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

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Fear of Death

Qin Yuan smoothed her skirt and sat down, Gu Jinghui leaned closer and whispered in her ear, ”Madam, you truly have a miraculous foresight. As soon as I mentioned there was measles in the inner courtyard, they only dared to cause a commotion in the outer courtyard and wouldn’t dare enter the inner courtyard.”

”Marquis, you overpraise me, it was just a coincidence.”

Qin Yuan turned her head slightly in response, her cheek brushed against Gu Jinghui’s lips, and they both froze for a moment.

Immediately, Gu Jinghui’s ears turned a little red, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

Qin Yuan stiffened her face, her eyes drifting as she quietly avoided Gu Jinghui’s gaze.

At this moment, the nanny on the floor, who had been rolling around, stopped crying and shouting, laying on the ground, she raised her head and hoarsely asked, ”Marquis, now that the Marchioness is here, can she give this old woman an explanation?”

Qin Yuan and Gu Jinghui came back to their senses and quickly sat up straight.

Sixth Master Gu was furious and shouted, ”Shouldn’t this be asked of Mrs. Xu? Why do you keep bothering my third sister-in-law?”

”Oh my, Sir, if not the Marchioness, then who should be held accountable for such a big issue?”

The women standing on both sides retorted against Sixth Master Gu.

Sixth Master Gu angrily said, ”Zhenzhen left the mansion without permission, and my third sister-in-law didn’t know. If you don’t believe it, perhaps we should all go to Mrs. Xu’s courtyard and get a clear answer.”

”What do you mean Zhenzhen left the mansion without permission? Our Zhenzhen is chaste and graceful, unlike your Seventh Miss. She wouldn’t sneak out to play at Yu Yuantang. Who knows what wrongdoing your Marquis Mansion has done to harm our Zhenzhen? And now you’re using these lies to deceive us.”

”Indeed, when we sent our Zhenzhen, we agreed she was just visiting the Marquis Mansion to play and accompany her aunt with some needlework. How is it that she is now missing after just a few days? One can’t see into another’s heart. You are her uncle, yet are you even human?”

The women began to hurl accusations.

Though the men of the Xu family didn’t join in the verbal skirmish with the women, their expressions were unfriendly.

Sixth Master Gu struggled to refute, but no one listened.

His delicate face flushed deeply, and his slender body trembled with anger, like a leaf in the wind.

Gu Jinghui sat composed in the higher seat, seemingly just there to watch the spectacle.

Qin Yuan became uneasy and asked, ”Doesn’t the Marquis intend to help Sixth Brother?”

Gu Jinghui shook his head and said, ”Let’s speak about it later.”

They both sat for a while longer.

The nanny had already rolled to Sixth Master Gu’s feet, clutching tightly to his robe, pulling downwards while crying, ”My poor Zhen, where have you hidden her? Return her to me quickly.”

Sixth Master Gu was pulled about, swaying east and west.

Housekeeper Han and Housekeeper Cao hurriedly held him up on either side, barely steadying him.

Qin Yuan thought, Sixth Master Gu and the Xu family people were just like a scholar encountering soldiers.

She was about to speak when she heard Gu Jinghui grumble indignantly, ”This Sixth brother is useless!”

Qin Yuan: ”...”

Gu Jinghui set down his teacup, his palm slammed heavily on the table, creating a loud noise.

The quarreling crowd suddenly fell silent.

Sixth Master Gu, standing in the center, looked in shock at Marquis Gu.

Marquis Gu’s face was stern, yet it said more than words could convey.

The room fell quiet, and Qin Yuan heard Marquis Gu sternly say, ”Xu Zhen was brought to the mansion by Sixth Brother’s wife, and she has been in her care. We only discovered today that she is missing and have already reported to the authorities. The mansion has sent people to search everywhere. I believe the magistrate will have some findings in the next couple of days.”

The implication was that this was a matter concerning the Xu family’s girl and didn’t involve others.

Gu Jinghui then turned to a black-faced old man sitting on his right in the chief seat and asked, ”Mr. Xu, what do you mean by this?”

Being named, Mr. Xu could no longer allow the women to act out front and thus spoke, ”Marquis, our Zhenzhen is understanding and clever. This time she came to the Marquis Mansion for a short stay mainly to see her aunt. Why is she now missing? Who wouldn’t feel anxious and distressed when their beloved daughter suddenly disappears? We merely want the Marquis Mansion to give us an explanation.”

So they withdrew the words.

Marquis Gu looked over at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan cleared her throat and said, ”Zhenzhen came to the mansion and stayed near Sixth Brother’s wife’s courtyard, with her in charge of looking after her. Why Zhenzhen left early in the morning is something only Sixth Brother’s wife knows clearly. Now that Zhenzhen is unaccounted for, we have sent people to Yu Yuantang to investigate and have offered a reward. If you want to know more, you will have to ask Sixth Brother’s wife personally.”

Marquis Gu coldly asked, ”Do you want to ask Sixth Brother’s wife? We are all keen to understand why Xu Zhen left early in the morning, but as Sixth Brother’s wife is taking care of a child with measles and cannot leave the courtyard, we must rely on the nanny to convey messages.”

The room fell silent.

Qin Yuan curled her lips into a mocking smile.

Sixth Master Gu immediately agreed, ”Yes, let’s go to the inner courtyard together to get clarity. Third sister-in-law has prepared gauze soaked in medicinal water. Wear them to enter safely.”

It was fine until he said this, and the Xu family members became a bit hesitant.

Someone loudly asked, ”What if we catch measles?”

Sixth Master Gu disapproved and said, ”Do you think staying in the outer courtyard means you won’t catch it? I saw the measle marks early in the morning when I went out yesterday. Mrs. Xu has invited the Measles Goddess and moved my things to the outer courtyard. Later, the Imperial Physician confirmed it was measles, so third sister-in-law found a remedy and closed off some courtyards.”

The person initially had his arms crossed, looking indifferent, but was startled by these words and immediately asked, ”Is what you said true?”

Sixth Master Gu said, ”Would I lie? Didn’t the messenger tell you?”

The nanny lying on the floor immediately flipped over and crawled away.

A large space suddenly opened up around Sixth Master Gu.

Mr. Xu’s face darkened further, and he shouted in exasperation, ”Marquis, this is too unfair. If we catch measles, what then? If anything happens to the Xu family, the Marquis Mansion must account for it.”

Gu Jinghui said lightly, ”I already reported it to the authorities yesterday, and today, our servants have informed friends and relatives everywhere that someone inside the Marquis Mansion has caught measles, and we are closing our doors to guests. Didn’t you know?”

Housekeeper Cao immediately said, ”The messenger was beaten out by the Xu family.”

Mr. Xu: ”...”

Sixth Master Gu pressed, asking, ”Brother-in-law, are you still going to the inner courtyard to question Mrs. Xu?”

Mr. Xu hesitated, looking around, finally fixing his gaze on Qin Yuan and asked, ”Can the Marchioness do us a favor?”

”What kind of favor?”

Mr. Xu replied, ”The Xu family isn’t unreasonable. It’s just that when a pampered daughter suddenly goes missing, who wouldn’t feel anxious and distressed? Right? We barged into the Marquis Mansion today all for the sake of this child. Caring for one’s offspring is a universal trait, but there is no reason to let everyone risk their lives for one child. Therefore, we won’t enter the inner courtyard but ask the Marchioness to inquire for us why Zhenzhen fled the residence.”