After Transmigrating, I Was Kidnapped By A Scheming Beauty Into The Bridal Chamber - Chapter 6

As expected, the next day, all the Jiang family’s aunts and uncles came to Jiang Chenyu’s home, surrounding her in the spacious main hall. Seven or eight elderly men and women sat inside, and Chenyu introduced Shen Hetang to each of them.

“This is Great-Uncle, these are Cousin-Uncle and Cousin-Aunt, over there are Cousin-Aunt and Cousin-Uncle, and these two are Great-Aunt and Cousin Dong,” Chenyu said, leading Shen Hetang to greet each relative in turn. Shen Hetang nodded politely, but inwardly she thought, What a motley crew of demons and ghosts! They’ve probably all been bought off by Old Master Wu long ago.

“Girl Yu, how could you do something so outrageous? Even if the marriage with the Zhang family fell through, there’s still Brother Dong right here!” The gray-haired old woman pushed the burly man beside her forward, her voice dripping with regret, disappointment, and resentment, as if she’d lost half a mountain of gold. Every emotion was written plainly on her face, making for a spectacle so dramatic it was almost unbearable to watch.

The clumsy, stout man grinned foolishly at Chenyu, scaring the young girl so badly she immediately hid behind Shen Hetang.

“Great-Aunt, it’s not that I don’t respect you, but Cousin Dong has already been divorced once. Besides, I’ve always seen him as a brother. How could I marry him?” The old woman’s wishful thinking was truly remarkable, still clinging to the dream of her marrying into their family.

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting? My grandson is still highly sought after, even after his divorce. Once you divorce that live-in husband, your cousin won’t hold it against you. He’ll bring you straight to our family. What do you say?” She’d been eyeing this girl for quite some time. If it hadn’t been for that previous marriage and Wu Daoyuan’s interference, she would have secured her grandson’s match long ago. After all, the girl’s dowry would be substantial.

Seeing the old woman’s words growing increasingly outrageous, Shen Hetang was about to intervene when Jiang Chenyu silenced her with a glance. Chenyu continued, “Marrying Cousin Dong is impossible. My husband and I are deeply in love, and I have no intention of divorcing him. Today is the first time my husband has met our elders. Whether you acknowledge him or not, he is already Chenyu’s husband. That fact cannot be changed.”

Jiang Chenyu’s gaze swept across the room, finally settling on Wu Daoyuan, who sat in the head seat. Despite the years of control that had instilled a lingering fear in her heart, she mustered her courage and spoke her mind. Whether these people accepted it or not, Shen Hetang was now the Jiang Manor’s son-in-law, free to enter and leave this courtyard openly from this day forward.

Watching Chenyu, who had been so timid just moments ago, straighten her back after a few words, Shen Hetang felt she could handle this better. After all, this was her territory. Let Chenyu swing her claws as she pleased; Shen Hetang would stand beside her, bolstering her courage.

“Ah, they say a daughter grows up and can’t be kept, and keeping her only breeds resentment,” Wu Daoyuan sighed, adopting the heartbroken demeanor of an old green tea master. Shen Hetang’s teeth ached at the sight. “As an outsider, no matter how much I do for the family, I’ll always remain an outsider.”

“Nephew-in-law, don’t be so self-deprecating,” Great-Uncle suddenly interjected, having remained silent until now. “We all see how much you’ve sacrificed for the Jiang Family over the years. Girl Yu was indeed foolish in this matter, but she’s still my elder brother’s only bloodline. Now that they’re married, they should focus on building a good life together. Great-Aunt, let’s not dwell on these matters any further. Spreading such rumors only tarnishes Girl Yu’s reputation.” Though his words seemed to defend Chenyu, Great-Uncle had his own ulterior motives.

“Exactly, exactly,” Cousin-Uncle and Cousin-Aunt chimed in from the side. “The girl’s already married. Let’s not make things harder for her.”

“Father, you’ve neglected your own affairs for too long to care for me. Now that all the elders are gathered here, why don’t we formally divide the family? You could remarry and continue the Wu family line. I’ve been a burden to you all this time, but now that I’m married, I’d feel much better knowing you have someone to care for you.” Hmph, anyone can say they’re doing something for your own good. Jiang Chenyu didn’t know why Wu Daoyuan had summoned this group, but she intended to use the opportunity to sever ties with him.

The moment Jiang Chenyu proposed dividing the family, the eyes of everyone present lit up. Only Wu Daoyuan couldn’t hide his anger, glaring fiercely at her. It was clear he was furious. He had underestimated her, never expecting her to turn the tables on him so skillfully.

“Nephew-in-law,” Great-Uncle chimed in, eager to stir up trouble, “Girl Yu has a point. You’re not even forty yet. You need to secure your own legacy.” He was hoping to get a share of the Jiang family’s assets after the division.

“I’ve always treated Girl Yu like my own daughter,” Wu Daoyuan countered, feigning reluctance. “I never considered remarrying. Let’s drop this division idea. She’s still too young to manage the family business.” He acted as if he was willing to continue bearing the burden himself.

Jiang Chenyu lowered her gaze. Now that the pretense was gone, she had to see this through to the end. Otherwise, Wu Daoyuan would make her life miserable later.

“Father,” she said, “I’m grateful for your care these past years. But as the saying goes, even brothers must settle accounts clearly. Though I’m marrying into the family, my grandmother’s dowry shouldn’t be withheld. You’ve served the Jiang Family for years, and even if you haven’t achieved great merit, you’ve certainly worked hard. I’ll only take what’s rightfully mine, and I even plan to give some of it to my uncles as retirement funds. It’s best to settle this properly.”

Jiang Chenyu blurted out the words in one breath, but her confidence wavered. She leaned against Shen Hetang for support. Today’s matter allowed no room for failure. Feeling the woman behind her steadying her waist with one hand, she resolved to play her part in this family drama to the fullest.

Hearing her words, the crowd instantly turned against Wu Daoyuan. This meant they might finally get some “fish soup” to drink. Though Wu Daoyuan had provided some relief over the years, it was never enough. If they could fleece a bit of “wool” from this situation, things would be different.

“Girl Yu speaks sense,” Great-Uncle chimed in. “Now that she’s married, you can’t possibly withhold her dowry, can you?”

Wu Daoyuan’s eyes burned with fury. He dropped his pretense, his face darkening as he glared at the two women in the center of the room with the predatory gaze of a hawk.

Shen Hetang subtly stepped forward, blocking Wu Daoyuan’s murderous glare. The man couldn’t maintain his facade any longer, his attempt to intimidate the young woman with his eyes having failed.

“Since you’ve acknowledged this boy, Chenyu, I won’t stand in your way,” Wu Daoyuan said. “But does he think he can just take the Jiang Family’s dowry empty-handed? Even as an adopted son-in-law, he can’t possibly expect to swindle my cherished daughter away with nothing to offer.” Before his death, Jiang Kantou had indeed divided his estate into thirds, designating one-third as Chenyu’s dowry and entrusting its management to Wu Daoyuan. Over the years, some senior employees in the family’s businesses had outwardly obeyed Wu Daoyuan while secretly remaining loyal to Chenyu.

“I may be a man of humble means, but your daughter has graciously accepted me,” Shen Hetang replied. “I vow to cherish her for life.” He played the part of a penniless young man, deeply grateful to the noblewoman who had chosen him, with such sincerity that it was utterly convincing.

“Fine words mean nothing without sincerity,” Wu Daoyuan retorted. “How can I entrust Chenyu’s dowry to you without proof of your commitment?”

“How should I demonstrate this sincerity, Father-in-law?” Shen Hetang asked, adopting a humble and eager-to-learn demeanor. “May I ask what sincerity you brought when you married into the Jiang Family?”

Wu Daoyuan was getting old, and his mind couldn’t keep up. Shen Hetang nearly made him choke with anger; the little brat had exposed his past. But Wu Daoyuan was a seasoned businessman.

He smirked, a crooked smile playing on his lips. “Though I started with nothing back then, I had earned my Scholar title. As a Scholar, marrying a woman who had been married before was more than enough. I don’t mean any disrespect to Girl Yu’s mother, but let’s be realistic. So, what do you, a man with nothing to your name, have to offer our Jiang Family’s precious daughter?”

“With all due respect, Father-in-law, I believe my wife and I are a perfect match in looks. As for ability, my wife is both beautiful and wise, a natural at managing a household. I, having trained in martial arts since childhood, possess a useful skill. Moreover, my wife brings a generous dowry, and I haven’t come empty-handed.”

“Here are silver notes worth five hundred taels, obtained by selling my family’s hundred acres of farmland. While it can’t compare to my wife’s dowry, I know that two hundred taels is enough to buy a magistrate position in a poor county. So, I’m not entirely empty-handed. I believe I’m at least marginally worthy of your daughter.”

Wu Daoyuan laughed in anger. This was a blatant slap in the face. To claim he could casually buy an official position and still be barely worthy of his daughter—was this a reminder of his earlier remark about Mother Jiang?

“Oh my, you’re right! My niece’s husband is indeed young and promising, a perfect match for her. Brother-in-law, why don’t you just hand over Chenyu’s dowry for her to manage? Even if you mean well, you can’t keep holding onto it forever. This father and daughter will soon separate from the family and start their own household. Besides, you and Girl Yu were never that close to begin with. Don’t take offense, but a young woman needs to avoid suspicion as she grows older.” The Cousin-Aunt, who hadn’t spoken until now, delivered the decisive blow.

After the Cousin-Aunt’s words, the relatives swarmed Wu Daoyuan like wolves attacking Bright Summit. Watching Wu Daoyuan, like a tiger overwhelmed by a pack of wolves, the two conspirators exchanged knowing smiles, ready to pluck the fruits of their labor.

This victory came at a cost: a thousand casualties for the enemy and eight hundred for themselves. Now that the relatives had intervened, they wouldn’t be easily dismissed. Still, it was worth it to break free from Wu Daoyuan’s control and claim the family fortune their grandfather had worked so hard to build.

Wu Daoyuan never imagined his scheme would backfire so spectacularly, losing both his wife and his army. Seeing Jiang Chenyu willing to share the spoils, the relatives pounced, invoking ancestral customs, bloodlines, and his status as an outsider. But when someone finally asked, “What are you hiding by withholding your stepdaughter’s inheritance?” he knew the family division was inevitable.

“Alright, enough!” Wu Daoyuan finally snapped. “After all these years of maintaining the Jiang Family for everyone, I’ve gained nothing but resentment. If Chenyu wants to divide the family, so be it!”

“But I can only return her dowry. The rest has nothing to do with her. If it weren’t for my years of hard work, we would have lost these shops, including her dowry, long ago. Returning her dowry is more than fair.”

“Thank you for your care, Father,” Chenyu replied. “But while I only want my dowry, my uncles deserve to be heard too. If my grandfather were still alive, he would surely help them.” As if! If she didn’t demand this now, those relatives would find a way to cling to her dowry later. Better to seize it from Wu Daoyuan’s hands.

Wu Daoyuan stared at the girl, wondering if she’d lost her mind. Why was she so eager to divide the family’s assets among outsiders? He seemed to have forgotten that he was the outsider here, while those relatives still carried Jiang Family blood.

“Chuntao, get my dowry list,” Chenyu pressed her advantage. “Since my uncles are here today, Father, please hand over my dowry now!”

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