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

Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Everyone’s Here

She still hasn’t shown Marquis Gu the evidence of Sixth Lady Gu’s embezzlement, and Sixth Lady Gu is about to wear herself out.

That’s impressive.

Qin Yuan composed herself and said to Cui Ming, who was standing dumbstruck beside her, ”Go fetch those incense pills, and make sure to pack a lot.”

Cui Ming walked out in a daze.

Doctor Li frowned and said, ”Sixth Lady Gu is so wary of you, it might be trouble in the future.”

Qin Yuan replied, ”Why do you say that?

A fool who disregards her own life—what trouble can she cause?

Doctor Li commented, ”I’ve seen many such cases. The secrets within the inner courtyard are countless. With Doctor Liu and me in the residence, she still ended up dying from illness. Those who know say it’s her own doing, while those who don’t will think otherwise.”

”Hiss...”

Qin Yuan was startled.

These days, Sixth Lady Gu has been confined to the courtyard. If it wasn’t for her sneaking in with Doctor Li, seeing it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed Sixth Lady Gu was in such a state of illness and still unwilling to see a doctor...

Doctor Li looked serious and whispered, ”I prescribed her medication and told her to take it and see... It was a kind gesture, who knew she’d become so ill. From what Nanny Zhao says, I fear if this drags on, there will be a risk to her life.”

Qin Yuan sighed.

Some people are just like that; no matter what you do, they find ways to cause trouble.

Doctor Li added, ”I’m not exaggerating. Years ago, a wealthy merchant from Yangzhou came to the Capital City with his concubine-born son for business. Unexpectedly, he fell seriously ill and died before he could be treated. His concubine-born son was left in the old residence and cast out by the legitimate son, accused of being worse than an animal and having sinister intentions that led to the father’s death.”

Qin Yuan pondered.

Sixth Lady Gu’s two sons are still at the Imperial College; if they return to find their mother gone...

Grateful, Qin Yuan said, ”Thank you, Master, for reminding me. I hadn’t considered this aspect.”

Doctor Li said, ”It’s not your fault. Xiao Dong and I often visit her courtyard, and we were completely unaware. If it weren’t for the nanny protecting her master so fiercely, we wouldn’t know until something happens within the mansion.”

Each time he visited for a consultation, Sixth Lady Gu never showed her face, leaving it to Nanny Zhao to handle. All these days, he and Xiao Dong didn’t know someone was almost dying right under their noses.

It’s absurd, isn’t it?

Doctor Li was extremely annoyed, ”She’s not a servant. If something major happens, I wouldn’t have the face to accept Marquis’s thanks.”

Never mind the thanks; the thousand taels already pocketed would have to be returned.

Qin Yuan, with a shift in thought, understood Doctor Li’s concerns and said, ”Don’t worry, Master. I will come up with a way to let Marquis and Sixth Master know that it’s not because of your inadequate skills, but because Sixth Lady Gu is seeking death and refusing consultation.”

”Good, good, good.”

Doctor Li was relieved.

Cui Ming retrieved the box filled with incense pills, and Qin Yuan had already sent someone to invite Gu Jinghui and Sixth Master Gu to Wutong Garden for a discussion.

Doctor Li, after thinking for a moment, stayed as well.

Soon, Gu Jingjun arrived with Xiao Dong, looking dispirited, and Qin Yuan refrained from saying much, only asking a maid to serve tea.

”Third sister-in-law, I truly didn’t expect...”

Sixth Master Gu had changed into a long gown, the moonlight-colored gauze lightly wrapped around his slender frame, his long black hair tied with a jade hairpin, the gentle young man seemingly harboring unspeakable worries.

Qin Yuan thought, solely judging from appearance, Sixth Master Gu still possessed a bit of scholar-like elegance, if properly groomed, could probably gain fame in the Capital City for such grace.

Seeing Qin Yuan not responding, Sixth Master Gu’s long eyelashes quivered slightly, feeling embarrassed and unable to continue.

”Why is everyone gathered here?”

As soon as Gu Jinghui stepped into the hall, he asked.

Sixth Master’s body trembled instinctively.

As others were present, Qin Yuan as usual stood up to greet him softly, ”Husband is here. I thought eventually we would have to let Mother know about this matter, but didn’t know how, so I invited everyone to discuss.”

Gu Jinghui glanced at the little wife he hadn’t seen for days, outwardly indifferent, but inwardly quite pleased.

Upon learning Qin Yuan had invited him to Wutong Garden, Gu Jinghui was inspecting an abandoned courtyard, couldn’t resist telling Gu Shiliu, ”Madam misses me.”

Gu Shiliu nodded in agreement.

Gu Jinghui continued, ”Once you marry, you’ll understand. When a woman has feelings for you, she always finds excuses to see you, but never says it directly.”

Gu Shiliu thought this must be what’s written in General Jin’s treasure book.

It’d be worth seeing if that knowledge actually works.

If it’s effective, he’d surely pester General Jin for a copy of the Treasure Manual.

Gu Jinghui hurried eagerly but slowed to a snail’s pace as he approached the courtyard gate.

Gu Shiliu: ”...”

Don’t try to guess the Marquis’s thoughts.

By the time Gu Jinghui reached the gallery, his expression resembled that of inspecting soldiers in the Great Camp.

Gu Shiliu followed the Marquis with his head lowered.

From afar, Hong Mian noticed and quickly came over, saying, ”Marquis, Madam and Sixth Master are waiting in the hall.”

Gu Jinghui’s previous face was serious but not icy.

Upon hearing this, it inexplicably became colder.

Hong Mian, frightened, dared not lift her head, hastened to follow towards the hall, but after a few steps was left far behind by Marquis Gu.

Gu Shiliu turned back to her and said, ”No need to follow, since Madam is discussing matters in the hall, your absence won’t hinder anything.”

Hong Mian nodded and stopped.

When Gu Jinghui entered the hall, his brows were furrowed, his demeanor coldly stern, but seeing Qin Yuan’s smiling face, her graceful figure, he couldn’t help but soften.

Gu Shiliu was no longer surprised by this.

Marquis Gu nodded slightly to everyone who stood up and then sat beside Qin Yuan, asking, ”What’s the matter?”

Qin Yuan began.

”This matter...”

Marquis Gu reclined in the Taishi Chair, slightly turning his head to look over, his deep black eyes filled with her image.

For some reason, words were suddenly hard to come by.

Fortunately, Sixth Master abruptly spoke, ”It’s all Mrs. Xu’s fault, can’t fathom what she’s thinking.”

Upon hearing it was again about the sixth sister-in-law, Marquis Gu frowned with annoyance.

Qin Yuan said, ”Sixth brother, let’s put that aside. Sixth sister-in-law is very ill and refuses to let Doctor Li examine her. Perhaps finding some reputable physicians willing to enter the residence for consultation might be best?”

Doctor Li nodded in agreement, ”Although my medical skills are modest and inadequate for important tasks, I can tell that Sixth Lady Gu’s symptoms are beyond what an ordinary doctor can treat. If it drags on, it might become incurable.”

Gu Jinghui said nothing.

Sixth Master Gu rose to offer Qin Yuan a salute, ”All arrangements are subject to third sister-in-law’s decision.”

Gu Jinghui angrily said, ”Your own wife is sick, and you don’t persuade her to see a doctor—why leave it to your third sister-in-law?”

Sixth Master trembled as he tried to defend himself, ”Third brother, you don’t understand. Mrs. Xu closely guards her illness, refuses to let anyone know. Even when I’ve inquired about the two children’s health, Aunt Huang has only spoken from a distance. If it weren’t for Nanny Zhao asking Doctor Li, I wouldn’t know about this.”