Chapter 490 Retrieving the Dowry

Chapter 490: Retrieving the Dowry

"Besides, it was your idea to have Ming Xia impersonate Xin Yu and marry in her place. Now that Xin Yu is gone, Ming Xia's substitution is a done deal. We've already promised the Crown Prince and Princess Ye—there's no turning back now, don't you understand!?"

Xu Shi looked as if she'd been jolted awake by a thunderclap. Her heart lurched, and she abruptly released her husband's hand.

Yes, this was her idea, and now there was no turning back!

They couldn't risk offending Princess Ye, and the Crown Prince was even more untouchable.

Between the two, offending Princess Ye was the safer bet.

A bitter lump formed in Xu Shi's throat at the thought. "Then, my lord, use this silver as Ming Xia's dowry!"

After all, the silver was still hers in the end—she'd find a way to get it back later!

Meanwhile, Magistrate Zhong had his men pack up all of Zhong Xinyu's dowry into chests, to be delivered to the Prince Ye Manor the following day.

At the crack of dawn the next day, Ming Xia was yanked out of bed and stuffed into a pink bridal gown.

After putting on her human skin mask and completing her grooming, Xu Shi shot her a vicious glare. "Don't forget what I told you. Once you're in the Prince Ye Manor, you need to play the fool every now and then, and whatever you do, don't let Princess Ye touch your face, got it?"

Ming Xia obediently replied, "Yes, madam, I understand!"

Xu Shi wasn't finished and kept rambling. "And as for that dowry—without my say-so, you don't touch a single tael of silver. If you're short on cash, go ask Princess Ye—she's loaded."

"And besides that, you do everything I say. Whatever I tell you, you do it without question. I'll send someone to pass you a message when the time comes."

She then pulled a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve and pressed it into Ming Xia's hand.

"And take this medicine. You might have use for it down the road."

Ming Xia's eyes went wide, and her mouth fell open. "Madam, what is this?"

Xu Shi's gaze turned sinister, and she said coldly, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Get in the bridal sedan!"

She couldn't be bothered to explain herself. The medicine had just been delivered by the Crown Prince's men. They gave no detailed instructions—only that Miss Zhong should hold onto it and that he'd send word when it was time to use it.

Xu Shi just handed it to Ming Xia. After a brief hesitation, Ming Xia tucked the bottle into her bodice and climbed into the sedan.

Word that Prince Ye was taking Miss Zhong as a concubine spread like wildfire.

The sedan made its way to the Prince Ye Manor, and with the dowry trailing behind, the crowd of onlookers kept growing.

No one had expected Prince Ye to agree to take a concubine, especially since Princess Ye herself had helped arrange it.

Meanwhile, inside the Prince Ye Manor.

Tao Zhi paced the courtyard in a panic and asked Chen Hu, "The Princess still isn't back?"

Chen Hu shook his head. "No, she's been gone a while. We'll just have to wait."

Just then, Hong Xiu ran in, "Sister Tao Zhi, the Zhong family's sedan is at our front gate. Should we open the back door and let them in?"

Chen Hu's expression hardened. "No, they can't come in. The Princess said we have to wait for her to get back."

"Since their sedan's here, let them wait outside. A little waiting won't kill them."

He then thought of something and added, "Oh, and the Zhong family's dowry can be brought in through the back door first, but the sedan has to wait."

Outside the Prince Ye Manor's front gate, the place was packed, and both sides of the street were clogged with people.

Xu Shi stared at the firmly shut gates, anger flaring inside her.

She was about to have someone knock when Magistrate Zhong yanked her back.

He whispered, "Today is Yu'er's big day. Better to keep the peace than stir up trouble—don't cause a scene!"

Xu Shi frowned, annoyed. "My lord, am I the one causing a scene?"

"Our Zhong family's sedan is already at the Prince Ye Manor's doorstep. I refuse to believe Princess Ye doesn't know we're here. What's she playing at, shutting us out?"

Magistrate Zhong sighed. "It's still early. Let's wait a little longer—maybe Princess Ye will come out soon!"

Luo Jingshen sat in a tavern across the street, watching the scene below with a cold sneer.

"Ji Yuntang isn't having second thoughts, too scared to open the door, is she?"

Linchuan, seeing his master in an unusually good mood, quickly poured a cup of wine and chimed in, "What good would second thoughts do? Princess Ye gave her word. Now that the Zhong family has delivered their daughter to the door, even if she doesn't want Prince Ye taking a concubine, she's got no choice!"

Luo Jingshen tossed back the cup in one gulp, then crossed his legs lazily and said, "Exactly. It's perfectly normal for a man to have a house full of wives and concubines. These women who dream of one man loving one woman forever—that's just wishful thinking until the man gets bored!"

"My third brother may be crippled, but deep down he still wants a woman. Ji Yuntang's pretty, sure, but her temper's too sharp. No man could put up with that. I don't believe Luo Junhe can take it forever."

Linchuan nodded in agreement. "The Crown Prince speaks the truth. This Miss Zhong is crazy, and once she's in the Prince Ye Manor, there's bound to be a good show!"

The master and servant exchanged a sly grin. Luo Jingshen asked Linchuan, "By the way, that poison I had you deliver to the Zhong residence—did you give it to Magistrate Zhong?"

"I handed it to his wife, Xu Shi. She should've passed it to Miss Zhong by now!" Linchuan said.

Luo Jingshen nodded. "Once she's inside, find a way to get her to slip the poison into Luo Junhe's and Ji Yuntang's food. If they die, perfect. If they don't and Ji Yuntang finds out, she can hardly hold a crazy woman accountable, can she?"

"I'm not counting on that Miss Zhong to get Luo Junhe to divorce his wife anymore. I just hope she can poison him. Even if Ji Yuntang investigates, the Zhong family will take the blame—it won't come back to me at all."

Linchuan smiled. "The Crown Prince has thought of everything."

Just as Chen Hu and the others were at their wits' end, Ji Yuntang came back!

They rushed over. "Princess, you're finally back! If we don't open the gates soon, the Zhong family's going to make a scene!"

Ji Yuntang let down her hair and pulled off her black mask, as calm and collected as ever.

"No matter. Prince Chen's men are stationed outside—they won't dare force their way in. Allow this Princess to go change first."

Fifteen minutes later, Ji Yuntang emerged from her room, fully dressed. Her face was done up with exquisite makeup, her beauty breathtaking and her figure willowy, dressed in a magnificent gown of gold-threaded brocade—opulent yet refined.

------------