Madam You trembled as she took her seat again, "Indeed, I am getting old, not as agile as before, perhaps we should have Ru Hua go ask."

Ru Hua went out for a while and returned, her face pale and filled with uncertainty.

Empress Lin, knowing this maid to be usually composed, quickly asked, "What happened?"

Ru Hua struggled for a moment, steeled herself and said, "Well... well, people outside are saying that Miss Gu Qi caught an affair, catching Prince Jin and the eldest miss of the house."

Affair?

Prince Jin and Miss You?

Everyone present was filled with suspicion.

Madam You’s body swayed and she fell back against the chair.

"Old Madam, Old Madam..."

Ru Hua was anxious, rushed over to pinch the old lady’s upper lip, and shouted, "Quickly call a doctor."

The director of the Imperial Hospital, who hadn’t dared to leave the small courtyard, was called over again to treat the old lady, fumbling for half a day, sighed and said, "The old lady is elderly, and suffering from a rush of anger, phlegm blocking the heart channels. My medical skills are limited, if there was someone with superior acupuncture skills, perhaps it could be treated. In future, she should be cared for, avoiding too much joy, anger, sadness, fear or agitation."

Empress Lin reproached, "Ru Hua has been serving for so many years, always careful, how could you be careless this time? The old lady was already tired from the day’s labors, hearing this would make anyone anxious, it should have been delivered slowly."

Ru Hua hung her head, silent.

The Empress Dowager stated, "Alright, since you asked, how could Ru Hua dare conceal it? Who would’ve thought it would be such a matter, poor child, always serving attentively, don’t be afraid, just serve the old lady well in the future, I will surely find a skilled acupuncturist amongst the Imperial physicians."

Old Madam You lay upon a hastily prepared small couch, her eyes cloudy, her mouth skewed and making hoarse sounds—who would have thought she’d suffer a stroke on the day of Duke Zhen’s old madam’s birthday celebration.

The Empress Dowager and others felt it was inauspicious, briefly comforted the You Family people, then departed to return to the palace.

The Empress Dowager said to the Crown Prince, "Rest assured, grandmother will never let you marry Gu Baoshu, truly she is too terrible, how could the Eastern Palace have a person like her?"

Grandson is weak, wouldn’t withstand a reckless wife like Gu Baoshu.

Which family’s girl is so unruly?

Again demanding to sit and recruit a husband, again barging in for an affair scandal, revealing two stark naked people, truly imprudent.

Back at the palace, the Empress Dowager said to Empress Lin, "The Crown Prince is weak and cannot handle a girl like Gu Baoshu."

Empress Lin could only sigh.

Mother-in-law discontent, son unwilling, she was helpless.

But how could they still keep ties with the Gu Family?

...

Qin Yuan and Old Madam Gu didn’t have the chance to bid farewell to the other ladies, they hastily boarded the carriage.

Second Granny Pan had just exited the mansion gates, intended to catch up for a few words, perhaps arrange a date to visit, but seeing that, she gave up on the idea.

The two madams of Wuding Marquis Mansion saw, one said, "Every family has their own troubles, we thought the Gu Family was going to rise again, but it turns out Dingbei Marquis is infertile, and Gu Baoshu is unruly, Gu Lao Liu is all scholarly but can’t do anything."

The other one pouted, "Who’s to say, now Dingbei Marquis Mansion has certainly offended the Crown Prince, Duke Zhen’s Mansion, Prince Jin."

Everyone knew what the scandal was about.

Dingbei Marquis’s wife has no family background, and Dingbei Marquis is incompetent, people plotted to set up Dingbei Marquis’s wife but ended up trapping themselves.

The courtyard of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, Miss of Duke Zhen’s Mansion...

Tsk tsk.

Madam Shouchun said to her household’s female relatives, "Today’s matter, the ones that shouldn’t be spoken of, should remain tightly sealed."

Everyone agreed.

Only the concubine’s son’s wife behind her had a slight smile on her lips.

The carriage of Dingbei Marquis Mansion rushed away, the madams suppressed their gossip, bid their farewells, and were about to leave in order of rank when a fast horse suddenly sped past them.

"This..."

"Gu Baoshu, it’s Gu Baoshu."

Everyone: ...

Facing this Miss of the Marquis Mansion, they really didn’t know what to say.

Second Granny Pan murmured, "This family really runs quickly."

After the An Family’s carriage exited the alley where Duke Zhen’s Mansion was located, the Duchess An said to her daughter-in-law, "That birthday feast was well held indeed, Dingbei Marquis’s Mansion will openly oppose the Crown Prince et al in the future."

Daughter-in-law smiled, "After all the calculations, it’s all in vain, You Family’s reputation is bound to be lost completely."

Duchess An said, "Let them be, we don’t participate."

By now, the carriage of Dingbei Marquis Mansion had passed Horizontal Street, less than two miles north to reach Dingbei Marquis Mansion.

Old Madam Gu looked at Qin Yuan and said, "Gu Baoshu’s gotten herself into another mess that made you so frightened you forgo manners."

Qin Yuan said, "Those who accomplish great things do not mind trifles. Now we all must tear our faces off, what use to care for manners, starting tomorrow, the person Duke Zhen’s Mansion dislikes the most is certainly someone from our Dingbei Marquis Mansion."

What words.

Old Madam Gu was taken aback.

Wasn’t her daughter-in-law always refined and reserved, how is she now showing a bit of that unruly taste?

Old Madam Gu still wanted to ask more, Qin Yuan hurriedly said, "Mother, wait until we get back and discuss slowly, there are many things daughter-in-law doesn’t know, wait till Treasure Bead and Marquis return before discussing further.

Today, we offended the Crown Prince, the You Family, and Prince Jin, Marquis will not let them rest easily. If we did not leave, staying would simply be getting humiliated in vain.

The Crown Prince falling into water is not Treasure Bead’s fault, apologizing shows we care, not apologizing doesn’t concern us."

Old Madam Gu swallowed many doubts, turned to ask her, "You are riding with me, where is Treasure Bead? What about Hong Ye and the others?"

Qin Yuan also worried about Hong Ye and the others, but that person assured her not to worry, just wait till returning home.

"Hong Ye Cuiming have other arrangements, perhaps they’ll return before us."

Old Madam Gu asked no more, shifting the topic to her son, "I wonder what’s going on, haven’t seen him for days, a new bride goes out for the first time, if he accompanies you it’ll be more reassuring."

She glanced at Qin Yuan’s expression, asked again, "Were you scared today?"

Qin Yuan smiled, "Scared no, but startled indeed. Treasure Bead’s martial prowess is formidable, even Third Young Master You was injured by her, I suppose she’s taken the recruiting husband affair seriously, don’t know how to soothe her in future."

Outside, Gu Baoshu’s voice was heard, "Soothe me what?"

Qin Yuan: ...

She lifted the curtain, meeting Gu Baoshu who was peering into the carriage with a proud expression, laughing, "Third sister-in-law, I visited the Crown Prince earlier, never expected I wasn’t needed for apologies, even felt if I went, the Crown Prince would have no living route left, so I hurriedly departed, lest anything be blamed on me."