A scumbag husband fakes his death to escape his marriage? I'll burn down his funeral hall and s

Chapter 21 lifted Gu's mother's confinement.

The waiter's legs went weak with fear. "I really don't know anything!"

Chu Ruohan stared at him coldly, "Then why is the calming incense you sent to the Marquis of Anyang's residence different from the one sold at Ningxiang Pavilion?"

The waiter stammered, trembling, "I...I'm just a deliveryman. Isn't this incense a special item from your Marquis of Anyang's residence?"

Chu Ruohan and Gu Junze exchanged a glance, then Chu Ruohan continued, "Do you know who commissioned it?"

The waiter swallowed hard, his voice trembling with tears. "An elderly woman, I think her surname was Wang."

He continued, "I saw with my own eyes that old woman surnamed Wang and our shopkeeper were talking in hushed tones in the inner room."

"At that time, I was going to ask about the storage of a batch of spices. I had just reached the door when the shopkeeper scolded me and told me not to come any closer."

"Although I didn't hear exactly what they said, ever since then, the shopkeeper has been paying extra attention to the calming incense sent to the Marquis's residence. He personally checks and seals it every time. I'm quite puzzled, but I dare not ask too many questions..."

Chu Ruohan frowned slightly. "That old woman surnamed Wang?"

That must be none other than Granny Wang, who serves Gu's mother.

Gu Junze narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at the waiter, his voice low yet exuding an undeniable authority.

"You'd better not utter a single word about what you've seen and heard here today. If even a whisper of it leaks out, don't blame me for being ruthless. You don't want to experience the methods of the Marquis of Anyang."

The waiter knelt down with a thud. "Yes, yes... I slept in the room today and didn't go anywhere. I promise I will keep my mouth shut and will not dare to say a word."

His eyes were filled with fear and submission. How could he be so unlucky? He was just hoping to survive tonight.

Gu Junze nodded in satisfaction, then turned and winked at Ying Qing. Ying Qing understood immediately, stepped forward, grabbed the waiter's arm, and quickly disappeared.

Chu Ruohan looked up at Gu Junze, "Wang Mama is still on the estate in the suburbs of Beijing. We need to find a way to transfer her back."

Both of them knew who was behind this, but if they wanted to bring this person to justice, they needed sufficient evidence.

Before Chu Ruohan could come up with a way to transfer Wang Mama back from the estate, Gu's mother lifted the house arrest.

During his evening meal, the Marquis of Anyang summoned everyone together.

Even Gu Cheng'an attended. His burns had almost healed, and his wounds had scabbed over. Once dressed, he looked no different from an ordinary person.

Although Aunt Bao's hands were still bandaged, they clung to Marquis Anyang like vines, and she said coquettishly, "My lord, I want to eat eight-treasure duck..."

"My lord, I want to eat river shrimp..."

Marquis Anyang was not angry at all; on the contrary, he was full of affection and personally served her food. He even wiped Aunt Bao's mouth. The two of them were intimate without any restraint, completely disregarding the different expressions of the people in the room.

The anger that had been suppressed in Gu's mother for so long suddenly flared up, and she couldn't help but curse inwardly, "Shameless vixen!"

Aunt Bao pouted and shook the Marquis of Anyang's arm coquettishly, "My lord, look at her."

Marquis Anyang coughed lightly and cleared his throat. "Alright, I've called everyone here today because I have something to announce."

As he spoke, his gaze slowly fell upon Aunt Zhao. "After careful consideration, I still believe it would be better to entrust the management of the household affairs to the lady."

Aunt Zhao glanced at Chu Ruohan subconsciously, and saw that she was eating her food without any objection.

He nodded reluctantly.

Mother Gu turned her gaze to Gu Cheng'an, "Cheng'an, you're not getting any younger, I've arranged a marriage for you..."

However, before she could finish speaking, Gu Cheng'an exploded like a lit firecracker, "Mother, I will only marry Ling'er in this life."

Upon hearing this, Marquis Anyang was immediately enraged. He slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "You good-for-nothing! You're completely bewitched by a woman. Let me tell you, you have to get married whether you like it or not!"

“The date has been set for the eighth day of next month. If you dare to elope again, I will abort the child in her womb.”

His concubine, Bao, quickly took his hand and blew on it tenderly, saying, "Why are you so angry, Lord Marquis? Slamming your fist on the table must have hurt!"

Then, her eyes darted around again. "Second Young Master, since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. How can you talk back to your elders like this? Isn't that unfilial?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Gu reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Aunt Bao and cursing, "What kind of thing is she? A lowly maid who climbed into the Marquis's bed dares to criticize the master of the mansion?"

Aunt Bao immediately put on a pitiful look and leaned against Marquis Anyang, sobbing.

"I knew I wasn't favored by the lady, and I shouldn't have said anything out of turn. But I really feel sorry for the Marquis."

Marquis Anyang held her and quickly comforted her. Seeing this, Gu's mother became even more furious. "Cry, cry, all you do is cry. Anyone who doesn't know better would think someone in your family has died."

Marquis Anyang then glared fiercely at Gu's mother and shouted angrily, "Alright, he's the good son you raised."

Gu Cheng'an knew his father's temper well, and dared not say anything more, for fear that his father might really harm the child in Du Ruoling's womb in a fit of anger.

Even if Gu's mother was unhappy, she had to suppress her anger. She had just been released from confinement and could not afford to anger the Marquis again.

She suppressed her displeasure, looked at Chu Ruohan, and forced a smile onto her face.

Chu Ruohan had no mind to care about their messy affairs until the eighth day of next month.

In his past life, Gu Junze died suddenly on that day...

"Ruohan, Ruohan..." Gu's mother called twice before she came to her senses.

"You've been married into the household for some time now, it's time for you to learn how to manage the household. I'll leave Cheng'an's marriage to you!"

Chu Ruohan understood perfectly well that this was a trap set against her.

The previous loan sharking had completely drained the Hou family's savings and caused them to lose most of their assets. Now, Gu Cheng'an's marriage, with its betrothal gifts, banquet arrangements, and so on, all require a large sum of money.

The Marquis's mansion is now just an empty shell; the couple is clearly eyeing her dowry again.

Chu Ruohan stood up and gave a slight bow. "Thank you for your trust, Mother-in-law. However, I am still young, and marriage is a major event. I am afraid I am not capable of handling it. Please leave this matter to Mother-in-law!"

Mother Gu had no intention of entrusting everything to Chu Ruohan. After all, it was her son's wedding, and he was marrying into a prominent family, so she naturally wanted to keep a close eye on things herself.

So he went along with it and said, "In that case, you should stay by my side and learn from me."

At this moment, Gu Junze, who had been sitting silently in his wheelchair, suddenly coughed. Upon seeing this, Chu Ruohan hurriedly stepped forward and gently patted his back, her face full of worry and apology.

"It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but my husband hasn't been feeling well lately and simply doesn't have the time or energy to deal with this!"

Gu Junze seemed to take a long time to recover, and said breathlessly, "Father, I'm really not feeling well, so I'll take my leave now."

Chu Ruohan bowed to everyone and urged Gu Junze to leave quickly...