Qin Yuan nodded and said, "I have also heard some of this matter."

Nanny Zhao glanced at Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu and said, "But who could have guessed that Mrs. Xu not only refused to agree but also cried about the drastic drop in the price of pepper while visiting Sixth Madam. Now, not only can she not sell the pepper and return the share money, but she also forces Sixth Madam to use her private money to cover the loss, saying that it was Sixth Madam’s improper actions that caused Zhenzhen to go missing. Out of consideration for Sixth Madam, the Xu family swallowed this grievance, and it was also by following Sixth Madam’s advice that the Xu family bought the pepper. Sixth Madam was already frail and couldn’t handle this, and she vomited blood on the spot, despite my attempts to stop her."

Mrs. Xu was shocked and hastily said, "Nonsense, this vile servant is talking nonsense, I never said such things."

Mr. Xu also glared angrily at Nanny Zhao.

Nanny Zhao was unafraid.

Mrs. Xu screamed in defense, "Wait until my sister-in-law wakes up, then you can ask her face to face. I didn’t know my sister-in-law was too ill to be agitated, and in a moment of carelessness, mentioned the severe drop in the price of pepper, that funds were tight, and that there was nowhere to sell it, fearing the pepper would end up in our hands. My sister-in-law, distressed, vomited blood, and this vile servant exaggerates and spits venom."

This statement was as good as saying nothing; who would go ask Sixth Madam again?

What if she vomited blood once more, how would it end?

Qin Yuan didn’t attempt to persuade them, only asked, "Who else was in the room at the time?"

Nanny Zhao shook her head and said, "No one else."

Mrs. Xu said, "I was afraid my sister-in-law didn’t like crowds and would be bothered, so I didn’t bring maidservants in. Who would have thought there’d be no one to testify?"

By now, Qin Yuan already understood the situation.

Qin Yuan asked, "How much did Sixth Sister-in-law contribute to the money for buying pepper, and how much did the Xu family contribute?"

Nanny Zhao said, "Sixth Madam contributed over twenty-seven thousand taels of silver, how much the Xu family contributed, I do not know."

Mrs. Xu spat and said, "Nonsense, the twenty-seven thousand taels of silver was from the Xu family, my sister-in-law only added over two thousand taels of silver, plus the share money from those housekeepers in your mansion, it doesn’t exceed three thousand taels."

Nanny Zhao was so angry her eyes seemed to pop out, and she shouted, "I have always conducted myself properly; even if I spit, it can make a hole in the ground. If I told a lie, may heaven strike me down."

Qin Yuan slowly took a sip of the tea in her hand.

Mrs. Xu and Nanny Zhao stared at each other angrily like fighting cocks.

Marquis Gu, seeing her action, asked, "Yuan’er, do you have a plan?"

Qin Yuan nodded, somewhat distressed, and said, "I already understand this case, but I don’t know whether to spell it out. Nanny Zhao is trying to protect Sixth Sister-in-law’s reputation, and many things are difficult to talk about openly."

Marquis Gu stood up and took her hand to pull her up, saying, "I have a private matter to discuss with you, and I’ll be back soon."

Without waiting for anyone to respond, Marquis Gu led Qin Yuan out of the hall and stood under a cluster of oleanders outside, asking, "What’s your take?"

Qin Yuan said, "It’s clear that the Xu family intends to swallow the silver Sixth Sister-in-law used to buy the pepper, forcing Nanny Zhao to cause a scene. No one dares to question Sixth Sister-in-law about it; either someone compensates her for the silver, or we fall out with the Xu family and retrieve the pepper."

She initially didn’t want to get involved in this matter, but when traced to its source, the issue with the pepper still started because of her.

Qin Yuan sighed.

Gu Jinghui said, "I suspected the same; however, this is Sixth Sister-in-law’s money being used by the Xu family. Why wouldn’t Nanny Zhao reveal it, and instead conceal it? Acting like this, how could the Xu family ever agree to return the silver?"

Qin Yuan said, "If the Xu family is willing to sell the pepper cheaply, I would gladly take it; even just taking the pepper back from the Xu family, and holding onto it, would eventually turn a profit. It’s not a loss. But now, with Sixth Sister-in-law in critical condition and unable to withstand shock, it’s truly troublesome."

Having said this, Qin Yuan looked at Gu Jinghui.

After thinking, Gu Jinghui said, "The deficit on Sixth Sister-in-law’s side is merely tens of thousands of taels of silver; it’s nothing for the mansion to cover. However, if the Xu family behaves like this, and we let it slide, how are the Marquis Mansion and the Xu family supposed to interact in the future?"

It’s already quite apparent that Sixth Madam colluded with the Xu family to lend out funds from the Marquis Mansion at high interest rates.

This business has been cut off.

The Xu family also resents the Marquis Mansion for losing Xu Zhen, intending to seize Sixth Madam’s money.

Gu Jinghui couldn’t help but sigh. He didn’t want to get involved in this matter either. After pondering for a moment, he instructed the little maidservant outside to call out Sixth Master Gu.

Sixth Master Gu walked out looking dejected.

"Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, are you discussing anything here?"

Seeing his demeanor, Qin Yuan asked, "What does Sixth Brother feel about this matter?"

Sixth Master Gu said irritably, "What else can I think? It’s like fleas on a monk’s head—obvious. But Mrs. Xu spat blood, so now no one dares to question her. What can come of Nanny and Mrs. Xu quarreling?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Gu Jinghui calmly said, "There’s something I’ve been holding back from telling you."

Sixth Master Gu looked at Gu Jinghui with caution and lowered his voice, "Third Brother, if it’s not good news, don’t tell me, my mind is already in a mess."

"But this concerns the Sixth Household, and if I don’t tell you and make the decision myself, I’m afraid you will resent me in the future."

Sixth Master Gu stomped his feet and sighed, "Alright, go ahead, it’s surely more trouble caused by Mrs. Xu again."

Qin Yuan cast a sympathetic glance at Sixth Master Gu.

Gu Jinghui said, "Sixth Brother, during the time Sixth Sister-in-law was managing the household, she embezzled quite a bit of silver. Initially, the Xu family wanted to make a fuss over Xu Zhen’s matter, but upon seeing these accounts, they dared not speak up, fearing that Sixth Sister-in-law would be divorced, leaving everyone embarrassed, hence they silenced themselves."

Sixth Master Gu said woodenly, "I knew about this."

Gu Jinghui continued, "Obviously, the Xu family bears a grudge over this matter. Sixth Sister-in-law even used the incoming funds of the mansion to lend out at high interest rates to the Xu family. Now, as your Third Sister-in-law manages the household, she discovered this and the colluding Housekeeper Zhang and Sun Accountant have confessed without a doubt. The Xu family now wants to seize Sixth Sister-in-law’s pepper money. As her husband, what do you plan to do?"

Sixth Master Gu was initially shocked, stunned for a while, and finally gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Third Brother, if the Xu family hadn’t caused a scene today, were you planning to hide this from me, so we could continue as a couple?"

Gu Jinghui twitched his lips and met Sixth Master Gu’s gaze, saying, "You have several children, and her health is poor, and can only be carefully nurtured. What should I, as the Third Uncle, do?"

Sixth Master Gu squatted down, slapped his head, and said angrily, "Why did I marry Mrs. Xu?"

Gu Jinghui said helplessly, "At the time, Mother listened to Aunt Wen."

Sixth Master Gu sighed more helplessly.

"So what should I do now? My mind is now completely in disarray."