RWNEFE -Chapter 213 Bai Qingling—Royal Consort or Concubine?

“Your Highness, you can’t!” Bai Qingling pleaded softly.

Ban Sicao sneered: “The prince is a real man, but this woman… tsk, she’s simply not worthy!”

Zhou Ruoyuan glared at Ban Sicao fiercely and angrily asked Shen Lanxi: “Who is he, that he dares speak to me like that? Don’t you fear I’ll punish him for showing contempt toward the royal family?”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze was sharp, piercing straight at him: “What position does Bai Qingling hold, that she repeatedly speaks on behalf of the Zhen Nan Prince’s mansion, repeatedly interferes with your decisions, and repeatedly obstructs the return of my dowry? Is she the Zhen Nan Princess, or a concubine already favored by the royal court?”

Bai Qingling glared at Shen Lanxi, biting her teeth tightly. Suddenly her stomach clenched sharply, a hot wave rushing downward.

Her face immediately changed drastically.

“Imperial doctor, quickly save my child!” she cried.

Shen Lanxi said coldly: “No rank, no status, yet she dares to flaunt the authority of the Zhen Nan Prince’s mansion to intimidate officials. Isn’t she afraid the court will punish her for showing contempt toward imperial officials?”

Zhou Ruoyuan stared at Shen Lanxi, torn between the panicked Bai Qingling being carried in and the relentless Shen Lanxi confronting him. At this moment, he felt as if he were being torn in two.

Ban Sicao muttered: “Still no answer? Big man dragging his feet… and they call you the God of War?” He had worried about causing Shen Lanxi trouble by speaking before, but now he no longer cared.

Zhou Ruoyuan had someone slowing him down!

How could someone so blind miss such a dazzling pearl right before their eyes?

Did he even know what he had lost?

“Fine. I’ll go tally the items and have someone draw up a receipt!” Zhou Ruoyuan said, his gaze darkly fixed on Ban Sicao.

“I, Zhou Ruoyuan, would never stoop to the despicable act of hoarding a dowry. Truly, the mansion was robbed, and I can’t produce so many items at once. Today, I’ll do my best to provide one-third of the dowry. For items, we substitute; for missing items, we compensate in cash!”

Shen Lanxi smiled: “The Zhen Nan Prince truly lives up to being the Great Zhou God of War—what courage!”

Zhou Ruoyuan felt the words were dripping with sarcasm. Did Shen Lanxi know that after today, she would never again step foot in the Zhen Nan Prince’s mansion?

She truly left him no way out!

Zhou Ruoyuan couldn’t believe it. Did Shen Lanxi not understand what the emperor and empress intended at the reception today?

The steward, following Zhou Ruoyuan’s signal, immediately began tallying the mansion’s possessions.

The mansion now only had antique calligraphy, paintings, and decorative items left for appearances. Just recently, the prince returned from the palace with gifts and medicinal herbs from Imperial Concubine Shu—these were of some value. When Shen Lanxi married into the mansion, her dowry list was a thick book, practically moving mountains of gold and silver into the mansion.

Even tallying one-third of it now was far from enough.

Zhou Ruoyuan cast a deep look at Shen Lanxi and then turned back into the mansion.

Soon, the staff began carrying items out.

The Shen family checked against the dowry list:

“Pair of ear-shaped vases, valued at 1,000 taels, to offset the ‘Treasure Vase’ in the dowry!”

“Famous calligraphy painting, to offset the dowry painting!”

“Jade ornament, to offset one dowry ornament…”

…

Night fell quickly.

Zhou Ruoyuan hurried back, handing a stack of silver notes and a small box to the steward!

The steward had already been at his limit. For the mansion’s face, he had even carried out the imperial-gifted ivory bed. If the prince didn’t return, he would have had no choice but to carry out the mansion’s precious tables and chairs.

What a close call!

“Use the silver notes for the remainder, along with these jewels and accessories.”

The steward quickly arranged handover with the Shen family.

Eventually, all the silver notes were counted, leaving only a single red hairpin in the jewelry box—this was enough to cover one-third of the dowry.

Shen Lanxi signed the documents neatly.

“Two days later, as written in this document, we request that the Zhen Nan Prince personally deliver the remaining two-thirds to the Shen residence!”

“The dowry list has been copied. This copy is kept at the prince’s mansion for verification!”

Shen Lanxi mounted her horse, taking her family and six large carts of items, departing in grand procession!

Ban Sicao shouted: “The Shen family has cause for celebration! Anyone who congratulates them tomorrow shall receive two copper coins!”

Zhou Ruoyuan felt his vision blur, his chest burning as if a ball of fire raged inside.

Unable to hold it, he spat a mouthful of blood, staggering aside.

“Your Highness, quick, support him!”

Shen Lanxi paraded triumphantly back to the Shen residence!

“I’ll keep the silver notes; the rest is yours!” Once home, she decisively distributed one-third of the dowry.

“Any objections?” she asked, surveying the room.

No one spoke.

“Since there’s no objection, let it be. The remaining two-thirds will be delivered, and then we’ll distribute them.”

She stood, ready to leave.

“Lanxi, aren’t you afraid of offending Zhou Ruoyuan?” Shen Congwen frowned.

After spitting blood, Zhou Ruoyuan already regretted his actions. But by then, there was no turning back.

Shen Lanxi replied: “You all saw it—today at the reception, he humiliated me. If I hadn’t struck back, would the court not think the Shen family spineless?”

Shen Congwen frowned, unconvinced by her reasoning.

“The empress was intentionally trying to match you with Zhou Ruoyuan. Acting like this, can you still expect him to accept you later?”

Shen Lanxi had anticipated this from her family.

“There’s no possibility between me and Zhou Ruoyuan. Rather than worrying about me, you should focus on avenging the Shen family!”

Everyone had forgotten the issue of the dowry amidst all the chaos.

“All right, it’s late. Let’s eat first.”

Madam Miao and Madam Tian stared outside without blinking. Everyone wanted something, but no one dared speak first.

Madam Tian whispered: “Sister-in-law, I noticed many officials’ daughters keeping their eyes on Yuanxu and Yuankun. It’s time to prepare their marriages.”

Madam Liu retorted: “Looking for official matchmakers isn’t free. Those matchmakers are too greedy—without money, they avoid you.”

Madam Liu brightened: “Mother, Yuanxu and Yuankun returned in such a hurry they didn’t even bring spare clothes. You’re supposed to pay respect first, then people. If they aren’t properly dressed, families with daughters will look down on us!”

Old Madam Shen’s face darkened. She first glared at Madam Tian, then Madam Liu.

Fools—always causing trouble!

“I’ll handle their matters. Enough, I’m tired. Send my and your father’s meal to the room. Dismissed.”

That night, six large carts went to the matriarch’s private storehouse, four large carts to the Shen family public storage.

Palace:

“Did she really take the dowry away?” Emperor Renxiao asked calmly, putting down the memorial.

Wang Bao bowed: “She did. Six full carts. I heard the mansion is empty now!”

The emperor snorted: “Truly a child’s temper…”

Ah, women~