Chapter 13: Pursuing dowry as capital

Madam Zhang's face immediately turned red.

What's the reason?

The logic behind this is clear: while Lady Ruyi was pregnant, Madam Zhang got involved with the Marquis before officially entering the household, and soon after marriage, she gave birth to a child in less than eight months.

Liu Yan'er is an illegitimate child, a product of adultery!

However, to save face, the Marquis publicly claimed that Liu Yan'er was a premature baby!

"Liu Shimei, stop making baseless accusations!" Liu Yan'er's expression also turned unpleasant.

Liu Shimei sneered and said, "Like mother, like daughter. A mother with such a small-minded mentality will naturally raise a daughter with a malicious heart! Liu Yan'er, you have caused trouble for me, but today my target is not you. You can catch your breath for now!"

She turned to the furious Madam Zhang and said, "Madam Zhang, although you were promoted from a concubine to the main wife, the dowry my mother brought from her previous marriage is not something you can claim. You should hand over those things now!"

The original owner of the body loved music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Because the Marquis saw her as a pawn to climb the royal ladder, he never mistreated her.

She had never thought about mundane matters, nor had she cared about what happened to her mother's dowry after her mother's passing.

But now, Liu Shimei's mindset was different!

She came from a society where money was essential. In this world, without any relatives, only money could provide security!

If she didn't settle the matter of her mother's dowry, she would have no place to stand in the Duke Dunyu's residence in the future. Therefore, the most urgent matter was to reclaim her mother's dowry!

"Your mother didn't have any dowry!" Madam Zhang avoided eye contact with Liu Shimei and adamantly refused to admit that she had taken Lady Ruyi's dowry!

"Heh!"

Would Liu Shimei believe that?

Absolutely not!

She firmly said, "Madam Zhang! My mother came from the Liang family. Do you know the Liang family? My maternal grandfather was the former mighty general. Would his daughter have no dowry? Should I go to the Liang family and ask?"

The Liang family was a family of generals, but as time passed, the family's status declined after her grandfather retired. However, generals had hot tempers. If her grandfather found out that Madam Zhang had embezzled his deceased daughter's dowry, he would definitely come to settle the matter immediately!

After Lady Ruyi's death, the ties between the Liu family and the Liang family gradually faded. At that time, Liu Shimei was still young and didn't understand much. The Marquis didn't allow her to visit her maternal family, so she really didn't go to the Liang family. Over the years, they gradually grew apart.

"Shimei, don't be in a hurry." Madam Zhang's eyes shifted as she came up with a new plan. "As the wife of the prime minister with an official title, how could I embezzle your mother's dowry? I have been keeping it for you all along, intending to add to it when you marry into the royal family. But I didn't expect..."

"What didn't you expect?" Liu Shimei sneered and glanced at Liu Yan'er standing behind Madam Zhang.

It seemed that she was afraid of being beaten, as she appeared somewhat timid when she saw Liu Shimei.

With a cold smirk, Liu Shimei said, "Madam Zhang, are you thinking of using my mother's dowry to enhance your daughter's dowry when she marries into the royal family?"

Madam Zhang's face stiffened.

It turned out that they really had this plan!

If Liu Yan'er could be chosen as the Crown Princess, the Marquis's household dowry would certainly not be lacking. But wouldn't it be more respectable to include Liu Shimei's dowry as well?

Seeing the mother and daughter in this state, Liu Shimei understood: it seemed that her mother's dowry was not insignificant!

"Madam Zhang, those things belong to my mother. I didn't care about it when I was young, but now that I have a marriage engagement, shouldn't the things that belong to my mother be handed over?"