My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Doesn’t This Lord Care About His Dignity?

”Fengxuan Pavilion?” Hong Ye was the first to get angry, ”Why is it that Lady Zhao again? What on earth did she do to implicate the Marquis like this?”

Gu Shiliu’s mouth clamped shut again, tight as a clam shell.

No matter how Hong Ye and Cui Ming asked, he wouldn’t say a word.

Qin Yuan understood that Gu Jinghui must have issued a gag order, making Gu Shiliu afraid to speak.

To be a personal servant by the Marquis’s side, one’s lips must be sealed tight.

She stopped asking, gently lifted the middle garment on Gu Jinghui, and saw his body swollen from the beating, two fingers high, bruised purple-black, clearly his angered Old Madam led to such harsh measures.

No idea what Lady Zhao did?

Remembering the incidents following Qin Wan’s wedding visit in her past life, Qin Yuan’s heart skipped, having guessed something. She lowered the middle garment and instructed Hong Ye, ”Quickly call the doctor.”

The Marquis was beaten like this by Old Madam, not appropriate to call an Imperial Physician and make it public, best to quietly summon a discreet doctor.

”Call one specializing in bruises, Doctor Li from Renhe Hall is best as he has tight lips, use the courtyard’s side gate to avoid being seen, if someone asks, just say I’m feeling unwell after today’s wedding visit.”

She continued, ”Cui Ming, instruct outside that whoever dares spread word of the Marquis’s situation will meet my severe punishment.”

Not long after, Doctor Li arrived carrying his medicine box with a young apprentice. Seeing the unconscious Marquis Gu, he hurriedly took out two pills without checking the pulse, applied them dissolved in yellow wine to Gu Jinghui’s wounds, and prescribed a formula, stating, ”The patient was beaten in this hot weather, needs to dispel heat and detoxify. There’s some bitter coptis in it; if the patient fears bitterness, nothing can be done but to eat candied fruit to sweeten it.”

Gu Shiliu hurriedly took the prescription to find someone to fetch the medicine.

Seeing no outsiders, Doctor Li whispered, ”Madam, why seek me when you have your family’s excellent ointment?”

Qin Yuan whispered, ”Using it is good, but we must go through proper channels.”

Doctor Li understood and said no more.

Cui Ming brought chilled tea, Doctor Li took it with a smile, ”In this weather, it comes right on time, I’m parched. The lady is truly thoughtful.”

Hong Ye handed over some silver, Qin Yuan instructed, ”Wrap a red packet for Doctor Li to drink tea.”

With a grin, Doctor Li accepted, ”Madam, with my ointment applied regularly, it only takes three to five days for recovery.”

Gu Jinghui, after all a military general, awoke within an hour due to his strong constitution.

Upon waking, he had the bamboo couch moved to the side room, saying he wouldn’t stay to trouble Qin Yuan, would return once recovered.

Reflecting on having to apply ointment on him three times a day, Qin Yuan felt awkward, better to have Gu Shiliu attend, thus she went along to the side room, supervising the setup before leaving.

Gu Shiliu whispered, ”Why doesn’t the Marquis use this opportunity for the Madam to serve closely?”

What a great chance, the Marquis suffered yet still accompanied the Madam back home; had the Madam known, she’d surely overlook the issue with Lady Zhao.

”What do you know?” Gu Jinghui glared, ”Doesn’t the Master care for his dignity?”

Gu Shiliu: ”...”

Dignity isn’t more important than substance.

Gu Jinghui asked, ”Did the Madam say anything?”

Gu Shiliu replied, ”The Madam asked what happened, I said nothing.”

Gu Jinghui sighed in relief, ”That’s good.”

Gu Shiliu hemmed and hawed for a while, Gu Jinghui grew impatient, ”If you have something to say, just say it, don’t dawdle.”

”I think the Old Madam makes sense, the Madam is wise and beautiful, quite the rare find, everything in Wutong Garden arranged thoughtfully, Marquis you...”

”Of course I know, or why would I have married her?”

Gu Shiliu retorted, ”But originally the Old Madam chose the Madam’s sister, didn’t you agree back then?”

Not as pretty as the Madam, and dull-witted.

Gu Jinghui glared, ”What do you know. Hurry up and investigate what you’re tasked with. Do it overnight!”

”If the Madam finds out...”

”Are you so stupid? Investigation of outside rumors will reveal things, won’t it? You saying nothing ensures her ignorance.”

Gu Shiliu remained silent.

The Marquis upon returning from the wedding visit seemed to have heard something from that poor scholar, prompting an investigation.

During the flower banquet, that poor scholar and Miss Qin were in an embrace, the Marquis paid no mind, stating they clearly had an arrangement, assuming everyone blind, letting the engagement be annulled.

Yet now insists on probing into the past between the scholar and the Madam.

If something unsavory is discovered, the Marquis is bound to react, leading the Madam to know?

With the Marquis’s orders, he can’t disobey.

After applying ointment on Marquis Gu, Gu Shiliu said, ”I’ll be off then, tonight let Seventeen attend.”

”No need, I’m fine alone. I’ve survived worse in battle than this. Just light the lantern and leave.”

Gu Shiliu lit the lantern and quietly left.

Before retiring, Qin Yuan visited the side room, finding a single lamp lit, Gu Jinghui sleeping on his side, brows furrowed in pain.

”You all stay on guard outside, should the Marquis rise needing service overnight, remain vigilant.”

Qin Yuan softly instructed, checking everything once more before departing.

The next morning, before paying respects to the Old Madam, Qin Yuan checked in again.

Gu Jinghui was still asleep, Qin Yuan tiptoed out, querying the young maid outside, ”How did the Marquis sleep last night? Did he call for attendants?”

”The Marquis never summoned anyone, everything remained quiet inside.”

Qin Yuan instructed, ”Later, prepare light food in the kitchen, no soy sauce, pickles, fish, shrimp, bamboo shoots.”

”Yes.”

The maids all complied before Qin Yuan left.

Arriving at the main room, both Sixth Lady Gu and Gu Baoshu were present, chatting and laughing. Seeing her, they paused, looking displeased.

Qin Yuan paid no mind, merely nodded to Sixth Lady Gu, sat aside leisurely sipping tea, awaiting the Old Madam’s appearance.

Sixth Lady Gu lightly coughed, ”Yesterday I intended to accompany Third Sister, but hearing you were unwell, didn’t go. Seeing her spirit today, seems much improved.”

Qin Yuan nodded, ”Thanks to Sixth Sister-in-law’s concern, feeling much better today.”

At her gesture, Gu Baoshu stepped forward to greet Qin Yuan, with a sullen face, ”Yesterday I rushed out with Third Sister’s carriage, delaying her wedding visit, it’s my fault, Mother and Third Brother scolded me, beg Third Sister’s pardon this once.”

Unbothered, Qin Yuan replied, ”No matter, just meddling servants trying to stir things up before us, bullying me as the newcomer, Mother said these were generations of family servants, quick to act up and boss the masters. With the Marquis estate large, Sixth Sister-in-law’s solo management must be taxing.”

Her words turned their faces pale.