"Fengxuan Pavilion?" Hongye was furious first. "Why is it that Zhao Niangzi again? What did she do to implicate the Marquis like this?"

Gu Shiliu's mouth closed again, as tight as a clam shell.

No matter how much Hongye and Cuiming asked, he wouldn't say.

Qin Yuan understood that Gu Jinghui must have issued a gag order, and Gu Shiliu dared not speak.

To be able to serve as a close attendant to a marquis, one must be very discreet.

She didn't press further, and gently lifted Gu Jinghui's undergarment. She saw that his body was swollen up to the height of two fingers, and the color was purplish-black. It was clear that the old lady was furious, otherwise why would she have been so ruthless?

I wonder what Zhao Niangzi did?

Thinking of the trouble Qin Wan caused before and after her return to her parents' home in her previous life, Qin Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and she had a guess. She put down her inner garment and instructed Hongye, "Quickly go and fetch a doctor."

Since the Marquis was beaten so badly by the old lady, it was not convenient to call the imperial physician, lest everyone find out. So they could only secretly invite a doctor who was good at keeping quiet to come and see him.

"Go and find a specialist in sprains and bruises. Dr. Li from Renhetang is the best. He keeps his mouth shut. Enter and exit through the side gate of the side courtyard so that no one can see you. If someone happens to ask, just say that I am returning to my parents' home today and I am feeling a little unwell."

He added, "Cuiming, go outside and give the order: if anyone dares to spread the Marquis's affairs, don't blame me for punishing them severely."

Not long after, Physician Li arrived with his medicine chest and a young boy. He glanced at the unconscious Lord Gu, and without even taking his pulse, took out two pills from his chest. He instructed the boy to dissolve them in rice wine and apply them to Gu Jinghui's wounds. He then wrote a prescription, saying, "The patient was beaten on a hot day, so we need to reduce the heat and detoxify. I added some Coptis chinensis to this, so it's a bit bitter. If the patient is afraid of bitterness, there's nothing we can do but eat some candied fruit to sweeten his mouth."

Gu Shiliu hurriedly took the prescription and went out to find someone to get the medicine.

Seeing that there were no outsiders, Doctor Li whispered, "Grandma, why do you come to me instead of using your own family's excellent herbal plaster?"

Qin Yuan said softly, "If we're going to use it, we should at least go through the proper channels."

Li Langzhong understood and stopped talking.

Cuiming served up some cool tea, which Doctor Li accepted with a smile. He said, "In this weather, I was thirsty when I arrived. You are so thoughtful and considerate, young lady."

Hongye brought over the silver, and Qin Yuan said, "Make a red envelope and give it to Doctor Li for tea."

Doctor Li chuckled and took the ointment, saying, "Madam, please remember to apply it to the patient regularly each day. It should only take three to five days for her to recover."

Gu Jinghui was a military officer after all, and he was in good physical condition. He woke up in less than an hour.

After he woke up, he had the bamboo bed moved to the side room, saying that he couldn't let the smoke bother Qin Yuan and that she could come back to sleep there after she recovered.

The thought of having to apply ointment to his body three times a day made Qin Yuan feel a little awkward. She thought it would be more convenient to have Gu Shiliu serve him, so she followed him to the side room and watched the maids make the arrangements before leaving.

Gu Shiliu asked quietly, "Why doesn't the Marquis take this opportunity to have his wife serve him personally?"

What a great opportunity! Even though the Marquis was beaten, he still insisted on accompanying his wife back to her parents' home. If his wife knew about this, she certainly wouldn't hold a grudge against Zhao Niangzi.

"What do you know?" Gu Jinghui glared at him and said, "Don't you have any dignity?"

Gu Shiliu: "..."

Substance is more important than appearances.

Gu Jinghui then asked, "Did Madam say anything?"

Gu Shiliu said, "Madam asked me what happened, but I didn't say anything."

Gu Jinghui breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."

Gu Shiliu stammered for a long time, until Gu Jinghui grew impatient: "Just say what you have to say, stop beating around the bush."

"I think the old lady is right. Madam is both intelligent and beautiful. She is a perfect wife, one in a million. Everything in Wutong Garden is arranged perfectly. Your Excellency..."

"Of course I know, otherwise why would I marry her?"

Gu Shiliu protested: "But back then, the old lady chose the madam's younger sister, and you agreed to it."

He's not as good-looking as the wife, and he's stupid too.

Gu Jinghui glared, "What do you know? Hurry up and go. Tell the people you asked to go and find out quickly. Investigate tonight!"

"If Madam finds out..."

"Are you really that stupid? When you were investigating who was spreading rumors, why didn't you just ask around? How would she know if you didn't tell her?"

Gu Shiliu didn't say anything more.

The Marquis visited that poor scholar today and, having heard something, ordered him to investigate.

At the flower-viewing banquet, the poor scholar and Miss Qin embraced, but the Marquis didn't take it seriously. He just said that the two of them had obviously made an appointment, as if everyone else was blind. He said that the engagement should be called off.

Now, however, they are eagerly asking him to investigate the past of that poor scholar and his wife.

If something bad is found out, the Marquis will definitely lose his temper, and then the Madam will find out.

But whatever the Marquis asked him to do, he couldn't refuse.

After applying the ointment to the Marquis, Gu Shiliu said, "Then I'll go out. Let Seventeen come and serve you tonight."

"No need, I can manage on my own. I've been wounded much more badly in battle and I'm fine. Just turn on the light and leave."

Gu lit the lamp and quietly left.

Before Qin Yuan went to bed, she still came to check on the side room. A single lamp was lit in the room, and Gu Jinghui was sleeping on his side with his brows furrowed, as if he was in great pain.

"You few stay outside and keep watch, in case the Marquis gets up in the middle of the night and wants someone to serve him. Be alert."

Qin Yuan gave the instructions softly, checked everything again, and then left.

The next morning, before going to pay her respects to the old lady, Qin Yuan came to visit again.

Gu Jinghui was still asleep. Qin Yuan tiptoed out of the room and asked the maidservant outside, "How did the Marquis sleep last night? Did he call for anyone to serve him?"

"The Marquis has not ordered anyone to serve him, and there has been no movement in the room."

Qin Yuan instructed, "Have the kitchen prepare some light food later. Soy sauce and pickled vegetables are not allowed, and fish, shrimp, bamboo shoots, and the like are absolutely forbidden."

"yes."

The maids all agreed, and Qin Yuan then left.

When Qin Yuan arrived at the main room, Madam Gu Liu and Gu Baozhu were also there. The two were chatting and laughing, but when they saw her arrive, they stopped talking and their expressions turned somewhat unpleasant.

She didn't mind, simply nodded to Madam Gu, and sat down to the side, slowly drinking tea and waiting for the old lady to come out.

Madam Gu coughed lightly and said, "I originally wanted to go and apologize to Third Sister-in-law yesterday, but I heard you weren't feeling well, so I didn't go. Judging from Third Sister-in-law's spirits, she seems to be much better today."

Qin Yuan nodded: "Thank you for your concern, Sixth Sister-in-law. I feel much better today."

Madam Gu gestured with her eyes, and Gu Baozhu then stepped forward to greet Qin Yuan. With a dark face, she said, "Yesterday I was in a hurry to go out and used Third Sister-in-law's carriage, which delayed Third Sister-in-law's return to her parents' home. This was my fault. Mother and Third Brother have both scolded me. Please forgive me this time."

Qin Yuan said nonchalantly, "It's nothing. It's just some servants who are opportunistic and stirring things up. They're bullying me because I'm new here. Mother said that everyone in this mansion is a servant born and raised in the household for generations. If you're not careful, you'll start bullying your master. The Marquis's mansion is so big and powerful, it must be hard for my sixth sister-in-law to manage it all by herself."

Both men's expressions changed upon hearing this.