Destined

Upon hearing this, both Gu Jiusi and Liu Yuru were stunned for a moment. After a short pause, Gu Jiusi anxiously asked, "What do you mean true or false? Can pregnancy be true or false?"

"Pregnancy itself isn't true or false," the physician glared at Gu Jiusi, then continued, "but pulse diagnosis can be misdiagnosed."

This was the first time they encountered a physician who spoke of misdiagnosis as if it were perfectly natural. Both Gu Jiusi and Liu Yuru were left speechless. Gu Jiusi suppressed his frustration, endured for a moment, and could only say, "Then please examine her quickly."

"Keep quiet."

The physician spoke impatiently. Gu Jiusi immediately covered his mouth and fell silent. The physician continued pulse diagnosis, switching between left and right hands for a long time. Just as Gu Jiusi was about to speak again, unable to hold back, the physician snapped, "Keep quiet!"

Gu Jiusi: "..."

He hadn't even said anything.

Standing to the side, Gu Jiusi gave Liu Yuru a pitiful look. Liu Yuru pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh and blinked at him. Instantly, Gu Jiusi cheered up again.

The two exchanged affectionate glances, finding amusement in their silent communication, making the wait feel less tedious. After a while, the physician noticed their exchange. He looked at one, then the other, clicked his tongue, withdrew his hand, and picked up pen and paper. "I've seen many young couples in my time, but this is the first pair I've encountered who can be so lovey-dovey."

"So? What's the result?" Gu Jiusi ignored the old man's disdain and pressed on. The physician lowered his head to write the prescription and said casually, "She is with child, but her constitution isn't particularly strong. She needs proper care. I'm prescribing a formula, mainly focusing on dietary supplements, along with moderate exercise—but don't overdo it."

Gu Jiusi frowned upon hearing this, while Liu Yuru, as if expecting it, responded, "Thank you, Doctor."

The physician wrote a diet therapy prescription and was then seen out. Gu Jiusi took the prescription, glanced at it, then went out and told Munan, "Quietly summon all the physicians in the city to examine Madam."

Hearing this, Munan was startled and hurriedly asked, "Is Madam...?"

"It's nothing serious," Gu Jiusi waved his hand. "Just go and call them. It's not a big deal, no need to alert others."

"Yes!"

Munan accepted the order and hurried off.

Gu Jiusi turned back and returned to Liu Yuru, somewhat awkwardly asking, "Um, would you like something to eat?"

"I ate before going to bed," Liu Yuru half-reclined on the bed, smiling as she studied Gu Jiusi. "Have you eaten?"

Gu Jiusi nodded, seemingly lost in thought, and said nothing. After waiting a moment, Liu Yuru spoke up, "I thought you'd be very happy?"

"Ah?" Gu Jiusi snapped out of his reverie and quickly nodded. "Happy! I... I'm just too happy!"

"If you're happy, shouldn't you show it more?" Liu Yuru found it strange. Gu Jiusi was taken aback. "How should I show it?"

"It should be obvious," Liu Yuru thought for a moment. "Certainly not like this, looking as if you've done something wrong."

"I... I actually wanted to pick you up and spin you around," Gu Jiusi said somewhat sheepishly. "But I was afraid of hurting you. And... I'm going to be a father now. I should... I should be more composed."

This completely made Liu Yuru burst into laughter.She covered her mouth, laughing with considerable restraint. Gu Jiusi, somewhat flustered by her laughter, sat down on the edge of the bed and said with chagrin, "Don't laugh at me! This is progress, growth—you should be praising me!"

"Yes, yes, yes," Liu Yu Ru said with a smile. "Lord Gu, you've become increasingly mature and steady now."

The two chatted idly for a while until they heard Jiang He's voice from outside: "Jiusi!"

No sooner had he spoken than Jiang He entered the room with a beaming smile, seeming delighted as he said, "I heard my niece-in-law is with child?"

Liu Yu Ru looked at Gu Jiusi in surprise. Gu Jiusi's smile stiffened, and he replied awkwardly, "How... how did you know?"

"I heard it from Lord Li," Jiang He said, somewhat puzzled. "I was in the courtyard earlier and overheard him mention it."

"And who did Lord Li hear it from?" Gu Jiusi's smile began to falter. Jiang He seemed to sense something and said with a laugh, "He heard it from Lord Luo."

"Then who did Lord Luo hear it from?" Gu Jiusi's smile vanished completely. Jiang He twirled a small fan in his hand and said, "Naturally, from someone else."

"Young master," Munan's voice came from outside the door just then, "the physician is here."

As soon as Munan finished speaking, he led the physician inside. Gu Jiusi watched Munan usher the physician in, took a deep breath, pulled Munan aside, and whispered sharply, "How many people did you tell about Madam's pregnancy?"

"I only ran into Lord Qin on the road," Munan said, bewildered. "I mentioned it to him in passing."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi understood: Munan had told Qin Nan, who then passed it on to Luo Zishang, who in turn told Li Yunchang...

He estimated that by now, the entire estate must have heard the news.

Gu Jiusi slapped Munan on the head, punctuating each word with a strike: "Didn't I tell you not to tell anyone?!"

Munan, dazed from the slaps, nodded with each hit and protested, "But Lord Qin... he's not exactly someone we need to keep it from, is he? Besides, it's happy news!"

At the words "happy news," Gu Jiusi finally regained some composure. He took a deep breath and walked back, hovering around the physician.

Jiang He watched Gu Jiusi pacing back and forth, walked over to him, and nudged him, saying, "Stop pacing. The prominent families of Xingyang have all sent invitations. We need to meet with them tonight."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi immediately calmed down. He remained silent for a moment, and Jiang He, thinking he was unwilling, reminded him, "The trial starts tomorrow. If you have any ideas, you need to handle them tonight. It's best to meet with them."

"I understand."

Gu Jiusi thought for a moment and said to Jiang He, "But before meeting them, I think we should discuss it among ourselves first. How about this—I'll have someone notify Lord Li. Once we have the results from Yu Ru's examination, I'll go with you to discuss it."

"Up to you," Jiang He shrugged, entirely unconcerned. "I'm just the messenger anyway. It makes no difference to me."The two stood waiting for a while until the physicians confirmed the results: Liu Yuru was nearly three months pregnant. They prescribed largely similar dietary supplement regimens. Liu Yuru wasn’t entirely surprised by this news. Upon reflection, she realized she hadn’t had her monthly blood for quite some time, but since her cycles had always been irregular, she hadn’t paid it much mind. With the busy affairs at the Yellow River, she occasionally felt unwell but attributed it to exhaustion and dismissed it.

She carefully inquired of the physicians about postnatal care, while Gu Jiusi listened nearby. After the physicians finished, Munan arrived with news that Li Yuchang and the others were already waiting in the study. Just as Gu Jiusi was about to take his leave, Liu Yuru spoke up: "May I join you? Would that be appropriate?"

Gu Jiusi was taken aback, but then Jiang He interjected, "Why wouldn’t it be? Let’s go."

"But she’s pregnant…"

"Pregnancy doesn’t make one deaf or blind," Jiang He shot a sidelong glance at the overly anxious Gu Jiusi. "What are you worried about?"

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi said no more. Liu Yuru stood up, and he hurried to support her. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she whispered to him, "Please act normally. If you carry on like this, you’ll make things difficult for me."

Gu Jiusi acknowledged her point and toned down his behavior, though he still offered his arm, refraining from excessive cautionary remarks.

When they entered the study, they found Li Yuchang, Qin Nan, and Fu Baoyuan already present. After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats. This was the first time the group had gathered together. Gu Jiusi glanced around and said to Jiang He, "Uncle, allow me to introduce you."

At this form of address, Qin Nan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Jiang He smiled faintly as he looked at Qin Nan, listening as Gu Jiusi continued, "This is Qin Nan…"

"Governor Lord Qin," Jiang He cut in, rising to his feet and cupping his hands in salute. "I am Jiang He, Vice Minister of Revenue. You seem rather familiar, Lord Qin—have we met before?"

Qin Nan remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang He.

Jiang He smiled again. "Lord Qin?"

"Jiang He?" Qin Nan’s voice was cold.

"Indeed," Jiang He replied earnestly.

All eyes were on them. Qin Nan took a deep breath and stood up to return the salute, but for some reason, he trembled uncontrollably. Everyone noticed his shaking.

Li Yuchang frowned. "Lord Qin?"

"An old ailment," Fu Baoyuan quickly interjected with a forced laugh. "It’s an old condition—he trembles all over when it flares up. Let me help him rest for a moment."

"No need," Qin Nan said stiffly. "It’s an old issue. Pay it no mind—it’ll pass soon. Let’s proceed as planned. Lord Gu needs to meet the local gentry shortly, so we must reach a consensus beforehand."

"Exactly, exactly," Fu Baoyuan chimed in eagerly. "He’s fine. Please, everyone, carry on. Lord Jiang, I am Fu Baoyuan, Magistrate of Yingyang County."

Fu Baoyuan deployed his signature flattery skills, beaming obsequiously. "I’ve long admired your reputation, Lord Jiang. To finally meet you today is truly an honor—you bring immense glory to Yingyang!"

Jiang He, accustomed to such sycophancy, responded with a noncommittal smile.After introducing several individuals, everyone took their seats. Gu Jiusi clearly sensed the tense atmosphere between Qin Nan and Jiang He, but since the parties involved remained silent, he pretended not to notice and simply stated, "After these recent upheavals, if we scrutinize the events of the past few days, it's likely that none of the four major families in Xingyang City will escape blame. Today, I ask everyone: should we investigate or not?"

No one spoke. After a moment, Gu Jiusi continued, "If we proceed with the investigation, we must address several issues. First, I promised the four families that this operation would primarily target the Wang family. Though they have faults, their temporary assistance counts as merit. If I pursue further investigations now, it would be going back on my word. Second, dealing solely with the Wang family would be relatively straightforward, but if we forcibly target all four families, it may lead to further chaos. Lastly, the current investigation into government officials alone already risks implicating many. If we include what amounts to near-treasonous acts from this incident, punishing all four families could result in thousands facing execution."

As he spoke, Gu Jiusi glanced around at Qin Nan. "My current plan to thoroughly handle all government officials is already challenging enough. The entire Xingyang bureaucracy would need a complete overhaul—but then who would handle the daily operations? If we additionally pursue this riot, the sheer number of people involved might create unpredictable complications."

"I understand your concerns," Li Yuchang interjected, "but the law has clear provisions for this. We should simply follow legal procedures."

Gu Jiusi remained silent for a while before nodding. "We'll proceed as Lord Li suggests. But after removing these officials, who will fill the vacant positions?"

"Here's a proposal," Liu Yu Ru, who had been listening nearby, spoke up. "We'll handle everything according to Lord Li's approach, but given the massive scale of involvement in the riot, Jiusi should petition the Emperor for leniency—allowing financial penalties to reduce punishments. While punishment is necessary, executing thousands under the law would be too severe, especially since many are only implicated through family ties. Instead, let the four major families pay hefty fines that cripple their resources. As for officials: the imperial examinations are concluding soon. By the time we resolve these matters, the exams will be over, allowing His Majesty to appoint high-level personnel. For lower-level positions, Lord Qin and Lord Fu have served in Xingyang for years and likely know some reliable candidates. We can also recruit from smaller local families and ordinary citizens. While retaining some experienced hands, we could hold a special local examination to openly recruit new talent. These veterans could then design crash courses to quickly train newcomers in standard procedures. Though we'll face a difficult transition period, we'll eventually overcome it."

After Liu Yu Ru finished her thoughtful proposal, Gu Jiusi scanned the room. The others exchanged glances until Li Yuchang finally said, "I find this feasible."

Having reached a consensus, they decided Gu Jiusi would lead the negotiations.

As night deepened, Gu Jiusi dismissed everyone to rest while summoning the heads of the Zhao, Li, and Chen families.The three men had been waiting outside for a long time, their hearts filled with trepidation. They were now like fish on the chopping block, with Gu Jiusi as the knife, and they dared not utter a word of complaint. Upon entering, they saw Gu Jiusi and immediately knelt, their voices trembling as they said, "Greetings, Lord Gu! Please spare our lives, Lord Gu!"

"You jest," Gu Jiusi laughed, helping each of them up one by one. "I am deeply gratified that all of you have returned to the right path. I called you here tonight specifically to discuss some matters."

The three men remained silent, allowing Gu Jiusi to assist them to their feet. Gu Jiusi had them sit and personally poured tea for them. They felt as if sitting on pins and needles, watching Gu Jiusi's attentiveness with growing unease. Gu Jiusi spoke earnestly, "You must have come tonight because of the recent riots."

"Lord Gu," Boss Zhao took a deep breath, "let's speak plainly. Last night, you went to great lengths—sending messengers and distributing leaflets—all to persuade us to betray the Wang family and work for you. We understood and complied. Shouldn't you, as promised last night, spare our families?"

"You are quite right, gentlemen," Gu Jiusi rubbed his teacup. "I, Gu, am not one to forget a kindness, which is why we are here now, able to have a proper conversation."

The talk of repaying kindness was merely a formality, and everyone present knew it well. Gu Jiusi tapped the table slowly and said, "I do wish to spare you all, but as you know, I am not the only one in charge here. There is also Lord Li, a man of strict principles and rigidity. I have tried every means, but he insists on handling this case..."

"Lord Gu," Boss Chen frowned, "if helping you yields the same outcome as not helping, are you toying with us?"

"How could it be the same?"

Gu Jiusi sighed, "Boss Chen, let me finish. According to the law, what you have done warrants the execution of your entire clans. But since I promised you, I naturally won't let it come to that. Lord Li and I have finally agreed on a compromise."

"What compromise?"

The three men grew tense. Gu Jiusi leaned forward with a smile, interlaced his fingers, and said lightly, "Pay up."

The three were stunned.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Jiang He and Qin Nan stood facing each other. Jiang He looked at Qin Nan, who had suddenly blocked his path, and asked, "Lord Qin, is there something you need from me?"

Qin Nan clenched his fists.

"You shouldn't bear the surname Jiang."

His voice trembled as he spoke. Jiang He looked at him, and after a moment, let out a soft laugh. "So, you really did investigate me back then."