"Yelv Guza?"

Marquis Gu’s voice, filled with surprise, anger, and confusion, came through.

Clearly, it was beyond expectation.

Hong Ye muttered quietly, "This Yelv Guza dares to come."

Cui Ming said, "Perhaps he’s here to demand someone’s return. It shows that the person caught today is very important to the Yelv Clan’s hostage."

The two were whispering there.

Inside, Marquis Gu was also whispering, "He dares to come."

Qin Yuan said, "I’m guessing he’s here for Yelv Xianyong."

This person is loyal to Yelv Guza and is also brave and skilled in battle. If it weren’t for the coincidence today, it couldn’t have been fooled.

Gu Baoshu shook her head slightly and laughed, "Then we should demand a high price."

Old Madam Gu glared at her.

"Eat properly. Adults’ affairs, children should not meddle."

Though she didn’t punish her, her discipline on her became stricter.

Gu Baoshu pouted slightly, feeling wronged, and stuffed her mouth with a large piece of food.

Qin Yuan laughed, "If the husband agrees to return him, indeed, we should ask for more benefits."

Marquis Gu laughed, "Now that I have the upper hand, how could I easily agree to him? I must thoroughly probe his background."

Upon hearing this, Gu Baoshu nodded heavily in agreement, looking at Marquis Gu.

Old Madam Gu glanced at her, but didn’t reprimand her again.

Qin Yuan noticed and couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Sixth Master Gu frowned and said, "In future, when Mother and Third Sister-in-law go out for social engagements, they must be careful. The Yelv Clan has disrupted us several times without gaining anything, they certainly won’t let it go easily."

Gu Baoshu nodded vigorously, then stuffed another large mouthful of rice.

Marquis Gu said, "Sixth Brother is right. When the ladies go out, they must be careful. He is a barbarian, doesn’t follow rules, nor does he know righteousness. If he does something regrettable."

Old Madam Gu said, "Rest assured, Mother has walked more bridges than you have roads, will be careful."

Marquis Gu then turned to Gu Shiliu outside and said, "Let him wait first."

Gu Shiliu smiled and said, "Okay."

The Marquis intended to finish his meal slowly before meeting the guest.

Understood Marquis’s intention, Gu Shiliu leisurely stepped outside, looking completely different from his previously anxious self.

He had not walked a few steps before Marquis Gu called him back.

"Sixteen, later come over and tell Old Madam and Madam what you found at the ancestral temple."

Gu Shiliu agreed, quickly quickening his pace to fetch things.

Inside the room.

Old Madam Gu asked, "What happened at the ancestral temple again?"

Sixth Master Gu hesitated, glancing at the children eating at the small table, "Mother, better wait until after the meal to discuss."

Gu Baoshu remarkably did not interrupt.

The table finished the meal quickly, and the maids and nannies poured in to serve.

Hands were washed, mouths rinsed, fresh tea changed, and they moved to the living room. Qin Yuan then spoke about discovering a skull at the ancestral temple.

Old Madam Gu was shocked beyond belief, "Could such a thing really happen?"

"Brother Kang, quickly tell Grandmother," Sixth Master Gu hurriedly instructed.

Brother Kang then recounted how he and his Xu family cousin played, competed to see who was braver, sneaked into the abandoned yard to play, and inadvertently fell into the dry well discovering the skull.

Though Brother Kang and Fuguo’er were young, they had already attended elementary school at the Imperial College, so they spoke fluently, detailing without confusion.

Old Madam Gu listened with a tightly furrowed brow, alarmed, "Could there be a murder case hidden inside?"

Qin Yuan solemnly said, "I am worried about this too, so I asked the monks to chant and stabilize them, and asked Gu Shiliu to bring in soldiers from the Great Camp, to wait until we leave to carefully search and investigate. Can’t face other fears, just afraid the ancestral temple might become a place to hide dirt and evil. It would defile our ancestor’s legacy and hide potential calamity."

Old Madam Gu tightly held Qin Yuan’s hand, sighed, "My child, it’s fortunate to have you. The ancestral temples are rotated among clan members for governance, rich and powerful ones contribute more financially. The incense money and monks’ expenses every year, except the clan’s public contribution, are supplied by each household according to old traditions. The Marquis Mansion is the most prestigious in the clan, so we can have a say in all matters. But after Old Marquis passed, the Mansion only contributed silver, no longer managing affairs. If anyone utilizes the ancestral temple to cause trouble, stirring up an incident, no one can escape responsibility."

In calculation, the Marquis Mansion would have to bear the blame for poorly managing clan members.

This could range dramatically, depending on the Emperor’s mood.

Punishments included exile and military labor, or minor glossing over unnoticed.

Qin Yuan laughed, "It was quite accidental, if not for the children’s mischief, this matter couldn’t have arisen."

Old Madam Gu said, "It’s also fortunate for your meticulousness, stabilizing everyone without any leaks. If any problem arises, it would be concerning. Many in the clan are poor, placing coffins in the ancestral temple, living off the land adjacent to it. The land there was bought by ancestors for rituals, its yield used for ancestral offerings, handled by whichever household is in charge. Clan members farming there pay no rent, only contribute part of the yield by share. What I’m worried about is whether these people might collude with monks to do something heinous."

Qin Yuan comforted, "Everything is still uncertain, Mother need not worry excessively. This time, due to the probe, everything will be thoroughly inspected, then invite clan elders to discuss together. Even if nothing exists, it’s better to prevent than cure. The Mansion contributing more silver isn’t a huge issue."

"Good," Old Madam Gu was satisfied.

A daughter-in-law who isn’t overly concerned about finances, understands priorities, acts intelligently, has foresight, what more could she be dissatisfied with?

Her dissatisfaction only lay with her current son.

Old Madam Gu looked discreetly at the clueless Third Son.

Marquis Gu, clueless, hastily said, "Sixteen, did you find anything else? Come in and tell us."

Gu Shiliu had already returned, waiting outside for a while, answered and entered upon hearing.

Old Madam Gu asked straight away, "Sixteen, was anything else found at the ancestral temple?"

Gu Shiliu glanced at the young masters, hesitated.

Old Madam Gu instructed Nanny Rong to take them away.

Only then did Gu Shiliu say, "Following Madam’s instructions, I captured and interrogated several monks and Firework Taoists nearby the temple’s Zen room at night. So far, nothing has been discovered."

Implication, these people were tight-lipped.

Qin Yuan continued waiting for more content.

Gu Shiliu took out from his pocket a curved gold leaf-like ornament, placed it in his palm, "After General Jin brought people, I led them to excavate all soil from the dry well, only found some decayed textiles and a few broken bones. And discovered this..."

Old Madam Gu closely stared at the gold ornament in Gu Shiliu’s palm, her body slightly trembling, voice drifting like a leaf in the wind.

"...What you...what you’re holding, bring it closer for me to see."

Gu Jinghui also focused to look, his expression gradually becoming serious.