Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 15 Zheng Burke and Duan Yuyan
"How do your stepmother and elder brother treat you on a daily basis?" Zhao Han asked softly.

Gu Tingye knew that Zhao Han was someone he could make close friends with, so he answered without hiding anything: "My eldest brother is distant and cold to me, and sometimes even looks at me as if I were his enemy. However, his old illness has relapsed recently. If the imperial physician had not arrived in time, he would have nearly died. He probably would have killed me."

"My stepmother..." Gu Tingye hesitated for a moment before speaking, "She treats me very well, sometimes even leaving me at a loss."

"I spent a fortune in brothels and even stayed away from home for several days, and she never complained."

"Whenever my father beat or scolded me, she would desperately protect me, even arguing with him until her face turned red. Everyone in Bianjing praised my stepmother for her virtue and love for her stepson."

"If you say she has any intention to harm me, I can't believe it."

Zhao Han tapped lightly on the table with his slender fingertips, at a steady pace.

"Zhong Huai's words remind me of the story of Duke Zheng defeating Duke Duan in Yuyan."

"Duke Zhuang of Zheng condoned his younger brother Gongshu Duan's misdeeds and kept silent about his mother, Lady Wu Jiang's partiality. Everyone praised his generosity and benevolence, but little did they know he had already laid a net, waiting only for Gongshu Duan to commit enough evil so he could legitimately eliminate him."

Gu Tingye's eyebrows suddenly jumped, and an indescribable fear surged in his heart.

He couldn't help but recall that the first time he entered the gambling house was because of the instigation of the servants in Xiao Qin's courtyard.

It was Xiao Qin who helped him keep it a secret when he stayed overnight at Yiyun Tower for the first time.

Even if he committed a terrible crime, Xiao Qin would use his young age as an excuse to defend him.

Every detail is very similar to the methods used by Duke Zhuang of Zheng.

"My stepmother..."

Gu Tingye was speechless for a moment and couldn't think of any rebuttal.

Zhao Han smiled gently and said softly, "In my opinion, a truly loving mother should be like Yan Shi, who taught her children by drawing on bamboo sticks, rather than using indulgence as a form of love."

"Brother Zhao's words make sense, but why would my stepmother want to harm me? I've never offended her, and I've treated my third brother very well."

Zhao Han probably knew the reason why Xiao Qin hated Gu Tingye, but if he said too much, it might make Gu Tingye suspicious.

He shrugged and filled Gu Tingye's glass of wine.

"I don't know about that. If you really want to know, you might as well investigate secretly after returning to Bianjing."

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Brother Zhao!"

Gu Tingye picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Just then, there was a faint and hurried knock on the door.

Zhao Han looked in the direction of the voice, and soon saw Changqing and Minglan jogging into the main hall.

"Brother-in-law, my mother is having a difficult birth, and none of the midwives in the mansion are here!"

"I went to ask the doctor, but he saw that I was young and didn't want to go with me!"

"Dad and Madam are not at home either, so I can only come to ask my brother-in-law for help!"

Minglan's voice was trembling, her hair was disheveled, and her soft strands stuck to her sweaty forehead. Her lips were slightly blue from the cold, and her hands were red, swollen, and broken from knocking on the door desperately.

"How could such a thing happen to the dignified Sheng family? And they even let you, a little girl, run out to seek medical advice?"

Gu Tingye shook his head and sighed softly.

Generally, the mansions of dukes and marquises would specially provide for several midwives.

Ordinary officials' families would hire a few midwives to come to their homes when their wives became pregnant.

Two taels of silver were given as tea money every month, and an additional ten taels of red envelope were paid when the baby was born.

When the young lady in the Sheng mansion gave birth, there was no midwife present, and the young girl in the mansion was even asked to go out to ask a doctor.

If this were to get out, the Sheng family would be completely disgraced.

"Brother-in-law, my little sister is almost out of strength, please help me save her!"

Tears as big as beans rolled down his face, and his little body was a little shaky due to excessive fear and excitement.

Zhao Han turned to look at Gu Tingye, "Zhonghuai, I'm afraid I can't drink with you anymore today." Gu Tingye quickly waved his hand and said, "Life and death are at stake, you go and attend to your business!"

At this moment, Changqing had already ordered his servants to prepare the carriage outside the door.

Zhao Han hurried to the door and carried Minglan directly into the carriage. Mother Hu followed behind and hurriedly instructed, "Brother, go to Yishoutang in Pipa Lane. It's a famous gynecologist in the city."

"Okay!" Zhao Han responded, and the driver headed straight for Pipa Lane.

Minglan crossed her arms over her chest, curled up into a ball, and her teeth chattered uncontrollably.

"You're running out wearing such thin clothes." Zhao Han said, and hurriedly took off the cloak from his shoulders and wrapped her in it.

Feeling the sudden warmth, Minglan raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes, "Brother-in-law, will something happen to my mother?"

Zhao Han's eyes darkened. He had already reminded Xiaodie that Wei Xiaoniang should have seen through Lin Qinshuang's trick.

If Wei Xiaoniang dies in childbirth today, it can only be said that it is God's will.

However, he still comforted her, "Don't worry, Miss Wei is blessed by fate. Once we hire a doctor, she will definitely be able to give birth safely."

"Yeah." Minglan nodded and raised her hand to wipe away the tears that were about to roll down.

The rear house of the Sheng Mansion, where Wei Xiaoniang lived.

Xiaodie stood by anxiously, wiping Wei Xiaoniang's sweat with a handkerchief.

"Hold on, little girl. The girl has gone to get a doctor and will be back soon."

"Luolu, pour some hot water over here. My little girl said she wants to drink some water."

Luoluo is Wang Ruofu's person, and she doesn't have any bad intentions towards Wei Xiaoniang.
She picked up the kettle and said hurriedly, "There's no hot water in the kettle. I'll go boil some."

"Why is the hot water in the kitchen so slow to boil today? I wonder if my little girl needs it?"

As soon as Lin Qinshuang learned that Wei Xiaoniang had broken her water and was in labor, she hurried over with Zhou Xuenniang.

He was currently guarding outside the house, occasionally tiptoeing to look inside, with a hint of viciousness and gloating in his eyes.

"Where is the Sixth Miss?" Lin Qinshuang asked in a low voice.

"I don't know where that girl Xiaotao ran off to just now. I think she was probably frightened by the bloody scene in the house."

Lin Qinshuang held a round fan in her hand and curled the corners of her mouth.

"That's right. Even though the sixth girl looks smart, she's only an eight-year-old child."

"Send someone to look for her. If they find her, send her to Mo'er and let him play with her for a while."

Zhou Xuenniang nodded repeatedly.

Outside the corner gate, Zhao Han had already arrived with the doctor from Yishou Hall, but he found that the dark wooden door was tightly closed. No matter how much Minglan knocked on the door, no one answered.

"Stop knocking, let me do it." Zhao Han walked forward and pushed the wooden door. He was worried that he had no place to use his strength, but he didn't expect that he would be presented with the "door" so soon.

He clenched his fists, and his knuckles made a crisp sound. Seeing this, the old doctor tactfully took a few steps back, holding the medicine box.

Zhao Han took a deep breath, raised his foot and kicked suddenly——

Just listen to "bang".

The door latch broke instantly and the wooden door burst open. Such a noise naturally attracted men and women to come and watch the fun.

"This is the residence of Tongpan Sheng. What happened inside?"

"Who knows, but this fellow is so strong that he could break the bolt with one kick."

"Hey, hey, hey, isn't this the young man from the Zhao family who just got engaged to the eldest daughter of the Sheng family a while ago?"

"..."

　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)