Chapter 126: Cow Hair Needle

Gu Jinghui changed clothes and returned, but Mrs. Cui and her daughter had already left.

"Why does your sister always speak ill of me behind my back," Gu Jinghui looked at Qin Yuan discontentedly, "Doesn’t she know that a couple is one? Speaking ill of me is like speaking ill of you?"

Qin Yuan pressed her lips and chuckled lightly.

Gu Jinghui couldn’t help but laugh as well.

The phrase "a couple is one" was often said by Qin Yuan, and now Gu Jinghui had learned to say it.

Qin Yuan rolled her eyes and probed, "Lady Zhao has been ill all this time, my sister is just worried that you might be soft-hearted and let her stay in the Marquis Mansion."

Gu Jinghui sighed, "It’s fortunate that I married you, if it were...your sister really isn’t easy to deal with. Lady Zhao is gravely ill, how could I still throw her out? Her husband’s family will naturally make arrangements to take care of her; it’s just about tidying up a couple of guest rooms. These matters are managed by Mother, I won’t even touch them."

These words served as both an explanation and a promise.

Qin Yuan laughed, "From what Mother said, it’s just a recurring cold, not getting better, nothing serious. If she were seriously ill and you drove her out now, who knows how the outside would talk about us."

If something really happened to Lady Zhao, she didn’t want to be resented for it, it wasn’t worth it.

Hearing this, Gu Jinghui’s brows and eyes lit up with a smile. He pulled her to his side with a clever twist and gently pinched Qin Yuan’s delicate chin, closely inspecting the scars on her face, murmuring lowly, "Fortunately, the cuts aren’t deep, they won’t leave scars."

Qin Yuan said, "It’s thanks to Doctor Li from Renhe Hall, Nanny Rong said this Jade Beauty Cream is hard to come by, luckily I got it."

Gu Jinghui’s thumb gently slid over her soft, white skin on the chin, his voice very light, "Indeed."

Qin Yuan’s heartbeat quickened a bit.

The aroma of soap on the man, the heat lingering around her nose and ears, his lips getting ever closer to hers, almost touching, Qin Yuan’s eyelashes fluttered and she couldn’t help but close her eyes.

The room was quiet, yet Gu Jinghui’s heart was beating like a drum.

This was his young wife.

Those enticing red lips were tempting him to wantonly taste.

"Marquis, Gu Shiba has something to report," Hong Ye abruptly lifted the curtain and came in, realizing only after speaking what she had done, she quickly backed out.

Qin Yuan: "..."

She hurriedly pushed Gu Jinghui away, hanging her head low, not daring to look at him, "Marquis... Husband, go ahead with your work."

Gu Jinghui, having been interrupted at such a moment, felt a bit annoyed at first, but seeing her so shy, he smiled and said, "Yuan’er, I’ll go take a look then."

Qin Yuan also kept her head down, her hands fidgeting with her clothes, responding quietly.

Hong Ye stood like a quail outside the door, her face full of regret, watching as Marquis Gu himself lifted the curtain and strode out, his long, narrow eyes sweeping towards her with innate authority. Hong Ye shrank back, stammering, "Marquis, it was, it was Gu Shiba who said there was something urgent."

With a sound from his throat, Gu Jinghui passed by her without stopping.

Only then did Hong Ye breathe a sigh of relief.

She stood for a moment, not daring to go in and disturb Qin Yuan, worrying that Qin Yuan might become angry if she was embarrassed.

Thinking of the emotional moment between the two just now, Hong Ye’s face turned crimson; they really were well-matched, and it was a pity Cui Ming was resting and didn’t see it.

Gu Jinghui took Gu Shiba out of Wutong Garden, heading to the study in the outer courtyard, "Speak, what’s going on?"

Gu Shiba said, "The madam’s carriage incident was caused by the horses being frightened; the coachman handled it well, no issues."

"What about the coachman?"

"The coachman usually takes great care, the horse dung was also checked, and everything was as usual, it’s just..."

"Just what?"

"While grooming the horses, a needle was found."

Gu Shiba took out a paper package, opened it, revealing a black needle, fine as cow hair, causing Gu Jinghui’s heart to suddenly jolt.

If it hadn’t been checked carefully, it might have been missed.

He examined it closely, asking, "Who do you think usually uses such needles?"

Gu Shiba replied, "People of the jianghu."

Such fine cow hair needles were used by people of the jianghu for assassination. They, who were used to fighting with big blades and long spears on the battlefield, wouldn’t use such things.

Gu Jinghui’s brows knit tightly, his face dark and somber, as if remembering something.

Gu Shiba dared not break the silence.

After a long pause, Gu Jinghui said, "It’s Prince Qi’s men?"

Gu Shiba thought for a moment and said, "The madam’s carriage passed through a street corner at the time, with many stall owners there, and Prince Qi happened to pass by..."

Besides Prince Qi, it would have been those stall owners.

Gu Jinghui curled his fingers, his knuckles tapping heavily on the table, after a while, he asserted, "It’s Prince Qi."

First, there was the encounter at Sang Family’s House, then the visit with Seventh Princess to the Great Camp, followed by escorting Seventh and Ninth Princesses to Dazao Temple, where Yuan’er was startled and saved.

Step by step, he was being drawn closer to Prince Qi.

"How did Prince Qi know the madam’s whereabouts?"

Gu Jinghui raised his eyebrows, sharp eyes filled with coldness.

Gu Shiba, startled, remarked, "Could it be...that Prince Qi has planted a spy?"

Gu Jinghui said, "Just back from the battlefield, and already so lax? It shouldn’t be."

Sweat dripped from Gu Shiba’s forehead.

Indeed, up in the Northern Border they were cautious everywhere, but returned to the Capital City, amidst the songs and dances, and they let down their guard.

Gu Jinghui continued, "The struggle for the throne is more perilous than the battlefield. The honor lost by the Gu Family, the sons of the Gu Family can always find a way to win back. But in the officialdom, a slight mistake could cost the lives of a whole family, once it’s over, it’s really over."

Being stripped of titles and exterminated leaves nothing.

Gu Shiba immediately said, "I will go investigate right away."

Gu Jinghui nodded, "Go. Report to me swiftly."

After Gu Shiba left, Gu Jinghui stared at the cow hair needle on the table, pondering for a long time, pressing a tusk on the right side of the desk, hard purple sandalwood table popped open slightly, revealing a hidden compartment.

He pulled out a small white jade box from the compartment.

Gently opening the jade box, inside lay a needle slightly longer, with a blackish-purple hue.

Gu Jinghui’s pupils narrowed slightly, his gaze cold.

After scrutinizing it for a while, he placed the pitch-black cow hair needle from the paper into the box, where it contrasted even darker against the white jade.

A servant outside reported softly, "Marquis, the madam sent someone to ask if you would like to dine together."

Only then did Marquis Gu place the white jade box back in its place, his stern face like ice slightly warm, he said, "I’ll return to Wutong Garden soon."

The clingy little wife really couldn’t be away from him even for a moment, this trouble was one only he had to endure.

"When Shiba returns, have him come to Wutong Garden to find me."

Marquis Gu walked with his hands behind his back, pacing toward the inner courtyard, not yet reaching the second gate when he heard two nannies whispering from afar.

He wasn’t in the habit of eavesdropping, but his sharp ears and eyes since childhood allowed him to hear distant sounds. In his youth, not knowing to restrain himself, his father repeatedly admonished him not to show this in public, so few knew of his ability.

One nanny said to the other, "The two nannies at the Fengxuan Pavilion have started probing for news again."