Chapter 820: The Reason for Vomiting Blood

Not only did Gu Dahuan want to know, Tong Huaqiong also wanted to know Nie Mingyuan’s situation.

In the previous life, Nie Mingyuan died when Gu Jingzhe came home in glory after placing third in the imperial exams.

The cause of death was unknown.

If things developed the same way as in the previous life, Nie Mingyuan wouldn’t survive a few more months.

Gu Baishuang sighed and said, "He spat blood again during New Year’s Eve dinner. Xiao Feng asked the Mighty General to invite an Imperial Physician to take a look. I don’t know if he can gradually get better after spring starts. I’ve been so anxious these days I haven’t been eating or sleeping well."

In other words, Nie Mingyuan’s condition was quite serious.

Tong Huaqiong observed Gu Baishuang; her overall complexion looked very good, there wasn’t the slightest sign of anxiety on her.

On the first day of the new year, worried about Gu Baishuang, Tong Huaqiong sent Su Qing with two old servant women under the pretext of delivering medicinal herbs to Nie Mingyuan to pay a visit.

That was how she learned the reason why Nie Mingyuan spat blood at the New Year’s Eve dinner table.

For the sake of his two sons, he wanted Gu Baishuang to split off part of the business in her hands, but Gu Baishuang refused. Nie Mingyuan then turned to morally blackmail Nie Xiaofeng, hoping Nie Xiaofeng could persuade Gu Baishuang, even using his "about to die" state to emotionally coerce Nie Xiaofeng, but he was rejected by Nie Xiaofeng all the same.

Nie Mingyuan had been mentally prepared for Gu Baishuang to be this ruthless, but he hadn’t expected Nie Xiaofeng to be just as ruthless; he was so enraged he spat blood on the spot.

"Brother-in-law’s health always looked pretty good before. Just last year he came to Qinghe Bay to pay New Year’s visits and was still full of vigor. How did it get this serious?" Chen Sufen asked.

Gu Baishuang said, "At first I thought it was from running around doing business outside. Later, when the Imperial Physician came to ask about his condition, we learned he had left a lingering illness from his eldest son. On the way to Shengjing, his eldest son fell into the water from a boat. He jumped in to save him and stayed in the icy river for so long in such cold weather. He didn’t receive proper treatment on the road, and once they reached Shengjing it flared up."

A faint, unreadable chill flickered in Gu Baishuang’s eyes.

Same sons, but when it came to Nie Xiaofeng, Nie Mingyuan would never go that far.

Tong Huaqiong sighed inwardly; for those two sons by his original wife, Nie Mingyuan could even throw his life away.

It had to be said, people’s hearts are complicated. This vicious man in Gu Baishuang and Nie Xiaofeng’s lives poured all his warmth and fatherly love onto his two earlier sons.

Even after coughing blood, he still dragged his sick body to demand things for the two sons from Gu Baishuang.

Gu Baishuang had no hopeful expectations for Nie Mingyuan’s illness.

The reason she made such a show of going to the Min Family to ask for an Imperial Physician was, first, for Nie Xiaofeng’s reputation. If Nie Mingyuan died soon after arriving in Shengjing and the two stepsons made a big fuss over it, having someone as witness would prevent Nie Xiaofeng’s name from being easily shaken; second, to keep Nie Mingyuan’s life hanging on as long as possible—if he died now, Nie Xiaofeng would have to observe mourning, which would more or less affect his future.

Of course, Gu Baishuang naturally wouldn’t say this out loud.

As his son, Nie Xiaofeng had yet to truly see Nie Mingyuan’s viciousness. From his perspective, Nie Mingyuan’s favoritism toward his two older brothers chilled his heart, but not to the point where he wanted Nie Mingyuan dead.

In a world like this, with such emphasis on filial piety, Nie Xiaofeng simply couldn’t entertain the thought of abandoning Nie Mingyuan.

"Those two stepsons of yours and their wives aren’t truly honest; they’re only bowing their heads to you because they have no choice in Shengjing. You can’t relax your guard against them." Tong Huaqiong avoided Nie Xiaofeng as she warned Gu Baishuang.

She always felt there was something suspicious about Nie Mingyuan’s death in the previous life.

She was afraid it would end up dragging this stepdaughter down with it.

Gu Baishuang said, "They have neither silver nor connections. Without Nie Mingyuan, the two of them are useless trash that can’t stir up a splash. Once the first month is over, they’ll move out and fend for themselves."

Tong Huaqiong knew Gu Baishuang had her own calculations and didn’t nag further.

"What brings little aunt and little uncle here?"

Seeing Gu Honglian and Fan Tong, Gu Baishuang changed the subject.

Gu Honglian and Gu Baishuang were especially emotional upon meeting.

This eldest niece had always treated her very well, sometimes even doting on her as if she were a younger sister.

Gu Honglian said to Gu Baishuang, "There’s nothing fun back home. My mother-in-law and elder sister-in-law nitpick me all day long. Your little uncle and I came to Shengjing to make a living, so we don’t have to suffer at the Fan Family."

Fan Tong’s heart snagged; when Gu Honglian started airing family scandals, she really didn’t care about the occasion and gave him no face at all.

Gu Baishuang said, "There are lots of opportunities in Shengjing. Little uncle is a Scholar; it’ll still be easier for him than for ordinary people. As long as he can put down his pride and is willing to endure hardship, you’re sure to live a good life."

Even Gu Baishuang herself didn’t believe this line.

She knew exactly what kind of useless temperament Fan Tong had; she was only saying it casually.

Gu Honglian said to Fan Tong, "Hear that? Even Baishuang says so. After the first month, you go out and look for opportunities."

Fan Tong’s eyelids twitched.

Gu Honglian saw Nie Xiaofeng sitting off to the side; his whole person, tempered by the army, had become even more imposing and upright, truly with the bearing of a young general.

"Xiao Feng, I heard at home that you’ve really made something of yourself. Now that I see you, you’re indeed impressive. I heard you even earned yourself a General Mansion. When are you going to invite me over to sit for a bit?" Gu Honglian said to Nie Xiaofeng.

As an elder to Nie Xiaofeng, he still had quite a bit of respect for Gu Honglian, and said, "Little grandaunt can come as a guest anytime."

Gu Honglian’s face lit up with joy. "Really?"

She began calculating in her heart: if, after moving out from Tong Huaqiong’s place in the spring, she couldn’t find somewhere to live for the moment, she could stay at Nie Xiaofeng’s.

Gu Baishuang had always treated her well and surely wouldn’t object.

"Would there be any falsehood when Xiao Feng invites you as a guest?" Gu Baishuang looked at Gu Honglian with a smiling gaze, then suddenly shifted the topic. "You two came to Shengjing, you must be planning to settle here long-term. Have you found a place to live? If not, I’ll have someone help you look later. Or, if you’ve taken a fancy to some place, I can have the steward help you bargain the price down."

Gu Honglian: "..."

She hadn’t even opened her mouth to ask to be taken in yet, and Gu Baishuang had already pushed her straight out the door.

"Little uncle, what plans do you have after the new year?" Gu Baishuang turned to ask Fan Tong.

Awkwardness appeared on Fan Tong’s face. Trying hard to maintain a scholar’s dignity, he cleared his throat and said, "I plan to find a job, to earn money while I continue my studies. Reading and taking the imperial examinations is the proper path."

Nie Xiaofeng let out a derisive snort.

He really couldn’t help it. Back in Yan Guan Town, Fan Tong, as the first-ranked child student, had his nose in the air and liked to toss out grand declarations to academic deadbeats like Nie Xiaofeng that becoming a chancellor would be the minimum to justify one’s life. Yet after several provincial exams, he still hadn’t managed to pass and become a juren.

Fan Tong looked at Nie Xiaofeng in displeasure.

In his view, Nie Xiaofeng had just gotten lucky; he’d only become a Deputy General by hacking down a few more men on the battlefield.

What was so great about being a military general? In the end, weren’t their lives decided by a few words from civil officials?

"What, did I say something wrong?" Fan Tong said to Nie Xiaofeng. "You’re a Deputy General now; you ought to read more books so you can make better use of troops in battle. After all, you can’t always rely on luck on the battlefield."

Even now that Nie Xiaofeng was a Deputy General, in Fan Tong’s heart he was still that unqualified, bottom-of-the-class junior disciple.

As an elder disciple, he could always switch on lecture mode.

What’s more, he had now been promoted from elder disciple to little uncle, so he was even more justified in giving a sermon.

Nie Xiaofeng perked up at these words. If he could rely on luck to shoot dead Mo Bei’s main commander, then his luck was truly something.

Nie Xiaofeng said, "Reading and taking the exams is indeed proper, but you have to actually be able to pass. I assume little uncle aced last year’s provincial exam?"

Fan Tong felt a stab to the heart and said unwillingly, "Last year I had diarrhea, which affected my performance."

Nie Xiaofeng burst out laughing. "The first time it was a fever, the second time your carriage broke down and you were late, the third time it was diarrhea—why is your exam luck so terrible, little uncle?"

Having his old failures dragged into the open, Fan Tong was somewhat furious out of embarrassment.

It was one thing for Gu Jingzhe to look down on him—after all, Gu Jingzhe was the top scorer in the provincial exam—but on what basis could Nie Xiaofeng, who hadn’t even made it to child student rank, mock him?