Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Zhao Hu's shout immediately drew a large crowd of neighbors.

"Isn't this the young lady from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?"

"I heard she's engaged to the heir of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion, so why is she still demanding repayment?"

"Hey, have you forgotten what happened at the Marquis's mansion the other day?"

"I reckon the Marquis's mansion is short of money, so they used the girl's dowry to fill the hole!"

The crowd discussed it and followed the group to watch the excitement.

The carriage moved slowly forward, the sound of gongs never ceasing. As Zhao Hu walked, he read the list to the onlookers.

"Look, everyone! This is something that Lady Su, the wife of the Marquis of Yong'an, borrowed from our young lady!"

There were over 300,000 taels of silver alone, plus hundreds of treasures!

They said all the right things when they borrowed it, but now they're denying it!

Three hundred thousand taels? My God!

"This isn't borrowing, it's outright robbery!"

"No one's home can withstand this kind of destruction, can they?"

The public's discussions grew louder and louder, with no attempt to conceal their mockery and contempt.

Someone was cursing and swearing.

"The people of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion have skin thicker than a city wall!"

"Yeah, that's a total rip-off."

When the procession reached the alley where the Marquis of Yong'an's residence was located, the crowd of people following behind them had already formed a long and imposing line, completely blocking the alley.

Several heads peeked out from behind the gates of each mansion, the servants whispering among themselves, their eyes full of anticipation for a good show.

Everyone knows that the Yong'an Marquis's mansion has been in a terrible mess lately. Now that people are blocking their door to demand repayment, they're probably going to lose all face.

Zhao Hu directed the guards to unfold the list and paste it on the vermilion gate of the Marquis's mansion. The black characters on the white paper were particularly eye-catching.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The guards began banging on the door, which made a dull thud.

"People from the Marquis of Yong'an's residence, come out! Pay up!"

"Paying back debts is a matter of course!"

The noise lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before the tightly closed vermilion door finally creaked open.

Inside the gate, Marquis Yong'an Gu Yan and his heir Gu Jinghuai stood side by side.

Gu Yan, dressed in dark casual clothes, had a livid face and eyes like poisoned knives, staring intently at Yun Shuyao outside the door.

Gu Jinghuai stood beside him, wearing a gray-blue brocade robe, his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead.

The father and son looked at the crowd blocking the doorway, at the glaring bill, and then at Yun Shuyao sitting motionless in the carriage. Their anger was almost bursting out.

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze instantly.

To Yun Shuyao, the angry glares of Gu Yan and his son were nothing more than powerless rage.

Even if Marquis Yong'an was furious, he still knew to consider his reputation. He took a deep breath before speaking, suppressing his anger.

"What is it that you need to say? Come inside and we'll talk."

"Say it right here."

Yun Shuyao sat upright inside the carriage, her voice coming through the curtain, clear and unyielding.

"With so many people watching, they can serve as witnesses."

I'm afraid that if I enter your manor, I won't get my debt back, and instead you'll accuse me of "disrespecting my elders."

Gu Yan's face darkened, and he was beginning to lose his temper.

"Shu Yao, your marriage certificate with Jing Huai has been exchanged, and the marriage is already arranged!"

"With things turned out like this, aren't you afraid that you'll have a hard time establishing yourself after marrying into the Marquis's household?"

The carriage curtain swayed slightly, and Yun Shuyao's figure appeared and disappeared in the shadows.

"Let's put the marriage aside for now and talk about paying back the debts we owe."

Lady Yong'an Marquis initially said she was "borrowing," but now she's not returning it. Could it be that she never intended to repay it in the first place?

Gu Yan glanced at the bill, which was as big as a plaque on the door. The densely packed words were as glaring as needles.

Three hundred thousand taels of silver, one hundred and twenty-seven treasures...

He felt a throbbing pain in his temples. That damned Su family had secretly created such a huge hole behind his back!

Marquis Yong'an turned his head again and glared fiercely at Gu Jinghuai.

Gu Jinghuai shrank back under the glare, lowering his head and not daring to utter a sound.

He had only known that his mother was well-off, but he didn't know that it was all "borrowed" from Yun Shuyao.

"Go there!"

Gu Yan gritted his teeth and gave the order.

"Bring your mother, who owes you money and refuses to pay it back! Let her explain herself how she borrowed the money!"

Gu Jinghuai dared not delay and turned to run to the backyard.

The onlookers saw it clearly, and their discussions grew even louder.

"Tsk tsk, are they trying to make their wives take the blame?"

"Where is the dignity of the men of the Marquis's mansion? They can't even control their wives, and now some young lady is blocking their door demanding repayment of a debt!"

Amidst the noise, footsteps approached from afar.

Although Su Shi, who had been brought out of the abandoned courtyard, had been hastily washed and dressed, her temples were still somewhat disheveled, and the resentment in her eyes was almost overflowing.

As soon as she saw Yun Shuyao's carriage, she rushed over like a madwoman.

After being stopped by the guards, she screamed through the human wall.

"Yun Shuyao! You shameless slut!"

I am your future mother-in-law, how dare you block my door to demand a debt? You have no sense of propriety and do not uphold the virtues of a woman!

For such a small amount of money, you've even abandoned all sense of shame?

There was a moment of silence in the carriage, then Yun Shuyao's calm voice rang out, each word striking the ground.

"What is womanly virtue? Is it giving you your dowry to spend as you please, and not allowing you to ask for it back?"

"What is dignity? Is it swallowing your pride and blood, letting you humiliate you all, that's dignity?"

What does "this little bit of silver" mean?

You have lost 700,000 taels of silver in my shop, borrowed 300,000 taels of silver, and taken countless pieces of jewelry and headdress.

Since Lady Hou considers it "a small amount of money," why not return it now?

Su was speechless when asked the question, but then she threw a tantrum with a straight face.

"That's for the Marquis's residence only! Why should we distinguish between family members?"

Do you think we gave you a small dowry?

"bride price?"

Yun Shuyao chuckled lightly, her laughter filled with sarcasm.

"Are you trying to deduct the betrothal gifts from my dowry?"

Are you suggesting I use my own money to embellish the reputation of your noble household?

"We'll all be one family in the future..."

"We can't become a family."

Yun Shuyao interrupted her, her voice suddenly turning cold.

"Today we'll only talk about paying back the money."

"Do you intend to marry me and wipe the slate clean of all these debts?"

"The Marquis's family is bullying their unmarried daughter-in-law!"

Zhao Hu suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice drowning out Su's scream.

"If they're already scheming before even entering the door, won't they be devoured until there's not even a bone left after they cross the threshold?"

"Exactly! How can you borrow money and not pay it back?"

"Rich and powerful families? I think they're utterly despicable!"

"Why do you all feel so comfortable spending other people's money?"

The people's curses came crashing down like hailstones, and Gu Yan and Gu Jinghuai's faces turned a deep purplish-red, their ears burning.

Su wanted to argue further, but Gu Yan suddenly stopped her.

"Shut up! Haven't you embarrassed her enough? Take her away!"

Gu Yan originally intended to use Su's unreasonable and argumentative behavior to deal with the stubborn Yun Shuyao.

Who knew Yun Shuyao was so quick-witted, she wouldn't budge no matter what.

Su was clearly no match for her and couldn't sway the public's opinion at all.

The guards of the Marquis of Yong'an dragged the shrewish Su Shi away.

At this moment, Gu Yan took a deep breath, forced a kind smile onto his face, and said to the carriage:

"Shuyao, your uncle knows you've been wronged."

But you've always been sensible and virtuous, you must be out of your mind today, are you doing this because of that wretched maid Su Yuyan?"

He paused, then deliberately raised his voice.

"Shu Yao, don't worry, Su Yuyan has been sent to the Jiaofangsi and become a lowly slave!"

"I promise you, I'll never bother Jinghuai again!"

As he spoke, he shoved Gu Jinghuai hard.

"What are you all standing there for? Go apologize to Shu Yao!"