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To Kill or Not to Kill
Late in the night, Tianmen Temple’s rear court was brightly lit.
The abbot of the temple, Master Huitong, stood before Gu Jiu. “We caused Gu shizhu to be startled.”
Gu Jiu’s neck was wrapped with a cotton cloth to cover the marks.
The maidservants woke up after being splashed by a bucket of cold water. Everyone was feeling a lingering fear.
Gu Ting was in a rage, staring at the unconscious Xie Xian, wanting to kill him.
Gu Jiu gave a salute and said, “I ask the abbot to be tight-lipped about today’s matter.”
Master Huitong nodded. “Since it concerns Gu shizhu’s reputation, this poor monk will not a breathe a word about this. This poor monk guarantees that this matter won’t go out of Tianmen Temple’s rear court.”
Gu Jiu glanced behind Master Huitong. Only a young novice followed the abbot.
Master Huitong introduced, “This is this poor monk’s disciple. Gu shizhu need not worry about him. The courtyard door has already been locked up. This matter will not pass on to the front yard.”
Gu Jiu’s expression relaxed. “We have troubled the great master.”
“Our defence was not adequate, so we should deal with the aftermath for Gu shizhu. Does this poor monk need to deal with those thieves?”
“Thank you, great master. We can handle these thieves by ourselves.”
Master Huitong chanted Buddha’s name. “If that’s the case, this poor monk will take your leave.”
“Take care, great master.”
After sending Master Huitong away, Gu Jiu sat down again.
Gu Ting was ballistic with rage. “Meimei, how should we deal with Xie Xian? Let’s just kill him.”
Gu Jiu glanced lightly at the unconscious Xie Xian. Then said mildly, “Isn’t killing him letting him off lightly?”
“If we don’t kill him, we can’t dispel the hate in our hearts.”
Gu Jiu looked at Gu Ting.
“Gege, don’t dirty your hands for such a person. Xie Xian is merely a pawn. But this pawn will be of great use if exploited to our advantage.”
“Meimei, what will you do?” Gu Ting was curious.
Gu Jiu stood up.
Qing Mei hurriedly supported her.
Gu Jiu stood near Xie Xian and looked at that disgusting man calmly.
“Killing him will not solve the problem. Instead, it will cause a lot of trouble for us. If I can guarantee that he won’t die but also make sure to make him go through hell, he will be of great use. Gege, ask the guard for a sharper dagger.”
“Okay!”
Gu Ting was immediately excited.
“What Gu guniang wants to do, it’s better to let me do it.”
Zhao San stood at the doorway, holding a large knife in his hands.
Gu Ting was overjoyed.
Zhao San was the benefactor who saved his sister’s life. He had excellent martial arts skills, so Gu Ting admired him very much.
“Won’t it be troublesome, Guard Zhao San?” Gu Ting asked.
“It is no trouble.”
Zhao San looked at Gu Jiu, waiting for her to make up her mind.
“Meimei, it’s better to ask Guard Zhao San for help.”
Several thoughts ran through Gu Jiu’s head. Finally, she smiled happily. “Okay! I request Guard Zhao San to do it instead.”
Zhao San said, referring to Xie Xian, “The blood is filthy. It’s too dirty to be in Gu guniang’s residence. I will carry him outside, first.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Thank you for the trouble.”
Zhao San carried Xie Xian outside the courtyard and Gu Ting followed him closely.
Gu Jiu said to Qing Mei, “Help me sit down at the desk.”
“Yes!”
Qing Zhu and Xiao Cui brought hot water to clean the floor.
Qing Mei boiled another bowl of tonic.
The tonic was a little bitter, but Gu Jiu didn’t dislike it at all. She closed her eyes and drank it in one go.
Then, she ate another piece of plum candy to suppress the bitter taste in her mouth.
After her body gained a little strength, she said to Qing Mei, “Serve the pen and ink.”
“Does guniang still want to transcribe scriptures?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “I won’t copy scriptures today. Guard Zhao San saved me. No matter what, I should express my gratitude.”
“Guniang is right. It’s just that we didn’t bring anything precious gifts when we came out this time. What should we do?”
Gu Jiu smiled softly. “There’s no need for a precious gift. My intended gift is probably more in line with the other’s wishes.”
Qing Mei didn’t understand.
Gu Jiu started writing and noted down two prescriptions.
The first, which was to stop bleeding and reduce swelling, was applied externally.
The second for pain relief, which was anti-inflammatory, was taken orally. She wrote both prescriptions in one go.
At this time, Zhao San had finished dealing with Xie Xian.
Gu Ting walked in with excitement.
Gu Jiu stood up and said to Zhao San who stood at the doorway. “Thank you, Guard Zhao, for coming to my aid. I have prepared a gift of gratitude. I ask Guard Zhao to pass it on to your gongzi.”
“Gu guniang is too courteous.” Zhao San decisively accepted the two prescriptions. “If you run into trouble again, Gu guniang can send someone to ask for help.”
“Many thanks!” Gu Jiu bowed.
Zhao San cupped his fist, took his leave, then turned and left.
Gu Ting said, “Meimei, sit down, quickly. What do we do next?”
Gu Jiu asked, “Does gege know where Xie er laoye lives now?”
“I do. After Xie shi drove him out of the provincial governor’s fu, he rented a courtyard inside the city walls. It seems like he plans to live in Jinzhou for a long time.”
Gu Jiu raised her eyebrows, saying, “I have to trouble gege to let someone take Xie Xian and other manservants and throw them at the door of Xie er laoye’s courtyard. Let Li Chuan return to the provincial governor’s fu at dawn to see our father.”
Gu Jiu looked at Li Chuan, “Li Chuan, do you know what to say after meeting laoye?”
Li Chuan bowed and said, “I request guniang to teach me.”
Gu Jiu gestured to him to come closer. Then, she whispered something in his ears for a while.
Finally, she asked, “Did you understand?”
Li Chuan nodded. “Xiaode understands. Xiaode will return to the fu at dawn to see laoye. Xiaode will definitely not disappoint guniang.”
Gu Jiu laughed, “That’s good.”
“Meimei, I will get someone to throw Xie Xian right now. You take good rest.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Gege, go quickly. Go early and return early. Remember, don’t reveal any traces of your actions.”
Gu Ting led everyone away and Puxian courtyard fell silent.
Gu Jiu collapsed back in her seat and went through the whole plan again in her head, ensuring that she hadn’t made any careless mistakes.
She called Qing Mei to her side. “Qing Mei, does Gui momo have any children?”
“Yes, Gui momo has two sons and a daughter.”
Gu Jiu asked, “Are all by her side?”
Qing Mei shook her head and said, “When furen was alive, she arranged a match for Gui momo’s daughter, so she married in the south. Her husband’s family is in business. There hasn’t been any contact for many years, so there’s no idea about the current situation.
“Gui momo’s eldest son was a porter, but because of a mistake, he was later driven to the zhuangzi by taitai. Gui momo’s second son is only two years older than guniang.”
Gu Jiu nodded inwardly. She severely lacked manpower at present. Especially those who could live outside and gather information for her.
She didn’t know whether Gui momo and her two sons were suitable for that job.
When the rituals are complete, we will go to zhuangzi and see Gui momo.
Jingzuo courtyard.
Liu Zhao sat at the desk with the two prescriptions before him.
Zhao San stood at the side with his head bowed.
“Gongzi, can these prescriptions be used?”
Liu Zhao said his meaning was unclear, “This Gu guniang apparently indeed understands medicine.”
Zhao San said, “Gongzi didn’t see it yourself. That one called Xie Xian was delusional enough to disrespect Gu guniang, and she stabbed him in the abdomen; cruel and accurate. This subordinate has never seen such a little girl who can respond so steadily and decisively like her.”
Hearing this, Liu Zhao was a little piqued. “Really?”
Zhao San nodded heavily. “If it weren’t for the fragrance which sapped her strength, that stab would have taken Xie Xian’s life.”
Liu Zhao gave an unsympathetic smile. “Xie Xian seems to be donggong official Xie Mao’s nephew?”
“Yes!”
Liu Zhao said in a casual tone, “Sure enough, donggong is unable to sit still.”
Zhao San was more concerned about Liu Zhao’s injury. “Gongzi, treating your wound is urgent. Can Gu guniang’s prescriptions be used?”
Liu Zhao didn’t answer Zhao San’s question, but he mentioned another matter. “Lu hou especially sent a doctor to treat my injury. He hoped that I would heal quickly and leave for the capital as soon as possible to not give him more trouble.”
Zhao San didn’t know the reason.
Liu Zhao took off his clothes and said, “After using the medicine prescribed by the doctor, my condition hasn’t improved.”
And there were already signs of infection.
“How is this possible? Could it be that the doctor has a problem?”
Liu Zhao shook his head. “The doctor should have no problem. He just has limited skills and my injury is serious.”
Zhao San was anxious. “Gongzi, your treatment can’t be delayed any longer. I will invite Gu guniang at once.”
“Why would you invite her?”
“To diagnose and treat gongzi.”
Liu Zhao was expressionless. “She is an unmarried girl. How can she diagnose and treat me?”