A Folk Remedy Harms People

Fourth Concubine offered an explanation. "Do you remember Linglong? She was the maid who followed the Marquis before, and later even gave birth to Marquis daughter. She was the one who came to your door asking for a formal title."

"How could I not remember?" Er Ya interjected. "I saw her yesterday, holding the child like a thief. When she saw me, she ran away faster than a thief."

"She went to Dengwen Drum yesterday!"

Gu Wanning was shocked.

Linglong went to beat the Dengwen Drum; what grievance did she have that she wanted to appeal to the Emperor about?

Didn't Xu Weibei just successfully exonerate the Xue family after working tirelessly for them?

Does she want to exonerate others? But what does that have to do with her?

Fourth Concubine poured out everything she had heard, telling it all in detail.

It turns out that Linglong had struck the Dengwen Drum yesterday, requesting an audience with the Emperor.

This matter cannot be hidden at all.

When the Emperor heard that she claimed to be Xu Weibei's maid, he immediately granted her an audience, though his motives are unclear.

Linglong told the Emperor that A Yi was the daughter she gave to Xue Fengxian, and that A Yi had the blood of the Xue family flowing in her veins. She begged the Emperor to allow A Yi to be recognized as a member of the Xue family and to find a husband to marry into the family in the future, so as to restore the Xue family's prestige.

Gu Wanning went crazy when she heard this.

Linglong's daughter turned out to be Xue Fengxian's.

No wonder, no wonder...

Xu Weibei must have known the truth beforehand, and he claimed that A Yi was his daughter in order to protect his friend's orphan.

But isn't Linglong betraying Xu Weibei by doing this?

The Emperor was already wary of him, and now that he knows what he's done, even if he doesn't punish him out of consideration for their relationship, he'll still feel uneasy!

"Saying the Marquis is incompetent," Er Ya muttered, "You can't say Marquis's incompetent just because A Yi isn't Marquis daughter. Doesn't the Marquis still have Jiaoniang? That's too arbitrary. In my opinion, it's Linglong who cheated on the Marquis."

After all, according to popular opinion, Linglong should be Xu Weibei's woman.

"No, no," Fourth Concubine said, "Linglong said that she was carrying the Xue family's child, and the Emperor asked her how she could prove it wasn't the Marquis's. She said the Marquis was no good..."

Gu Wanning: "!"

Linglong had always served Xu Weibei closely, so it's normal that she could find out.

It's even possible that she was originally taught by her aunt, but Xu Weibei didn't know, and she didn't say anything.

Linglong had served Xu Weibei closely for many years, so her words were seen by outsiders as confirmation of the matter.

Betrayed by those closest to you, your shortcomings exposed to the world, and ridiculed by everyone...

So, it's not really hard to understand why Xu Weibei took poison.

"How come I haven't heard a thing?" Er Ya said. "Didn't this happen yesterday? Zhi Nu went to deliver the food, but didn't say anything when she came back..."

"His Majesty tried to suppress this matter yesterday, but how could such a thing be suppressed? Today, the whole city is abuzz with it." Fourth Concubine asked Gu Wanning, "Sister, is this true?"

Chapter 217 Unorthodox Remedies Harm People

"What's real or fake?" Gu Wanning said, "Don't spread rumors!"

"That's fake," Fourth Concubine said. "She said those things about the Marquis to prove her child was from the Xue family. But the Marquis is so pitiful; he can't defend himself. He can't exactly run into the street, take off his pants, and say, 'Look, I'm good, I'm very good...'"

Gu Wanning: "..."

Fourth Concubine may be a bit slow-witted, but what she said makes sense.

Gu Wanning thought to herself that this was probably the only thing she could do to comfort Xu Weibei.

That is—as long as you don't admit it, as long as you say you can, who knows you can't?

Who's going to pull down your pants?

You have to be thick-skinned to survive.

Although Xu Weibei himself may find it difficult to escape this psychological torment, we must be very capable when dealing with external matters!

Regardless of the circumstances, taking poison is wrong.

She desperately wanted to shake Xu Weibei's shoulders and wake him up—"Brother, wake up!"

You are a war god with illustrious achievements; don't focus your attention on worldly matters.

The Third Concubine whispered, "I'm afraid many people will use this to attack the Marquis."

No matter what Xu Weibei says or does, a casual remark like "You're no good" or "You're not a man" can deliver a devastating blow to him.

Xu Weibei's mentality will never be good again.

The God of War may find it difficult to continue.

Gu Wanning was also worried about this.

She was also worried that Xu Weibei might continue to have suicidal thoughts and do something foolish.

"I'll go see the Marquis," she said, gritting her teeth as she stood up.

Gu Wanning felt that if she passed by his door today without going in, and something really happened to Xu Weibei in the future, she would definitely regret it.

There must be something more between them than just their ex-husband and ex-wife relationship.

For example, her admiration for heroes.

For example, his tolerance of her unconventional behavior.

"Third Master is here; he won't let you go."

"I have a way; I just need to avoid him."

Fourth Concubine said that the Marquis's Residence was not sealed off, but rather that the Imperial Guards were acting on the Emperor's orders to protect Xu Weibei and drive away the onlookers.

Then she can enter if she makes a normal visit.

Gu Wanning's solution was to have the Third Concubine distract Gu Anfang.

"Hua Ying, you treated my third brother's injuries before, and he was the most polite to you."

Third Concubine: "... Actually, we're not that close."

"You don't need to be familiar with him, as long as he's polite to you," Gu Wanning said. "He owes you a favor. So, just pretend you twisted your ankle, stall him for a bit, and we'll leave through the back door."

"This..."

"What will you do if something happens to the Marquis?" Gu Wanning asked anxiously.

The Third Concubine didn't hesitate any longer and nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll hold off the third master. You persuade the Marquis not to have any more suicidal thoughts."

Whether these girls can continue to live a peaceful, carefree life depends entirely on Xu Weibei.

Soon, as planned, the Third Concubine twisted her ankle when she appeared in front of Gu Anfang.