It seems the Marquis is very fond of you indeed.

Gu Yunting’s gaze flickered slightly, but the emotion vanished almost immediately, and Jiang Shuwan did not notice.

"I accidentally bumped into a shopkeeper who mentioned that someone had recently hoarded a massive amount of grain. I looked into it and found out it was you."

Jiang Shuwan looked at him suspiciously. "I remember the imperial decree stated a million piculs, but I recall it wasn't that much. The extra portion—did you help me cover it?"

Gu Yunting did not hide it from her and nodded.

So that was how it was.

She had indeed asked Du Qing to hoard grain, but she did not have that much capital to begin with. That was why she had found it somewhat strange upon hearing the imperial decree; it turned out Gu Yunting had assisted her behind the scenes.

"Thank you," Jiang Shuwan said sincerely.

If not for Gu Yunting, she might truly have been banished to the suburban estate, where the Jiang family would undoubtedly have instructed the servants to subject her to all sorts of petty torments.

She doubted whether she would have been able to cope with all of that.

"Why does the Jiang family treat you this way? Have they been bullying you like this since you were a child?"

When Fengye had informed him that Jiang Shuwan had been beaten, Gu Yunting had wanted to rush straight to the Jiang residence. However, reason told him that they were not yet married, and Jiang Shuwan being beaten was still a domestic matter of the Jiang household. If he acted too impulsively, it might only place Jiang Shuwan in an even more difficult position.

After much deliberation, he had resorted to this alternative plan.

Jiang Shuwan looked at him steadily.

Seeing the anger in his eyes, a warmth spread through her heart.

Yet, rationality reminded her that a man's love and protection only held true for as long as the affection lasted.

If she were to tell Gu Yunting everything she had suffered in the Jiang family, it might someday become a weapon against her should he ever grow tired of her.

Much like Gu Xin in her past life, who had treated her with a thousand kindnesses at the beginning, only to ultimately dally with Lin Rou, leave her widowed for so long, and finally drive her to a tragic death.

Jiang Shuwan reined in her emotions and replied indifferently, "It's fine."

Knowing she did not wish to speak of it, Gu Yunting did not press further.

He scooped another spoonful and fed it to her, and Jiang Shuwan drank in silence.

The atmosphere was somewhat delicate, yet neither of them broke the quiet.

After finishing two bowls, Jiang Shuwan felt quite full.

Gu Yunting put away the porcelain bowl and tidied up the food container.

"I have matters to attend to later, so I must leave. If anything comes up, send Liusu to find me. Never bear things alone in silence."

Jiang Shuwan was momentarily stunned, realizing he was referring to when she had endured the beating by herself.

Thinking of how much silver he had spent to rescue her, she still felt deeply moved and nodded, "Alright."

After instructing her to take good care of her injuries and recover, Gu Yunting picked up his things and left.

As Jiang Shuwan watched his retreating figure, she felt he cut an imposing and towering presence, much like a mountain capable of offering a profound sense of security.

Once outside, however, Gu Yunting’s expression darkened completely. Because Jiang Shuwan’s injuries were on her back, Fengye had not found it convenient to enter the room. Seeing that the marquis seemed to be in a foul mood, Fengye took the food container from him and asked with cautious curiosity, "My Lord, what is wrong? Did you and Miss Jiang have a quarrel?"

That shouldn't be the case, though. He had sent people out at the crack of dawn to buy a chicken and had personally brewed the chicken soup to deliver to Miss Jiang himself. Why would his expression turn like this so soon after going inside?

Gu Yunting cast a sidelong glance at him, his gaze devoid of any ripple, yet somehow sending a chill down Fengye's spine.

Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Fengye instantly regretted opening his mouth.

"Go and investigate everything about the Jiang family for me. The faster, the better," Gu Yunting commanded coldly.

Fengye was startled, but this time he had learned his lesson and dared not ask any further questions.

"Understood, this subordinate will handle it immediately."

Clutching the food container, he strode away quickly.

Gu Yunting turned back to glance one last time at the Yongbo Estate.

A five-courtyard residence paved with bluestone slabs. As he had walked through earlier, he had noticed many rare and precious flowers, as well as the timber on the crossbeams—at a single glance, none of it was cheap.

Exquisiteness and meticulous care were evident everywhere.

It actually looked far superior to their own marquis's residence.

It was obvious a vast amount of wealth had been poured into it.

Gu Yunting silently made a mental note.

"Hmm, where is this smell of chicken soup coming from?" Not long after Gu Yunting left, Liusu walked into the room, sniffed the air, and caught the rich aroma of chicken soup, prompting her to ask.

Watching Liusu sniffing around like a puppy looking for meat to see where the scent was coming from, Jiang Shuwan found it somewhat amusing, and the corners of her lips curved upward.

Having no intention of keeping it from her, she told Liusu about how Gu Yunting had come to visit her bringing chicken soup.

Liusu had not expected Gu Yunting to come in person and couldn't help rejoicing for her. "My lady, it seems the Marquis truly cares for you a great deal!"

Recalling how Gu Yunting had fed her moments ago, Jiang Shuwan felt her face flush. Putting on a slightly stern expression, she chided, "Stop talking nonsense."

Seeing her blush, Liusu knew she wasn't actually angry and teased, "How is this servant talking nonsense? The Marquis clearly holds you in his heart; otherwise, why wouldn't he just send a servant, yet choose to deliver it personally?"

Jiang Shuwan hadn't thought of it from that angle until now.

Indeed, the marquisate had no shortage of servants; he could have easily dispatched anyone to make the delivery. There was no need for him to come himself. She never expected that her impulsive bluff about wanting to marry Gu Yunting would yield such substantial rewards.

Thinking of what he had done for her, warmth flooded her heart once more.

Pushing aside matters of romance as something came to mind, Jiang Shuwan asked, "How did the investigation go?"

Liusu also收起 (withdrew) her smile, her face turning serious. "My lady, everything has been found out. It was all ordered by the cousin miss."

"It was her indeed."

She had originally suspected Lady Li or the old matriarch, but she had not expected it to be Lin Rou.

Yet, upon reflection, realizing that Lin Rou blamed all the humiliation of being driven back entirely on her, it all suddenly made sense.

Liusu hesitated, her expression suggesting she had something more to say, unsure whether she should voice it.

"Is there something else?" Jiang Shuwan noticed her hesitation.

Remaining silent for a few seconds, Liusu finally spoke, "This servant also heard that yesterday, the Lord Baron and the Old Madam formally entered the cousin miss's name into the family genealogy, declaring her to be the Baron's daughter and instructing us to address her as the Second Miss from now on."

"What?" Jiang Shuwan was somewhat shocked.

Even when they had beaten her, they had merely admitted to it internally; she hadn't expected them to actually enter Lin Rou into the family registry now.

Still, it made sense. They had gone through such great lengths to secure the marriage alliance with the Peaceful Ning Marquisate, and now that Lin Rou had been driven back, acknowledging Lin Rou's official status as a daughter of the Jiang family—whether legitimate or concubine-born—meant she would still have a chance to return to the Peaceful Ning Marquisate.

If she remained merely a distant relative of the Jiang family, the Peaceful Ning Marquisate would never give the Jiangs that much face.

They truly were calculating merchants of benefit, Jiang Shuwan thought with a cold internal laugh.

However, she would never let them succeed so easily.

"Very well, I understand. You may step outside first; I wish to be quiet for a moment."

"Yes."

Liusu backed out of the room.

Now that Lin Rou had transformed into a proper daughter of the Jiang family, her return to the Peaceful Ning Marquisate was only a matter of time, and with her scheming methods, she would undoubtedly regain Gu Xin's favor once again.

While she no longer cared for Gu Xin herself, she certainly had no desire to see the two people who had tortured her so miserably in her past life end up together again.

She had to devise a foolproof plan to tear them apart permanently.