Chapter 166: Those Who Offend Me Must Die

Gu Jinghui noticed the seriousness on Gu Shiliu’s face and realized he must have discovered something.

It seems that this Doctor Liu indeed has some issues.

"What did you find?"

Gu Shiliu replied, "The one with the surname Liu is using carrier pigeons to send messages outside."

"Have you figured it out clearly?"

Gu Shiliu said, "We hadn’t found where the pigeon was hidden before; he whistled, and the pigeon flew out. I sent someone to follow the direction of the pigeon."

Gu Jinghui’s face turned serious. The entire situation was becoming more complicated. Whose agent was this Doctor Liu?

What was he scheming?

Gu Jinghui’s stern features grew even more fierce, "What else did you discover?"

Gu Shiliu hesitated, "I saw him act very skillfully; clearly, this wasn’t his first time. These days, he’s probably been in constant communication with the outside. If he tries again, we will surely catch him in the act."

Gu Jinghui said coldly, "All this time, you’ve been in the mansion with the guards and still haven’t noticed anything suspicious about him. This is negligence."

If Qin Yuan hadn’t noticed something amiss, the patients in the mansion would have increased, and the servants would have become more desperate. Not believing in Qin Yuan’s methods and discipline, if someone with ill intentions instigated them, the mansion would become chaotic. It’s hard to say what the consequences would be.

These days, someone has probably already started to badmouth Qin Yuan behind her back.

All of this is due to Gu Shiliu’s negligence.

Gu Shiliu lowered his head, dejected, "Please punish me, master."

Gu Jinghui said, "It was the Madam who noticed that something was wrong with the one named Liu. You should appreciate her goodwill. If it weren’t for her, we might all have fallen into the hands of the one named Liu. Today, I will not punish you. I give you a chance to redeem yourself by performing meritorious deeds. Be more alert in the future and don’t try to be clever, as it will only lead to trouble."

Gu Shiliu understood that Marquis Gu was afraid that he might become weak after punishment and catch smallpox, feeling both guilty and grateful, repeatedly assured, "I will keep a close watch on the one named Liu. He won’t dare to act carelessly again."

Gu Jinghui reminded him, "You must also be cautious about Doctor Li’s safety. The one named Liu, intending to harm others, sees Doctor Li as an obstacle."

Gu Shiliu nodded, "I understand. Madam was indeed wise in bringing Doctor Li into the mansion. The one named Liu won’t dare act rashly now. He will be eager to report information outside, and we will surely find out who is behind him."

Gu Jinghui gritted his teeth, his jaws clenched tightly, a murderous intent filled his eyes, "Regardless of who it is, those who offend me must die."

They even dared to set their sights on his mother.

The one named Liu and whoever is behind him both deserved to die.

Gu Shiliu, filled with deep hatred, harshly said, "The malice of this one named Liu is so wicked it wouldn’t be excessive to impose a punishment like flaying and dismemberment on him."

"Hmph," Gu Jinghui sneered, "First figure it out clearly; he will get what’s coming later."

The next day, sounds of shouting were heard outside the mansion gates. Housekeeper Han inquired from behind the doors; learning that Doctor Li from Renhe Hall, along with a Little Medicine Boy, had arrived, he hurriedly ordered a ladder to be set down for them to climb inside.

Doctor Li and the Little Medicine Boy not only arrived themselves but also brought several heavy large bags.

Someone outside saw and gathered around, shouting from a distance, "Isn’t the Dingbei Marquis Mansion sealed off?"

Housekeeper Han shouted back, "Our Dingbei Marquis Mansion now only allows entry, no exit; if that’s not sealing off, what is?"

"Indeed," these people couldn’t find anything else to argue about.

Housekeeper Han’s face was bleak, unable to say much in front of Doctor Li and the Little Medicine Boy, he privately told Gu Shiliu, "Tell the Marquis, someone is watching our Marquis Mansion; they are probably up to no good."

Gu Shiliu immediately became alert, asking, "Who are these people, does Housekeeper Han remember?"

Housekeeper Han then took Gu Shiliu up to the shaded area by the gatehouse near the courtyard wall, hiding in the shadows cast by the gatehouse. He pointed out a few people, motioning for Gu Shiliu to look carefully. Afterward, they walked a few steps away and whispered, "Those were the ones. Last time, when the Chief Eunuch came to deliver a decree, they were watching from nearby, I remember them clearly. Look at their attire; they don’t seem like locals living nearby. They resemble idlers. Look at the way some of them walk; their stances are steady, and their inner strength is deep. Such people loitering around the mansion gates, isn’t it strange?"

Gu Shiliu muttered, "Shi Ba doesn’t even know what’s going on; why hasn’t he mentioned anything?"

Housekeeper Han said, "Shi Ba mentioned before that many spies are watching the Marquis Mansion, mostly from the various Prince Mansions. But these people are not just simple spies."

These people indeed seemed like practitioners.

They were watching the Marquis Mansion with likely ill intentions.

Gu Shiliu shivered, climbed up the wall again to scrutinize the appearances of these people, committed them to memory, and had someone draw them out, taking it to Gu Shiba who was outside.

Gu Jinghui, upon learning of this, said, "Once you have investigated thoroughly, dispose of that one named Liu, smallpox doesn’t discriminate, having a few more smallpox patients in the mansion won’t be strange."

Gu Shiliu nodded, thinking it’s best to deal with a person as they dealt with others.

...

Wutong Garden.

Doctor Li and the Little Medicine Boy sat in the hall, sweating. Qin Yuan accompanied them.

After cooling down a bit, Doctor Li asked, "This time, I brought all my treasured belongings as you requested. Are the thousand taels of silver you mentioned real?"

"Real can’t be any more real."

Qin Yuan replied briefly, ordering someone to quickly bring snacks, gently coaxing the Little Medicine Boy, "Xiao Dong, the pastries here are delicious, have some first, and when the dishes are served, you can eat more. I have a small kitchen here, so in the future, just tell me if you crave something. If I’m not convenient, you can tell Hong Ye or Cui Ming."

Doctor Li complained, "How come you forgot about me? I spent all day yesterday grinding medicine, lit candles at night to make pills, and packed bottles early in the morning. It exhausted me."

Qin Yuan said, "I remember your kindness naturally, wouldn’t forget even with Xiao Dong here. I’m just worried for Xiao Dong, he’s still so young, and you brought him to the mansion."

This Xiao Dong, in his past life, had died young due to a plague. Doctor Li brought him again this time, making Qin Yuan feel a bit sorrowful, wanting to treat the child well.

Seeing Xiao Dong’s eyes crinkled in laughter, Doctor Li snorted, "People die for wealth, birds die for food. Would I come if it wasn’t for the thousand taels in the Marquis Mansion? Since I’m here, I ought to show my skills. How will Xiao Dong learn if he doesn’t follow me?"

Qin Yuan said, "Got it, got it. I’ve even prepared your silver note of a thousand taels, you won’t even need to visit the accountant. I’ll give it to you right now."

Cui Ming quickly handed over a silver note. Doctor Li took it, confirming it was indeed a thousand-tael note, smiled, and tucked it into his pocket before asking, "Tell me how you plan to deal with that one named Liu."