"Why haven't I heard anything about your troublesome wife causing trouble lately?"

The man gently placed a chess piece down and smiled.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhi frowned.

"If the Third Prince has nothing more to say, I may escort Your Highness back."

"Tsk, I really talk too much. I've offended Minister Liu again. I deserve a slap on the mouth."

The man pretended to slap his mouth a few times with his sleeve, then put it down.

Liu Zhi showed no sign of anything unusual about the man's actions.

The Third Prince Gu Yichen was genuinely smiling now. He had met Minister Liu after Liu Zhi passed the imperial examination with top honors and began to make a name for himself in the officialdom.

Meeting late in life doesn't necessarily mean that the relationship is bad.

On the contrary, Gu Yichen felt a sense of regret for not having met Liu Zhi sooner.

Liu Zhi's thoughts, interests, and hobbies as an official were largely the same as his, and he even had a strange fondness for Liu Zhi's appearance.

After thinking it over, Gu Yichen placed another chess piece and looked up at Liu Zhi opposite him.

Liu Zhi has a gentle appearance, not the kind of appearance that is aggressive, but rather a kind of extremely delicate and gentle handsome appearance.

Compared to his seemingly fierce and tough face, Liu Zhi appeared much gentler and more approachable.

Those who know him well know that his seemingly gentle nature makes him far more unapproachable than his aloof appearance suggests.

This person perfectly embodies the phrase "warm on the outside, cold on the inside."

Compared to him, that other young general was...

"Well, let's not talk about it anymore. His Majesty has been troubled by the matter in Nan'an for a long time now. Don't you have any ideas?"

Gu Yichen asked casually.

Liu Zhi remained unmoved. "The matter in Nan'an is nothing to worry about. Everyone in the court knows this. It's not my place to interfere."

The key point is that the interests involved in this matter do not affect the benefits that Liu Zhi would gain by offending those officials, so he has no intention of getting involved.

Gu Yichen nodded, "It's right that you're not taking action now. I've heard this matter is rather complicated, and getting involved could easily get you into trouble..."

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside.

Gu Yichen suddenly stopped speaking.

He looked up at Liu Zhi, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Looks like you'll have to keep a close eye on things in your courtyard."

Liu Zhi frowned, a hint of annoyance appearing between her brows.

The two walked out of the house.

Liu Zhi looked at Qinghe, who was being held down on the ground by several guards and was kneeling there, still struggling and shouting for him.

"master!"

"master!"

"Master...Madam"

Gu Yichen followed behind Liu Zhi, listening to the maid's whispers, and guessed that this was a maid under Liu Zhi's arrogant and domineering wife.

He chuckled softly, "This maid is quite something; she managed to break in despite having so many guards."

Liu Zhi frowned, "She only managed to get in because she figured the guards wouldn't dare to harm her."

Gu Yichen neither agreed nor denied Liu Zhi's words.

He smiled, making it clear that he wanted to watch the show.

Hearing the master's voice, Qinghe suddenly regained her strength and quickly raised her head towards the voice. When she saw Liu Zhi, her eyes lit up:

"Master, Madam is seriously ill and wishes to see you!"

“She’s sick, she should just go to the royal physician. Why come to me, someone who can’t treat her?”

Liu Zhi said coldly, his eyes filled with icy chill.

Qinghe's face turned pale.

"But Madam is clearly..."

"She brought this on herself."

"If you trespass into the East Courtyard again, you'll be kicked out of the mansion. The Prime Minister's mansion can't tolerate a maid like you." Liu Zhi interrupted her, too lazy to talk to this audacious maid anymore.

Qinghe was so frightened that her body started trembling.

She wasn't worried about being punished herself; she was worried about her mistress. The servants in the Prime Minister's mansion already looked down on her. If her mistress didn't have a loyal maid like her, she would be bullied to death.

After thinking it over, she was thrown out by the guard, looking utterly dejected.

After everyone left, Gu Yichen patted Liu Zhi's shoulder, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Didn't you say your wife was sick? Or that she gave birth to a daughter for you? How heartless of you, you don't even go to see her?"

Gu Yichen's words only made things worse, as they brought up his daughter, whom he had given birth to after being drugged. Liu Zhi, who had just recalled the day Qingyin lay on the ground, her blurred eyes still looking at him, was suddenly struck by this and felt a chill run down her spine.

"unnecessary."

Gu Yichen raised an eyebrow and looked at Liu Zhi.

It seems that Liu Zhi and his wife are indeed emotionally distant.

Gu Yichen didn't take Song Qingqing seriously for the time being, but Liu Zhi's extremely cold attitude towards her left a faint mark on his heart.

Qinghe, who had been kicked out, hurriedly returned to Qingyin's courtyard.

When she saw Qingyin lying on the bed with her eyes closed, she initially thought that her mistress was sleeping peacefully.

But the next second when she reached out and touched the young lady's forehead, her expression changed drastically.

"It's so hot!"

"Miss, Miss!"

"Quickly, bring the royal physician! Something has happened to the lady!"