Wang Yan heard from her brother that they had another tough time these past two days. It seemed that the Third Young Master had fallen into the water while attending a banquet and developed a high fever after being brought back.

Aunt Yang took care of the young master for four days without taking off her clothes, and the young master finally woke up slowly.

The atmosphere in Moyuan Academy was very heavy, and no one dared to breathe loudly.

Even Granny Shi and Xiang'er stopped bickering and greeted each other with a slight nod when they met.

I'm afraid that if we get into a fight, and Aunt Yang gets upset, it won't be worth it if she gets a beating.

The second master hasn't returned these past few days, and Aunt Yang has no way of asking him to ask the madam for some tonics.

He also sent his servants to inquire at the brothels he frequented, but after searching around, everyone said they had never seen him before.

The people in the inn assumed it was the wife who had sent someone to ask, so they couldn't possibly tell the truth.

Yang was furious and could only plead with the madam in a soft voice, but Zheng ignored her and found a doctor to come and ask him in person, explaining that he did not need to take those tonics.

She wasn't given any of the medicinal herbs in her hand. Aunt Yang was very proud, and being blocked like this naturally made her upset.

Especially since my son still has a persistent high fever, he's been like a powder keg these past few days, ready to explode at the slightest touch.

Regardless of rank, everyone in the Mo Yuan Academy has been walking on thin ice these past few days. Even on their days off, they dare not wander around.

Finally, on the third day after Gu Ting woke up, the Second Master returned.

Instead of showing concern for her son's condition upon entering, she rushed in and asked...

"Good son, I heard from outside that you fell into the lake at the Anbo Mansion? Was it to save that young lady? Which one was it?"

"Is that the third young lady your aunt mentioned last time? Good, good, very good!"

Gu Ting lay in bed, having only just recovered a little bit of his energy after these two days of rest.

"Father, please don't mention this again. Haven't you heard the rumors outside that I accidentally fell into the lake?"

He was about to give up when he was shocked by the intense hatred in his aunt's eyes that day.

The second master's face suddenly darkened. "Stop talking nonsense! You wait here, I will let you arrange the rest."

"I will definitely make sure you marry the young lady of the Anbo family, so that our branch of the family can finally hold our heads high."

He felt quite embarrassed that his eldest and third sons were not married into high-ranking families.

But his wife was keeping a close watch and wouldn't let him get involved. So he was helpless.

Aunt Yang laughed heartily beside her, "Your father still loves you the most; my son wouldn't dare to be stubborn."

How much will the Earl's daughter's dowry be? Excluding land and shops, it must be at least 100,000 taels of silver, right?

With the support of the second master, and considering his own official position, as well as the possibility that Xu Shaoqing might bring in a large amount of money, he was tempted to act.

Gu Ting pursed his lips and remained silent. Whether it succeeds or not, he would let his father try.

At the Anbo Mansion, Jiang Shiyi also developed a high fever, which persisted for several days, and she was unable to eat a single bite.

Today, her own wet nurse knelt by the bedside and served her some porridge and oil, spoonful by spoonful.

"How is the Third Miss doing now?"

Granny Gui replied, "Miss is in good health, but these past two days she has been breaking all the porcelain in the room and insisting on coming out."

Gui Xiang and the others saw that they couldn't persuade their young mistress to stop eating.

Madam Jiang gazed at the top of the bed curtains and sighed softly, "Go and call Guixiang and Guiqin over."

Putting everything else aside, these two saviors have done a great service and deserve a reward. I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't had a chance to do so.

If we don't reward merits now, rumors will start circulating in the household. It might already be said that the master is harsh, and that servants risk their lives to save their masters but receive no reward.

Gui Xiang and Gui Qin arrived quickly and knelt on the ground to greet their mistress.

"You two have done a great service by saving the Second Miss. What reward do you want?" Granny Gui glanced over and looked at them.

Gui Xiang didn't speak, but glanced at Gui Qin, signaling her to ask as agreed.

Guiqin kowtowed, "Madam, please understand. My mother had arranged a marriage for me outside the mansion, and we agreed that I would come to redeem myself this year."

However, a while ago, someone in the servant's fiancé's family fell seriously ill, and they had almost run out of money.

Therefore, it will have to be delayed for a while longer. Guiqin wanted to ask the madam for mercy today, to exempt her from the ransom payment.

Gui Xiang also spoke up, "Madam, I don't want my share of the reward. I beg you to have mercy and exempt Gui Qin from the redemption fee."

Jiang paused for a moment, then said, "She is a filial daughter. I agree. Granny Gui."

"This old servant is here."

"Give each of them another gold ingot."

Granny Gui replied softly, then turned her face over and glared at Gui Xiang, giving each of them a ten-tael gold ingot.

Guiqin received the lady's permission, but if she wanted to get back her indenture, she would have to wait until the end of the year before she could leave the mansion.

Everything is in chaos now, and Granny Gui doesn't have the time to transfer another second-class person.

One reason is that it's best to keep experienced people in the Third Miss's courtyard; there shouldn't be any changes in personnel at this time. Another reason is that Granny Gui has guessed that Guiqin knows something else.

Before everything is settled, it's impossible to let her out.

Gui Xiang was kept behind in the nanny's room to receive a scolding. The nanny tapped her daughter's forehead and whispered a reprimand.

"Tell me, does Guiqin know about this too? You have quite the nerve!"

How dare you help her leave the manor at this crucial moment? If the madam finds out, will the two of you even survive?

Sending a maid who knows the Earl's family's scandals out with secrets! Is this your loyalty to the Earl's family?

Granny Gui got angrier and angrier as she spoke, and finally slammed her hand on the table.

Gui Xiang looked up at her mother and said, "I really have no other choice. If Miss continues to go crazy like this, it's hard to say whether we, her personal maids, will be sold off."

"If we can get one person out, even if she's sold, someone will come to redeem her."

Hearing Gui Xiang say this, Granny Gui's heart skipped a beat, "Miss, she..."

Gui Xiang nodded. "This morning she was insisting on going out to see the Earl and his wife, saying she wanted to settle a score. I wonder what she wanted to settle?"

He paused for a moment, then added, "Moreover, Guiqin is meticulous and reliable. Everything she says is absolutely true, and Madam would never suspect anything."

This is absolutely true. Guiqin's family used to live in the south. When a major flood occurred, the whole family fled to the capital.

They couldn't make ends meet here, so they sold her. Her family has been planning to take her back.

With a wave of her hand, Granny Gui had no reply and could only let her go back.

As soon as Gui Xiang stepped into Yi Qing Xuan, she heard Xu Shaoqing shouting wildly, surrounded by a group of servants trying to calm her down.

"Why does my mother forbid me from leaving the house? I just accidentally fell into the lake, and it's been so many days, and I still can't step out the door."

Gui Xiang gave a cold laugh. At least she had some sense of shame and didn't reveal her dirty plan to collude with outsiders.

"Miss, Madam is ill and cannot attend to you right now. Once Madam recovers in a couple of days, she will naturally be released from confinement."

"I don't care, I don't believe it! Let me go out and see for myself!"

"Miss!" A group of people then tried to comfort her with earnest words.