With a warehouse full of supplies, I stood alone as king in this chaotic world, gun in hand.

Zhou Zheng instructed the steward, "Go and fetch the famous paintings and antiques from my study, as well as all the valuables in the mansion, and pack them all out."

The thought of having to pawn the treasures that his ancestors and he had collected over many years was heartbreaking.

"Yes!" The butler left with his men.

"I have failed my ancestors!" Zhou Zheng squatted down, holding his head in his hands, filled with remorse.

Seeing his parents' helpless expressions, Zhou Shaorong realized that the situation was very serious.

His private treasury originally contained many precious items given to him by Nangong Wu, but they were all stolen overnight.

Because it was a gift from Nangong Wu, he was initially disdainful, thinking that she was using the gift to insult him.

Only now do I realize that without the Huo family's financial support and with the help of Nangong Wu's good fortune, he is nothing and can't even save his own life.

"Nangong Wu's belongings are all imperial gifts; giving her only silver won't suffice." Zhou Zheng then realized a much bigger problem:

"Madam, you used Nangong Wu's dowry to add to Chu Chu's dowry. You must come back, otherwise if Nangong Wu finds out, even the Marquis of Chengping will be in trouble."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou's expression changed, and she hurriedly instructed her most capable maid:

"Go out through the side gate and find Chu Chu at the Chengping Marquis's residence. Ask her to secretly return the things that belong to Nangong Wu."

"Yes." The old woman hurried away.

Zhou Shaorong also returned to his own courtyard and put away all the valuables.

They also went to collect the courtyard where Liu Yue'er lived.

forecourt.

Li Cheng whispered in Nangong Wu's ear, "Princess, the people around Ming Shi have indeed gone to the Marquis of Chengping's residence."

Nangong Wu sneered, "Given Zhou Chuchu's personality, she won't return the things."

"Then what should we do?" Li Cheng asked.

"Let's go investigate again." Nangong Wu's lips curled up. "Today, we're going to put on a good show."

"Understood!" Li Cheng hurriedly left again.

They waited for half an hour, but the Zhou family did not send a single item.

"You surnamed Zhou, I'll give you one more quarter of an hour. If you don't return the items, I'll have to take action."

A servant who was secretly watching heard her words and hurriedly ran to report the news.

Half an hour later, someone finally arrived!

Zhou Zheng and his wife walked in front, followed by people carrying some boxes, which were placed in front of Nangong Wu.

"Lord Zhou, what do you mean by this?" Nangong Wu looked at the twelve boxes, her face showing displeasure.

"My dowry consisted of 288 loads, and after making us wait so long, this is all we've brought out?"

"Princess, as you know, the manor has been robbed, and your dowry has been stolen. We simply can't afford it!" Zhou Zheng looked dejected, no longer displaying the imposing manner of the former Duke.

"Stop trying to fob off the princess with these excuses." Li Feng couldn't stand it anymore. "You say it was a theft, but I think you just don't want to return the princess's dowry, so you're lying about it being a theft."

"No need to waste words with them. If they don't return my dowry, I'll have Zhou Shaorong imprisoned," Nangong Wu said calmly.

"Most of my dowry consists of imperial gifts, which are priceless. You can calculate how many years Zhou Shaorong would have to serve in prison to offset that dowry."

Li Shuang immediately replied, "Even if I rot in jail, I still can't repay it."

"You can't do this!" Madam Zhou's voice was sharp. "We didn't say we wouldn't return the dowry. You can't touch my son."

"Then hurry up! You've been dawdling for ages to bring this little bit of stuff. Do you think I'm easy to talk to?" Nangong Wu said impatiently.

A while later, the Prince's steward returned and reported back after inspecting the boxes:

"Princess, there are a total of thirty-nine treasures, but only twenty-six of them are genuine. Ten of them are not part of your dowry, and three are fakes."

"What?" Nangong Wu suddenly smashed the teacup in her hand onto Zhou Zheng's chest, splashing tea all over him.

"You guys have some serious nerve!"

"It's not a fake." Zhou Zheng, ignoring the pain in his chest, quickly explained:

"Princess, is it true that your dowry only consists of these twenty-six precious items? The other ten are treasures from my household, which are also quite valuable. I wanted to use them to offset the ten treasures in your dowry. There is also a jade ruyi, which is different in color, but the market value is about the same."

There was also a famous painting from a previous dynasty, which my ancestor bought for 120,000 taels of silver.

"If that's the case..." Nangong Wu pretended to be magnanimous and took out her token and gave it to Li Feng.

"Go find the most famous pawnshop owner in Kyoto and have him appraise and value these items."

Since they couldn't possibly produce the original dowry items that were already in her space, they should compensate with other items.

"Yes," Li Feng replied and left.

Li Shuang had the twenty-six treasures moved away first, along with two expensive and exquisite screens, a rosewood cabinet, a table, and chairs, all of which were brought out from the room where Zhou Shaorong and Liu Yue'er lived.

"As for the 300,000 taels of silver, 100,000 taels of gold, 300 pearls, and 16 sets of jewelry, the manor has no silver or gold left. Please grant us two more days, Your Highness, so that we can sell the shops and estates," Zhou Zheng requested humbly.

"So even the Marquis of Wei has times when he needs to ask for help." Nangong Wu's lips curled into a mocking smile.

Previously, the original owner of this body lowered her status as a princess and treated them with utmost respect for Zhou Shaorong, but they looked down on her, thinking that she was an orphan girl who could be bullied at will.

"Zhou Zheng, you and my father were good friends when you were young. Whenever your Zhou family needed money, my father would always give generously."

Twenty years ago, you said that the former Duke was framed and imprisoned, and urgently needed 500,000 taels of silver to bribe officials. My father delivered the silver to your Duke of Wei's mansion that very night without saying a word.

My father considered you a friend, which is why he felt comfortable letting me marry into your Zhou family. I never imagined your Zhou family would be filled with such despicable and ungrateful people.

These words were spoken to her by the old steward of the Prince's mansion.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Zhou Zheng's face was gloomy, and his voice was tinged with anger.

"A forced marriage is never sweet. It was you who insisted on marrying Rong'er, it was you who begged His Majesty to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage, it was you who forced yourself to marry into my Zhou family."

"Rong'er doesn't like you, that's not my fault. It was Liu Yue'er who arranged for you to be defiled. My wife and I were kept in the dark. How can you blame me for this?"

"Is that so? Then what's your explanation for that marriage certificate?" Nangong Wu sneered. "And what about the former Duke's matter? It wasn't a case of him being framed, as you claim..."

Zhou Zheng's expression changed drastically. "What are you trying to say?"

"What's the truth? I'll find out. Zhou Zheng, if I find out that my father's fall from the cliff was related to you, I will ensure your Zhou family's utter destruction!"

Nangong Wu said this only to extort Zhou Zheng. Seeing his reaction, she realized that her father's fall from the cliff might be related to these people.

"Six months ago, Zhou Chuchu got married, and you gave her a dowry of 128 loads. That's quite a generous gesture."