3339 Begging for Mercy

"You have three days to return Second Miss's money."

Mu Jingyang felt utterly humiliated. How could he argue with his mother now? He quickly nodded in agreement.

"Mrs. Hua, for the next two days, you will reflect on your actions in your own courtyard. You are not to come out," the Old Madam said coldly.

Mrs. Hua nearly collapsed. She cried out tearfully, "Mother, if you must punish me, can it wait until after the Old Master's birthday banquet?"

Tomorrow was the Old Master's birthday banquet, and there would be many guests and much gossip. If people found out that she, the Fifth Household's madam, was confined to her courtyard by the Old Madam, who knew how many rumors would spread about her.

"How dare you bargain with Mother?" Mu Jingyang scolded, dragging her up from the ground. His face was full of anger. "Come back with me."

Today, his dignity was practically thrown into the River of Oblivion. After such a scandalous incident, how could he ever face his brothers again?

"Master," Mrs. Hua sobbed, turning her pleading gaze towards Mu Qingya, "Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, please say a few words for me."

Mu Qingya, feigning a look of pity, turned to the Old Madam and said, "Fifth Sister-in-law merely had a momentary lapse in judgment; she was probably tricked into it. Mother, perhaps... you could let her attend tomorrow's birthday banquet, to show her filial piety to the Old Master?"

The Old Madam scoffed. There was no filial piety, only a strong desire to compete.

However, such a disgraceful matter was best handled privately within the family. If it spread and became a laughingstock among the various noble families, the Old Madam felt she couldn't afford such humiliation either.

So she said coldly, "Since Qingya pleads for you, the punishment will wait until after tomorrow."

Mrs. Hua breathed a sigh of relief, quickly bowed in gratitude, and was then dragged out by a furious Mu Jingyang.

Mu Qingya said, "The Fenlou actually dared to scheme against our Mu family. Mother, I think it's time we teach them a lesson."

The Old Madam's face was also cold, and she nodded slightly. "No matter what, tomorrow is the Old Master's birthday banquet. All matters will be postponed until after the Old Master's birthday. Then, we will slowly settle accounts with them."

Mu Qingya curtsied respectfully and withdrew from the Old Madam's courtyard.

As she was responsible for overseeing all the arrangements for the Old Master's birthday banquet, Mu Qingya had been quite busy lately.

Qiaomu stayed and chatted with the Old Madam for a while longer, then also departed.

Tomorrow's banquet was at noon. Most of the preparations had already been completed in the past two days, with only some finishing touches remaining.

After Qiaomu returned to the Magnolia Courtyard, she ran into the side room and saw Mo Lian writing a letter at the table.

She scampered over to him and reached out to hug his waist. "Lian, Lian, what kind of place is that Fenlou? I feel like I've heard you mention it before?"

Mo Lian was just finishing his letter when her interruption caused one of his strokes to slightly waver.

He put down his brush, pulled her onto his lap, and looked at her amused. "When have I ever mentioned it to you? Never."

The little one blinked, her face full of curiosity. "No?"

"Fifth Madam swindled Second Aunt's money and lent it to the Fenlou to practice loan sharking for her."

"Lian, is the interest rate for loan sharking very high?"

Mo Lian frowned.