Being Forceful Is Better than Being Gentle?

The reason Hua Qianqian made such a fuss was to lure Xiao Yan out.

Despite his mistreatment towards her, compared to the other cunning and deceitful individuals in the Xiao family, he could still be considered a man of his word. Only with him present could she retrieve her dowry.

“Xiao Yan, the audacity of your unruly behavior in your residence has truly broadened my horizons. I simply want to reclaim my dowry, yet your mother claims I have gone mad and wants to send me to the countryside. Are you planning to silence me secretly and then swallow my dowry?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows and turned to look at his mother and younger sister.

“Brother, don’t listen to this despicable woman’s nonsense. That bracelet clearly belongs to me, and she was never favored in the Hua Mansion. Where did she get all these dowries from?”

Hua Qianqian almost burst into laughter at Xiao Lan’s words.

She called for Qiutao and loudly commanded, “Go fetch my dowry list!”

Qiutao swiftly obeyed and returned with a ledger, handing it to Hua Qianqian.

She took the ledger and gently shook it, causing the long list to cascade onto the ground, with the seal of the Yongning Earl’s Mansion imprinted at the end.

As she looked at that seal, Hua Qianqian’s eyes welled up with tears.

When she wanted to help Hua Shuyue marry into Yongning Earl’s Mansion, her maternal grandmother vehemently opposed it.

However, when she insisted on marrying, her grandmother prepared a generous dowry for her and instructed her to bring it into the mansion, ensuring that the Xiao family would affix their seal to prevent them from taking her dowry and denying it later.

Her grandmother had foreseen everything, always considering her well-being.

Yet, in her past life, she severed ties with them for the sake of these people before her now.

The thought of this caused a pang in Hua Qianqian’s heart.

Her voice trembled as she spoke, “This is my dowry list. When it was brought into the mansion, it passed your inspection and was sealed with your family’s mark. Each item is recorded. I brought in thirty-two loads of dowry, and now only ten remain. Tell me, where did these dowries go? This bracelet, the brocade on Madam Xiao’s body, and even the jade pendant hanging from your waist, aren’t they all from my dowry? If you’re not blind, then see for yourself!”

Xiao Yan’s face reddened as he looked at the long list of dowries.

Divorcing and returning the dowry was indeed the right thing to do.

He had never intended to mistreat her, for that would be ungentlemanly.

Madam Xiao’s eyebrows shot up as she looked at the long list. She never expected this cunning woman to have such a trick up her sleeve!

“My son, don’t listen to her nonsense. These items were all presented to us by her willingly! Besides, she has already married into the Yongning Earl's Mansion, so naturally, her dowry belongs to the mansion as well. You don’t need to worry about this. Leave it to me.”

Qiutao, with an indignant expression, stepped forward and blocked Hua Qianqian, “You’re spouting nonsense! These items were taken by you all, not given by our young Lady! Our young Lady has already divorced Lord. If you dare to harm her, I’ll fight against you!”

“Divorced?” When Qiutao uttered those words, both Xiao Lan and Madam Xiao thought they had misheard!

Hua Qianqian, a woman like her, divorced Xiao Yan. It was a joke!

“Qiutao, stop causing trouble for the young Lady!” Madam Xiao scolded.

Bihe, who was still kneeling on the ground, immediately brightened up when she saw Xiao Yan. With a mournful expression, she pleaded, “Lord, please forgive my Lady. The reason she acted this way is because she was upset with you. Lord, I beg you, with just a word from you, my Lady will surely apologize and stay.”

Upon hearing Bihe’s words, Xiao Yan instantly understood Hua Qianqian’s intentions behind this commotion.

She started with a soft approach but now resorted to threats, hoping to force him to compromise.

“Hua Qianqian, you have revealed your true face!” Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. “Since I have already written the divorce letter, we have severed all ties. Don’t expect me to turn back!”

Hua Qianqian gave Xiao Yan a disdainful look, completely unexpected of his self-absorption.

“Since Xiao Yan is aware of our separation, it would be delightful if you could promptly return my dowry. Thirty-two carriages of dowry, consisting of six hundred and sixty items. Make sure not to miss a single one!”

Xiao Yan’s lips trembled with anger.

“How am I supposed to find all these things for you now? You’re clearly making things difficult for me!”

“No rush,” Hua Qianqian slowly withdrew the list of dowry items. “I’ll give you ten days.”

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yan replied, “Fine, ten days it is. But let me tell you, during these ten days, don’t even think about any devious plans. Once I return your dowry, I never want to see you again in the Earl's Mansion!”

A faint smile appeared on Hua Qianqian’s face, revealing a long-lost radiance.

The slight dimples instantly brought life to her once bloated face.

Her smile unknowingly pierced Xiao Yan’s heart.

“It seems that Xiao Yan and I have reached the same conclusion. In this lifetime, I have no need to see you again. However, I must remind Heir Xiao that these dowry items must be handed over to me. Otherwise, I won’t acknowledge them!”

What she wanted was for Xiao Yan to agree to compensate her for the dowry.

She didn’t want to stay in the Yongning Earl’s Mansion for even a moment, which is why she gave Xiao Yan ten days of leeway.

Xiao Yan initially thought that Hua Qianqian would stay in the residence to delay time during these ten days, but to his surprise, she had the accompanying carriage drivers load all the trunks onto the carriage.

Bihe was stunned. She never expected Hua Qianqian to leave the residence.

Did that mean she would have to leave as well?

Just as she was contemplating how to stay in Yongning Earl’s Mansion, Hua Qianqian calmly said to Qiutao, “Find someone and sell Bihe!”

Upon hearing this, Bihe’s legs immediately gave way, and she collapsed in front of Xiao Yan, pleading, “Lord, please save me! How can I survive if I’m sold away?”

Xiao Yan was also furious. “What has she done wrong that you would sell her without reason?” “She is my servant girl, and I no longer need her. If I want to sell her, what does it have to do with you?”

Xiao Yan felt that Hua Qianqian was doing all of this to threaten him.

Clenching his teeth, he said, “Since you want to sell her, then sell her to us. A'gui, bring fifty taels of silver!”

Without even sparing a glance at Xiao Yan, Hua Qianqian calmly uttered two words, “Not selling.” Then, she boarded the carriage.

Qiutao had long been displeased with Bihe’s deceitful actions.

Just a few days ago, she had seen Bihe sneaking around Xiao Yan’s study, her ulterior motives written all over her face.

Whenever Qiutao mentioned this to her Lady, Bihe would always come up with a bunch of excuses to deceive her.

Now that Lady finally figured out Bihe’s nature, Qiutao was overjoyed and immediately called for a servant to take Bihe away.