chatted as they made their way home to sleep. 。The women were busy tidying up the table, washing dishes, dividing the leftovers, and then rushed home to see if the drunkards had vomited all over. 。Li...They each took a copy and for a moment, remained silent.

Now, when Jiao saw this, he quickly got up from the ground and shouted loudly, “Mrs. Cui, our Hou Mansion's temple is small and cannot afford a great Buddha like you. Please leave quickly!”

Mrs. Cui tossed the divorce paper in her hand, but she smiled triumphantly all over her face.

"Rest assured, I'm definitely leaving, but things that belong to me, I'm taking them. Like my... dowry!"

Ding Beihou's face immediately changed, and he suddenly felt like he had fallen into a trap!

"What dowry" the Duke of Dingbei said coldly. "You've been married for nearly twenty years, your dowry has long since been spent clean. If there was any left, it was all thrown away when we moved the capital to the north."

“My lord, you’re quite the joker. When I married you, I came with all the pomp and circumstance of a ten-mile red parade, bringing with me half of the Cui family's fortune. Even those two thousand taels of silver kept in the secret vault, which you used to curry favor with your superiors and put on airs, those antiques, jade ornaments, and landholdings are still yours, aren’t they” Madam Cui calmly poured herself another cup of tea.

Jiao Shi recalled the locked rooms next to the study in the front yard, and a guess formed in his mind.

Although the Lord usually refused to let her manage things, as it was still part of the Hou Manor, she naturally wouldn't want it taken away. So, she jumped in and chimed in.

“Sister, this is where you’re wrong. The marquis leaving you was a way to spare your face. How can you still be concerned about the dowry from so many years ago For all these years, within the Marquis household's marriages and events, as the mistress, you haven't contributed in any way, you should at least contribute some belongings and silver!”

“It's ridiculous! I’ve never heard of such a thing. Even concubines and illegitimate children getting married require money from the legitimate wife Why don't you go out and ask someone to judge this for everyone, and let them all hear how Duke Dingbei has been living off his wife's dowry for so many years! He’s eating soft rice and relying on his wife. And in the end, he abandons her! This is simply the most ungrateful and heartless white-eyed wolf in Tianwu!”

Mrs. Cui was merciless with her words, and those around her had already dispersed, leaving only her to vent her anger freely.

At this time, Old Master Liu took out an old booklet.

"Before Master Cui's daughter got married, he specially invited the three of us to his house. We personally inspected the dowry and signed our names on the dowry list, just to be prepared for this day. I originally thought it was unnecessary, but unexpectedly, the Master really knows how to pick people."

He put the booklet on the table and sneered, "Just like Jinrou said, dowry silver can be spent, but gold, silver, jewelry, land deeds, and shops must be returned!"

Mrs. Cui added, "Most of the gold, silver, and jewelry in my dowry were brought to the Cui family by my mother, all with marks on them. My lord should not try to hide them; otherwise, if anyone sees one later, I can accuse my lord of theft. As for those shops and land holdings, they are all in Tizhou. Over these many years, the income has gone to the Hou Mansion. There wouldn't be less than 100,000 taels of silver, maybe even 60,000. I haven't asked for any of this; it's already out of loyalty."

Dingbei Hou clenched his fists, his face was so cold it could cut through ice. He stared at the dowry list, with no room for further denials.

He also knew that the Choi family's dowry was valuable. Over the years, even when he needed to buy gifts, he tried his best to purchase them outside, rarely using it. He never expected that now he would have to return everything!

This is like making him spit out the fat he's already swallowed!

But if we don't give the dowry, things will be impossible. There have been rumors in court these days that the Emperor is about to reinstate Mr. Liu, the retired old minister. If we don't release the dowry today, we'll become enemies with the Liu family later...

"Alright, I'll return your dowry, but from now on we will sever all ties and never see each other again."

Mrs. Cui didn't even give him a glance, only looking at Liu Zhiheng.

Liu Zhiheng immediately took the dowry list and said with a smile, “Master Hou, please. Count it early so we can leave earlier.”

Lord Dingbei strode out, and Madam Cui, worried, followed after him.

For so many years, her dowry had been locked away in the Hou residence's storeroom. She had mentally prepared herself; the silks and satins, as well as the gold and silver, were certainly gone.

But unexpectedly, all her jewelry adornments, gold, silver, jade, ancient books, and wooden artifacts were there.

Not even a single piece was lost or damaged due to the sudden southward movement!

She was unsure whether to cry or laugh. On one hand, she was glad that she could take back most of her dowry. On the other hand, it pained her that her husband would rather bring these inanimate objects than her.

But Jiao Shi, who chased after him, was heartbroken. So many good things were actually being sent out the door!

Not only that, but Liu Zhiheng also pressed Duke Dingbei relentlessly.

"My Lord, the list is missing a pair of jade Ruyis. Didn't you put them in your study Please take them out quickly. These Ruyis were added to her dowry when Princess Jinrou got married. My mother specially selected them from her dowry and marked them. If my lord intends to sell them, please let me know so I can redeem them."

The Duke of Dingbei blushed, gritting his teeth and instructing Jiao Shi, "Take out the pair of jade ruyi from the dowry we gave them back then, and return it to them!"

Jiao Shi didn't expect this would happen to her, and immediately exclaimed, "My Lord Hou, that pair of Ruyi pendants is my dowry, I can't take them out!"

Liu Zhiheng smiled sarcastically, "Aiyo, the Lord Hou isn't easy either. Taking his legal wife's dowry and divorcing her to marry a new one, if this gets out, it'll be quite the scandal."

The Marquis of Dingbei was furious and shouted, "Go get it back! And when you find a better one, I'll give you a reward!"

Jo refused to disobey, could only endure the heartache and took back the jade Ruyi.

Liu Zhiheng closed the dowry booklet with a satisfied smile, then patted the box containing deeds to the land and shops in his hand. He chuckled.

"My Lord, for all these years, the output from Jinerou's shops and fields has been given to the Marquisate. The Marquisate shouldn't be too stingy now, should it You can bring back the manpower, but the things in the shops and the grain from the fields, you mustn't take them away. After all, making too much of a fuss would lead to endless speculation from outsiders, and it wouldn't look good on the Marquis's face."

Having said that, he ignored what the Marquis of Dingbei had to say and began shouting at his own men to start moving things out.

One truck after another, a total of over twenty trucks!

And Old Master Liu and the others waited until the last carriage left in front of Hou Mansion's gate before they got up to say goodbye.

Ding Bei Hou and Jiao Shi's faces were ashen, looking terrible.

Seeing Mrs. Cui walk away so freely, with a large sum of wealth and her beloved jade Ruyi pendant, Jiao felt indignant. He shouted out loudly.

“Sister Cui, you are no longer a member of the Hou Residence. In the future, lead an honest life and do not use the name of the Hou Residence to deceive others. After all, your reputation is tarnished, you are like a faded flower. Don't shame us! We still have some dignity!”

Mrs. Cui had not originally intended to hold a grudge against her, after all, men were unreliable. But with wealth at her disposal, life would surely be better in the future.

Unexpectedly, Jiao Shi refused to let it go. Naturally, she couldn't bear it and leave without saying anything.

Then, she turned her head and looked up and down at Jiao Shi, smiling and asking.

"Mother only gave birth to me, where did you come from claiming to be my sister Our Cui family is renowned for its scholarship, my father holds the esteemed position of Minister of Education. Even if he devoted one percent of his effort to educating his daughters, he couldn't produce someone as foolish as you! In the future, refrain from making reckless connections, lest others think you despise the Jiao family's wealth and seek a different father!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Jiao shi was furious and wanted to retort, but Jiao fu didn't give her a chance.

She, upon appointing him Northern Marquis, chuckled again and said, “Oh, I forgot! You've already found yourself a father! When you two are out and about, it's best to keep some distance. Otherwise, anyone looking at you might think that’s a father taking his daughter out!”

Now, even Ding Beihou would be angry enough to spit blood, "You are being presumptuous!"e playing on his lips.After a few breaths, he took another deep drag. This time his expression had calmed down considerably...In the next room, the Emperor retreated in silence.Yi Zongtang carefully p...