After hearing what Shen Ningyuan said, Chen became anxious instantly.

“Chen Ningyuan, so after all you’ve been talking about, you don’t want to help the Marquis’ Mansion overcome its difficulties?”

"What does the life and death of the Marquis' Mansion have to do with me? You bought the things and you owe the debts. Why do you want me to help you pay back the money?" Shen Ningyuan retorted.

Seeing that Shen Ningyuan was unmoved, Chen continued to press, "You are still the daughter-in-law of the Marquis' Mansion. If there is any problem in the Marquis' Mansion, how can you be any better?"

Shen Ningyuan shrugged and said indifferently: "I have money, I can live well wherever I go."

“You, you, you…”

Chen covered her chest, pointing at Shen Ningyuan with trembling fingers, and was so angry that she couldn’t say a word.

It seems that he was really angry.

Seeing that she was so angry, Shen Ningyuan's mind moved slightly.

His gaze lingered on Chen's flushed face for a moment, then he looked up at the swaying branches outside the window. His tone was soothing but sharp, "Madam Ji, it's not that I don't want to help the Marquis' Mansion. It's really because of the unpleasant things that happened before that I have to be cautious."

Shen Ningyuan deliberately paused for a moment, then continued, "After all, the Marquis' Mansion owes me 500,000 taels, and I'm not sure if I can get it all back."

Chen was burning with anxiety, but she forced herself to remain calm. She forced a smile and said, "Ning Yuan, don't worry. We will definitely pay you back all the money the Marquis' Mansion owes you, including the principal and interest. We are all family, so how could we possibly owe you a small sum of money?"

Shen Ningyuan retracted her gaze, raised her eyebrows and asked, "You're talking as if you haven't cheated before?"

“…”

Once again, Chen was speechless after being confronted by Shen Ningyuan.

After a moment, Shen Ningyuan shook her head gently, and then pretended to be helpless and said: "Mrs. Ji, as you said, it is only natural for family members to help each other."

Chen's eyes lit up.

Chen Ningyuan frowned and continued, "But people's hearts are unpredictable. How can I be sure that you don't have other thoughts? When preparing for the funeral, the Marquis' Mansion acted hastily, and many expenses in the accounts were unclear. Now that they can't pay off their debts, they suddenly ask me to borrow money. I can't help but feel suspicious."

Chen heard the hidden meaning behind Shen Ningyuan's words and immediately asked, "Do you have any other concerns?"

"I was wondering, does it really cost so much money to hold a funeral?" Shen Ningyuan asked straight to the point.

Chen paused, her eyes flickering as she hesitantly said, "I know this funeral did cost a lot of money, but you also know that Yunchuan died on the battlefield, and even his body hasn't been found. It's only right that we give him a grand funeral."

As she spoke, Chen looked at Shen Ningyuan and said tentatively: “You are Yunchuan’s wife, you should understand our approach.”

After hearing this, Shen Ningyuan's expression relaxed a little.

Seeing this, Chen decided to strike while the iron was hot and cried, "Yunchuan, my poor son, you died so tragically! It's all my fault for being so incompetent. Even planning a grand funeral for you has put the Marquisate in trouble!"

Seeing Chen crying so sadly, Shen Ningyuan's eyes flashed, and she slowly said: "Madam Ji, this money...I can consider lending it to the Marquis' Mansion."

Chen paused, glanced at Shen Ningyuan out of the corner of her eye, and asked, "Are you really willing?"

Shen Ningyuan nodded, "I will lend it to you, but I have one condition..."

Seeing that Shen Ningyuan's attitude had softened, Chen immediately asked anxiously, "What are the conditions?"

Shen Ningyuan pursed her lips and said lightly, "I want to plant flowers in the backyard. I need a yard with plenty of sunshine."

"Okay, you can choose any yard in the backyard of the Marquis' Mansion!"

Hearing that Shen Ningyuan only wanted a yard, Chen immediately agreed.

There are so many courtyards in the Marquis' Mansion, Shen Ningyuan can pick any one.

Seeing Chen's relaxed expression, Shen Ningyuan's eyes were sharp, and she said word by word: "I like the Fanghua Garden in the southeast corner very much. It should be the most suitable place to plant flowers."

"Okay, here you go... Wait, what? You want Fanghua Garden?"

Chen had agreed to everything.

Suddenly realizing that Shen Ningyuan wanted Fanghua Garden, his expression changed immediately.

He asked suspiciously, "Fanghua Garden is where my niece Chen Moer lives. Why did you choose to target her yard?"

Hearing this, Shen Ningyuan pretended to be ignorant, "Oh? Is my cousin living in Fanghua Garden? I thought that as a guest of the Marquis' Mansion, she should live in Madam Ji's courtyard!"

"She has lived in the Ji family for five years. It's not a big deal to arrange an independent courtyard for her."

When saying this, Chen avoided Shen Ningyuan's gaze.

"I see... Since Fanghua Garden is already occupied, let's just forget it."

"Let's forget about the loan."

After saying that, Shen Ningyuan turned and left.

Chen suddenly became anxious and immediately grabbed Shen Ningyuan's sleeve.

"Fanghua Garden is occupied. Can't you change to another courtyard? There are so many courtyards in the Marquis' Mansion!"

Shen Ningyuan stopped and looked sideways at Chen, then asked word by word, "But, I just happened to have my eyes on Fanghua Garden. What should I do?"

Chen asked stiffly, "You, are you serious? You only want Fanghua Garden?"

Shen Ningyuan raised an eyebrow, "That's right, I only have my eyes on Fanghua Garden."

After hearing this, Chen was stunned for a while.

Then he said hesitantly: "Okay, I'll give you Fanghua Garden, but I have to tell Mo'er to move out of the yard. It will take about three days... Can you lend the money to the Marquis' Mansion first?"

"Okay, then wait three days and Madam Ji will come back to borrow money from me!"

As she spoke, Shen Ningyuan broke free from Chen's hand and turned to leave.

Chen was so anxious that she quickly chased after him and stopped Shen Ningyuan.

Gritting his teeth, he asked, "If I ask Mo'er to move out of Fanghua Garden immediately, can you lend the money to the Marquis' Mansion today?"

"Of course." Shen Ningyuan nodded.

Chen gritted her teeth even harder and said sternly, "Okay, go wait at Xiyuanju. I'll go to Fanghua Garden now and ask Mo'er to move out."

“Chen Ningyuan, I hope you will do what you say and don’t play tricks on me!”

After throwing down the last warning, Chen immediately took his men to Fanghua Garden.

It looks like he is really determined to make Chen Moer move out of Fanghua Garden.

After Chen left, Lan Yin asked Shen Ningyuan with a worried look on her face, "Miss, do you really want to lend money to the Marquis' Mansion? The Marquis' Mansion is a bunch of ungrateful people. No matter how much you show your sincerity to them, they won't appreciate it!"

Shen Ningyuan smiled and asked in return: "Who said that your young lady is going to open her heart to them?"

"Miss, you have agreed to lend me the money. Doesn't that mean you are sincere? Miss knows clearly that lending money to those troublemakers in the Marquis' Mansion is like throwing meat buns at a dog - it will never come back!" Lan Yin said angrily.

Hearing this, Shen Ningyuan restrained her smile and said coldly: "Of course I have to be open-hearted to the Marquis' Mansion."

"After all, what we're taking out are... their hearts and lungs."