Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Settling the Debt

Fengling Lane, the Ye Family estate.

Early this morning, a crowd had already gathered inside and outside the street, craning their necks to peer at the sealed main gate.

News of debt collectors showing up at the Ye Family’s door a few days ago had already spread through every street and alley. Today was the deadline, so naturally, many people hoping for a good show came to see what would happen.

Sure enough, just after the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. hour, several tall men dressed in short tunics appeared at the end of the street and swaggered up to block the Ye Family’s entrance.

"Miss Ye!"

Zhao Fusheng, standing at the very front, bellowed,

"The three-day period is up! I have come specifically to keep our appointment!"

Inside the courtyard, Ye Shixian, who had been on edge for a long time, shot up from her chair at the sound of his voice!

She clutched her handkerchief tightly, her lips pale.

Shaoyao grew nervous as well. "M-Miss! They’re here! W-What are we going to do!?"

For the past three days, Ye Shixian had barely slept. This matter was all she could think about, but at a critical time like this, where could she possibly find so much money?

Most of the family’s Silver Coin had been confiscated that day, leaving her with only a few personal valuables of gold and silver. But she couldn’t even leave the estate, making it impossible to even go to a pawnshop to exchange them for cash!

Right now, her every move was being watched by government officers. How could she dare to do such a thing?

But the men outside were not to be trifled with. If she couldn’t produce the Silver today, who knew what they might do!

BANG BANG BANG!

Furious knocking echoed from the gate, and Zhao Fusheng’s voice turned colder, laced with mockery.

"What? Is Miss Ye taking her sweet time because she doesn’t want to acknowledge this debt!?"

Ye Shixian glanced back. The front hall had been temporarily converted into a mourning hall. A black coffin rested there, and several white funeral banners fluttered in the wind, creating a particularly desolate scene.

Under these special circumstances, they weren’t allowed to hold a grand funeral for Ye Mingze.

’I can’t just let this stalemate drag on...’

Ye Shixian bit her lip, the panic and anxiety in her eyes impossible to hide. She asked in an urgent whisper, "Is there any news from the Murong Mansion?"

Shaoyao shook her head.

A chill went through Ye Shixian’s heart.

...

Outside the gate, seeing it remained shut tight, the group of men grew even more belligerent with their shouting.

The onlookers couldn’t help but start murmuring among themselves.

"What on earth is going on with the Ye Family? Are they just going to let these men stand at their door and curse them out?"

"And what if they are? Who told them not to pay their debts? The folks from Fulu Street are not to be messed with. Didn’t you see? Even with government officers guarding the gate, they still came."

"That Ye Mingze really was something else. A good-for-nothing who did nothing but eat, drink, and play his whole life, and now he’s left behind such a huge mess even after death!"

"Heh, what can you do? He was the only son. I heard he was spoiled rotten at home, so it’s no surprise he could cause this much trouble! Now that he’s dead, his problems are over, but the living are left with the headache!"

"To think of how glorious the Ye Family used to be, and now, in such a short time, they’ve fallen to this state..."

CREAK—

The main gate slowly swung open. The clamor instantly died down as countless pairs of eyes turned in its direction.

Ye Shixian finally reappeared before the crowd.

In just three days, she had visibly thinned, looking haggard and worn.

Her once fresh and beautiful face had grown dull from the torment of the past few days. It was as if her spirit had been drained away, leaving only a frail body to hold her up.

There was no trace left of the grace and bearing of the former number one beauty in the Capital City.

Zhao Fusheng glanced up at the sun, narrowed his eyes, and sneered,

"It looks like Miss Ye intends to use Second Young Master Ye to pay the debt?"

Every word was a dagger to the heart!

Ye Shixian’s heart was filled with indignation, but she had no choice but to suppress her emotions and force herself to speak. "Over ten thousand taels is far too much. And with the Ye Family’s current difficulties, I hope you can grant us a little more time..."

"Second Miss Ye, you must be joking. We’ve seen plenty of debts that get dragged out from one day to three, and from three days to a year. Let’s just drop it!"

Zhao Fusheng cut her off, his impatience clear.

"Either you pay back the money today, or you hand over Ye Mingze! We’re businessmen, not unreasonable brutes. The one who owes the debt is the one who pays. We won’t involve anyone else!"

He spoke these words with great magnanimity, as if he were performing some grand act of charity, but to Ye Shixian’s ears, they were utterly humiliating.

’The one who owes the debt is the one who pays?’

’Mingze is already dead! How is he supposed to pay!?’

Ye Shixian clenched her teeth so hard her nails dug into her palms, but she couldn’t even feel the stinging pain. All she felt was utter despair.

She took a deep breath. "Mingze is a member of the Ye Family. There is no way we would ever let you take him! But we aren’t trying to default on the debt. We just... we just need a little more time..."

Pampered for so many years, when had Ye Shixian ever had to plead with street thugs like these?

This was an absolute, utter humiliation!

The men who had come with him exchanged glances. One of them sneered, "Miss Ye, why must you make things so difficult? It’s not like you can leave the estate anyway, you can’t even hold a proper funeral for Second Young Master Ye. If we handle it for you, wouldn’t that be us doing you a favor?"

Ye Shixian trembled all over. "You!"

Just as she was about to lash out, a figure suddenly darted out from the crowd.

"Wait!"

Everyone whipped their heads around to look in the direction of the voice.

A man dressed as a servant ran over, panting, and pulled a stack of silver notes from his robes.

"You want money, don’t you? My master is paying it on behalf of Miss Ye!"

After a moment of silence, the crowd erupted in an uproar!

At a time like this, someone was actually willing to step up for Ye Shixian!?

Zhao Fusheng looked him up and down, skeptical. "Oh? And who is your master?"

Someone next to him whispered a reminder, "Boss, I think he’s one of Murong Ye’s attendants!"

"Murong?"

The man raised his eyebrows, his attitude becoming much more restrained and polite.

He glanced at the servant, then turned his head to look at Ye Shixian and smiled.

"So Miss Ye has Mr. Murong’s help. Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

As soon as he said this, the street fell silent, and the atmosphere turned strange.

Many people looked at each other, secretly exchanging glances.

’...Something about that doesn’t sound right.’

Although there had long been rumors that Murong Ye was fond of Ye Shixian, the two hadn’t interacted much recently, so everyone had gradually forgotten about it.

Who would have thought Murong Ye would suddenly step in now? And for such a massive debt!

’A normal relationship... Would he help out like this?’

Ye Shixian was also stunned. Normally, she would have been able to read between the lines of the man’s words, but right now she couldn’t be bothered with that. There was only one thought in her mind: ’Murong Ye has come to help me!’

She immediately looked at Zhao Fusheng. "Now, can this debt be considered settled!"

But Zhao Fusheng didn’t answer. He took the stack of silver notes, counted them one by one, and then let out a derisive snort.

"Five thousand taels. You want to clear a debt of thirteen thousand taels with this? That doesn’t add up, does it?"