Chapter 2 — The night I left, even the stones in the garden were taken with me

I'm not stupid. Just lazy to compare. The To family's daughter has never lacked that bit of money. I thought that if I exchanged sincerity for sincerity, if it only lasted long enough, sooner or later I could warm the hearts of the people around me. But ten years have passed, and what warms me is not people's hearts, but a group of white-eyed wolves that have never been used to raising them. The more Tham Nghien's official path became smoother, the Marquis's palace became more and more prominent, they immediately thought that all of these things were their own abilities. As for my dowry, it's just that the Su family voluntarily offered it, which is something that a mother's house owner almost had to do. Now Lieu Nhu Mi blew the wind on her pillow a few words, and Tham Nghien immediately found me displeased. See I'm stupid. Seeing that I am no longer worthy of the glorious Vinh Ninh Hau palace today. Ten years of friendship is like giving it to the dogs to eat. I slowly raised my head. There was no crying as everyone expected, no kneeling down to beg, not even a hint of self-pity. I looked at Tham Nghien sitting in the chair. He wore a brocade robe embroidered with dark patterns, his eyebrows were bright, but his eyes only showed superiority and impatience. I smiled slightly. That smile was very faint, but it was like a spring breeze breaking the ice, making everyone in the hall momentarily stunned. Tham Nghien frowned slightly, as if he didn't expect me to react like that.

"Master Marquis said this, is it true?"

My voice was very steady, without a trace of trembling.

"The Marquis said he would do it."

Tham Nghien replied coldly, his words carrying a bit of impatience.

"Miss To, you don't need to continue pretending. The book of reconciliation has been completed, you can leave the palace today. The Marquis remembers your hard work for ten years, allowing you to bring your clothes and belongings with you. As for other things, don't dream about it."

The lady immediately continued:

"That's right! The Marquis Palace has already respected you. Don't be an elephant asking for a fairy. For all these years, you've been eating from the Marquis Palace. In the Hau Palace, not forcing you to pay back money is already very merciful!"

Below, Lieu Nhu Mi gently spoke:

"Don't blame the Marquis, sister. It's true that over the years you've been the housekeeper, the house is really...sigh. Don't worry, sister, in the future I will take care of everything in the house very carefully, without worrying about the Marquis anymore."

The tosser and the catcher. It's truly extremely agreeable. I slowly stood up, gently brushing the dust off my skirt. My movements were leisurely, my appearance leisurely, completely lacking even half the struggle of someone who had just been separated.

"If Marquis has decided, I will of course obey."

I received the pacifier the butler handed to me, holding the thin piece of paper with my fingertips. But it weighs heavily for ten years. I glanced at the contents of the book, the corners of my lips curled up slightly.

"It's just that, just now, Marquis said that he only allowed me to bring clothes and belongings with me?"

Tham Nghien's face was cold:

"What? What else do you want to take away?"

"Nothing."

I smiled, carefully folded the book and put it in my sleeve.

"There's just one thing, I have to clarify it with Marquis and Madam Hou first."

"My To family's dowry includes one hundred and twenty-eight chests, from jewelry, brocade, silk, estates, shops to decorations, furniture, all with clear records. Ten years after marrying into the Hau palace, I placed that dowry everywhere in the palace, used it to cover expenses in the palace, and to buy more furniture, everything was recorded."

"Now that we have separated, then of course I have to take all of my dowry away."

The words just ended. The entire hall was immersed in silence. Everyone was stunned. Tham Nghien's face immediately darkened.

"To Uyen, what do you mean?"

"The meaning is as true as the words."

My voice is calm.

"I will not touch the belongings of the Marquis' residence, even if it's just a needle or a thread. But I won't leave even a single item of my dowry."

"Wild!"

She slammed the table hard, stood up, and pointed straight at me.

"You've been married to the Marquis for ten years, your dowry has long been the Marquis's! Yet you still want to take it all away? Are you still ashamed?"

"It's funny what Madam Hau says."

I looked up at her, my eyes calm but sharp.

"Dai Tinh's law clearly stipulates that a woman's dowry is private property, not related to her husband's family. After the separation, the entire dowry belongs to the woman. What, is the Marquis intending to defy the law?"

My grandmother was blocked by me, and for a moment she couldn't say a word, her face turned blue and white. Maybe she's never seen me talk like that. In the past, in front of her, I always obediently obeyed, whatever she said was my own, and I never argued back.