Mr. Xu had cold sweat on his forehead and immediately said apologetically, "I was really too angry just now and forgot that the Marchioness was here. I hope you will forgive me for disturbing you."

Marquis Gu kept a cold face without responding.

Sixth Master Gu was even less likely to pay him any mind.

Qin Yuan calmly said, "It’s all right. It’s just that Mrs. Xu was also quite startled earlier. Mr. Xu, don’t get angry yet. Take your time to ask about it."

Mr. Xu quickly nodded, "Alright."

It was well-known that Marquis Gu cherished his newly-wedded Marchioness. Mr. Xu had not paid much attention to this before, but now his demeanor became slightly more humble.

He originally just wanted to make a statement, but it backfired.

At this moment, Mrs. Xu came towards Mr. Xu with tears in her eyes, taking quick little steps, and cried, "My lord, younger sister-in-law is coughing up blood, but it wasn’t because of me. I hardly spoke a few words before she started coughing up blood, yet that wretched servant insists it’s my fault."

Mr. Xu glanced at Marquis Gu’s expression and said angrily, "At a time like this, what’s the use of saying this? How exactly did you speak, what was the situation, quickly explain it all clearly in front of our in-laws."

Before Mrs. Xu could explain, she began crying in grievance.

Qin Yuan sighed in her heart, thinking that Sixth Madam’s brother might not care, but it was apparent that this sister-in-law didn’t really concern herself with her sister-in-law’s life or death.

The room fell into dead silence, with only Mrs. Xu’s sobbing echoing.

Even Sixth Master Gu, who was usually the most unable to hold back his emotions, remained silent like a mute statue.

The silence in the room deepened.

Mr. Xu became somewhat restless, frequently signaling at Mrs. Xu with his eyes.

Mrs. Xu cried and gradually her voice lowered, after a while speaking hoarsely, "Today, I came to the Marquis Mansion worried about my sister-in-law, so I came to visit. Who knew Nanny Zhao would grab me and demand the pepper investment money she pooled together with the housekeepers of the mansion."

Mr. Xu glanced at the others and asked, "And what did you reply?"

Mrs. Xu lifted her head, her eyes swollen red, and replied, "That investment money was already spent on buying pepper, and the price of pepper has been falling recently. There’s nowhere to sell it, so I’m worried. Moreover, isn’t that how business is? There’s no profit without risk, and it was agreed back then that they would bear the profits and losses themselves when they pooled their money."

"And then?" Mr. Xu pressed on.

"Then I said it was impossible to refund since the price of pepper is dropping, and I couldn’t bring out silver. She then said that the market is bad, with prices changing daily, and if it continues to lose, everything would be gone. She urged to quickly sell the investment they pooled together. I said this isn’t something that can be rushed in a day or two. We talked while walking and ended up in front of my sister-in-law. My sister-in-law had also pooled money at the beginning and upon hearing this, she coughed up blood."

This statement completely absolved herself.

Everyone remained silent.

Mrs. Xu continued, "That wretched servant, seeing my sister-in-law coughing up blood, didn’t even hurry to call for a doctor, only cared about grabbing and tearing at me. It wasn’t until the Marchioness came that she thought of calling for a doctor, but then she hurriedly rushed to complain that I deliberately angered my sister-in-law."

Having said that, she glanced at Qin Yuan, as if saying that Qin Yuan could testify.

Mr. Xu stamped his foot and sighed helplessly, "You know how much my sister treasures money. All her private savings were invested. Knowing the price has dropped, how could she not be upset? Her illness is said to not withstand any excitement, if something were to happen, what would we do?"

Mrs. Xu cried, "How was I to know? That Nanny Zhao has served for years, staying by my sister-in-law’s side. She’s the one who knows best. If something can’t be said privately, why must it be argued in front of my sister-in-law? Even when I told her, she wouldn’t listen, otherwise, it wouldn’t have become an issue in front of my sister-in-law."

Mr. Xu pointed a trembling finger at Mrs. Xu, as if extremely angry, and scolded, "No matter what, it’s you, as the sister-in-law, who is at fault. The nephew and niece are still young. Shouldn’t you, as their aunt, care for them? If something happens to my sister, see if I spare you."

Mrs. Xu cried again and also pointed at Mr. Xu, scolding.

"I have married into the Xu family for so many years, and I watched my sister-in-law grow up and even helped with her marriage. If you think about it, I love my sister-in-law even more than Zhenzhen. How could I not care for my nephew and niece? Yet you blame me here because of others, as if it’s all my fault? Do you think if something happens to my sister-in-law, I wouldn’t be sad? How can you say such things?"

Mr. Xu stamped his foot, "Hah, hah, hah, you woman, am I not allowed to criticize you?"

The two quarreled incessantly.

Gu Jinghui picked up a tea cup with indifference, took a sip, and then put it down.

Sixth Master Gu lowered his gaze, focusing only on the direction of the hall’s entrance.

Qin Yuan had no choice but to say, "We should also call Nanny Zhao here to ask her about it."

Mr. Xu reached out and slammed the table heavily, speaking with hatred, "Indeed, this old wretched servant was fine serving my sister at the Xu family, but upon following us to the Marquis Mansion, she became audacious and could do such things, perhaps concealing ulterior motives, causing our two families to end up like this."

Mrs. Xu gritted her teeth and spoke hatefully, "A servant who has no regard for their master and harbors disloyalty should be beaten to death, lest who knows how she will scheme against our Xu family in front of my nephew and niece in the future."

Sixth Master Gu sighed gently, saying, "Mrs. Xu isn’t dead yet, and you’re worrying so far ahead. Sister-in-law truly thinks far ahead."

Mr. Xu said, "Your sister-in-law is concerned that our two families’ marriage ties could be disrupted by such petty people."

Hong Ye, having long been unable to stand it, instructed someone to bring Nanny Zhao.

Nanny Zhao entered with disheveled hair and bloodstains on her face, presenting a stark contrast to the well-dressed Mrs. Xu.

As soon as the two met, anger flared between them.

Mr. Xu coughed a few times and was about to speak, but Sixth Master Gu spoke first.

"Tell us what really happened?"

Nanny Zhao raspingly replied, "Mrs. Xu came today to visit Sixth Madam, leaving this old servant very happy. Because for several consecutive days I went to the Xu family to find Mrs. Xu regarding the refund of the pepper investment money, yet the old servant couldn’t even enter the Xu family’s door and suffered quite a bit."

Mrs. Xu quickly scolded, "You despicable servant, nonsense, I never saw you, nor did I ever receive a message."

Nanny Zhao gave Mrs. Xu a cold glare, clearly filled with hatred.

Mr. Xu said, "Let her finish speaking. Don’t interrupt in haste."

Mrs. Xu objected, "I can’t stand her casually slandering me." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Mr. Xu said, "Lady Marchioness will naturally speak up for you."

Only then did Mrs. Xu remain silent.

Nanny Zhao continued, "Sixth Madam also invested a substantial amount because the pepper was bought from a Persian merchant then, and the amount was large. The Xu family didn’t have that much money, so Sixth Madam also invested."

While speaking, she looked at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan nodded, saying, "I’ve heard my younger sister-in-law mention this matter, and I also know about the housekeeper ladies in the mansion pooling investment money."

Nanny Zhao continued, "The reason the old servant sought out Mrs. Xu for this matter was due to the repeated drops in pepper prices. While the housekeeper ladies in the mansion pooled a small amount of investment money, some invested considerably and couldn’t stand seeing all the silver going down the drain, so they wanted to retract their investment."