Qin Yuan had been spending a lot of time and energy on social engagements these past few days, and having also drunk some alcohol, it was no wonder she slept so soundly.

Around midnight, I felt uncomfortably hot all over.

He wanted to turn over but couldn't; his limbs were too weak to muster any strength.

Struggling to wake up, she fell back into a deep sleep.

Fang Youyou woke up the next morning.

Looking blankly at the sky, it seemed to be getting late. For some reason, she felt very tired. Qin Yuan turned over, wrapped in a bright red gauze quilt. Hongye, who was outside, heard the noise and came in to serve her. Seeing her drowsy and lost in thought while hugging the quilt, she said, "Miss, it's time to get up."

Qin Yuan responded lazily, and the veil she was wearing slowly slid down, revealing her milk-white skin covered with dense marks.

Hongye's face immediately turned red.

Qin Yuan looked at her with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong with you? Did you catch a fever from being outside in the wind yesterday?"

Hongye's eyes darted around, as if she had nowhere to settle, and she whispered, "Miss's health..."

Qin Yuan couldn't see it, and Hongye was flustered as if she had done something wrong, unable to say anything for a long time.

Qin Yuan was puzzled, but still felt inexplicably shy.

It wasn't until she saw the dense marks on her arm that she realized that Lord Gu had taken advantage of her while she was drunk. No wonder she slept strangely last night. It seemed that Hongye and Cuiming, who were guarding outside, had also heard some noises.

Qin Yuan's face flushed, and she gritted her teeth: "You bastard, where are you?"

Hongye hesitated for a while before saying with a flushed face, "The Marquis went out early this morning, saying there's no need to wait for him to have his meal."

Qin Yuan's face darkened.

After making the bed, Hongye was filled with anxiety. She hesitated several times before finally asking, "Miss, have you not consummated your marriage with the Marquis yet?"

Qin Yuan shook her head.

Hongye was almost in tears: "Could it be that the Marquis has some hidden illness?"

Then he quickly shook his head.

"Your Excellency is so brave and valiant, it must be no, I was just talking nonsense, ptooey ptooey ptooey."

Qin Yuan was both amused and annoyed, and had to comfort her: "Don't overthink it. I don't want to consummate our marriage with the Marquis for the time being, not because the Marquis is ill."

Hongye stared in shock.

What does this mean?

How could the Marquis spoil the young lady like this?

Lord Gu was sitting in his study in the front courtyard with a worried look on his face, staring blankly at the Spring and Autumn Annals on the table.

With Mr. Matsuyama's help, I managed to turn a few pages of this book.

He couldn't concentrate on reading a single word at the moment, didn't want to see guests, and had no interest in the troublesome affairs of the court.

because……

He was completely out of sorts last night.

For a man, there is no longer any desire to be intimate with his wife, but he is dismayed to find that he can't even get an erection, which is even more unbearable.

After failing repeatedly, he gave up.

Lord Gu could not accept it at all.

Before marriage, he had no interest in it; but after marriage, he found himself unable to perform.

After practicing martial arts for two hours and cutting down a bamboo grove, Lord Gu was finally able to vent his pent-up anger and sit down to think about what to do.

"what do I do?"

His mother longed for a grandson every day, and he had dreamed countless times about having a child with Yuan'er and consummating his marriage with her. But now, his world had collapsed.

He may never have any more children.

In the past, he thought that whether his family had an heir or not didn't matter. As long as he could uphold the Dingbei Marquis's mansion, defend the northern border, and defeat the Yelü clan, he would be able to face his ancestors with honor in this life, and that would be enough.

But now, Lord Gu is about to break.

The sixth son was so frail, yet he was able to have so many children.

He upheld the Gu family's authority, protected the northern frontier, safeguarded the glory of the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion, drove away the Yelü clan, and even brought back the Yelü clan's hostage.

He was an invincible war god, but he could not be a real husband and wife with his young wife, and they could not have children.

He should have been a man among men, but now he's not even a man anymore.

Lord Gu was heartbroken, but he couldn't even shed a tear.

It turns out that when people are extremely sad, they don't shed tears.

Gu Shiliu walked in, wanting to report on the movements of the fake Yang old woman, but Lord Gu was too weak to listen and waved his hand haphazardly, saying, "You can handle it yourself, or go ask the madam."

Looking at Lord Gu, whose eyes were now covered in dark circles and whose face was filled with dejection, Gu Shiliu murmured, "...This...does this also require asking Madam..."

Even something as simple as this has to be arranged by the madam; isn't that a bit...?

Gu Shiliu was puzzled.

But they dared not question Lord Gu.

What else can we do?!

Gu Shiliu had no choice but to go find Qin Yuan.

Upon arriving at Wutong Garden, they learned that Qin Yuan had already eaten breakfast alone and had taken Hongye, Cuiming, and the others directly to the courtyard near the second gate to discuss matters related to the Sixth Madam's funeral.

On the steps leading to the main house, several stewards and their wives stood, not saying much, but craning their necks to listen to what was happening inside.

The room was quiet, with only occasional sounds of voices coming from inside.

Gu Shiliu sighed inwardly, thinking that his wife was becoming more and more formidable.

The maidservant guarding the door saw him arrive and went in to report without him having to say anything.

Gu Shiliu paused for a moment, and then saw several stewards in the room come out with flushed faces.

“You should do the math on this in detail,” Hongye’s voice came from outside.

Hongmian added, "There are established rules for these things. You've been doing this for many years, so why are you being so careless? Things are urgent these days, so it's understandable that you might make mistakes in the rush. But if this happens again, it will be strange. Who knows if you're trying to fool your new master by taking advantage of his ignorance?"

The stewards blamed each other, saying they had lost face for generations and it was all because their subordinates were so unreliable. They said they would investigate immediately and then ask the madam for instructions.

It has to be said that Hongmian, this woman born into a wealthy family, is a fiery and outspoken woman, much more suited to saying these things than Hongye, whose dowry was less stable.

As soon as the managers left, Hongye came out with a smile and waved to him: "Sixteen, what brings you here?"

Gu Shiliu hurriedly walked into the room and said, "Madam, the Marquis just instructed me to report the matter over there to you. Please give your instructions."

As he spoke, he looked towards the southeast corner.

Qin Yuan then knew that this was news about Sister Cheng's family.

"Does the Marquis already know?"

Gu Shiliu shook his head: "Lord Marquis... Lord Marquis... didn't hear me, only said to come and find Madam, and listen to Madam's arrangements."

The Marquis also told him to handle it as he saw fit.

How is that possible?

He dared not make the decision regarding Zhao's whereabouts.

Qin Yuan found it strange. Wasn't Lord Gu in such a hurry to hold a family reunion banquet, just waiting to capture Zhao Shi? Why did he suddenly abandon the matter and leave it to her to arrange?

"Does Your Excellency have something important to discuss?"

Gu Shiliu nodded, then shook his head.

"The Marquis seems to have encountered some troubles today, but I know nothing more than that."

Qin Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Hongye stays. Everyone else, step back and guard the gate. Sixteen, come with me to the side room and we'll talk in detail."