My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 240: The Blind Old Woman

Gu Shiliu said, "I understand, it will be in the next two days."

Gu Jinghui’s face was as cold as frost, nodding slightly.

Gu Shiliu continued, "Shall we say Doctor Liu was trampled to death by a startled horse then?"

Gu Jinghui replied, "Be careful not to let anyone discover your movements, you can ask Doctor Li. As for Doctor Liu... see if he can say anything more. His life must end in my hands; if he hadn’t played both sides between King Jin and the Crown Prince, I would have handed him over to the Emperor for disposal."

Gu Shiliu retreated.

Gu Jinghui took out a box from a hidden compartment of the desk, staring fixedly at the needles inside, his expression cold and somber, whispering softly, "Those who harm the Gu Family, how can they expect a good end, right?"

When Gu Shiliu entered the courtyard, Doctor Li and Xiao Dong were drying herbs; Brother Qi was still lying inside the house, and his blind mother sat outside with a cane, occasionally chiming in.

"Sixteen Brother is here," as soon as he saw Gu Shiliu, Xiao Dong came up with a beaming smile, asking, "Did the Marquis give any instructions?"

Doctor Li glanced at Gu Shiliu’s expression, still squatting without standing up.

Gu Shiliu replied with a smile, "I came to ask your master something; shouldn’t you be heading to the Old Madam’s courtyard now?"

Xiao Dong also laughed, "I’m going right away, I’m quite busy these days."

Gu Shiliu liked to humor him, so he said, "You are quite industrious, being not just a little teacher to the Sixth Master in the mansion, but also to the Old Madam."

Xiao Dong thought of something and laughed heartily.

Doctor Li placed down the herbs, washed his hands with some clear water, shook them dry, then walked over, glancing at Xiao Dong’s attire, saying, "Go ahead, I think Old Madam enjoys having children around, you’ll liven things up by going."

Brother Qi’s blind mother suddenly interjected, "Xiao Dong, you mustn’t talk to Young Master Cheng, he has a violent temper, stay far away from him."

Gu Shiliu laughed awkwardly a few times.

Xiao Dong earnestly replied, "Thank you, granny, I will remember."

The blind nanny smiled, nodding, "Go ahead, don’t keep the Old Madam waiting."

Gu Shiliu pulled Doctor Li aside and whispered, "Go over there and check the pulse."

Saying this, he nodded towards Doctor Liu’s room with his chin.

Doctor Li had guessed as much and said, "Just check the pulse?"

Gu Shiliu looked somewhat troubled and said, "Of course not, but if you are unwilling, the Marquis will not force you."

Doctor Li said, "Now that I’m in this mansion, I am in the same boat as you, so be sharp in what you do. Judging from his way of speaking, he also comes from an aristocratic medical family. When his family sees the bones, they will understand what happened."

Gu Shiliu sighed, "The Marquis promised him an intact corpse; otherwise, we would have burned him long ago without so much trouble."

Doctor Li remained silent, gave a signal, and led Gu Shiliu towards the room where Doctor Liu stayed.

The servant guarding outside opened the door, and a foul stench assaulted their noses.

Doctor Li checked the pulse and, not avoiding the sick person lying on the bed, said, "The spleen and kidneys are damaged, the intestines inside the belly are rotten, if..."

Doctor Liu groaned, "...Did the Marquis still keep his promise..."

Gu Shiliu said, "The Marquis said if you can find a way to explain it clearly, since Doctor Li has exceptional medical skills, able to cure smallpox, but cannot save you, he will do as you suggest."

Doctor Li was taken aback.

Doctor Liu swallowed with difficulty, his breathing grew heavier, and a fierce light emerged in his murky eyes.

Gu Shiliu didn’t mind and continued, "Think carefully, you only have two days left; the Marquis will inform the Emperor about this. If you leave too many clues, it might endanger your family."

Although these words sounded cruel, they were not untrue.

Gu Shiliu led Doctor Li out, and Doctor Liu struggled to speak, his voice hoarse and slurred, "Is the Marquis serious?"

Gu Shiliu did not turn back, proclaiming, "Naturally, it is true. The Marquis always keeps his word; which noble in the Capital City doesn’t want a promise from my family’s Marquis? If not for your courting death, the Marquis would have befriended you, putting you everywhere first. Now like this... it’s better to die early and prevent family harm."

Doctor Liu smiled silently and bitterly.

What is the point of saying these things now?

The play is over, his part is done, set the day he stepped on the stage in makeup.

Doctor Li also felt a sense of lament.

When Xiao Dong returned, Doctor Li said, "You must remember clearly, never do something against your conscience for a small amount of money, and do not get too close with these Princes. A slight misstep could cost your head. A person’s death would be bearable, but dragging down family is the worst, like the one lying in that room."

The method of avoiding misfortune, Doctor Li didn’t know how many times he had reiterated it.

Xiao Dong smiled, "Master, aren’t we already involved? Doctor Liu dares to bring harm to the Marquis, and the people behind him are formidable too. I heard you and the senior sister talking about it that day, even if no one knows that Dingbei Marquis’s wife is my senior sister, we are part of the mansion, helping the Marquis, so naturally, people will hold a grudge."

"Hiss..." Doctor Li fell speechless.

Xiao Dong continued, "Master was dragged into this for the senior sister’s sake, and so was I; we and the Marquis Mansion share the same fate now."

Doctor Li frowned in thought, and only after a while did he say, "I didn’t think a youngster like you would have more insight than me. I suppose it’s a good thing your senior sister kept secrets, at most outsiders see us closely tied to the Marquis making good with him but wouldn’t suspect beyond that."

Xiao Dong wrinkled his face and asked, "What if it’s like that?"

Doctor Li was again lost for words.

Xiao Dong suspiciously glanced at Doctor Li, knowing he wouldn’t say anything further, he went out to pour water, passing by the blind nanny, and customarily asked, "Is Brother Qi eating well?"

The blind nanny smiled, "Yes, yes, I eat well too. It’s indeed better than being outside, thanks to the kindness of the Marquis and the Marchioness, allowing this blind nanny to live a good life."

Xiao Dong was about to walk past when he heard the blind nanny whisper, "Xiao Dong, I overheard the person in the room asking the doorman for a favor, could you quietly tell Sixteen?"

The blind nanny, slow to move, often sat on the doorstep all day, often overlooked by people; sometimes when Xiao Dong and Doctor Li discussed things in the courtyard, they forgot her presence, and suddenly hearing her speak would startle them.

Presumably, that servant and Doctor Liu were whispering, avoiding others but not Brother Qi’s blind mother.

Xiao Dong also whispered, "What did you hear?"

The blind nanny shook her head, "Didn’t hear too clearly, just a few words, let Sixteen ask, you’re too young, don’t get into trouble."

Xiao Dong fetched another basin of water, returned to the house, and told Doctor Li, "I need to go to the outer courtyard to find Sixth Master, see if he has been practicing diligently today."