Chapter 223 The Truth About How Much the Marquis Loves Me
Marquis Changning frowned and glared at Shen Chu.
"How rude! Why aren't you going to Zhang Robin's place? What nonsense are you spouting?"
Shen Chu smiled and said, "Just now, a servant came to report that several people have come to see Father."
I went to ask them, and they claimed to be my aunt's uncle and aunt, who had come specifically to congratulate my father and aunt on their wedding.
Aunt Qiao lifted the red veil, her expression complex.
"The Qiao family? We haven't had any contact for over a decade. What are they doing here?"
"Are they here to beg for money again? Ah Chu, go and deal with them."
Shen Chu looked troubled.
"Today is a joyous occasion for my aunt and father. It would be unlucky to send off the guests."
Aunt Qiao thought Shen Chu's words made sense. After hesitating for a moment, she said:
"Bring them in for drinks and a feast first, and I'll see them later."
Chen Chu smiled, "Auntie, they didn't come to see you."
"What?" Aunt Qiao frowned. "If they're not looking for me, who are they looking for?"
Shen Chu's gaze fell on Marquis Changning.
"They came specifically to see my father, saying they had something they wanted to say to him."
But they also said that if they couldn't see their father, they could at least see their aunt.
As soon as he finished speaking, the guests present all looked rather strange.
Since they are members of the Qiao family, they should first pay their respects to Aunt Qiao when they come to visit.
Why would you insist on seeing the Marquis first?
Aunt Qiao's expression darkened slightly, and she angrily tightened her grip on the red silk in her hand.
"My lord, these people must have heard that I am going to be the wife of the marquis and they want to come and beg for my money."
"My lord, please ignore them. I'll deal with them."
Marquis Changning reached out and took Aunt Qiao's hand, gently patting it.
"Since you're from your maternal family, you'll be a formal relative of the Marquis's household from now on. Maybe you really have something important to discuss with us this time."
Go back to your room and wait for me. I'll go see them. If there's anything important, I'll help them handle it.
So that you won't be disturbed on this joyous day.
Aunt Qiao gazed at Marquis Changning with a tender and captivating expression.
"My lord, you are so good to me. It is my blessing to marry you."
Marquis Changning smiled and gently squeezed Aunt Qiao's palm.
"Go back to your room and wait for me."
Aunt Qiao was almost intoxicated by his smile, and reluctantly watched him leave.
Shen Chu stepped forward and helped Aunt Qiao.
"Let's go, I'll take you back to your room."
Back in her room, Aunt Qiao was somewhat uneasy and asked Chen Chu:
"Since I came to the capital with the Marquis, I have never returned to Jing County. What do you think the Qiao family is doing here?"
Shen Chu raised an eyebrow. "What else could I be doing? Didn't I say I came to congratulate you?"
"Congratulations? Bah!" Aunt Qiao raised her eyebrows, put her hands on her hips, and pouted.
"Everyone might come to congratulate me and the Marquis, but my heartless uncle and aunt won't."
At that time, your maternal grandparents had just passed away. It was my uncle and aunt who were the first to come to our door and pressure us, saying that I was a girl and would have to get married sooner or later, and that the Qiao family's huge estate would become someone else's.
My uncle forced me to adopt his youngest son as my younger brother in an attempt to seize all of our family's property.
When I disagreed, they led their clansmen to my door in turns to pressure me. They even bribed bandits in an attempt to ruin my reputation and force me to die.
If it weren't for the Marquis descending from the sky, leading his men to drive away all the bandits and safely escorting me home, I would probably have become a wandering ghost in the underworld long ago.
Ah Chu, you have no idea how handsome the Marquis looked when he descended from the sky. His strong, powerful arms caught me by the waist in an instant, and he kicked the bandit away..."
Chen Chu rested her chin on her hand, watching Aunt Qiao reminisce about the past, a sweet smile appearing on her face.
She secretly rolled her eyes at the sky, interrupting Aunt Qiao.
"Why do you think they came to the Marquis's residence at this time, Aunt? Oh dear, do you think they might have heard that Father has been suspended from his post and came here specifically to cause trouble?"
Aunt Qiao suddenly became restless.
“They are all scoundrels and ruffians. A gentleman as refined and reasonable as the Marquis is no match for them.”
"Ah Chu, why don't we go over there quickly? If things really escalate, we can at least help the Marquis."
Shen Chu nodded, "Okay."
The mother and son went to the study of the Marquis of Changning.
Before we even got close, we heard a roar coming from inside.
"No way, you're dreaming!"
Aunt Qiao immediately panicked, "It's the Marquis's voice! I knew the Qiao family was up to no good. Ah Chu, let's hurry in and help the Marquis!"
Shen Chu grabbed her arm and whispered, "Don't rush. Let's understand the Qiao family's intentions first so we can deal with them."
As soon as he finished speaking, a somewhat slick voice came from inside the room.
"You can't say that. My eldest and second sons only accidentally injured someone, which is a big deal in Jing County."
But for you, Lord Marquis, it's a piece of cake.
If Lord Marquis does not agree to have the yamen release my eldest and second sons without charge, then we will go to find Yulan.
What if Yulan knew that it was the Marquis who sent my husband and me with our clansmen to our door back then, deliberately forcing Yulan to give up her family property?
Those bandits who pretended to rob and rape you along the way were actually imposters hired by the Marquis to make it easier for you to play the hero and show off your prowess. What do you think Yulan will think of the Marquis?
The Marquis of Changning's voice was filled with exasperation.
"You...! I haven't treated you badly back then. I gave your family ten thousand taels of silver and found jobs for your two sons in the government."
I even persuaded Yulan to give your family two shops and a hundred acres of sacrificial land, so you can finally live a life free from worries about food and clothing.
Now that your son has acted foolishly and hurt others, how can I, the Marquis, help him?
The slick man scoffed, "We don't care. If the Marquis doesn't help me get my two sons out, we'll go find Yulan."
I heard that all the shops owned by Yulan are doing very well in the capital. I suppose the Marquis is quite happy with the money from our Qiao family.
If Yulan knew that it was all a deception, a scheme set up by the Marquis who had been eyeing her, an orphan, do you think the Marquis would still have so much money to squander in the future?
"You dare!"
"Why wouldn't I dare? We're all barefoot now, so what do I have to fear? My son's life is at stake, what do I have to be afraid of?"
Another smug middle-aged woman's voice rang out from inside the room.
"And another thing, it was the Marquis who ordered us to give Yulan a love potion back then, which is how you two got together."
Otherwise, would a perfectly respectable young lady from the Qiao family, with immense wealth in her hands, willingly become your concubine?
Bang.
A crisp sound came from inside the room; someone must have knocked over a teacup.
The shock was so great that Aunt Qiao, who was outside as if struck by lightning, trembled all over, and two lines of clear tears slowly flowed down her face.
Chen Chu held her hand and asked softly, "Auntie, are you alright?"
Aunt Qiao's face turned pale. She raised her hand to wipe away her tears and forced a smile, saying:
"What they're saying can't be true, right? The Marquis loves me so much, how could he possibly deceive me?"
Shen Chu didn't speak, but quietly looked at Aunt Qiao.
Aunt Qiao took a deep breath. "I don't believe it. I want to ask her myself."
She strode forward and reached out to knock on the door.
"My lord, open the door! Open the door! Open the door! Don't hide inside and keep quiet. I know you're in there."
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