Chapter 34 Loyal Servant Protects Master

As dusk settled, a dim candlelight shone through the window of the study in the front courtyard, lending an air of tranquility in the deepening night. Su Wanrou stood on the bluestone path outside the courtyard gate, her steps hesitant for a moment. The thin booklet in her hand now felt as heavy as a thousand pounds; it contained not only the accumulated ills of the Duke's mansion but also the potential for unforeseen turmoil.

She took a deep breath of the cool night air, composed herself, and was about to take a step when the study door creaked open from the inside, and Gu Feng, Gu Yangui's personal attendant, came out.

"Madam?" Gu Feng was somewhat surprised to see her and quickly bowed. "Are you here to see the Duke?"

"Yes," Su Wanrou nodded, "Is the Duke available right now?"

"The Duke has just finished processing several urgent military reports and is resting. Madam, please wait a moment while I inform him," Gu Feng said, turning and entering the study.

A moment later, Gu Feng came out and stepped aside: "Madam, the Duke invites you in."

Su Wanrou nodded, straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes, and stepped inside. The study was brightly lit by candlelight. Gu Yangui was not sitting behind his desk, but standing with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the deep night outside. He had taken off his court robes and was only wearing a dark-colored casual robe with subtle patterns. He had lost some of the imposing and dignified air he had when he was in court, but gained a more relaxed and casual demeanor. However, his straight back still carried an invisible sense of pressure.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around. In the candlelight, a hint of weariness was visible between his brows. "Coming so late, is something the matter?" His voice was as low as ever, revealing no emotion.

Su Wanrou curtsied and walked up to him, presenting the booklet she had been clutching tightly in her hands with both hands: "My lord, I have been reviewing the old accounts of the household these past few days and have discovered some... unclear points. After consulting with Uncle Zhong, he gave me this. This matter is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own initiative, so I have come to report it to my lord."

Gu Yangui's gaze fell on the booklet in her hand, then moved to her slightly serious face. He didn't take it immediately, but asked, "What's making you so nervous?"

Su Wanrou raised her head to meet his deep eyes, trying her best to keep her voice steady: "There is a deficit in the accounts, and... it involves quite a lot, and it seems to be related to some old people left behind by the late Madam." She stopped there, not directly mentioning Qin's name, but she believed that Gu Yangui would understand.

Gu Yangui's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He took the booklet and, by the candlelight, quickly flipped through it. A hush fell over the study, broken only by the soft rustling of pages and the occasional crackling of the candlelight. Su Wanrou stood silently to the side, carefully observing his expression.

As Gu Yangui read on, his expression gradually darkened, and his aura grew increasingly cold. When he saw the words "falsely reported expenses of Xishan Villa" and "related persons of the Qin family," his fingers, which were turning the pages, paused slightly, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged. But he remained silent, simply finishing the entire book in silence.

He closed the booklet, raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, and looked directly at Su Wanrou: "Does Gu Zhong agree with everything written here?"

“Yes,” Su Wanrou nodded. “Uncle Zhong admitted that he had been negligent and even… concealed something. But he gave me this booklet on his own initiative and provided the clues listed in it.”

Gu Yangui remained silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his voice and said to the outside, "Gu Feng, go and call Gu Zhong over. Immediately."

"Yes!" Gu Feng responded from outside the door, his footsteps quickly fading into the distance.

The wait felt exceptionally long. Gu Yangui walked behind his desk and sat down, his fingers unconsciously tapping the smooth surface of the table. His gaze was deep, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. Su Wanrou stood quietly to the side, her heart pounding with anxiety. She couldn't fathom whether Gu Yangui's anger was directed at those corrupt officials, at her for exposing the truth, or perhaps… at the deceased Qin Shi?

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Gu Zhong's slightly hurried footsteps came from outside the door. "Your Highness, this old servant Gu Zhong requests an audience."

"Come in."

Gu Zhong pushed open the door and entered. When he saw Su Wanrou standing solemnly to the side and Gu Yangui with a sullen face, especially the familiar book on the desk, his face turned pale and he immediately knelt down: "This old servant...this old servant greets the Duke and Madam."

Gu Yangui didn't tell him to get up, but simply picked up the booklet, his voice icy cold: "Gu Zhong, what do you have to say about what's in here?"

Gu Zhong touched his head to the ground, his voice trembling but unusually clear: "What the Duke said, what is recorded in the register... is all true. This old servant... this old servant deceived his master, he deserves to die!"

"You deserve to die?" Gu Yangui repeated, slamming his hand on the desk with a loud bang that even shook the candlestick beside him. "You truly deserve to die! Since the late Madam passed away, has our Duke's mansion been left without anyone to manage it? How could these parasites have been allowed to rot away for so many years! As the steward, are you blind, or are you completely blind to the truth?!"

This angry rebuke was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, making Su Wanrou's heart skip a beat. She had never seen Gu Yangui so angry. Gu Zhong was prostrate on the ground, trembling like a leaf, tears streaming down his face: "Your Highness, please calm your anger! This old servant... this old servant has his reasons!"

"Difficulties?" Gu Yangui stood up, walked to Gu Zhong, looked down at him with icy eyes, "What difficulties do you have that would make you stand by and watch these people undermine the foundation of our Duke's Mansion? Speak!"

Gu Zhong raised his head, tears streaming down his face. He kowtowed heavily, sobbing, "Your Excellency! This old servant...this old servant has failed to live up to your trust! But...but some things, this old servant had no choice! The late Madam...the late Madam passed away suddenly, leaving behind many old acquaintances...they, they relied on being brought by the late Madam, or having been favored by her, and were usually somewhat...somewhat arrogant. This old servant...this old servant, out of consideration for the late Madam, always thought it was better to avoid trouble, to cover it up as much as possible, so as not to...to avoid ruining the late Madam's reputation, and to make Your Excellency...you grieve..."

His words were halting, yet they conveyed a wealth of information. Su Wanrou understood immediately; just as she had expected, Gu Zhong's concealment was largely due to his concern for the deceased Qin Shi. Those corrupt officials were mostly Qin Shi's "own people," and Gu Zhong was hesitant to act rashly. Coupled with Gu Yangui's long-term neglect of internal affairs, the problems had become too deeply entrenched to be resolved.

Gu Yangui clearly understood Gu Zhong's implication. His face turned ashen, and his chest heaved slightly, clearly furious: "You scoundrel! Just because of your laughable 'affection' and 'concern,' you're letting them run rampant?! If the late Madam were alive, do you think she would be pleased to see the people she left behind ruining the Duke's mansion like this?!"

"This old servant knows his mistake! This old servant knows his mistake!" Gu Zhong kowtowed repeatedly, and red marks quickly appeared on his forehead. "It was this old servant who was confused! It was this old servant who failed the trust of the Duke and the late Madam! This old servant is willing to accept any punishment! I only beg the Duke... I only beg the Duke to give this old servant a chance to atone for his crimes. This old servant will definitely uproot these people and leave no one alive!"

A deathly silence fell over the study, broken only by Gu Zhong's suppressed sobs and Gu Yangui's heavy breathing. Su Wanrou looked at the old steward kneeling on the ground, then at her enraged husband, knowing this was a crucial moment. Although Gu Zhong had made mistakes, his loyalty to the Duke's mansion should not be entirely negated, and besides, cleaning up the long-standing problems now truly required someone as knowledgeable as him.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said softly, "Husband, please calm down. Uncle Zhong did indeed fail to supervise and indulge him, but considering that he eventually realized his mistake, voluntarily handed over the evidence, and is very knowledgeable about the affairs of the household, could we... give him a chance to atone for his crimes? Right now, we need someone like Uncle Zhong to clean house."

Gu Yangui abruptly turned to look at her, his gaze sharp, as if trying to discern from her face whether her words were sincere or feigned. Su Wanrou met his gaze calmly, her eyes clear and resolute. She wasn't trying to excuse Gu Zhong, but rather to resolve the problem more quickly and effectively.

After a long while, Gu Yangui's fierce aura subsided slightly. He sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, and when he opened them again, his eyes had regained their usual calmness, but beneath that calmness surged a terrifying chill.

“Gu Zhong,” he said, his voice hoarse, “I will give you one last chance, out of consideration for your wife’s pleading on your behalf.”

Gu Zhong suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing with hope: "Thank you, Duke! Thank you, Madam! This old servant could never repay your kindness, even if it meant dying a thousand deaths!"

"Stand up and answer," Gu Yangui said coldly. "Tell me everything you know, word for word. Who were the masterminds, who were the accomplices, how much they embezzled, and what evidence you have? Tell me everything!"

"Yes! Yes!" Gu Zhong struggled to his feet, not bothering to wipe the blood from his forehead or the tears on his face, and began to give a detailed report. From how Zhao An, the manager of the West Mountain Villa, colluded with Manager Qian of the Office of Revenue to falsely report expenses, to how several managers of the estates falsified accounts to line their own pockets, and how the warehouse items were taken away and sold by Qin's former trusted nanny... each and every one of these events was far more detailed and shocking than the brief records in the book.

Su Wanrou listened quietly, growing increasingly alarmed. This was no longer simple embezzlement, but a deeply entrenched, long-established network of interests that had permeated almost every aspect of the Duke's mansion's affairs. And all of this had occurred, largely in the name of or with the tacit approval of the late Madam Qin? Was this the true nature of the seemingly kind and virtuous late Madam Qin, whom everyone had never met? Or was it simply that she had been lax in managing her subordinates, and had been deceived and manipulated by them?

She dared not think too deeply and subconsciously looked at Gu Yangui. He listened expressionlessly, his fingers still tapping the table rhythmically, but Su Wanrou keenly sensed that beneath that calm and placid face, a surging tide of anger was being suppressed, as well as... a trace of indescribable disappointment and heartache.

After all, she was his lawfully wedded wife and the mother of his son.

two

Gu Zhong spoke for a full half hour before he finished recounting the general details he knew. The study fell into a deathly silence once more, the air so heavy it was almost suffocating.

"Good, very good." Gu Yangui finally spoke, his voice as cold as ice, "This has truly broadened my horizons."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the thick, impenetrable night outside. His back was straight, yet exuded a sense of loneliness. After a long while, he slowly turned around, his gaze first falling on Su Wanrou, his expression complex and inscrutable, before turning to Gu Zhong with a resolute and cold expression.

"Gu Zhong".

"This old servant is here!"

"Tomorrow morning, take my token to the Jingzhao Yin's office and request a reliable team. At the same time, have Gu Feng lead the guards from your residence to assist you." Gu Yangui's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of ruthlessness. "According to the list you just gave, take them all down without exception! Those inside the residence, tie them up and lock them in the woodshed to await their fate! Those outside the residence, like Zhao An from the Xishan Villa, arrest them all! If they resist, kill them without mercy!"

"Yes!" Gu Zhong's spirits lifted, and he answered loudly.

"After capturing them, keep them in separate custody and interrogate them rigorously. You must find out the whereabouts of all the stolen money and their accomplices thoroughly!" Gu Yangui paused, then added, "All interrogation records should be submitted directly to the Madam for her decision."

This last sentence stunned both Su Wanrou and Gu Zhong. Entrusting the decision to her? This meant that Gu Yangui had completely handed over the final authority to her, the new matriarch, for this purge! What immense trust, and what a heavy responsibility!

Su Wanrou's heart trembled violently. She looked up at Gu Yangui, trying to discern something in his eyes. Gu Yangui was also looking at her, his gaze deep and unfathomable, yet carrying a weighty sense of entrustment: "Now that the internal affairs of the manor have been entrusted to you, you shall handle them with full authority. Arrest those who should be arrested, punish those who should be punished, and execute those who should be executed... without hesitation. Everything is for the sake of purifying the manor and serving as a warning to others. Can you do it?"

Looking into his eyes, illuminated by the candlelight, Su Wanrou saw absolute trust and support. All her hesitation and anxiety vanished in that instant, replaced by an unprecedented surge of courage and determination. She straightened her back, met his gaze, and answered clearly and firmly, "Yes! I will certainly not fail my husband's trust!"

Gu Yangui nodded slightly, a faint hint of approval flashing in his eyes before his coldness returned: "Go. Tomorrow, I want to see a quiet and peaceful mansion."

"This old servant (this concubine) obeys!" Gu Zhong and Su Wanrou replied in unison.

After Gu Zhong left, only the couple remained in the study. The candlelight crackled, its flickering light casting shadows on their faces.

Looking at Gu Yangui's still cold and stern profile, Su Wanrou recalled the information about Qin Shi that Gu Zhong had revealed in his words. She felt a pang of sadness and couldn't help but whisper, "Husband... are you... alright?"

Gu Yangui turned around, his gaze falling on her worried face. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "It's alright. Just some parasites, we can get rid of them." His tone was calm, as if his earlier rage had never occurred.

But Su Wanrou knew that things were not so simple. Those parasites were connected to his deceased wife. Today's actions were tantamount to reopening an old wound. She stepped forward, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out to gently grasp his hand, which was hanging by his side and slightly clenched into a fist.

His hands were cold, with hard, thin calluses on his palms. Feeling her soft touch, Gu Yangui's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, then he gripped her hand tightly in return. His grip was strong, even slightly painful, but Su Wanrou didn't pull away, simply letting him hold her hand, conveying silent comfort and support.

"I'll have to trouble you from now on, manor." He said softly, his gaze fixed on the boundless night outside the window, a hint of weariness in his voice.

"This is my duty," Su Wanrou replied softly. "Don't worry, my husband, I'll take care of everything at home."

At this moment, neither of them spoke, but stood quietly by the window, hand in hand. The night breeze blew in from outside, carrying the scent of early summer grass and trees, slightly dispelling the stagnant atmosphere in the study. A storm that would sweep through the inner courtyard of the Duke's mansion was quietly brewing in the night. And they would be each other's strongest support as they faced the storm side by side.