Madam Gu said, "In urgent situations, we should act expediently. Besides, you haven't had a proper wedding or betrothal ceremony yet, so going back to visit is nothing."
Li Jiaojiao was so frightened that her face turned pale. How could she go back...?
"Furthermore, I heard that this incident has caused quite a stir, and it's not just about one estate or one shop. In fact, all of their properties have been sold off at rock-bottom prices. The Duke of Pingguo's family is in a complete mess."
Gu Han was taken aback. Was it really that serious?
Regardless of what kind of person the Duke of Pingguo was, at least his wife treated him very well and genuinely hoped that he and Jiaojiao would be happy.
Looking at Li Jiaojiao's deathly pale face, Old Madam Gu narrowed her eyes and asked, "Are you really completely unaware of anything?"
Li Jiaojiao: "......"
At this moment, a maid rushed in: "Madam, Eldest Young Master, Eldest Madam... People from the Duke of Pingguo's mansion have come. They say they want to invite Eldest Madam home."
Li Jiaojiao's expression changed drastically: "This... Go tell them, ever since Father told Gu Han to leave yesterday, I... I am no longer the Third Miss of the Duke of Pingguo's Mansion... I don't recognize this family!"
As she spoke, she looked at Gu Han earnestly, as if to say that she was doing it for him.
Gu Han stared blankly, pursing his lips.
Although... it sounds reasonable, it still feels a bit too heartless. The Duchess of Pingguo is still so good to them.
When they left yesterday, the Duchess gave Jiaojiao two cartloads of dowry.
Gu Han knew that without the permission and help of the Duchess, Jiao Jiao would not have been able to receive this dowry.
The maid sensed something was off, but didn't ask any further questions, and turned to leave.
But a moment later, he ran back and said anxiously, "That Qian San said... they didn't invite the eldest mistress back to her parents' home, but rather to have her go back to cooperate with the investigation."
Gu Han and Madam Gu were both stunned and looked at Li Jiaojiao in bewilderment.
Li Jiaojiao was trembling, and gritted her teeth, saying, "How dare you! What do you mean by cooperating with their investigation? I am no longer a member of the Duke of Pingguo's mansion. Tell them to get out!"
The maid looked troubled.
Madam Gu said sternly, "What exactly happened? I'm completely confused. Cui'er, call him over here, I'll ask him myself."
As he spoke, he glared at Li Jiaojiao.
The maid turned and ran out.
Li Jiaojiao bit her lip: "Grandmother... is just a servant, why should she lower herself to see them..."
Madam Gu looked at her calmly: "What are you afraid of?"
Li Jiaojiao trembled: "I...I wasn't scared..."
But her body felt weak and she slid down onto the chair behind her.
A moment later, a maidservant led in a young servant in his twenties, who was none other than Qian San, the errand boy for the Duke of Pingguo.
Qian San cupped his hands and said, "This humble one greets Madam Gu and Young Master Gu."
But he didn't address Li Jiaojiao by name, and even his gaze towards her was cold.
Old Madam Gu asked, "What happened at your residence? Why are you saying you want to take Jiaojiao back for investigation..."
Qian San snorted: "Our family was tricked out of all our assets by Deli Money Shop. Specifically, our second master owed gambling debts and was being pressured by Deli Money Shop to pay them back every day."
"Second Master wanted to sell the family's farmland, but he had no way to do so. A few days ago, someone suddenly threw him a key. He picked up the key, stole all the deeds, and sold them all to Deli Money Exchange."
"The key was always kept by Madam Yu's maid, and it was never lost. But someone somehow made an identical one, which the Second Master got. Before that, only Li Jiaojiao had touched that key."
"My husband suspects Li Jiaojiao. He forbade her from leaving the house yesterday, but who would have thought that she would secretly run away with Gu Han and the family's dowry!"
As he spoke, he looked at Li Jiaojiao with a mocking expression: "Hmph, Miss Li is really 'savvy,' she ran away because she was afraid that our Duke's Mansion would come after you."
Gu Han and Madam Gu both stared at her in shock, unable to believe it.
Li Jiaojiao said angrily, "No... I didn't... and I wasn't involved in it at all... why would I be afraid of them holding a grudge..."
Qian San: "Hehe, let's not talk about whether you did it or not. Our Duke's Mansion is about to fall, and you ran away. Isn't that true? Haha, Miss Li is really something. When the Duke's Mansion was rich and powerful, you called him 'father' and 'mother' so affectionately. Now that the Duke's Mansion is about to collapse, you immediately ran away and jumped into another rich and powerful place."
Li Jiaojiao's expression changed: "No, I didn't..."
Gu Han and Madam Gu stared at her in a daze.
To be honest, when Li Jiaojiao came back with Gu Han yesterday and said she wanted to marry him, both the grandmother and granddaughter were quite moved.
Despite Gu Han losing his title and becoming a cripple, Li Jiaojiao showed no disgust at all, demonstrating her deep affection and loyalty.
Who would have thought that the Duke's mansion would be on the verge of collapse!
Li Jiaojiao's actions are not about deep affection and loyalty; they're practically fleeing from disaster!
Gu Han's eyes widened: "Jiaojiao, you clearly said that the Duke wanted to kick me out, that he disliked me, and that's why he came out with me!"
Li Jiaojiao's face was deathly pale: "I..."
Qian San sneered: "Haha, the manor was in such a mess yesterday, how could the Duke have time to care about you, young master, or to complain about you?"
Gu Han stood there dumbfounded, staring at Li Jiaojiao. How could this be? His self-righteous sense of being moved was actually her way out?
Li Jiaojiao burst into tears: "No, no, no... Gu Han, how could you think of me like that! I never said that Father disliked you, I only said that the family wanted you to leave... It was Mother's idea. It was Mother who told me to leave yesterday!"
“If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have been able to leave at all, let alone leave with my dowry. It was all my mother’s idea.”
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