Chapter 387: Chapter 388: A Stain on One’s Reputation

Old Mrs. Ning grew anxious. She had only been the matron of an official family for a short time and had yet to enjoy many of its blessings. She couldn’t bear the thought of being inexplicably harmed by that venomous woman.

The more she thought, the more panicked she became. Forgetting all about her dignity, she nervously grabbed the old doctor’s hand, startling him so much he wanted to fling it away.

"Madam, please show some self-respect! Unhand me. This is damaging to my good name."

The attendant at his side grew frantic as well. The master’s wife had repeatedly instructed him to be especially mindful of his master maintaining propriety between the sexes. How was he supposed to explain this when he got back?

Without a second thought, he lunged forward to pry Madam Ning’s hand away. "Don’t touch my master! If you have to grab a hand, grab mine!"

The old maidservant standing by was stunned. ’It’s just a medical consultation, what is all this drama about?’

"Nonsense!" the old doctor barked. "Both of you, let go."

Old Mrs. Ning reluctantly released her grip. "Doctor, you must not have checked my pulse carefully. I feel uncomfortable from head to toe."

"I treat physical ailments, not sicknesses of the mind. I cannot cure the symptoms you describe. Please find someone more capable." The old doctor had encountered too many people like her. He didn’t even want to exchange pleasantries, simply showing her the door.

"Doctor, I’m telling the truth! You’ve heard of Xiao Wanyu, haven’t you?

That bitch poisoned her husband and mother-in-law before entering my household to become my son’s concubine. I’ve never approved of her. Given that venomous woman’s nature, she must have already tried to poison me.

Please, take another good look. If you really diagnose a problem, I’ll go to the government office and report her."

Seeing the old woman gnashing her teeth, her face twisted into a terrifying grimace, the attendant who had been holding her hand was so scared that he hid behind the old doctor.

But when he recalled the piece of gossip the old woman had just revealed, the little medicine boy couldn’t resist peeking his head out in curiosity.

The old doctor was also a little surprised. In truth, he was quite curious about this case as well.

It likely wasn’t just him; every doctor in Shangjing probably wanted to know the details.

He took her pulse once more, earnestly and carefully, but in the end, he could only shake his head. "My skills are limited. I truly cannot detect any problem. Perhaps you should try somewhere else?"

Old Mrs. Ning’s face paled. "That venomous woman is certainly skilled if so many doctors can’t find a thing."

The little medicine boy poked his head out. "I must say, you’re an interesting one, old lady. Instead of seeing all these doctors, why don’t you just go ask the Xiao Family’s daughter herself? She would definitely know who poisoned you..."

The old doctor smacked him hard. "He’s just a child with a big mouth. Please, Madam, don’t pay him any mind."

Seeing the little medicine boy about to speak again, the old doctor shot him a fierce glare, which finally silenced him.

Old Mrs. Ning, however, looked as if she had been inspired. She slapped her thigh. "That’s right! I’ll go find her."

As the old woman disappeared like a gust of wind, the doctor, still taken aback, muttered, "...With a body that robust, if that’s what being poisoned is like, I’d almost want a dose myself."

***

Meanwhile, Xiao Wanyu, sitting in her jail cell, was completely unaware of the events outside. She had been interrogated again today. Although it was the same questions over and over, she worried that if things went on like this, they would soon resort to torture.

Now, even her cellmate, Yu Xiaoju, had been taken away to some unknown location. ’Even though I was always careful to act when she wasn’t looking, I still feel uneasy.’

She still couldn’t understand it. Why was this settled matter being dredged up again?

Her thoughts turned to the much-gossiped-about Gu Family couple, but she quickly shook her head. ’I hadn’t even come face-to-face with Jin Qianqian at that point. How could she have investigated my background?’

When she thought of how she had fallen to such a state while that woman was living peacefully as an official’s wife, a wave of bitter resentment washed over her.

In that moment, she completely forgot her own dire circumstances.

Unexpectedly, while distributing the evening meal, the old woman guarding the jail muttered something inexplicable: "It started with Mrs. Gu Jin."

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Xiao Wanyu immediately bit her lower lip. It all made sense now. Even for the sake of the Xiao Family’s reputation, her official mother and sister had no motive to harm her, and that mother- and daughter-in-law pair from the Ning Family didn’t have this much power.

"So, it’s Jin Qianqian," she seethed. "You’ve brought me to this point, and still you frame me again and again. This is not over between us."

***

「The rear courtyard of the Huang Mansion」

"Has the message been delivered?" Xiao Shi Yu asked without looking up from her task of copying the Huang family rules.

"She should know by now," the old maidservant beside her whispered.

"Mm. In that case, you are dismissed. I will continue copying alone for a while."

"Yes."

Once the woman had left the room, Xiao Shi Yu tossed her brush aside, and a maidservant immediately stepped forward to take her place.

She glanced at the girl’s script, noting that it was a perfect match for her own handwriting. Only then did she nod in satisfaction and sit down to enjoy the freshly served bird’s nest soup.

***

Jin Qianqian never expected Gu Lehuan to actually come to her with such a request.

"You want *me* to propose for you?" Jin Qianqian was stunned after hearing his plan. "I’m your aunt, not a matchmaker."

’I’ll have to take a good look in the mirror when I get back,’ she thought. ’I’m a beautiful, charming young woman. What’s wrong with this boy’s eyes? How could he see me as a matchmaker?’

"Seventh Aunt, I’m truly in love with Mr. Xu. If possible, I’m even willing to marry into his family..."

Jin Qianqian refused to hear any more. "This is something you should be discussing with your grandmother. I can’t make this decision for you."

"...I know they won’t agree. That’s why I was hoping I could propose marriage."

Jin Qianqian retorted, "Then you should make the arrangements yourself. There are plenty of matchmakers on the street. You can’t possibly expect me, your own aunt, to go to his door personally, can you?

If your parents blame me for this later, I’ll have been wronged for nothing."

Gu Lehuan lowered his head. "If you would help act as a go-between, I don’t think Mr. Xu would refuse."

Jin Qianqian laughed coldly. "He wouldn’t *dare* refuse, is that it?

Use your brain for a second. Do you really think a marriage obtained through coercion could ever be a happy one?"

"I’ll treat him well in the future..."

"Stop," Jin Qianqian cut him off, able to guess what he would say next. "Don’t bother with such empty promises.

Haven’t you ever heard the saying? ’A man’s mouth is a deceiving ghost.’ You’re so young, but you’re already quite the schemer."

Gu Lehuan grew frantic, raising his hand to swear an oath. "Every word I’ve said is from the bottom of my heart! If I’m lying..."

Jin Qianqian slammed her hand on the table. "This is not something you should be telling me! Don’t think that just because you’ve spent a little time in the marketplace, you can start acting like a common shrew. If swearing oaths actually worked, what would we need the government office for?

Even if you are truly smitten with Mr. Xu, this is not the way to handle things.

If you still don’t get it, go and ask your fourth uncle. As a man of experience, and your own uncle at that, I’m sure he can offer you some sound advice."

It was the first time Gu Lehuan had ever seen Jin Qianqian lose her temper, and he was stunned.

He honestly had no bad intentions. He had simply thought that since his Seventh Aunt was a woman, she might be more persuasive and have an easier time convincing Mr. Xu.

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