MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 24

Glossary

· Qin Yuan (秦鸢): The female protagonist, the Marquise.

· Gu Jinghui (顾靖晖): The Marquis, Qin Yuan's husband.

· Hongye (红叶): Qin Yuan's loyal maidservant.

· Cuiming (翠茗): Qin Yuan's other maidservant.

· Gu Shiliu (顾十六): The Marquis's attendant.

· Old Madame Gu (顾老夫人): Qin Yuan's mother-in-law.

· Zhao Niangzi (赵娘子): The widow the Marquis is protecting.

· Li Langzhong (李郎中): A doctor specializing in bruises and injuries.

· Sixth Madame Gu (六夫人): The family member managing the household.

· Gu Baozhu (顾宝珠): Seventh Miss, the younger sister who took the carriage.

---

Chapter 24: Does Your Lord Have No Face to Save?

"Fengxuan Pavilion?" Hongye was the first to get angry. "That Zhao Niangzi again? What did she do this time to get the Marquis implicated like this?"

Gu Shiliu's mouth clamped shut, tight as a clam.

No matter how much Hongye and Cuiming pressed him, he wouldn't say.

Qin Yuan understood; Gu Jinghui must have ordered silence, and Gu Shiliu didn't dare disobey. A personal attendant to the Marquis would inevitably be tight-lipped.

She didn't press further. Gently lifting Gu Jinghui's inner robe, she saw the welts on his back, swollen two fingers high and purplish-black. Clearly, the Old Madame had been furious beyond measure to strike so harshly.

What had Zhao Niangzi done? Thinking of the incidents surrounding Qin Wan's homecoming in her previous life, Qin Yuan's heart jumped, and she formed a guess. She lowered the robe and instructed Hongye, "Go quickly and fetch a physician."

With the Marquis beaten so severely by the Old Madame, they couldn't summon an Imperial Physician and make it public knowledge. They had to quietly find a discreet physician.

"Fetch one who specializes in bruises and injuries. Li Langzhong from the Renhe Clinic is best. He's discreet. Have him use the side gate, don't let anyone see. If anyone asks inconveniently, say I felt unwell after the homecoming visit."

She added, "Cuiming, go and give the order outside: if anyone dares spread word of the Marquis's condition, they shouldn't blame me for punishing them severely."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Soon, Li Langzhong arrived with his medical kit and a young apprentice. He glanced at the unconscious Marquis, didn't even check his pulse, but took two medicinal pills from his box. He instructed them to dissolve the pills in yellow wine and apply the mixture to Gu Jinghui's wounds. He also wrote a prescription. "The patient was beaten in this sweltering heat; we need to reduce internal heat and detoxify. I've added a little coptis root; it's a bit bitter. If the patient fears bitterness, there's no help for it. He'll just have to eat some preserved fruit to sweeten his mouth."

Gu Shiliu hastily took the prescription to have it filled.

Once they were alone, Li Langzhong said quietly, "Young Mistress, why seek me out when you have your own family's excellent traditional ointment?"

Qin Yuan replied softly, "We will use it. But we must still follow a proper procedure."

Li Langzhong understood and said no more.

Cuiming brought cool tea. Li Langzhong accepted it with a smile. "In this weather, coming in a rush made me thirsty. The young lady is truly thoughtful and considerate."

Hongye brought silver. Qin Yuan said, "Prepare a red envelope for Li Langzhong, for his tea."

Li Langzhong accepted it cheerfully. "Madame, use the ointment you acquired from me. Remember to apply it for the patient at fixed times daily. He should recover in just three to five days."

Gu Jinghui, after all, was a military man with a strong constitution. He woke up in less than an hour.

Once awake, he had the bamboo couch moved to a side room, saying he couldn't risk the smell of medicine bothering Qin Yuan and that he would return to sleep once recovered.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Considering she would have to apply ointment to his body three times a day, Qin Yuan also felt somewhat awkward. It was more appropriate for Gu Shiliu to serve him. She followed him to the side room and waited until the maids had everything arranged before leaving.

Gu Shiliu whispered, "Why doesn't the Marquis use this chance to have the Madame attend to him personally?"

What a perfect opportunity! The Marquis endured a beating but still insisted on accompanying the Madame for her homecoming. If the Madame knew, she surely wouldn't hold the Zhao Niangzi matter against him anymore.

"What do you know?" Gu Jinghui glared. "Does your lord have no face to save?"

Gu Shiliu: "..."

Face wasn't as important as substance.

Gu Jinghui asked again, "What did the Madame say?"

Gu Shiliu said, "The Madame asked this lowly one what happened. I said nothing."

Gu Jinghui breathed a sigh of relief. "Good."

Gu Shiliu hemmed and hawed for a long while. Gu Jinghui grew impatient. "If you have something to say, spit it out! Don't dither."

"This lowly one thinks the Old Madame is right. The Madame is intelligent and beautiful, a good wife you couldn't find even with a lantern. Everything in Wutong Yuan is perfectly arranged. Marquis, you…"

"Of course I know. Why else would I have married her?"

Gu Shiliu persisted, "But originally, the Old Madame had arranged for you to marry the Madame's younger sister, and you agreed too."

She wasn't as good-looking as the Madame and was foolish to boot.

Gu Jinghui glared. "What do you know? Hurry up and go. Have the person I told you to investigate looked into immediately. Investigate overnight!"

"But if the Madame finds out…"

"Are you really that stupid? While you're investigating who's spreading the rumors outside, can't you make some inquiries on the side? If you don't say anything, how would she know?"

Gu Shiliu said no more.

The Marquis had met that impoverished scholar during the homecoming today. Who knows what he heard, but he now wanted him investigated.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

At the flower appreciation banquet, when that poor scholar and the Qin Second Young Lady were found embracing, the Marquis hadn't cared, merely saying it was obvious the two had planned it, treating everyone else as blind, and that calling off the engagement was fine.

But now he was eagerly sending him to investigate any past connection between that poor scholar and the Madame.

If he found something unfavorable, the Marquis would surely be unable to restrain himself from making a scene. Wouldn't the Madame find out then?

But he couldn't refuse the Marquis's orders.

After applying the ointment for the Marquis, Gu Shiliu said, "Then this lowly one will take his leave. Shall I have Seventeen come serve tonight?"

"No need. I'll be fine alone. I've endured worse injuries in battle. Light the lamp before you go."

Gu Shiliu lit the lamp and quietly left.

Before retiring for the night, Qin Yuan went to check on the side room. A single lamp burned inside. Gu Jinghui was sleeping on his side, his brows tightly furrowed as if in great pain.

"You all keep watch outside, in case the Marquis needs assistance during the night. Be alert," Qin Yuan instructed softly. She checked everything once more before leaving.

Early the next morning, before going to pay her respects to the Old Madame, Qin Yuan came to check again.

Gu Jinghui was still asleep. Qin Yuan tiptoed out and asked the young maid serving outside, "How did the Marquis sleep last night? Did he call for anyone?"

"The Marquis never called for anyone. There was no sound from the room."

Qin Yuan instructed, "Later, have the kitchen prepare some light food. No soy sauce, no pickles, and certainly no fish, shrimp, or bamboo shoots."

"Yes."

The maids acknowledged the orders one by one, and only then did Qin Yuan leave.

When Qin Yuan arrived at the main house, Sixth Madame Gu and Gu Baozhu were also there, chatting and laughing. When they saw her, they stopped talking, their expressions turning somewhat unpleasant.

She didn't mind, merely nodding to Sixth Madame Gu before sitting to the side, leisurely drinking her tea while waiting for the Old Madame to appear.

Sixth Madame Gu gave a light cough. "I intended to come apologize to Third Sister-in-Law yesterday, but heard you were unwell, so I didn't go. Seeing your energy today, Third Sister-in-Law, you seem much better."

Qin Yuan inclined her head. "Thank you for your concern, Sixth Sister-in-Law. I am much better today."

Sixth Madame Gu shot a look with her eyes. Gu Baozhu then stepped forward and greeted Qin Yuan, her face dark. "Yesterday, I was in a hurry to go out and used Third Sister-in-Law's carriage, delaying your homecoming. This was my fault. Mother and Third Brother have both scolded me. I beg Third Sister-in-Law to forgive me this once."

Qin Yuan said indifferently, "It is of no consequence. It was merely some servants, judging their superiors and fanning the flames, taking advantage of me being new. Mother has said, the servants in this residence have served for generations. If you are the slightest bit inattentive, they will bully their masters. The Marquis's household is vast, and for Sixth Sister-in-Law to manage it alone is indeed strenuous."

These words caused both women's faces to change color.

(End of Chapter)

← prev next →