Chapter 206: Can’t Sit Still Anymore
Qin Yuan gave him a sidelong glance with a smile and said softly, "That girl is too smart. She’s probably going to be even more clever than Hong Ye when she grows up. It was Xiao Hong who sent me a message about Doctor Liu’s suspicious behavior, which made me pay attention. I have my own considerations regarding her, so don’t interfere."
The charming glance made Marquis Gu feel like his soul was floating, and he immediately chuckled, "It’s up to you how you use people. I only mention her because I can’t bear the thought and wanted to bring it up to you."
They exchanged smiles,
Both were undeniably attractive, yet Gu Shiliu found it unbearable to watch.
He could only lower his head.
He sighed inwardly: With his master like this, it’s only a matter of time before the madam catches him, and she’ll catch him good.
No matter how many treasure books General Jin sends, it’s useless.
Indeed.
Qin Yuan pulled out the notes from Qin Siyuan and Lin Ziqi and said casually, "If Lady Zhao really left during the day, then who killed the nanny? If the nanny died during the day, why didn’t anyone see? Is someone lying? If the Marquis doesn’t investigate properly, when the mansion opens and he has to go to the Great Camp, who knows what other tasks will fall upon him, who will care to investigate these? This matter will become an unsolved case. Zhao’s issue concerns the origins of two children, and it mustn’t be taken lightly."
Indeed, Qin Yuan intends to get Gu Jinghui occupied with some matters.
In her past life, she followed Lin Ziqi from a poor county’s County Magistrate, serving as parental figure to the county, supervising everything.
The people came to file complaints, and sometimes Lin Ziqi had to go to the crime scene for careful judgment.
When there was a suspicious case or important matter, the few notable officials of the county would gather together to ponder.
Qin Yuan often analyzed the case with Lin Ziqi.
The Zhao matter always seemed amiss to her.
The mention of Gu Jinghui made his back go cold, breaking into a cold sweat despite the summer heat.
Gu Shiliu looked full of admiration.
These days, they’ve been so busy, some lines were overlooked due to the smallpox situation.
From Zihe to the nanny, every word from the madam hit the crucial points, areas they had neglected.
Yet it’s precisely in these neglected areas where truths might be hidden.
Gu Jinghui said, "That nanny who followed the Sixth Master’s carriage back must be hiding something. I said her words are not very credible, one ran away, one died, the rest follow what she says."
Gu Shiliu said, "That old woman has a very hard mouth."
Qin Yuan asked, "Did she escape from the mansion first and then hid under the Sixth Master’s carriage to return?"
Gu Shiliu replied, "Yes."
Gu Jinghui remained silent.
Qin Yuan unfolded Qin Siyuan’s letter and skimmed it, then said, "That nanny ran out at night, feeling safer outside than inside the mansion; returned with the Sixth Master’s carriage, still felt hiding was safer. This is peculiar, did she encounter someone outside?"
Gu Shiliu’s eyes lit up, "Since the closing of Feng Mansion, there has been a group of practitioners guarding outside the mansion gate, they don’t seem like spies from other mansions. Shi Ba secretly investigated, they are very vigilant and dare not follow too closely. Could this be related to the nanny?"
Lord Marquis said, "It’s possible."
Qin Yuan said, "Things have become unusual, there’s often another reason. That nanny returned, either believing it takes time to realize it’s smallpox and thought she could still do something; or felt outside was too dangerous, inside relatively safer. What kind of people are so fearful of Marquis Mansion?"
Gu Shiliu said, "Yes, she insisted she knows nothing, we can’t well kill her, we might as well leave a way out."
If this speculation is correct.
What outside frightened her to rather return?
Qin Yuan opened Lin Ziqi’s letter, glanced over it, and said lightly, "Another possibility, this nanny carried a major task, returned to take action, but got caught unexpectedly."
A person’s action can lead to countless guesses and motives from others.
Gu Shiliu was speechless.
The madam’s earlier words are not impossible either.
Gu Jinghui couldn’t sit still anymore, stood up and said, "Sixteen, let’s go to the study for a discussion."
Gu Shiliu asked, "Which study?"
"The outer courtyard."
Gu Shiliu: "..."
Didn’t they just move back here.
Why go back again?
Gu Jinghui finally managed to linger back, he naturally wouldn’t leave easily, he told Qin Yuan, "Weren’t you tired earlier? Why not rest for now? If anything, send someone to the outer courtyard to find me or tell Sixteen. Wait for me to have dinner in the evening."
Qin Yuan nodded.
Only then did Gu Jinghui get up, hurriedly left with Gu Shiliu.
Hong Ye and Cui Ming rushed in to serve.
Hong Ye asked curiously, "What’s wrong with Marquis? He seems different from this morning."
Qin Yuan replied casually, "He was idle this morning, now he’s off to attend to serious matters."
Cui Ming was speechless.
Seeing her reading the letter, Hong Ye asked, "Will Miss reply to the letter?"
Qin Yuan said, "Not necessarily."
Hong Ye opened the ink-stone polished by Marquis last time and said, "There’s ink left unused."
Qin Yuan looked at her and laughed, "If Marquis doesn’t scold you for three days, see if you behave."
Cui Ming said, "Isn’t it because Marquis praised her a little, and she floats, seeing Marquis she used to be like a mouse seeing a cat."
Hong Ye said sternly, "I just think wasting this good ink is a pity; Marquis spent so much time grinding it."
Having said that, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Qin Yuan said, "You’re daring, someday when Marquis gets angry, let’s see what you do."
Hong Ye said, "Marquis isn’t petty; Marquis might look stern sometimes, but hasn’t done anything out of line, besides Marquis said he doesn’t hit women."
Cui Ming said, "But he can order others to hit women, getting slapped by the nanny, now that’s embarrassing."
Hong Ye stamped her feet, "Can’t you wish me well?"
Qin Yuan coughed.
Both stopped talking.
Qin Yuan picked up the pen, opened a letter paper, wrote a few casual words, and put it aside.
Qin Siyuan’s letter detailed his recent studies at the Imperial College, he’s truly treating her as a teacher.
The letter mentions how he and Qin Heng are attending to the Sixth Master’s two children at the Imperial College; Qin Heng has put in a lot of effort, quite different from before. Only Lin Ziqi has become increasingly eccentric.
Qin Yuan replied, advising him to teach Qin Heng human relations and worldly wisdom, no need to worry about the studies, prioritize next year’s spring exam.
In her past life, she guided Qin Heng’s studies and knew her brother lacked academic talent, couldn’t rely on diligence to make up for shortcomings.
Only because their father is Qin Jijiu, he must strive to study hard.
Their father didn’t have high expectations for Qin Heng’s academic achievement either.
Studying at the Imperial College serves to gain worldly understanding, prevent idleness in debauchery, and form friendships.
As for Lin Ziqi, she didn’t mention him.
Lin Ziqi surely feels unsatisfied, but Qin Siyuan did nothing wrong, and now has guard.
No matter what Lin Ziqi has in mind, he cannot execute it.