The whole family of villains listens to my heart, the Regent Prince treats me dearly.

Madam Gu warmly wrapped Zhai Rongyu's small hand, not noticing Qi Huali's expression.

After failing to withdraw her hand again, Zhai Rongyu chuckled dryly and changed the subject: "Hehe, where is Miss Gu?"

She had just greeted each of the women, but hadn't seen Gu Xiruo.

At this point, Madam Gu's round face drooped.

Zhai Rongyu took the opportunity to withdraw her hand.

"I don't know what's wrong with Xiruo lately; she's always listless."

This morning, she said she felt dizzy and unwell again, so I simply let her lie in bed.

I just came from her place too. When I left, her face was still pale. Sigh.

Madam Gu sighed, her plump face full of worry.

Just then, a maidservant rushed over.

"Madam, something terrible has happened! Miss has fallen off the bed!"

"What happened?!" Madam Gu exclaimed anxiously, "How could she have fallen like that! How have you been taking care of Miss?!"

"Miss, Miss, she..." the maid stammered, glancing at Zhai Sangjie.

"What's wrong, Miss? Tell me quickly!"

Zhai Rongyu was startled when she saw the old man suddenly appear beside her.

Seeing the cane in his hand, I realized it was Master Gu.

In the original book, Master Gu always liked to tap people with his cane. This action was so distinctive that even though he was a minor character with little description, Zhai Rongyu remembered him immediately.

The maid gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and said recklessly, "When Miss heard that General Zhai had come, she insisted on seeing him. In her haste, she... she fell off the bed!"

"You scoundrel!" The old man's face turned red with anger, and he jabbed the ground several times with his cane. "This is utterly indecent!"

"All you know about decorum is decorum!"

Madam Gu twisted over, pointed at the old man's nose, and scolded, "Xiruo is like this now, and you're partly to blame! Gu Fanghai, let me tell you! I only have one daughter, and I risked my life to give birth to her. If you dare to..."

She suddenly realized there were many outsiders around, and stopped talking.

She glared at Master Gu and said bitterly, "In short, I'm not done with you!"

Mr. Gu sighed, "Madam, just spoil her!"

After saying that, he glared fiercely at Zhai Sangjie.

I don't know what's so great about this brat that Xiruo is so attached to him after just one meeting!

He's just a roughneck who only knows how to fight!

"Humph!"

Then, fuming, he walked away leaning on his cane.

Zhai Sangjie: ? ? ?

Suppressing a laugh, Zhai Rongyu said to Madam Gu, "I know a little about medicine, so if you don't mind, may I take a look at Miss Gu?"

I need to check on my future sister-in-law for my brother.

[She's probably lovesick!]

"You think you can do this?" Qi Huali scoffed. "Miss Zhai grew up in the countryside; her medical skills must be from village medicine, right?"

"What kind of medical skills could a country doctor possibly have?"

Shen Mingzhu also laughed and said, "Madam Gu, it's best not to let her see Miss Gu. Miss Gu is of noble birth; what if she harms her?"

Madam Gu stepped forward, took Zhai Rongyu's hand, and said, "I trust my benefactor."

The two men's expressions instantly darkened.

Zhai Rongyu's lips twitched slightly.

[You two, the hidden geniuses and the fledgling geniuses, can you shut up for now?]

[I finally managed to free my hand!]

This is truly outrageous!

Zhai Sangjie stepped forward and said, "I will go with you."

“That won’t do.” Madam Gu frowned. “General Zhai is, after all, an outsider. This is probably against etiquette…”

"I'll just stand outside and not go in."

Zhai Sangjie paused for a moment, then said, "I have to protect Rong'er's safety."

If my brother hadn't said that last sentence, I would have believed he was trying to protect me.

But even though he emphasized it so much, I still feel like something's fishy going on.

[Hehe~ Something's up!]

As a seasoned veteran who had been immersed in the gossip world for many years, Zhai Rongyu immediately sensed that something was amiss!

My brother must have developed an interest in Gu Xiruo!

The maid whispered in Madam Gu's ear, "Madam, let General Zhai go. If Miss knew the General was going to see her, she might be so happy that her illness would be cured!"

After a moment's thought, Madam Gu nodded.

He then took Zhai Rong and Zhai Sangjie to Gu Xiruo's courtyard.

Shen Mingzhu stared at Zhai Sangjie's retreating figure for a while, then thought for a moment and followed after him.

Zhai Muling didn't want to get entangled with the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince, and was about to go together when Jun Yiqing stopped her.

"Muling, the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern festival is in three days. I've rented a painted boat. Would you like to join me to admire the lanterns and the moon?"

Just as Zhai Muling was about to refuse, he said, "I have something to say to you then."

Zhai Muling thought for a moment.

With so many people around, refusing him might damage the royal family's reputation, and it wouldn't be good if it implicated the Minister's family.

It would be better to talk things out with him privately on the day of the lantern festival and have him voluntarily break off the engagement.

He nodded in agreement.

Jun Yinghuai's eyelids twitched violently when he saw that she had accepted the Sixth Prince's invitation.

His lips were pressed tightly together, and his eyes were shrouded in boundless darkness, as if anger was brewing within them.

Did they pledge their lives to each other like this in their past lives?

Lantern Festival?

Watching the moon?

That's quite romantic.

Jun Yinghuai gave a mocking smile, his eyes growing increasingly cold and indifferent.

"Sixth Brother rented a pleasure boat, why didn't he invite us to go up and enjoy it together?"

"Your Highness is too kind. I would naturally welcome you if you wish to come."

Jun Yiqing waved his folding fan, his smile somewhat forced, "I just didn't expect the Crown Prince to have developed such an interest?"

“People naturally change.” Jun Yinghuai stared at Zhai Muling, his eyes deep.

*

When Zhai Rong arrived at Gu Xiruo's courtyard, she sensed that something was amiss.

A faint black aura emanated from the courtyard.

When Madam Gu opened the door, she saw Gu Xiruo leaning against the bed with a large bump on her forehead. She hurried over.

"Oh dear! How could you be so careless!"

She looked at Gu Xiruo with some heartache and asked, "Does it still hurt?"

"Mother..." Gu Xiruo was about to cry with a wronged expression, but when she saw the figure standing in the courtyard, she immediately straightened her back.

"That...that is, General Zhai?!"

Her face flushed instantly. She put her feet down on the bed and was about to go out to look, but then, as if she had thought of something, she immediately lay back down on the bed and pulled the blanket over her face.

No, I must look awful like this.

I can't see him!

Madam Gu patted her brocade quilt and said with some helplessness, "General Zhai is just outside the courtyard and won't come in."

Gu Xiruo pulled the blanket down to her eyes. "Really?"

Seeing Madam Gu nod, a sense of disappointment suddenly welled up in her heart again.

Madam Gu looked at Zhai Rongyu and said, "My benefactor, I would like to trouble you to take a look at Xiruo."

Zhai Rongyu nodded, walked to the edge of the bed and introduced herself: "Miss Gu, I am Zhai Rongyu, here to examine your illness."

"Zhai Rongyu?" Gu Xiruo's eyes widened as she poked her head out. "You're his sister?!"

Zhai Rongyu nodded, somewhat amused.

Gu Xiruo immediately sat up, pulled the blanket up to her stomach, and looked at her shyly, gently fiddling with the hem of her clothes.

Perhaps she got up too quickly, because her little face scrunched up and her shoulders trembled slightly.

Zhai Rongyu then saw her face clearly; it was as white as paper, her forehead was swollen, and her eyes were red and wet, like a rabbit's, as if she had been crying.

He didn't seem to be in any serious condition, but his breathing was somewhat disordered.

Something's not right...

She opened her third eye and indeed saw a black aura surrounding Gu Xiruo!

"Vicious and terrifying" is a curse that takes lives.

Someone in this house wants to kill her!