After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

What do you think, sister-in-law?

Gu Hanyue looked at Su Xiuran with undisguised anticipation.

No, it wasn't an expectant look, but rather a look like he was looking at an idiot.

Su Xiuran thought to herself, "Could she be a fool?"

If Gu Hanyue is really in trouble, can she just stand by and do nothing?

Why lie to her, and why keep lying for over ten years?

Su Xiuran thought about it and realized there was probably only one reason: Gu Hanyue had long known that she and Gu Mingtang were not siblings.

Su Xiuran's eyes instantly reddened, and she pulled out a handkerchief: "Little sister, do you think I haven't thought about these things? But I've received news that the Gu family's assets might..."

Su Xiuran pointed to the roof beam.

Gu Hanyue asked in surprise, "Confiscated?"

Confiscating property means ransacking the house, right? It seems the eldest brother's family is truly finished.

Su Xiuran wiped away her tears. "That's why I can't just sell it off. If I were to even consider selling, the Gu family would truly have no way to survive."

Su Xiuran suddenly grabbed Gu Hanyue's hand: "Hanyue, that's your own brother! Why don't you lend me some money? It's not much, just four hundred taels."

Gu Linglong frowned, looking sad, her little hands clutching her clothes. "Is life at home really that hard? Then... then Linglong can drink less milk from her grandma in the future."

"Sister-in-law, please...please don't panic."

Gu Hanyue quietly withdrew her hand and chuckled twice: "Hehe, sister-in-law, don't joke like that. You know Shaozhong's annual salary isn't even four hundred taels."

Su Xiuran hesitated for a moment: "Surely you must have saved some money over the years? If you lend it to your sister-in-law, she will definitely pay it back."

"No, sister-in-law."

Gu Hanyue tried to get up and leave, but Su Xiuran held her tightly.

With tears in her eyes, Su Xiuran looked at Gu Hanyue: "Hanyue, that's your own brother! If you don't help him, others will look down on you."

Gu Hanyue's eyes darted around, "I... Sister-in-law, I don't have any money. If I did, I would definitely help."

She wouldn't help the Gu family, who were already doomed.

Su Xiuran looked at her hopefully: "Are you serious?"

"Of course, that's my older brother."

Su Xiuran said, touched, "That's good. Then please give me the necklace around your neck. It should be worth a few hundred taels of silver for emergencies."

"?"

Gu Hanyue, realizing what was happening, widened her eyes. What was she saying?

The usually composed and dignified wife of the Minister of State was actually asking others for things.

Has it really come to this?

"No...no, sister-in-law, this bra, this bra..."

Su Xiuran: "Is it because it's too expensive and you can't bear to part with it?"

"Of course not..."

Douzhu remembered the words the lady had told her.

She stepped forward, her large eyes darting around, and said, "Madam Lin is so kind. You can just give the necklace to me. No wonder Lord Lin is getting promoted again. It's all thanks to your good character, Madam, and how you extended a helping hand to your family in their time of need."

"May Lord Lin's wish be fulfilled soon."

Chunhe and the other maids echoed, "May Lord Lin's wish be fulfilled soon!"

These words left Gu Hanyue in an awkward position, and she couldn't refute them.

If it weren't for the fact that it wasn't time to turn against each other, Gu Hanyue would have smashed the glass and left long ago.

She slowly removed the collar and said in a low voice, "Then... sister-in-law, you can take it for now."

Douzhu immediately accepted it: "Thank you, Madam Lin."

Gu Hanyue looked at the necklace in Douzhu's hand, and her heart felt like it was bleeding.

His expression was indescribable, like he'd eaten shit.

But besides that, there was also a hint of pride. She, Su Xiuran, had always been high above and arrogant. She never thought that one day someone would come to beg her.

Having obtained the collar, Su Xiuran was too lazy to keep up the pretense: "Hanyue, I won't keep you for dinner today. I still have matters to attend to regarding your elder brother."

"Douzhu, go fetch the gift."

[Mother, you're still giving her a gift? No way! Wouldn't that be a huge loss?]

Meeting her mistress's gaze, Douzhu went to the storeroom and soon returned with a beautifully crafted, openwork box.

Gu Hanyue touched the texture of the box with her hand. The box was so exquisite that the contents inside must be quite valuable.

It's probably a good item that's hard to sell, and that eased some of my frustration...

"By the way, where is my sister staying now? Is she at the manor?"

Su Xiuran looked at her quietly: "What's wrong?"

Gu Hanyue sighed, "I heard that my sister and Lord Cui divorced. After so many years of relationship, they still don't have any children. I was afraid she might be upset, so I wanted to go and comfort her. It's really unbelievable that she didn't even tell her younger sister."

Gu Linglong was anxious as she listened to her talk about her aunt, her heart pounding with impatience.

"Puff puff"

[Mother, please don't tell her! She didn't go to comfort Auntie; she went to kick her when she was down. She's always been jealous of Auntie because she's prettier and more accomplished than her.]

Su Xiuran clenched her fists tighter under her sleeves, pretending not to see the excitement in Gu Hanyue's eyes: "Let's talk about it later. She's feeling down right now and wants to be alone."

If Gu Xinyi is feeling bad, then she'll feel better!

"Alright, then if you're in a better mood, remember to write to me so I can come visit."

Su Xiuran smiled and nodded in agreement, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "Okay."

Gu Hanyue left, and the further she walked, the more she felt something was wrong. She clearly came to ask for money, so why did she end up with a collar?

……

After Gu Hanyue left, Su Xiuran immediately wiped away her tears and said to Douzhu, "Let's throw this stone away. Do you think I'm stupid for trying to exchange a broken stone for two thousand taels of silver?"

Gu Linglong, still immersed in the sadness of not being able to drink more of her grandmother's drinks, was momentarily startled by her mother's smooth change of expression.

【Oh my god, Mom, you were faking it? I was so heartbroken, and my mom's acting is amazing! My beautiful mom is the best at everything!】

Su Xiuran, embarrassed by the mindless praise, touched her ear.

Douzhu grinned, showing her big teeth, and said cheerfully, "That's right, it's good that Madam was prepared. I just wonder if Madam Lin will be furious when she gets back and finds out that the tea she brought back is old tea from two years ago."

Oh dear, my mother is slapping her in the face! Gu Hanyue is going to be furious!

Su Xiuran took a sip of tea: "Gu Hanyue refrained from smashing the cup and leaving because she was thinking of gathering information later. She even considered causing trouble for Xinyi, but I don't have time to play along with her act."

Douzhu gritted her teeth: "Thank goodness for Madam's wisdom. My sister-in-law has suffered so much, and Madam Lin still went so far as to kick her while she was down. It's truly outrageous."

Su Xiuran nodded: "Sell the collar and tell the kitchen to have an extra meal today."

"Yes"

Gu Hanyue boarded the carriage and headed to Gu Minghai's residence. Although she had lost a collar, she had gained this valuable item and important information, and she had to tell her brother as soon as possible.

In the main hall, Lin Xiaoxiao was making tea for Gu Minghai, and both of them were beaming with joy.

For some reason, the warehouse rent has increased in the past few days, and I really don't have the money to continue stockpiling grain, so I sold some of it and made more than 600 taels of silver in one go.

Six hundred taels, more than his annual salary.

Gu Minghai was in high spirits. Lin Xiaoxiao was truly his lucky star; he would soon rise to the highest position in the court and wield immense power...