Gu Qinlan returned to the courtyard where she used to live, accompanied by two personal maids.
Because of the grand event being held at the Gu residence today, all the servants in the courtyard have been transferred to the front courtyard to help, making the back courtyard unusually quiet.
The three of them, master and servants, returned to their original residence with ease. After just over a month of being uninhabited, the courtyard already appeared somewhat deserted and desolate.
In Gu Qinlan's eyes, she never felt any attachment to this place. She was indifferent to its changes, as if no matter how this land changed, it could not touch her heartstrings.
Gently pushing open the door to her own boudoir, Gu Qinlan stepped into the bedroom, while Fuyu turned around to search for clothes.
"Oh dear, this is strange. Where have all of Miss's clothes gone?"
Since Gu Qinlan got married, most of her old clothes have been left here. After all, it is no longer appropriate for a married woman to wear the clothes of her teenage years, but should change to the attire of a mature woman.
The clothes were neatly arranged in their original place when I returned to my parents' home last time, but now they have disappeared.
She absolutely did not believe that the Song family would have someone properly safeguard her clothes.
Having lived two lifetimes, if she still cannot see through the intentions of that mother and daughter, then she has truly lived in vain.
Gu Qinlan sneered and stopped Fuyu, who was about to look for clothes for her: "No need to bother, the clothes are no longer available."
Fuyu was stunned for a moment: "Miss, what do you mean?"
Gu Qinlan slowly said, "The maid who knocked me down, the empty backyard, the clothes that have vanished. If you were to help me search for the clothes, I would be all alone here, and if someone were to sneak in..."
Fuyu's face immediately turned pale: "Miss, do you mean that someone is trying to harm you?"
Gu Qinlan nodded slightly: "Take a thorough look at this room and see if there is anything unusual about it."
Fuyu and Hongye immediately began searching the room. Soon, Hongye found several unfamiliar sachets in a corner: "Miss, these items are quite unfamiliar and are not found in our courtyard."
Gu Qinlan took the sachet, examined it carefully, and then sniffed it lightly before immediately tossing it aside: "This filthy thing should be thrown away immediately!"
Hongye immediately kicked the sachet outside, and Fuyu quickly opened the window for ventilation.
"Not yet, keep searching, there must be more."
The sachets contained aphrodisiacs. Gu Qinlan's courtyard was neglected, and burning incense would easily reveal the aphrodisiac, while the sachets could cleverly conceal it. However, the fragrance of the sachets diffused slowly, and the effects were not strong enough; to achieve the desired effect, a large number of sachets had to be placed.
So, Fuyu and Hongye searched carefully again and found several more sachets under the bed.
Fuyu gritted her teeth angrily: "How vicious these people are! How dare they do such a thing! Miss, let's leave here as soon as possible, it's too dangerous here."
Gu Qinlan, however, remained calm and composed: "Why leave? That would make us seem too weak. Since they've meticulously planned this charade, let's finish it!"
Deeply worried, Fuyu's voice trembled slightly: "What if something unexpected happens? Miss, this matter has caused quite a stir in the city, and it will definitely damage your reputation."
Hongye was also filled with unease.
However, Gu Qinlan smiled calmly, her brows revealing composure: "No need to worry, there is absolutely no chance of anything unexpected. Come here, I will tell you what to do."
The two quickly leaned closer to listen.
Gu Qinlan whispered strategies in their ears, and the worry on their faces was gradually replaced by passion.
Soon after, Fuyu hurried out of the courtyard and headed straight for Gu Qinlian's residence.
Not long after Fuyu left, there was a knock on the courtyard gate. Hongye rushed to open the door and saw a maid standing outside. She recognized her as Luoying, a maid who worked in the Song family's courtyard.
Luo Ying said anxiously, "Sister Hongye, please go and see! Sister Fuyu has fallen by the rockery for some reason and is seriously injured. It seems she has broken a bone. Today, the manor is busy with the Second Miss's wedding and there is really no one to take care of her. Therefore, I have come to ask you and the Eldest Miss for help."
Hongye's face also showed anxiety: "What? Sister Fuyu broke her bone? Wait a moment, I'll go inform the young lady."
As soon as Hongye turned around, she saw Gu Qinlan standing at the door wearing only a thin undergarment. Gu Qinlan said anxiously, "Fuyu is injured? Go and check on her quickly. There's no rush here."
"Yes, Miss, please go back inside. You've already taken off your outer clothes, so don't let anyone see you."
Gu Qinlan gently shook her sleeves, fanning herself with a light breeze, and said, "I don't know why, but it feels unusually hot today. Go and take care of Fuyu, and tell the servants to bring a fan when they send clothes over; it's unbearably hot."
After Hongye agreed, she hurriedly asked Luoying to lead the way.
Before leaving, Luo Ying glanced back at Gu Qinlan. She saw Gu Qinlan standing at the door, not daring to step out, but constantly tugging at her collar, clearly feeling unbearably hot.
The courtyard gate closed again. Gu Qinlan sneered and turned her back to the door.
Soon, there was another knock on the courtyard gate, this time with a slightly strange female voice: "Is the young lady there? I've come to deliver some clothes."
The voice was clearly a man deliberately imitating a woman's voice.
Gu Qinlan replied, "Yes, please bring the clothes in quickly. Did you bring the fan?"
"I brought it, I brought it."
The man pushed the door open and entered, only to see Gu Qinlan standing with her back to the door, wearing her inner garment.
He hurriedly took a few steps closer, suppressing his excitement, and said, "Miss, let me help you change your clothes."
Before he finished speaking, his hand slowly reached towards Gu Qinlan's shoulder. However, the moment his fingers touched her clothes, the world in front of him became blurry. Then, as if a wooden stake had been removed from its support, he fell helplessly to the ground.
Gu Qinlan lowered her head slightly, her gaze lingering on the man for a moment, a cold, mocking smile playing on her lips. This man was none other than Song Buren, the nephew of the Song family.
Song Buren, only twenty-five years old, had already become addicted to a life of debauchery and extravagance. Back when Madam Song controlled her mother's dowry, Song Buren managed a shop under her wing. Once she successfully reclaimed all the dowry, Song Buren lost his livelihood. Today, taking advantage of Gu Qinlian's wedding day, the Song family came to offer their congratulations, and Song Buren came specifically to try and persuade Madam Song to arrange a job for him.
Unexpectedly, the Song family was plotting against Gu Qinlan and was eager to find a usable pawn, so they dragged Song Buren into this conspiracy.
Song Buren was a typical lecherous man who had no regard for Gu Qinlan's noble status. As soon as he heard that he could have his way with the eldest daughter of the Gu family and would receive a lucrative job and a sum of money afterward, he immediately agreed to the offer, without considering the serious consequences of such an act.
The reason why Madam Song chose Song Buren was largely because she had reached her breaking point with this nephew. In the past, when she asked him to help look after the shop, he was insatiably greedy, taking money and goods from the shop every day without permission, turning a perfectly good shop into his private vault.
If she makes even the slightest criticism, her family will harass her relentlessly.
Now that he's causing trouble again over Gu Qinlian's marriage, Madam Song has decided to make him the sword that will stab Gu Qinlian.
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