Chapter 301: Chapter 301: Cloud Fragrance

“M-Madam, Young Master, please don’t report me to the authorities… I… I… I’ll talk.” The wet nurse was now drenched in cold sweat.

Gu Qingping gestured for the two matrons to release the wet nurse. Once their support was gone, the wet nurse’s body immediately went limp, and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing. “Madam, Young Master, Young Madam, I never meant to harm the Little Young Master! I… I… I only took a drug that causes excitement.”

Gu Qingping’s face was so dark it seemed water could drip from it. He gritted his teeth and asked, “What drug? Why would you do such a thing?”

The wet nurse looked utterly drained. “Replying to the Young Master, it’s… it’s Cloud Fragrance. Madam, Young Master, this drug only makes people excited, nothing more. It has no other effects. I only did it because I wanted to stay in the Gu Residence longer, to care for the Little Young Master for a longer time. I had no other intentions.”

After speaking, the wet nurse completely slumped to the floor, like a criminal awaiting sentencing.

Gu Qingli pressed her lips together tightly and glanced at Xiao Yunjing. He had been so adamant about not hiring a wet nurse precisely to avoid people like this.

She had managed to prevent it on her end, yet her elder brother had encountered such a person.

It was true; the Gu Family possessed the financial resources and influence to be considered a prominent family in the Capital City. Although they currently held no real power, their past prestige still carried weight. Moreover, the Gu Residence was now an epitome of understated luxury, a wealthy household. People looking to stir up trouble were particularly fond of targeting such families. And since Gu Qingping was undoubtedly generous, this wet nurse had been tempted.

Ms. Su looked at Ms. Liu, her eyes filled with disgust. All these troubles were her doing, she thought.

She had said from the beginning not to hire any wet nurse, Ms. Su recalled bitterly. She had her own milk; it wasn’t as if she lacked any. Yet Ms. Li had insisted on hiring one. Usually so meek and submissive, Ms. Li had been incredibly stubborn on this matter.

Ms. Li lowered her head, so low it nearly touched her stomach. She didn’t understand how things had turned out this way. Weren’t wet nurses supposed to be good? Her own wet nurse had been closer to her than her own mother. For every little thing, her wet nurse would offer advice and had never harmed her. She had even accompanied her when she married and remained just as devoted.

Gu Qingping heaved a deep sigh.

It was Gu Qingli who broke the tense silence. “Mother, Elder Brother, please handle this as you see fit. As long as the child no longer ingests this drug, there will be no lasting harm. I’ll prescribe some medicine later to help regulate his system, and he’ll be fine. However, this wet nurse absolutely cannot be used anymore.”

Ms. Su nodded gratefully and instructed the two matrons, “Throw her out. And don’t give her this month’s wages.”

When the wet nurse heard she was to be thrown out, she panicked. She immediately scrambled to Ms. Su’s feet, kowtowing and begging, “Madam, please, I beg you, be merciful and let me stay! I’ll never do it again! I was forced to!”

Ms. Su laughed, incensed. “You were forced to harm my grandson? If my daughter hadn’t returned today, who knows what state my grandson would be in because of you? What right do you have to remain here and care for my grandson? It’s already merciful that I haven’t reported you to the authorities! Don’t push your luck. If you dare to wail and shriek here any longer, I’ll have you sent to the officials immediately!”

Hearing the threat of being sent to the officials again, the wet nurse choked. All her pleas died in her throat. She glanced at Gu Qingping seated opposite, then at Ms. Li, whose head was still bowed.

Finally, she lowered her head in dejection and was dragged out of the Gu Residence by the two matrons.

After the wet nurse had gone, Ms. Su finally turned to Gu Qingli and asked, “Li’er, is the child truly all right?”

Gu Qingli shook her head. “As long as he doesn’t take the drug anymore, there won’t be any issues. Long-term use could lead to heart disease. Don’t worry. The wet nurse wasn’t wrong; the drug only makes the child excited and unable to sleep. The child was crying simply because he wanted to sleep but couldn’t. The wet nurse did this so that as the child grew older, his dependence on her would deepen, giving her an excuse to live in the residence long-term and thereby obtain generous remuneration. That must have been her goal.”

Ms. Su and Gu Qingping both nodded, a wave of relief washing over them.

“Ms. Li, from now on, you will nurse the child yourself! If you dare to hire any more of those wretched wet nurses, I, your mother-in-law, will have you divorced!” Ms. Su warned, her heart finally easing a bit, though she wasn’t finished with Ms. Li.

Ms. Li looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, and nodded.

Gu Qingping gently patted her back before taking the child from Gu Qingli’s arms.

“Li’er, Elder Brother thanks you for today. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

This child was his legitimate son, the direct heir of the Gu Family. No one wanted any harm to befall him.

Gu Qingli waved her hand. “Elder Brother, you’re too kind. I would do the same for anyone. How about this: Yunjing and I will go back first. I’ll prepare the medicine and bring the three little ones over. They should be awake by now.”

“Alright then. We’ll trouble Li’er with the child’s matter.”

“We’re brother and sister; there’s no need for such polite words. Just be more careful in the future.”

Gu Qingli glanced at Ms. Li, whose head was still bowed. Even seeing her child suffer so much, Ms. Li still looked like a downtrodden victim. It was infuriating to watch. It was as if this wasn’t her child, but someone else’s. Gu Qingli sighed inwardly. This is what happens when one doesn’t personally care for their own child; there’s truly not much of an emotional bond.

The couple quickly left the Gu Residence. Once they were in the carriage, Gu Qingli asked Xiao Yunjing, “Yunjing, what you said earlier… do we really have a house in the Capital City?”

Xiao Yunjing pulled her into his embrace. He thought of Gu Qingping’s child, of Ms. Li’s attitude towards that child, and then of Li’er’s attitude towards their three little ones. Li’er cherished those three as if they were the apples of her eye.

He kissed her. His Li’er was truly wonderful. He and their three children were so fortunate. He nodded. “Of course. I bought it long ago. Did Li’er think your husband was just teasing you?”

“How could I? I believe anything you say,” Gu Qingli said softly, nestling into Xiao Yunjing’s embrace. She loved him, and so she trusted him.

Xiao Yunjing’s lips curved upwards. Earning Li’er’s complete trust truly hadn’t been easy.

After chuckling to himself, Xiao Yunjing called out to Yun No. 14, who was driving the carriage, “Yun No. 14, go to Sparkling Spring Alley in Nancheng.”

“Yes, Master.” Yun No. 14 immediately drove the carriage towards Sparkling Spring Alley.

Liu Desheng’s carriage promptly followed. After all, he went wherever the Ninth Master went.

They were currently in Dongcheng, while Sparkling Spring Alley was in Nancheng. Even if the carriage hurried, the journey would take about three hours.

As the carriage moved along, Gu Qingli occasionally lifted the curtain to peek outside. The streets of the Capital City, its buildings—they were indeed far more bustling and magnificent than those in Qiyang County.

The Capital City was truly the Capital City.

Xiao Yunjing watched Gu Qingli, a smile on his lips. Seeing the starlight sparkling in her eyes, he knew she definitely liked the Capital City.

In the future, he vowed to himself, he would give her all the best things in this world.

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