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."