Gu Shiliu said, "I understand, it will be within the next two days."

Gu Jinghui's face was as cold as frost, and he only nodded slightly.

Gu Shiliu then said, "Should we say that Physician Liu was trampled to death by a startled horse?"

Gu Jinghui said, "Be careful so that no one can see through your disguise. You can ask Physician Li. As for Physician Liu... let's see what else he can come up with. His life will definitely be in my hands. If it weren't for his ability to play both sides between the Prince of Jin and the Crown Prince, I would have handed him over to the Emperor for disposal."

Gu Shiliu withdrew.

Gu Jinghui took out another box from a hidden compartment in his desk, stared intently at the acupuncture needles inside, his expression cold and hard, and murmured softly, "How can those who harmed my Gu family have a good end?"

When Gu Shiliu entered the courtyard, Physician Li and Xiao Dong were drying herbs, Qi Xiaoge was still lying in the house, and his blind mother was sitting outside the door with a cane, occasionally interjecting a few words.

"Sixteenth Brother is here," Xiao Dong greeted Gu Sixteen with a smile as soon as he saw him, and asked, "Does the Marquis have any instructions?"

Li Langzhong glanced at Gu Shiliu's expression, but remained squatting without getting up.

Gu Shiliu laughed and said, "I need to ask your master something. Shouldn't you be in the old lady's courtyard at this hour?"

Xiao Dong laughed and said, "I'll go right away. I'm quite busy every day."

Gu Shiliu also liked to coax him, so he said, "You are capable and therefore do more work. You are not only the sixth master's little master in the mansion, but also the old lady's."

Xiao Dong seemed to have thought of something and started laughing incessantly.

Doctor Li put down the herbs in his hand, washed his hands with some water, shook off the water droplets, and then walked over. He glanced at Xiao Dong's clothes and said, "Go ahead. I think the old lady likes children. It will be lively for you to join in."

Qi Xiaoge's blind mother suddenly interjected, "Xiao Dong, don't talk to Young Master Cheng. Young Master Cheng has a violent temper. Xiao Dong, stay away from him."

Gu Shiliu gave an awkward laugh a few times.

Xiao Dong said earnestly, "Thank you, Grandma, I'll remember."

The blind old woman smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, don't keep the old lady waiting."

Gu Shiliu pulled Li Langzhong aside and whispered, "Go there and take his pulse."

After saying that, he gestured with his chin toward Doctor Liu's room.

Doctor Li had guessed what was going on, and said, "Is it just a pulse check?"

Gu Shiliu looked somewhat troubled and said, "Of course not, but if you are unwilling, the Marquis will not force you."

Doctor Li said, “I have already entered the manor, and I am now in the same boat as the Marquis’s family. You all need to be careful. Judging from his tone, he should also come from a family of doctors. His family will know what happened when they see the remains.”

Gu Shiliu sighed, "The Marquis promised to give him a complete corpse, otherwise he would have set it on fire long ago. Why go through all this trouble?"

Li Langzhong remained silent, gave a wink, and led Gu Shiliu toward the side room where Liu Taiyi was staying.

The servant guarding outside opened the door, and a stench wafted out.

After taking the patient's pulse, Doctor Li, without any attempt to conceal it from the patient lying on the bed, said, "His spleen and kidneys are both damaged, and his intestines are rotting. If..."

Physician Liu grumbled, "...The Marquis promised me...is that still true...?"

Gu Shiliu said, "The Marquis said that if you can come up with a way to explain why Li Lang's medical skills are superb and he can cure smallpox but cannot save you, then we will do as you say."

Dr. Li was stunned.

Physician Liu swallowed hard, his breathing becoming increasingly heavy, and a fierce glint appeared in his cloudy eyes.

Gu Shiliu didn't take it seriously and said, "Think it over carefully. The day is only a couple of days away. The Marquis will inform the Emperor about this matter. If you leave too many clues, I'm afraid it will also harm your family."

This sounds cruel, but it's not untrue.

Gu Shiliu led Doctor Li out, and Physician Liu struggled to speak, his voice hoarse and indistinct, "Is what the Marquis said true?"

Without turning his head, Gu Shiliu said with a sigh, "Of course it's true. The Marquis has always been a man of his word. Which noble family in the capital wouldn't want to keep a promise from the Marquis? If you hadn't been courting death, the Marquis would have considered you his friend and always put you first. Now that you're like this... you might as well die sooner rather than later, so you don't bring trouble to your family."

Physician Liu gave a silent, bitter laugh.

What's the point of saying all this now?

When the music ended and the audience dispersed, his role was over, and his fate was sealed the day he took the stage.

Li Langzhong was also quite saddened.

When Xiao Dong returned, Physician Li said, "You must remember this clearly: never do anything immoral for a little money, and don't associate too closely with these princes. One wrong move and you could lose your head. It's one thing if one person dies, but the worst thing is that it will implicate your family, like the one lying in that room."

The methods for seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune had been repeatedly emphasized by Physician Li.

Xiao Dong laughed and said, "Master, aren't we already involved now? Physician Liu dared to harm the Marquis, so the person behind him must be a powerful figure. I heard you talking to my senior sister that day. Even if no one knows that the Marquis of Dingbei's wife is my senior sister, we've entered the manor and helped the Marquis, so people still hold a grudge."

"Hiss..." Doctor Li was speechless.

Xiao Dong said, "Master got involved because of Senior Sister, and so did I. We are in a relationship where we share the same fate as the Marquis's family, whether it prospers or suffers."

Physician Li frowned and pondered for a long time before saying, "I can't believe I'm not as insightful as you, you greenhorn. It seems that it's a good thing that your senior sister kept it a secret. Outsiders will only see that we have close ties with the Marquis's mansion and have gained the Marquis's favor, but they won't think of anything else."

Xiao Dong frowned and asked, "What if it's the same thing again?"

Physician Li was speechless again.

Xiao Dong looked at Doctor Li suspiciously, knowing he wouldn't say anything more, then went out to get water. Passing by the blind old woman, he asked as usual, "Brother Qi, are you eating well?"

The blind old woman laughed and said, "Good, good, I'm eating very well too. This life is much better than outside. Thank you for your kindness, Lord Marquis and Madam, for allowing this blind old woman to live a good life."

Just as Xiao Dong was about to go around, he heard the blind old woman whisper, "Xiao Dong, I heard someone inside asking the doorman for help. Can you tell Sixteen quietly?"

The blind old woman moved slowly and often sat on the doorstep all day, frequently being overlooked. Sometimes, when Xiao Dong and Doctor Li were talking in the courtyard, they didn't even remember she was there. They would be startled if she suddenly interrupted them with a few words.

It seems that the servant and Physician Liu whispered among themselves, avoiding other people but not avoiding Brother Qi's blind mother.

Xiao Dong also asked quietly, "What did you hear?"

The blind old woman shook her head and said, "I didn't hear it very clearly, only a few words. You should let Sixteen ask about this. You're too young, don't cause trouble."

Xiao Dong then fetched another basin of water, went into the house, and said to Doctor Li, "I'm going to the outer courtyard to find Sixth Master and see if he practiced diligently today."