Chapter 101: Demanding the Dowry at the General's Residence

As expected, Lady Jiang felt deeply disappointed upon hearing that Shen Sisi had failed to purchase the Beauty Elixir.

Since she began interacting with Shen Zhifeng, she had gradually paid more attention to her appearance and skincare. She felt that the wrinkles around her eyes had increased, her skin had become dull and yellowish, and even her clothes needed to be replaced.

Now, hearing that the noble ladies of the capital were all fervently seeking this Beauty Elixir, she naturally wished to try it herself.

Shen Sisi stood before Jiang Lin with a guilty expression. “Brother Lin, it’s my fault for not managing to get it. Do you think mother will be upset? The shop said they would have more in three days, and I’ll be sure to go early then.”

Seeing Shen Sisi’s anxious and delicate demeanor, Jiang Lin comforted her at length. “How can this be your fault? We just have to wait a few more days. It’s nothing to worry about. I’ll speak to mother myself.”

“Hmm, Brother Lin, you’re so gentle and thoughtful. With you around, I have nothing to fear,” Shen Sisi said, her eyes full of affection and longing, filling Jiang Lin’s heart with warmth.

They lingered in each other’s company for quite some time before parting.

However, knowing Shen Sisi wanted to buy the elixir, Shen Qingyun deliberately prevented her from succeeding.

Thus, even after three days, Shen Sisi still couldn’t obtain it.

Lady Jiang grew impatient, her complaints mounting. “I’ve been waiting every day to use it. Could it be that Sisi thinks it’s too expensive and doesn’t actually want it, just pretending?”

Jiang Lin was troubled. “Mother, Sisi isn’t that kind of person.”

Lady Jiang shot him a sharp glance. “I’ve raised you with such effort, and you’re still unmarried. You only know how to defend her. What will happen after she marries in? Last time it was three days, now again three days. When will it end? I’ve been waiting in vain for so long.”

Jiang Lin sighed. He didn’t understand what was so special about the Beauty Elixir. It was so costly, a small bottle that wouldn’t last a month. What difference did it make if they couldn’t buy it?

Still, he subtly warned Shen Sisi that her mother had started to harbor some resentment toward her over this.

Upon hearing this, Shen Sisi was furious and leaned back as if to say, “If she’s so capable, let her buy it herself! She’s stingy with money and talks behind my back. She’s old, yet still obsessed with appearances. Does she think I don’t know the reason?”

She immediately shed a few tears of grievance.

Seeing this, Jiang Lin felt heartache. “Forget about not getting it. It’s not a big deal.”

Inwardly, Shen Sisi vowed that knowing Lady Jiang’s many disgraceful deeds, once she married into the Marquis’s household, if Lady Jiang dared to make things difficult for her, she would make her suffer humiliation in return.

***

Some time later, Ye Yu from the Ministry of Rites sent an invitation to the Duke’s mansion, inviting Shen Sisi and Shen Qingyun to join a gathering.

The reason was simple: Ye Yu had initially managed to snatch several jars of the Beauty Elixir, and after a month or two of diligent care, her skin had become noticeably fairer and more delicate. Naturally, she was eager to show off her transformation to acquaintances.

Since the news of the Beauty Elixir had come from Shen Qingyun, she extended the invitation to both sisters of the Shen household.

Shen Sisi, who rarely had social occasions, woke early that day to try on her dress. She wore a light blue, round-collared, pipa-sleeved short jacket over a cream-colored pleated skirt embroidered with delicate pink flowers, creating a harmonious and elegant appearance.

Knowing she could not match Shen Qingyun’s refined and ostentatious style, she focused on highlighting her own graceful simplicity, which was uniquely charming.

Hong Yu offered a flattering but insincere compliment, “Miss, you look truly beautiful dressed like this.”

A satisfied smile appeared on Shen Sisi’s face. She twirled once in place, admiring herself before saying, “Alright, let’s go.”

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Rites Minister’s residence, the noble daughters clustered around Ye Yu and Shen Qingyun, praising their healthy complexions and discussing the Beauty Elixir. Shen Sisi, however, was almost completely ignored.

Even those young ladies she had been familiar with kept their distance after hearing about the divorce between Lady Han and Shen Zhifeng.

At that moment, Shen Sisi’s inner turmoil reached its peak.

She was clearly not Lady Han’s child and had never been favored by her in the Duke’s mansion, yet now that Lady Han had left, Shen Sisi’s reputation was also tarnished.

After the gathering dispersed, she returned home in a stifled mood and sat alone in her chamber until dusk, not even lighting a lamp.

Now, marrying into the Marquis’s household seemed to be her only way out.

Hong Yu cautiously pushed the door open. “Miss, dinner is ready.”

Shen Sisi nodded, emerged from her room, and after dinner, headed straight to the Yan Song Hall, throwing herself into the embrace of the matriarch.

Startled, the matriarch asked, “What’s the matter? Weren’t you visiting the Ministry of Rites Minister’s residence today? Were you mistreated?”

Having raised Shen Sisi from childhood, the matriarch genuinely cared for her.

Shen Sisi pouted and exaggerated the day’s misfortunes as she recounted them.

***

The matriarch sighed deeply. “Alas, it’s all because your mother is too cruel, completely disregarding your reputation. With your marriage approaching, she hasn’t even prepared a proper dowry.”

Hearing this, Shen Sisi couldn’t hold back her sobs. “Grandmother, I don’t mind suffering some hardship, but I can’t even afford fine silk and embroidery thread. When I marry, I’m afraid I’ll bring disgrace upon the Duke’s household. Truly, I’m an unfilial granddaughter.”

“How can this be your fault?” The matriarch pulled Shen Sisi close, her eyes filled with resentment. “Lady Han is selfish and heartless. After all, she’s not even your real mother. You’re innocent in all this, yet she has entangled you. She should make amends, at least since you’re still her daughter in name.”

Shen Sisi buried her head in the matriarch’s arms, her eyes shining with determination despite her dejected voice. “Grandmother, what should we do?”

“Tomorrow, you’ll come with me to the General’s mansion to confront Lady Han and demand your dowry!” The matriarch snorted coldly.

A faint smile curled Shen Sisi’s lips as she coquettishly shook the matriarch. “Grandmother, you’re always the best to me.”

The next day, the two prepared and boarded a carriage bound for the General’s residence.

Yicui, upon learning this, expressed concern. “Miss, won’t you go and see for yourself?”

Shen Qingyun shook her head. “I’ve already sent Han Feng to keep watch. Mother is at the General’s mansion now; she won’t be bullied. I trust she will handle matters in her own way.”

Meanwhile, the matriarch and Shen Sisi discussed the situation. Shen Sisi felt uneasy. “Grandmother, what if mother refuses to provide the dowry?”

The matriarch scoffed. “Lady Han has always been weak-willed. If she refuses, then she’s heartless, and I’ll be ruthless in return. We’ll make a scene right outside the General’s mansion. Let’s see how the divorced woman will endure that!”

Shen Sisi nodded happily.

Upon arrival at the General’s mansion, they were refused entry by the gatekeepers. When they announced they were from the Duke’s household, the guards barred the gates entirely.

The matriarch, furious, shouted at the door, “Lady Han, how can you be so heartless? It’s one thing to divorce my son, but to abandon your own daughter as well?”