The casino manager took a deep breath and said, "Alright, I got it. We'll release you after we get the money." After saying that, the manager left. After changing his clothes, he headed to the Marquis of Zhongning's Mansion.
"Master, Mu Rendong borrowed money in our casino and caused a ruckus there. He also injured one of our men," the manager said respectfully, looking at Jing Xinche.
This casino had only been established for a few years, but Jing Xinche had managed to turn it into the largest casino in the capital. No other casino could rival it.
"Just make him pay the money back," Jing Xinche said. Did such a thing need to be reported to him? This manager must be tired of his job.
The manager noticed the meaning in Jing Xinche's eyes and shivered. He continued, "Mu Rendong said he would come to ask the mistress for the money."
"What did you say? He wants to ask whom for the money?" Jing Xinche was no longer calm. This shameless man actually wanted Qier to pay his debt for him? He must be daydreaming.
The manager closed his eyes and cursed Mu Rendong in his heart. Then he said again, "He wants to ask the mistress for the money."
"No! Not a single cent!" Jing Xinche flatly refused. What an extraordinary family they were.
"Yes, I'll take my leave," the manager said without hesitation and turned to leave. But Mu Nan immediately stopped him.
"Master, I think you should discuss this matter with the mistress. Maybe the mistress has a plan," Mu Nan's eyes flashed with a glint.
Jing Xinche thought about it and realized Mu Nan was right. He could also use this as an excuse to ask Qier for a reward. Just thinking about it made his eyes light up.
"Mu Nan, I'll double your monthly salary this month," Jing Xinche said.
Mu Nan was overjoyed. Now he had more money for his betrothal gift for his wife.
"Qier, I need to talk to you," Jing Xinche stood outside Mu Fengqie's pharmacy and shouted.
"What is it?" Mu Fengqie opened the door. There were still drops of water on her hands. She must have just washed her hands in the pharmacy.
"Qier, Mu Rendong gambled in the casino and beat someone. Now he has to pay for the damages. It's four hundred taels of silver in total," Jing Xinche said.
"What does that have to do with me?" Mu Fengqie walked over to the table under the tree and sat down nonchalantly.
"Mu Rendong can't go to the palace now. He wants to borrow money from you," Jing Xinche said with a smile and sat down opposite Mu Fengqie.
"Huh? Borrow money from me?" Mu Fengqie was surprised.
Jing Xinche nodded. He had the first-hand information.
"This is interesting," Mu Fengqie thought. If she didn't take advantage of this opportunity to teach them a lesson, she would feel sorry for Mu Rendong who had just walked into her trap.
After making up her mind, Mu Fengqie was about to ask Zhu Fei to prepare the carriage to enter the palace. But as soon as she stood up, Jing Xinche pulled her back.
"What are you doing?" Mu Fengqie looked at Jing Xinche warily. Her intuition told her that this man must be up to no good.
Sure enough...
"Qier, I want some interest," Jing Xinche was getting better and better at finding excuses. No matter what the situation was, he could always find an excuse to kiss her.
"No... um," Mu Fengqie's words of refusal were blocked by Jing Xinche's lips before she could finish.
Jing Xinche looked at Mu Fengqie who was glaring at him angrily and smiled. He held her even tighter in his arms.
After a long time, Jing Xinche finally let go of the out-of-breath Mu Fengqie. "What do you want to do, Qier? I'll help you," he said.
Mu Fengqie looked at this smiling man speechlessly. "I'm going to the palace to ask Mu Xingrou for the money. Can you go?" How could he enter the harem? He would be arrested for sure.
Jing Xinche scratched his nose after hearing that. "Then I'll take you to the palace," he said.
This time, Mu Fengqie didn't refuse. She packed up her things, took the medicine for Noble Concubine Jing, and went to the palace with Jing Xinche.
"Lady Mu, Princess Tianlin is here," a maid said.
Mu Xingrou was worrying about how to help Concubine Hua regain the emperor's favor. She was already annoyed, and now there was someone else who made her even more annoyed. "What does she want? Just tell her that I'm busy and don't have time to see her," she said.
"Lady Mu, Princess Tianlin said that your younger brother owes money in a casino outside and is waiting for you to take the money to save his life," the little maid didn't go out but repeated what Mu Fengqie had told her.
"What did you say? Rendong owes money outside?" Mrs. Kong was eating fruits in the room. As soon as she heard about Mu Rendong, she exploded.
"Xingrou, you can't just sit back and watch him die. He's the only descendant of our Mu family," Mrs. Kong stood up and walked in front of Mu Xingrou. She started to play on her emotions.
But after hearing Mrs. Kong's words, Mu Xingrou felt even more annoyed. What did she mean by saying that Mu Rendong was the only descendant? Wasn't she a human being?
"Alright! I know. Don't keep saying these things in my ear all day long. It makes me feel annoyed," Mu Xingrou said. After giving Mrs. Kong a fierce look, she told the maid to bring Mu Fengqie in.
After Mu Fengqie entered, she looked around Mu Xingrou's room. She found that there was nothing special in it. It was just like the houses outside. If there was any difference, it was only that Mu Xingrou was the emperor's woman.
That was all.
"Mu Fengqie, what's going on with Rendong owing money outside?" Mrs. Kong asked as soon as she saw Mu Fengqie.
"I just found out today. The people from the casino came to my house and said that Rendong owed them a lot of money. If he didn't pay it back, they would..." Mu Fengqie stopped talking halfway, leaving enough room for Mrs. Kong to imagine.
As soon as Mrs. Kong heard what Mu Fengqie said, she immediately remembered what had happened the last time Mu Rendong owed money. Were they going to hurt her Rendong this time? No, this was absolutely not allowed!
Mrs. Kong was about to ask Mu Xingrou to give the money when Mu Xingrou interrupted her. "You said he owed money. Where's your evidence?"
Mu Fengqie knew they would ask this question. She took out Mu Rendong's IOU from her sleeve. "It's written in black and white, and Mu Rendong even left his fingerprint on it," she said.
Mu Xingrou looked at the IOU. It was indeed Mu Rendong's. And it was for a hundred taels!
"How could he owe so much money?" Mu Xingrou suspected that Mu Rendong had been tricked. Otherwise, how could he borrow such a large sum of money?
"This is just the money Mu Rendong borrowed. I also have an IOU for the casino's losses. They gave it to me together," Mu Fengqie took out another IOU for three hundred taels of silver and gave it to Mu Xingrou.
Mu Xingrou looked at the two IOUs in her hand. She almost fainted on the spot. Four hundred taels of silver in total. Where could she get so much money?
"Xingrou, what are you still standing there for? Hurry up and give the money. Save Rendong quickly," Mrs. Kong couldn't help but urge when she saw Mu Xingrou's ugly face.
"This is four hundred taels, not forty taels. Where do you think I can get so much money?" Mu Xingrou gritted her teeth and said.