Holding the tiger tally in his hand, Mu Zi'an felt heavy-hearted.
As the saying goes, "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." From the moment I took over the Tiger Tally, it was both an opportunity and a challenge.
Those rats hiding in the shadows will inevitably launch even fiercer attacks against you.
The dangers we may encounter in the future will only become more severe.
However, for Mu Zian, it was nothing more than a few hardships.
Lu Yunxue remained absent-minded throughout the ensuing banquet.
It wasn't until the banquet was about to end that, reminded by Pei Jianzhi, the two remembered there was still one thing they hadn't done.
That would be to reduce or waive the Lu family's debts, given their current situation where they have lost their military power and face.
Moreover, the person who came was not His Majesty the current emperor, but the Ninth Princess.
For a moment, Lu Yunxue had second thoughts.
But then I thought, if I don't speak up today, I'll never have another chance.
Mu Zian now wields immense power and influence in the court.
If this drags on any longer, it could be a catastrophe for the Lu family.
With this thought in mind, Lu Yunxue made up her mind.
So the two of them got up together and went to the center of the hall, where they knelt down respectfully before the Ninth Princess and said...
"Your Highness, we have something to report, and we ask for your decision."
Upon hearing this, everyone put down their wine glasses and looked over curiously.
Pei Jianzhi spoke first.
"Your Highness, the Marquis of Jin Guo has been fighting for the country for the past three years, conquering thousands of miles of territory. Her family members are all being served by the Duke of Zhenguo. The two of them were previously engaged, so this is only natural."
"However, now that the Duke of Zhenguo has severed all ties with the Marquis of Jinguo and broken off their engagement, he wants to reclaim the expenses incurred over the years. Isn't such an act utterly ridiculous? I beg Your Highness the Ninth Princess to do us a favor and exempt the Duke of Zhenguo from contributing to the household expenses for the past three years."
Xiao Xiuning looked at Mu Zian with amusement and asked.
"Did the Duke of Zhenguo have such a matter?"
Mu Zian never expected that this pair of scoundrels could be so shameless. He had truly seen something new today.
"That is true, but these years it has not been subsidies, but rather debts owed by the Lu family."
“Every single expense has been meticulously recorded and registered. Over the past three years, excluding the gifts I gave them, the Lu family has accumulated a debt of 5.8 million taels of silver!”
These words instantly ignited the entire audience!
This number could be five thousand taels, or fifty thousand taels! But no one expected it to be a full one million eight hundred thousand taels!
All the civil and military officials gasped in astonishment; the depth of Mu Zi'an's love shattered their worldview.
At this moment, everyone was looking at Lu Yunxue as if she were a fool.
A man was willing to empty his family's savings over three years, spending hundreds of thousands of taels of silver on you, and you still fell for someone else? Did a donkey kick your brain?
Xiao Xiuning said calmly.
"I took a look at the accounts."
A moment later, a thick ledger was placed in front of Xiao Xiuning.
"The Lu family grandmother's birthday banquet was a seven-day extravaganza, costing 300,000 taels of silver, and there is a debt of 100,000 taels of silver for repairs to the mansion..."
Xiao Xiuning became increasingly horrified as she read through the pages. This could no longer be described as extravagant; it was utterly heinous.
Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials whispered among themselves.
Only the word "leech" was clearly heard by Lu Yunxue.
Lu Yunxue felt a sense of foreboding; public opinion had instantly reversed.
As expected, Xiao Xiuning frowned, closed the account book, and said...
“I can understand routine expenses, but the accounts show that a total of 5.8 million taels of silver were spent over three years! It’s simply outrageous.”
"However, considering the hardships you have endured fighting for the country, I will allow this 1.8 million taels of silver to be repaid in installments, within three years. But to show my sincerity, I will allow the first installment of 500,000 taels of silver to be repaid by the Heroine Marquis."
What does it mean to lift a stone only to drop it on your own foot? Lu Yunxue is now the perfect example.
Mu Zian's gaze involuntarily turned to Xiao Xiuning, and their eyes met in mid-air.
It can only be said that none of the people in this palace are simple; they are all top-notch cunning and ruthless.
Mu Zian only asked the Lu family to repay five million taels of silver, but Xiao Xiuning's two simple sentences directly increased the debt from five million to five million eight hundred thousand taels of silver. One sentence added eight hundred thousand taels of silver, and it was officially certified that they couldn't renege on it even if they wanted to.
Lu Yunxue wanted to argue, but Xiao Xiuning interrupted her directly.
"Let's end the banquet here today. I'm tired."
After saying that, Xiao Xiuning got up and left.
For Lu Yunxue, tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.
As the banquet ended, news of what had happened that night quickly spread throughout the capital.
The Duke of Zhenguo shattered Pei Jianzhi's dream of becoming a general with three punches, and Mu Zian regained command of the Vanguard Army.
The dignified Marquis was reprimanded on the spot by the Ninth Princess.
Any one of his incidents could shock the entire capital.
Inside the Tang residence.
Lu Yunxue returned dejectedly.
Upon seeing this, Grandmother Lu rushed forward and asked excitedly.
"Has His Majesty forgiven the five million taels of foreign debt?"
Lu Yunxue shook her head.
The grandmother of the Lu family's expression changed drastically in an instant.
"Then what are you doing going there? Aren't you a dignified Marquis of Heroine? How come His Majesty didn't even grant permission for such a trivial matter?"
"His Majesty did not attend the victory celebration banquet today."
Pei Jianzhi's voice came through the dim light, and Grandmother Lu was startled by Pei Jianzhi's face, which was swollen like a pig's head.
Lu Yunxue explained the whole story to her grandmother.
When she finally heard that not only had the foreign debt not been reduced, but had instead increased to 5.8 million, Grandma Lu was on the verge of collapse.
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