Ye Qingchi's face was ashen. "Don't mention him in front of me. In my eyes, he's already a useless man."
Zhao Changdu wasn't interested in Fu Xunzhi at all. He just found Ye Qingchi's anxious expression rather amusing.
"I don't care about him. I just find the dignified Young Master Ye to be quite flustered at the moment."
Ye Qingchi's brows furrowed tightly, the corners of his lips taut. He gave Zhao Changdu a deep look.
Zhao Changdu indifferently raised his brow and meaningfully reminded, "Ye Qingchi, you only have one chance."
Ye Qingchi lowered his dark lashes and said nothing, only helping the old royal doctor back to Gu Shuang's room.
Zhao Changdu gave a soft laugh without following them. He stayed by Gu Ying's bedside, his large hand grasping her delicate fingers, his fingertips gently caressing the girl's tender knuckles. His dark and calm eyes finally softened.
He didn't dare imagine what he would be like if something really happened to Ah Ying and their child.
Perhaps he would go mad, or maybe raze the entire Qingfeng Village to the ground. Or even overthrow this entire dynasty to bury along with her.
Luckily she and their child were still safe by his side, and the lurking demonic thoughts in his heart dispersed slightly.
He held the woman's fair little hand and gently rubbed it against his cheek. "Ah Ying, you must get well soon and wait for me to return."
The person on the bed showed no signs of awareness, only continuing to sleep deeply with eyes closed.
...
At some point, the rumors spread overnight that Gu Shuang and Gu Ying had been kidnapped by bandits.
In Bianjing City, all the streets and alleys were discussing how the wife of the Heir Apparent of Zhenguo Duke Manor and the young lady of the Dongping Earl Manor had been violated. For a time it caused quite the uproar, and all the noble ladies and mistresses feared for their own safety.
Who exactly was so audacious to have abducted these women right from under the imperial city?
A woman's reputation was more precious than life itself. And her gentle and obedient daughter had led a smooth and fortunate life since childhood. How could she have encountered such a terrible thing!
Aunt Zhao was extremely distressed, forcing back tears through the night while worried about her daughter's wellbeing and reputation.
To find her, she didn't sleep all night, secretly sending the manor guards who swore oaths to their deaths to search the route back to the manor. She also sent people to the Zhenguo Duke Manor and Ye family to ask for help.
It was only upon arrival did she find out that the Heir Apparent's wife was also missing from the manor.
Only then did Aunt Zhao become truly panic-stricken, anxiously pacing about the yard like an ant on a hot pan, caught completely off guard when the Fu family matriarch came so early to Dongping Earl Manor.
The Fu Old Lady's face was icy as she bluntly asked about Gu Shuang's whereabouts.
Gu Old Madam's expression was equally unpleasant. She smiled embarrassedly again and again. "Shuang'er went to the palace yesterday."
The corners of Fu Old Lady's lips curled derisively. "And then what?"
Ever since Gu Shuang disappeared after the imperial banquet, although Aunt Zhao had already silenced everyone in the manor, they still couldn't stop the outside gossip and rumors.
Not just this morning, but they had already caught wind of some strange rumors last evening.
Beneath the imperial city, one was the young wife of the Heir Apparent of Zhenguo Duke Manor, the other the young lady of Dongping Earl Manor.
Just who exactly dared to brazenly abduct these women?
A woman's innocence was more important than her own life. And her gentle and obedient daughter had encountered something so awful!
Aunt Zhao grieved tremendously, forcing back tears all night while worried about her daughter's safety and reputation.
In order to find her, she didn't sleep a wink, secretly sending the manor guards who swore oaths to their deaths to search along the route back to the manor. She also sent people to Zhenguo Duke Manor and the Ye family to ask for help.
Only to discover upon arrival that the Heir Apparent's wife was also missing from the manor.
Only then did Aunt Zhao become truly panic-stricken, anxiously pacing about the yard like an ant on a hot pan. And the arrival of the Fu family caught her completely off guard.
The Fu Old Lady's face was icy as she bluntly asked about Gu Shuang's whereabouts.
Gu Old Madam's expression was equally unpleasant. She smiled awkwardly again and again. "Shuang'er went to the palace yesterday."
The corners of Fu Old Lady's lips curled derisively. "Oh really? And then what happened?"
Ever since Gu Shuang disappeared after the imperial banquet, although Aunt Zhao had already silenced everyone in the manor, they still couldn't stop the outside gossip and rumors.
This wasn't just happening this morning, but they had already caught wind of some strange rumors last evening.
Beneath the imperial city, one was the young wife of the Heir Apparent of Zhenguo Duke Manor, the other the young lady of Dongping Earl Manor.
Just who exactly dared to brazenly abduct these women?
A woman's innocence was more precious than her own life. And her gentle and obedient daughter had encountered something so awful!
Aunt Zhao grieved tremendously, forcing back tears all night while worried about her daughter's safety and reputation.
In order to find her, she didn't sleep a wink, secretly sending the manor guards who swore oaths to their deaths to search along the route back to the manor. She also sent people to Zhenguo Duke Manor and the Ye family to ask for help.
Only to discover upon arrival that the Heir Apparent's wife was also missing from the manor.
Only then did Aunt Zhao become truly panic-stricken, anxiously pacing about the yard like an ant on a hot pan. And the arrival of the Fu family caught her completely off guard.
The Fu Old Lady's face was icy as she bluntly asked about Gu Shuang's whereabouts.
Gu Old Madam's expression was equally unpleasant. She awkwardly kept smiling. "Shuang'er went to the palace yesterday."
The Fu Old Lady raised her chin slightly. "Well then, this marriage is likely cancelled. My Fu family will not take a wife who has lost her innocence."
Gu Old Madam naturally didn't agree. Gu Shuang and Fu Xunzhi's marriage was finally settled with great difficulty. If the two families fell out over this matter now, how would Gu family's other daughters find husbands in Bianjing in the future? The Gu family already had the unchaste and wanton Gu Jia. They couldn't afford to have another one like her.
Since the Fu Old Lady didn't see Gu Shuang herself, she just kept making snide insinuations that left Gu Old Madam at a loss for words.
"How can you say things like that?" Aunt Zhao's eyes turned red. She was already worried about her daughter. Hearing such unkind words from the Fu Old Lady made her feel even worse. "Shuang'er hasn't returned yet, it doesn't necessarily mean she has lost her innocence. Old Madam, I respect you as an elder and don't wish to say unpleasant things. But as a woman yourself, please don't randomly make accusations without evidence. Otherwise you would be unfairly ruining a perfectly innocent young lady's reputation!"
The Fu Old Lady gave a cold laugh. "Since you say your daughter is innocent, then produce her and let this old woman take a look, so I can be made to eat my words."
Gu Old Madam's face darkened as she frowned without responding, likely also feeling ashamed that things had become this way. Yet she didn't speak up for Gu Shuang at all.
The Fu Old Lady's words were truly unpleasant. And Old Madam didn't stand up for Gu Shuang either.
Aunt Zhao was furious but continued to endure it. Raising her voice, she said, "Shuang'er went to the palace with the Heir Apparent's wife. I've already sent people to ask at Zhenguo Duke Manor. The Heir Apparent's wife also hasn't returned overnight. Shuang'er and the Heir Apparent's wife have always been on good terms, so they must be together. I don't know what Fu Old Madam is still worried about? Even if you don't trust my Shuang'er, at least you can't question the innocence of the Heir Apparent's wife!"
The Fu Old Lady's expression became awkward. Even if she disliked Gu Shuang, she didn't dare question the innocence of the Heir Apparent's wife.
After a brief pause, she compromised. "Since Madam Gu said so, then this old woman has nothing more to add."
She got up and brushed her sleeves, raising a hand for her maid to support her as she left without even glancing at Aunt Zhao. "I will come again tomorrow."
This was the Fu Old Lady's way of showing great mercy by giving Gu Shuang one more chance.
Aunt Zhao was so angry she was about to explode. Yet she couldn't act out in front of the Fu Old Lady, only maintaining her smile as she escorted the old woman out so their neighbors wouldn't laugh at them.
Upon turning back, she felt entirely depleted, a heavy weight on her chest.
Gu Boyan looked at her coldly, angrily swishing his sleeves, extremely displeased. He blamed her repeatedly, "Just where did Shuang'er go? Why haven't you sent people to search yet? You even let the in-laws come reprimand us to our manor. What do you have to say about how you raised your daughter? Aren't you making our Gu family a laughingstock?"
A barrage of condemnations rained down on her. Aunt Zhao pressed her lips together, too weary to retort as she suddenly thought of Qin.
Without a word, she turned and left. "Come, prepare my carriage!"
"You--" Seeing that the man refused to let up, Aunt Zhao uncharacteristically lost her temper. "If Master really cared about Shuang'er he wouldn't still be standing here! I've already sent people to search. What about Master as her father? Can you do nothing but stand there and berate me?"
"You cheap slut! You're her mother, yet you dare blame me instead! I just made you the official head wife. Yet you already dare put on airs? Who allowed you to become so brazen? Is it that woman from Zhenguo Duke Manor? I warned you not to get close with her, yet you insisted! Cheap slut!" Gu Boyan's face was livid as he berated Aunt Zhao's back.
Eyes reddening, her chest felt sour and congested. Aunt Zhao tiredly massaged her brow without bothering to respond to his outburst. She headed to her carriage all the same.
Upon arrival at the Ye family manor, the housekeeper who recognized her went in to announce her.
Soon after, Censor Ye Zhuohua personally came out to receive her.
