Qin Yuan was speechless.

She paused, then asked, "Does Madam Zhao know something?"

Gu Jinghui said, "Zhao Niangzi has been ill, and I thought it was too late, so I didn't ask any more questions. Let's wait until tomorrow."

Pang Hai's origins suddenly became a mystery, and Gu Jinghui didn't know how to face Zhao Niangzi or how to explain it to the two children.

Qin Yuan seemed to have guessed his concerns and said, "Husband, there is something I want to say, but I don't know if I should."

Gu Jinghui turned to the side and said, "You always say that we are husband and wife, and there's nothing we shouldn't say. I know you always mean well for me."

Qin Yuan smiled and asked, "Does my husband truly think that way?"

“Of course,” Gu Jinghui said, though he wasn’t good at sweet talk. But his words came from the bottom of his heart. “I know you are intelligent and wise, and you’re very good to me.”

Even in the darkness, Qin Yuan's face flushed slightly.

She...she's not actually that good.

Qin Yuan paused for a moment before saying, "Husband, it would be best to invite Mother and the two children tomorrow so that Zhao Niangzi can explain things clearly on the spot. It is true that Brother Pang saved your life, but it is also true that his background is unknown. If he is involved in a murder case or is a runaway slave, it will cause trouble if it is found out later. Husband, you are doing this to help Zhao Niangzi and the children find a real husband, and also to prevent the two children from being biased and blaming you in the future."

Gu Jinghui pondered Qin Yuan's words carefully, and after a long while asked, "They only believe what they hear and complain about me? You mean Zhao Niangzi will talk badly about me behind my back?"

Qin Yuan hesitated for a moment before briefly mentioning what the two children had said to Xiao Hong, and then said, "It's too late now. You can come with me to pay your respects to Mother tomorrow morning and ask her then."

The thought of facing the two children and Zhao Niangzi the next morning instantly killed any romantic thoughts Gu Jinghui had, so he hugged her slender waist and said, "Yes, go to sleep. We have to see them tomorrow morning."

Qin Yuan was also a little sleepy. Just before going to bed, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did you take a shower before you came back?"

Gu Jinghui hugged her tightly, both amused and exasperated, and said, "I took a cold shower before coming back, you don't smell bad, go to sleep."

Qin Yuan was finally able to fall asleep peacefully.

The next day, Hongye and Cuiming came to help her with her washing and dressing, but Gu Jinghui was nowhere to be seen again.

Qin Yuan thought he might have gone to the training ground, so she didn't pay any attention.

Hongye, however, was taken aback when she saw the ice chest displayed in the room. She then asked Qin Yuan with a beaming smile, "Miss, last night the Marquis..."

Qin Yuan responded nonchalantly, saying, "Go and prepare the clothes the Marquis will change into. The Marquis and I will go to the main room for breakfast later."

Hongye went to open the box and pick out the clothes with a smile.

Cuiming silently combed her hair, this time in a high bun, with a golden crown on top and golden earrings hanging from her ears, the bottom of which was decorated with peonies made of long, fine gold threads, the craftsmanship exquisite and ingenious.

"This set of jewelry really enhances your appearance; your skin looks even more radiant now," Cui Ming couldn't help but exclaim.

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "You're getting better and better at praising people. Are you feeling better after a day of rest?"

Cuiming said, "The incense that Miss prepared is extremely nourishing. I slept for a day and feel even more comfortable than before."

Qin Yuan chatted with her two maids as she waited and waited, but Lord Gu still did not return.

Hongye ran to the corridor and called out, "Gu Shiliu."

No one answered.

"Strange, didn't Gu Shiliu already come back?"

Qin Yuan knew that Gu Shiliu and Gu Jinghui must have talked until very late last night and had traveled a long way back, so she said, "Don't look for him. Let him rest well. Ask him later if he feels unwell from the long journey."

Hongye responded.

Looking at the hourglass, Qin Yuan realized it was getting late. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Why don't we go to the main room first? I already said yesterday that I would go there to have breakfast with Mother."

The two followed Qin Yuan out of Wutong Garden. Before they even reached the pond near the Taihu rockery, they saw a large group of people gathered in the distance.

Qin Yuan stopped in her tracks.

Hongye asked, "Miss, shall I go and take a look?"

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid something has happened. You don't need to go closer. Just send someone over to ask."

Hongye then asked Hongmian to go and ask someone.

Qin Yuan asked in surprise, "When did the parrot become a red cotton tree?"

Hongye laughed and said, "I thought you hadn't noticed her, Miss. I've taken a liking to her and want her to follow me, so I named her Hongmian. I was going to tell you, Miss, but I got too busy today."

Qin Yuan snorted and said, "You're getting more and more unruly. You take advantage of my pampering and act on your own without asking me first. You're always so reckless. Although you don't have any ulterior motives, only I know about it. You won't know what's good for you until you get into trouble and get whipped."

Cuiming also said, "I think you've forgotten what Miss said before she got married."

Hongye quickly smiled apologetically and asked, "Miss, do you think the name Hongmian is acceptable? I will never use it again."

Qin Yuan rolled her eyes at her and said, "You've already called her that. If I change her name, wouldn't that make her look down on you? You'll be crying if she has other ideas later. Let's just call her Hongmian. This girl is quick-witted and has a bad temper, which is a bit like you. No wonder you like her."

Hongye didn't dare to say much and agreed to everything, repeatedly promising that she would never make the same mistake again.

Qin Yuan didn't take Hongye's words seriously at all.

The red leaves have never changed in their past lives.

She'd heard a ton of oaths and vows, and she was already tired of them. She just kept reminding him from time to time to prevent him from making any big mistakes.

When Hongmian returned, she looked terrified and said urgently, "Madam, something has happened! One of the servants who serves Zhao Niangzi is dead, and Zhao Niangzi and another servant have disappeared."

Qin Yuan: "..."

How can I explain this?

Hongye also became anxious: "Didn't you see how that old woman died? When did Zhao Niangzi and that old woman discover they were missing? Where did the Marquis go?"

Hongmian said, "Oh dear, I was so startled just now that I forgot about all that. I'll go ask again."

Qin Yuan remained silent.

Hongye said, "Hurry up and go."

Hongmian quickly went again.

Qin Yuan frowned. Gu Shiliu had just brought back the news yesterday, so why had things changed this morning?

It seems that Gu Jinghui went out early this morning to deal with these matters.

Pang Hai's background is indeed highly questionable.

Hongmian ran back shortly after and reported: "First, when the old women on night watch came back from their shift, they found a dead body near the pond and started shouting. Someone recognized it as an old woman who used to serve Young Master Cheng, so they went to Fengxuan Pavilion to look for Madam Zhao. Sister Zihe went to call for her, only to find that Madam Zhao and another old woman were missing. She was so anxious that she kept crying, saying that she had been in a coma all night and didn't know anything."

Seeing Hongmian's anxious and frightened expression, Qin Yuan knew that she was young and had never seen such a thing before, so she nodded and said, "Hongmian, you did very well. There's no need to ask any more questions. Let's go to the main room now to pay our respects to the old lady."

Hongmian relaxed her tense shoulders and followed behind Hongye.

They walked past the group of people towards the main house, vaguely hearing them discussing, "This old woman has an injury on the back of her head. Was she hit by something or did she accidentally bump her head?"