Chapter 184: Cut Ties As Soon As Possible

Chapter 184: Cut Ties As Soon As Possible

Du Ruo felt a lump in her throat when she heard Cheng Yunshuo's concerned words and, in one breath, told him about her disgraceful brother who had gotten into gambling debt and implicated her.

"My brother has been addicted to gambling lately and owes a pile of money. He’s come to me multiple times asking for money, each time promising he’d stop gambling. But today, the gambling house collectors came to the Marquis's Mansion to demand debt. He’s in debt again!"

Du Ruo regarded Cheng Yunshuo as her husband and someone she could completely trust. She didn’t think to hide anything, telling him all the shameful things happening in her natal family.

"I'm really furious. Last time, my elder brother came to borrow a hundred taels from me, saying he would keep an eye on our brother and stop him from gambling. But today, it's another three hundred taels. They’ve practically drained my dowry. How could they treat me like this?"

Du Ruo looked utterly depressed and upset. She then heard Cheng Yunshuo speak.

"Gamblers are all the same, full of lies. Can you trust anything they say? They’re one way when they need money and another when they have it, as disgusting as flies in a latrine!"

Cheng Yunshuo's words caused Du Ruo, who had been ranting nonstop, to pause. She looked up at him in disbelief.

"I've said before that your brothers are irresponsible. It's no surprise they're addicted to gambling now," Cheng Yunshuo said, pouring himself a cup of hot tea, his face filled with disdain. "You should cut ties with your brothers as soon as possible, before these gamblers drag you down and embarrass us in the future!"

"Cheng Yunshuo!" Du Ruo screamed in disbelief.

"What is it?" Cheng Yunshuo raised his eyebrows, looking puzzled.

"How can you talk about my brother that way? He's my own brother!"

"Hmph!" Cheng Yunshuo scoffed, "Your own brother? The one who asks you for money to pay off his gambling debts?"

"That money is from my dowry! I haven't used a single tael from the Marquis's Mansion! Not a penny of your money!"

Cheng Yunshuo looked at her strangely, "Did I say you used the Marquis's money?"

"Cheng Yunshuo, how can you be like this!" Du Ruo felt an extreme sense of grievance welling up inside her.

She hadn't used a single tael of his money!

How dare he look down on her!

How dare he insult her brother!

"What do you mean by 'like this'?" Cheng Yunshuo was confused, "What did I say that was wrong?"

"No matter how bad my brothers are, they're still my brothers. How can you talk about them like that?"

"Hmph!" Cheng Yunshuo turned his head away and took a sip of his tea, "Didn't you tell me all this yourself?"

For a moment, Du Ruo felt as if she had shot an arrow straight through her own heart, leaving her breathless.

She had opened up to Cheng Yunshuo about her family matters, fully trusting him, believing he was someone she could rely on without reservation. She had hoped to find comfort from him, perhaps even some help.

He could scold her brothers, but he should be on her side, criticizing their wrongdoings and offering to help her reason with them.

But Cheng Yunshuo... her husband, the person she trusted the most, only showed disdain after hearing her story.

This kind of disdain felt like a betrayal, stabbing her in the heart, especially since it was based on what she had told him...

Just because I told him, does that give him the right to insult my brother and my family so freely?!

Ultimately, it's not that he disrespects her brother; he disrespects her!

At that moment, a suffocating pain gripped her heart.

"What kind of person are you!" Du Ruo rushed forward, pounding on Cheng Yunshuo. "What did my brother ever do to wrong you, or what did the Du family do to wrong you? Do you really have to shame us like this?"

Cheng Yunshuo was left dizzy by her sudden outburst. "What did I say wrong? Your brother owes gambling debts, and now he's come to our estate. I just called him a gambling dog, and you're the one who started crying and making a fuss."

"That doesn't give you the right to say that!" Du Ruo screamed.

Cheng Yunshuo shoved her back. "You're being completely unreasonable!"

"Get out, get out, get out!" Du Ruo rushed forward again, hitting and kicking him.

Cheng Yunshuo didn't tolerate it; after taking two hits, he turned and left. "Hmph!"

After Cheng Yunshuo was driven off by Du Ruo, she was left fuming and heartbroken, letting out a cry as she hugged herself and sobbed uncontrollably in the room.

The incident of the quarrel in Xiaohe Courtyard soon reached Lu Lingyun.

It wasn't a servant who reported it; Cheng Yunshuo came to her himself to complain.

"Lingyun, don't you think Du Ruo is being unreasonable? I didn't say anything wrong. Her brother owes gambling debts, and now he's come to our estate. I called him a gambling dog, and she started crying and making a fuss first."

Lu Lingyun: "......."

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Why should he be blamed for something her brother did?

Lu Lingyun looked at his frustrated face, feeling amused inside. She stifled her laughter and generously comforted him. "Concubine Du is just trying to protect her family. Anyone would feel hurt if someone insulted their loved ones."

"I didn't start it! She told me herself!" Cheng Yunshuo turned his head. "Besides, I only called him what he is—a gambling addict. I didn't lie!"

Lu Lingyun looked at the childishly stubborn Cheng Yunshuo, and a faint smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

Men are always more immature than women, or rather, they remain boys their whole lives.

Cheng Yunshuo was more tolerant and lenient towards Du Ruo than others, but after all, he was a child pampered by a group of people growing up.

Even with some experiences, he was still fundamentally a young master who needed others to accommodate him.

Where would he have the mind to settle down and truly listen to what women were thinking? Women had expectations of him and were bound to be disappointed.

Lu Lingyun let him vent his grievances. After he finished expressing his dissatisfaction, they had a meal, and after seeing the children, he finally showed a bit of maturity.

After coaxing the children, he returned to Yaoguang Pavilion for rest.

The next day, he didn't visit Xiaohe Courtyard.

Du Ruo didn't soften and actively seek him out.

On the third day, Du Ruo asked to visit her aunt at her natal home for a few days, and Lu Lingyun agreed.

Du Ruo stayed at her natal home for three days, during which Cheng Yunshuo asked about her once.

After knowing she had returned to her natal home, he didn't say anything.

A few days later, Cheng Yunshuo finished his duties and was riding back to the estate when someone called out to him.

"Yunshuo!"

"Brother-in-law!"

A familiar voice—it was indeed Du Yang.

Seeing him, Cheng Yunshuo’s brow twitched in annoyance.

"What is it?"

Du Yang, looking desperate, stepped forward. "Yunshuo, my no-good brother has gotten into some trouble recently. Can you lend me some money? He’s in real trouble."

At the mention of money, Cheng Yunshuo, perched on his horse, raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "He's gambling again?"

"Figures you’d see right through it." Du Yang shook his head in frustration. "He got scammed, and now the gambling house has him locked up!"