Volume One, Chapter Five: Haunted by Fragrant Smoke?

On ordinary days, whenever he took his medicine, Gu Jingzhi would cough violently. He had to rest for a while before he could barely regain his strength. The emperor had also arranged for many renowned doctors, but no matter how the prescriptions changed, the coughing persisted.

Over time, Gu Jingzhi grew accustomed to it and gave up trying to fight it. Today, after taking the medicine, he remained unusually quiet for quite some time. Aunt Wen felt a surge of joy. "Fourth Master, Miss Changning, you chose well. Ever since she arrived, you've improved a lot. Miss Changning must be the little lucky star of our Green Bamboo Residence."

Zhongbo, however, was more worried that Gu Jingzhi would have a restless night. He advised from beside him, "It's rare that you’re not coughing now. Let me light some incense to help you sleep well, Fourth Master."

"No need for incense for now. I made a promise to Changning; I can't break my word," Gu Jingzhi said, a tightness creeping into his heart. He had formally adopted Changning to rightfully leave her some inheritance, so she would have someone to rely on after his death. But this child truly regarded him as her father—could she bear it when that day came?

He had thought that without the calming incense, the night would be sleepless, but Gu Jingzhi surprisingly slept soundly, not even haunted by the nightmares that usually troubled him. Moreover, he did not cough incessantly when he took his medicine in the morning.

Perhaps Changning really was his lucky star.

Feeling invigorated for the first time in a long while, Gu Jingzhi pondered about starting Changxing and Changning’s education. Changxing had long since begun his lessons with his older half-brother from the second branch, but the boy was notoriously unruly—rumor had it that several tutors had quit in frustration. As for Changning, neither the Marquis nor Li Nanzhi considered her a person; she probably hadn’t learned anything at all.

Considering that Changning had been abused for so long and was always timid, even raising his voice could frighten her. Gu Jingzhi didn’t feel comfortable entrusting her to a tutor and found himself contemplating teaching her himself.

Just then, Zhongbo entered holding a box. "Fourth Master, the Marquis has sent some incense again. It’s made from this year’s finest herbs, said to have a better calming effect. He asked you to try it."

As Zhongbo spoke, he opened the box. A fragrant scent wafted out, and Gu Jingzhi began coughing again, broken and persistent for a long while.

In that lightning-fast moment, he sensed something was wrong.

At that moment, Changning ran in. "Daddy," the little voice was full of worry, as if she wanted to rush immediately to Gu Jingzhi’s side.

The small child paused for a moment, then obediently bowed to him. "Changning greets Daddy."

Seeing his daughter, Gu Jingzhi looked up with affectionate eyes, hardly able to believe this was the same Changning. Her previously tangled hair was now neatly braided, adorned with two fluffy little rabbit bead ornaments. Her face was clean and fair, her eyes sparkling like black gems, with a delicate nose and a cute little mouth.

Her shabby, colorless clothes had been replaced by a pink ruqun dress, with an apricot-colored cross-collared jacket embroidered with winter jasmine, and a pair of matching apricot embroidered shoes. She looked like a porcelain doll, utterly adorable.

This was no longer the small, scruffy child brought home yesterday, but a celestial fairy descended from the heavens.

Even Zhongbo couldn’t help but sigh, "Once our young lady is dressed up, she can outshine even the fairies in the sky."

Gu Jingzhi suppressed his cough and waved to Changning, "Come to Daddy."

After speaking, he had to clutch his chest and cough again.

Before entering the room, Changning caught the familiar scent of the incense again. This time, the fragrance was noticeably stronger.

She deliberately pouted, and tears began to flow uncontrollably. "Daddy is naughty. Daddy didn’t keep his word."

Her crying threw Gu Jingzhi into complete panic. He fumbled to comfort her but couldn’t stop coughing.

He could only gesture repeatedly for Zhongbo to take the incense away. Zhongbo was baffled and stood there, unsure what to do.

With no choice, Changning turned messenger. She firmly closed the incense box and said, "Grandpa, Daddy wants you to take the incense out."

Zhongbo gave Gu Jingzhi a questioning look. He couldn’t believe this little girl who had been here just a day knew better than he did about the Fourth Master’s intentions.

Gu Jingzhi nodded to him and waved his hand. Indeed, he wanted Zhongbo to remove it.

The Fourth Master spoiled this girl too much. For all these years, he had relied on this incense to fall asleep; just one sentence from her, and he disregarded everything else.

Zhongbo wanted to argue, but Gu Jingzhi’s eyes flashed with a hint of severity, as if about to lose his temper.

Zhongbo and Aunt Wen were Gu Jingzhi’s trusted attendants. In all these years, it was the first time they had seen him displeased.

Inside the room, Changning, unable to reach Gu Jingzhi seated on the couch, brought over a small stool and stood on it.

She carefully patted Gu Jingzhi’s back, murmuring, "Daddy promised Changning not to use that incense anymore. So Daddy is a liar."

As the coughing gradually eased, Changning pouted angrily, then climbed down the stool. She struggled to pour a cup of water for Gu Jingzhi, thoughtfully testing the temperature before handing it to him.

She huffed, "Drink some water."

Her pout showed she was quite upset, and even calling him ‘Daddy’ sounded reluctant.

Gu Jingzhi, usually cold and aloof, smiled warmly. "Thank you, Changning."

Seeing Gu Jingzhi holding the cup steadily, Changning snorted, turned her back with her small arms crossed, and refused to say another word.

"Changning, Daddy is not using the incense. It was your eldest uncle who just sent it. Zhongbo only brought it in for me to look at."

As soon as he said this, a complex look flickered across his face.

Seeing Changning’s stubborn back, he pulled her around and raised an eyebrow. "Good children don’t falsely accuse others, right?"

Realizing she had wrongly blamed her father, Changning felt a bit embarrassed but still protested, "Anyway, Daddy let the incense come inside."

Gu Jingzhi saw through it but didn’t expose her. He smiled and said, "Yes, yes, Daddy was wrong. Luckily, Changning came just in time. Go inside the study and see what you like to learn. Daddy will teach you to recognize characters soon."

After sending Changning off, Gu Jingzhi’s expression instantly darkened. He raised his voice, "Zhongbo, come here."

Then he added, "Keep the incense outside."

Zhongbo felt Gu Jingzhi was too indulgent with Changning and complained, "Miss Changning really is something. Why does she have to be so stubborn about this incense? If someone didn’t know better, they’d think she doesn’t care about Fourth Master’s well-being."

Those words struck a chord in Gu Jingzhi’s heart.

Every time he smelled the incense, he coughed. No medicine helped. Was this a coincidence, or something else?

Thinking this over, Gu Jingzhi’s expression grew sterner. He quietly instructed, "Zhongbo, find someone reliable to investigate the ingredients of the incense my eldest brother sent."

Zhongbo was shocked. "Fourth Master, are you suspecting—"