Chapter 456: Forced Sale
Chapter 456: Chapter 456: Forced Sale
Now, everyone present understood. They finally realized the true purpose of the Gu Family’s banquet. But wasn’t this display of greed far too unsightly?
This concerned everyone’s livelihoods. Everyone sitting here had built their family fortunes through grueling hard work. How could they possibly hand it all over on a silver platter just because of a few casual words from the other party?
Besides, they weren’t the ones calling the shots regarding their family businesses. If they dared to agree today, the only thing waiting for them back home would be a letter of divorce.
The Gu Family was truly unscrupulous. With such a massive appetite, weren’t they afraid of choking?
However, the guests still had their misgivings. Even if the Empress had fallen out of favor, she was still the Empress. They just didn’t know if this was her will or the Duke’s. Although these hosts were mere illegitimate children from a branch family, the guests still didn’t dare offend them easily.
They couldn’t help but think that no one associated with the royal family was any good. In the past, the Third Prince’s extortion had at least been somewhat covert, maintaining a shred of dignity. The Gu Family was far more outrageous.
Not receiving a response for a long time, Madam Gu grew furious. If she failed to accomplish the task her husband had assigned, who knew how those favored concubines would mock her when she returned.
BANG! She slammed her cup down heavily. "What is the meaning of this? I’ve been talking myself hoarse here for so long, and no one is going to speak up first?
"Rest assured, I will offer a good price to the first person who steps forward."
The crowd kept their heads down, some even secretly rolling their eyes. They thought, "Talking yourself hoarse? Weren’t we all just listening to you show off?"
The moment she got to the point, she demanded everyone sell their properties to her at dirt-cheap prices. How was this any different from daylight robbery?
"Since none of you will speak, I’ll start calling names." Madam Gu turned around and pointed directly at the seats where Bai Suihe and her group had previously been sitting. "You lot, speak first. Which of your properties are you prepared to sell to us?"
The madams sitting at that table looked at each other in dismay, none of them willing to stick their necks out.
Madam Gu furrowed her brows. "Is this such a difficult question to answer? It’s just a trifling matter, can’t you even make decisions for your own households?"
Bai Suihe couldn’t help but think of those crooked tour groups she had read about in the past. Didn’t they do the exact same thing? They would trap people in one place, talk a big game while citing ancient and modern examples, and when the tourists remained unmoved, they would resort to all sorts of verbal abuse and threats.
If Madam Gu were in the modern era, she would undoubtedly excel as a scammer tour guide.
She just felt pity for the people currently sitting in their old seats. Despite the cool spring weather, their foreheads were beaded with sweat.
Mrs. Qian and the others couldn’t help but feel relieved. Thank goodness they had just moved; otherwise, they would be the ones suffering right now.
Bai Suihe’s expression, however, turned grave. It seemed the seating arrangement was quite deliberate; they clearly harbored ill intentions.
"What? Is it that difficult for you ladies to answer?"
Madam Gu’s aggressive pressing left a few timid madams trembling in fear.
Madam Gu curled her lips in disdain. She didn’t know which of them was the legitimate daughter of the Bai Family, but the rumors were clearly unfounded. She was far too inexperienced and easily intimidated. If she was already this terrified right at the start, a little more pressure would surely force her to obediently hand over the properties.
Thinking of this, a smug smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. It looked like she would definitely over-deliver on the task her husband had assigned.
Just as she was about to press further, one of the madams at that table suddenly began seizing. Her face turned deathly pale in an instant as she collapsed directly onto the ground, sparking a wave of screams.
Bai Suihe stood on her tiptoes to take a look. It was a tic disorder triggered by extreme anxiety. She knew this condition wasn’t fatal, and besides, it was up to the Gu Family to handle the situation. What they needed to do now was take advantage of the chaos and quickly follow the crowd out.
Some of the sharper guests inside were already trying to slip away in the confusion. Standing near the entrance, Bai Suihe and her group were naturally swept up in the movement.
Bai Suihe made a prompt decision. Before the crush of the crowd could reach them, she immediately grabbed the other madams and headed out of the courtyard.
The servant girls and older women had no idea what was happening. Hearing the screams from inside, they didn’t dare block the way and could only watch helplessly as the guests left.
Once outside the courtyard, Mrs. Qian and the others didn’t dare to linger. Without even taking the time to find their own carriages, they followed Bai Suihe straight toward the street.
The maidservants who had originally been arranged to wait at the inn heard the commotion in the backyard and hurried over to meet them. Bai Suihe instructed them to notify their carriage drivers while they found a teahouse to lay low for a while.
Sitting in the teahouse, watching the chaos unfolding at the inn not far away, Mrs. Qian couldn’t help but pat her chest. "That was terrifying! I’ve never encountered anything like it. Do you think she had her eyes on us from the beginning?"
Madam Li and Mrs. Jiang were quite self-aware. Although their families had some modest properties, they couldn’t compare to Bai Suihe’s. They couldn’t help but fix their gazes on her.
Bai Suihe sighed. "I nearly dragged you sisters down with me today."
"You can’t be blamed for this. The Gu Family is simply insatiable. How is this any different from daylight robbery?" Mrs. Jiang said indignantly. "Besides, I doubt they only had their eyes on you. Every single one of us was probably on their list.
"Come to think of it, everyone who attended today has a bit of family wealth. If things had gone according to her plan, we probably wouldn’t have been able to leave without being fleeced alive.
"She just never expected that someone would be so easily frightened and cause such a scene.
"I just wonder how that madam is doing now. I’m afraid she’ll have to bear the brunt of the Gu Family’s fury."
Mrs. Jiang’s tone was laced with concern. After all, the woman had essentially shielded them from disaster. It was just a pity they were too far away to see clearly who it was; otherwise, they really ought to notify her family.
Bai Suihe, however, held a different view. "Don’t worry, she won’t. After an incident like this, if the Gu Family wants to continue staying in Lingnan, they’ll have to clean up the mess first.
"What Madam Gu did today cannot be kept under wraps. I imagine the Gu Family is already in chaos right now.
"As long as the master of the house isn’t stupid, he’ll do his best to placate everyone."
"But what are they even after?" Madam Li asked, puzzled. "She clearly knew that doing this would make her deeply unpopular, yet she still did something so foolish."
"It probably has a lot to do with the saying that a man should marry a virtuous wife. This Madam Gu doesn’t seem very astute," Mrs. Qian mused thoughtfully. That was likely the root of the problem.
"That doesn’t make sense either. They share the same bed; how could he not know what kind of character she has?" Mrs. Jiang voiced her doubts. "Isn’t he just courting death?"
Bai Suihe looked pensive. "Perhaps the master of the Gu Family was also unaware that Madam Gu would act this way.
"You must know their status within the Gu Family."
"That much we know. After all, there’s no hiding that they are an illegitimate branch of the Gu Family. Don’t be fooled by her calling the Empress her sister; the Empress probably doesn’t even remember who they are," Mrs. Jiang replied.
"So," Bai Suihe said, "how do you think they lived back in the Gu Family?"