Chapter 830: Another One Ran Away

Gu Jinli smiled, eagerly saying to him, "I discovered Gu Ya’s weakness; she’s no longer a maiden and even had a child. Yet, she’s dressed as a maiden, and the Old Gu Family is telling everyone she’s still single and looking for a suitor."

In her past life, Gu Jinli was a military doctor and knew how to read people. Observing Gu Ya’s gait and pelvic movements, she could tell Gu Ya had been pregnant and quite far along at that.

And then there’s Little Sister Gu, who had already been married, and Ma Qingwen is dead. Now she’s a widow, but the Old Gu Family tells outsiders she’s a maiden who couldn’t marry because her fiancé died.

They’re really bold. Aren’t they afraid of being exposed on their wedding night and getting accused of marriage deception?

Gu Jinli shared her findings with Qin San Lang and finally said, "The Old Gu Family people are really something. Even if I don’t deal with them, they’ll end up sabotaging themselves one day."

Let them continue to throw their weight around in the Lai Family. Lord Lai has kids and grandchildren. I don’t believe the Lai Family people can tolerate the Old Gu Family for a lifetime.

Qin San Lang had met Gu Youwen and the others before. Now he’s hardly surprised by anything the Old Gu Family does: "Let’s allow them to fend for themselves for now; after Good Brother An finishes his exams, we’ll think of other unobtrusive ways to deal with them."

He added, "Don’t worry, You An and Daqing will stay in the Prefecture to keep an eye on the Old Gu Family, ensuring they won’t have the chance to harm your family."

However...

Qin San Lang still reminded, "After Good Brother An passes the county examination, he’ll have to come to the Prefecture for the Prefecture Examination; we need to be prepared. We might have to face them in court."

The Old Gu Family certainly won’t just watch the Xiao Yu family live well, so they need to prepare.

Gu Jinli said, "Don’t worry, severance documents and the Qi Family’s notes are well-kept in our home. If the Old Gu Family dares to trouble us, we’ll take these to the government office with Third Grandpa and Third Grandma and make a case."

Our family has both evidence and witnesses, unafraid of the Old Gu Family denying the severance.

Qin San Lang felt reassured hearing this, "It’s good to be prepared."

While talking, he noticed her hair was still a bit wet, so he took a dry cotton cloth and started to rub her hair... As she had washed her hair, being close to her emitted a faint, pleasant fragrance, like flowers or the fresh scent of greenery, very alluring.

Gu Jinli was confused, looking up at him, and blinked, asking, "What are you doing?"

Qin San Lang, while drying her hair, looked down at her and smiled, "Your hair is too wet; you’ll catch a cold. I’m drying it for you."

Gu Jinli said, "Is it fine to do this?"

We’re not even engaged. Doing something so intimate, are you asking for trouble?

Qin San Lang remained unfazed, "It’s fine."

He even asked her back, "Is there anything wrong with it?"

In the future, they would do even more intimate things.

Gu Jinli looked at his calm face and stopped talking, letting him handle her long hair.

Xiao Ji had already been sent out when Qin San Lang arrived. At this moment, she stood in the courtyard, watching through the window. Seeing Qin San Lang drying Gu Jinli’s hair, she felt like banging her head against the wall.

What to do? At times like this, she should rush in and stop the neighbor pig from taking advantage of the Young Master, but the Young Master favors Qin San Lang every time, so her intervention would be pointless.

Besides, she couldn’t take on both of them.

Xiao Ji thought it over and simply turned her back and closed her eyes... Forget it, act like she didn’t see it.

After a good quarter of an hour, Qin San Lang finally dried her hair. As he put down the cotton cloth, he said, "Let it air a bit more, and once it’s completely dry, you can tie it up. That way, you won’t catch a cold."

Gu Jinli said, "Why are you so long-winded?"

A grown man, and a soldier at that, is this really okay?

Qin San Lang replied, "This isn’t nagging; it’s caring for Xiao Yu."

After saying this, he took the cloak from the rack, put it on her, and held her hand, leading her outside, "See me off."

Gu Jinli was more than happy to see him off, but her gaze fell on their clasped hands, "You’re quite addicted to holding hands today."

Qin San Lang, hearing this, smiled at her but didn’t say anything, just holding her hand tighter, stepping towards the front yard.

Er Ping was already waiting at the door with the horse. As Qin San Lang was about to step out, he stopped and told Gu Jinli, "I’m leaving, head back in. Eat dinner before you sleep, don’t go to bed hungry."

Ever since they arrived in the Prefecture, they’ve been busy dealing with the Old Gu Family, going out almost every night and sleeping late. After so many days, she must be exhausted.

"Got it." Gu Jinli urged him, "Hurry up and go, or I’ll get annoyed with you."

Qin San Lang laughed and nodded, "Alright, I’m leaving. Xiao Yu, don’t get annoyed with me."

With those words, he turned and went down the steps, mounted his horse, looked back at her, and only rode off once she smiled at him.

After Qin San Lang left, Gu Jinli instructed You An to close the gate tightly, guard the house, and took Xiao Ji back inside, lying comfortably on the soft couch, waiting to have dinner.

...

The Old Gu Family people weren’t so comfortable. After the incident with Gu Chengxian, the Old Gu Family seemed lifeless, each member despondent.

Gu Youlu, who had fainted, had woken up and immediately yelled, "Someone, someone! Go to the house on Moxiang Street and bring back that wench Yan Qin for me!"

Last night Gu Youlu went to Chunfeng Pavilion all because Yan Qin said she had a sister from Jiangnan hosting there, praising her like a fairy, and he couldn’t resist going to Chunfeng Pavilion.

The result was getting infected with a dreadful disease!

Thinking back now, Yan Qin must have colluded with Shuixian and the others to harm him.

A few old women came in hearing this, left the room, and told the Protector what Gu Youlu said.

The Protector then informed Zhu Wu, who promptly went to inform Lord Lai.

Lord Lai had returned and was soaking in a medicinal bath, worried about catching a venereal disease himself.

Listening to Zhu Wu’s words through the door, Lord Lai immediately fumed, "That Yan Qin is suspicious; capture her at once!"

Youlu wasn’t lying; they were indeed framed, and he must find out who harmed them and wipe out that person’s entire family.

"Yes." Zhu Wu didn’t dare delay and personally led people to the house on Moxiang Street.

However, Yan Qin was long gone, leaving only Gan Family servants and a letter from Yan Qin in the house.

The letter said: It’s not my fault that Gu Youwen had an accident, yet you Lai Family and Gu Family blame me. If that’s the case, then don’t blame me for harming Gu Youlu. Isn’t he to blame for his lustful two taels of flesh? You Gu Family and Lai Family people deserve venereal disease for not treating prostitutes as human!

The letter was short but full of accusations, explaining why Yan Qin wanted to harm Gu Youlu.

Zhu Wu came up empty-handed and could only interrogate the Gan Family servants, who claimed, "The Gan Family already gifted the house and us to Elder Lu San. Elder Lu San pampered Yan Qin, making us all listen to her. She was like a young madam here. We didn’t dare to interfere with her business or know when she left."