Chapter 8

Once the outsider had left, Xie Bi was about to erupt when he saw tears welling in Li Ruolan’s eyes.

“Did you really give my dowry to a concubine?”

“I…” He was stopped short.

“I thought we were husband and wife, one family. I meant to leave that dowry to our future children. But you’ve never even regarded me as one of your own.”

Li Ruolan wiped her tears.

“If it were ordinary jewelry, I could have let it go for the sake of your fondness for your concubine. But those pieces are ancestral treasures of my family. Now they’ve appeared on a concubine’s person. If my family hears of it, how am I to explain? And how will you face them?”

Not only had the whole household witnessed today’s farce, the people at Qianjin Jewelers would certainly spread it everywhere.

It would be difficult to conceal. Once his wife’s family learned of it, where would Xie Bi’s dignity be?

He swallowed every word of abuse he had been about to utter. Instead, he slammed the table and turned on Concubine Rou.

“Return everything that belongs to my wife!”

Only then did Concubine Rou understand that all the costly jewels and ornaments her beloved had given her had been stolen from his wife’s dowry.

She had suffered a disastrous loss and acquired the name of thief into the bargain. The entire household was laughing at her.

How could someone so determined always to have the upper hand endure that?

I heard she smashed everything in her room after returning and quarreled with Xie Bi.

She had only herself to blame for forgetting her place. A few days of indulgence had gone to her head; she thought he would coax her as he always had.

But Xie Bi had been looking for somewhere to vent his fury. He left her with a few harsh words and walked out.

He did not return home for several days.

When the news reached the main courtyard, Li Ruolan was counting her recovered dowry pieces one by one.

“Aunt Chun, this jade bracelet is for you. Without your plan, I could never have got everything back so easily.”

She was delighted.

The bracelet was beautifully translucent, obviously fine jade. I kept my expression composed.

“You were willing to follow my advice this time, my lady. Weren’t you afraid of falling out with your husband and displeasing him?”

She snorted.

“He can steal my dowry and give it away. Why should I still worry about making him angry? I was far too weak before. It’s shameful to think of it now.”

I smiled faintly and pushed the bracelet back.

“What use has a woman my age for so much jewelry? Keep it for your children, my lady.”

Her expression grew grave.

“What happened today frightened me. If Concubine Rou gives birth to his eldest son, will Xie Bi hand her the whole family estate?”

We looked at one another. A long time passed before I spoke.

“Since you’ve made up your mind, my lady, this old woman will stand by you.”