Marquis Gu was both amused and annoyed, waving his hand and saying, "Go on, just look at you, getting hungry just hearing there’s braised beef in the kitchen."

Gu Shiba smiled awkwardly.

Qin Yuan said, "Then quickly go to the kitchen and get a bowl of beef noodles, it cooks fast and fills you up."

Gu Shiba acknowledged and walked out.

Marquis Gu said, "Don’t worry about him, he’ll find his own food in the kitchen. With braised beef, he can eat eighteen buns."

Hong Ye let out a laugh.

Marquis Gu glanced at her and said, "You’re laughing again, your face is like a three-year-old’s, changing at a whim. Instead of hiding and crying when something goes wrong, you’d rather come to your master. I always thought you were bold and fierce and worried that in the future Gu Shiliu would be oppressed by you, but surprisingly, Cui Ming stands firm."

Hong Ye sighed, "Please don’t talk about this, Marquis. I’m afraid there’s no fate between me and Gu Shiliu; you don’t have to worry about him being mistreated by me anymore. Someone else is giving him trouble, and maybe he even enjoys it, not thinking of me at all."

Marquis Gu looked at Qin Yuan, catching her gaze, clearly blaming him for starting all this.

Marquis Gu immediately said, "Alright, alright, let’s not talk about these depressing things. Gu Shiliu and you are destined to be together, no one can take that away."

Hong Ye cried again, "Even if he comes looking for me, I wouldn’t pay him any heed. What has he done, treating me like this? I will never forgive him again."

Marquis Gu had a headache from all of this.

Neither way seemed right.

The Gu Family, out of nowhere, decided to arrange a marriage for Gu Shiliu.

"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous," Marquis Gu said, "Gu Shiliu himself might not even know about this, how could you blame him?"

Hong Ye’s tears fell again as she choked out, "Please don’t trouble consoling me, Marquis. He’s been avoiding me these days, clearly with other thoughts. Today, Hong Mian left early, claiming to go home for a meeting, and he’s been absent from the mansion, possibly to do who knows what? Even if he wasn’t aware at first, he must know once he saw her. He’s truly a person who betrays love and loyalty."

She hiccupped several times as she spoke.

In the end, a big bubble of snot burst from her nose.

She was extremely embarrassed.

Hong Ye cried again.

Marquis Gu: "..."

It truly was inexplicable, Gu Shiliu would have to fend for himself.

Fortunately, someone came back from outside, and the attendant sent to investigate Gu Shiliu’s home had returned.

Marquis Gu shouted, "Hurry up and get in here to report, what are you dawdling for?"

The attendant hurriedly entered, not daring to look up.

"Reporting to Marquis, I went to Gu Shiliu’s home. His mother said today was the day to confirm the engagement with the Li family; she sent a message early on asking Gu Shiliu to return, but he never did. So, his mother decided on her own."

"Decided on her own?"

Qin Yuan asked in surprise.

The attendant, bowing his head, said, "Yes, Madam. Gu Shiliu’s mother said she first settled his engagement, then planned to arrange marriages for his younger brother and sister. Otherwise, it would hold up their marriages, and they couldn’t wait."

Hong Ye burst into tears.

Crying her heart out.

Marquis Gu sighed, "Which Li family is this again?"

The attendant quietly replied, "If I tell you, Marquis, you might not know. There are many Li families in our household. This family once went to war, later retired to their hometown to guard the ancestral house, then were recalled and put in charge of purchasing."

Marquis Gu indeed didn’t know, so he asked, "Is their daughter serving in our household?"

The attendant quickly glanced at Qin Yuan and said, "She serves Madam at Wutong Garden, it’s Miss Hong Mian."

Marquis Gu said, "So, it’s really Hong Mian."

The voice carried a hint of coldness.

The attendant stood with his hands lowered, not daring to speak further.

Qin Yuan said, "Hong Mian requested leave last night to go back for a meeting. It seems it was with the Gu family."

Marquis Gu said, irritated, "Doesn’t she know anything about Hong Ye and Gu Shiliu’s situation?"

Qin Yuan said, "She probably knows. Who wouldn’t be attracted to Gu Shiliu after the way Marquis trained him? I don’t know who else in Wutong Garden might be interested in him."

Hong Ye sobbed, "Miss, don’t make trouble with the Marquis over this; you can’t blame him. Just blame me for not having the fortune."

Qin Yuan said to Marquis Gu, "Look at this. I increasingly feel that Gu Shiliu isn’t good enough for my Hong Ye. Who’s to blame for Marquis training him so well? If Hong Ye did something wrong, you’d blame me first."

Marquis Gu knew Qin Yuan was venting, but he had to endure it, what else could he do?

It was he who said to keep Gu Shiliu’s absence from the mansion a secret, and now it had come to this...

Marquis Gu said, "It’s my fault, Madam, don’t be angry. I will definitely give you and Hong Ye a satisfactory explanation."

"It better be so."

Qin Yuan said to Hong Ye, "You heard it, Marquis’s words are as good as gold. If he said he’d give you an explanation, then he will. Don’t cry anymore; if you’re not satisfied, I’ll deal with Gu Shiliu myself."

The guard shivered beside them.

Hong Ye gradually stopped crying.

Qin Yuan continued, "Look, Gu Shiliu wasn’t aware of the situation nor did he go to meet Hong Mian. Don’t blame him too much. Marquis said he had many tasks assigned recently, it wasn’t intentional to avoid you. Don’t be too sad, Marquis will find a solution."

"Alright," Hong Ye wiped her tears, stood up, and bowed to Qin Yuan and Marquis Gu, saying, "I will take my leave now."

Marquis Gu frowned and waved his hand, "Go on then."

The attendant stood aside watching Marquis Gu.

Marquis Gu said, "You may leave as well."

The attendant, relieved, quickly withdrew. Encountering Gu Shiba who had eaten and drunk his fill, he said, "Our Madam is really formidable; I see Marquis is quite afraid of her. I’ve never seen Marquis apologize so straightforwardly, especially for a maid by Madam’s side."

Gu Shiba sneered, "What do you know, our Marquis isn’t afraid of Madam; he respects and cherishes her. Hong Ye is a close maid to Madam, how can you compare her to ordinary maids? Marquis must give her some regard. Besides, this is Gu Shiliu’s mistake, and Marquis feels embarrassed."

The attendant murmured, "Why are you saying it like that too."

Gu Shiba said, "If I don’t say it like this, how should I? What do you know? Do you know that I worry all day, just hoping the masters love each other dearly?"

The attendant shook his head, "...You’re sick..."

Gu Shiba immediately jumped and shouted, "Who did you hear say I’m sick?"

The startled attendant quickly waved his hands, "Brother Shiba, I really didn’t say you’re sick. I just... yes... I just suddenly remembered, I... I still have a sickness to see a doctor for..."