The merchant's rebirth led to the complete downfall of the Marquis's mansion.

Next door was a separate courtyard. Jiang Su had only been back for a short time and had never been there before. He only knew that it seemed no one lived there.

After Xia Qiutang and her maid went inside, the gate was closed, so Jiang Su had to think of other ways.

Xiao Liu promptly brought over a ladder and placed it against the wall. As soon as Jiang Su entered, he saw the ladder already set up and naturally climbed up nimbly.

But this one look was quite alarming; it nearly made him lose his grip, as Xia Qiutang's maid was still guarding the gate.

If he continues like this, he'll definitely get caught red-handed.

Jiang Su climbed down again, carrying the ladder, and prepared to go over from behind.

After setting up the ladder, Jiang Su had only climbed halfway when he heard a commotion ahead. He quickened his pace and climbed up in a few quick movements.

As soon as they peeked out, they saw Liu and Jiang Xiaoxiao making a scene in the neighboring courtyard.

Liu is now like a madwoman in a fit of rage; her cursing can be heard from several streets away.

"Get out here! Xia Qiutang, you piece of trash, how dare you keep a lover behind my son's back!"

"Get out of my way! Do you believe I'll have you sold out right now?!"

……

Xia Qiutang's maid had no choice but to desperately try to stop the two of them.

Jiang Su was dumbfounded. Why was his mother here too?

And what man? Wasn't he just sneaking a bite to eat?

Jiang Su found it hard to believe, and even if something was wrong, wouldn't making such a fuss alert the enemy?

I'm afraid that by then we won't be able to find any evidence regarding the food issue, and the problem won't be resolved.

Jiang Su climbed up the wall, moved the ladder to the other side, and hurriedly climbed down.

After glancing at his mother and sister, who were arguing with the maid, Jiang Su decisively pushed open the door.

Xia Qiutang looked at Jiang Su standing at the door in horror. Jiang Su strode in, scanned the room, and finally fixed his gaze on Xia Qiutang's face.

"Husband...?" Xia Qiutang called out anxiously.

At this moment, with Jiang Xiaoxiao's help, Liu rushed in. She didn't care about her son and searched the house thoroughly.

"Where is he? Where is he?" They searched everywhere, even under the bed, but found nothing.

Unable to find the person, Liu rushed over to Xia Qiutang and angrily pointed at her nose, saying:

"Where did you hide your lover?"

Xia Qiutang wore a pitiful yet shocked expression, tears welling up in her eyes:

"Mother, what adulterer? How could my daughter-in-law..."

"Why are you here?" Jiang Su asked expressionlessly.

Xia Qiutang paused in her sobbing, stumped by the question.

Having caught her red-handed, Liu immediately pressed her for answers.

"Yes! What are you doing here? If you can't explain yourself today, don't blame me for sending you to the authorities!"

Adultery is a serious crime!

Xia Qiutang naturally couldn't let Liu convict her, so she picked up a handkerchief to wipe away her tears before speaking.

"No one lives here. I was thinking that if no one's here, it would be perfect for us to move in. So, I just came to sit for a while. If no one cares, we'll move in..."

"Pah!" Liu was the first to disbelieve. "Why would you sneak around doing something so perfectly legitimate? Besides, someone saw a man enter this courtyard! And wasn't he your lover!"

Seeing a man around wasn't necessarily today, but as long as there was one, Liu was certain they must have a relationship.

"Injustice!" Xia Qiutang cried out in despair, "Husband, believe me, look here, there's no man here!"

The house is so small that you can see the whole thing from one end to the other, and there are only a few places where someone could hide. Liu has searched all of them, and there are obviously no hiding places.

"You little bitch..." Liu was about to say something when Jiang Xiaoxiao came in, tugged at Liu, and then shook her head.

She had just searched all the other rooms, and there really was no one there.

This time, Liu really had nothing to say. She caught them in the act, didn't she?

This is impossible to catch...

No, how could Liu admit she was wrong? "The man must not have arrived yet! In any case, this little slut must be having a secret rendezvous with a man here!"

Jiang Su didn't know anything about men's affairs, but since it concerned his own dignity as a man, he waited for Liu Shi to make a scene.

Seeing that they couldn't find any evidence, Jiang Su began to suspect that Liu was staging the whole thing.

"Alright, Mother!"

Jiang Su's words had a great effect. Although Liu was unwilling, she could only watch Xia Qiu happily with resentment.

She'll catch her eventually!

"Tang'er, tell the truth, what are you doing here?" Jiang Su asked with a stern face.

He already had the answer in his heart; he just hoped she could be more honest with him.

But he was disappointed; Xia Qiutang's eyes blinked innocently.

"Husband, don't you believe me? I really am..."

Jiang Su shook his head, looking at the greasy face. "There's still grease on your lips, Xia Qiutang. You're sneaking a bite here!"

Xia Qiutang looked at Jiang Su in surprise, and it took her a while to realize that this "stealing food" was not the "stealing food" she was thinking of.

"What do you mean?" Liu looked at Jiang Su suspiciously.

Jiang Xiaoxiao had already realized what was happening and pointed at Xia Qiutang, wishing she could slap her twice.

"Oh my god! Mom! Xia Qiutang was secretly eating delicious food behind our backs! I was wondering why we've all lost weight from starvation for months, but she hasn't changed at all, and her complexion is even getting better!"

Not to mention Xia Qiutang, even the maidservant beside her looked rosy-cheeked.

They all ate from the same pot, so Jiang Xiaoxiao had no reason to suspect anything. At most, she thought that Xia Qiutang had always lived a poor life, so it was okay if she ate poorly!

Who knew they were eating it secretly outside?

"Search her! She's definitely hiding more silver!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao was about to reach out to Xia Qiutang when Jiang Su stopped her.

"Brother! Are you still going to help her? Don't forget, we're family! The money for your medical treatment was all scraped together by Mother, who sold her family heirloom!"

Jiang Su did not answer, but instead had Xiao Liu, who was controlling Xia Qiutang's maid outside, bring the person in.

Judging from the scene inside, Xiao Liu guessed what was going on. Damn it! We're too early!

He should have come earlier. When he came out just now, he saw that man sneaking away, and now there's already a commotion here.

Therefore, we can't catch this traitor today.

With that thought, Xiao Liu pushed the maid in his hand to the ground.

"Speak! What is your young lady doing here?" Jiang Su asked.

The little maid trembled as she scrambled to her feet and knelt down. Upon hearing Jiang Su's words, she instinctively looked up at Xia Qiutang, who was terrified that she would be betrayed.

So Xia Qiutang took the initiative to confess some of the less serious matters, but as soon as she opened her mouth, Jiang Su glared at her and stopped her.

"Speak! Don't think I can't do anything to you just because your indenture isn't with me! You're just a servant; no one would know if I beat you to death!"

Jiang Su was right. If no one reported it to the authorities, no one would care. If someone was killed, they were killed. It was really no big deal.

The maid trembled, not daring to look at Xia Qiutang, but still slowly spoke out.

"This servant...this servant was just buying food for Miss, and..."

Seeing that something bad was about to be revealed, Xia Qiutang hurriedly took it.

"My husband, I was just too greedy..."

Jiang Su was still thinking of asking when Jiang Xiaoxiao, who had been craving it for a long time, couldn't wait to start.

"You have money? Where is it?! You little bitch, hand over the money!" Jiang Xiaoxiao said as she searched Xia Qiu's body.

Xia Qiutang, her clothes torn, turned pale. "Husband, save me!"

Liu didn't move. She still suspected that Xia Qiutang was having an affair with another man, and it would be better if her clothes were torn.

"Alright! Xiaoxiao! Let go!"

Jiang Su roared, and Jiang Xiaoxiao had no choice but to let go. Xia Qiutang hurriedly straightened her clothes.

Jiang Su knew that all the family's money had been spent, so the fact that Xia Qiutang still had money was beyond everyone's expectations.

Of course, the money still needs to be taken out; they are currently short of funds.

"Hand over the money!"

Back in her courtyard, Xia Qiutang took out the silver notes she had hidden.

Liu and Jiang Xiaoxiao searched her room thoroughly, finding a few taels of loose silver before they were satisfied.

"Starting tomorrow, for two days, no! Three days, don't feed her. Look how arrogant she is, daring to hoard money!"

Liu made a harsh statement and gave all the silver notes to Jiang Su.

She saved the loose change and used it to improve her meals.

Everyone left, leaving only Xia Qiutang and Jiang Su in the room.

Xia Qiutang wanted to say something to salvage the situation, but Jiang Su had already glanced at her and strode away.

He was really heartbroken. How could his Tang'er be like this?

In his heart, Xia Qiutang should be a kind-hearted woman who is devoted to him.

But now, he hardly recognizes her anymore.

When he was in jail, she didn't visit him, and he assumed it was because she didn't have the money to bribe officials. When he was sick, she took good care of him, which moved him deeply. He also felt that since his mother was also struggling financially, it was only right that they should help each other.

But... just now, she took out more than two thousand taels of silver notes!!!

What does this mean?

Jiang Su didn't know how to face her, so he simply left home.

Wandering aimlessly down the street, he unknowingly found himself at the gate of the Qin family's residence.

……