Chapter 97: Clearing Out the Duke's Manor

The two of them exchanged a glance, and Shen Qingyun grew excited. “Good. Let’s go now!”

What they were going to do was, of course, take inventory of the dowry and pack it all up to carry away.

One had to know that when Madam Han married into the family, her bridal trousseau had been the envy of a whole mile of onlookers. Old General Han had only this one daughter left, and he also felt guilty that he had spent so many years away from the capital. Naturally, he had poured everything the General’s Residence had into preparing her dowry.

The two first went to the storehouse and had all of Madam Han’s dowry carried out.

Shen Qingyun had already inventoried everything long ago, so at this moment all that was needed was a second check.

Shen Zhifeng and the old dowager heard the commotion and came hurrying over. Seeing the servants carrying one chest after another out to the open ground in the outer courtyard, they were frantic.

The old dowager shouted, “Madam Han, what do you think you are doing?”

Madam Han glanced at her and could not even be bothered to answer. She merely stood with the maids, comparing the items against the dowry list.

This was the first time the old dowager had been treated so coldly by Madam Han. She was momentarily unable to believe it, and in her anger she kept striking the ground with her cane. “Madam Han, what now? Have you no notion of filial respect for your elders?”

The noise was giving her a headache. Madam Han walked up to the old dowager, looked at her haughty expression, and smiled gently. Pointing to the cane, she said, “The emerald set into that cane is also part of my dowry. I ask that the old dowager return it.”

The old dowager lowered her head and looked at the enormous green gem inlaid atop the cane. She was stunned, and immediately clutched the cane tighter. “You gave it to me yourself. What right have you to take it back? Madam Han, I never knew you were such a mean-spirited woman!”

Madam Han gave a cold laugh. What nonsense about giving it to her? The old dowager had clearly taken a fancy to the gemstone herself and asked for it from her.

Shen Zhifeng also glared. “Madam Han, that is enough. Take your broken boxes and get out of the Duke’s Residence at once!”

“That won’t do,” Madam Han said, smiling brightly. It had been a long time since she had felt such relief. “There are still many things to take. From your study, from the old dowager’s rooms, from Shen Sisi’s rooms—so long as it is my dowry, I am taking every last piece.”

Aunt Chen stood nearby with tears in her eyes. At last, she could see her young mistress as she had been in her youth again.

“You, you!” Shen Zhifeng pointed at Madam Han, his hand trembling with rage. “How dare you! I am telling you, Madam Han, today you will not take a single thing away!”

“That is not up to you.” Madam Han directly instructed the maids, “Go and inventory everything in each room, then bring it all over.”

Seeing this, Shen Zhifeng finally tore away all pretense. “Guards!”

A troop of guards streamed out and surrounded the courtyard. “Han Rou, we have been husband and wife for years. Do not push things too far! Besides, Qingyun and Sisi will both come of age next year. Are you really not leaving their dowries behind?”

Even such an excuse could be found. Madam Han sneered. “You need not worry about Qingyun. As for Sisi, she should go ask her own birth mother.”

“Madam Han, if you insist on this, do not blame me for being impolite!” Shen Zhifeng threatened.

Shen Qingyun had not said a word the entire time. She glanced up at the sky, counting the moments, thinking that it was about time.

Sure enough, before long, Zhenzhu came in from outside, beaming as she called out, “Miss, I’m back!”

That voice immediately drew everyone’s attention. When they turned, they saw that behind Zhenzhu was actually a whole line of estate soldiers in silver armor, a dark mass of them. The leader stepped forward and bowed to Han Rou. “Miss, this subordinate has come specially to escort you home.”

The soldiers behind him also called out in unison, “Welcome home, Miss!”

That display of force left Shen Zhifeng and the old dowager so shaken they did not even dare make a sound.

Madam Han’s eyes grew moist. These were all people from the General’s Residence. She looked at Shen Qingyun and saw her mischievously wink at her, and knew this must have been arranged by her. A smile spread across her face. “Very good. Continue the inventory with me, and then we will return to the General’s Residence!”

The estate soldiers once again called in unison, “Yes, Miss!”

The guards Shen Zhifeng had brought could hardly compare with the General’s Residence’s soldiers. At that moment, they all stood with their heads lowered to one side, terrified of being beaten.

Shen Zhifeng had not expected this at all. He had thought that a divorce would disgrace a woman so deeply that Madam Han would never dare speak out, and had only intended to drive her out. Who could have guessed that the General’s Residence would not be ashamed in the least, but would instead come in full force to fetch her home?

With the General’s Residence overseeing matters, Madam Han and Shen Qingyun only had to stand to one side and give calm instructions.

Whether it was gold and silver jewelry, bed linens and quilts, furniture and furnishings—take them away, all of them!

As for used pots, bowls, pans, writing brushes, inkstones, and the like, Madam Han waved a hand and ordered them pawned. Those things were worth quite a bit too. Better to turn them into silver and give it to the poor, rather than leave a single penny to the Shen family.

The folding screen in the flower hall had been specially displayed by the old dowager as a showpiece. The floral and plant patterns on it were all carved from shell and mother-of-pearl, then inlaid into precious wood. The entire screen shimmered with rainbow-colored light.

Once it was carried away, the flower hall was suddenly left empty and dim.

The old dowager’s chest ached from anger. Unable to bear looking any longer, she had someone help her back to her room.

What awaited her in the room was even more splendid. Those finely crafted ornaments, vases, and the precious jade jewelry in the boxes—anything that had come from Madam Han’s side had now all been taken away.

Shen Sisi ran in crying. “Grandmother, what do we do? A group of maids rushed into my room and took away all my gold and silver jewelry, even the fabric for my dresses!”

The old dowager panted heavily. “It was Madam Han. It was all Madam Han’s doing! She—”

Before she could finish, she fainted on the spot, frightening Shen Sisi into screams.

Of course Shen Zhifeng wanted to stop them too, but he could not stop them. He rushed into his study, only to find that the valuable paintings hanging inside had been taken down, the inkstone and other objects removed, and the room left utterly bare. Even the set of purple-clay teaware on the table was gone.

He sat on the floor in a daze, murmuring, “How could this happen...”

Madam Han and Shen Qingyun checked everything once more, confirmed that nothing was missing, and then departed with her dowry in high spirits.

By the time they reached the gate of the General’s Residence, Xiao Jue was actually standing there, his stern face bright with a smile. “Rou’er, congratulations.”

Han Rou pressed her lips together, a complicated look flashing through her eyes. “General Xiao, this is...”

Xiao Jue knew she wished to avoid suspicion, so he merely looked at her deeply. “I was passing by. I only came to see you. It is enough for me to know you are well.”

With that, he left reluctantly. Han Rou let out a faint sigh and entered the General’s Residence.

With so many dowries carried in and out, the matter of the divorce naturally spread through the capital in an instant.

Shen Zhifeng maliciously sent people out to spread rumors, saying that Madam Han had been divorced for failing to bear a son for many years, and even claiming that she and Xiao Jue had been discovered in an illicit affair. In short, they twisted the story however they pleased.

Unexpectedly, though, once those people left the Duke’s Residence, they vanished without a trace.

Several days passed, and not only did no ugly rumors spread, but even the matter of the divorce itself was scarcely discussed.

Inside Prince Li’s Residence, Shen Qingyun smiled at Si Moling. “I have to thank Your Highness for this.”

Si Moling’s expression was indulgent. “Those people have all been dealt with. What do you plan to do next? Will he make things difficult for you?”

The “he” naturally referred to Shen Zhifeng. Shen Qingyun’s eyes held a trace of mockery. “Make things difficult for me? He had better treasure the time he has left. Soon enough, he will no longer even be the duke.”