Old Madam Dong saw her mistress's expression and knew trouble was brewing. If this marriage went through, it would be troublesome for the eldest young master to inherit the Qiu family in the future. The third young master might not have ambitions, but he couldn't withstand the pillow talk of the third madam. How could Miss Gu not covet the position of the family matriarch?
"Zhan Feiyu, though young, meddles in other people's affairs!" Wu Shi squeezed out each word through her teeth. Her smile was gentle, but her eyes were terrifyingly fierce.
As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Shi suddenly grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it fiercely onto the ground. The "smash" sound made Old Madam Dong tremble.
Wu Shi's courtyard was tightly controlled, with her own people inside and out. Old Madam Dong did not worry about anyone gossiping and spreading the matter. She just advised in a low voice, "It's likely Zhan Feiyu has her own agenda. Scholar Gu appears to be in a favorable position, but he is ultimately an isolated minister. To put it bluntly, once Scholar Gu passes away, it will be like the coldness of tea after the guests leave. Won't Zhan Feiyu be reduced to her original state?"
Seeing that Wu Shi had calmed down, Old Madam Dong continued while tidying the broken teacup fragments on the ground, "She is a country girl with a humble background. The fact that she can now enter the Qiu mansion is all thanks to Scholar Gu. If this marriage is successful, the third young master will likely be indebted to her alone."
"Third brother is already of marriageable age, but when it comes to scheming and depth of character, I'm afraid two third brothers combined wouldn't match up to one Zhan Feiyu." Wu Shi scoffed, her eyes filled with contempt and disdain for Qiu Huaixin. "As a scion of a noble family, he associates with a lowly illegitimate son. Isn't he afraid of demeaning himself!"
Wu Shi looked down on the dissolute Jiao Lianping, but she despised the illegitimate son Jiao Lianyu even more. Yet, Qiu Huaixin associated closely with Jiao Lianyu, and no one in the Qiu mansion stopped him. As his sister-in-law, she naturally wouldn't interfere, but she despised him from the bottom of her heart.
Perhaps having vented her frustrations, Wu Shi had indeed calmed down. "Later, you will send a message back for the family to investigate this fifth Miss Gu. Since she has come to the capital to seek refuge with Scholar Gu, she must be targeting the noble scions of the capital. Why would she fancy third brother? Could there be something more to it? As her sister-in-law, I cannot stand by and watch third brother become a fool."
"Yes." Old Madam Dong replied. However, whether it was the Gu clan of Nanling or the Scholar's Mansion in the capital, investigating would not be easy. Especially since Scholar Gu was alone and had no female family members in his mansion, it would be even more difficult to inquire about matters within the inner chambers.
In the front hall of the main courtyard.
Taking advantage of the opportunity when Lord Qiu and Yin Wuyan were talking, Qiu Huaixin darted out and intercepted Zhan Feiyu, who had returned after changing his clothes, in the corridor. "Is this the method you thought of?"
Anyone who was suddenly brought up for marriage at the dinner table, especially a young lady from the Gu clan of Nanling, and saw their own father not intending to refuse, Qiu Huaixin's ability to hold back until now to "seek an explanation" from Zhan Feiyu was considered excellent self-control.
Zhan Feiyu squinted and smiled. This was outside Scholar Gu's study. Although there was no need to worry about eavesdropping, he still lowered his voice. "Miss Gu Wu is far away in the capital, and the Wu family likely wouldn't dare to act in the capital. Therefore, if this marriage fails, the problem must lie with you."
Qiu Huaixin was not foolish. If his sister-in-law truly feared him or even made a secret move against him, she would certainly not allow him to marry a noble wife. With this preparation, it would be much easier to catch her.
Even if he still couldn't find evidence, if something happened to him and the marriage didn't go through, the outcome would be obvious.
The thought that it might indeed be Wu Shi who made the move made Qiu Huaixin feel uneasy again. His past spirit and pride had now turned into bitterness. "Since you're saving someone, save them to the end. Send the Buddha to the west. Lend me a couple more people."
He couldn't use people from the mansion. Moreover, although the friends Qiu Huaixin had made over the years were scholars, Jiao Lianyu and the others only had academic titles and had not yet entered officialdom. They wouldn't have elite hidden guards around them.
Furthermore, this was a family disgrace. Qiu Huaixin would rather Zhan Feiyu be the only one to know than to have it spread throughout the entire Qianzhong Circuit, bringing shame to the Qiu family.
Zhan Feiyu nodded. Since elder brother had proactively brought up the fifth Miss Gu, he would definitely get involved. It wouldn't be difficult to provide two people to protect Qiu Huaixin. He couldn't let anything happen to him.
...
The news of Zhan Feiyu's visit to Lord Qiu was sent back to the capital at the fastest speed. Others in the Qianzhong Circuit might not recognize Yin Wuyan, but once the various messages reached the capital, combined with the description of Yin Wuyan and Lord Qiu's personal welcome at the door, those in the capital immediately guessed that this was the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Guard.
Imperial Study.
Putting down the seventh secret memorial impeaching the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Guard that he had seen that day, the Emperor was too lazy to look at the remaining memorials. His good sons and good ministers were all very well-informed.
"Your Majesty, Consort Min just sent some soup. It's just the right temperature to drink." Eunuch Liu asked cautiously. The Emperor's temper had been unpredictable for the past two years. More palace maids and eunuchs serving before the Emperor had been dragged out and beaten to death than in the previous ten years combined.
Eunuch Liu had become even more cautious. He didn't interfere with the consorts in the harem or the princes and princesses. He only had the Emperor as his master. If it weren't for the Emperor's good mood, Eunuch Liu wouldn't have dared to mention Consort Min, lest the Emperor become suspicious.
"Bring it up." The Emperor was indeed in a good mood. He got up from his dragon throne and, thinking of the secret memorials he had just seen, he opened his mouth and said, "I heard that the fifth Miss Gu is still ill?"
As the head eunuch serving the Emperor, Eunuch Liu knew all the news from the palace and the rumors from outside. As soon as the Emperor spoke, Eunuch Liu quickly replied.
"I also overheard it. Miss Gu Wu was amazed when she saw Lord Yin, but Your Majesty knows the temperament of the people around Lord Yin. At that time, a goose-feather knife was already pointed at Miss Gu Wu's neck."
Eunuch Liu shivered as he spoke. It wasn't that he, an old eunuch, was afraid of death, but rather that Commander Yin was too terrifying. His face was indeed handsome and extraordinary, but he had killed too many people and his hands were stained with too much blood. Commander Yin's gaze alone could scare people to death.
This fifth Miss Gu was also visiting the capital for the first time. Look at the young ladies from the noble families in the capital, which one dared to covet Commander Yin? They must be tired of living.
"Wuyan is also of marriageable age." The Emperor sighed, appearing very helpless about his own nephew. However, his tone clearly conveyed the Emperor's indulgence towards Yin Wuyan, even if it meant offending the Gu clan of Nanling.
Eunuch Liu took out the soup from the food box and personally served the Emperor to wash his hands before daring to continue, "Commander Yin was personally taught by Your Majesty. Ordinary women are not worthy of him."
"I'm worried about Wuyan's temperament," the Emperor said, putting down the silver spoon he had just picked up.
Indeed, Yin Wuyan's marriage was a cause of worry for the Emperor. When selecting imperial consorts for his own princes, the Emperor had never been so anxious. The princes marrying their principal consorts were all for the sake of the court and balancing various forces. Therefore, whether it was the daughters or granddaughters of powerful court officials, or the young ladies from scholarly families or noble families in the capital, suitable candidates could always be found.
But when it came to Yin Wuyan, the Emperor indeed had the affection of a loving father and elder for his nephew, and wanted to choose an outstanding woman as his wife. However, he also worried that if the woman's family background was too good, it would lead to trouble.
Secondly, Yin Wuyan's temperament was too indifferent, almost to the point of being averse to women. Before he knew he was the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Guard, few girls dared to approach him.
Later, as the Emperor intentionally revealed his identity as the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Guard, even if the Emperor decreed the marriage, those girls would not dare to marry him. A life of chanting Buddhist scriptures was better than losing their lives.
"Miss Gu Wu's courage is still a bit lacking." The Emperor said, and he admired Zhan Feiyu. That little girl was truly fearless, like a newborn calf. It was rumored that she was very close to Wuyan.
Actually, when Miss Gu came to the capital, the Emperor did have such an intention. But who knew that his nephew almost slit her throat? Not only did he scare her into a high fever and convulsions, but he even planned to marry Miss Gu to the dissolute younger son of the Qiu family in the Qianzhong Circuit.
While the Emperor was still worrying about Yin Wuyan's marriage, the imperial physician at the Scholar's Mansion prescribed medicine for Miss Gu Wu, and then left the Scholar's Mansion.
"My Lord, those secret memorials are all impeaching you for forming factions and engaging in illicit activities..." The black-clothed man reporting the information truthfully reported the intelligence he had gathered to Scholar Gu.
On the surface, these memorials were impeaching Yin Wuyan for trying to win over Lord Qiu and suspected of forming factions. However, they actually implied that Scholar Gu, as a Grand Scholar of the Cabinet, was privately wooing regional governors and even using the marriage of the fifth Miss Gu to form alliances, clearly harboring malicious intentions.
Yin Wuyan, who was originally the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Guard who only obeyed the Emperor's orders, was now involved in the interactions of court officials, which also indicated hidden malice.