewels, antiques, and paintings—all precious items.

All these valuables had been locked away in Madam Xie’s private treasury under the pretext of safekeeping.

At these words, Madam Xie’s coughing worsened, her body trembling.

Jiang Yutang scanned the room, noting the varied expressions—surprise, embarrassment, and some merely watching the spectacle with interest.

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She said no more, lifted her leg, and strode out of the dining hall with Chun Tao nervously following, carrying a plate of osmanthus cakes.

“Young Madam, it’s certainly good not to meddle in household affairs, but don’t you think this way, you’ve seriously offended both Madam and Third Miss...” Chun Tao murmured hesitantly.

Sunlight poured through the intricate lattice windows, casting mottled shadows. The pond shimmered with rippling waves, lotus flowers blooming freely, yet Jiang Yutang had no heart to appreciate the beauty before her.

Looking at everything, a faint, mocking smile curved her lips. “I used to try hard to please them, but what good did it do? They still never gave us a good life.”

Within the Guogong Mansion, as a daughter-in-law who married in, she would always be an outsider.

Chun Tao was left speechless, unable to retort.

Jiang Yutang passed through the corridor and returned to Meng Garden. She immediately sent the prepared keys to the inventory and the household account books from recent years to Madam Xie’s courtyard.

Then, she and Chun Tao set out to register at the Imperial Medical Academy.

Naturally, Madam Xie would never hand over the management of the household to Yun Qianqian, who was not yet married into the family and came from a modest background without money to support the household.

Helpless, she forced herself to pull together and began handing over the affairs to Xie Chaoyu, thinking that at least her youngest daughter would learn these things eventually.

“Mother, are you really going to return all of Jiang Yutang’s dowry?” Xie Chaoyu sat before the account books, wincing at the thought of all those dazzling treasures in the treasury, and looked at Madam Xie with pain.

She had initially planned to resolutely return all the clothes and jewelry Jiang Yutang bought, but after counting, she found most of the decent items were purchased by Jiang Yutang.

If she returned them all, she would be left with almost nothing, so she hesitated.

Madam Xie looked up from the table and sneered, “Return them? Jiang Yutang is dreaming. I’m keeping those things to add to your dowry one day.”

Xie Chaoyu’s face lit up with delight as she quickly clung to Madam Xie’s arm, acting spoiled. “You’re the best, Mother. But if Brother finds out about this, I’m afraid he won’t agree...”

A cunning light flickered in Madam Xie’s eyes. “Don’t worry about that. I have my own plans. Focus on the accounts for now.”

Xie Chaoyu’s face immediately fell, her heart full of resentment toward Jiang Yutang for suddenly giving up on household affairs and refusing to provide funds, leaving her to scramble here.

She was an orphan without parents, holding so much money—if not spent in the Guogong Mansion, where else could it go?

Truly detestable.

Madam Xie had not managed the household for a long time. Now suddenly returning to the task, handling these tedious matters inevitably led to some slip-ups.

Thus, when Xie Yihe returned from court, he found the main house cold. The servants scrambled to light the floor heaters, and the clothes that should have been sent for washing remained untouched in the chests.

How exactly was Jiang Yutang managing the household?

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Xie Yihe and grew annoyed and called Chu Ge over, ordering, “Go and invite the Young Madam here.”

He felt it necessary to have a serious talk with Jiang Yutang.

Chu Ge was somewhat reluctant, disliking involvement in matters concerning Jiang Yutang, but he obeyed.

After inquiring around, he learned that Jiang Yutang had already resigned from managing the household.

Chu Ge was stunned.

Could this have been ordered by Xie Yihe and?

Otherwise, given Jiang Yutang’s temperament, how could she give up so easily?

Chu Ge then tried to find out Jiang Yutang’s whereabouts.

Inside the main house of Meng Garden, there was a chilling silence.

“Where is she?”

Xie Yihe and waited a while, but only Chu Ge returned with a report, which displeased them.

Chu Ge reported truthfully, “Young Master, the Young Madam has gone to the Imperial Medical Academy to register as a medical attendant.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Yihe and furrowed his brow slightly.

“She knows medicine?”

“I’ve never heard that the Young Madam has studied any medical skills,” Chu Ge replied.

He paused, then speculated, “Perhaps the Young Madam was upset by the events last evening and deliberately investigated Miss Yun’s actions. Upon learning that Miss Yun intended to register, she decided to compete with her out of jealousy...”

Miss Yun had enrolled because she knew medicine, but Jiang Yutang, who had barely read a few medical texts, was embarrassing herself by joining just to outdo her.

With a meaningful tone, Chu Ge asked, “Young Master, should I notify the Imperial Medical Academy and have the Young Madam return?”

Xie Yihe and stood up impatiently and walked outside.

“I’m busy. Handle it as you see fit. One condition—she must not harm Qianqian.”