Xiangzhou Chapter: Soul Transmigration to Another World Chapter 4: She Vanished with the Entire Dowry in Flight!

After all, she had already decided how to deliver the divorce decree to Chen Bailei.

However, Ye Qiaoqiao was somewhat skeptical: was Chen Bailei truly a top-ranking scholar?

Although the original Ye Qiaoqiao came from a merchant family, she was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics; otherwise, she would never have married him without hesitation back then, swayed by his poetic promise: "The mountain oath remains, yet the silk letter is hard to send."

The verse implied that their love was sworn by the mountains and seas, but separated by the constraints of social status, making it impossible for their letters to reach one another.

What a man, Chen Bailei! He certainly knew how to manipulate people's hearts! Ye Qiaoqiao couldn't help but scoff inwardly.

Yet, if Chen Bailei had indeed written such moving poetry and ranked as a top scholar, why would he be ignorant of the custom of beating the drum to cry out for justice? Such grievances are judged by the local authorities; if the husband is at fault, the magistrate would naturally side with the wife, present the divorce decree, and grant a separation.

Could a top scholar really be such a fool?

Ye Qiaoqiao was genuinely confused.

Before she could dwell on it further, Chen Bailei, realizing he had failed to gain an advantage, helped Xiang Ling'er toward the main gate.

Before leaving, Xiang Ling'er shot a vicious glare at Ye Qiaoqiao and sneered, "A dilapidated house is a dilapidated house. Enjoy living in this dump!"

Ye Qiaoqiao was speechless. With a mocking smile, she retorted, "If you know it's a dump, why did you stay? Doesn't that make you a piece of trash, or perhaps a bitch?"

"You!" Xiang Ling'er wanted to retort, but Chen Bailei shoved her into the carriage.

"I will send you the divorce decree. Our destiny ends here," Chen Bailei said coldly, as if granting her the divorce was an act of mercy.

"Don't bother, I would have left anyway!" Ye Qiaoqiao replied with a faint smile.

Chen Bailei dropped the carriage curtain and remained silent. Inside the carriage, Xiang Ling'er clutched a gleaming jade pendant and wore a triumphant smirk.

"Ye Qiaoqiao, you could never imagine that I would take your personal jade pendant!"

The carriage rumbled off in the direction of the capital.

The onlookers watching the drama were sharply divided.

"This Chen lady is truly heartless, casting out the top scholar just like that. He is a man of status, after all!"

"You try being buried alive and crawling out of a graveyard, then see if you wouldn't seek revenge!"

"If I were marrying a top scholar, I'd be willing to be buried alive!"

...

Ye Qiaoqiao couldn't listen anymore. She looked at the crowd and barked, "Clear out!"

She had intended to explain, but realized that as a modern woman who had transmigrated here, how could she use modern concepts to justify herself? It was better to just tell them to get lost.

At her words, the crowd dispersed from the Chen courtyard.

The versions of this farce varied wildly.

The local storyteller spun wild tales: "Lady Chen crawled out of a mass grave to tear down the top scholar!" "Buried alive! She has returned for vengeance!" "Dowry seized? She rose from the dead overnight to reclaim her fortune!"

Ye Qiaoqiao found it all immensely annoying; this storyteller was truly tedious.

"Uncle Zhang, did you bring the books I asked for?" Ye Qiaoqiao asked. Thinking the books might be heavy, she had asked him to handle them.

After all, if she wanted to win the legal battle of the drum-beating, she had to expand her knowledge and understand the culture of this world.

Before she could reflect further, Han Xiang screamed in the distance, "Ahhh!"

"What's wrong?" Ye Qiaoqiao asked, puzzled by the sound.

When she arrived, she saw Han Xiang staring at a bare, empty wall.

In her memories, the original owner had hidden three years' worth of savings—banknotes and gold—behind this wall, intended as a safety net for her old age.

But now, it was completely empty!

"Miss! They moved everything—your banknotes and the gold! No wonder they left so quickly! They were afraid you'd discover they had cleared out all your valuables!" Han Xiang was trembling with indignation.

Ye Qiaoqiao was stunned.

She hadn't wondered before why there were only two empty embroidered pillows left, but now it was clear: Chen Bailei had taken everything.

Damn you, Chen Bailei!

Ye Qiaoqiao, now clean and properly dressed, extended her slender fingers and performed a quick divination. Her thin lips parted, "He hasn't gone far. They are resting at an inn on the border of Xiangzhou."

"Good." Uncle Zhang and the servants exchanged glances and hurried to gather their things, intending to pursue the stolen property.

Seeing them move, Ye Qiaoqiao added, "Just teach Chen Bailei a lesson; Xiang Ling'er is pregnant, so don't touch her. As for the money, I will handle it myself when I go to the capital."

Han Xiang couldn't understand why, even now, her mistress was kind enough to consider Xiang Ling'er's pregnancy.

Uncle Zhang was puzzled. "Miss, are you sure we shouldn't recover the assets?"

That was her dowry, accumulated over years! It pained him just thinking about the loss.

"No need," Ye Qiaoqiao said softly. Recalling the pair whispering earlier, she was certain that Chen had already transferred her assets elsewhere.

At most, she could only teach him a lesson; even if she beat him to death, she might not find out where the wealth was hidden.

It was better to let them go for now and let him stay in the capital for a while.

She would create a massive stir here in Xiangzhou to force him to return.

Wouldn't that be better?

"Miss, that is your life's savings from the past three years..." Uncle Zhang sighed, frustrated by her apparent lack of resolve.

Han Xiang was also indignant. "Miss, you are too kind. That mistress drove you to your death, and you're still worrying about her pregnancy! Besides, we have nothing left—what will we eat or drink? Are we just going to guard an empty courtyard? This won't work!"

Han Xiang was on the verge of tears.

Ye Qiaoqiao had no choice but to calm her down. "Human life is paramount. As for food, once I earn three taels of gold in the next few days, I'll treat you to a grand feast!"

"Ah?" Han Xiang's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't understand how, in their current state, they could earn gold or afford a feast.

Ye Qiaoqiao knew there were many things she couldn't explain, but some things were inevitable.

For instance, hearing the magpie chirping as it flew into the courtyard signaled that good news might arrive today.

And her left eye twitching at the Hour of the Rooster suggested that a noble visitor would soon seek her out for a consultation.

As a fortune teller, how could she ever starve?

She turned to Uncle Zhang. "Go and teach them a lesson. If we wait past midnight tomorrow, they will have entered the capital, and we won't be able to catch them."

"Understood." Uncle Zhang acknowledged, turned, and shouted for the staff to head out of the courtyard.

As soon as he left, Han Xiang clutched Ye Qiaoqiao's sleeve, looking pitiful. "Miss, what did you mean about earning gold?"

Ye Qiaoqiao's gaze rested on the tail of Han Xiang's eyebrows.

The young girl had endured a rough life, which was why her brows were wild and unkempt.

She sighed, "Han Xiang, your mistress has walked through the gates of hell and understands many things now. Would you like to try it yourself?"