Reborn Four Gorgeous Consorts

In Debt

As the night passed, Zhao Li awoke early, her body aching from the hard wooden bed. Though not born into wealth in her previous life, her father, a soldier, and her mother, a pianist, had provided her with a comfortable existence, and she was unaccustomed to such Spartan accommodations.

She tidied her appearance and stepped out of her room, glancing at the door opposite hers. A faint, medicinal aroma wafted from within, mingled with the sound of muffled coughing—the room of the Gu brothers' ailing mother, no doubt.

Contemplating her next move, Zhao Li decided it would be prudent to delay any offer to tend to the matriarch; the Gu brothers' opinion of her was still too hostile, and they might interpret her gesture as an ill-intentioned act rather than one of genuine concern.

Lost in thought, she noticed Gu Yaoyu entering, his arms laden with clothing. He appeared startled upon seeing her. "W-wife... why are you up so early?"

He seemed to hesitate, taking a step back. "Breakfast is not yet ready. Please, take some rest, Wife."

"..." Zhao Li scratched her cheek. "Is there anything I can assist with?"

"No, no," Gu Yaoyu shook his head vehemently. It was well known that Zhao Li's offers of help often led to further trouble.

"What do you intend, Zhao Li?" The firm voice of Gu Yaoting, axe in hand, cut through the air. Having seen Gu Yaoyu lingering at the doorway, he approached, only to find Zhao Li nearby, and instinctively assumed the worst.

Perceiving the clear disapproval and wariness in Gu Yaoting's gaze, Zhao Li cleared her throat, softening her tone. "I have done nothing. I merely wished to see if I could be of assistance."

Gu Yaoting, unsurprisingly, did not believe her.

"What is going on here?" Another voice broke the tense atmosphere. Chu Chen emerged from a different room, his face still bearing the marks of sleep. His eyes, heavy with drowsiness, blinked, and he yawned, presenting a rather endearing and innocent appearance.

Noticing the standoff, he sidled up to Zhao Li, wrapping his arm around hers, and cooed, "My dear, since you're up so early, why don't we take a walk? There are tender words I wish to share with you."

Gu Yaoting, noting Chu Chen's intention to distract Zhao Li, subtly moved to shield Gu Yaoyu, but did not object. Despite his reservations about Chu Chen's fawning over Zhao Li, he held no animosity towards him—both were, after all, victims of circumstance.

Zhao Li, though not as intellectually impaired as her predecessor, recognized their distrust. She sighed inwardly but accepted Chu Chen's suggestion, deciding to proceed with caution.

Just as they were about to leave, Gu Yaolin burst in, his anger palpable. Upon seeing Zhao Li, he grabbed her by the collar, seething. "What have you done now?!"

Staggering from the force, Zhao Li looked bewildered. "What...?"

Seeing her feigned ignorance, Gu Yaolin gritted his teeth. "Zhang Fang and her gang are at the village entrance, claiming you owe them a large sum. They've come for repayment!"

"Did you gamble away the money again?!"

"You wretch, Zhao Li, are you determined to drive us to our graves?!"

Having vented, he released her and turned to his brothers. "Eldest Brother, Third Brother, take Mother and hide. Zhang Fang's group looks menacing..."

With a scathing look at Zhao Li, he left the matter to her, believing she should resolve what she had started.

Chu Chen, who had been clinging to Zhao Li, quickly distanced himself, moving closer to Gu Yaoyu. When Zhao Li met his gaze, he wore a pitiful, apologetic expression, as if to say: I am powerless, my wife, fend for yourself.

Zhao Li: "..."

At least she had never trusted his integrity.

Rubbing her temples, she watched as her husbands prepared to abandon her. Although burdened with this unexpected plight, she resolved to confront it, given her current embodiment.

Yet, the Gu brothers found themselves cornered, for as they attempted to aid their mother, Chu Chen, seeking an escape, opened the rear door only to be confronted by a band of menacing figures.

"Where do you think you're going, young master?" The leader, a towering, robust woman named Zhang Fang, sneered at the sight of Chu Chen.

The courtyard soon filled with Zhang Fang's entourage, leaving Chu Chen frozen. He closed the door hastily and rushed to inform the Gu brothers.

Surrounded, they were trapped.

Seated on a black-wooden chair, Zhang Fang unleashed a torrent of insults before stating her demands. "No more nonsense. Repay your debt, or none of you will fare well!"

Zhao Li, who had remained silent under the barrage of abuse, replied, "How much do I owe?"

"Hmph, with interest, exactly one hundred taels of silver. Even selling you wouldn't cover a fraction of it," Zhang Fang boasted.

"..." Zhao Li regarded her with a look of disbelief. "If you knew I couldn't repay, why lend me the money?"

Caught off guard, Zhang Fang sputtered a few curses before insisting, "Debts must be repaid. You must settle this today!"

Zhao Li, having only just arrived, relied on the Gu brothers and Chu Chen for sustenance and had no means to repay Zhang Fang. She glanced at Gu Yaoting, then back at Zhang Fang, intending to negotiate a postponement.

Misinterpreting her glance, Gu Yaolin, incensed, believed Zhao Li was once again trying to make them pay her debts. The Gu brothers, far from idle, had savings, but their funds had been depleted by unforeseen calamities, leading to their union with Zhao Li. Her subsequent wastefulness and brutality had eroded their gratitude, leaving them impoverished.

"We won't pay your debts!" Gu Yaolin's cold rebuke rang out. Facing Zhang Fang's scorn, he declared, "Do what you will with Zhao Li, even sell her, but her debts are not ours!"

Zhang Fang laughed heartily, her followers joining in. When the laughter subsided, she eyed Gu Yaolin mockingly. "Zhao Li is your wife. How can her debts be separate from yours?"