"Did Yelv Xianyong betray his master?"

"No, I don’t think so."

"Otherwise, why would the Dingbei Marquis be drinking with him?"

Their whispering was soon interrupted by a sharp reprimand from the guards.

"Be honest! Don’t exchange whispers or idle chatter, or else face the baton!"

The two quickly separated, only communicating through soft whistles when the guards were not paying attention.

...

Inside Wutong Garden, Marquis Gu and Qin Yuan lay in bed, chatting leisurely.

Qin Yuan asked, "Is today’s move taught to you by Mr. Songshan?"

Marquis Gu smiled, "Not entirely. Mr. Songshan said, for those who love fame, belittle them. For those who crave wealth, tempt them to shake their disposition, this way you can achieve the desired result. Scholars indeed have twisted minds, skilled at manipulating."

"You managed to persuade Yelv Xianyong with just a few words today, quite impressive."

In the darkness, Qin Yuan looked at Marquis Gu with sparkling eyes, genuinely impressed.

Marquis Gu enjoyed the admiration.

"I sincerely like Yelv Xianyong and want to recruit him, but unfortunately, he has vowed never to betray Yelv Guza. The words I spoke to him today were indeed heartfelt, not entirely feigned."

Qin Yuan smiled, "Will you invite him for a drink again tomorrow?"

Marquis Gu laughed, "Of course."

Qin Yuan asked, "Is this trick also taught by Mr. Songshan?"

"No, it’s improvised. Since he is unwilling to betray Yelv Guza, let Yelv Guza abandon him instead."

Marquis Gu’s expression turned cold and terrifying, "I want to see how Yelv Guza can stir trouble in Daxing without gold or silver and his right-hand men."

He even dared to harm his little wife with the idea of infidelity.

He must have grown tired of living.

Old grudges remain unsettled while new enmities arise.

Qin Yuan gently patted his back and said, "Deprive him of provisions and talented generals, all he can do are despicable tricks. We’ll be cautious; if he dares to confront us, we shall return it and teach him a memorable lesson."

These words were quite to Marquis Gu’s liking.

He said, "I’ll have General Jin arrange some skilled maidservants to protect you closely. Naturally, there’s no trouble in the Marquis Mansion, but it’s better to be careful outside."

Qin Yuan was surprised, "General Jin can arrange such things?"

Marquis Gu laughed, "It’s mainly Madam Jin arranging."

"Madam Jin?"

Qin Yuan was even more intrigued.

Marquis Gu explained, "Madam Jin learned swordsmanship from a disciple of Gongsun Dama in her youth. Later she met General Jin, who also had some martial arts skills, and they became husband and wife. After General Jin joined the army to pursue his career, Madam Jin followed him to the Northern Border. General Jin even learned martial arts from Madam Jin; throughout the journey, Madam Jin endured much hardship, contributing substantially to the dowry, else why would General Jin fear her so much? Madam Jin traveled widely, experienced and wise in instructing people."

Qin Yuan laughed, "No wonder Madam Jin seems to have much say in the Jin Family."

Marquis Gu also laughed, "Besides taking concubines, General Jin listens to Madam Jin in everything else. The concubines in the Jin Family may not fear General Jin but cannot afford to disregard Madam Jin. That’s why I have Treasure Bead train in martial arts; firstly, the Gu Family gains another descendant adept in martial arts, and secondly, with Treasure Bead’s lively nature, progress in martial arts ensures she won’t suffer losses in the future."

Qin Yuan remained silent for a while.

Having been raised cautiously from a young age, speaking and acting within boundaries to protect herself, she never imagined Dingbei Marquis Mansion would nurture girls in this way.

Regarding the future marriage arrangements for Gu Baoshu, naturally, the Marquis Mansion’s perspective would differ from hers, so she considered it unsuitable to express much.

Marquis Gu thought she had fallen asleep, gently kissed her forehead, held her tighter, and drifted into a deep sleep.

For several consecutive days, Marquis Gu invited Yelv Xianyong for drinks and meat, engaging in conversations.

Yelv Xianyong, straightforward at heart, was grateful and held the Dingbei Marquis in high regard due to such treatment, unaware that his clansmen imprisoned with him were growing increasingly distant, their gaze filled with suspicion and caution.

On this day, Yelv Xianyong was again drinking merrily with Marquis Gu.

Marquis Gu seemed not entirely cheerful.

Yelv Xianyong asked, "Does the Marquis face any dilemmas today?"

Marquis Gu sighed, "It’s just family matters, fearing it may bore you with trivialities."

"Why would it?"

Though not addressing Marquis Gu as ’brother’, he felt more intimate.

Marquis Gu poured him a bowl of wine, "It’s a long story; when I was at the Northern Border, one of my soldiers saved me but was injured while blocking a blade for me."

Yelv Xianyong said, "Such matters are common on the battlefield; the Marquis should thank him greatly in the future. I believe if the Marquis saw him in danger, you would rescue him enthusiastically."

Marquis Gu raised his own bowl, clinked it with Yelv Xianyong’s, "Indeed you understand me, let’s drink."

They both drank their fill.

Marquis Gu continued, "But he eventually died. Although the army used the best golden medicine, and the military doctors tried various methods, his life couldn’t be saved. I feel guilty, having promised to care for his wife and children." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Hearing this, Yelv Xianyong’s eye twitched, refraining from responding and instead poured and drank a bowl silently.

Marquis Gu added, "I then acknowledged his two children as my adopted son and daughter; upon returning to the capital, I settled them in the mansion, unexpectedly causing tensions due to my marriage."

Yelv Xianyong’s eyes flickered, "Could it be your wife couldn’t tolerate them?"

"Ha, it’s laughable really. The widow had other intentions, causing trouble with the children. I want to seek her husband’s family to come to the capital to help take care of them; with the Marquis Mansion’s protection, the children’s future is bright."

Marquis Gu recounted various predicaments, Mrs. Zhao’s anger leading her to leave the Mansion overnight, and incidents like smallpox eruptions in the Mansion, all choosing the shareable parts.

Yelv Xianyong said, "Now that those two children are fostered elsewhere, what worries the Marquis?"

"I personally watched them grow up; my cousin has no children and treats them as if born of him, adopting them to ensure someone cares for him in old age, maybe even inheriting a child would be ideal. Due to Mrs. Zhao, the ancestral hall wasn’t opened; waiting until the children grow, if she doesn’t return for them, I’ll register them under my name, a share of the estate is bound to them."

"Unexpectedly, those children heard idle gossip and are causing disturbance, accusing my cousin’s family of adopting them merely to curry favor with the Marquis Mansion, not with genuine affection. Now, even my cousin’s residence is unsettled, my heart truly troubled."

Yelv Xianyong had words ready but swallowed them.

Only after some time did he say, "Why should the Marquis let this trouble you? As the saying goes, ’the car will find its way around the mountain; the boat will go straight when it reaches the bridge’. "

Just then, outside came the sound of tumultuous whistles and the clash of weapons.

"Don’t let anyone escape."