Prime Minister Gu was left reeling from this series of upheavals, standing dazed for quite a while before asking Shen Guiyan, “What’s going on here?”

Shen Guiyan raised her head, her eyes already brimming with tears, speaking in a voice full of grief and sorrow: “Some days ago, my husband mentioned to Yan’er that he wanted to elevate Shuangjiang to concubine status. Yan’er felt that Shuangjiang had neither merit nor children, so she didn’t agree. I never imagined that today my husband would deliberately send Yan’er back to her natal family just so he could carry on with Shuangjiang. If Yan’er hadn’t grown suspicious and hidden under the bed, she would still be kept completely in the dark!”

Prime Minister Gu frowned and looked toward Gu Chaobei. “Is this true?”

Gu Chaobei drew in a sharp breath, his eyes wide. “I… Father, taking concubines is a common matter, isn’t it? What I did wasn’t wrong at all. It’s just that Yan’er is too domineering and won’t allow me to take concubines, so I resorted to this stratagem.”

“Preposterous!” Prime Minister Gu frowned. “With such a good daughter-in-law as Yan’er, you still don’t know contentment? The day Yan’er truly gets angry enough to return to her natal family, then you’ll have something to cry about.”

Gu Chaobei snorted, leaning against the cabinet with a completely shameless expression.

Only now did Hu Chang understand what drama was unfolding here. So they had come to pursue an assassin, only to end up uncovering Fourth Young Master Gu’s romantic affairs? This Fourth Young Madam Gu was quite formidable—to actually hide under the bed! Was Fourth Young Master Gu blind? The maid beside him was clearly not as attractive as his young madam, yet he still wanted to take a concubine.

With this interruption, the guards standing outside had all adopted the posture of spectators watching entertainment. Hu Chang coughed lightly and stood up. “This is a Gu family matter, so this subordinate shouldn’t interfere. Let’s go search the other rooms.”

“Yes, sir.” A group of people outside responded.

Hu Chang turned his head and even cupped his hands slightly toward Shen Guiyan. “Young Madam, take care.”

Shen Guiyan was still wiping away tears and gave him a grateful smile.

“You unfilial son, I’ll teach you a proper lesson when you come to the main courtyard for the meal later.” Prime Minister Gu glared at Gu Chaobei, then swept a glance at Shuangjiang. “I’m taking this girl with me. You need to clean up this courtyard of yours too—what kind of spectacle is it to have so many women piled up here?”

Gu Chaobei said with a pained expression, “Father, these are all beauties that Mother gathered for me. How can you go against Mother’s wishes?”

“Your mother’s approach is wrong—she’s spoiled you too much!” Prime Minister Gu flicked his sleeve. “Enough. Shuangjiang, come with me.”

“…Yes, Master.” Shuangjiang’s eyes were already red. She hastily put on a couple of garments, looking pitifully at Gu Chaobei, then glancing at Shen Guiyan with some resentment.

Shen Guiyan remained on the floor wiping tears and didn’t raise her head to look at her at all. Last time this girl had arrogantly run over to snatch Gu Chaobei away—she still remembered that account. Today, it was convenient to send her away as well.

Nearly all the maids in the North Courtyard had been sent by Madam Gu. Knowing that Gu Chaobei was fond of women, Madam Gu stuffed all the somewhat attractive maids in the manor into the North Courtyard, hoping to keep Gu Chaobei drunk and dreaming, oblivious to everything else. When he wanted to go to the Drunken Flower Pavilion, the monthly allowance Madam Gu gave him was more than sufficient. Before Prime Minister Gu, Madam Gu appeared to treat Gu Chaobei extremely well.

She just hadn’t expected these maids to be rather useless. Not only did they fail to keep Gu Chaobei, but each one became infatuated with him and willingly helped him with his affairs.

Beauty was also a kind of innate skill—the key was what one used it for.

The chaotic crowd gradually departed, and Gu Chaobei’s anxious heart finally began to settle down slowly.

“Everyone’s gone, stop crying.” With unclear emotions, he crouched down to look at Shen Guiyan. He had many things he wanted to say, but in the end only touched her hair.

If it hadn’t been for her today, he would have been in serious trouble.

“You think I want to cry?” Shen Guiyan raised her head, her face covered in tears. “My back was already hurting terribly, and after all this ordeal, now half-leaning like this, the pain makes my tears unstoppable…”

Gu Chaobei was stunned, then helped her onto the bed with a mixture of laughter and tears so she could lie on her stomach. “Why didn’t you leave? Why were you still under the bed?”

“Don’t ask so many questions.” Shen Guiyan waved her hand irritably. “You should first check on that brother of yours under your bed.”

Earlier, it had taken her considerable effort to push that person further in and pull herself out. Otherwise, when that person lifted the brocade curtain, he would definitely have seen him.

Reminded by her, Gu Chaobei finally remembered and hurriedly pulled the brother out from under the bed.

He was already half-dead.

Shen Guiyan helped direct him: “Put him on the inner part of the bed, then go call for a physician. Say that I’m injured and need medicine.”

“Alright.” Gu Chaobei nodded in agreement and quickly did as she said. But halfway there, he suddenly wondered—if Yan’er hadn’t left, then who was the one carried onto the carriage?

Baoshan and Zhuiyun had just left the capital when several horses caught up from behind. Zhuiyun was startled and immediately increased their speed, but the carriage couldn’t outrun horses and was forcibly stopped.

The guards from behind all caught up and blocked their way forward. Zhuiyun faced them like a great enemy, reaching out to draw his sword.

“Fight what? Run!” Baoshan grabbed Zhuiyun and pulled him back.

“The young madam is still in the carriage!” Zhuiyun frowned. “How can you abandon your own master and flee?”

There were more than ten people on the other side, while they only had seven or eight guards around them. Baoshan couldn’t explain verbally, so she only said, “If we can’t win, why not run? Are you stupid?”

“The young master ordered me to protect the young madam well. Even if I die, I will die before the young madam.” Zhuiyun shook off Baoshan’s hand and frowned. “The young madam treats you so well usually, yet at this critical moment, you would abandon her.”

Baoshan was thoroughly infuriated by him. Seeing the disgust in Zhuiyun’s eyes, for some reason she felt extremely wronged. “You fool!”

The group over there had already surrounded them. Zhuiyun raised his sword and shouted “Protect the madam!” The guards all charged forward. Just as he was about to advance, the back of his head suddenly hurt sharply, and then he lost consciousness.

Everyone was rushing toward the carriage. Taking advantage of them not paying attention to this side, Baoshan hoisted Zhuiyun onto her back and left.

At the Gu Manor’s morning meal, Shen Guiyan didn’t attend due to her injury. Madam Gu and Shen Guiya were also recuperating and didn’t come. At the table, Gu Chaonan and Xu Mengdie listened to Prime Minister Gu lecturing Gu Chaobei.

“Now that you have an official position, how can you still indulge in feminine charms? A whole courtyard of maids—what kind of spectacle is that? Today you even let the Vice Commander see the joke. He’ll surely report you to His Majesty.”

Gu Chaobei ate with his head down, letting it go in one ear and out the other, not taking it seriously at all.

Gu Chaonan smiled. “When Fourth Brother can move out and establish his own residence, how many concubines he has will be up to him. As long as proper duties are fulfilled, who would laugh at him? Father should be more at ease.”

Prime Minister Gu snorted. He scolded, but now Gu Chaobei was the most accomplished among his sons, so he wouldn’t actually impose any punishment. After thinking it over, he still said, “After the meal, I’ll go with you to the Ministry of Justice. A greenhorn like you definitely won’t command respect. I’ll go take a look for you.”

In the end, he still had a father’s compassionate heart.

Gu Chaobei coughed lightly. “There’s no need to go to the Ministry of Justice today, is there? Father will surely have to enter the palace later.”

“Why would I enter the palace?” Prime Minister Gu looked confused. “I didn’t submit a request today.”

“Has Father forgotten?” Gu Chaobei set down his bowl and chopsticks. “There was an assassin in the palace. We don’t know which personage suffered misfortune. But since they dispatched Vice Commander Hu, it must be someone of high rank. Father will surely need to enter the palace to visit.”

Prime Minister Gu lowered his eyes. “It was the Sixth Prince who was attacked.”

Everyone at the table was shocked. Gu Chaobei also looked completely astonished. “The Sixth Prince?”

“Yes, one blade injured his internal organs. We don’t know if he can be saved.” Prime Minister Gu sighed. “Vice Commander Hu told me when he came earlier. The palace is in chaos right now. I don’t plan to enter the palace today.”

Gu Chaonan’s expression was somewhat inscrutable, but Xu Mengdie continued eating quite calmly.

Gu Chaobei said with a grave expression, “The Sixth Prince has already lost his position as Crown Prince, and now he faces such a great calamity. How truly unfortunate.”

The Eastern Palace must already be in complete chaos.

“It’s good that you understand. Recently, don’t provoke Empress Dowager anymore.” Prime Minister Gu said, “If the Sixth Prince cannot be saved this time, the realm may face great changes again.”

Gu Chaobei nodded. He wouldn’t provoke the Empress. The Empress held overwhelming power—whoever crossed her met with disaster. Better to eliminate the Sixth Prince so she would never again harbor treasonous ambitions.

This chess move was extremely risky, but fortunately it had succeeded.

Right now, Gu Chaobei’s heart was blooming with flowers, covering the mountains and plains, yet his face still maintained a serious expression. “I will be careful.”

The Sixth Prince, Ming Che, had been stabbed seven times, three blades injuring his internal organs. He was being kept alive purely by precious medicinal substances. In the palace, the Empress had already cried herself into a tearful wreck. The Empress Dowager was furiously enraged and ordered a thorough investigation.

“Sixth Imperial Brother will surely be safe and sound.” The Crown Prince knelt below the Empress, his face full of sincerity.

“Crash—” The Empress raised her hand and swept everything on the table toward Ming Xun.

“No need for your false sympathy! If the Sixth Prince loses his life, this Palace will ensure that those who harmed him die terrible deaths!” The Empress raged. “In the depths of the palace, assassins can enter and are so familiar with the layout—does this Palace truly know nothing?!”

Hot tea spilled all over him, but the Crown Prince didn’t move, only keeping his head lowered. “Xun’er will help Mother investigate this matter thoroughly.”

The Empress snorted coldly, her phoenix eyes full of murderous intent. “Order the Ministry of Justice: if they cannot find the culprit within three days, everyone will be stripped of office and punished!”

The great hall fell silent. A eunuch at the side went to relay the order, while the Crown Prince knelt below, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

In court affairs, it was still the Empress who had the final say…

Shen Guiyan watched as Gu Chaobei bandaged the person on the bed. He was clumsy and naturally couldn’t do it well.

“Let me do it.” Taking the cloth and medicinal paste, Shen Guiyan shifted her body slightly and skillfully helped the man in black bandage the wound on his shoulder.

Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow watching her. “You do this often?”

“When my older brother was still in the capital, he would get injured frequently. I always helped bandage him.” Shen Guiyan said, “This person’s wound looks somewhat deep, but it’s not too serious. It’s excessive blood loss. With some rest, he’ll be fine.”

Gu Chaobei looked at her, remembering that she had been under the bed the whole time. His brow suddenly twitched. “Yan’er, did you hear many strange sounds?”