SGEIRS -Chapter 396 Probing for the Truth

“Marquis, where are you going?”

Seeing his master suddenly head in another direction, Yu Chuan hurried after him and asked again, “Marquis, are you going to the government office? Everyone should be asleep at this hour—this would be the perfect time to investigate.”

Gu Jingxi replied calmly, “No need. You and Zhou Yun have already searched it. I wouldn’t find anything even if I went.”

Yu Chuan asked again, “Then where are we going now, Marquis?”

“It’s late. I’m going back to accompany my wife.” Gu Jingxi glanced at him and added, “Someone without a wife like you wouldn’t understand.”

Yu Chuan: “…”

Who had he offended this time?

Actually, he did want to get married. But the girl he liked didn’t like him. She liked another blockhead instead—and that blockhead seemed completely oblivious, treating her like a brother.

Gu Jingxi said lightly, “If you don’t take the initiative and say anything, you’ll never have a chance.”

Yu Chuan widened his eyes in shock. “M-Marquis, how did you know?”

“I have eyes,” Gu Jingxi replied.

Yu Chuan fell silent for a moment, then sighed in frustration and muttered, “He has eyes too. So why can’t he see it? And she… she can’t see it either.”

“When you’re involved, you’re confused. Bystanders see clearly,” Gu Jingxi said.

Yu Chuan said nothing.

Seeing how dejected he looked, Gu Jingxi asked, “Who does she like?”

“…Him.”

“Does he like her?”

“I don’t know.”

Gu Jingxi said helplessly, “If you don’t know, why don’t you ask?”

Yu Chuan: “……”

But he didn’t dare. He was a coward.

Gu Jingxi continued, “Once this case is over and we return to the capital, if you two like each other, my wife and I will arrange your marriage.”

It sounded wonderful, but Yu Chuan still felt it was difficult. Even if that blockhead didn’t like her, she might not like him either.

After a moment of silence, Gu Jingxi—though he hadn’t planned to interfere—still said, “If you can’t even handle something like this, what great things can you hope to achieve? Either give up now, or find out whether they like each other. If they don’t, then fight for it once. The sooner you know the answer, the better. If there’s no hope, give up early and stop torturing yourself.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you for your guidance,” Yu Chuan replied.

Zhou Yun had just been about to sleep when Yu Chuan came to see him. Thinking he had found some useful clues, Zhou Yun invited him inside.

Unexpectedly, Yu Chuan stared at him for a long while, took a deep breath, and suddenly asked, “Chan’er likes you. Do you like her?”

Zhou Yun’s expression turned strange. He glanced at Yu Chuan and rubbed his forehead helplessly.

“Which eye of yours saw that she likes me? And where did you get the idea that I’d be interested in her?”

Yu Chuan: “?”

Zhou Yun didn’t want to continue this conversation. “I think something’s wrong with your brain. Coming here in the middle of the night spouting nonsense. Go back to sleep before your condition worsens and I have to find a doctor to treat your head.”

As he spoke, he grabbed Yu Chuan by the collar, preparing to throw him out.

Yu Chuan said, “You’re the blockhead! She’s always clinging to you—if that’s not liking you, what is?”

Zhou Yun paused. He released him and looked him up and down. Seeing Yu Chuan’s tense expression, realization struck him.

He smiled. “So you’re the one who likes Chan’er, aren’t you?”

Yu Chuan froze, then nodded. “Yes, I like her. But she likes you. If you don’t like her, then I’ll pursue her.”

Zhou Yun sighed. “The Marquis said your eyesight isn’t very good. I even defended you before, but now I see he was right. When did you ever see her like me? She sticks to me to compete and practice martial arts, not because she likes me. She just wants to beat me.”

Yu Chuan was stunned. “She wants to beat you?”

Zhou Yun coughed lightly. “A few years ago, I mouthed off and criticized her. She’s been holding a grudge ever since and trained hard just to defeat me.”

Yu Chuan: “…That’s it?”

“Don’t treat me like your love rival,” Zhou Yun said plainly. “I don’t have romantic feelings for her—just sibling-like affection from growing up together. And she definitely doesn’t like me either. If you don’t believe me, go test her yourself.”

Yu Chuan was dazed. It felt like he had made a huge misunderstanding.

Zhou Yun yawned. “Enough. Go back and sleep. I don’t know what possessed you to talk about love in the middle of the night. It’s creepy.”

Yu Chuan retorted, “Then don’t ever talk about romance in this lifetime.”

Zhou Yun replied without hesitation, “I don’t have that ability.”

Yu Chuan: “……”

Zhou Yun added, “Do your best. Let Chan’er see that you’re capable and reliable, and you’ll definitely win her over. Now go think about how to perform well and stop bothering me.”

Yu Chuan: “……”

Then tomorrow, he’d think of a way to secretly take an imprint of the key hanging around Lord Wei’s neck, and let Chan’er see what he was capable of.

The next day.

Lord Wei had “heard” that Gu Jingxi was ill, so he specially brought gifts and came with his wife, Mei Qingyun, to visit.

Meng Jinyao had already heard about this from her husband early that morning and was mentally prepared. She cooperated perfectly and even had Qingqiu apply makeup to make her look haggard.

When she learned that the couple had arrived, she went out to receive them, wearing her pale, weary look and a worried expression.

Lord Wei had originally thought Gu Jingxi was pretending to be sick. But seeing Meng Jinyao so worn-out and anxious, he began to believe it—though not completely.

He asked with concern, “Madam Gu, we heard that the Marquis is ill and came to visit. How is he now?”

Meng Jinyao lowered her eyes, her worry deepening. “Thank you for your concern. He started running a high fever yesterday. It went down after taking medicine and he woke up, but yesterday afternoon the fever returned and hasn’t subsided since.”

Lord Wei said gently, “Madam Gu, I know a highly skilled doctor. I’m not sure about the Marquis’s condition now, but why don’t I take a look first and then consult him? If he’s confident, I’ll introduce him to you.”

Meng Jinyao’s face lit up. “Really? Then please follow me.”

Lord Wei was surprised. He had thought she was young and easy to fool. He had only made up an excuse—if she tried to stop him from seeing Gu Jingxi, it would prove he was faking. But instead, she readily led him over.

They followed Meng Jinyao to an elegant courtyard. After entering the room and then the inner chamber, they saw Gu Jingxi lying unconscious on the bed.

His eyes were tightly closed, his face flushed—clear signs of a persistent high fever.

Lord Wei was even more astonished.

He hadn’t expected that Gu Jingxi was truly ill.