Chapter 27 I hope my good father won't be so angry he vomits blood.
When Aunt Qiao saw Marquis Changning enter, her eyes lit up, and she quickly got off the bed to greet him.
"My lord."
Marquis Changning's fiery gaze was fixed on Chen Chu. He shoved Aunt Qiao aside and raised his hand to strike Chen Chu.
"You unfilial son, are you trying to cause chaos and unrest in the whole family?"
Shen Chu took a step back, avoiding the Marquis of Changning's hand. "Father, what do you mean by this?"
When Marquis Changning saw that he had missed, he immediately raised his foot and kicked hard.
"My lord."
Aunt Qiao rushed over and hugged Chen Chu tightly, "Don't hit A-Chu."
Just as the foot was about to kick Aunt Qiao, Shen Chu's pupils contracted slightly. He grabbed Aunt Qiao and turned her around abruptly, taking the kick from Marquis Changning himself.
The pain in her lower back made her turn pale, and she pretended to be weak as she leaned into Aunt Qiao's arms.
Aunt Qiao frantically helped him sit down, "A-Chu, are you alright?"
Shen Chu closed her eyes and slowly shook her head, her voice weak, "I'm fine. As long as Father is happy, I'll be willing to be beaten to death."
The six words, "As long as my father is happy," pierced the heart of Marquis Changning, making him even angrier.
"You unfilial son, you keep saying that as long as I'm happy, that's all that matters, but what you did made me happy?"
He raised his arm again.
“My lord.” Aunt Qiao grabbed his arm, her voice sharp.
She looked at Marquis Changning with teary eyes, "What is Your Excellency doing? What did A-Chu do wrong? You came in and started hitting and scolding her."
Marquis Changning glared fiercely at Shen Chu, “What did he do wrong? Just for those disobedient and unfilial words he said, I should beat him to death.”
"What did A-Chu say?" Aunt Qiao frowned. "Isn't it just that Madam sent someone to deliver the tokens and account books, but not the money? A-Chu was so angry that she scolded Wang Mama a few times?"
Is this really worth the Marquis getting so angry about?
Marquis Changning suppressed his anger and said, "Speaking of this matter, the banquet was also for A-Chu. Madam said there's no money left in the house, so you should..."
Shen Chu interrupted Marquis Changning with a look of surprise, "Heavens, it's only been a few days, and Father can't support the family again? Are you going to spend Aunt's money again?"
No way? No way? No way?
A series of three distinct "No way!"s, coupled with Shen Chu's surprised look, left Marquis Changning speechless, making him want to roll his eyes and unable to utter the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He took a deep breath and said irritably, "Who said I was going to spend your aunt's money to support the family? Didn't you take more than ten thousand taels from the accounting office a few days ago?"
"Return that money back. Your family consists of your elders and siblings; life goes on."
Chen Chu blinked. "What I took was also the cash flow from Aunt's shop, which was Aunt's money too."
Her eyes were deep and unsettling. "Doesn't Father still have to spend Aunt's money?"
Marquis Changning was so angry he felt like vomiting blood. "Take out the silver first, consider it a loan from me, and I'll pay you back in a few days, okay?"
Shen Chu nodded, "Oh, it's a loan. Then Father, can you write an IOU?"
"You! Unfilial son, I only need a few taels of silver from you, and you still want an IOU."
“That’s not my money, it’s my aunt’s money.”
Marquis Changning couldn't help but blurt out, "Your aunt's money is my money, you wretched child, hand over the money right now."
Shen Chu spread his hands and sighed deeply, "Father, it's too late. I've already invested all ten thousand taels of silver into the shop to expand the business, and now I don't have a single penny left."
If Father doesn't believe me, he can send someone to search my yard.
"Then let's go to the shops and get it back. With so many shops, surely we can get back the money for a banquet?"
There was a sudden moment of stillness in the air.
Aunt Qiao stared blankly at the Marquis of Changning, whose face was contorted with rage and whose eyes were blazing with fury, a look of bewilderment flashing across her eyes.
Is this the Marquis she deeply loves?
The Marquis was always a noble, refined, and courteous person in his presence. He always said that money was just an external thing and that one should not care too much about such material possessions.
But today he actually beat up Ah Chu for the sake of the money he speaks of.
Aunt Qiao felt something inside her was about to crack open.
"My lord."
When Marquis Changning turned his head and met Aunt Qiao's incredulous gaze, his rationality returned, and he quickly suppressed the anger in his heart.
"Lan'er, I was just confused because I was angry. Tomorrow's banquet is very important to A-Chu. The invitations have been sent out. We can't let the banquet be canceled just because of money, can we?"
Wouldn't our entire Changning Marquis's mansion become a laughingstock in the capital? How could I possibly maintain my standing in court after that?
Marquis Changning murmured sadly.
In the past, Aunt Qiao couldn't bear to see him so sad. Whenever he put on that expression, no matter what he needed or how much money he needed, Aunt Qiao would take it out without hesitation.
Sure enough, when Aunt Qiao saw him sad, her eyes were blank for a moment, and then a familiar look of heartache appeared on her face.
Hmph, if she obediently returns the shop and the money this time, he will still be willing to cherish her in the future.
Marquis Changning still wore a mournful expression on his face as he looked up at Aunt Qiao.
Aunt Qiao stepped forward, "My lord, I..."
Before she could finish speaking, she collapsed softly into the arms of Marquis Changning.
Marquis of Changning.....
Shen Chu withdrew his finger, feigning panic, "Auntie has caught a cold and fainted. Father, please quickly fetch a doctor for Auntie."
Marquis Changning's brows were furrowed deeply.
Why are all the women in this mansion sick?
Shen Chu personally carried Aunt Qiao back to bed and loudly instructed Hongxiu, "Hongxiu, quickly go and fetch a doctor! Both Madam and Old Madam are ill today, and the doctor we invited is probably still at the manor."
Hongxiu responded and hurried out.
Marquis Changning's eyes flickered slightly, and he left with a sullen face.
Hongxiu slipped in again and whispered, "Don't worry, we've already arranged for someone to fetch a doctor, and everything's been arranged at the main courtyard. Young master, just wait and see the show."
Shen Chu sneered. It's all because Chen Shi was too stupid. She didn't even know to go through the proper procedures for faking illness, and didn't even call a doctor.
"Did Shen Qingshuang go to the main courtyard?"
"It's over. The maid that the young master arranged deliberately mentioned at her door that the Sixth Prince would also be attending the banquet tomorrow, so she hurried to the main courtyard."
Shen Chu sneered, "I hope my good father won't be so angry that he vomits blood."
As soon as Marquis Changning left the courtyard, he summoned his steward and asked, "Has the manor invited a doctor today?"
The steward looked bewildered. "No, is any master in the manor ill?"
Marquis Changning clenched his fists, his face turning even uglier.
So, everyone's making a fool of him, aren't they?
He immediately ordered two guards and strode back to the main courtyard.
When the servants in the courtyard saw him return, they were about to bow when the guards covered their mouths.
Marquis Changning stood under the eaves with a sullen face, listening to the voices of Shen Qingshuang and Madam Chen coming from inside the house.
"Mother, the Sixth Prince should be attending the banquet tomorrow, right? Are you really going to abandon us? The Qiao family comes from a humble background. What if we make the banquet simple and the Sixth Prince laughs at us?"
Madam Chen disagreed, saying, "The banquet is for that bastard, so Madam Qiao wouldn't dare to be negligent. Don't worry."
Shen Qingshuang pouted, "I'm still worried. Does Mother have to pretend to be sick and not attend tomorrow? Mother is the Madam. Do you want to let the Qiao family steal the limelight tomorrow?"
"Pah, she's just a concubine and she wants to show off?" Madam Chen sneered. "I pretended to be sick to fool your father. I don't want to spend money to let that bastard show off."
"Don't worry, I'll show up tomorrow. I'll make sure you look stunning, ideally captivating the Sixth Prince instantly."
"How can you even make fun of someone's mother?"
Bang.
Marquis Changning angrily kicked open the door.
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