Chapter 28 She Demands 100,000 Taels from the Marquis Household

Chapter 28: She Wants a Hundred Thousand Taels from the Marquisate

Their Yongning Marquisate is a noble family with a century of history. Their ancestors once saved the emperor's life and were granted the title of Marquis. The title has now been hereditary for five generations.

For such a prominent family, their standing and good name are paramount. The slightest misstep can lead to severe consequences, potentially affecting the heir's succession.

Lady Meng was furious, but she knew this affair must not be allowed to blow up. Before Marquis Yongning returned, she had to resolve it, or the repercussions would be endless.

Thinking this, Lady Meng stifled her rage, forcing a gentle smile as she addressed Chen Hu, "Young man, you must be from the Ye Princess's household. I am the mistress of the Yongning Marquisate, and the mother of both the Ye Princess and the Second Miss of the Ji family."

"Qingqing was wrong to take a coffin to Prince Ye's Mansion today. However, she was merely concerned about her sister and lost all sense of propriety. She did not mean to curse Yuntang. There's no need for alarm, young man. Can we discuss this inside the mansion?"

Chen Hu sneered inwardly. Ji Yuntang was indeed right; this family were experts at making excuses for their mistakes.

But, go inside the mansion? Did they think he was a fool?

If he went inside, how could he lay out his terms and demand the money from Lady Meng?

"Lady Meng, there's no need to go inside. This subordinate must return shortly to report to my Princess. Let's discuss matters right here."

"Second Miss Ji's absurd and discourteous behavior today has caused great distress to our Princess Ye, to the point where my Princess was driven to tears. Moreover, she disturbed the three dowry items the Marquisate gifted to my Princess and damaged property in the Princess's courtyard."

"Our Princess might forgive Miss Ji, but the Marquisate must compensate her. The amount must be no less than a hundred thousand taels. Otherwise, she will take Second Miss Ji to appeal to the Emperor."

"After all, without the owner's permission, Miss Ji privately brought a coffin into the Prince's Mansion. That is a grave offense. Once you've decided, Madam, please give this subordinate an answer so I can report back."

Lady Meng's face instantly paled, drained of all color. Her voice rose sharply, "What? She's demanding a hundred thousand taels from me? I am her own mother!"

Chen Hu replied innocently, "But the Princess says she is... Ah!"

Lady Meng: "..."

She hadn't expected Ji Yuntang to be serious, determined to cut all ties with their Yongning Marquisate.

After some thought, Lady Meng decided to first pacify Chen Hu, rescue Ji Qingqing, and then consider other methods.

"I don't have that sum on hand. You must give me a few days to gather the silver."

Chen Hu agreed readily, "No problem. The Princess says she will give you three days. If the Marquisate does not deliver the hundred thousand taels to Prince Ye's Mansion within three days, she cannot guarantee what she might do."

"Madam, if there are no other issues, please sign this IOU."

With that, Chen Hu pulled an IOU from his sleeve. It was written clearly in black and white that the Yongning Marquisate owed the Ye Princess a hundred thousand taels, to be repaid within three days, complete with a red fingerprint in the signature space.

Lady Meng nearly spat blood. So, all of this had been planned by Ji Yuntang in advance.

But what she hadn't considered was that if the Marquisate hadn't harbored ill intentions, and if Ji Qingqing hadn't taken a coffin to Prince Ye's Mansion, Ji Yuntang would have had no grounds to scheme against them.

Finally, under the expectant gazes of the onlookers, Lady Meng, with a trembling hand, signed her full name and, at Chen Hu's insistence, added her own red fingerprint to the IOU.

A child demanding debt repayment from parents was unprecedented in the Dongchen Kingdom.

Soon, this incident became the talk of the town.

Some even started placing bets on whether "the Yongning Marquisate would deliver a hundred thousand taels to Ji Yuntang three days later."

The bet was: Ji Yuntang wins if they pay within three days; the Yongning Marquisate wins if they don't.

After returning, Chen Hu excitedly recounted all these events to Ji Yuntang.

He now felt from the bottom of his heart that following Ji Yuntang was the most correct decision he had ever made.

Just the events of these past few days were more thrilling than the entire past decade spent at Prince Ye's Mansion.

Ji Yuntang sat leisurely in the courtyard, petting her dog. Ji Baiyi in her arms squinted comfortably.

"Chen Hu, regarding the jewelry I asked you to pawn from Liu Linlang last time, how much silver is left?"

Chen Hu counted on his fingers and answered truthfully, "Reporting to the Princess, those five pieces were pawned for two thousand taels total. This subordinate spent eight hundred taels commissioning the equipment you requested. There are now twelve hundred taels remaining."

"If the Princess needs it, this subordinate will fetch it now."

Ji Yuntang shook her head, "No need. Take all twelve hundred taels and place a bet. Bet that the Yongning Marquisate will not send me the money three days later."

Chen Hu was dumbfounded, "Huh? Won't send the money? Then wasn't all our effort today in vain?"

Ji Yuntang narrowed her fox-like eyes, a profound, enigmatic smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

"How could it be in vain? Not a single tael that should enter our pockets will be missing."

As a top-tier medical doctor, psychology was one of the essential courses in her training.

The people of the Yongning Marquisate looked down on Ji Yuntang, believing they had her under their thumb. Little did they know, Ji Yuntang had already seen right through them.

Seeing the confidence on Ji Yuntang's face, Chen Hu felt that their Princess could still work miracles.

He left cheerfully, "Understood, Princess. This subordinate will go place the bet now."

The sunlight overhead was blocked. Ji Yuntang looked up at the sky; dark clouds were gathering, and a fierce wind began to howl.

She frowned and murmured, "It seems the weather is about to change."

No sooner said than done, a torrential downpour began, splashing water everywhere.

On the most prosperous White Tiger Street in the capital, inside a teahouse named "Brewing Rain Pavilion," sat two young men in luxurious brocade robes.

One wore a bright red robe embroidered with gold-threaded cloud patterns. His eyebrows resembled distant mountains, his eyes like peach blossoms. He held a folding fan, his posture arrogant and unrestrained, laughing with a dashing charm.

This person was Xie Liuzheng, the heir of Duke Rong's Mansion.

Sitting opposite Xie Liuzheng was Prince Chen, Luo Sinian.

Both had witnessed the entire incident unfold from upstairs.

Xie Liuzheng leaned back in his chair, a roguish smirk tugging at his lips. "Your Highness Prince Chen, which side do you think will win this bet?"

"Who else? It will definitely be that shameless woman, Ji Yuntang, who wins," Luo Sinian snorted coldly, answering without a second thought.

Xie Liuzheng raised an eyebrow playfully. "Why is Your Highness so certain?"

Luo Sinian gritted his teeth with a cold laugh, his tone icy. "Not to mention Lady Meng has already signed the IOU, making it a settled matter. Furthermore, given the shamelessness of that ugly woman Ji Yuntang, the Yongning Marquisate will undoubtedly be pressured by public opinion into delivering the silver to her three days later."

"That shameless bitch, she even threw her own sister into a coffin. What else is she incapable of doing?"

Xie Liuzheng looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze. "Isn't Princess Ye your sister-in-law? Yet, this heir senses that Your Highness Prince Chen seems to hold quite a grudge against her?"

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