Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1595: Chapter 1595: Lost Property_1

It was perfectly normal for Chu Hai and Yingtong to have mutual affection. Yingtong, being a princess from the Western Regions, surely had many different thoughts from the people of Danliang, and since Chu Hai grew up in the Western Regions, he was practically half Westerner himself, so they naturally had plenty to talk about.

One cold as ice, the other passionate as fire, they could complement each other. Even when Yingtong’s temper flared, Chu Hai’s cool demeanor might just extinguish her fire, making them a suitable pair indeed.

As Bai Ruozhu thought this, she felt a weight lift from her heart, relieved that Yingtong hadn’t taken a fancy to her elder brother.

After everyone had lunch, they went their separate ways. Bai Ruozhu invited Yu Chenghua and Jiang Zhihe to visit the Bai Residence, reasoning that the Yu family didn’t have anything of value anyway, and their place was in a messy state, which could affect their honeymoon mood.

Meanwhile, Fan Li, accompanied by the officer, arrived at the Yu Residence. Upon entering, they saw the three people from the Dou Family sitting arrogantly in the Yu Residence’s Flower Hall, drinking tea as if they owned the place.

Fan Li didn’t dare provoke the Grand Princess, but that didn’t mean he liked the Dou family. Suppressing his displeasure, he said, ”Yu Chenghua reported an unauthorized break-in and theft of property from his residence. It wasn’t you three, was it?”

A sycophantic smile spread across Dou Ning’s face as he said, ”My lord, don’t listen to their nonsense; it was the Grand Princess who let us in.”

Fan Li’s face darkened even more. Look at that, even these people dared to use the Grand Princess to pressure him.

”Let’s not talk about who intruded into a civilian’s home. Officers, search the place and see what’s missing,” Fan Li commanded, ignoring Dou Ning.

Dou Ning’s eyes shifted around, and he seemed nervous. Fan Li, as astute as he was, noticed it immediately. He had originally intended to give the Dou family a warning by searching for the stolen property, but it seems Dou Ning had something to hide and walked right into the line of fire.

”My lord, the chests in my master’s room have been opened. Inside were my master’s Jade Pendant and some silver banknotes currently in use,” a guard from the Yu family reported.

Zhao Bo also hurried over and said, ”My lord, that Jade Pendant is a family heirloom of my master. He cherishes it so much that he is afraid to carry it around and risk damaging it, which is why he keeps it locked in a chest at home. You must help my master recover the Jade Pendant!”

Fan Li signaled the officer with a glance, ”Search thoroughly and find out how these items got lost!”

Dou Ning began to panic. He inched toward the door, hoping to sneak out and hide the Jade Pendant and silver banknotes elsewhere. If the officer found them on him, he’d deny everything. If the officer didn’t find them, he could retrieve them later and they’d be his once more, wouldn’t they?

Just think, your Jade Pendant is a family heirloom, so it must be very valuable, right? Dou Ning thought, his eyes lighting up with greed.

But the officer grabbed him, demanding sternly, ”Where do you think you’re going? Could it be that you’re the one who stole from the Yu Residence?”

”How could that be possible? I am Yu Chenghua’s father-in-law!” Dou Ning protested loudly.

Mrs. Dou, holding onto Dou Yun, complained unhappily, ”My daughter is married to the Yu family. What use is there for us to steal anything?”

Ignoring them, the officer started searching Dou Ning, quickly finding the Jade Pendant and silver banknotes on him.

”Ah, these are my master’s Jade Pendant and silver banknotes!” exclaimed Zhao Bo, while the guard waited for Dou Ning to speak, saying, ”Just as I thought, you are the thief.”

Dou Ning was nervous but stretched his neck defiantly, ”What do you mean stolen? These were gifts of filial piety from my son-in-law!”

”Pah! My master hasn’t even returned to the residence, when did he give you any belongings? Besides, my master has clearly stated that he will not marry Miss Dou. Stop trying to give yourselves unearned glory!” the guard shouted.

”The Grand Princess has already decided, I’m going to be his father-in-law sooner or later, what’s the big deal about a few belongings?” Dou Ning said, licking his lips and smiling at Fan Li, ”My lord, don’t listen to their nonsense, is there such a thing as family suing family?”

Zhao Bo chimed in at the right moment, ”Family? Do you have a marriage certificate? Have you completed the wedding proposal with the six betrothal gifts? My lady is the second daughter of the Jiang Family, with both a marriage certificate and complete ceremonial proprieties. You shouldn’t carelessly claim to be relatives.”

Dou Ning wanted to speak, but Fan Li had already lost patience and scanning towards Dou Ning said, ”Since you’ve stolen property from the Yu Residence, come with me to the office.”

Mrs. Dou hurried to pull and tug, but the officers were not polite to her, pushing her away with force. As a result, a pair of earrings fell from Mrs. Dou, and Zhao Bo shouted indignantly, ”That’s the dowry of the new bride entering our family. You must stand up for her, my lord. Even though Elder Jiang Ge is no longer serving as an official at court, he wouldn’t just watch his granddaughter’s dowry being stolen.”

Fan Li’s eyes flashed with cold light, ”Take that woman as well!”

Soon, the officers left with the taken individuals, and Fan Li seemed to have overlooked Dou Yun as if forgetting her existence. Yu Chenghua’s guard asked about it by his side, but he acted as if he had suddenly become deaf, only leaving with the Dou couple. Meanwhile, Dou Yun didn’t appear to be panicking, seemingly unconcerned about her parents’ arrest.

Zhao Bo gestured to the guard and the two left the room. Zhao Bo immediately said, ”Quickly check the new bride’s dowry and bring everything from the room to the storeroom. I’ll add another lock to the storeroom.”

”Right away,” the guard hurried off.

Dou Yun, who had been eavesdropping at the door, showed a look of contempt on her face. Did they really think she cared about the jewelry of Jiang Zhihe? If she were after Yu Chenghua himself, she would be trying to take Jiang Zhihe’s husband!

The news from the Yu Residence soon reached Bai Ruozhu, who had just settled down Jiang Zhihe and her husband. She said coldly to Jiang Yichun, ”Fan Li still hasn’t learned his lesson, thinking he can have it both ways without offending anyone.”

Wasn’t his leaving Dou Yun behind his way of offending no one?

Jiang Yichun smiled and put his arm around her shoulder, saying, ”He’s the Prefect of the Capital, he has to hedge his bets. Otherwise, whenever there is conflict among the aristocrats in the capital, he would be in big trouble.”

Bai Ruozhu snorted coldly, even so, she was very displeased and resolved to make things difficult for Fan Li later.

At the Yu Residence, the guard also came to see Yu Chenghua and reported the situation at home. Upon hearing Dou Yun hadn’t left, Yu Chenghua’s face turned as black as coal. ”Forget it, for now, we’ll just have to rely on my brother and sister-in-law here.”

Jiang Zhihe, seeing her husband sharing her sentiment, lost her previous sadness and panic, comforting Yu Chenghua, ”My lord, don’t fret about it. Since there’s no marriage document and no formal ceremony, they’re nothing but a joke.”

The guard, seeing the couple in harmony, happily withdrew. Once he heard the door close, Yu Chenghua took Jiang Zhihe’s hand and said, ”My lady, the ceremony isn’t quite complete, is it? Did we miss something?”

Jiang Zhihe was taken aback, ”We’ve already had the wedding wine. All the rituals have been observed.”

Yu Chenghua, with a smile in his eyes, leaned in close to Jiang Zhihe’s ear and said, ”My wife, we haven’t yet consummated the marriage.”

Jiang Zhihe felt a buzzing in her head and then a burning sensation spread from her face all the way down as if even her toes had caught fire. She shyly lowered her head...