Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
âYouâre really ruthless. Itâs been 40 years, 40 years! I thought that I wouldnât be able to see you even after I was buried and turned into mud.â The Empress Dowagerâs usual dignity was completely gone. After saying this, she was already covered in snot and tears.
She did not take the handkerchief and lay on Old Madam Wangâs shoulder, letting it flow on the other party.
Old Madam Wang moved but did not break free. A hint of helplessness flashed across her eyes. In the end, she pushed her away and took out a handkerchief to wipe her face.
She threw away the dirty handkerchief and took a new one to wipe her clothes.
âBig Sister Qin, my clothes were specially made. They canât be soaked in water. If theyâre dirty, theyâll have to be discarded.â Old Madam Wang sighed.
âIsnât it just a set of clothes? When have I seen you feeling heartache for clothes in the past?â The Empress Dowager also sat up straight and said casually, âMoreover, when would you ever wash and wear your clothes a second time?â
âThese days are different from the past. Do you know how expensive firewood, rice, oil, and salt are? Not to mention washing them in the water once, Iâve worn the same set of clothes for more than ten years in the past. I washed them again and again, and the black ones have turned whiteâ¦â
She knew that Little Yaoguang had always liked to talk like this on purpose when she was with her, but the Empress Dowager still felt especially upset when she heard it.
âYou reaped what you sowed. You had such a good life in the past, but you insisted on living a hard life outside. Isnât that person a jade carving master? At least he deals with jade. How can he let you fall into such dire straits!â As the Empress Dowager spoke, she wanted to take off the bracelet on her wrist. However, she felt that it was inappropriate, so she simply called her maidservant in.
The maidservant came in and bowed. âYour Highness.â
âFind the key to the storeroom.â
The maidservant quickly took out the key. The Empress Dowager took it and threw it into Old Madam Wangâs arms without looking at it. When she held it firmly, she pulled her hand and looked at it. âLetâs go. Iâve left you a lot of good things over the years. Itâs the dowry I prepared for you in the past. I left it there. I didnât let anyone touch it. Go and take a look and see if you still need it now.â
Under the maidservantâs dumbfounded gaze, Old Madam Wang was pulled to the storeroom by the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowagerâs private storeroom was extremely large. There was a hall outside, and there were three underground vaults inside. They were filled with all kinds of things.
When Old Madam Wang was Princess Yong Chang, she had also been to the Empress Dowagerâs storeroom. At that time, the Empress Dowager was still the Empress, and the storeroom was not much smaller than now.
She was the legitimate daughter of the Qin Family of Jiangnan, and the late Emperor she married was also from the Qin Family of Jiangnan. However, in terms of family status, although the two of them had the same surname, they were already beyond the fifth generation of kinship, which allowed them to form a marriage alliance.
However, the late Emperorâs wealth could not compare to Empress Qinâs at the time, and the current Empress Dowager Qinâs.
The dowry of the Qin familyâs legitimate daughter, judging solely from whatâs stored in this warehouse and disregarding whatâs displayed outside, could easily be considered as wealth that rivals a nation!
âDonât look too closely. The items on the second floor, everything you can see, is meant for you. And on the third floor, much of it is also the dowry set aside for you from the beginning. When you were a young girl, you might have found them useful, but now Iâm afraid you might not find those things appealing anymore.â The Empress Dowager said casually.
Old Madam Wang said, âItâs not useless. Donât I still have a granddaughter? I raised her well. If you left it to me, why donât you leave it to her in the future?â âAre you talking about the little girl? Iâve investigated her. Speaking of which, sheâs not your biological granddaughter. Arenât you afraid that the other children will have something against her?â
âWhen have you ever seen me afraid of othersâ opinions?â
After Old Madam Wang finished speaking, the two of them looked at each other and smiled.
A moment later, the Empress Dowager said, âTo be honest, weâre still a generation apart. In terms of the little girlâs dowry, of course, others will have to contribute a significant portion. Although my daughter-in-law is from Duke Yong Manor and has a close relationship with my maternal family, she also has considerable wealth. When the time comes, Iâll have her offer a more substantial betrothal gift.
Also, when you wanted to get married back then, the various dukes and marquises had prepared a lot of things, but you completely disappeared, not leaving even a shadow behind. Those things havenât been released yet. Iâm afraid theyâve all turned gray. We have to get them to prepare them again.â
The two of them sat in the storeroom and began to count the assets of the various families..