Chapter 39

Gu Changjin dipped his brush into the ink and wrote just five characters on the paper:

Yang Xu, opera stage, fire.

Chang Ji, holding the letter, hurried away. Along the way, he encountered Heng Ping, who was returning in a hurry. He patted Heng Ping's shoulder and said, "You're back just in time. Master is in the study. Go attend to him."

Heng Ping's eyebrows twitched. "Master isn't staying at Songsi Courtyard?"

Chang Ji sighed. "You know Master's personality well enough. When have you ever seen him get close to any woman? Lady Yu is living in Songsi Courtyard..."

Heng Ping was least tolerant of Chang Ji's gossiping and tried to leave, but Chang Ji grabbed hold of him.

Looking around, he lowered his voice. "I'm going to deliver a message. Do you have anything you want me to pass on?"

Heng Ping knew immediately that 'that guy' referred to Shiiun. After a brief pause, he said coldly, "Tell him to drink less and not risk his life."

Chang Ji chuckled. "Got it. I'll be on my way." He strode off swiftly.

Heng Ping went straight to the study when he returned to Gu's residence and reported to Gu Changjin. "Xu Lier and Yang Rong have been taken to the Ministry of Justice's prison. The Emperor has sent twenty Imperial Guards to accompany the justice department officials to retrieve them. So far, everything's gone smoothly."

Emperor Jia You's grand display of sending the Imperial Guards made it clear that he was determined to see this case through to the end, and the factory guards dared not act rashly.

Gu Changjin asked, "How is Xu Li'er doing now?"

"Her injuries are minor. Deputy Minister Lu has already had someone look at them, and they said it's not serious. She should recover in a few days."

Gu Changjin nodded. "You've had a tough few days, so make more trips to the Ministry of Justice and report any news immediately. That's enough, you haven't slept all night, go rest for a while."

Heng Ping acknowledged the order but didn't move, standing there and saying, "There's one more thing. On my way to the capital, I encountered someone whose figure resembled the person who delivered the gift on the night of Master's wedding. I became suspicious and secretly followed him, but he managed to shake me off. He must have sensed my presence."

Gu Changjin narrowed his eyes.

Heng Ping was the most skilled in martial arts among them and had the steadiest disposition. If he failed to track someone, it could only mean that the person was also highly skilled in combat and extremely vigilant.

Who exactly was this person?

"He likely had the same purpose as you, fearing that Xu Li'er might encounter danger on her journey, which is why he followed her. Did you get a good look at his face this time?"

Heng Ping shook his head. "He was incredibly alert. Before I could get close, he disappeared into the bustling marketplace. Based on his build and gait, I suspect he might be a eunuch."

Eunuch?

Gu Changjin's gaze froze for a moment. After a moment of deliberation, he spoke slowly, "When you're keeping an eye on the Ministry of Punishments, you'll likely encounter him again. Don't arouse suspicion then. You don't need to know who he is, just figure out which of the Twenty-Four Bureaus he heads to when he leaves."

After their conversation, Heng Ping left the room.

Gu Changjin closed his eyes for a brief rest, but the old lady Rong Shu mentioned suddenly popped into his mind.

Shiiun had mentioned in the letter that the eldest daughter of the Duke of Cheng'an had lived in Yangzhou when she was young. Her uncle had specially hired a governess to teach her etiquette and manners.

That governess had once served in the palace before retiring with honor to return to her hometown.

The governess passed away when Rong Shu was eleven, and Shen Zhi had intended to hire a new one for her, but Rong Shu had refused. Apparently, she had been very close to the old governess.

Could that governess be the "old lady" she mentioned yesterday?

What could have triggered those two sobbing whispers of hers yesterday? Could it be... that she was thinking of her mother?

As these chaotic thoughts emerged, Gu Changjin's expression startled. He furrowed his brows, pressing his lips together to dispel these irrelevant distractions.

One ought not to overly concern oneself with Rong Shu's affairs.

He was inherently an extremely composed and restrained individual. Why should the sweetness or bitterness of others' pasts concern him?

As of now, he was still unaware of Xu Fu's motives for wanting him to marry her, and it was uncertain whether Rong Shu was an ally or adversary. He didn't wish to exploit her, but at the same time, he didn't desire excessive entanglement with her.

Maintaining the same polite distance as before is the most appropriate way to handle our relationship, just as it was before.

Just now, when he bid her return to the Marquisate, it was likely due to this very consideration – that he did not wish for her presence before his eyes.

On the twenty-seventh of August, Sun Daoping finally relented and allowed Gu Changjin to move about freely and stay wherever he pleased.

"The accumulation of blood in your body has now dispersed, and your external wounds have scabbed over. However, I've used potent acupuncture techniques and strong medications. Though you appear fully recovered, your internal injuries still linger. It will take at least two or three months of meticulous care before you're completely rid of any lingering health issues."

Pausing, he sighed. "If it weren't for Lord Gu mentioning an urgent case involving a life-or-death matter in the Ministry of Punishment that needs investigating, I wouldn't have agreed to let you return to work so soon. Tomorrow, I'll be returning to the Imperial Medicine Court. Lord Gu, you must remember to drink your herbal soup daily, twice a day, morning and evening. Forget it, forget it. It's better to inform Lady Gu than to tell you directly. Lady Gu is meticulous and handles matters well. With her around, I'll have greater peace of mind."

With that, he raised his sleeves in a gesture of farewell, intending to visit Rong Shu at the Songsi Courtyard. Little did he expect that just as he was about to leave, Lord Gu, who seemed attentive but was actually distracted, suddenly spoke up.

"Chief Physician Sun, just write down the prescription and send it to the small kitchen. The women there will make sure my medicine is prepared."

Sun Daoping was taken aback. "How can the kitchen maids compare to Lady Gu's attentiveness?"

"No need. My wife hasn't had a good rest since I was injured. There's no need to trouble her with such trivial matters."

Given her nature, if Sun Daoping entrusted the task of preparing the medicine to her, she might not return to the Marquis residence at all.

Gu Changjin subconsciously wished that Rong Shu would leave the Gu family and return to the Marquis residence. This desire was intense and inexplicable.

He was usually a man of unwavering composure, able to trace the origins of every emotion he felt and calmly analyze them.

But with her, he always had an illusion of losing control.

Gu Changjin attributed this sense of loss of control to the inevitable intimacy brought about by their marriage. Sharing a bed and a roof, these were already extremely intimate acts for him.