Chapter 50: Ten Thousand Liangs, Then Half a Finger

Chapter 50: Ten Thousand Liangs, Then Half a Finger

"Every day, eating and playing together, I've spent quite a bit of silver on them, but they..." Shangguan Jinghong raised his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with despair: "In times of need, huh!"

"Ten thousand liangs, we can't gather any more!" Xu Ruzhen shook her head: "Mother-in-law, let's just leave it at this. Can Xiyue really be so heartless as to chop off our fingers? I don't believe it!"

One hundred and five thousand liangs of silver were carried in several chests to Mozhu Garden.

Xiaoyue was holding baby Ruo Xi, basking in the sun. Baby Ruo Xi was asleep, her face covered with a veil, wrapped in a thin blanket, warmed by the gentle sunlight, feeling incredibly comfortable.

Shangguan Jinghong walked in an odd manner, followed by Xu Ruzhen supporting Hu Shi. The few of them approached, their faces sallow and dark, their eye bags swollen and black, looking like they had lost their souls, like walking corpses.

"Yue'er!" Shangguan Jinghong entered the courtyard and saw Xiaoyue in the sunlight, calling out softly.

Xiaoyue wore a light purple long dress, draped in a white fox fur cloak. In her arms, she held a small bundle. The sunlight shone down, enveloping both mother and child in a soft golden glow, making Xiaoyue look even more beautiful and graceful.

Thinking about the past few days, Zhai Bailian, who lived in the front yard, had been staying up late with them, taking care of the child. With the recent lack of silver, the food had been poor, dry, and without soup. As a result, in just a few short days, the woman's complexion had turned sallow and her body emaciated...

Xiaoyue lifted her gaze, her eyes cold.

"Don't disturb Xiao Xi'er's sleep!" Xiaoyue said calmly.

Nanny Qin checked the silver in the chests and after a while, straightened up: "Princess, ten thousand four hundred and eighty-two liangs, still short of five thousand four hundred and eighteen liangs."

"Princess, this is really all we have. Even Hong'er borrowed from many people, three thousand here, two thousand there!" Hu Shi said.

"Yue'er, don't be so unreasonable!" Shangguan Jinghong stepped forward, frowning: "You came into our General's Mansion..."

"Hmm!" Xiaoyue was gently patting her daughter, strolling around. Hearing that number, she stopped.

**Ten thousand liangs for one finger, five thousand liangs, half a finger!** Baby Ruo Xi was sleeping soundly, warmed by the sunlight, but was awakened by the noise from Shangguan's mother and son, which annoyed her: **Disturbing my sleep, how annoying!**

"If I remember correctly, the deed to this General's Mansion belongs to me, and the house was bought by me!" Xiaoyue said.

"Xiaoyue, don't be too unreasonable..." Xu Ruzhen finally broke down, rushing forward, pointing at Xiaoyue and crying: "So what if you're a princess? All these years in the General's Mansion, your expenses..."

"Swish!"

A white cold light flashed, and Xiaoyue closed her eyes slightly.

She looked down at the bundle in her arms; Xiao Xi'er frowned, annoyed by the noise.

"Ahhhh..." At first, Xu Ruzhen didn't feel anything. She stared at the severed half-finger on the ground for a moment before collapsing backward, screaming like a pig being slaughtered, rolling on the ground: "My finger, my finger!"

Mozhu Garden fell silent instantly. Hu Shi's face turned deathly pale as she watched the scene.

After a while, her lips trembled, muttering: "It's over, it's all over!"

"Baiyu... Yue'er, you..." Shangguan Jinghong turned around, wanting to reprimand Baiyu for sheathing his sword, but as the commander of the Black Armor Guards, he had the authority to act first and report later. Even as a general, Shangguan Jinghong couldn't order Baiyu. Seeing Baiyu's cold expression, he turned to Xiaoyue and said: "This is too much. You're still my Shangguan family's daughter-in-law!"

"Hmm!" Baby Ruo Xi stretched in her swaddle: **How boring, still putting up a fight!**

"Baiyu, send the silver to the palace!" After saying this, Xiaoyue didn't even glance at Shangguan Jinghong and went back inside with the child.

Shangguan Jinghong's face turned as pale as paper. As a prince consort, he had no right to propose divorce or annulment.

Only the princess could dismiss him!

Once dismissed by the princess, it would mean being abandoned by the entire royal family.

His life, everything he had, might not be guaranteed anymore.

So, he could only...

Endure!

The silver was carried away, along with Hu Shi and Xu Ruzhen from Mozhu Garden.

Shangguan Jinghong was in a frenzy. He asked the steward to find a doctor, who diagnosed Hu Shi with a severe heart condition, possibly giving her only three to five months to live.

As for Xu Ruzhen, after fainting from the pain of her severed finger, she woke up to learn that her husband, Shangguan Jingzhe, was implicated in a case involving spies from the Western Regions and faced a grim fate.

The entire General's Mansion, except for Mozhu Garden, was in chaos.

Baby Ruo Xi, while feeding, listened to Dong Ju's report and sighed contentedly.

**Hmm, Mother did well this time, at least weakening the scoundrel's power and throwing him off balance. Next, we need to uncover those behind him. In such chaos, perhaps he'll be forced to act rashly!** Baby Ruo Xi thought.

**I wonder if my uncle has noticed the scoundrel!**

"Baiyu, go to the palace this afternoon and ask the Emperor about the investigation into the banned drugs from the Western Regions," Xiaoyue instructed Baiyu.

Baiyu acknowledged the order and left.

"Princess, we should probably return to the palace soon. It's not peaceful living here!" Nanny Qin said.

"Eunuch Gao has come three times already. The Emperor seems anxious," Dong Ju said with a smile: "I've never heard of an emperor carrying a child to court!"

"After all, our little county princess is different. She's a fairy baby!" Nanny Qin picked up the baby from Xiaoyue's arms and patted her gently.

**Burp~**

Baby Ruo Xi let out a big burp, also satisfied.

At least, Mother was no longer a pushover. Her uncle and grandmother were good, and everyone around her was good.

"Princess, Minister Xu went to Qinghe Garden!" A servant reported.

"Hmm, keep an eye on him. Have someone clean up the three houses belonging to the Xu family later!" Xiaoyue took a sip of tea and said calmly.

The three mansions of Minister Xu were all purchased by Xu Ruzhen in recent years at high prices. This time, however, Grandmother Qin sent someone to buy them back at merely thirty percent of the original purchase price.

"Princess, should we let it be known that we bought the mansions?" Dong Ju asked.

"You little imp, you're quite mischievous!" Grandmother Qin said with a smile. "Just have Little Hai make an appearance in front of Minister Xu!"