Chapter 13 The debt collectors are at the door
Just two days later, the news that the owner of Xinglonghao Bank had absconded with the funds spread rapidly throughout the capital. In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about it.
In the inner chambers of the Marquis's residence, Mother Gu was lying on the bed recuperating. She had been ill from anger and had just recovered.
Nanny Wang rushed in and said, "Madam, something's wrong, something's wrong..."
Mother Gu was already upset. She leaned against the headboard, frowning, "What's wrong? What's that little whore up to again?"
She should have killed that little whore sooner rather than later to avoid all this mess.
"No," Nanny Wang said hurriedly, "Madam, it's the ladies who lent us money at the Xinglong Shop. They're all gathered in front of the mansion, yelling at the top of their lungs for your money."
Upon hearing this, Mother Gu's face turned pale. "How could this happen? We put the money together at the beginning, just hoping to make more money. Who could have expected that the owner would be so ruthless? Now they are all coming to me. Aren't they trying to push me into a dead end?"
Gu's mother had long known that the owner of Xinglonghao had run away, so she secretly suppressed the matter, intending to use the Chu family's dowry to plug the hole.
Who knew that little whore would stir up so many problems in this mansion, one after another, and she hadn't even bothered to ask Chu Ruohan for her dowry...
The imperial court strictly forbids officials' families from lending money privately at high interest rates. Now they are collecting debts in front of the marquis's mansion in such a high-profile manner. Aren't they afraid of being punished after the imperial court finds out?
Will it affect the official hats on their men's heads?
She clutched the quilt tightly with both hands. If the Marquis of Anyang knew that she had taken all the money in the mansion to lend at high interest rates, then...
Mother Gu's heart suddenly sank, she felt dizzy and fainted again.
"Madam, Madam..." When Nanny Wang saw that Mother Gu fainted again, she was immediately panicked and no longer cared about the group of ladies making trouble at the door.
The servants at the gatehouse knew that these ladies were of noble status and did not dare to drive them away easily, nor could they let them into the mansion, so they could only bite the bullet and block them at the door.
It happened that Marquis Anyang was returning from court, and he saw from afar a group of people gathered in front of the mansion gate.
"Marquis Anyang!"
Madam Zheng's sharp eyes caught sight of Marquis Anyang at once. Her eyebrows immediately arched as she hurried towards him.
When Marquis Anyang saw that it was Madam Zheng, he was about to say hello when he was suddenly grabbed by someone.
"Marquis Anyang, you finally showed up. The Marquis' wife led us in doing good things, but now the money is gone. You can't just ignore it!"
In an instant, the crowd surrounded him like a tide.
Marquis Anyang's face was filled with astonishment and confusion. He glanced at these angry women. What on earth was going on?
Marquis Anyang had to struggle to escape; these women were about to eat him up...
Mother Gu slowly woke up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Marquis Anyang sitting at the table with a gloomy face. His face seemed to be stained with ink, and it was terrifyingly gloomy.
Her heart suddenly tightened, and she said in a trembling voice, "Marquis... Marquis."
Marquis Anyang's gaze was like a knife, piercing her directly. "Those people at the door keep asking you to return the money. What's going on?"
Mother Gu had something to hide and still had a thought of quibbling. She looked evasive and hesitated, not daring to speak.
When Marquis Anyang saw her like this, he slammed the table in anger. There was a loud "bang" that made the teacups on the table jump.
Mother Gu was so frightened that she trembled and then told the truth crying.
Not only did she lend all the money in the mansion at high interest rates, she also brought the ladies who were on good terms with the marquis's mansion to make money together.
The owner of Xinglonghao promised her that if she could introduce other ladies to lend money together, he would give her a generous dividend at the end of the year.
She was blinded by greed and had no idea of the risks involved. Unexpectedly, the owner of Xinglonghao suddenly ran away, and now she has lost everything...
After hearing this, the veins on Anyang Hou's forehead bulged, and he pointed at Mother Gu and cursed, "Foolish woman, you are so stupid!"
"We've caused such a big mess, how should we end it?"
When Mother Gu heard the Marquis of Anyang's angry curses, her cries became even louder. "My Lord, I know I was wrong. I didn't mean to do this. I thought I could bring in some income for the mansion, but I didn't expect that profiteer to be so unscrupulous."
The Marquis of Anyang was furious: "The imperial court has repeatedly issued orders prohibiting officials' families from lending money at high interest rates, yet you dared to knowingly violate this rule!"
"You know, this isn't just about the Marquis's money; it's also about my reputation and future in the court. Those ladies who colluded with you have powerful forces behind them. They won't give up if they lose their money."
Mother Gu's crying gradually weakened, leaving only sobbing. She knew the seriousness of the disaster very well, and looked at Marquis Anyang timidly, not daring to say anything.
Marquis Anyang paced back and forth in his room, pondering his response. He knew that if he mishandled the matter, he would offend many powerful people and bring endless trouble to the Marquis's mansion.
"Well, first, send someone to investigate the whereabouts of the owner of the Xinglonghao and recover as much as possible. Furthermore, the money owed to those ladies must be returned as soon as possible. There must be no delay. I will see to it that this matter is properly handled."
After saying that, he glanced at her coldly and said, "Don't cry anymore. From now on, you are confined to the inner room. Without my order, you are not allowed to take a single step out. I will settle the account with you after this matter is settled."
Mother Gu didn't dare to raise any more objections and could only shrink by the bed, watching Anyang Hou walk away in anger...
Marquis Anyang walked out of Tingxue Pavilion with a solemn expression, hesitated for a moment, and then hurried towards Hongmeng Garden.
"Why did you have time to come here today, father?"
"Come and see you."
Marquis Anyang forced a gentle smile, "Junze, has your health improved recently? Your father is very worried about you."
Gu Junze nodded slightly, "Thank you for your concern, father. I have had this leg problem for more than a day or two, I'm used to it."
Marquis Anyang sighed softly, "Your father will definitely find another good doctor. Don't be too discouraged."
Changing the subject, he continued, "I came here today not only to visit you, but also for another matter. Your stepmother... committed a serious crime, and I have stripped her of her right to manage the household."
The Marquis of Anyang informed the court that Gu's mother had embezzled the palace's money to lend at high interest rates, causing the family to lose all their money and also implicated the ladies who were on good terms with the Marquis.
Gu Junze was silent for a long time before he said, "This matter is indeed the fault of the Marquis' wife, but the change in power in the household has caused some people in the mansion to become uneasy."
Marquis Anyang nodded, "I'll consider that. I want Ruohan to take charge of the household affairs temporarily. She's thoughtful and considerate, and maybe she can stabilize the situation."
Chu Ruohan was listening beside her, and she knew it clearly in her mind: the power to be the head of the family is just a nice thing to say.
Both husband and wife wanted to use her dowry to fill the holes in the Marquis's mansion.
Anyang Hou, out of respect, wanted to dump this mess on her...
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