Grand Princess Residence.
"Where is your wife?" The Grand Princess's expression soured the moment she saw Xu Weibai arrive without Gu Wanning.
Xu Weibai replied indifferently, "She is unwell."
Third Concubine stood behind Xu Weibai with her head bowed submissively, not uttering a single word.
The Grand Princess glanced at her and took a deep breath, her tone softening slightly. "That child is stubborn. If she's unwell, she should have said something. Someone, fetch Imperial Physician Zhang and have her go to the Marquis Residence to check on the Madam properly."
"Grandmother, there is no need," Xu Weibai said.
"What kind of talk is that?" Anger surged within the Grand Princess. She slapped the side table and cried, "What did I tell you before? Wanning is a child who has suffered. You must treat her well…"
"There are far too many people in this world who have suffered. Why do you pity her alone, Grandmother?" Xu Weibai’s voice was cold and thin.
His grandmother clearly valued Gu Yuanshi’s position as the Senior Grand Secretary, hoping he would assist the Emperor and preserve the Liu family's empire for a thousand generations.
Gu Wanning was merely the "long-standing headache" that caused Gu Yuanshi such anxiety.
Among families of equal social standing, who would be willing to marry a shallow, boorish woman raised on the estate?
Yet his grandmother had gone out of her way to request this marriage for him, making him the laughingstock of the capital.
"Weibai, what do you mean by that?"
"It means I do not like Gu Wanning!" Xu Weibai enunciated every word. "If you intended to persuade me to expand the family lineage, Grandmother, there is no need to speak."
"You… you…" The Grand Princess clutched her chest, her face turning a flushed red as her breathing became rapid.
"Grandmother!" Seeing this, Xu Weibai rushed forward and knelt before her, repeatedly calling for someone to summon a physician.
"Marquis, let me check on the Princess first," Third Concubine spoke softly, her voice calm and steady.
Only then did Xu Weibai remember that she had previously served the Grand Princess because she was a trained medical practitioner.
The reason he had brought Third Concubine today was precisely because she was someone the Grand Princess had given to him.
Xu Weibai moved aside, and Third Concubine stepped forward to help the Grand Princess catch her breath.
"Someone, help the Princess lie down. Sui'er, bring my silver needles," Third Concubine instructed methodically.
"How is Grandmother?"
"I will do my best. Please set your mind at ease, Marquis."
Still worried, Xu Weibai sent Gao Lan to fetch Imperial Physician Zhang.
"Get out! Get out!" The Grand Princess lashed out at Xu Weibai.
Not daring to provoke her further at such a critical moment, Xu Weibai could only retreat and wait outside the door.
Third Concubine ordered the maidservants to close the doors and windows and told everyone to withdraw, claiming she needed to concentrate her energy to administer the silver needles and could not be disturbed.
Watching this, Xu Weibai felt even more anxious. He regretted provoking his grandmother, who suffered from a heart condition, especially now that the marriage was already a settled matter.
Inside the room, however, the Grand Princess's breathing had already smoothed out. Her expression was calm, with not a single trace of illness remaining.
"Did he cause a scene after returning to the residence?" the Grand Princess asked in a low voice.
Third Concubine nodded.
The Grand Princess’s brow furrowed. "Why won't he listen to me? Would I ever harm him?" After a pause, she continued, "Was the row severe?"
Third Concubine nodded again. "The Madam was very angry."
"Why didn't you help mediate? What did I tell you before? I sent you there not to fight for favor, but to ensure those two live a good life together!"
"Yes, I have failed in my duty."
After scolding Third Concubine, the Grand Princess sighed. "Forget it, what does it have to do with you? He just returned, and he was never satisfied with this marriage to begin with…"
Third Concubine lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Truthfully, let alone the Marquis, even she—having served the Grand Princess for many years—did not understand as a bystander why the Grand Princess had insisted on arranging such a marriage.
"No, I must go and see for myself," the Grand Princess said worriedly. "That child needs a way out; otherwise, the knot between the couple will only become harder to untie."
"But your health…"
Even though you are fine, you are currently faking an illness.
The Grand Princess signaled her stubbornness. Whatever she said was law.
Xu Weibai naturally did not want her exerting herself at a time like this, but the Grand Princess insisted she hadn't seen her granddaughter-in-law in a long time. She claimed that since the girl was unwell, she had to go and see if some blind fool in the residence was bullying her.
She was going to provide back-up for her granddaughter-in-law.
Xu Weibai: "…"
He knew his grandmother simply wanted to pressure him and tell him to treat Gu Wanning kindly.
But with the way Gu Wanning pushed her luck, combined with her exasperating father, how was he supposed to endure it!
"Madam, the Marquis truly has no respect for you."
Back at the Marquis Residence, Er Ya was pacing the room in a fit of righteous indignation after hearing that Third Concubine had accompanied Xu Weibai to the Grand Princess Residence.
The honor of visiting the Princess should belong first to the Marquis, and shouldn't the second person be the Madam?
Gu Wanning, currently back in her room, was casually flipping through an account ledger. "As long as the Marquis is happy."
If Xu Weibai could delegate everything related to him to his concubines and forget she even existed, she would wake up laughing from her dreams.
If she were to dream an even more beautiful dream, it would be Xu Weibai casting her into a "cold palace" and letting her keep her small courtyard to herself.
The reason Gu Wanning had demanded to see the account ledger was that Fourth Concubine had complained to Xu Weibai earlier, accusing Gu Wanning of withholding her monthly allowance.
Heaven and earth be her witness, she had absolutely never done such a thing.
She refused to be the scapegoat, so she demanded the steward bring the account ledgers for inspection. She couldn't give Xu Weibai any excuses to attack her, so she had to find any discrepancies herself first.
As Gu Wanning read on, her frown deepened.
She discovered that all four concubines had indeed had their funds docked.
It wasn't just their monthly allowance; other funds, such as those for house repairs that were clearly supposed to be "funds earmarked for specific purposes," were also affected. For instance, out of fifty taels allocated last month, twelve taels had been directly withdrawn without any recorded purpose, marked only with a circle from a vermilion brush.
This account ledger was a mess of black and red.
The corruption was blatant, yet it was recorded with such audacity that every inexplicable discrepancy was simply highlighted in red ink.
"Give me an explanation!" Gu Wanning threw the account ledger open at the steward's feet.
The steward was in his forties and had a simple, pedantic look about him. She hadn't expected him to be so dishonest!