His back suddenly grew heavy. Gu Chaobei’s heart tightened in alarm. He hastily stopped. “Yan’er?”

“She’s lost consciousness.” Walking beside him, Yuwen Changqing looked at Shen Guiyan’s profile and said softly, “Take her back first. It’s probably the pain.”

Twenty strokes of the rod—the first few hurt, but the later ones go numb. However, once you recover, all the pain surges back together. Shen Guiyan had probably been enduring it the whole time. Now finally feeling safe, lying on Gu Chaobei’s back, she lost consciousness.

“She can really endure.” Yuwen Changqing said, “If it were someone else reaching this point, their mind would be twisted, full of thoughts of revenge. But she remained composed, actually enduring the entire beating.”

Gu Chaobei quickened his pace toward the Northern Courtyard, for the first time feeling truly enraged. His woman—he himself hadn’t been willing to bully her, yet in a turn, she’d been bullied like this by others!

What family rules and family punishment, what wrongdoing deserving punishment—what did he care about those things? His heart held no grand ambitions, his eyes held only her.

She followed the rules. He didn’t need to.

Baoshan had already gone to fetch a physician. There was only one old physician in the manor. Since the Eastern Courtyard no longer needed him, he came to the Northern Courtyard to treat Shen Guiyan’s injuries.

“This is truly tragic.” The old physician was kindhearted and sighed twice. “The rod struck heavily—it may have injured her internal organs. This old one cannot conveniently examine the Young Madam’s back. I trouble Fourth Young Master to follow this old one’s instructions.”

Gu Chaobei nodded and lowered the bed curtains. Turning his head, he saw Yuwen Changqing still standing there.

“General Yuwen may wait outside for this official.” Gu Chaobei said.

Yuwen Changqing paused, glanced at the person on the bed, and nodded. “Very well. Then I’ll sit in your manor’s garden.”

Gu Chaobei didn’t concern himself with him. This person spent his days idly wandering about with nothing to do. Right now, the priority was treating Yan’er’s injuries.

“Fourth Young Master may remove the Fourth Young Madam’s garments and lay her flat on the bed, back facing up.” The old physician sat with his back to the bed.

Baoshan came to help unfasten Guiyan’s clothes. Gu Chaobei saw the crimson undergarment inside, his face flushing red. He coughed lightly and raised his head to look elsewhere.

“Is the Young Madam’s back bruised and swollen?” the old physician asked.

Baoshan had intended to answer, but seeing the young master’s appearance, her eyes flickered and she kept silent. With the young master present, she didn’t need to worry. It was better to leave everything to the young master while she went out to boil water and prepare medicine.

Thinking it, doing it—Baoshan decisively left.

Gu Chaobei stood stunned for quite a while without hearing Baoshan’s answer. Looking back, he discovered the girl had disappeared. Instinctively glancing toward the bed, he saw Shen Guiyan’s bare, smooth back.

Her skin was very good—white with a hint of pink, smooth as porcelain. But this time, it was truly a tragic sight—covered with red swelling and bruises, swollen quite high, some even seeping blood. He had already calmed down, but seeing this, the rage in his heart couldn’t be suppressed. “This is more than just bruising and swelling—the flesh is nearly beaten to pulp!”

“Fourth Young Master, don’t panic, don’t disturb the Young Madam.” The old physician outside was startled and quickly said, “The Young Madam is exhausted and resting. It would be bad if she were awakened.”

Forcibly swallowing his anger, Gu Chaobei’s expression was extremely terrible, but his voice lowered considerably. “What should I do?”

“Have the maid bring hot water. Young Master, use this old one’s excellent anti-swelling ointment to massage and disperse the Young Madam’s bruises.” The old physician said, “For any places seeping blood, massage less vigorously.”

Him? Gu Chaobei froze slightly. The old physician had already taken ointment from his medicine chest and placed it on the table.

His throat felt itchy. Gu Chaobei coughed lightly, touched his chin, and slowly walked out to get the ointment. He wasn’t embarrassed, really—what woman hadn’t he seen? He just… had never applied medicine to anyone before. He was just a bit nervous, that’s all.

Sitting back by the bed, the old physician outside continued, “You must use some force. The Young Madam may feel pain, but this way she’ll heal faster. As for internal injuries, this old one will write a prescription for the maid to brew. First have Madam drink one dose to see if there are any problems.”

“Good.” Gu Chaobei responded, squeezing out ointment onto his hand. He pressed his lips together and applied it to Shen Guiyan’s back.

“Mm.” Even in unconscious sleep, Shen Guiyan felt the pain. She groaned, more sweat appearing on her forehead. Gu Chaobei couldn’t help but lighten his touch. Seeing her furrowed brows, something small in his heart felt like it had been pricked.

“Don’t be too light, or the ointment won’t work.” The old physician seemed to guess he wouldn’t use force and reminded him.

Gu Chaobei acknowledged, gritted his teeth, and gradually massaged her back with the ointment. The skin beneath his palm was burning hot, and as he rubbed, he too felt increasingly warm.

Shen Guiyan was literally awakened by pain again, though she still couldn’t open her eyes. But she could hear them talking in the room.

The physician said, “This should be about right. After she drinks the medicine, it will be fine… Fourth Young Master, has your internal heat been too excessive lately? Your nose is bleeding.”

“…Perhaps I was too angry just now.” Gu Chaobei lowered his eyes and wiped away the nosebleed with a cloth.

“Your liver fire is too strong. You must also take care of your body.” The old physician rambled on for a bit. “The Eastern Courtyard still hasn’t settled down. This old one must continue there. Taking my leave first.”

Gu Chaobei’s eyes darkened. He called out to stop him. “The child in the First Young Madam of the Eastern Courtyard—was it truly lost from the fall?”

The old physician stiffened. Even with his back turned, Gu Chaobei saw him tremble slightly.

“Otherwise… how else could it have been lost? This old one will leave first.” The old physician answered and left without looking back.

Her body felt somewhat cold. Someone seemed to reach out to lift the quilt, but after a moment, instead of covering her, they opened the cabinet to find a piece of silk to lay over her, then covered her with a robe still warm with body heat.

“Master.” Zhuiyun called from the doorway. Gu Chaobei lowered the curtain, stood, and walked to the door. “You found out?”

Zhuiyun nodded and recounted the entire process of how Shen Guiya lost her child. Gu Chaobei sneered coldly. “What are they saying over at the Eastern Courtyard now?”

“The First Young Madam awakened and said she doesn’t blame the Fourth Young Madam. Madam was quite infuriated. Originally, the Fourth Young Madam was to be punished with two years’ stipend withheld and six months’ confinement to the manor. Now, if the Fourth Young Madam is wrongly accused, not only can she not be punished, but Madam must also apologize for beating the wrong person.”

“Apologize?” Gu Chaobei scoffed. “Who wants to see that hypocritical charade? No need to say more. Since the wrong person was beaten, then let me beat them back. I won’t be satisfied with any other method.”

Zhuiyun was shocked. On the bed, Shen Guiyan, hearing this, had no choice but to open her eyes. “Husband.”

Gu Chaobei froze, reached out to push Zhuiyun outside, closed the door, then quickly walked to the bedside. “You’re awake? The physician said you should rest a while.”

Shen Guiyan moved her head with difficulty and said irritably, “You’re about to go beat Madam, and you want me to rest?”

“You heard everything?” Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow.

“Mm.”

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” Gu Chaobei sat by the bed, looking at her somewhat pale face, pressing his lips together. “Noble households are just this unreasonable. But where was that clever spirit of yours? Why didn’t you know to dodge instead of really letting her beat you?”

Shen Guiyan smiled bitterly. “What use is cleverness? She knew I couldn’t bear to abandon Baoshan—she had ways to make me accept punishment. I didn’t expect your official appointment would provoke her so much. Previously, Madam thought quite well of me and gave me charge of some household matters.”

“That’s because she felt you threatened nothing, and I threatened nothing either. Of course her attitude was excellent.” Gu Chaobei rolled his eyes. “Now I’m riding high, and you’ve distinguished yourself before the Emperor. How could it be the same as before?”

Shen Guiyan sighed. “I knew that if I distinguished myself, I’d inevitably be ground down by stones. But even without distinguishing myself, I’d still be coveted by petty people. Thinking of it this way, I might as well do well and show those people—at least it vents some anger.”

“That’s not a bad way to think about it.” Gu Chaobei stood up. “If you can speak and think, it proves there’s no major problem. Your husband is relieved and will now go avenge you.”

“Husband.” Shen Guiyan called out to him with mixed laughter and tears. “Do you really think you can go beat Madam? That’s simply absurd. If matters in this world could all be resolved so easily, I wouldn’t have needed to endure under Shen Guiya for so many years. Dealing with them can only be done slowly, can’t it?”

Gu Chaobei snorted with laughter. “You go slow all you want—I won’t stop you. But this anger in my heart, I must personally vent to feel satisfied. Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t cause trouble.”

Like hell you won’t! Seeing his serious expression, Shen Guiyan became somewhat panicked. “Don’t be impulsive.”

“I won’t be impulsive.” Gu Chaobei looked at her very seriously. “Generally speaking, when one’s own wife is bullied, a loving man will rush to beat someone without thinking. A rational man will make those people pay the price through proper channels.”

“As for me.” Gu Chaobei pointed at himself. “I’m a man who is both rational and loving.”

Shen Guiyan: “…”

Her back throbbed with waves of pain. She no longer had the energy to banter with this man and could only lie on the bed with closed eyes, moaning. Gu Chaobei wasn’t a fool. She probably didn’t need to worry too much. No matter what, he wouldn’t go too far.

Calling Jiang Shi to stay in the main room as company, Gu Chaobei left and headed toward the garden.

“General Yuwen.”

Yuwen Changqing was staring blankly at a purple flower when he heard Gu Chaobei’s voice from behind.

“There’s no one else here.” Yuwen Changqing said. “Every time you call me General Yuwen, I feel like I’m losing years off my life. Just call me Changqing.”

Gu Chaobei waved his hand dismissively—who cared about these rules of address? “Are you free tonight?”

“Naturally.” Yuwen Changqing just nodded, then seemed to remember something and immediately stepped back three paces. “If it’s like last time, having me distract guard dogs, I’m not available.”

“No.” Gu Chaobei snorted coldly. “Doesn’t the Gu Manor have something you want? Tonight I’ll accompany you in the operation. How about it?”

Yuwen Changqing’s eyes widened. “Didn’t you say another day?”

“Forget another day—tonight it is!”