Chapter 6.3

One after the other, she had been dealt a blow, the next more brutal than the first. And the most brutal had come at the hands of her father’s half-brother. Yes, Xiao Youning had been readily trusting, jumping to grasp the first hand that claimed to help her … foolishly falling for the trap. But no, she was not upset for she had not been a total fool. She had willingly offered her entire dowry, but how could it be easily taken?

Right now, the odds were dead set against her. There was a scheming uncle hard at her heels and a dark unknown ahead. But all was not lost yet. There was still her dowry. And should the second branch, scheme against her to covet it … she could only say that they had better pray for her well-being. If not, they wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on a coin.

Well, she may have offered her dowry up to her “kind” uncle in what seemed to be a moment of impulse … but in reality, she wasn’t entirely stupid.

—

The said dowry, currently still in the possession of her ex-husband’s family, in a manner of speaking, was still safe. And the Xiao Family at that moment was exactly as Xiao Youning presumed.

An overwrought Second Madam Xiao, anxiously waited for news. She was so full of regret that her insides were turning blue. Even so, respite seemed to be a distant thing, and remorse was her only companion. It wasn’t until the second hour of the night that her trusted old maid hastily entered the mansion through the back door, rushing all the way until she reached her master.

She paid her respects and reverentially reported, “Madam, the Li Family’s side was originally going to carry out the dowry to Master, but then Assistant Minister Li returned to the house and directly had people carry it back again. Also, he had the Prefectural Magistrate by his side and asked him to verify the dowry list of the first family in front of the Master. Then he put a seal on it, saying that without seeing the first family’s girl or her handwritten letter, the dowry cannot be given to our second family. Assistant Minister Li said that the first and second branches of the Xiao Family have separated from each other for a long time now, and he didn’t dare to rashly hand over so many possessions!”

Speaking up to hear, the old woman paused before adding her own two cents. “This slave believes it is the Li Family that wants to claim the money! That dowry and the properties together amount to tens of thousands of taels. And we were only given ten thousand taels of cash when we split up!” As she spoke, she got excited as if those silvers were all hers, hate brimming her eyes.

The news was too much to bear. Second Madam Xiao staggered back two steps and plopped onto her chair. She heaved heavy sighs but still felt suffocated. She was certainly unreconciled with the way things had turned. But what could she do now?

When her husband had first gone to ask for the dowry, he had heard that Assistant Minister Li was hesitant. He had also heard the Li Family declare they would not release the dowry until they saw Xiao Youning in person. However, despite it all, she hadn’t cared about it all. She had dismissed it as a mere spur of the moment decision. After all, the Li Family held much repute in the capital and the divorce had turned them into quite the farce. Would they still dare withhold the dowry?

She had probed her husband. He was of the opinion the matter would certainly not go well, and that the Li Family had their own considerations.

The Li Family had lost a lot of face because of the big fuss Xiao Youning made in front of the commoners. As the lone girl putting up with the bullying of the powerful, she had earned their sympathies. So, when word got out that they had mercilessly turned their backs on the newly wedded girl who was now kinless, they were heavily criticized. So now, if they wished to restore their sullied name, the least they could do was relinquish their claim on the girl’s dowry. But who would have expected that before the dowry could be delivered back, Xiao Youning had left the capital?

This was an age where filial piety was paramount and joint families the norm. That said, in the entire capital, the Xiao Family was the only family whose first and second branches didn’t deal with each other. And this fact was no secret. So, when Second Master Xiao had knocked the doors of the Li Family at the “behest” of his niece to retrieve the dowry, he had brought no letter or trusted aide from Xiao Youning to support his claim. And having been in the knowhow of the situation between the two families, it would be a matter of immense headache to the Li family should this turn out to be a lie, lest they are accused of being in cahoots with the second branch in order to bully a young girl.

So, when Madam Li wanted to return the dowry, the farsighted Assistant Minister Li had immediately blocked it. He was not someone who would go by face-value when doing things, he had seen his fair share of things after all. So today, when Second Master Xiao dropped by yet again, the Li Family resolutely and vehemently demanded to see Xiao Youning before they released anything.