Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 139 Bringing Back the Dowry
Zhou Xuan used to be carefree and didn't care much about these things, but it's clear that the jinx in the Zhou family is different.

"Is Shen Jianshen waiting at home?" Zhou Zhao asked again.

The steward gave an awkward smile, his face becoming more ingratiating: "My master has already gone out on an errand and is not at home."

Zhou Zhao frowned upon hearing this. Shen Jianshen was indecisive and clearly intended to play the coward and stall.

“Go and call Shen Jianshen back now. If he hasn’t returned home before the dowry is taken stock, then we don’t need the divorce papers. We’ll just give him a divorce decree.”

The butler's pupils constricted sharply, and he stammered, "This...this..."

Zhou Zhao gave him no chance to speak. The four siblings went straight through the gate and headed straight for Zhou Xuan's courtyard.

Even from a distance, one could hear arguing coming from inside; it was the voice of Bai Ling, Zhou Xuan's head maid.

“My daughter asked us to take stock of her dowry, but the old lady came over and obstructed us. What is the meaning of this?”

While Old Madam Shen was in the courtyard, Zhou Zhao and Zhou Wan both looked at Zhou Xuan at the same time. Seeing that she looked unhappy, they couldn't help but feel angry.

"Your daughter is probably all bark and no bite. She said those things in the heat of the moment. She wants a divorce? If Zhou Xuan were to divorce, where would she find a noble family like our Shen family? She can't bear to part with her. Put all your things down and put them back."

Seeing Bai Ling speechless, Old Madam Shen became even more arrogant.

"You maid, how can you be so clueless? When your young lady returns and sees you making a scene, she'll probably be angry that you didn't give her a way out. After all, she's been married into our Shen family for so many years, not only eating and drinking for free, but also not leaving my son any descendants..."

Aside from our kind-hearted nature, who could tolerate this? If the Zhou family were sensible and knew proper etiquette, they should have taken the initiative to find a concubine for my son.”

As Zhou Xuan listened, he stood still, his fists clenched tightly, frozen in place.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhao kicked the courtyard gate, causing it to collapse. Old Madam Shen felt the noise and turned around sharply, only to be covered in dust. She covered her mouth and coughed desperately.

"With such a big mouth, it's no wonder that the ancestral graves of your Shen family can't emit any auspicious smoke; you've blown it all out."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he walked into the house and looked at Bai Ling, "Check the dowry list carefully. Not a single coin or piece of cloth can be missing. This is a woman's private property. My sister married into the Shen family, so this property belongs to the Zhou family."

Old Madam Shen coughed a few times, clearly not expecting that Zhou Xuan had actually returned today to file for divorce.

Hearing Zhou Zhao's words, she instantly became agitated. "What do you mean by that? This isn't the Court of Justice. Even if you're an official, you can't be unreasonable. Hasn't your sister eaten or worn anything all these years? How can she not be short of a single penny or a scrap of cloth?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhao sneered, "Didn't you just say that my sister was eating and drinking for free at your house? Since she's been eating and using your Shen family's food and supplies, then her dowry hasn't been used at all, has it? If she hasn't used it, and it's missing, then it must have been stolen. Did you steal it?"

Madam Shen's mind went blank. "I...I...I'm going to the Court of Justice to sue you! This is blatant robbery!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan, who had been standing frozen in front of the courtyard gate, could no longer contain herself and rushed in, standing angrily in front of Old Madam Shen.

Her eyes widened, her eyebrows stood on end, and her eyes were filled with burning anger. "From the first day I, Zhou Xuan, entered this house, I told you that I would not stoop to your level if you kept nagging me. I respected you because you were Shen Jianshen's mother."

"But if you dare bully my sister, don't blame me for disregarding our relationship. I've been in the Shen family for so many years, and I've always respected my parents-in-law and loved my siblings. I originally wanted to part ways amicably with Shen Jianshen, but you've all been preventing me, so let's get down to business."

As Zhou Xuan spoke, he pulled out the horsewhip from his waist and flicked it to the ground, leaving a deep mark.

"Your whole family are pretentious and ignorant of practical matters. The Shen family claims to be a scholarly family and a newly risen noble family in the court, but in reality, it's all show and no substance. Your father-in-law likes to collect rare stones, your mother-in-law loves beautiful jade, Shen Jianshen collects seal carvings, and the other brothers and sisters each have their own refined tastes. Where do you get your refined tastes? You don't need to buy them with the gold and silver you despise. Everyone says that your Shen family's wine is the best in the capital, and you've made a fortune from it. Put your hands on your conscience and think about it: when I first came here, wasn't that wine shop about to be sold off?"

Zhou Xuan clenched her fist. "Except for not bearing Shen Jianshen a son or daughter, as a wife of the Shen family, I, Zhou Xuan, have a clear conscience before heaven and earth and have done right by the ancestors of the Shen family."

Did I say that to your face in person? Nine out of ten old ladies in the capital look down on you because your face powder falls off whenever you speak; they're afraid you've applied arsenic and poisoned everyone at the table.

Madam Shen covered her face in disbelief. "You...you...what did you say?"

Zhou Xuan laughed heartily, "I've wanted to say this for a long time, but I've been held back by Shen Jianshen and my father-in-law. People outside laugh at him for being a sucker. The strange stone he bought for a lot of money last time was actually picked up by someone on the East River for free."

Madam Shen's vision went black, and she nearly fainted.

While Zhou Xuan was speaking, Zhou Wan had already started checking the dowry list one by one. Zhou Cheng'an kept his head down and silently directed Zhou Xuan's dowry, loading each item onto the car.

Zhou Wan watched silently, her gaze shifting before turning to Zhou Cheng'an. "Brother Cheng'an, there's a jade screen on this dowry list that was snatched away by that old lady from the Shen family. I want to get it back, but I'm afraid... Brother Cheng'an, you're my brother-in-law, could you..."

Hearing Zhou Wan's words, Zhou Zhao turned her head to the side and started again.

Zhou Cheng'an was as cowardly as a quail...

Before Zhou Zhao could finish thinking, he saw Zhou Cheng'an stand up straight and answer firmly, "I'll go!"

As he spoke, he pursed his lips and walked towards the door. As he walked, he bumped right into Shen Jianshen, whose eyes were sunken, his hair was messy, his beard had grown stubble overnight, and there were blisters on the corners of his mouth.

He didn't know how long he had been standing in front of the door, but when he saw Zhou Xuan looking at him, Shen Jianshen's eyes lit up.

“Jian Shen, you’ve come back just in time. Zhou Xuan wants a divorce, but why should she insist on paying exactly the dowry list, not a single penny less? This is outright robbery! You must write her a letter of divorce immediately. The Zhou family is already bankrupt. What will they rely on in the future? A few minor officials from the Court of Justice, or an unfavored princess?”

Shen Jianshen's gaze dimmed again.

After a long silence, he finally looked up at Zhou Xuan. "I'll write you a divorce agreement. You can take all your dowry with you. If there's anything missing, I'll make up for it from my private treasury. My mother likes that jade screen; could we exchange it for money...?"

Zhou Xuan chuckled self-deprecatingly, "No. What's used in the dowry is used. That way no one will say I'm freeloading in your house. But what's mine, I'll take it all with me. From now on, we're separated. I wish you a house full of children and grandchildren in the future."

Shen Jianshen's eyes reddened. He didn't say anything more, went into the house, and soon came out with a divorce agreement, which he handed to Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan's hand trembled, but she still took it. She looked at it, folded it up, and put it in her bosom. "Your mother took a jade screen, a pair of jade bracelets, a jade ruyi, and a string of purple jade grape ornaments from me... Take them to Cheng'an."

As Zhou Xuan spoke, he turned to look at Old Madam Shen, "All the wine recipes were part of my dowry, and I will take them with me. Instead of worrying about our Zhou family, you should worry about whether your Shen family can even make a single tael of gold selling stones at your stall in front of the door!"

When Madam Shen came to her senses, she immediately panicked and reached out to grab Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Zhao suddenly chopped off Old Madam Shen's hand with a chop. Upon seeing this, Shen Jianshen glared angrily at Zhou Zhao, "Zhou Zhao!"

"Your great-aunt is here, no need to shout so loudly! If you dare touch my sister, I'll make sure your hand chop turns into a real knife!"

(End of this chapter)