Chapter 275: Make It Clear

Qin Yuan furrowed his brows slightly.

Mr. Xu seemed to bear a grudge against Sixth Master Gu.

Sixth Master Gu, however, was not intimidated, meeting his gaze and saying, "Then only Xu Zhen and Mrs. Xu know. I had already told my brother-in-law last time that only Mrs. Xu knew about Zhenzhen leaving the mansion. On that morning, I left to pick someone up at the Qin Mansion and didn’t encounter Zhenzhen at all along the way."

Mr. Xu, hearing his sister mentioned, replied, "Now that the person is gone, whatever you say goes."

"If that’s the case, you siblings should discuss it carefully when you meet," said Sixth Master Gu.

Mr. Xu did not respond.

Qin Yuan said, "These days, my sixth sister-in-law has been worrying about her niece’s health, exhausting herself to illness. When Mr. Xu goes to see my sixth sister-in-law, please try to control your temper."

"Fine," Mr. Xu’s forehead veins bulged, and he jumped up, grabbing Sixth Master Gu’s collar. "Is this how my sister is treated in your household? Don’t think that just because you are the brother of Dingbei Marquis that I won’t dare to hit you."

Qin Yuan exclaimed in surprise, and Marquis Gu quickly squeezed her hand, signaling her to remain calm.

Sixth Master Gu, somewhat angry, grasped Mr. Xu’s hand in return and sneered, "If it weren’t for your commotion and her worry over Zhenzhen, things wouldn’t have come to this. The Director of the Imperial Hospital even said that her overthinking and heavy heart have worn her down. You know her temperament; think about it. In my view, we shouldn’t have kindly brought Zhenzhen here in the first place."

Only then did Mr. Xu release his hand, shouting, "Lead the way, I want to see my sister."

The Xu family then split into two groups, with the men staying in the front hall accompanied by Marquis Gu, while Mr. Xu and a few ladies followed Sixth Master Gu and Qin Yuan to Sixth Lady Gu’s courtyard.

Before heading to the front hall, Qin Yuan had ordered someone to inform Sixth Lady Gu’s courtyard that the Xu family were coming.

Hence, as they arrived, Nanny Zhao hurried out to greet them.

Seeing a crowd, Nanny Zhao was startled and spoke with a slight tremble.

"Greetings to the uncles, esteemed ladies, and young misses. Are you here to see Sixth Madam?"

Mr. Xu, with a stern face, asked, "I’ve heard Yao Niang is seriously ill. Is that true?"

Nanny Zhao’s tears fell continuously as she choked, "It’s truly a sin. Sixth Madam is so thin there’s only skin and bones left. A gust of wind could blow her away. She gets breathless with the slightest movement, can’t sleep well at night, and eats barely anything during the day. Even the Imperial Physician said it’s a slow recovery process."

"Alas... Sixth Madam’s illness is really due to Zhenzhen’s situation. I wonder how she’s endured these days, worrying about the household, the smallpox, her little miss, and still thinking about Zhenzhen and the Xu family..."

Upon hearing this, the anger on Mr. Xu’s face has subsided by half.

Mrs. Xu said, "We heard she’s ill and came to see and ask about our Zhenzhen. Poor thing, I also fell gravely ill for Zhenzhen recently."

Nanny Zhao wiped her tears and sighed, "I actually know about this. That day, while Sixth Madam was speaking with Zhenzhen, I was attending beside them. When uncle and the ladies meet Sixth Madam later, don’t show too much shock, lest it saddens the patient. Sixth Madam has been lamenting for days, regretting not stopping Zhenzhen. Unfortunately, that day, an accident happened. Someone poisoned the household; two children contracted smallpox, causing chaos. Amidst the commotion, no one managed to look after it. When we realized Zhenzhen wasn’t back, it was too late, and sending people to find her yielded nothing."

These words were so well-prepared.

Mr. Xu temporarily put away his anger and led the group of ladies into the room.

Qin Yuan followed them inside. She managed the inner quarters now and had to stay present.

The little maidens lifted the inner room curtains, and a strong aroma of medicine and incense greeted them. The room, with no open windows, was quite stuffy, causing one to sweat after a short while inside.

This indicated how greatly averse to cold the patient must be.

With Nanny Zhao’s prelude, Mr. Xu was slightly prepared but was still startled upon seeing the person lying on the sickbed.

Among the following ladies, someone couldn’t help but gasp audibly.

"Yao Niang, how did you become like this? Why do you not care for your own body?"

It took Mr. Xu a long while to squeeze out a sentence.

Qin Yuan also sighed.

No matter who it is, seeing their kin in such a state is hard to bear.

Sixth Lady Gu had just taken her medicine and was lightly asleep before being stirred awake, told that her brother and sister-in-law from her maiden family had come to see and speak with her.

Nanny Zhao supported her up, padding several soft cushions behind her to elevate her position.

She coughed and said laboriously, "There are unpredictable storms in the sky and unexpected misfortunes in human life. What seemed like a minor illness dragged on into severe symptoms. It’s just my unlucky fate, brother. Don’t worry. With time, it should get better."

To others, her words suggested she was but a spent force, holding on to speak.

Mr. Xu then said, "If so, brother and sister-in-law won’t disturb you further. Just tell us where Zhenzhen went that day and what she went there for?"

Everyone’s eyes fixed intently on Sixth Lady Gu on the bed.

Sixth Lady Gu gave a wry smile and said, "Even if I tell you, brother and sister-in-law may not believe. As you both knew, I invited Zhenzhen over, intending to match her for a good marriage. The third sister-in-law’s cousin has the talents of an advanced scholar and a fine appearance. Both Zhenzhen and I approved. Alas, the object of desire was unreciprocated. Finding out that Sixth Master was going to Yu Yuantang that day for a poetry society, Zhenzhen planned to tag along, hoping for a way to encounter them by chance..."

Sixth Lady Gu spoke intermittently.

Mr. Xu’s face flushed red then turned white.

Among the ladies, someone shouted imperatively, "Aunt, you cannot ruin our Xu family’s daughter’s reputation for the sake of the Gu family. You too belong to the Xu family."

After delivering such a lengthy speech, Sixth Lady Gu was thoroughly exhausted. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but cough violently, as if she were about to cough out her heart, liver, lungs, spleen, and kidneys.

Nanny Zhao hastened forward, gently soothing her chest, then turned to say, "Sixth Madam is ill, as I had mentioned before. I was also in attendance then. If you have questions, ask me as well. I’m afraid the wife can’t withstand this. Do you aim to drive her to death?"

Sixth Lady Gu finally calmed her breathing and struggled to look at Mr. Xu, saying, "Brother, I need to talk to you privately."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xu quickly tugged at Mr. Xu’s sleeve.

Mr. Xu’s eyes rolled, and he said to Qin Yuan, "Madam, may I trouble you to escort them outside? I wish to speak privately with my sister. At such a time, there’s no need to avoid suspicion."

Qin Yuan nodded, "Your sibling bond is deep; no one will think otherwise. I’ll lead them out, leaving you to converse."

Having said that, she took them outside to sit, then ordered the maids to serve tea and engaged in some light conversation.

After a cup of tea, Mr. Xu emerged with reddened eyes and said to Nanny Zhao, "You old wench, tell me everything about that day clearly."