Even the usually calm and composed Su Qingwan looked astonished, “Why send a man here?”
Qiyi: “They said he’s a highly skilled guard. The man is tall and sturdy, with ordinary looks, and speaks very little.”
Su Qingwan’s face darkened, “Send him back!”
This was truly improper. She was currently a widow, and the estate already had enough guards. How could they bring in an outsider to serve as a guard?
Qiyi: “Doctor Murong personally delivered him. They’re still at the gatehouse now. Miss, shall I go directly to refuse and have them leave?”
Murong Jin came too?
If it were anyone else, Su Qingwan would have refused outright. But this Murong Jin was connected to the Divine Physician, and there was also the matter of that man in black. After careful consideration, she decided to go in person to politely decline.
When Su Qingwan arrived at the gatehouse reception room, she only saw the displeased Gu Yunrui and the guard named Chong Jiu sent by Murong Jin.
Chong Jiu’s face showed no expression, while Gu Yunrui stood nearby with furrowed brows, as if his wife were associating with an outsider without his knowledge as her husband, his eyes full of scrutiny and dissatisfaction.
Seeing Su Qingwan arrive, Gu Yunrui immediately said, “Sister-in-law, who is this person?”
“None of your concern.” Su Qingwan ignored him and spoke directly to Chong Jiu, “Please return and inform Doctor Murong that I don’t need a guard here. Thank him for his kindness.”
Chong Jiu shook his head, expressionless, his voice very deep, “I am repaying a debt of gratitude to Doctor Murong. Please don’t make things difficult for me, Heir’s Wife, and give me this opportunity. And please rest assured, once that Flower Plucking Bandit is captured, I will leave.”
Su Qingwan felt somewhat helpless. Since this man wouldn’t leave for now, she would have to personally visit Murong Jin tomorrow to clarify matters.
She said to Qiyi beside her, “Take him to Uncle Zhong and find him temporary accommodation in the servants’ quarters in the outer courtyard.”
Qiyi nodded and led Chong Jiu out.
Meanwhile, Gu Yunrui sensed something amiss and frowned, “Sister-in-law, isn’t it inappropriate for you to rashly keep a man of unknown identity?”
Su Qingwan: “He’s only staying temporarily in the front courtyard. I will make things clear with Doctor Murong and have him sent back.”
Gu Yunrui: “When did you become so familiar with Doctor Murong? How come I didn’t know?”
Su Qingwan looked at his self-righteous questioning with a faint, mocking smile, “Isn’t Second Brother meddling a bit too much? Does this sister-in-law need to report in detail whom she knows and whom she interacts with to you?”
Gu Yunrui felt embarrassed, “Sister-in-law, that’s not what I meant.”
Su Qingwan ignored him and walked straight out. Although she had passed the morning sickness phase of her pregnancy, spending too much time with hypocrites like Gu Yunrui still made her feel nauseous—it was truly disgusting.
While walking back to Linglong Yuan and passing through the front courtyard, Su Qingwan noticed that Chong Jiu was standing in the distance, watching the gatehouse area.
When their eyes met, Su Qingwan noticed that he seemed somewhat nervous and quickly averted his gaze.
She suspected that this Chong Jiu might be the man in black who had saved her before, but their eyes were different, and their voices didn’t match either.
As for facial features… she didn’t know what that man in black had looked like before.
One thing was certain: she sensed no malice from them.
However, Su Qingwan had no intention of keeping this person at the estate for long, as his background remained unclear.
Simultaneously, she realized this Flower Plucking Bandit was highly unusual, so she sent a letter home advising her mother and others to exercise extra caution.
Yet who could have predicted that disaster would strike the Hou Manor that very night?
Though the estate’s defenses were exceptionally tight, with night patrols doubled, the intruder still managed to infiltrate Linglong Yuan.
Fortunately, Qinxin was on night duty. The moment the intruder lifted the window of the Qinfang, Qinxin detected him.
“Who’s there?” she shouted, immediately awakening Su Qingwan.
Through the bed curtains, Su Qingwan only saw a blurred dark figure by the window, whom Qinxin promptly kicked outside before the two engaged in combat.
Hearing the commotion, Qiyi rushed in. “Miss, are you alright?”
Having swiftly wrapped her garments around herself, Su Qingwan calmly shook her head. “I’m fine. I’m just concerned Qinxin might be outmatched.”
Qiyi responded, “Everyone in the courtyard is awake now. With such a disturbance and him being alone, he surely won’t dare to prolong the fight.”
Su Qingwan’s nose twitched slightly as she murmured, “No sleeping incense.”
She recalled the rumors about the Flower Plucking Bandit—how he would first render his targets unconscious before abducting them.
Either this thief wasn’t the Flower Plucking Bandit, or he had no intention of harming her and merely sought to frighten her?
Could it be… an attempt to scare her into miscarrying?
The sounds of struggle outside gradually faded and soon ceased entirely.
Shortly after, Qinxin returned with minor injuries. “Miss, the Flower Plucking Bandit has been captured!”
Su Qingwan asked, “You’re injured?”
Qixin replied, “It’s nothing, just a scratch. That scoundrel’s martial skills far surpass mine, yet he didn’t fight me to the death. After a few exchanges, he tried to flee, but fortunately, Chong Jiu arrived in time and caught him. He should have been handed over to the Capital Magistrate Office by the Second Young Master by now. It’s just strange—our Linglong Yuan has the tightest security. Why would he come here?”
Su Qingwan’s bewilderment only deepened.
The entire Hou Estate was brightly lit, with no one able to sleep.
In the main hall, Su Xiyue looked at Su Qingwan’s pale face and gloated, “I heard the intruder slipped into Linglong Yuan. Are you alright, sister-in-law?”
Su Qingwan retorted, “You seem so pleased. Did you send him?”
Su Xiyue’s expression instantly darkened. “Don’t falsely accuse me! How could I possibly have such capabilities?”
Feng Shi frowned. “Enough, both of you. Is this something to bicker about?”
Zhongyong Hou’s face was stormy with rage. Did people think the Zhongyong Hou Estate had declined so much that even a petty Flower Plucking Bandit would dare cause trouble here?
Soon, Gu Yunrui entered from outside. Zhongyong Hou asked, “Has the man been delivered to the Capital Magistrate Office? Is he the Flower Plucking Bandit who’s been prowling the capital recently?”
Gu Yunrui confirmed, “The Capital Magistrate identified him as that very criminal.”
After speaking, his gaze settled on Su Qingwan with concern. “Sister-in-law, you must have been frightened. Are you unharmed?”
His show of concern for Su Qingwan immediately made Su Xiyue frown and clutch her handkerchief tightly.
Though Su Qingwan’s complexion remained pale, her demeanor was composed as she gently shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Feng Shi immediately reacted and said, “Have the manor physician come at once to examine Qing Wan’s pulse. We must ensure she hasn’t been frightened into disturbing the fetal energy.”
She appeared deeply concerned, but Su Qingwan knew they were actually hoping she would miscarry, ideally losing the child entirely.
When the physician arrived and checked Su Qingwan’s pulse, he promptly declared, “The Heir’s Wife’s pulse is steady and unaffected. However, she must avoid staying up late and should return to rest as soon as possible.”
Some breathed sighs of relief while others were visibly disappointed—a mix of relief and regret filled the room.
With over an hour remaining until dawn, everyone returned to their respective courtyards to rest.
But Su Qingwan felt no drowsiness. As she returned to her room, Qiyi whispered, “Miss, Chong Jiu says he has urgent matters to report to you.”
Though rather inappropriate for such a late hour, the night’s events had been too peculiar. Su Qingwan gave a slight nod. “Have him come discreetly.”
Chong Jiu arrived swiftly. His face remained expressionless, his tall stature imposing enough to command respect wherever he stood.
Su Qingwan asked, “What do you need to report?”
Chong Jiu replied, “The Second Young Master knows that Flower Plucking Bandit.”
Su Qingwan raised an eyebrow. “How did you learn this?”
Chong Jiu explained, “When I captured the man, the Second Young Master’s first words were ‘Release him.’ Then the previously tense bandit relaxed upon seeing the Second Young Master.”
It was a subtle detail, easily overlooked in the dark, chaotic night.
Yet Chong Jiu had noticed.
She studied him with surprise. He remained stiff and avoided eye contact, but strangely, the tips of his ears gradually turned red.
Su Qingwan: “…”
She cleared her throat lightly. “Thank you for the warning. Regardless, the bandit has been caught. At daybreak, return to Doctor Murong.”
Unexpectedly, Chong Jiu shook his head. “Someone doesn’t want you to carry this child to term safely. I must stay.”
Who didn’t want Su Qingwan to have a smooth delivery? Probably everyone in the capital knew.
Given recent events, it was almost certain that the so-called Flower Plucking Bandit had been sent by Gu Yunrui to frighten her into miscarrying.
Su Qingwan looked into his earnest eyes and suddenly realized that even if Gu Yunrui had superficially agreed with Zhongyong Hou not to harm her unborn child again, unforeseen incidents might still occur.
Especially on the day she gave birth—that would be the most critical moment.
Under Chong Jiu’s expectant gaze, Su Qingwan nodded. “Very well, remain at Hou Manor for now as my personal guard. I will pay you fifty taels monthly to protect me until I give birth.”
Chong Jiu said, “No payment needed. Murong Jin will cover it.”
Su Qingwan shook her head. “The arrangement between Doctor Murong and you is your affair. I am hiring you to protect me until childbirth—this is strictly between you and me.”
Her words were clear and direct, but Chong Jiu’s ears reddened again as he nodded. “As you wish.”
After he left, Qinxin brought Su Qingwan the account books she wanted to review, smiling as she remarked, “This Chong Jiu is quite interesting. He seems genuinely pleased to be protecting you. I wonder where Doctor Murong found such a person.”
Su Qingwan smiled self-deprecatingly, “How ironic it is. Doctor Murong and this Chong Jiu are people I’ve only just met, yet I feel overwhelming kindness radiating from them. In contrast, that man I’ve known for so long, whom I thought I could entrust my life to, has been deceiving, hurting, and harming me at every turn.”
Meanwhile, having returned to his study, Gu Yunrui frowned at the figure clad entirely in black standing before him. “Didn’t we agree to only target those on the list? Why have you come to my residence?”