For a moment, the entire room fell into a heavy, breathless silence. No one had expected Wu Qingyi to raise the matter of dowry. Even Wang Hao blinked in surprise before the truth struck him like a bolt. The Liu family hadn't just tried to push a foolish bride onto their young master but they had also intended to evade giving a single coin of dowry. This shameless act only heaped further insult upon the already wounded dignity of the Wang family's young master.
Wang Hao's mind raced, he needed to report this to the young master at once and ask how to handle this naïve girl. But right now, he should make the Liu family pay for daring to insult their young master. But Wu Qingyi was already a step ahead of him. She might appear innocent and childlike, but when it came to protecting those, she cherished, her sharpness outmatched anyone in the room.
Seeing the room fall into an uneasy silence, Wu Qingyi tilted her head and asked once more, her voice soft yet piercing, "Grandmother, how could you not prepare a dowry if you're truly happy about this wedding? Is it that you're unwilling to give one, because you don't wish to bless me and Young Master Wang with a happy married life?" Her innocent tone only made the accusation hit harder, leaving the Liu family stunned and speechless.
The old lady's composure cracked for the first time. She had never imagined that this seemingly naïve girl could speak with such sharp-edged innocence. Wu Qingyi's words had trapped the Liu family in a corner and if they failed to present a dowry now, it would imply they did not wish the Wang family's young master a blessed marriage. No matter how weak or crippled he might be, he was still a son of the Wang family. To slight him was to slight the entire Wang clan, an offense the Liu family could not afford, not even in their dreams.
The old lady's mind raced for a solution, and soon she recalled the generous dowry that had been prepared for Liu Wuxin's marriage. She decided she could use that for now, then later coax the foolish girl into leaving it in the Liu household "for safekeeping." However, she never dreamed that this supposedly simple-minded girl would outsmart her so effortlessly.
"No, no, how could we possibly neglect the dowry for the young master's marriage?" the old lady hurriedly declared, her voice trembling with false sincerity. "I was simply too overwhelmed with joy at welcoming the esteemed Wang family into our home that it slipped my mind to bring out the dowry earlier." Without waiting for anyone to respond, she sharply turned toward the butler, masking her panic with authority. "Butler, go upstairs and bring a few maids. We must retrieve the dowry at once." Her tone suggested generosity, yet the flicker of unease in her eyes revealed the truth as she was scrambling to gather whatever she could before Wu Qingyi or Wang Hao noticed something was amiss.
After some time, the old lady descended the stairs with the butler and several maids in tow, each struggling under the weight of dowry items wrapped hastily in layers of silk cloth. Not a single ornament box, chest, or case accompanied them. Everything was loosely bundled, as though prepared in a rush or never meant to leave the Liu residence at all. The old lady's smile was gentle, dignified, even benevolent on the surface. But beneath that mask, her thoughts were sharp and calculating, why waste proper dowry boxes on a foolish girl who doesn't even understand their value?
In her mind, the gifts were never meant to reach the Wang family. They were only being shown today to appease them, and once this naïve granddaughter left, she fully intended to reclaim every last item when the Wang family has put in their worth into these gifts.
Wu Qingyi beamed, her smile as bright as morning sunlight breaking through mist. She leaned forward eagerly, her voice soft yet filled with innocent excitement. "What are the things under the cloth? Can I see them all? Can you remove the cloths and tell me what dowry items you've prepared for my marriage?"
Her tone was gentle and naïve, but the question struck the old lady like a slap.
These items each wrapped in silk were originally prepared for Liu Wuxin's grand marriage. On the surface, they appeared generous, luxurious even… but beneath that polished display lay schemes, traps, and hidden intentions. The old lady had no desire for these things to be exposed now. If Secretary Wang saw the truth behind those "gifts," her entire plan would crumble.
Her heart tightened with fury.
How dare this stupid girl ask to uncover them?
Did she not know when to keep her mouth shut?
But in front of Wang Hao, she could not even let a flicker of irritation escape her face. To refuse would be far too suspicious and almost as though she had something to hide. So, the old lady smothered her anger behind a brittle smile and nodded graciously. "Of course, dear. Since you wish to see them… Butler, please open the cloths and display the items." Her voice was smooth, but her clenched hands trembled beneath her sleeves because the moment those silk covers were lifted, half her schemes might risk being exposed.
The butler unfolded the first silk covering, revealing a beautifully embossed deed tied with a crimson ribbon. The old lady smiled as though presenting a priceless treasure. "First item," she announced proudly, "the Prosperous Red Lotus Manor."
Meanwhile, the old lady maintained her benevolent facade, though her mind churned.
This manor is still under legal dispute with the neighbouring family… Let the Wang family settle it. After resolving the matter, that fool girl can be coaxed to return it to us. A perfect plan.
The second item was revealed, "A Silk Shop in the Capital", a place burdened with unpaid taxes, slothful workers, and customers who had long since vanished. The shop produced no profits and it merely drained silver to pay worthless employees. The old matriarch, eager to rid the Liu family of this ticking disaster that might one day send them all to jail, decided it would be best to gift this troublesome burden to the Wang family instead.
"Third item," the old lady announced, her tone filled with a semblance of pride, "a pair of gold bangles." Unlike her other gifts, these were genuine gold. She knew the Wang family possessed enough knowledge to distinguish real gold from counterfeit, and there was no room for deception here so the old lady could only buy lightweighted bangles.
Then two young women stepped forward, bowing politely. "Fourth item," the old lady declared, her voice warm and measured, "a couple of loyal maids, entrusted to care for our dear granddaughter."
On the surface, it seemed a thoughtful gift, a gesture of protection and comfort. But behind that polite bow and gentle expression lay the true purpose, these were not mere attendants. They were spies, carefully chosen to observe, report, and subtly influence the household of the Wang family.
The butler carefully presented the next bundle, and the old lady's voice rang with a practiced warmth. "Fifth item," she said, "the Liu family's small transport business, entrusted to you for your future prosperity."
Her eyes sparkled with a sly cunning that only she could hide behind a grandmotherly smile. On the surface, it appeared generous, a gift that could bring profit and opportunity. But in truth, the business was a crumbling enterprise, riddled with unpaid debts, shadowed by illegal trafficking run by a few high-ranking employees, teetering dangerously on the edge of bankruptcy.
The old lady had calculated carefully: a failing business in the Wang family's hands could do no lasting harm as they were strong, well-established, and capable. But for the Liu family? Losing this burden would save them from ruin. It was the perfect gamble: the Wangs would appear to benefit, while the Liu family extricated themselves from disaster.
The next bundle was smaller, yet the old lady's voice carried the same air of graciousness. "Sixth item," she announced, "ten pieces of ginseng and two pieces of Ling Zhi." Unlike her previous cunning gifts, she had no need to deceive here. The elders of the Wang family were well-versed in herbs, able to distinguish the genuine from the counterfeit at a glance. These were real, pure, and of authentic quality.
But their quantity was laughably small. For a family as wealthy and powerful as the Wangs, these precious herbs would be nothing more than a single drop in a brimming bucket. A gesture, delicate and honourable on the surface, yet inconsequential in the grand scheme.
The butler carefully revealed the next bundle, "Seventh item," old lady said, "a couple of rare paintings by a well-known artist, truly exquisite and worthy of admiration."
But behind the polished presentation lay the truth: these were nothing more than clever imitations, crafted by ambitious college students hoping to earn a few coins. The brushstrokes mimicked brilliance, the frames gleamed with pretension, yet a discerning eye like that of Wang Hao or the Wang family elders would also find difficult to detect the subtle flaws.
The next bundle was unwrapped with delicate care, revealing a sumptuous quilt, its surface glinting with intricate patterns. "Eighth item," the old lady declared, her voice sweet and commanding, "a gold-thread wedding quilt, stitched by the finest hands of our skilled embroiderers.
But the old lady's lips hid a sly smile. The golden threads that adorned the quilt were not real gold, merely clever imitations designed to gleam in the light. She knew well that the Wang family could easily spot fake gold jewellery, but who could detect the subtle deception in a fine thread, handwoven into intricate patterns?
The butler carefully unveiled the ninth bundle, revealing a collection of rough, heavy stones, each wrapped in layers of silk. "Ninth item," the old lady announced, her voice full of practiced warmth, "these are jade raw stones, verified by a respected jade master. Each contains precious jade within."
Yet the truth was far different. The jade master had told her privately that only two of the smaller stones actually contained jade and the larger ones were nothing but ordinary rock, cleverly disguised.
The old lady's lips curled in a subtle, sly smile. Let the Wang family cut open the big stones when they receive them. They will find nothing inside. But I have my excuse ready. She would simply claim she had been misled by the jade master, an innocent mistake, trivial in the grand scheme and the Wang family, wise yet practical, could hardly hold a grudge for such a minor deception.
Finally, the last bundle was brought forward, wrapped carefully yet worn with age. "Tenth and final item," the old lady proclaimed, her voice tinged with sentiment, "a phoenix hairpin, this is the most precious of all, for it once belonged to Wu Qingyi's mother."
Wu Qingyi's eyes widened, and a soft gasp escaped her lips as she reached out, touching the delicate curves of the ancient ornament. The hairpin was old, tarnished, and filled with dust from years of neglect, yet the design of the phoenix, graceful and proud, still shone faintly under the dim light.
The old lady's expression softened, masking her cunning behind a veil of apparent tenderness. This hairpin had been found when she searched her late husband's belongings for the original marriage agreement. Initially, she had planned to discard it, a relic of the past. But now, it served a new purpose.
By presenting it to Wu Qingyi as the ultimate dowry, she could weave a story of care and affection, convincing the Wang family that she truly cherished her granddaughter. In reality, it was nothing but a dusty token, a clever tool to lend the illusion of sincerity to her otherwise calculated scheme.
And so, with all ten items laid before them, the Liu family's dowry - half treasure, half trap, stood ready to impress, deceive, and test the eyes of those who dared to accept it.
But who was Wang Hao? He was the man who had stood by the CEO through storms and shadows, through betrayals, hostile takeovers, cut-throat negotiations, and every cruel trick the business world had thrown at them. His eyes had long been trained to pierce through honeyed words and polished facades.
Even before Wu Qingyi asked to unveil the dowry, a faint unease had already crept into his mind. And now, with each silk cloth lifted and each item revealed, that uneasy whisper turned into certainty.
The dowry looked grand and extravagant. On the surface, it painted the Liu family as generous, respectful, and eager to honour the marriage agreement. But beneath that glittering exterior… something was wrong. Very wrong…
Wang Hao's gaze swept across the items one by one, and the more he looked, the colder his eyes became. These gifts were treasures only at first glance. The kind of treasures that would fool the common eye but not his. Not someone who had survived the battlefield of corporations where every smile hid a knife.
He said nothing, but his jaw tightened.
These aren't gifts… they're traps.
In that silent moment, he made up his mind. Once he returned, he would personally investigate every single item presented here, every shop, every deed, every stone, every thread. And when the truth surfaced, the Liu family would have to face consequences for heavier than they ever imagined.
However, even with all his growing suspicions, Wang Hao maintained a calm facade. He intended to question the old lady further - Were they truly willing to part with such "precious" dowry?
He opened his mouth to speak… But before a single word could leave him, a sharp, shrill voice sliced through the air like a sudden crack of thunder, startling everyone in the room and cutting his question short.
"Grandma… these are my dowry! How can you give them to that stupid girl?" Liu Wuxin's voice rang out, shrill and trembling with outrage.