I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.

"Changning is my daughter, and this is my courtyard. Even if she needs correction, it is not your place to intervene, Sister-in-law."

Although she had not seen the wounds on Gu Changning’s body with her own eyes, even Nanny Wen, who had come to stir up trouble, could hardly bear to look; one could only imagine how brutal the beatings had been. Gu Jingzhi had been nursing a deep resentment over this, so he did not show Li Nanzhi a shred of respect.

In this Marquis's estate, Li Nanzhi had never endured such treatment, and her temper flared. "Fourth Brother, I heard there was an incident in your courtyard and rushed over at the crack of dawn to help. To treat me like this for the sake of a jinx—have you any regard for me as your eldest sister-in-law?"

Gu Jingzhi’s eyes turned cold. "I do not need your concern regarding matters in my courtyard. Nanny Wen, Changning is my legitimate daughter, adopted with the Emperor's consent. From now on, regardless of who it is, if anyone dares to speak recklessly or rudely, slap them across the mouth without exception."

"This servant understands. Whoever bullies the young mistress, this servant will strike," Nanny Wen replied, bowing according to protocol. Her voice was full of vigor, carrying an air of fearlessness that made Li Nanzhi feel as if a slap might land on her face the very next second.

Seeing that it was impossible to plant her own people in Green Bamboo Abode, Li Nanzhi had no choice but to back down. "It seems I have been meddling," she said with a forced smile. "Since Fourth Brother does not need help, we shall take our leave."

She stormed off, her mood only improving when she heard the violent, racking coughs of Gu Jingzhi behind her. She snorted, thinking to herself, "You sickly wretch, daring to use the Emperor to pressure me. Once you kick the bucket, let’s see what you have left to protect that jinx."

Halfway back, she encountered Madam He, the wife of the second brother, Gu Jingyu. Seeing Li Nanzhi, she hurried over, curtsied in a panic, and began to weep.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, you must stand up for me! My precious son was adopted by Fourth Brother. It is one thing for him not to show the boy affection, but for days he kept him locked in his room, and now he has thrown him into the ancestral hall! Yet, that jinx Gu Changning is treated like a treasure by the Fourth.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, our Xingchen is the legitimate son of the fourth branch! Even if the Fourth cannot be fair, he shouldn't be so blatantly biased. If this gets out, it will ruin the reputation of the Marquis's estate."

Li Nanzhi’s eyes flickered, and the anger on her face deftly shifted into genuine sorrow. She took Madam He’s hand, appearing as if she had more to say but was holding back.

The expression made Madam He panic. "Eldest Sister-in-law, what is it?"

Li Nanzhi sighed. "Sister-in-law, as soon as I heard, I rushed over to speak some sense into him, but the Fourth holds no regard for me as his sister-in-law. He even used the Emperor to suppress me. At the end of the day, Xingchen is his son now; my hands are tied."

Hearing the word "Emperor," Madam He’s resolve weakened. Hesitantly, she asked, "Eldest Sister-in-law, what should I do? I cannot just watch Xingchen suffer."

"You are Xingchen’s birth mother. Even if the child is adopted, blood is thicker than water. No matter how much backing the Fourth has, he cannot disregard the bond between mother and son," Li Nanzhi said, patting her hand. "You cannot blame the Fourth entirely. It is all that jinx, Gu Changning. I don't know what methods she used, but now the Fourth speaks of nothing but his precious daughter. Given the Fourth’s current health, if the worst were to happen, I fear the entire family fortune would be left to Gu Changning."

After saying this, Li Nanzhi sighed helplessly, cast a sympathetic look at Madam He, and walked away.

As soon as she turned, a wicked smile crossed her face. No matter how capable Gu Jingzhi was, he was still a sickly invalid. After their recent confrontation, he was already struggling; if she let Madam He stir up more trouble, it would be all the better if it angered Gu Jingzhi to death.

Li Nanzhi’s words struck Madam He like a thunderbolt. If the entire estate went to Gu Changning, what would become of her Xingchen? They were counting on the Fourth’s wealth to pave the way for their two sons' careers. No, absolutely not.

Thinking of this, she began to complain about her husband, Gu Jingyu, for being a coward and letting a woman like her come forward. He had tried to excuse himself by saying that women and small-minded people were the hardest to deal with, and that the Fourth was a scholar who feared shrewish women.

Madam He quickened her pace. No matter what, she had to demand an explanation for Xingchen.

By the time she arrived, Gu Jingzhi had already returned to Deer-Calling Pavilion to rest. Uncle Zhong said the Fourth Master had just lain down and was not seeing guests.

Provoked by Li Nanzhi, Madam He was convinced Gu Jingzhi was deliberately avoiding her. Thinking of her precious son suffering, she cast all caution aside. "Uncle Zhong, do not try to fob me off with such words! Today, I must confront the Fourth."

Uncle Zhong glanced at Gu Jingzhi’s door and pleaded, "Second Madam, the Fourth Master has just finished dealing with matters in the courtyard and is exhausted; he has only just taken his medicine and fallen asleep. Whatever the matter, please wait until tomorrow."

Madam He would not listen and began to make a scene at the entrance of Deer-Calling Pavilion.

"Fourth Brother! We adopted our son out to you, and instead of cherishing him, you scold him constantly and have now locked him in the ancestral hall! Do you have no conscience regarding our good intentions?"

"Second Madam, you know the state of the Fourth Master’s health. If he suffers a setback because of this clamor, can you bear the responsibility?" Uncle Zhong was truly anxious; after the Eldest Madam left, the Fourth Master had already been coughing for quite some time.

Madam He’s mind was filled only with Li Nanzhi’s words, fearing that if she waited any longer, all of Gu Jingzhi’s land and wealth would go to Gu Changning. She could think of nothing else.

She raised her voice even louder, shouting toward the room, "Fourth Brother, do you think you can hide? Xingchen and Gu Changning were both adopted by you, so why do you only coddle that jinx Gu Changning while finding fault with our Xingchen, beating and punishing him? No matter how you look at it, you are in the wrong!"

With such a commotion, Gu Jingzhi could no longer lie still and struggled to get up.

He was pressed back down by Gu Changning. "Father, rest easy. Changning will handle the Second Aunt."

"Your Second Aunt is so shrewish and unreasonable, how could you possibly handle her... cough, cough!" Before he could finish, Gu Jingzhi broke into another coughing fit.

"Changning has her ways. Father, just rest." Gu Changning forcefully pushed him back onto the bed, then trotted toward the door on her short legs.

"Changning..." Gu Jingzhi called out, worried.

Gu Changning did not look back, marching out with high spirits.

Seeing Madam He, Gu Changning curtsied politely. "Second Aunt, you are here. Uncle Zhong, why haven't you brought Second Aunt to the guest room for tea?"

Seeing Gu Changning dressed in finery, draped in expensive items, while her own precious son was still being punished in the ancestral hall, Madam He grew even angrier. "Don't put on airs of a young mistress before me! You must know that Xingchen is the legitimate eldest son of the fourth branch. What do you think you are?"