A Cunning Man

If—and he meant if— Gu Wanning's money were stolen, and she couldn't do anything without it, would she give up the idea of leaving?

The Gu family... I don't know if they're genuinely poor or just pretending, but they probably won't give her any money.

Gu Wanning is a very shrewd person; she wouldn't leave rashly without money.

But how could the dignified Marquis of Yingchuan do such a petty and despicable thing?

Xu Weibei was utterly ashamed.

But looking at the box, he felt as if he were looking at the "culprit" who had abducted Gu Wanning, and he really wanted to smash it.

Are all the servants in this mansion so honest and upright?

To avoid having the thought again, Xu Weibei closed the cabinet, but the money was still on his mind.

Stealing is despicable, but perhaps he could find a way to get Gu Wanning to spend the money?

What to do?

Gu Wanning is actually quite stingy; she's a miser and won't let anyone or anything cost her money.

It was also her own fault for being too generous before, letting her use the public funds in the manor as she pleased.

From now on, will he take charge of the public funds of the Prince's Residence's Mansion himself?

But wouldn't that make Gu Wanning resentful and push her away?

Alternatively, he could simply lie and say he had no money left, thus controlling the amount of money given to Gu Wanning while also finding a way to use her savings.

Xu Weibei thought it was acceptable.

He thought about it again and again, and then sent someone to invite his Third Concubine.

When the Third Concubine heard that Xu Weibei had summoned her, she was filled with trepidation and only arrived after a long while.

She wore a dark blue coarse cloth jacket and skirt, which made her still-recovering skin look even darker. She wasn't wearing any jewelry and looked like she had just come back from working in the fields, with a disheveled appearance.

Xu Weibei waited for her for a long time, thinking she was getting ready, but it turned out she was going to the fields?

"You examined Old Madam Gu's leg before, have you gone for a follow-up appointment these past few days?" Xu Weibei asked bluntly.

Third Concubine didn't expect him to ask about this, and after a moment's hesitation, she nodded.

She stepped inside and found only Xu Weibei there, so she didn't go forward. Her heels were almost touching the threshold, as if she were about to turn around and run away, very reserved.

Chapter 88 The Cunning Man

Xu Weibei was also unprepared for her wariness.

She couldn't even figure out Gu Wanning, so how could she have the mind to care about the thoughts of those irrelevant women?

"So what's the situation?"

"Fine."

"Don't we need to use expensive medicinal herbs?" Xu Weibei asked.

"This servant is useless," said the Third Concubine. "Madam said that the Gu family's resources are limited, so we should try to use inexpensive and effective medicinal herbs. If something is absolutely necessary, then we should talk to her about it. But this servant feels that there's nothing that's absolutely necessary..."

"Of course we have it!" Xu Weibei said. "You get what you pay for."

"Then, Your Marquis, what do you mean...?" the Third Concubine asked cautiously.

She didn't quite understand Xu Weibei's purpose in summoning her alone, but at that moment she felt uneasy and resistant.

"It's for the Chief Grand Secretary's wife, so naturally it should be the best. She's her own mother; it's not like we can't afford it."

"Yes, Your Marquis," the Third Concubine replied.

"Go back and change the prescription. If you need money, ask the madam."

Third Concubine subconsciously assumed Xu Weibei was going to pay, and cautiously said, "Actually, Madam said it's best to avoid using medicine from the public treasury. Chief Grand Secretary Gu is an upright and honest man, and doesn't like that kind of..."

"Madam is right!" Xu Weibei couldn't be more satisfied with this conversation. "We can't let a little money ruin Chief Grand Secretary Gu's lifelong integrity. If Madam has any money, just ask her to give it to you. I'll find a way to make it up to you later, but don't mention this to Madam. I'm afraid she'll overthink it."

Whether or not to fix it, we'll talk about it later.

Anyway, Third Concubine probably won't ask for confirmation.

She probably couldn't have guessed that she would be reluctant to spend that money.

"Yes." The Third Concubine nodded in agreement, "This servant obeys."

As long as I don't want her to sleep with me, everything else is a minor matter.

Third Concubine, who had never been poor, didn't really have much of a concept of money.

"Step down."

"Yes, Your Marquis."

"Wait!" Xu Weibei suddenly remembered something and called out to her again.

The Third Concubine stiffened, her heart pounding, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Does the Marquis have any further instructions?"

"You..." Xu Weibei originally wanted her to marry and leave the manor, but then he thought again that she was a female doctor, and it would be convenient for her to stay by Gu Wanning's side if she had a headache or fever.

However, always living in the inner courtyard is annoying; it would be best if she lived further away, but still easy to find.

Xu Weibei carefully examined the appearance of the Third Concubine.

Although he's plain-looking (by a clueless straight man's standards) and has dark skin, he has a gentle personality, doesn't talk much, and comes from a decent background...

Third Concubine felt Xu Weibei's gaze and her body trembled uncontrollably. She had to hold onto the door to steady herself.

She resisted men.

If the Marquis insists on having her, he will discover that she is not a virgin... Even if she can fake it, she will find it difficult to get over her own conscience.

Moreover, the Marquis has not yet favored any of the women in the manor, so a certain balance is maintained among everyone.

If she is the first to be favored, then the attitudes of others towards her will likely change.

That's not what Third Concubine wanted.

"Um," Xu Weibei said, "What do you think of Gao Lan?"

Third Concubine was completely stunned, her expression blank.

"Why did Marquis mention Lord Gao, Lord Marquis?" she asked cautiously. "Do you think there's something wrong with Lord Gao?"

Things probably weren't as she imagined; Xu Weibei probably wanted to give her to Gao Lan as a reward.

"No, I want to ask you, if I asked you to marry Gao Lan, would you be willing?"

"This servant refuses." The Third Concubine knelt on the ground. "Marquis, this servant does not wish to marry. If you can tolerate me, I am willing to live out my days in the Marquis's Residence and serve the Madam... If you cannot tolerate me, please release me and let me fend for myself..."