"Grandmatriarch!" Shen Menglan was in a quandary again. Five thousand taels of silver was enough for the Gu Mansion to cover its expenses for almost half a year. How could they just hand it over? This silver didn't come easily.
There was another reason why Shen Menglan was reluctant to part with the money. She had always been domineering in the Gu Mansion, so she had taken over the management of the family finances. No one dared to compete with her for this position.
All the annual silver of the Gu Mansion would end up in her hands. So Shen Menglan would always secretly siphon off a little. The Second Branch was living in great comfort. The Third Branch and Gu Zhengwan, who was in the good graces of the grandmatriarch, were also doing quite well. Only Gu Jiangyue was living a tight - fisted life.
All this was what the Second Branch owed her.
Shen Menglan was stamping her feet anxiously. That was all the silver she had. If she gave it all to this bandit, the Gu Mansion would surely have a hard time in the future. And it would be even more impossible for her to siphon off money from it.
The grandmatriarch also looked troubled. Five thousand taels of silver was no small sum.
But even if all the guards of the Gu Mansion were to go against this black - clothed man, they might not be able to subdue him. If they really took desperate measures and let this black - clothed man escape, and he just said a few words in the capital, claiming that the eldest young lady of the Gu Mansion wasn't even worth five thousand taels of silver, where would the Gu family's dignity be?
Cold sweat was beading on the grandmatriarch's forehead. She gritted her teeth and finally made up her mind. The dignity of the Gu Mansion was more important.
"Menglan, what are you standing there for? Go and get the silver notes quickly! Nothing is more important than Jiangyue."
Shen Menglan replied in a sarcastic tone, then walked away with a pout, swaying her hips unhappily to get the silver notes.
The grandmatriarch tightly grasped her walking stick. She secretly glared at the black - clothed man who was holding Gu Jiangyue hostage.
In fact, the amount of five thousand taels was quite delicate. It just happened to be right on her bottom line. If it was two thousand taels, she might only feel a twinge of pain. If it was six thousand taels, she might have directly tried to rescue the hostage. But he just asked for five thousand taels.
The grandmatriarch couldn't help but wonder if this black - clothed man knew something.
When no one was looking, Gu Jiangyue let out a soft laugh. She lowered her voice and said in a volume only audible to her and the black - clothed man,
"I told you she would agree. We'll split it 30 - 70 later."
The black - clothed man was stunned. He didn't expect this young girl to be so brazen as to secretly talk to him.
The black - clothed man suddenly felt that as a kidnapper, he had lost all his dignity in front of this hostage.
The hoarse and terrifying voice of the black - clothed man rang in Gu Jiangyue's ear.
"I get 70%?"
Gu Jiangyue frowned slightly and said with a feigned anger,
"Absolutely not! I get 70% and you get 30%! I came up with the plan and told you to raise the price. How could you get 70%!"
The black - clothed man sighed helplessly and let out a soft laugh.
"Okay, okay, you call the shots."
Gu Jiangyue didn't expect that she had really managed to intimidate the black - clothed man. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have been able to carry out this plan.
Gu Jiangyue felt that what she was doing was a bit unethical. After a long period of mental struggle, she calmly decided to split the stolen money 50 - 50 with the black - clothed man.
How could the black - clothed man not know his crucial role? He was the Ninth Prince of the Great Xia. How could he possibly lack money? He just wanted to tease Gu Jiangyue, but he didn't expect her to react so strongly. It seemed that she really needed the money.
After everyone waited for a while, Shen Menglan finally showed up late. She was clutching the silver notes tightly in her hand and walking extremely slowly, as if she was afraid that the silver notes wouldn't stay in her hand for a little longer.
The grandmatriarch took the silver notes and handed them to the black - clothed man.
The black - clothed man put away his dagger, pushed Gu Jiangyue forward into the grandmatriarch's arms, then used his light - body technique and flew out of the Gu Mansion.
Gu Jiangyue was immediately stunned. He just left like that. They hadn't even discussed where to meet and split the money. Gu Jiangyue let out a silent sigh in her heart, but she had a feeling that this black - clothed man would come back.
Gu Jiangyue didn't have time to think. The grandmatriarch immediately pulled her into her arms. Her old voice was trembling, but there was no trace of genuine concern in her tone.
"Jiangyue, are you okay? You really scared your grandmother."
Gu Jiangyue knew that the grandmatriarch would never truly care about her.
The grandmatriarch was actually just a concubine at first. She had worked her way up from a concubine to the mistress of the family and then to the grandmatriarch of the Gu Mansion. It wasn't easy for her to reach this position.
After twenty years of baptism in the imperial power struggles and palace intrigues, Gu Jiangyue understood one thing clearly. Her value in front of the grandmatriarch was far less than that of Gu Zhengwan and others. Her only value was her identity as the legitimate daughter of Gu Yanwu.
But now Gu Yanwu was feigning death. Gu Jiangyue remembered that it would be at least two years before Gu Yanwu came back to expose the lie of his death. Before that, the people in the Gu Mansion would surely take advantage of the fact that Gu Yanwu was "dead" and be less afraid of her, becoming more and more aggressive.
Shen Menglan's break - in into her courtyard tonight was just the beginning.
So before Gu Yanwu came back, if she wanted to live well with her younger brother Gu Yi, she must increase her value in the grandmatriarch's heart and become the most useful young lady in the Gu Mansion.
The grandmatriarch was a smart woman. Naturally, she wouldn't spend the five thousand taels in vain. And this five thousand taels was the bargaining chip currently attached to Gu Jiangyue. Gu Jiangyue had a feeling that before she earned back this five thousand taels, the grandmatriarch wouldn't abandon her for the time being.
Gu Jiangyue shrank in the grandmatriarch's arms. Her voice was choking, and there were even tears in the corners of her eyes. She pretended to be extremely aggrieved.
"Grandmother, I'm okay..."
"That's good, that's good."
The grandmatriarch reached out and gently patted Gu Jiangyue on the head.
But Gu Jiangyue in her arms was too lazy to pretend anymore. She coldly scanned the surroundings and just happened to see Shen Menglan, who was standing on one side with her arms crossed and rolling her eyes constantly.
Looking at Shen Menglan's arrogant and dissatisfied look, Gu Jiangyue sneered in her heart.
She dared to break into her boudoir with servants at will. She was really heartless. For a young lady, reputation and innocence were the most important things. Since Shen Menglan dared to treat her like this, don't blame her for not showing mercy.
They had plenty of time in the future.
Gu Jiangyue withdrew from the grandmatriarch's arms. She wiped the tears that she had managed to squeeze out, looked at the messy room that she had thrown into disarray, then blinked her misty eyes and looked pitifully at the grandmatriarch.
"Grandmother, it's getting late. You should rest early. I made you worry."
As she said this, Gu Jiangyue turned around and walked towards the dilapidated room. Gu Jiangyue was only wearing a white inner garment. At this moment, the white made her look even thinner. She pretended to stagger a few steps.
At this moment, Gu Jiangyue looked as pitiful as a piece of white paper that could be blown away by the wind at any time.
As expected, the grandmatriarch finally spoke.