couldn't contain the smile at the corner of her mouth as she frankly admitted, "I'm pretty happy. People always say that officials are good at sweet-talking. If they want to please someone, they can...As soon as these words were uttered, the room fell silent.

No one expected this, how deep is the old man's thoughts this week Could he have predicted every step in advance and prepared solutions beforehand

Mr. and Mrs. Sun, who had initially breathed a sigh of relief thinking they could deny ever seeing the document or its authenticity, now found themselves in an impossible situation. This remaining piece of evidence was irrefutable proof.

Both husband and wife were on edge, especially Mrs. Sun, whose heart was pounding in her chest. Could her years of cultivating a good reputation be ruined all at once Although her husband and mother-in-law knew the truth, they would likely distance themselves from the situation and blame her.

Meng Jin Yu and Meng Cheng Xing, siblings of Meng Jin Yao, also broke out in a cold sweat for their mother. They couldn't shake the feeling that everything Meng Jin Yao said was true, and their mother had indeed embezzled Zhou Shi's dowry.

Just as the couple was anxiously trying to avert disaster, Meng Jin Yao continued, "Father's silence is an indication that he doesn't trust Grandfather and your in-laws"

Meng Dong returned to his senses after a long while, shook his head slightly, and spoke in a somewhat composed voice: "Father doesn't mean that. Father is just surprised. There are such things. You say there is conclusive evidence, but father has never seen it. How can we doubt your mother's character based on your words alone Father has seen how she treated you all these years. She loves you so much, how could she do something like this"

He spoke with a loving smile, and in a gentle voice said: “Here’s how about it. If you have evidence, why don't you show it to your father first If the evidence is indeed solid, verified to be true, then I will make your mother apologize to you. What do you think”

This statement was like a reassurance to Mrs. Sun. She glanced at Meng Jiny Yao, who only had two unarmed maidservants behind her. The tension on her face instantly eased.

As long as the original copy of the document and the stepfather's handwritten letter are handed over, they can destroy the evidence and make it impossible to prove anything. A-Yu and Cheng-Xing are her own biological children, so they would definitely side with their mother and not with their half-sister.

As for Cheng Zhang, he was a bastard son and completely under her thumb. He certainly wouldn't dare speak out of turn. At that time, no matter how Meng Jin Yao spoke, as long as there was no evidence, they could easily pin the blame on her. The other servants, they probably wouldn't dare gossip either; just find an excuse to send them far away.

However, Meng Jiny Yao had anticipated what the couple could think of. After more than a decade together, how could she not know their personalities

One acts all righteous, the other appears kind but has a cruel heart. Both are extremely hypocritical and cunning. If they truly had a reason, would they just ask Mrs. Sun to apologize Just an apology Wouldn't the stolen items be returned as well

Meng Jinyo frowned, put down the teacup in her hand, met Meng Dongyuan's gaze, and smiled: "Father, such an important piece of evidence I cannot give to you. If you collude and destroy the evidence, then wouldn't I truly be left with nothing but empty words Why don't you ask my good stepmother first, ask her if she has ever done this"

“You child, what nonsense are you spouting In your eyes, is that all I am” Meng Dongyuan’s voice choked with anger. Soon, he regained his composure and turned to Mrs. Sun with a stern expression, demanding, “Madam, now both of you are contradicting each other. Your husband doesn't know who is telling the truth or who is lying. Let me ask you, is everything Ai Yao said true”

Sun's wife, having been married to him for many years, naturally understood him well. She cooperated with his acting seamlessly, directly wailing and crying out in innocence: "My husband, I am wronged! Ah Yao was raised by me, how could I possibly do such a thing Ah Yao must have listened to someone else's slander and couldn't even produce conclusive evidence, so how could it be true"

Meng Jin Yao saw the couple acting there, wanting to use a bit of tough love to make her hand over the evidence right then and there. She was out of patience, waved her hand, and said: “Alright, you two don’t need to put on a show in front of me. I don’t have time to watch your act.”

Her gaze darted back and forth between the couple before settling on Mrs. Sun, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She then said, "Today, I'll make it clear: Father may not believe me, but within three days, if I don't receive my mother's dowry, we'll go to court. I have irrefutable evidence, each charge will be proven true. If you don't believe me, by all means, try."

Seeing her not only didn't fall for it, but also wanted to report them and have them brought to court, the couple was instantly panicked.

Meng Dongyuan's face darkened, and he immediately rebuked, "Stop making a scene!"

He said, glaring at his eldest daughter with displeasure and anger. "This is a family matter, a family matter that shouldn't be brought to court! You are the younger generation, for the younger generation to sue the elder generation is truly unfilial. Are you trying to let everyone in the entire capital know that the younger generation of Duke Yongchang's household is unfilial"

Meng Jinyao sneered, "If elders are uncaring, how can one be filial"

Meng Dongyuan's face turned red and white as anger surged through him. He angrily exclaimed, "This is a baseless accusation! You want to cause a scene in court It's not that the elders are uncaring, but you're choosing to believe what suits you and wrongly accusing them. Even if your mother truly did this, she is still the one who raised you. For this trivial matter, you want to create such a commotion in court What dignity is there left"

Facing her father's fury, Meng Jinyao remained calm and said in a soft voice, "Since Father thinks this is a trivial matter, he should have her return my mother's dowry. Turn a big issue into a small one, and a small one into nothing, avoiding the family from going to court."

Meng Dong said, "You rebellious daughter! Have you gone blind for money You never talk about anything but your dowry. We raised you for so long, and this nurturing grace is surely more valuable than a dowry Don't say she hasn't done it, even if she truly did, it was out of desperation.

"Necessity" Meng Jinyao sneered, "Can necessity justify taking what belongs to others for oneself"

Meng Dongyuan pondered for a moment, then sighed deeply and began to appeal to her familial affection: "Ayao, our family is not what it used to be. Your two younger brothers will need dowries in a few years, and your younger sister will be married in two years as well. The expenses for betrothal gifts and dowry are substantial. It's understandable that your mother has resorted to such measures. You have married into the Changxing Marquis Estate, where you are surrounded by wealth and honor. Why should you dwell on the matter of whether or not your dowry was returned to you"

The more he spoke, the more self-righteous he became, and finally hammered it home: “Ayao, as your elder sister, you have now married into a prestigious family. Supporting your younger siblings is only natural. Consider that dowry as your assistance to them. When they become successful in the future, they won't forget your kindness today. If there’s truly something amiss, I will ask your mother to compensate you. This matter will be dropped here. But if you have wrongly accused your mother, you must also apologize and offer compensation to her.”

Meng Jin Yao felt a wave of nausea upon hearing this. She had never met someone so brazen and shameless.

She clapped her hands, applauding her father's cunning plan with a sarcastic smile. She asked, "Since ancient times, a woman's dowry has been her personal property, not even her husband's to touch. In the end, it is decided by the husband and his new wife, bypassing the biological daughter to give it directly to their own children as a dowry or bride price. What logic is there in this"t her get away with it. She calmly replied, "Second sister, your words are wrong I don't attend these gatherings, isn't that because I can't go out"She let out a soft sigh and said helplessly, "Secon...