The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Chu Wanqing's eyelids twitched upon hearing this, and she abruptly raised her head: "You mean...?"

Yun Jin nodded, a cold glint in her eyes: "Yes, investigate your dowry now. If Zijuan really finds something wrong, do you think Yun Heting will protect her?"

Chu Wanqing was stunned for a moment, then she immediately understood the key to it.

Why did Yunheting specifically choose Zijuan?

Because Zijuan was part of her dowry, Yunheting could easily absolve herself of any responsibility should the matter come to light.

Zijuan betrayed her master for personal gain, only to be abandoned by the one she loved. What will she choose then?

Chu Wanqing glanced at the sky; there was still time. She took a deep breath and called out towards the door, "Qinghe!"

Qinghe entered in response.

"Go to Zhenbaozhai and find Manager Qin. Tell him to bring his men over right now," Chu Wanqing said in a low voice.

"If anyone asks, just say that Manager Qin came to report the accounts," Yun Jin added.

Qinghe glanced at Chu Wanqing, and seeing her nod, she accepted the order and quickly went out.

Chu Wanqing straightened her clothes and said to Yun Jin, "Let's go to the storeroom."

Stepping out of the room, she called out loudly, "Zijuan!"

Upon hearing the summons, Zijuan hurried over, saying, "Madam, I'm here."

Chu Wanqing smiled gently and said in her usual tone, "Zijuan, come with me and Miss Biao to the storeroom. I want to pick out some nice things for Jin'er."

Zijuan, unsuspecting, smiled and replied "Yes," then led the way with light steps.

Chu Wanqing's dowry consisted of 160 boxes. Over the years, she has been tampering with the items by selecting the innermost boxes and never taking them all from the same box. She has scattered them here and there, making it impossible to tell anything at first glance.

Even if Chu Wanqing went to the storeroom on a whim, she would only pick a few items from the boxes outside, so she was never worried. Even if the truth came out, she wasn't afraid. The master said that if that day ever came, he would just admit it and take her as a concubine.

Thinking this way, she felt very at peace.

Upon arriving at the warehouse, Zijuan unlocked the door and pushed it open, a faint scent of camphor wood wafting out.

Inside the room, dozens of large crates were neatly stacked, piled from the entrance all the way to the back. Several shelves were placed in the open space next to it, with some cloth on them.

Chu Wanqing has been married into the Yun family for more than ten years, and there is still so much of her dowry left, which shows how generous her dowry was back then.

Chu Wanqing led Yun Jin inside, with Zijuan, Bitao, and Chunxi following behind.

Chu Wanqing deliberately paused in front of the box outside, casually opened it, and found some ordinary ornaments inside.

"Jin'er, do you like any of these?" she asked.

Yun Jin walked over, pretended to look around, but pointed to the boxes inside and asked curiously, "Auntie, are there all sorts of good things in those boxes? Can I go in and choose some?"

Zijuan's expression changed slightly, and she quickly stepped forward and said, "Miss, the boxes inside have been covered in dust for a long time. Be careful not to get your clothes dirty. There are also many good things in the boxes outside."

Yun Jin tilted her head and looked at her: "But I think the boxes inside must contain even better things. Don't you want your aunt to let me choose?"

Zijuan was speechless for a moment, then forced a dry laugh and said, "Miss, you jest. How could I possibly make such a decision for Madam..."

"Zijuan," Chu Wanqing suddenly spoke, her tone indifferent yet carrying a hint of authority, "Since you know you can't make decisions for me, why do you keep obstructing me? If Jin'er wants to see the boxes inside, let her see them."

Zijuan's face paled, and she said awkwardly, "Madam, I didn't mean to stop you, it's just... it's just that there really isn't much to see inside..."

Yun Jin tugged at Chu Wanqing's sleeve at the opportune moment and whispered, "Auntie, let it go. Since Zijuan doesn't want me to see, I won't. I'll just pick something out outside."

Chu Wanqing's face immediately darkened, and she looked sharply at Zijuan: "Zijuan, you've managed this storeroom for me for so many years, do you think the things in this storeroom are your own? You can't even touch them, let alone me, the owner?"

Zijuan was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud: "Madam, please understand, this servant had no such intention! This servant only... only..."

"Just what?" Chu Wanqing demanded sharply, "Give me the key!"

Zijuan had never seen Chu Wanqing so angry before, and dared not disobey, so she handed over the keychain with trembling hands.

Chu Wanqing took the key and strode inside.

Yun Jin followed behind, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Zijuan stood there, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

Finished?

It's all over!

Chu Wanqing walked to the innermost row of boxes and casually opened one.

Inside were jade artifacts, and when she opened the next opening, she found some gold and silver jewelry.

She looked at Yun Jin, who shook her head, indicating that she couldn't tell.

Just then, Qinghe's voice came from outside: "Madam, Manager Qin has arrived with his men."

Chu Wanqing took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Let them in."

After Manager Qin entered, he bowed respectfully. Chu Wanqing didn't bother with formalities and pointed directly at the boxes, saying, "Take some people to see if these things are real or fake."

Manager Qin led his men forward and inspected each box one by one. After a short while, they picked out several jade items and jewelry. He said with a solemn expression, "Miss, these things... are all fakes."

Chu Wanqing felt a sudden boom in her mind.

Although she was mentally prepared, she still felt dizzy when the truth was actually presented to her.

"Fakes?" Her voice trembled. "You mean, all of these are fake?"

The old man nodded: "These jade artifacts are made of ordinary Xiuyan jade, artificially aged to imitate Hetian jade, and are worth at most a few dozen taels of silver. As for the jewelry, it's all gold-plated silver."

Chu Wanqing, supporting herself on the box, could barely stand.

Yun Jin helped her up and said softly, "Auntie, let someone count them. Let's see how many there are."

Chu Wanqing took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said in a deep voice, "Manager Qin, thank you for your trouble."

With more people, the process was faster, and the people that Manager Qin brought were all very professional. Two hours later, all the counterfeit goods were counted.

After summarizing the information, Manager Qin replied, "Miss, a total of 123 counterfeit items have been identified. Based on market prices, the loss... is approximately one million taels."

One million taels!

Chu Wanqing suddenly looked up at Zijuan at the door, her gaze sharp as a knife.

"Zijuan." Her voice was as cold as ice. "What else do you have to say?"

Zijuan was already terrified, her face ashen. She knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Madam, spare me! Madam, spare me! It was my fault for being so foolish and greedy for money... I..."

"Greedy for money?" Chu Wanqing stood up, walked step by step to her, and looked down at her. "What can a maid like you do with so much money? Buy land? Or redeem yourself?"

Zijuan was trembling all over, but she couldn't say a word.

Chu Wanqing sneered, "Search her house!"