Chapter 386 Han'er, you have to help your cousin
"Send someone to check how much silver was spent." Chu Ruohan decided to at least find out the whole story.
Within two days, the news came back. My uncle had paid five thousand taels of silver for this spot.
"Five thousand taels!" Chu Ruohan almost dropped the teacup in her hand. "Where did they get so much silver?"
Yuling whispered, "It is said that it was borrowed from the Chu family. They said that if my cousin enters the palace and gains favor, she will pay it back with interest in the future."
"Return?" Chu Ruohan snorted coldly. "Over the years, they've taken so much money from the Chu family, and they always say it's okay. But how much have they actually returned?"
Five thousand taels is not a small amount of money for the Chu family, especially after the incident with Chu Ang, when the family was severely weakened.
"Yuling prepares the carriage and returns to the Chu family."
"Ma'am, you are heavy and your legs and feet are swollen, so don't worry about it," Yuling advised.
"I'm afraid my mother is confused."
Chu Ruohan decided to go back to her parents' home again.
When they arrived at the Chu family, Chu Yueshu was also angry with Chu's mother about this matter.
"Mom, why did you agree to lend so much money to my uncle?" Chu Yueshu couldn't help but ask, her voice full of dissatisfaction.
As soon as Chu Ruohan entered the door, she heard her sister's angry voice and couldn't help but quicken her pace.
When Chu Yueshu saw her sister, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then turned into relief.
"Sister, you're back? Do you know about uncle's situation?"
"Yeah." Chu Ruohan nodded slightly and looked at her mother who was sitting beside her with a gloomy expression.
Mother Chu sighed, a trace of guilt on her face: "Han'er, your uncle knelt in front of me and begged, saying that this was the only chance in his life. I...I was soft-hearted and agreed."
She lowered her eyes and twisted the handkerchief in her hand with her fingers, obviously regretting her decision.
"Mom, this selection may be for choosing a princess for marriage." Chu Ruohan said in a low voice.
Mother Chu suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with shock: "What? A marriage alliance?"
"Your Majesty is probably selecting a woman this time to be crowned a princess and marry off to Xixia." Chu Ruohan lowered her voice and looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "This is not a good thing."
Mother Chu's face turned pale in an instant: "How...how should I know this? Your uncle said it was a good opportunity for Ying'er, that she could enter the palace and gain favor, bringing honor to the family..."
She covered her mouth, her voice filled with fear: "If I am chosen to marry, then wouldn't that be..."
"Mother, my uncle only cares about his own family's prosperity and wealth. How could he think of these things?" Chu Ruohan said helplessly, "Now that my cousin has been selected, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get those five thousand taels back."
Mother Chu grabbed Chu Ruohan's hand, her eyes full of pleading: "Han'er, don't you know someone in the palace? Can you find a way to help your cousin? Don't let her be chosen to marry into Xixia!"
Chu Yueshu's face darkened immediately when she heard this: "Mom, do you think my elder sister is a natural-born deity who can solve anything? If she is chosen, she deserves it!"
There was obvious dissatisfaction in her tone: "When Uncle pulled Mom's hand to ask for money, did he ever think that there would be such a consequence? Now that something has happened, he wants me to clean up the mess?"
Mother Chu stamped her feet anxiously: "Yueshu, what are you talking about! Your uncle only has this one daughter!"
Chu Ruohan looked at her mother's anxious expression and gently patted the back of her hand.
"Mother, don't worry. Guo Ying'er won't be chosen because of her background. A princess married to a foreign country represents the reputation of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Her background and knowledge are not worthy of the title."
Mother Chu felt relieved after hearing this and patted her chest, "That's good, that's good. If you really went to marry, I don't know how your uncle would make a fuss."
Chu Yueshu couldn't bear to see her mother protecting her uncle, so she snorted coldly, turned around and left.
Chu Ruohan looked at her sister's departing back, shook her head slightly, turned to her mother, and spoke in a serious tone.
"Mother, I must warn you not to have too much contact with my uncle's family in the future. If Ying'er gets into trouble in the palace, it won't just be their family that will be implicated."
"How could that be? No matter how bad they are, they are still our relatives." Mother Chu was a little puzzled.
Chu Ruohan sighed: "Mother, you are still too naive. The palace is dangerous. If something happens, the court will investigate and will definitely get to the bottom of it."
"Do you think you can keep the fact that you lent money to your uncle a secret? Now I am the general's wife, and Junze holds a high position of power in the court. If someone were to make a fuss about this, the consequences would be disastrous."
Upon hearing this, Mother Chu's expression became even uglier: "This...I really didn't expect this."
"Furthermore," Chu Ruohan continued, "privately trading talent show spots is a serious crime. My uncle, for his own selfish gain, not only harmed his own daughter, but also dragged our Chu family into this trouble. Is such a person worthy of my mother's repeated protection?"
Mother Chu lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.
"I know that my uncle is my mother's biological brother, and blood ties are hard to break." Chu Ruohan's tone softened slightly, "But mother should also consider her own family. The Chu family is not as strong as it used to be, and can't withstand such turmoil."
"I understand." Mother Chu finally nodded, a hint of determination flashed in her eyes, "Don't worry, if my uncle comes to ask for money again in the future, I will never agree to it again."
Chu Ruohan felt relieved when she saw that her mother understood the situation.
Chu Ruohan left the Chu family with a heavy heart. She wanted to persuade her mother to return the five thousand taels of silver, but seeing her mother's expression, she knew that the matter was irreversible.
She could only hope that Guo Ying'er would not be selected, which would be better for everyone.
The carriage was slowly moving on the way back to the general's mansion. Chu Ruohan leaned against the wall of the carriage and closed her eyes to rest.
The swelling on her ankle had not completely subsided, and this trip back to the Chu family made her even more tired.
"Madam, would you like to take a break at the teahouse in front?" The driver's voice came from the front.
Chu Ruohan opened her eyes, lifted the car curtain and looked out. It was a famous teahouse, elegant and pleasant.
She nodded: "Okay, stop for a moment."
After getting off the carriage, Chu Ruohan held Yuling's hand and slowly walked into the teahouse.
The seat by the window on the second floor was empty. After she sat down and looked at the street view outside the window, she felt much better.
"What kind of tea would you like, Madam?" Yuling asked softly.
Chu Ruohan came back to her senses: "A pot of chrysanthemum tea will be fine."
Yuling nodded and gave instructions. Soon, hot tea was served.
Chu Ruohan had just picked up the teacup when she suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from the next table.
She glanced sideways and saw a middle-aged man in fine clothes whispering with another person. It was none other than her uncle.
Chu Ruohan wanted to call him, but stopped after hearing their conversation.
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