Her Heart Was Stirred

"But young lady, on my way back just now I couldn't help but think, you said you wouldn't look for men anymore, so you're actually just making do with the Marquis, that's really something!"

If we disregard matters of the heart, the Marquis is truly perfect in every way.

Er Ya now finds Xu Weibei admirable.

"... It's just that your reputation isn't the best, but you don't seem to care. The Marquis treats you genuinely well, so just live together as companions."

Gu Wanning didn't answer, but simply said, "Go tell your sister-in-law about this. She should tell your father and brothers, so they won't have to ask me about it again later."

She didn't want to talk about it anymore.

Er Ya has gone.

In the afternoon, several concubines came to see Gu Wanning, their expressions varied, but all were unusually solemn. Even the usually lively Fourth Concubine looked like a wilted eggplant.

Gu Wanning gestured for everyone to sit down and asked her Second Concubine, who had the sharpest tongue, "What's going on? What's wrong with all of you?"

"Madam," the Second Concubine seemed the most distressed, "the Marquis is sending us away."

"Lay off?"

After a brief moment of shock, Gu Wanning quickly understood what Xu Weibei meant.

Since he couldn't do it, he didn't want to waste people's youth.

Moreover, even before he realized he had a physical problem, he had already said he would release them all.

But now, the moment has finally arrived when the arrow is on the bowstring and must be released.

Keeping them around is bad for everyone.

Spit can drown a person.

"Then," Gu Wanning sighed, "What are your plans?"

Needless to say, First Concubine Qin Lie will marry his first wife.

Although the First Concubine looked anxious at the moment, she was actually the one whose future was the most certain.

She and Qin Lie still had a foundation of affection from their past lives, but she just couldn't get over that mental hurdle.

She had previously said she wanted to marry Qin Lie. Although Qin Lie did not agree to her leaving the military camp, after the sudden occurrence of Xu Weibei's incident, Qin Lie would undoubtedly support his First Concubine's future.

The Third Concubine had been torn between opening a clinic and staying at the Marquis's Residence's mansion, but now she doesn't need to hesitate anymore. She can just open a clinic and start a new business.

With her senior brother backing her up, Fourth Concubine's arrangements are not a problem.

Therefore, the person who is suffering the most right now is probably the Second Concubine.

In particular, the Second Concubine had previously benefited greatly from the Marquis's Residence.

She publicly claimed to be favored by the Marquis, but now that favor has become the Emperor's New Clothes.

"I don't know either," the Second Concubine said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Let's go home first. I was thinking that even if the Marquis couldn't make it, I wouldn't leave. But now... if I stay, I'll only make my brother a laughingstock. I do want to help the Marquis, but I'm powerless to do so. I hope that one day I can repay the Marquis for his kindness over the past few years."

"If you keep dragging this on, you'll only be wasting your youth." Since things had come to this, Gu Wanning could only comfort her, "You're still young, find a good family to marry into."

"I'm only worried about it affecting my business."

"What's there to worry about?" Fourth Concubine said bluntly. "These past few years, your family business has improved tenfold because you married into the Marquis's Marquis's Residence, taking advantage of his influence. Even if you lose 50% or 60% now, it's still much more than before."

"That's true." The Second Concubine cheered up, "Life can still go on."

In recent years, my younger brother has earned over ten thousand taels of silver.

Even if she only gets a small fraction of it, it'll be enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

People shouldn't be too greedy.

"What are you going to do?" Gu Wanning asked her Fourth Concubine again.

Fourth Concubine said, "The Marquis said he sent someone to write to ask my senior brother how he would arrange things for me. I told the Marquis that since that's the case, I'll go ask him myself. Anyway, there's no fighting at the border now, and I'd like to go out for a walk."

"Then the Marquis agreed?"

"He agreed. He said he'd send a team to escort me and forbade me from wandering off."

Hopefully you'll keep your word and not cause trouble for others.

"I'm going to find my senior brother, but I dare not do anything reckless, he's very fierce," Fourth Concubine muttered under her breath.

The First Concubine's smile was tinged with bitterness. "I thought we sisters could be together forever, even if it was just like this, it would be fine. I never expected it to end so quickly."

"We've been living off the Marquis's Residence for so many years, and now the Marquis forbids us from doing so. But we're still grateful," said the Second Concubine.

The Third Concubine remained silent, only looking at Gu Wanning.

Gu Wanning did not understand what he meant.

However, when she looked at her questioningly, the Third Concubine didn't answer.

"We'll see each other more often from now on," the Second Concubine said, perhaps to herself, "And we won't have to worry about the Marquis anymore. That's good, that's good."

The group didn't stay long, because Xu Weibei only gave them three days to pack and move out.

There's no time for sentimentality.

When everyone else left, the Third Concubine stayed behind alone.

She had something to say to Gu Wanning.

Chapter 223 She's Fallen in Love

"Sister, I suspect that the Marquis was framed."

While Gu Wanning was shocked, she also felt a surge of unbelievable joy.

She had previously suspected that Xu Weibei's defect was congenital.

In that case, I'm afraid no one can do anything about it.

But if it was someone else who harmed him, is there still a glimmer of hope?

Why do you say that?

"Because after careful consideration, if the Marquis were truly born with a deficiency, he wouldn't have grown into the person he is now."

Xu Weibei exudes a strong masculine aura.

Whether in appearance, physique, or personality, he is a completely straight man.

"... If one is born with a deficiency, one might be somewhat... effeminate."

"I think you have a point," Gu Wanning said, "But the Marquis has never done it before, so how do you explain that?"

"I don't understand this either. But perhaps I'm not skilled enough to see through it; I keep wondering..."