Chapter 129: The Disappearance of Lady Zhao

Qin Yuan was at a loss for words.

After a pause, she asked, "Does Lady Zhao know something?"

Gu Jinghui replied, "Lady Zhao has been ill. I think it’s too late now, so I didn’t ask. Let’s wait until tomorrow."

The origins of Pang Hai suddenly became a mystery. Gu Jinghui didn’t know how to meet Lady Zhao or explain matters to the two children.

Qin Yuan seemed to sense his hesitation and said, "Husband, I have something I don’t know whether to say or not."

Gu Jinghui turned to her and said, "You always say we are one as husband and wife, so there’s nothing you shouldn’t say. I know you always have my best interests at heart."

Qin Yuan smiled, "Do you really think so, husband?"

"Of course," Gu Jinghui wasn’t skilled at sweet talk, but he spoke from the heart, "I know you are wise and good to me."

In the dark night, Qin Yuan’s face couldn’t help but blush a little.

She... she actually wasn’t that good.

After a pause, Qin Yuan finally said, "Husband, it would be best to invite mother and the two children tomorrow, and have Lady Zhao explain everything clearly in person. It’s true that Brother Pang saved your life, but it’s also true that his origins are unclear. If he turns out to be a fugitive or a runaway slave, it could bring trouble if discovered later. By doing this, husband, you can help Mrs. Zhao and her children find a true family and also prevent the two children from blaming you in the future due to partial belief or misinformation."

Gu Jinghui pondered Qin Yuan’s words carefully, and after a while, asked, "They would blame me due to partial belief? Are you saying Lady Zhao might speak ill of me behind my back?"

Qin Yuan hesitated for a moment before briefly mentioning what the two children said in front of Xiao Hong, then continued, "It’s late now. Let’s ask tomorrow morning when you and I greet mother."

Thinking about facing the two children and Lady Zhao in the morning, Gu Jinghui’s tender thoughts vanished, and he held her slender waist, saying, "Mm, let’s sleep. We have to see them in the morning."

Qin Yuan was a bit sleepy as well, but before falling asleep, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did you take a bath before you came back?"

Gu Jinghui hugged her tightly, amused and irritated, saying, "I took a cold shower before coming back. I’m not smelly. Go to sleep."

Qin Yuan finally fell asleep with peace of mind.

The next day, Hong Ye and Cui Ming came to help with her morning routine, but Gu Jinghui was already nowhere to be seen.

Qin Yuan thought he might have gone to the martial arts ground and didn’t pay it much mind.

But Hong Ye, seeing an ice vessel placed in the room, was taken aback for a moment and then smiled cheerfully, asking Qin Yuan, "Miss, did the Marquis last night..."

Qin Yuan casually replied, "Prepare the clothes the Marquis will change into. He and I will join mother for breakfast in the upper chamber later."

Hong Ye cheerfully went to pick out clothes from the trunk.

Cui Ming silently combed her hair, this time into a high bun adorned with a gold crown and golden earrings, with the base entwined with long, fine gold threads forming peonies, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

"These accessories truly elevate you. Miss, your skin appears even more radiant," Cui Ming couldn’t help but praise.

Qin Yuan laughed, "You’re getting better at flattery. After resting for a day, is your health better?"

Cui Ming replied, "The incense Miss prepared is very nourishing. I slept all day and feel even more comfortable than before."

Qin Yuan chatted idly with her two maids, waiting, but Marquis Gu still hadn’t returned.

Hong Ye went to the corridor and called out, "Gu Shiliu."

No one answered.

"Strange, didn’t Gu Shiliu already return?"

Qin Yuan knew that last night Gu Shiliu and Gu Jinghui probably talked late into the night and traveled back, so she said, "No need to look for him. Let him rest well. Later, ask him if he feels unwell after the long journey."

Hong Ye acknowledged.

Seeing the hour was getting late, Qin Yuan hesitated and said, "Why don’t we go to the upper chamber first? We did say yesterday that we would join mother for breakfast there."

The two followed behind Qin Yuan, leaving Wutong Garden, and before reaching the pond near the Taihu Stone, they saw a large group gathered in the distance.

Qin Yuan stopped in her tracks.

Hong Ye asked, "Miss, should I go take a look?"

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Something might have happened. There’s no need to get too close; just call someone over to ask."

Hong Ye then called Hong Mian to find someone to ask.

Qin Yuan asked curiously, "Since when did the parrot become Hong Mian?"

Hong Ye laughed, "I thought Miss didn’t notice her. I took a liking to her and wanted her to follow me, so I named her Hong Mian. I planned to tell Miss, but today I got too busy and forgot."

Qin Yuan snorted lightly, "You’re becoming less disciplined. Just because I favor you, you make decisions without consulting me. You’re always so reckless. While I know you mean no harm, others might not. You’ll learn when you get in trouble and feel the sting of a whip."

Cui Ming added, "I see you’ve forgotten what Miss said before her marriage."

Hong Ye quickly smiled and asked, "Miss, do you think the name Hong Mian is okay? I won’t act on my own from now on."

Qin Yuan gave her a sidelong glance, "You’ve already called her that. If I change her name, wouldn’t that undermine you and make her look down on you, leading to other ideas? Just call her Hong Mian. This girl has a sharp tongue and a bad temper, a bit like you. No wonder you like her."

Hong Ye dared not say more and agreed to everything, repeatedly promising not to make the same mistake again.

Qin Yuan didn’t take Hong Ye’s words seriously at all.

Hong Ye hadn’t changed in her previous life either.

She had long been tired of her solemn vows—it was just to keep alert so she wouldn’t make big mistakes.

Hong Mian returned with a frightened look on her face, saying anxiously, "Madam, something happened. One of the nannies serving Lady Zhao is dead, and Lady Zhao and another nanny are missing."

Qin Yuan: "..."

What can be said about this?

Hong Ye was also anxious, "Didn’t you see how that nanny died? When did Lady Zhao and that nanny go missing? Where did the Marquis go?"

Hong Mian said, "Ah, I was so frightened that I forgot all about that. I’ll go ask again."

Qin Yuan didn’t respond.

Hong Ye urged, "Hurry up and go then."

Hong Mian quickly went again.

Qin Yuan frowned, wondering how—after Gu Shiliu had just brought news last night—things could have already changed by this morning.

It seemed that Gu Jinghui had gone out early to handle these matters.

The origins of Pang Hai indeed had significant issues.

In a while, Hong Mian came back reporting, "When the night-shift nannies came to switch shifts this morning, they found a dead body by the pond and raised an alarm. Someone recognized her as the nanny who used to serve Young Master Cheng, so they went to Fengxuan Pavilion to find Lady Zhao. Sister Zihua went to call on people, only to discover that Lady Zhao and another nanny were gone, and she cried in panic, saying she slept soundly all night and knew nothing."

Seeing Hong Mian’s face full of anxious fear, Qin Yuan, knowing she was young and inexperienced with such incidents, nodded and said, "Hong Mian, you did well. There’s no need to inquire further now. We’ll go to the upper chamber to greet the Old Madam."

Hong Mian’s tense shoulders relaxed, and she followed behind Hong Ye.

They bypassed the crowd and headed towards the upper chamber, faintly hearing discussions, "The back of that nanny’s head was injured. Was it smashed or did she accidentally hit her head?"