Starting to Indulge Her

She ignored Xu Weibei.

"Your family can't be relied on," Xu Weibei couldn't help reminding her.

"No one can be relied on. Lean on a mountain and the mountain will collapse; lean on water and the water will flow away. So now I rely on myself to farm."

Xu Weibei felt a little stifled.

If this woman showed even a little weakness, could he really leave her to fend for herself in the future?

Even if they divorced, for the sake of how simple and guileless she was, he would see that she was properly provided for.

How could Gu Wanning understand the twists and turns of his thoughts?

She was worried about First Concubine and went to see her twice more.

The other concubines knew First Concubine was in poor condition, so they were all there.

Gu Wanning said, "Since everyone's here, I'll pass on what the Marquis said... If any of you have any plans in the future, tell me, and I'll make the arrangements for you."

The three women looked dejected.

In truth, they were like birds whose wings had been clipped. Even if they were set free, they would only end up as prey.

Before, they could have called the Marquis's Residence a cage. But now that the cage had been opened, they saw reality more clearly: they themselves lacked the ability to leave.

The one chattering away was, of course, Fourth Concubine. "Who asked him to do it? Was it my senior brother? They've already won the battle, so why hasn't my senior brother come back..."

"Didn't you ask the Marquis?"

"I did. The Marquis said he was fine, but he wasn't coming back yet. I don't think he misses me one bit..." Zhou Yaya muttered.

Gu Wanning swept her gaze over everyone. "All right, since none of you can leave, then make yourselves at home. As long as I'm here, I can keep you comfortable. Let's make the best of living together. Just don't set the Marquis's Residence on fire."

Everyone except First Concubine, who was lying sick in bed, laughed.

First Concubine seemed a little tired now, her eyes half open.

Zisu brought in minced-meat congee cooked until soft and thick. Gu Wanning said, "Sit up and have a few mouthfuls."

First Concubine actually nodded. She forced herself to eat nearly half a bowl before lying down again. "Sorry for making you and my sisters worry, Madam. I'm fine now."

"All right. Now that you've eaten, go to sleep. You'll be better when you wake up." Gu Wanning tucked the corners of the quilt around her.

But things were not so promising.

Chapter 33: Starting to Indulge Her

After First Concubine fell asleep, she did not wake up even by noon the next day, and she was plagued by nightmares the whole time.

No matter how those around her called to her, she could not wake up.

Third Concubine was at her wits' end, and the doctor she had summoned could do nothing either.

How had things suddenly taken such a sharp turn for the worse?

Gu Wanning could not understand it, nor could she accept it, so she went to find Xu Weibei.

"Marquis, could you ask an imperial physician to come and have another look at First Concubine? She was perfectly well; we can't let something happen to her like this."

Xu Weibei said, "If you need an imperial physician urgently, you'll have to ask Grandmother. Send someone to her. If I send someone, who knows what Grandmother will think this time."

For instance, she might think he was favoring a concubine and neglecting his wife, then come storming over to back Gu Wanning up, making an exaggerated show of it.

Xu Weibei did not want to see his grandmother act that way.

It would make him feel that he was beneath contempt in her eyes.

"All right." Gu Wanning hitched up her skirt and ran out. "I'll go myself and bring the imperial physician back, so the princess won't get any other ideas."

Watching her hurry off, Xu Weibei looked somewhat puzzled.

He asked Gao Lan, "Didn't you say women always fought for favor and got jealous?"

His limited knowledge of the women in the inner courtyard and their relationships with one another had all come from Gao Lan.

But now it seemed none of it was reliable.

"Well, well..." Gao Lan said, "Perhaps, perhaps it's because they all have plans of their own and aren't thinking of settling down with you, Marquis."

Xu Weibei glared fiercely at Gao Lan.

When had he fallen so low!

Gao Lan wished he could slap himself. Why did I have to blurt out the truth like that!

After the imperial physician arrived, he too was at a loss.

Fourth Concubine had already burst into tears.

Gu Wanning found her noisy and told her to go outside.

A living, breathing life was at stake; she could not stand by and watch her die.

Just then, Second Concubine said, "Madam, I don't think First Concubine looks ill. It's more like a ghost has attached itself to her..."

"Don't make it sound so frightening. I don't believe in those things."

"Madam, we can only treat a dead horse as though it were alive now. Let's try everything, so we won't have regrets when we look back." Second Concubine added quietly, "Besides, it's money from the household purse, and First Concubine will owe you a favor afterward."

Gu Wanning: "..."

Was this about spending money?

Forget it. They could only give it a try.

She sent someone to fetch a spirit medium that very night to burn incense and paper offerings and perform a ritual dance in First Concubine's courtyard.

After a long while without seeing Gu Wanning return, Xu Weibei came looking for her. He saw Gu Wanning and the other women jumping up and down together as the spirit medium instructed, each holding a peachwood sword, and his anger surged.

How could they be so ignorant!

He was the last person to believe in ghosts and gods, and he hated it most when others played at such supernatural tricks.

He was just about to lose his temper when Gu Wanning, as though she had spotted her savior, came over and tugged on his sleeve. She said to the spirit medium, "The Marquis is here. He's sure to be more effective than us! Isn't the Marquis a general star descended from heaven? If he joins us, won't ordinary ghosts be afraid too?"

Xu Weibei: "..."

The lanterns beneath the corridor eaves lit up the anger on Xu Weibei's face for all to see.

Seeing this, the spirit medium hurriedly said, "Yes, Madam is right. The Marquis is the most effective of all!"

Gu Wanning shoved her peachwood sword into Xu Weibei's hand. "Come on, Marquis, wave it a couple of times. If you wave it a couple of times, you'll be more effective than all of us!"

Xu Weibei really wanted to split her head open and see what sort of paste was inside.

But he saw the slight redness around Gu Wanning's eyes, the fine beads of sweat on the tip of her nose, and the several red mosquito bites on her neck from being outside for so long. The words of rebuke caught in his throat, and he could not say them.

She was trying so sincerely and so hard for First Concubine.

And that was the very woman who was competing with her for a man.