Telling others not to slack off while he himself lounged about leisurely, Yuwen Houde walked over from a distance and patted Gu Chaobei on the shoulder, saying, “Brother, this won’t do.”

Gu Chaobei turned his head to glance at him but didn’t stand up. “Why won’t it do?”

Yuwen Houde said, “If you’re lazy, the soldiers you train will also be lazy. Look at those I’ve trained—you can tell just by watching them stand that they’re completely different from yours.”

Nonsense! Gu Chaobei glanced at the guards behind him—all dressed in official uniforms with sabers, iron circlets, and official caps. Then he looked at those on the training ground, all wearing gray shirts and rolling in the mud. How could they be the same?

Seeing Yuwen Houde in such a smug mood today, Gu Chaobei didn’t argue with him and let him pace back and forth nearby, hands clasped behind his back, rambling on.

“People must be ambitious, you know. Without ambition, one can only remain like this for life. Don’t you think so?”

Gu Chaobei cooperatively nodded his head.

Yuwen Houde laughed heartily twice, touched the token at his waist, and clasped his hands behind his back again, about to continue strolling forward.

Just as he was about to step forward, a low shout came from the entrance: “Seize him.”

Curious, he turned back, only to see Yuwen Changqing and the Fourth Young Master’s wife standing together. Yuwen Houde found this strange, and even stranger was that with Yuwen Changqing’s command, the guards all came toward him.

“What are you doing?” He stared wide-eyed in surprise.

Gu Chaobei frowned and stood up as well.

Yuwen Changqing wore a righteous expression, far more serious than usual, and looked sternly at Yuwen Houde, saying, “Did you take men to the village on the city outskirts this morning?”

Restrained by the guards, Yuwen Houde looked up in panic. “Yes, but that was an order from above…”

Someone from the palace had come with a message saying there was no need to trouble General Yuwen personally—just send some men. So he had volunteered to lead the mission and complete the instructions from above. Why was he being arrested for that?

“Your superior is me,” Yuwen Changqing said. “I gave you no orders. Acting on your own authority deserves punishment.”

Yuwen Houde looked at him in disbelief. “General, if you punish me for this, wouldn’t that be disrespecting those above? Your subordinate did nothing wrong!”

“How I account for this is my business,” Yuwen Changqing said, glancing at the men behind him. “Hand over the guards who killed.”

Upon hearing this, the three guards standing behind instinctively tried to flee. Though Gu Chaobei didn’t fully understand what was happening, he still extended his long leg and tripped the first one. The other two were foolish enough to stumble and fall in succession.

Luo Wei brought men forward to restrain them all. Only then did Yuwen Changqing turn to Shen Guiyan and say, “Young Madam Gu, I will send them to the magistrate’s office to be handled according to law. Would this suffice as an explanation?”

Shen Guiyan bowed to him. “Many thanks, General.”

Yuwen Changqing smiled. “It’s nothing. Changqing should also thank you, Madam.”

The two of them thanking each other back and forth—it was quite irritating to watch. Gu Chaobei walked over and looked at Shen Guiyan. “Didn’t you return to the residence? What’s this commotion about now?”

Shen Guiyan turned to look at him, the redness around her eyes not yet faded, startling Gu Chaobei.

“This wife encountered some matters. I’ll return shortly.” Seeing him, her nose began to ache again, though fortunately she didn’t cry.

When one is grieving, one must not see those close to them—just hearing their voice can make it impossible to hold back tears.

“Commander Gu has finished training. You may accompany your lady wife home shortly,” Yuwen Changqing said teasingly. “You must console her well—she’s truly been through an ordeal.”

What business is it of yours? Gu Chaobei’s eyes clearly conveyed these words, but Yuwen Changqing’s defenses were too high. He didn’t care at all, his phoenix eyes still fixed on Shen Guiyan.

Gu Chaobei’s face darkened as he said in a low voice, “Since the General puts it that way, then this subordinate will take his leave today and return home with my wife.”

“Very well.” Yuwen Changqing nodded, watching as Gu Chaobei pulled Shen Guiyan away. Only after they had disappeared from sight did he turn his head to look at Yuwen Houde before him.

“After you return from the magistrate’s office, come to my quarters.”

The guards would take the blame, but Yuwen Houde wouldn’t need to—at most he would have to pay compensation. Hearing this, he realized Yuwen Changqing had no intention of destroying him and quickly breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes.”

Shen Guiyan was in a bad mood, and Gu Chaobei was in a bad mood too. The two sat in the carriage in silence the entire way, making Baoshan rather uncomfortable.

“What would Miss like for dinner?” Baoshan asked softly.

Shen Guiyan shook her head. “Just prepare whatever you would for the young master.”

“No need to prepare anything for me either,” Gu Chaobei said sullenly. “I’ll eat in Biyue’s room.”

Counting the days, it was indeed time to go to Jiang Shi’s quarters. Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together and nodded with lowered eyes. Gu Chaobei had originally wanted to ask what exactly had happened, but now he had lost all desire to do so.

A cold war is the most emotionally damaging thing in this world. The coldness leads to indifference, indifference leads to nothing, and if neither party bows their head, misunderstandings only deepen.

Gu Chaobei felt aggrieved. He had originally wanted to tease her a bit, to see her angry expression, but today he had been thoroughly infuriated by her instead.

She told him nothing, completely ignoring his words.

In the end, their marriage had been forced upon her by him from the start. If he hadn’t broken into her chamber that night, she wouldn’t have used the situation to her advantage and married him. By now, she probably didn’t have much place for him in her heart. She was just someone who followed propriety—knowing that since she had married him, she must fulfill her duties, which was why she had always been gentle and obedient.

Feelings truly cannot be forced.

In an even worse mood, Gu Chaobei went straight to Jiang Shi’s room after getting off the carriage, not even glancing at the person behind him. Shen Guiyan stood dazed for a moment, slowly walking behind, and before long, she could no longer see him.

“Why does the young master seem so angry?” Baoshan asked in confusion. “Who upset him?”

Shen Guiyan shook her head. She didn’t know either. Perhaps something unpleasant had happened at the training grounds.

Returning to her room, she had no appetite for dinner and went straight to bed. Her head throbbed with splitting pain, but after a while, she finally sank into darkness.

In her dreams there was no one—only Sixi’s clear, innocent eyes.

Shen Guiyan fell ill. She couldn’t eat, and spent most of the day unconscious. Doctor Liu came to examine her and said she had caught a chill and was burdened with excessive worries.

Excessive worries—Her Majesty the Empress was right. She was merely the wife of a minor official now. Why should she think so much? She just needed to take care of herself. As long as she ate and slept well, what did the welfare of the common people outside have to do with her?

In Jiang Shi’s room, Gu Chaobei sat with not a trace of a smile on his face, making Jiang Shi quite anxious. “My lord, has this concubine done something wrong?”

“No.” After spitting out two words, Gu Chaobei continued sitting in silence.

Doctor Liu walked past the door carrying his case. Gu Chaobei sprang up and pulled him inside.

“Let me see the medical record.”

Doctor Liu straightened up and looked at him, smiling. “Medical records cannot be shown to others casually. This old physician has medical ethics… five qian of silver per viewing.”

Gu Chaobei was speechless.

After giving him the silver and snatching the record to look, he saw written on Shen Guiyan’s page: “Wind-cold ailment, melancholy in the heart.”

Wind-cold was common enough, but wasn’t she always composed? How could she become melancholic?

Doctor Liu, holding his silver, very kindly offered an explanation free of charge. “The Young Madam’s illness came on fiercely, but it’s not serious. A few days of rest and she’ll be fine. However, if the Fourth Young Master could offer some comfort, the Young Madam would surely recover faster.”

He should comfort her? Gu Chaobei scoffed twice and returned the record to him. “Biyue, serve the meal. I’m hungry.”

Since when did men bow their heads first!

Jiang Biyue acknowledged and went out to prepare lunch. Doctor Liu also left with his case. Gu Chaobei sat bored in the room, looking here and there, but ultimately couldn’t resist—he went out and glanced toward the main quarters.

The door was tightly shut. No movement.

He tiptoed over and pressed his ear against the door to listen. Inside, he heard Baoshan say, “The Fourth Young Master is so heartless. Who knows how he’s enjoying himself and being romantic in someone else’s room right now. Miss, you shouldn’t worry about him anymore.”

Good Baoshan! He hadn’t treated her poorly normally, yet she spoke of him like this behind his back? Gu Chaobei ground his teeth. How was he being romantic and enjoying himself? With so many beautiful, alluring women before him, he hadn’t been moved in the slightest!

Inside came two coughs. Gu Chaobei’s heart tightened as he heard Shen Guiyan say, “I can’t drink anymore.”

“Miss, even if you won’t eat, you must finish your medicine,” Baoshan pleaded earnestly. “Shall this servant prepare some candied fruit for you?”

What candied fruit? Just come out and tell him the Young Madam won’t take her medicine—wouldn’t that give him the perfect excuse to go in? This foolish girl.

“My lord?” Qinghuan saw Gu Chaobei crouching awkwardly by the main quarters door and couldn’t help calling out.

Gu Chaobei quickly jumped back into the courtyard, retreating several steps until he was far enough from the main quarters before speaking. “Ah, Qinghuan.”

Qinghuan was dumbfounded by his agile movements.

“I want to eat stir-fried stuffed cauliflower, shrimp playing among lotus, and almond tofu,” Gu Chaobei said. “Go make them.”

Qinghuan was bewildered—she didn’t know how to cook. But since the master had ordered it, she had to do it.

Inside the room, Baoshan heard the words from outside and ground her teeth. “May he choke! Miss makes dishes for him and he won’t eat them—he insists on eating what others make!”

Shen Guiyan lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, set down the medicine bowl, turned, and lay back down under the covers.

There was no movement from the main quarters. He had eaten lunch, had dinner, and was about to rest in Jiang Shi’s room—still no movement from the main quarters.

Gu Chaobei felt his behavior of waiting at home all day was truly foolish. After waiting so long without anything happening, he might as well have gone to Zuihua Pavilion to watch White Fox dance.

“My lord?” Jiang Shi was about to help him change his clothes when she saw Gu Chaobei suddenly stand up.

“You sleep first,” he said. “It’s been a while since I went to Zuihua Pavilion. I’ll go rest there.”

Jiang Shi’s expression changed. She reached out to try to keep him, but Gu Chaobei walked so quickly, he even slammed the door on his way out.

What had gone wrong? Jiang Biyue sat dazed, unable to figure it out. The main quarters had fallen out of favor—why had her favor been withdrawn along with it?

Zuihua Pavilion was most lively at night. A new courtesan had recently arrived who was quite accomplished. As soon as Gu Chaobei entered, he heard celestial music playing.