TRBDM -Chapter 75 The Stolen Dowry

Xie Wanrou’s heart jolted, and she felt momentarily at a loss.

She had always been soft-natured and rarely went out. When Xie Chuan mentioned it earlier, making the Dali Temple sound like some man-eating place, fear had crept into her heart.

Just as she was hesitating, Wei Zhaorong arrived.

Upon hearing that the Dali Temple had summoned Xie Wanrou, she threw aside the account books in her hands and hurried straight to Moyun Courtyard.

“Rou’er, don’t be afraid. I’ll go with you.”

Wei Zhaorong was a titled noblewoman. When she went out, others had to show her a measure of respect.

With her accompanying her, Xie Wanrou felt much more at ease.

“Thank you, Mother.”

Seated in Wei Zhaorong’s carriage, Xie Wanrou nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.

She was afraid—afraid of seeing Lei Lieshan.

Over the years, her fear of Lei Lieshan had long been etched into her bones. It was not something she could overcome in a short time. Just hearing his name made her legs tremble.

Wei Zhaorong noticed her reaction and patted the back of her hand, signaling that she was there.

Xie Wanrou forced a bitter smile and nodded.

When they arrived at the Dali Temple, someone led them inside.

The place exuded solemn authority. Guards wearing sabers stood everywhere, expressionless, staring at every person who entered or left.

Though it was late spring and warm, Xie Wanrou shivered for no reason.

As they passed through the courtyard, she saw tall judicial drums hanging prominently on both sides, an awe-inspiring sight.

The official leading them did not take them into the main trial hall but instead to a small side building.

Jiang Yuelin was reviewing case files.

“My lord, the Old Madam of the Marquis Manor and Miss Xie have arrived.”

Jiang Yuelin lifted his head from the thick stack of case documents. The first person he saw was Xie Wanrou.

Her expression was grave, her eyes trembling slightly. Her entire body was tense.

Jiang Yuelin nodded at her and stood up. “Old Madam, Miss Xie, please sit.”

The two of them sat down.

Wei Zhaorong spoke first: “Lord Jiang, Rou’er is timid. As her mother, I cannot set my mind at ease, so I accompanied her. I hope you will be understanding.”

Jiang Yuelin replied, “Miss Xie has not yet fully recovered from her illness. It is only right that someone accompany her. Originally, I intended to visit the Marquis Manor in person, but official duties have kept me occupied. I had no choice but to send someone to invite Miss Xie here.”

Wei Zhaorong nodded.

“Lord Jiang, for what matter have you summoned Rou’er? Please speak.”

Jiang Yuelin picked up a sheet of paper from the desk and handed it to Xie Wanrou.

“Lei Lieshan embezzled military funds and concealed the silver in various money houses as well as in the storerooms of the General of Mighty Valor. After inventory checks and confrontations, it was discovered that under Luo Feiyang’s name, he deposited a large sum of money at Licheng Bank—silver, land deeds, shop contracts, and house titles, among other assets.”

Xie Wanrou frowned slightly. She had no knowledge whatsoever of what Jiang Yuelin was describing.

“Lord Jiang, Lei Lieshan’s embezzlement of military funds has nothing to do with Rou’er. She is merely a woman of the inner quarters—how would she understand such matters?”

Wei Zhaorong spoke up in defense of her daughter.

Lei Lieshan was covered in filth; she would not let him drag Xie Wanrou down with him.

“Old Madam, you misunderstand.”

Wei Zhaorong and Xie Wanrou exchanged a glance. A misunderstanding?

Jiang Yuelin smiled faintly. “Upon investigation, the properties under Luo Feiyang’s name are not the proceeds of Lei Lieshan’s embezzlement—they are Miss Xie’s dowry.”

“What?!” Wei Zhaorong’s eyes widened in fury. “Lei Lieshan used Rou’er’s dowry to curry favor with his mistress? This is outrageous!”

Xie Wanrou also covered her mouth in shock.

Her dowry had always been stored in the General’s Manor treasury, secured with a lock—the key kept in her own possession.

Lei Lieshan had once asked her for the key, saying he needed to retrieve something from inside.

Xie Wanrou had not suspected anything and handed it over without hesitation.

Now it seemed that Lei Lieshan had taken the opportunity to make a duplicate key, allowing him to enter the storeroom whenever he wished and take her dowry.

“For the Lei family to commit such a vile act—does the law mean nothing to them?” Wei Zhaorong was furious, her knuckles cracking as she clenched her fists. The slap she most wanted to deliver should land squarely on Lei Lieshan’s face.

Xie Wanrou’s expression was equally grim. She had once believed that as a military general, Lei Lieshan possessed integrity and backbone. She had never imagined he would be such a shameless villain, greedy enough to covet his own wife’s dowry.

She had treated others with sincerity. She had honestly stored her dowry in the general’s residence treasury, even freely handing the key to Lei Lieshan when he asked. And this was how he had repaid her—by calculating against her.

“Lord Jiang… what you’re saying—is it true?” Xie Wanrou asked, her voice trembling.

Jiang Yuelin nodded. “Lei Lieshan could not withstand the torture and confessed personally. Luo Feiyang has also confirmed that it is true.”

A hollow laugh escaped her.

Xie Wanrou’s heart was as cold as ashes. The years she had spent at the General’s Residence of Weiyuan had truly been wasted—losing both husband and fortune, left with injuries all over her body, and even her dowry stolen.

She had been foolish—foolish to the extreme—to allow herself to be trampled under the Lei family’s feet.

As an outsider, Jiang Yuelin should not have interfered in another family’s private affairs. But the Emperor had ordered a thorough investigation of Lei Lieshan. Every sum of silver he had secretly stored had to be accounted for.

“These are the detailed records of all the assets under Luo Feiyang’s name in the money houses,” Jiang Yuelin said. “Miss Xie, Madam Dowager of the Marquis, please take a look and see whether they belong to the Marquis residence’s dowry. There is also a sum of silver engraved with the seal of the Mingde Marquis Residence. The amount is clearly recorded here.”

It was precisely for this reason that Jiang Yuelin had suspected the property might be Xie Wanrou’s dowry.

Xie Wanrou’s emotions surged violently. The hand holding the document trembled.

What an adulterous pair—unwilling even to spare silver engraved with an official seal.

Her vision blurred, making it almost impossible to read the words on the page.

Jiang Yuelin did not urge her, quietly waiting for her to steady herself.

He had expected a long wait. Instead, Xie Wanrou quickly composed herself and carefully checked each record.

She read swiftly, but did not miss a single word or line.

Under intense concentration, she even read it twice to ensure there were no mistakes.

After a quarter of an hour, Xie Wanrou said, “Lord Jiang, everything listed here is my dowry.”

Jiang Yuelin nodded. “Very well. In that case, I will report back to His Majesty. This sum will be retained and not confiscated, to be returned to Miss Xie in the future. Please sign beneath the document as evidence.”

Xie Wanyi picked up the brush and signed her name.

Jiang Yuelin instructed his men to secure the evidence, then rose to escort the two women out.

When they passed beneath the law drum once more, Xie Wanrou suddenly stopped and looked up.

“Lord Jiang, will Lei Lieshan be convicted and punished?”

A gentle early summer breeze swept past.

“Yes.”

The single word was light, yet it struck the ground with weight.

“Thank you.”

When she sat back inside the carriage, Xie Wanrou was completely different from before.

Her gaze was firm, as though she had made a certain decision.

“Mother, I want a divorce. And I want my dowry back.”

It was the first time Wei Zhaorong had seen her once-weak daughter burst forth with such resolute fighting spirit.

She felt secretly relieved—and heartbroken at the same time.

The price of growth had been far too great.

The growth Xie Wanrou had bought with nearly her life had been too painful, too costly.

Because in this world, nothing is more important than one’s own life.

“Rou’er, don’t worry. Mother will help you.”

Previously, Wei Zhaorong had gone to see the Emperor to request an imperial decree permitting the divorce. But after waiting a long time, there had been no response.

After today’s visit to the Court of Judicial Review, Wei Zhaorong could wait no longer. Tomorrow, she would enter the palace once again and personally plead with the Emperor to issue the decree.