Chapter 390: Testing the Medicine
Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Testing the Medicine
Seeing his subordinates acting this way, Fang Dayong immediately scolded them, "Daniu, what is wrong with you?"
"Mr. Fang, I can’t hold it anymore. My stomach is killing me!" The one named Daniu suddenly clutched his buttocks, clamped his legs together, and scrambled toward the alley.
Without a word, the other subordinate closely followed him.
Zisu and the other maids noticed Mrs. Gu was a bit too far from them, so they quickly stepped forward to shield her. Just then, the estate’s servants rushed out, brandishing knives and clubs as they faced off against Fang Dayong.
"This is a misunderstanding! We’re all just trying to make a living in peace," Fang Dayong said, quickly adapting to the shift in power. "You see, the Gu Family’s second master owes a debt, and we were sent to collect it from their third master. Please do us a favor and ask the third master to come out."
By now, a crowd of curious onlookers had begun to gather along the street. "My husband is out. If this is about Gu Kaichen owing you Silver, then don’t come looking for us. I suggest you go to the authorities," Bai Suihe said. She sighed inwardly, lamenting the missed opportunity. With her people forming a tight protective circle around her, she couldn’t easily make a move without risking friendly fire. She still had so many untested drugs in her possession—what a huge loss! Still, as she recalled the reactions of those two men, she noted that the drug had taken effect incredibly fast. However, it definitely needed some refinement. It would be best to give the drug a delayed onset...
"Mrs. Gu, are you trying to protect Gu Kaichen?
"It’s a universal truth that debts must be paid, and we have the IOU he signed.
"Since you all share the Gu surname and I can’t find him, I have no choice but to come to you."
Bai Suihe chuckled. "I don’t believe you are oblivious to our relationship with Gu Kaichen. The entire county knows we have completely severed ties with the Gu Family. Aren’t you afraid of ruining your own reputation by harassing us like this?"
Fang Dayong hesitated. The underworld had its own rules. If a debtor couldn’t pay, debt collectors could go after their immediate family, but they weren’t supposed to bother brothers who had already split off from the main household—let alone brothers who had completely cut ties.
"I can give you a lead, though," Bai Suihe continued. "If you can’t find Gu Kaichen, there’s only one possibility: he has definitely returned to the capital.
"The Third Prince took them back to the capital and has likely settled the Gu Family in comfortably. I’m sure your bosses own more than just this one gambling house. You can collect the debt elsewhere."
Bai Suihe had previously looked into this gambling house. To run an operation like this required significant backing. Furthermore, the boss owned more than just this single establishment; rumor had it that they even had branches in the capital, making this county branch a mere outpost.
"What are you implying?" Fang Dayong asked.
"Go back and tell your boss exactly what I just said," Bai Suihe replied. "He will understand."
Low-level thugs like him probably had no idea how vast their boss’s business empire truly was. Because of this, she felt no need to waste any more breath on him. The suggestion had been planted, and for the sake of his own business, the gambling house’s boss would never send Fang Dayong to harass them for the debt again.
In broad daylight and in front of so many people, Fang Dayong obviously couldn’t tarnish his gambling house’s reputation. Left with no other option, he led his men away to report back and seek further instructions. However, failing to collect the debt meant he would inevitably face the consequences. He silently cursed Gu Kaichen, vowing that if the bastard ever fell into his hands again, he would make him suffer.
"Mrs. Gu, should we return to the estate first?" Zisu asked, looking at Bai Suihe with pure admiration. With all those local ruffians crowding them earlier, Zisu’s legs were still weak and trembling, yet Mrs. Gu had remained perfectly composed while facing them head-on.
"It’s fine. Let’s hurry to the Qian Family’s place and see what novelties they have."
To say Bai Suihe was completely unaffected wouldn’t be accurate, as she was still internally lamenting the loss of such excellent test subjects.
***
Gu Antong felt like she was going crazy, yet she had to keep swallowing her anger. From the moment she offered the morning tea on her second day in the estate, the Third Prince Consort and the two secondary consorts had been making things difficult for her. Today was supposed to be the day of her first post-wedding visit to her maiden home. However, the Princess Consort acted as if she had no idea. It was only after Gu Antong forced herself to bring it up that the woman feigned a sudden realization.
They had packed more than half a carriage with gifts, but when she opened the gift list, she wanted to smash everything to pieces. What was all this garbage? They were just a bunch of worthless trinkets meant to dismiss her like a beggar! Still, there was nothing she could do. She had to grit her teeth, express her profound gratitude, and kowtow several times before leaving the main courtyard.
Although the Third Prince had slept in her courtyard for the past few nights, he always finished his business hastily and vanished first thing in the morning. It was clear he had no intention of accompanying her on her visit home today. She had no idea how she was going to face the inevitable questions from her grandfather and parents.
This time, the Third Prince Consort at least put on a decent superficial display by preparing a fine carriage. Seeing the Third Prince’s carriage arrive at their gates, Gu Baijiang and the rest of the family hurried forward to respectfully welcome them.
However, when they saw that Gu Antong was the only one in the carriage, their faces darkened. They had given away their Silver, and their granddaughter had entered the Prince’s estate, yet they hadn’t heard a single word from the Third Prince for days. Now he wasn’t even showing his face. He was clearly discarding them now that they had served their purpose.
"Father, let’s go inside first," Gu Kaiping advised, supporting Gu Baijiang’s arm as he glanced at the pedestrians passing by on the street.
"Right, let’s talk inside," Gu Baijiang agreed.
They opened the main doors and welcomed Gu Antong inside. Once the family took their seats, a heavy silence fell over the room, each person lost in their own thoughts.
Eventually, Gu Baijiang broke the silence. "Why didn’t the Third Prince accompany you back today?"
"Grandfather, I am just a concubine.
"The Third Prince Consort said that the Third Prince didn’t even accompany the two secondary consorts on their visits home, so it’s even more impossible for me."
Gu Antong felt deeply wronged. She had assumed that Rong Ruiyuan’s behavior over the past few days meant he valued her; otherwise, he wouldn’t have spent consecutive nights in her room.
"Is that so?" Gu Kaiping clearly didn’t buy it. If a man truly cared for a woman, he wouldn’t act like a hands-off Shopkeeper. So what if she wasn’t the main wife? It was more likely that this daughter of his simply lacked the charm to capture a man’s heart.
"How does the Third Prince treat you?" Liu Yun asked directly, no longer caring that this was a private question meant only for a mother and daughter. She blurted it out right in front of her father-in-law and husband.
Gu Antong flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. What was her mother trying to do?
"There are no outsiders here. Just speak plainly," Gu Baijiang urged, tossing propriety to the wind. He also needed to know how the Third Prince was treating An Tong to gauge his attitude toward the Gu Family.
"He’s been treating me quite well. He’s stayed in my courtyard these past few days," she replied softly.
The Gu Family collectively sighed in relief. This wasn’t a bad outcome. As long as An Tong could give birth to an Imperial Grandson, her position would be secure. If she could gain even more of his favor, they wouldn’t have to worry about the Third Prince forgetting the Gu Family.
However, their current situation was still precarious. All their previous Silver had been hauled away by the Third Prince. Everything in this estate had been purchased by him, yet very little was left in the treasury’s accounts for their use. They had asked the steward, only to discover that the ledger held a mere one thousand Silver Taels. With so little, how were they supposed to survive in the capital? Furthermore, they had been hoping to pull some strings and grease the palms of former colleagues to put in a good word for them with the Emperor.
"I wonder what kind of return gifts His Highness prepared for you," Liu Yun mused. As the one managing the household these days, she was also stressing over their lack of Silver Taels, and her eyes drifted toward the items Gu Antong had brought back.