"Sorry, Grandmother. Since it's Father's decision, I'm afraid I can't help," Yun Xi said coldly, pulling away from Mrs. Jiang's hand. Then she turned to Yuzhu beside her. "Yuzhu, let's go."
It was all her fault for having expectations. Otherwise, she wouldn't be hurt by such blatant favoritism now.
Seeing that Yun Xi was about to leave, the old lady pounded her walking stick on the ground, making a thumping sound.
"Stop right there! You've come back safe and sound. Why can't you forgive your younger sister?"
Hearing the old lady's words, Yun Xi suddenly laughed.
"Grandmother, do you have any objections to my coming back safely?"
Would the old lady not scold her so loudly if she had really been defiled?
No!
If she had really been defiled, it would be her who was sent to the rural estate now, and she would never be able to leave there for the rest of her life!
In her previous life, she had seen the old lady's extreme disgust for her.
It was as if she was a snake, an ant, or a worm. Looking at her for a moment longer would soil someone's eyes!
"Besides, I haven't not forgiven Yun Ni," Yun Xi continued.
Since she had long known what kind of person Yun Ni was, she didn't have any expectations. It didn't matter whether she forgave or resented her.
She had no intention of going against Yun Ni, but Yun Ni had always targeted her.
Presumably, when she was robbed this time, Yun Ni must have been as happy as her mother, Mrs. Jiang. Let alone saving her.
Since they could treat her so heartlessly, why should they in turn demand that she be magnanimous?
If you repay evil with kindness, what will you repay kindness with?
The old lady was speechless. At this moment, a clear and bright voice of a young boy suddenly rang out.
"Mother, Grandmother, you don't need to beg her," Yun Qi said as he walked to Mrs. Jiang's side and helped her up. His cold eyes were fixed on Yun Xi, completely unlike a ten - year - old boy.
"Second sister deserves what she gets. Father must have his reasons for punishing her!"
Hearing this, Yun Xi's eyes flashed. She didn't expect this younger brother she rarely saw to be so upright.
But it seemed that he also had some hostility towards her.
However, she soon found the answer.
"Qi'er, what are you talking about! After all, she is your elder sister! If it weren't for your father's partiality towards your eldest sister, why would he punish Yun Ni so severely? If Yun Ni is sent to the estate, her whole life will probably be ruined! Even if I have to kneel to death, I will beg your eldest sister to show mercy!"
Mrs. Jiang blamed all the mistakes on Yun Xi, but didn't mention Yun Ni's mistakes at all.
Yun Xi was simply amazed at her ability to distort the truth.
Mrs. Jiang thought that by staging a show of self - inflicted hardship, she could force the old lady to join her in pressuring Yun Xi and force her to plead with their father for Yun Ni.
But she wasn't stupid. She was too lazy to do something that would bring her no benefits!
"Okay, I can plead with Father," Yun Xi suddenly relented, which made the others stunned for a moment.
The old lady looked at Yun Xi in surprise, while Yun Qi seemed to be deep in thought.
"But I have a condition," Yun Xi said with a slight raise of her lips, looking at Mrs. Jiang and the old lady.
"Give me the key to the warehouse where my mother's dowry is stored, and no one is allowed to touch the things inside anymore!"
After her mother's death, the dowry originally belonged to the Su family. Moreover, as her daughter, she should be the one to manage it.
However, not only did Mrs. Jiang, in collusion with the old lady, scheme against her father during her mother's child - birth and snatch her mother's husband.
It made her mother sad and depressed until she died.
After her mother's death, Mrs. Jiang occupied and encroached on her mother's dowry, trying to embezzle all the wealth the Su family had given her mother!
The old lady enjoyed the nourishment of her mother's wealth but still called her a low - class merchant girl.
She indulged Mrs. Jiang like a leech, sucking away everything that was left of her mother!
It was time for her to take action against their shamelessness!
"What? You want the key to our warehouse?"
Thinking of the warehouse full of gold, silver, jade, and priceless treasures, Mrs. Jiang's face immediately turned very ugly.
Giving it up voluntarily was more painful for her than being cut with a blunt knife!
Receiving Mrs. Jiang's look, the old lady said angrily, "You're too greedy! We just asked you to say a few words for Yun Ni, and you actually want the things in the warehouse! If you get the better of us another day, will you empty the whole Prime Minister's Mansion?"
In the old lady's concept, since Su Yun had married into the Yun family, her things naturally became the common property of the Yun family.
As a descendant of the Yun family, Yun Xi had no right to interfere, and trying to fight for the family property was even more unforgivable!
Yun Xi was almost amused by their shamelessness, and a trace of contempt flashed in her eyes.
"Grandmother, is it too much for me to take back my mother's dowry?"
She didn't waste any more words explaining various reasons because it was useless for these people.
Instead, she shifted her gaze to Yun Qi, who was silent.
"Brother Qi, you started your education at the age of four and could read and understand texts at the age of six. Everyone praises you as a prodigy. So I'd like to ask you here. According to the laws of the Liu Kingdom, do I have the right to manage my mother's inheritance and dowry?"
Yun Xi stared at Yun Qi intently. She dared to ask this question because she was confident in the answer.
She just wanted to see what her younger brother would say.
It also mattered how far she would go in the future!
Hearing this, Yun Qi pursed his lips slightly. Without much hesitation, he said in a loud voice, "According to the laws of the Liu Kingdom, in Volume Thirteen, Article Two Hundred and Thirty - One, it is stated that when a woman gets married, her dowry shall be taken back by her natal family after her death, or managed by her children. No one else has the right to misappropriate or occupy it."
Watching Mrs. Jiang's face turn green, Yun Xi clapped her hands with a smile.
"Grandmother, Auntie, you've heard what Brother Qi said. It's not that I'm greedy, but I do have the right to take back my mother's relics. Moreover, Father is busy with political affairs and has no time to manage the affairs of the inner courtyard. But if I ask him, he will surely agree!"
So whether they agreed to her condition now or not, in the future, they would never be able to touch her mother's dowry again!
She hadn't gone to her father before not because she wanted to give up her mother's dowry.
Instead, she wanted to use this way to make Mrs. Jiang feel the pain.
She wanted Mrs. Jiang to spit out bit by bit everything she had swallowed before!
The old lady was so angry that she trembled all over. She pointed at Yun Xi but couldn't say a word.
Mrs. Jiang gritted her teeth, and her face turned green and white alternately.
On one hand was her daughter's bright future, and on the other hand was the huge wealth that was almost in her hands, and even her daughter's future dowry...
Mrs. Jiang clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh. But Yun Qi said, "Mother, give her the key. After all, it's not the Yun family's property. You can't hold on to it."
Yun Qi's words made Mrs. Jiang slump her shoulders instantly. And the old lady also said, "Give it to her! I'd like to see what else she has to say!"
Yun Xi just smiled and said nothing. She looked at Yun Qi in surprise.
It seemed that this younger brother was smarter than she had imagined.