Chapter 198 Too Much Debt, No Worries

Liu was taken aback, then frowned. "Didn't you just agree?"

Madam Min asked in surprise, "When did I agree to anything? Madam Liu is not old, how can she be more forgetful than me?"

Liu's face darkened: "Are you playing me for a fool?"

Madam Min's face also darkened. "Didn't you start by joking with me?"

"I have such a large estate on the outskirts of Beijing, and I've only just discovered a hot spring. I haven't even enjoyed it myself yet, and you're just asking for it? Where do you get the nerve to ask me for it right away?"

"I said this was for the Crown Princess..." Liu wanted to argue, but Min Qiao didn't give her the chance.

"Even if you say you'd pay for it, I'd still think twice as much of you."

"Good heavens, are you just going to rob me right off the bat?"

"Do you really think the title of Crown Princess is that effective?"

"What, you don't think that even the Empress's family should defer to you, so that as soon as you ask, this old woman should be sensible enough to offer up the hot spring resort with both hands?"

Min Qiaoshi spat and said, "Pah! I'm just an old woman with one foot in the grave, I don't have that many worries!"

"Trying to steal my things? Don't you even know if you think I, Min Qiao Shi, am so easy to bully?"

"You, you...you dare to disregard the Crown Princess?! How dare you!!" Liu was speechless after being confronted, and could only bluff by bringing up the Crown Princess to intimidate people.

Madam Min Qiao, of course, wasn't buying it and immediately sneered, "I wouldn't dare disregard the Crown Princess. I'm clearly disregarding you!"

"If you insist that this hot spring estate is what the Crown Princess wanted, then let her say it herself!"

"I'd like to see if the Crown Princess of Dayan has the nerve to take my things for free!"

Without paying attention to how ugly Liu's face looked, he instructed Ayi, "Send Third Madam Liu out."

"Yes." Ayi quickly stepped forward and gestured for them to enter. "Please, Mrs. Liu."

Enraged, Madam Liu stood up, pointed at Madam Min Qiao, and threatened, "Well done! Madam Qiao of the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion, I'll remember this! We'll see!"

"Hmph, I'd like to see if you can even build that hot spring resort!"

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and was about to leave.

Upon hearing this, Madam Min Qiao suddenly realized something and quickly stopped the person, asking, "Were the series of incidents that happened at my hot spring estate the work of your Wu family?"

Mrs. Liu was taken aback, and then an unnatural look flashed across her face.

But soon, that awkwardness turned into smugness.

"Hmph, I advise you to hand over the hot springs as soon as possible. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble will happen to your estate!"

Madam Min Qiao smirked, "Madam Zheng, you be my witness. Third Madam Liu has personally admitted that the trouble at my Hot Spring Estate was all caused by the Wu family!"

He then shouted, "Someone come quick! Go to the yamen to report this! I want to sue the Wu family for deliberately targeting me, poisoning me, and treating human life like dirt!"

Upon hearing this, the quick-witted Aqi immediately replied, "This servant will go right away," and then ran out as fast as she could.

Upon seeing this, Mrs. Liu was startled, and her face visibly turned panicked.

"You, you're spouting nonsense! Are you out of your mind? I, what did I say? I didn't say anything!"

With that, he ran off quickly.

However, as he was leaving, whether out of haste or fright, he tripped over the threshold and fell flat on his face. He looked extremely disheveled.

Madam Min Qiao burst into laughter without any restraint, "Hahaha, has Madam Liu done too many bad things? Why are your legs going weak?"

Liu was so angry that her eyes turned red. She slapped away the maid who reached out to help her up, got up on her own, and ran away as fast as she could without even brushing off the dust on her body.

Watching Liu Shi flee as if her life depended on it, Madam Zheng couldn't help but worry and admonish her, "Why did you do this? What good will it do you or the Marquis's mansion to offend someone?"

Min Qiao shrugged indifferently, "She dared to openly steal my things, so am I not allowed to say a few sarcastic things to her to vent my anger?"

"Alas, the Wu family is just a bunch of petty people who have gotten ahead. If you offend them, you'll have a lot of headaches to deal with." Madam Zheng was very worried about this.

Madam Min Qiao, however, was utterly disdainful. "The Marquis of Annan's mansion, the Sun family, the Lu family... plus Consort Zhao, haven't I offended enough people already?"

"What harm is there in adding the Wu family now?"

"Anyway, having too much debt means you don't have to worry."

"So what if they kill me? I'm not afraid!"

Madam Zheng rolled her eyes, utterly speechless. "When did you become such a shameless scoundrel?"

Madam Min smiled; the answer, of course, began with her rebirth.

"Alright, I'll show you some of my recent paintings. I'm getting better and better at painting now."

"My little niece says I have an exceptional talent for drawing. Especially in portraiture, I'm just naturally gifted."

Madam Zheng put aside her worries and followed Madam Min Qiao to her study.

"The little niece you're talking about is your second brother's youngest daughter? The one named Yuanyao?"

Madam Zheng became interested. "I think I've seen you here once before. Judging by your appearance, you must be quite old. Why aren't you engaged yet?"

Madam Min sighed and briefly recounted how she had severed ties with her maternal family years ago, which led to the Qiao family being ostracized by prominent merchant families in Jiangnan, and how Qiao Yuanyao's marriage had been repeatedly schemed against by those people.

Then he said in a somber tone, "She has lived on the mountain for several years. If I hadn't gone back this time, she would probably have spent her whole life in a nunnery, living a life of solitude and devotion."

"She's a pitiful child." Madam Zheng sighed. "By the way, how old is your niece? What kind of family are you looking for? I'll keep an eye out for her, and if there's a suitable match, I'll let you know."

Madam Min said helplessly, "Yuanyao is twenty years old this year. It may not be easy for her to find a suitable family. It would be best if she could find one, but it's not good to force it."

After thinking for a moment, Madam Zheng suggested, "Why don't you spread the word that you're going to find a husband for your niece? Then hold a banquet. When that happens, interested families will naturally come to ask for invitations to the banquet."

This is a common practice among families in the capital. Although it's nothing new, the key is that the target is clear, and the success rate is extremely high.

After thinking about it, Madam Min felt that this method was feasible, but she did not agree immediately. "I will ask my second sister-in-law and Yuanyao for their opinions later. If they agree, I will take care of it as soon as possible."

Madam Zheng smiled and replied, "That would be wonderful. Don't forget to send me an invitation when the time comes, and I'll give you some advice."

Without hesitation, Madam Min Qiao replied, "Then you definitely can't be left out!"

After Liu was driven away, Madam Min and Madam Zheng went to admire the painting while chatting and laughing.

Over there, Lady Liu fled the Xuanping Marquis's residence in a panic, heading straight for the Crown Prince's residence without even returning home.

The Crown Prince is busy with state affairs and is not at home. The Crown Princess is pregnant again and is currently resting at home.

Upon hearing from a servant that her third aunt from her maternal family had arrived, the Crown Princess immediately frowned impatiently.