Chapter 193: Informing One

Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Informing One

“Is, is this true?”

Having listened, Ms. Su, trembling, pointed at Li Huan’er and asked. She had treated Li Huan’er like her own daughter, yet this girl had hired assassins to kill her actual daughter. What a heartless and ungrateful person she was!

“You, you, you…” Pointing at Li Huan’er, Ms. Su was so furious she couldn’t speak. The blow was too much; her head swam, and she fainted.

“Mother!”

“Madam!”

Gu Xicheng and his son turned pale with shock.

“Qingping, quickly call Doctor Wen!” Gu Xicheng said urgently.

“Yes, Father, I’ll go right now!” Gu Qingping was also panicking; he never imagined his mother’s constitution was so frail. He quickly left the mansion with a young servant to fetch the family physician, Doctor Wen.

“Servants!” Gu Xicheng shouted towards the door.

Two elderly maidservants hurried in. When they saw Ms. Su slumped unconscious in the chair, they were frightened out of their wits.

“Madam!”

“Mother Rong, help Madam to bed. Mother Feng, take Li Huan’er away and lock her up,” Gu Xicheng commanded.

“Yes, Master.”

Mother Rong and Gu Xicheng each supported one of Ms. Su’s arms, helping her to the bed. Just as they laid her down, Doctor Wen arrived.

“Quickly, examine Madam.”

Doctor Wen hurriedly set down his medicine box, opened it, took out a small cloth, placed it on Ms. Su’s right wrist, and began to take her pulse.

After a long moment, Doctor Wen released her wrist and removed the cloth.

“How is she?” Gu Xicheng and his son asked in unison.

Doctor Wen replied, “Master, Young Master, Madam was merely overwhelmed by acute distress; it’s not serious. This old man will prescribe a dose of medicine. Have it decocted and administered to Madam. She will awaken on her own shortly. Furthermore, Madam’s constitution is weak. You must ensure she is not subjected to any further agitation.”

“Understood.”

“Mother Rong, go and prepare the medicine for Madam,” Gu Xicheng instructed the elderly maidservant, then sat down by Ms. Su’s bed.

Doctor Wen and Mother Rong immediately left the room.

“Qingping, why didn’t you tell me about your sister sooner?” Gu Xicheng asked, pressing his temples.

Gu Qingping replied, “It was Sister who told me not to speak of it. She doesn’t wish to return yet, saying the time isn’t ripe.”

“How is she doing?” Gu Xicheng furrowed his brows.

“Sister is doing well,” Gu Qingping said, lowering his head and looking at Ms. Su on the bed.

Ms. Su’s face was pale, tear stains still visible at the corners of her eyes. The marks of time were etched there, and strands of white in her temple hair stood out starkly. Looking at her, Gu Qingping felt a prickling in his nose.

So Mother has aged,

he thought.

“Father, after the New Year, let’s proceed with my marriage. It might bring Mother some joy.”

Gu Xicheng looked at him. “You’ve thought it through?”

“I cannot neglect my parents’ feelings. I was unfilial before.”

“Hmm,” Gu Xicheng murmured, then looked at Gu Qingping with distinct satisfaction. “The boy is teachable.”

This was his only legitimate son—intelligent, yes, but too headstrong and aloof. All his hopes rested on him, yet he hadn’t imagined the boy would be so obstinate, always insisting on his own way. That was why he had usually given him the cold shoulder. He didn’t know what had gotten into him tonight, but the boy had suddenly seen the light. He was his father; would he harm him? Perhaps such things happened in other families, but no matter how ruthless or unscrupulous Gu Xicheng himself might be, he would never turn on his own son. Even a vicious tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, and he wasn’t worse than an animal.

“Father, please watch over Mother. I’ll go check if the medicine is ready.”

Gu Qingping still wasn’t used to such warm interactions with Gu Xicheng.

I’ll discuss Sister’s situation after Mother wakes up,

he decided.

“Go on.”

A slight smile touched Gu Xicheng’s lips. The rascal still isn’t used to me being amiable with him.

“Master, how is Eldest Sister?”

Just as Gu Qingping left, Aunt Liu arrived with her son, Gu Qingzhou.

“It’s so cold. Why have you come over?” Gu Xicheng said gently. Though his words were reproachful, his tone was indulgent.

“Father, Aunt Liu heard that Mother had fainted and came especially to see her,” Gu Qingzhou said, supporting Aunt Liu as they stood before the bed, looking at Ms. Su.

Aunt Liu, in her mid-thirties, looked as if she were in her late twenties. Her face was impeccably cared for, and draped in a red cloak, she appeared even more enchantingly beautiful.

Compared to Ms. Su’s pale and frail face, Gu Xicheng still favored Aunt Liu the most.

Gu Xicheng took Aunt Liu’s soft, fair hand and patted it reassuringly. “You should go back for now. Madam is fine. What if you catch a cold?”

“Then… will Master be coming over later? So this concubine can leave the door unlatched for you,” Aunt Liu asked with a delicate softness.

Gu Xicheng frowned. “No need. Tonight, I must stay with Xinyu.” His tone lost its indulgence, becoming somewhat stiff.

“In that case—”

“Mother, let’s go,” Gu Qingzhou interjected swiftly, seeing his father’s frown. “The First Madam is ill and needs Father’s company. We can visit her tomorrow.”

His mother was so unperceptive! Father usually doted on them, true, but she shouldn’t abuse that favor and act so arrogantly. A wife was a wife, and a concubine was a concubine; his father was extremely particular about propriety. His mother had overstepped. How could Father possibly leave his unconscious legitimate wife to accompany a mere concubine like her? Tomorrow, at the morning court assembly, memorials impeaching him for ’favoring his concubine and neglecting his wife’ would likely flood the palace. Such an accusation was grave for the current Senior Grand Secretary. As the head of all officials, if he didn’t understand the rules, how could he remain Senior Grand Secretary? What kind of example would he be setting? An example of doting on concubines while slighting his wife? For years, Father had treated them exceptionally well, almost like legitimate children, yet his mother was still not content.

Gu Xicheng glanced at Gu Qingzhou and nodded.

Gu Qingzhou paid his respects and then led Aunt Liu out.

“Zhou’er, why did you interrupt me just now?” Aunt Liu demanded irritably as soon as they were outside.

Gu Qingzhou shook his head.

Mother has truly been spoiled. It seems I’ll have to keep a closer eye on her in the future.

“Mother, the First Madam is the legitimate wife. She is unconscious right now. Father not asking you to attend to her is already a great kindness.”

“Zhou’er, are you reminding me that I’m merely a concubine?” Aunt Liu’s face darkened.

“What else? Mother, don’t forget, Father is the head of all officials. Do you want him to bear the infamy of ’favoring his concubine and neglecting his wife,’ and have all the officials impeach him?” Gu Qingzhou looked at her with exasperation.

Father rarely visits the First Madam’s Li Courtyard as it is; this is an exceptional circumstance, yet Mother is still this jealous!

Aunt Liu glared at him, stomped her foot, and reluctantly departed.

Gu Qingping brought the decocted medicine and carefully helped Ms. Su drink it. Soon after, Ms. Su slowly regained consciousness.

“Where is Li Huan’er?” were her first words, her tone fierce.

She used to call her “Huan’er” affectionately; now it was the full “Li Huan’er,” a clear sign of Ms. Su’s profound hatred.

“Mother, you’ve just woken up. Doctor Wen said you mustn’t get agitated,” Gu Qingping gently admonished.

Ms. Su turned her head, glaring at Gu Xicheng and his son. “Not get agitated? My poor Li’er! Taken away by her own mother as a child! I don’t know where she is, whether she’s alive or dead, or if she’s well! And that despicable wench knew all along, yet she stayed here, feigning pity and obedience, even hiring assassins to kill your sister! Gu Xicheng, if you don’t send that vile creature to prison, I won’t be done with you! And find Li’er immediately!”

Gu Xicheng managed a wry smile. “Alright, alright. Your husband will arrange it first thing tomorrow morning.”

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