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

Chapter 246: Success Comes Effortlessly

Gu Shiliu deliberated and replied, "I did hear about it, but I’m not sure of its authenticity. He’s a tough one. He managed to endure for so many days before. Why couldn’t he hold out for the last time? The man was on the brink of death, and it’s not impossible for him to speak nonsense before dying. However, what he said matches the deeds of Brother Cheng and the others. Perhaps someone from the upper rooms was indeed in secret contact with him."

The room was shrouded in shadows, oppressive and suffocating.

"Very well," Gu Jinghui finally said, "Do you think they know?"

"They," in this context, referred to Mrs. Zhao’s dragon and phoenix twins. Gu Shiliu hesitated and did not dare to answer.

Gu Jinghui didn’t press him further, changing the subject coldly, "How’s the arrangement with Liu?"

Gu Shiliu replied, "By now, he might have already turned to ashes."

Gu Jinghui continued, "Did the servant make things clear?"

"Everything’s clear. He only helped place that one item and did nothing else. This time, Liu asked him to send out a letter once the mansion was opened, saying his family would receive ten taels of gold. It just so happened Brother Qi’s mother overheard it."

"Hmm, whose child is he?"

"He’s a nephew of Housekeeper Zhang. His father had been to war, returned with a crippled leg, and has been resting on the estate. Housekeeper Zhang promoted him to serve in the mansion. Who would have thought he’d do such a thing."

Gu Jinghui considered for a moment and said, "Punish him and send him to the estate. From now on, his family should not be transferred to the military or the mansion."

Gu Shiliu agreed and asked, "What about Housekeeper Zhang?"

Gu Jinghui said, "Have people watch him more closely to see if it was an inadvertent mistake or something else. After all, he’s an old-timer in the mansion, with his family serving alongside the Old Marquis for generations. Even if relocated, there should be a legitimate reason."

"I just feel indignant. If he had been stricter, none of this would have happened."

Gu Jinghui replied, "As you’ve mentioned, it’s due to lax supervision. The punishment would be docking the monthly stipend and a reprimand. Any more than that, and people will cry foul. These are long-serving individuals, sometimes with more clout than I have with the Old Madam. The lady is currently auditing the accounts, bring anything to her attention."

This meant waiting for the lady to uncover the accounts before taking action.

Gu Shiliu understood and said, "Then I’ll go ask Hong Ye."

Saying he’d ask, was actually to expedite or gently hint.

Gu Jinghui acknowledged with a simple "Hmm", then inquired, "About the Xu Family..."

Gu Shiliu anxiously shifted his feet, saying, "Shi Ba is still investigating. The Xu Family sons frequent a casino, which is privately owned by King Jin. They are likely aware of the gambling debts."

This presents a bit of a predicament.

If King Jin wanted to trouble the Marquis Mansion, he could easily start with the Xu Family, and it would inevitably become entangled.

Gu Jinghui frowned in disgust before saying, "Understood. Before the matter is fully investigated, don’t inform Sixth Elder. Let him focus on poetry and painting."

Seeing no further instructions, Gu Shiliu withdrew to seek Gu Shiba.

In the darkness, two strong men conversed through the newly opened small window by the corner door, hunched and somewhat uncomfortable.

"Why is the Xu Family matter taking so long to investigate?"

Gu Shiba, full of complaints, said, "Can you blame me? The mansion only gave me so few people. One moment I’m checking unexplained visitors outside the mansion; the next, I’m investigating the Xu Family affairs. I haven’t even found Xu Zhen and Mrs. Zhao yet. I don’t know how to report back to the Marquis."

Gu Shiliu reassured, "There’s no choice. With the mansion sealed, you’re exhausted. If the Marquis reprimands you, you have reason to explain. But you need to find a way to expedite investigating the Xu Family. Once the mansion opens, they’ll come causing trouble, unavoidable. The Marquis is troubled, and Sixth Master can’t handle it."

"What about Xu Zhen?"

Gu Shiba was puzzled. The Xu Family’s disturbance was all about Xu Zhen. If they could find Xu Zhen, the commotion would cease.

"The longer the situation drags on with Xu Zhen, the less hope remains. In a city as vast as the Capital City, hiding someone isn’t hard. If kidnapped, they might not even be in the Capital City anymore. It’s not to say you shouldn’t investigate, but just focus on what will produce results first."

Gu Shiba sighed in agreement, then suddenly remembered something and said, "Sixteen Brother, pepper prices are changing daily; it’s dropped to forty-five taels of silver per jin. Shen Changle says it’s not enough and wants to spread more rumors. It seems the Xu Family joined Sixth Madam in trading pepper, and they’re jumping around cursing at home."

Gu Shiliu chuckled lightly through the small window, saying, "No rush, the madam hasn’t ordered any purchases yet. Help me send word to Seventeen that pepper prices are plummeting in the Capital City. Let him monitor regional price changes and send news back, so I can report to the madam, letting her know we’ve invested too and are equally concerned."

Gu Shiba nodded in admiration.

Gu Shiliu considered again and added, "You can inquire separately about the Xu Family’s bulk purchase of pepper. Last time they visited, I noticed their family wasn’t united."

"You’re sharp, Sixteen Brother; I’ll stick with you. If the Marquis finds fault, you’ll have to help me out."

"Of course," Gu Shiliu said, "Go on, we’re tired talking through a small window. When you see Shen Changle, urge him to print that poetry collection quickly. Sixth Master will be out and about after the mansion opens; there are many upcoming festivals. Having the poetry collection would be great for wide distribution and gaining fame."

Gu Shiliu, feeling stifled in the mansion, was keenly anticipating the Book Sea Pavilion, eager to let them see the grandeur.

Gu Shiba knew of the matter and promptly said, "Don’t worry, Sixteen Brother; we’ll go to the Book Sea Pavilion together and show them properly when the time comes."

After chatting, they hurriedly dispersed.

Gu Shiliu whistled leisurely as he walked back, feeling an urgent need to urinate. Seeing no one around, he ducked under a floral trellis to relieve himself.

Halfway through, he spotted a sneaky figure approaching the wall’s base.

Gu Shiliu immediately paused, holding his breath to watch what the figure was up to.

The person, hunched over, fumbled about at the wall’s base, then stopped. After a few movements and a gentle kick, they quietly slipped away along the wall.

Gu Shiliu didn’t care that his trousers were half wet, signaling like an insect to relay the message, and stealthily followed the person, trailing them near the upper room.

"What a stroke of luck," Gu Shiliu thought to himself.

The figure reached the spot where light cast its shadows, smiling at the nanny guarding the door, saying, "I had a stomach upset, squatted a bit longer."

The nanny replied, "No problem, you stand guard for a while; I’ll have some water and then fetch a lantern."

Gu Shiliu memorized the nanny’s appearance and quietly returned to the wall, keeping watch.

A guard he summoned had already extracted the item; it was a small parcel wrapped in oil paper. Upon opening, it revealed a note full of cryptic words, meaning unknown.

Gu Shiliu reinserted the package and instructed the guards to keep watch on the area, waiting to see who would come to retrieve it.