SGEIRS -Chapter 45 Shameless and Brazen

As soon as those words were spoken, the whole room was stunned.

No one had expected that there would still be such a backup plan. How meticulous must Old Master Zhou’s thinking have been, to foresee everything in advance and prepare solutions for every step?

Madam Sun and Meng Dongyuan, had originally let out a sigh of relief, thinking they could simply claim they had never seen that list and deny its authenticity to muddle through. But now, with this final move revealed, it was ironclad evidence.

Their hearts leapt to their throats. Madam Sun in particular felt her heart pounding wildly. Could the reputation she had carefully built over so many years be ruined just like this? Although her husband and mother-in-law knew the truth, they would likely distance themselves and shift all the blame onto her.

Meng Jinyu and Meng Chengxing were also worried for their mother. For some reason, they felt that everything Meng Jinyao said was true—that their mother really had pocketed Madam Zhou’s dowry.

Just as the couple’s minds raced, trying to find a way out, Meng Jinyao spoke again: “Father, your silence—does it mean you don’t trust Grandfather and your in-laws?”

Meng Dongyuan snapped back to himself and shook his head slightly. His voice remained fairly steady. “That’s not what I mean. I’m just surprised that such a thing could exist. But words alone aren’t proof. You say you have solid evidence, yet I haven’t seen it myself. How can I doubt your mother’s character just based on what you say? I’ve seen how she’s treated you all these years. She’s always loved you dearly. How could she do such a thing?”

As he spoke, he put on a kind smile and said gently, “How about this: if you truly have evidence, show it to me first. If it’s verified and proven true, I’ll make your mother apologize to you. What do you think?”

To Madam Sun, this was nothing short of a reassurance. She glanced at Meng Jinyao and saw that she had only two unarmed maids behind her. Her nervousness immediately eased.

Once the original list and her father-in-law’s handwritten letter were handed over, they could simply destroy the evidence and leave no proof behind. Jinyu and Chengxing were her biological children—they would surely side with their own mother, not their half-sister.

As for Chengzhang, he was only a concubine-born son and completely under her control. He wouldn’t dare speak recklessly. When the time came, no matter what Meng Jinyao said, without evidence they could push all the blame onto her.

The servants wouldn’t dare gossip either. They could easily find an excuse to send them far away.

However, everything they had thought of, Meng Jinyao had already anticipated.

After living with them for more than ten years, how could she not understand their nature?

One was sanctimonious, the other gentle on the surface but vicious at heart—both utterly hypocritical and cunning. Even if it were proven true, she would only get an apology? What about returning the dowry?

Meng Jinyao frowned, set down her teacup, met Meng Dongyuan’s gaze, and smiled.

“Father, please forgive me, but I can’t hand such important evidence to you. If you and Stepmother join forces and destroy it, wouldn’t I truly be left with nothing but empty words? Why not ask my good stepmother first whether she’s done such a thing?”

“You child, what nonsense are you talking about?” Meng Dongyuan snapped. “Is that how you see your father?”

Then he cooperatively turned to Madam Sun and questioned her sternly.

“Madam, since you both insist on your own versions, I can’t tell who’s telling the truth. Let me ask you—are Jinyao’s words true?”

Having been married to him for many years, Madam Sun naturally played along.

“Husband, I’ve been wronged! I raised Jinyao myself—how could I do such a thing? She must have been misled by slander. She can’t even produce solid evidence. How could it be true?”

Seeing the couple perform their act and try to provoke her into revealing her evidence, Meng Jinyao lost her patience.

“Enough. You don’t need to sing this duet in front of me. I don’t have time to watch your performance.”

Her gaze swept over them and finally settled on Madam Sun. With a meaningful smile, she said, “I’ll make this clear today. Father, you may choose not to believe me. But if I don’t receive my mother’s dowry within three days, we’ll meet in court. My evidence is solid—I’ll win every case. If you don’t believe me, feel free to try.”

Seeing that she hadn’t fallen for their trap and was even threatening to report them to the authorities, the couple panicked.

Meng Dongyuan’s face darkened.

“Nonsense!”

He glared at his eldest daughter, embarrassed and furious.

“This is a family matter! Why take it to court? You’re a junior—suing your elders is unfilial! Do you want the entire capital to know that the juniors of the Yongchang Marquis’s household are unfilial?”

Meng Jinyao sneered.

“If elders aren’t benevolent, how can juniors be filial?”

Meng Dongyuan’s face turned alternately green and pale.

“This is all unsubstantiated! You’re going to make a scene in court? It’s not that elders are unkind—it’s that you’re blindly believing rumors and wronging your elders. Even if your mother really did such a thing, she raised you. Are you really going to drag her to court over such a small matter?”

Meng Jinyao replied calmly,

“If Father thinks it’s a small matter, then she should return my mother’s dowry. Turn a big issue into a small one, and avoid going to court.”

“You unfilial girl!” Meng Dongyuan snapped. “Are you obsessed with money? All you talk about is dowry! We raised you—does our kindness mean less than a set of dowry items? Even if she really did it, she must have had no choice!”

“No choice?” Meng Jinyao mocked. “Does that justify taking someone else’s property for herself?”

Meng Dongyuan pondered briefly, then sighed and played the family card.

“Jinyao, our family is no longer what it used to be. Your brothers will need to marry in a few years, and your sister will soon wed. Betrothal gifts and dowries cost a fortune. If your mother was tempted, it’s understandable. You married into the Marquis of Changxing’s household—you have wealth and status. Why haggle over a dowry with her?”

The more he spoke, the more justified he felt.

“As the eldest sister, now that you’ve married into a noble family, it’s only right to support your siblings. Consider that dowry as help for them. When they succeed in the future, they won’t forget your kindness. If it’s true, I’ll have your mother apologize. If you’ve wronged her, you must apologize instead. Let’s end this here.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao felt sick to her stomach. She had never seen anyone so shameless.

She clapped her hands lightly, applauding her father’s calculations, and smiled mockingly.

“Since ancient times, a woman’s dowry has been her private property. Not even her husband may touch it. Yet now, you and your second wife decide to bypass her own daughter and give it directly to your children as betrothal gifts and dowries. What kind of logic is that?”