"When my mother-in-law heard about this, she was so angry that she fell ill. The matter is still at a stalemate, and it's not easy to make it public."
When Gu Mei talked about this, she couldn't help but sigh.
She is the wife of the family, and she is often required to handle matters involving men and women.
Gu Jiu was curious, "Why is it still deadlocked? Your mother-in-law has been ill for a while, and I thought the matter had been resolved."
"It's difficult!" Gu Mei said bluntly, "Han Wulang and his cousin Qu are in love. They were stopped by their families and barely broke off their relationship. Who knows if their old feelings would have rekindled if no one had stopped them."
Gu Jiu laughed. "When cousin Qu was caught in a scandal, did she say anything? Did she make any requests?"
Gu Mei sneered, "Little Sister Jiu knows her abilities. She cries all the time. When her scandal was discovered, she cried for a few days, and then she said that she was a woman who was abused and that Han Wulang was responsible."
Gu Jiu asked curiously, "How do you take responsibility? Give her money or marry her?"
Gu Mei said with a look of disgust, "Marrying her is absolutely impossible. My old lady has already said that she is not allowed to enter the house from now on. Everyone treats her as a relative, but she is secretly having an affair with Han Wulang. This kind of woman who brings disgrace to the family should be beaten to death. Her husband is fighting on the front line, and she is having an affair at home. If this gets to her in-laws, who knows what kind of trouble will happen."
"So the only way to settle this matter is to pay money."
"This money is unfair." Gu Mei was very unhappy. Using money to settle things is not the same as using public funds.
Gu Jiu asked, "Have you given the money?"
"I haven't given it to you yet. The old lady asked me to discuss it with someone named Qu, but I find her disgusting, so I've been putting it off."
"Didn't Han Wulang's wife say anything?"
Gu Mei shook her head. "She exposed this matter and brought shame to the family. The old lady is dissatisfied with her. She asked her to stay in the room to guard Han Wulang."
Gu Jiu sneered, obviously disapproving of the old lady's behavior in Dai Hou Mansion.
It was Han Wulang who brought shame to his family, but he ended up blaming his wife, who had done nothing wrong. This was clearly a case of venting anger and looking for a scapegoat.
If such an ugly thing is not exposed, will it just stay hidden in the quilt and grow festering?
The old lady of Dai Hou Mansion dotes on Han Wulang to the point that she has lost all principles and bottom line.
Gu Jiu asked, "Do you think Cousin Qu will be paid to shut up?"
"It will be no good for her if the matter is made known to everyone. The Qu family will not let her go, and neither will her husband's family. The best thing to do is to take the money and shut up. From now on, draw a clear line with Han Wulang."
Gu Jiu took a sip of tea and said, "Sister Mei, don't you think it's strange that after so many days, cousin Qu didn't take the initiative to ask for an explanation from the Shangdai Marquis' Mansion."
Gu Mei was disgusted. "How dare she come to ask for an explanation?"
Gu Jiu reminded: "Sister Mei, be careful that she plays tricks and causes a bigger mess."
"Little Jiu's meaning is that the Qu guy still hasn't given up."
"That's possible. Sister Mei, please take some time to talk to her and test her bottom line first."
Gu Mei nodded. "Sister Xiaojiu is right. This matter cannot be dragged on. It must be resolved as soon as possible. The main reason is that I am disgusted by her and don't like to see her."
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "Send her away early, and Sister Mei will be more relaxed."
…
Gu Mei listened to Gu Jiu's advice and came to Qu Mansion early the next morning with a few strong women.
Cousin Qu followed her husband to the capital. She was unwilling to rent a house, so she bought a three-story house.
The house is not big and looks compact.
The advantage is that although it is small, it has all the organs.
The doorman opened the door and invited Gu Mei in.
Gu Mei asked, "Where is your wife?"
"Madam, my wife is ill. Please go to the backyard to talk."
"Are you sick? What's wrong? Have you seen a doctor?"
"Thank you for your concern, Madam. I have already called a doctor and am taking medicine."
Gu Mei came to the backyard and finally met her cousin Qu.
Cousin Qu is no longer the delicate and fragile girl she used to be, but a mature woman full of charm, exactly the type Han Wulang likes.
Gu Mei looked at her expressionlessly, secretly disdainful.
"You've lost some weight," she said casually.
Cousin Qu smiled sadly, "How can I not be thin? What's the wind today? My cousin's wife actually came to my house in person."
Gu Mei said: "My old lady is worried and asked me to come and take a look."
Cousin Qu laughed sarcastically, "Are you afraid that I'll tell others? Or are you afraid that I'll come over and cause trouble? I have my dignity too."
Gu Mei sneered, "I really didn't realize you even had shame."
Cousin Qu's face twisted into a hideous expression, then she started laughing again. "If you came here just to ridicule me, then please go back. I'm certainly shameless, but it's not your turn to scold me."
Gu Mei raised her head and looked down at her cousin Qu. "The old lady hopes to resolve this matter as soon as possible. For the sake of everyone, just pretend nothing happened. You don't want this to get out to your husband's family, and you don't want the children to find out that you're cheating on me, do you?"
"Is my cousin's wife threatening me?" Cousin Qu said with a half-smile.
Gu Mei shook her head. "I'm telling you what's best for you. The old lady has already agreed and will compensate you with a sum of money. From now on, you and Han Wulang will no longer have any relationship, and the door of Daihou Mansion will no longer be open to you."
Cousin Qu lowered her head and said nothing.
Gu Mei frowned, "I compensated you with a sum of money, but you're still not satisfied? Don't be too greedy."
Cousin Qu clutched the armrest of the chair, her fingers turning white. "I wonder how much this amount of money is?"
Gu Mei said: "Five thousand taels!"
Cousin Qu immediately laughed, her eyes full of sarcasm, "You sent me away for five thousand taels. I didn't expect that I was so cheap in the eyes of your Daihou Mansion."
"You think it's too little?" Gu Mei was surprised. What right did Cousin Qu have to complain?
"Is five thousand taels a lot? Why can't I complain that it's too little?" Cousin Qu smiled.
Gu Mei narrowed her eyes and said, "You should know that this matter is mainly disadvantageous to you. Han Wulang is a man. If this matter gets out, the most he will be criticized for is a playboy. As for you, you will be condemned by thousands of people. Have you thought about the consequences?"
Cousin Qu straightened her back. "Han Wulang raped the wife of a military officer. Your Daihou Mansion abused your power to bully others and humiliate the wife and children of the military officer. Do you think the Dali Temple is interested in investigating your Daihou Mansion? Do you want to seek justice for the military officers fighting on the front lines?"
"Are you crazy?" Gu Mei was horrified. "You and Han Wulang were secretly in love, so how could it be rape?"
"I'm the wife of a fourth-rank military commander, with children and a respectable social status. How could I possibly have had sex with him if Han Wulang hadn't forced me to? Besides, Han Wulang already has a criminal record, and this isn't the first time you've abused your power to bully others. I want to see who gets the short end of the stick when the case reaches the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice."
Gu Mei was greatly surprised. "What's your purpose? What good will it do you if both of you suffer losses? Do you think you can win the lawsuit? Even if you win, you won't have a good ending."
"Yes, I won't have a good ending if I go to court. But if I don't go to court, will I have a good ending? My dear cousin, I am not one of those women in the market who can be frightened by a few random words. Go back and tell Han Wulang, tell the old lady, and my aunt who has always disliked me, that if you don't give me an explanation, I will see you at the Dali Temple."
Cousin Qu's eyes were full of malice.
She was very excited and satisfied to see Gu Mei looking troubled.
Gu Mei took a deep breath and said, "What do you want to be explained? You name the price, and I'll fight for it for you."
Cousin Qu smiled contemptuously, "Fifty thousand taels of silver, and this matter will be written off. From now on, I will never visit your Daihou Mansion, nor will I meet Han Wulang. Otherwise, our two families will have a lawsuit."
"Fifty thousand taels is too much, it's impossible." Gu Mei refused without even thinking.
Cousin Qu said with a firm look on her face, "Then there's nothing to discuss."
"Aren't you afraid that I'll send someone to your husband's house to deliver a message?"
"Go ahead. I've already written the complaint. Now that my husband's family is here, I can use my death as proof of my innocence and let them fight the case on my behalf. Even if it means risking my own life to destroy your Daihou Mansion, it's worth it!"
Crazy!
This woman is completely crazy!
Gu Mei was so angry that her vision went dark.
When the mother and daughter of the Qu family came to Beijing to seek refuge with the Dai Hou Mansion, she knew that her cousin Qu was not a good person.
But I didn't expect that this woman was not only able to cry, but also had a really cruel heart.
Cousin Qu smiled confidently, "It seems that my cousin's wife can't make the decision. Why not go back and discuss it with the old lady and the others? I'm waiting for good news from my cousin's wife."
"Fifty thousand taels, you're asking for too much."
"Which is more important, fifty thousand taels or forcing a general's wife to death? You should make your own plans on behalf of the Marquis' Mansion. I am not feeling well, so I will not see my cousin out."
Gu Mei gritted her teeth and said, "I'll come back another day."
She walked away, filled with anger.
How dare cousin Qu ask for such a high price?
Gu Mei returned to Dai Hou Mansion, but instead of going back to her room, she went directly to the upper room to meet her mother-in-law.
Lady Dai Hou was worried about Han Wulang.
Giving birth to this son is like giving birth to a debt collector.
She is old but still can't have a free time, which makes her feel very sad.
Seeing Gu Mei coming back, he asked, "How did the discussion go?"
Gu Mei shook her head at first, then briefly explained, "She's asking for an exorbitant sum of fifty thousand taels. If she doesn't give it to her, she'll go to the Dali Temple and file a complaint, saying Wu Lang raped her and that the Daihou Mansion is bullying the generals and humiliating their wives and children. She even said that if word of this reaches her husband's family, she'll use her death as proof of her innocence and have them fight the case on her behalf."
"Has that Qu girl gone mad?" Lady Dai Hou was gasping in disbelief. "I've always said she wasn't a good person, and it's true. If the old lady hadn't insisted on keeping them, I would have kicked them out long ago. What a disaster! The Dai Hou Mansion treated her well, yet she turned against them."
The wife of the Marquis of Dai was so angry that her face turned pale.
Gu Mei was extremely worried and quickly sent for the imperial physician.
The matter could not be concealed and soon alarmed the old lady of Dai Hou Mansion.
When the old lady learned that Cousin Qu was asking for fifty thousand taels and threatened to sue her if she didn't give him the money, she was so angry that her forehead became flushed and she almost fainted.
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