Chapter 377: Is the Lu Family So Poor They Have to Covet Others’ Dowries?

Chapter 377: Is the Lu Family So Poor They Have to Covet Others' Dowries?

The old grand tutor, Lu, said, "What does it matter to me if you were deceived? It wasn't me who deceived you."

Lord Zheng said, "Your granddaughter-in-law, Fang Jinxiu, is not my daughter. The dowry that was taken should naturally be returned. Grand Tutor, I speak respectfully to you because I respect you. If you don't return it, we'll go to the Emperor to settle this."

"Hmph, do as you please. At my age and as the current Emperor's teacher, could I be afraid of you?"

He believed the Emperor would give him face, considering Zheng Ji was nothing compared to him.

Lord Zheng's lips twitched, then he sneered, thinking of something. "Do you think what you're occupying is merely the property of my Zheng family? No, that was the dowry prepared for my Zheng family's legitimate daughter. My daughter is marrying Prince Chen, which means this belongs to the Prince Chen family, to the Princess Consort. You're holding onto the Princess Consort's belongings—do you think the Emperor will still help you?"

Grand Tutor Lu was stunned, his lips trembling.

Who dared to compete with the Princess Consort? Even Consort Shu and the Crown Prince couldn't win against her.

"So, Grand Tutor Lu, do you still want to go to the Emperor to settle this with me?"

Lord Zheng felt like his child had been switched and he had been deceived; he was the aggrieved party.

It was already bad enough to have raised an enemy's child, but to also lose the dowry—it was a great injustice. He deserved to get the dowry back.

Now bringing up the Princess Consort, he felt he had a sure victory.

By now, many people were passing by on the street, and upon learning the reason for their dispute, they all sympathized with Zheng Ji.

Word spread that their child had been switched, and they had raised an enemy's child, only to lose the dowry too.

He only wanted to reclaim the dowry that was taken from him, yet the old man refused.

How pitiful was this?

Whispers in the crowd grew louder, and soon some began to curse, saying the Lu family was shameless.

The Zheng family had suffered enough, yet the Lu family still coveted the dowry prepared for their legitimate daughter.

Was the Lu family so poor?

The Lu family members turned red with embarrassment.

Grand Tutor Lu was particularly furious, his face turning green.

He regretted not resolving this behind closed doors instead of choosing to drag it out in public.

Seeing the crowd's words becoming increasingly harsh, he could no longer bear it.

He whispered something to the steward, who then carried him back inside.

The Lu family steward said to Lord Zheng, "Our old grand tutor invites you to the front hall."

Lord Zheng nodded and followed him.

Cui Huai and Cui Tai followed as well.

The Lu steward said, "Lord Zheng, perhaps the servants can stay behind."

Huh?

Servants?

Lord Zheng replied, "What servants? These are the fifth and sixth masters of the Cui family, here to support their niece. Where did you see any servants?"

"Oh? My apologies, my eyes are poor. Gentlemen, please come in."

They went inside, and Cui Yongnian nudged Zheng Jinyu, who was hiding in the crowd. "Do you want to go in?"

Zheng Jinyu said, "We've come this far, let's go."

"Alright, I'd like to see too."

As the first three entered, Cui Yongnian and Zheng Jinyu followed.

They were stopped at the gate by the Lu family guards.

"Stop."

Cui Yongnian said, "We're with Lord Zheng and the two Cui lords who just went in."

"Why didn't you go in together?"

Cui Yongnian: "..."

Zheng Jinyu stepped forward and said, "I am Zheng Jinyu, the Zheng family's legitimate daughter. I'm here to reclaim the dowry meant for the Zheng family's legitimate daughter. Your grand tutor has invited us in, yet you won't let us pass. Do you want to discuss this here?"

The guards looked at each other.

In fact, they recognized Cui Yongnian and had seen Zheng Jinyu before, during the young master's wedding.

Those responsible for guarding the gate usually had better eyesight and remembered faces after seeing them once or twice.

After a moment's thought, they stepped aside to let them in.

As Lord Zheng and the others entered to negotiate with Grand Tutor Lu, a servant reported that Cui Yongnian and Zheng Jinyu had arrived.

Grand Tutor Lu was stunned, then sneered, "Just a dowry, yet the whole family, young and old, comes along."

Lord Zheng was surprised too, but hearing Grand Tutor Lu's mocking words, he retorted without backing down.

"If it's just a dowry, why won't the grand tutor let go of it?"

"You..."

"Ha."

As they spoke, Zheng Jinyu and Cui Yongnian had already entered. The two of them respectfully bowed to the elders in the room and then stood to the side.

This was the first time Cui Huai and Cui Tai had seen Zheng Jinyu. Upon seeing her, they were momentarily reminded of their sister who was about to be married years ago.

"This is Jinyu; she looks just like her mother."

"Uncles Five and Six, greetings."

"Oh, what a good child. We've heard about your situation; you've suffered."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the conversation turned back to the dowry.

Once they received the dowry, they could slowly establish familial ties.

"Is Mr. Qinghe also getting involved in this matter?" Grand Tutor Lu asked Cui Yongnian.

Cui Yongnian smiled and said, "I am a junior and shouldn't get involved. Please continue your discussion, don't mind me."

His implication was that he wasn't getting involved; he was just there for the spectacle.

Grand Tutor Lu was left speechless, and with a cold humph, he instructed someone nearby, "Why haven't you gone to call Lu Shen and Fang Jinxiu yet?"

The servant quickly went out.

Lu Shen was sleeping in Fang Erya's room and woke up early, but didn't get up. He lay in bed chatting with Fang Erya about important matters.

Lu Shen was currently undergoing treatment and couldn't do much physically, so he only talked and imagined.

He hadn't gotten up at this hour yet.

Only when the servant came to report did he start getting dressed.

Fang Jinxiu had woken up earlier but had just finished feeding the baby and hadn't eaten breakfast yet.

Neither of them knew that a big drama had already played out early in the morning.

Hearing that Old Master was looking for them, they didn't dare delay and quickly changed into their clothes and went to the front hall.

Fang Jinxiu arrived first and, upon seeing Lord Zheng and others, felt a sense of foreboding.

"Father, why are you here?"

Lord Zheng replied indifferently, "Madam has mistaken someone else for her father. I am not your father."

It was only then that Cui Huai and Cui Tai realized that this woman was the adopted daughter of the Zheng family.

Recalling Qingqing's letter home, mentioning setting up Yongnian with the Zheng family's eldest daughter—could it be her?

She had praised the daughter as being excellently educated by her. So what if she was excellent? She wasn't even a biological daughter.

Oh, Qingqing, how foolish.

How could an adopted daughter match Yongnian?

Both of their faces darkened.

Fang Jinxiu's eyes were wet, and her voice choked with emotion.

"No matter what happens with the Fangs, I won't recognize them. In my heart, Father can only be you."

Grand Tutor Lu said, "Indeed, Zheng Zhi, look, the mistake was made by the adults. What does it have to do with the child? The child is fine, remembering your kindness and recognizing only you. Why must you take out your anger on her because of the Fang couple?"

Lord Zheng sneered, "Grand Tutor, aren't you just trying to covet our family's property with all these words?"

Grand Tutor Lu: "..."

"Grand Tutor, no matter what you say today, I will take back our family's property. You figure it out."

Figure it out? What could he do?