The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 257: Stingy Towards Me

Chapter 257: Stingy Towards Me

The servant said awkwardly, "Young master, this porcelain vase is of good quality. Second Young Master Chu put thought into it."

Jiang Yang glared at him, "Put thought into it? He gave an estate to Xie Beihan, now that’s putting thought into it! Do you know how much that estate is worth? At least fifty or sixty thousand taels!"

The servant didn’t dare to speak further, fearing more scolding.

Jiang Yang paced back and forth in the room. He had spent a lot on this banquet, hoping to recoup his costs and make a little extra through the gifts. He hadn’t expected the noble guests to be so stingy, sending gifts of little value. He was bound to lose money on this event!

Looking at the white porcelain vase again, Jiang Yang fumed, "Damn Chu Shuo, so generous to Xie Beihan but stingy towards me!"

The servant couldn’t help but interject, "Young master, Second Young Master Chu and Lord Xie have been close since childhood. It’s natural for him to be more generous with Lord Xie. Don’t get too upset."

But Jiang Yang didn’t see it that way. Even if his relationship with Chu Shuo wasn’t as close, they had still grown up together. Now, with his family in trouble, if Chu Shuo just spared a bit of silver, he could get through this tough time.

"His mother was a merchant, no wonder he’s so mercenary," Jiang Yang sneered.

The servant inwardly rolled his eyes. But Jiang Yang, desperate to turn his situation around with this banquet, couldn’t stomach the disappointment of still being in debt after all his efforts.

When he went back out, he had a smile plastered on his face, greeting guests as if nothing had happened.

Chu Shuo and Lu Yanyan, though not officially engaged, were known to be frequenting each other’s company, hinting at good news on the horizon. Lu Yanyan, oblivious to the undercurrents, always dressed beautifully for such events. Her outfit and accessories were top-notch, making her stand out even more.

Chu Shuo loved seeing his close ones using the things he gifted. Unfortunately, his sixth sister didn’t care for luxury, so many of his gifts went unused. Lu Yanyan was different; she used everything he gave her.

Beaming, he said, "The shop just got a new batch of liuyun silk. It’s beautiful and lightweight, perfect for summer. I’ll send some to you later."

Lu Yanyan didn’t hesitate, "Great! Send a set of jewelry as well?"

"Speaking of jewelry, the shop also got some new pieces. I’ll... actually, I’ll take you there myself later. I’ve set them aside," Chu Shuo offered.

Lu Yanyan’s eyes sparkled with excitement, wanting the dull and meager banquet to end quickly so she could go pick out her gifts.

Jiang Yang overheard bits of their conversation, his fists clenched under his sleeves, hating Chu Shuo’s stinginess even more. But he remained composed, saying, "Brother Chu Shuo, I have something important to discuss. Could we speak privately?"

Chu Shuo nodded, following Jiang Yang to the pond without suspicion.

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Yang looked directly at Chu Shuo, "Brother Chu Shuo, you know my family has fallen on hard times. We sold our large house, and now we’re struggling. I need to borrow some silver to get by."

His expression was pitiful, his tone sincere. To those unaware, it might seem the Duke of Ming’s family had fallen into hardship due to medical expenses. But Chu Shuo knew the truth: Jiang Yang’s gambling addiction had driven the family into debt.

Chu Shuo’s first instinct was to refuse, "I’m sorry, Brother Jiang Yang, but my business has been struggling recently too. I can’t spare any silver."

Jiang Yang’s smile stiffened, "Brother Chu Shuo, your business is so large. How can you not have any silver? I only need two or three thousand taels."

Chu Shuo inwardly marveled at his audacity. He didn’t want to lend even two or three hundred taels, let alone two or three thousand.

He refused again, "I’m really sorry, but I can’t manage that amount."

"How about five hundred taels?" Jiang Yang pressed.

"I don’t have five hundred taels either," Chu Shuo’s face turned cold, ready to leave.

Jiang Yang grabbed him, his anger boiling over, "Chu Shuo, you were just offering Lu Yanyan gifts, but now you say you have no money. Who are you trying to fool? With all your wealth, why not lend me a bit?"

"It’s my money to spend as I wish," Chu Shuo shook off his hand. "Your father and the Duke made it clear that no one in the capital should lend you money. You’ve already drained your family’s wealth. If you don’t wake up, you’ll be thrown out."

Jiang Yang, fed up with the lecture, blocked his path, "We’ve known each other for years. I never minded your merchant mother. Every time I held a banquet, I looked out for you. Now you won’t lend me a bit of silver in return?"

Chu Shuo rolled his eyes, losing his temper, "Don’t flatter yourself. Xie Beihan was the one who looked out for me. You were always off gambling. Move aside. Don’t embarrass the Duke’s family in front of all these guests."

As he tried to pass, Jiang Yang, unable to bear the humiliation and driven by rage, heard a voice in his head screaming, "Push him! Push him and kill him!"

His eyes turned red, and in a fit of rage, he shoved Chu Shuo into the pond.

Caught off guard, Chu Shuo felt a dizzying spin before he plunged into the water. The water surrounded him, and he choked, struggling to surface.

To his horror, a whirlpool formed, dragging him down. His limbs felt bound, making it difficult to move.

Ahead of him, under the dim sunlight filtering through the water, he saw a pale woman with long hair spread out, covering the surface. Her swollen face bore a creepy smile.

"Wonderful," the female water ghost spoke clearly underwater, "A virgin."

Chu Shuo’s eyes widened as he watched her hair reach for his neck and limbs. Just then, a talisman in his body exploded, sending a golden light shooting through the water.

The light struck the water ghost, causing her to scream in pain, her hair snapping.

Chu Shuo seized the moment to swim up. As he surfaced, he heard Lu Yanyan shouting, "Let me go! I need to save him!"

Someone advised, "Miss Lu, you don’t know how to swim. You’ll only make things worse. Let the servants handle it."

Among the crowd, there were a few who knew how to swim.

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