Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 895: Disbelief

During this period, Lord Lai was severely troubled by the matters of the Old Gu Family, especially since he highly valued his descendants. The situation regarding Gu Chengzhi pushed him to the brink of collapse.

He restrained the urge to shout and asked Steward Yue expectantly, "The situation with Chengzhi is false, right? You’re deceiving me, aren’t you? He’s fine; he’s a normal child!"

Upon hearing this, Steward Yue looked at Lord Lai silently for a long time before asking him, "Are you accusing me of deceit, my lord?"

He had been working with Lord Lai for ten years, and although he wouldn’t call it selling his soul, he had always been diligent and never messed up any task.

However, Lord Lai seemed to have lost even the most basic trust in him.

Without trust between a steward and his lord, what’s the point of continuing? Better to split and go separate ways.

Lord Lai, hearing this, hastily explained, "Steward Yue, it’s not that I don’t trust you. The truth is, Chengzhi is too important to the Old Gu Family — he’s the only strong, promising sapling. If anything goes wrong, how could I account for it to our benefactor?"

Our benefactor?

Again using the benefactor as a pretext, doesn’t Lord Lai realize he’s used this excuse too many times?

And his affection towards Gu Chengzhi is far from simple; Yue Chong is neither a fool nor blind, and can see it clearly.

Wisely, Steward Yue didn’t probe further but said, "Since my lord doubts it, I will go to the courthouse to check Doctor Xiao’s diagnosis results."

Everyone was saying Gu Chengzhi went mad and hurt people, so Judge Tang invited Doctor Xiao to inspect him in court to determine whether his madness was real or fake.

Lord Lai was pleased with Steward Yue’s agreement and pointed to Doctor Liu, saying, "Invite Doctor Liu as well; we’ll cover his consultation fee from the Vice Magistrate’s office."

He pulled out several hundred-tael silver notes, giving them to Doctor Liu, pleading, "Doctor Liu, please ensure a fair diagnosis."

Upon hearing this, Steward Yue frowned, pondering: What does Lord Lai mean? Does he suspect Judge Tang might conspire with Doctor Xiao to falsely label Gu Chengzhi as a madman?

If this word spreads, does Lord Lai still intend to keep his official position in the prefecture government?

Steward Yue was very disappointed in Lord Lai, feeling that supporting him was not only useless but posed a great risk to his own life.

Doctor Liu cheerfully accepted the silver notes, reassuring, "No worries, Lord Lai. I’ve seen Chengzhi — a chubby child — I’ll ensure a fair diagnosis and won’t wrong him."

Doctor Liu had been to the Old Gu Family to treat Gu Youwen, meeting all the Gu male members. Why did Gu Chengzhi leave an impression? Because this child, his mind...

Lord Lai thought Doctor Liu was saying there was nothing wrong with Gu Chengzhi, making him exceedingly happy, and he handed Doctor Liu another two silver notes, "I entrust you with this."

Doctor Liu readily accepted each one, inwardly sighing: Truly wealthy.

Steward Yue escorted Doctor Liu to the courthouse.

Doctor Xiao had already completed his diagnosis and was reporting to Judge Tang: "This child sometimes cannot focus, occasionally exhibiting behavior unlike that of ordinary people. The condition worsens when enraged, becoming strong and violent, indicative of idiocy and madness."

The incident where Gu Chengzhi went mad and hurt people in the street caused quite a stir. When the government learned he was from the Old Gu Family, they also summoned the family members.

Ms. Zheng hid and didn’t show up; those who came were Elder Gu and Gu Chengli.

Upon hearing Doctor Xiao’s words, Elder Gu yelled, "Nonsense, nonsense! You quack doctor, you’re wronging my Chengzhi. My Chengzhi is perfectly fine, a normal and intelligent child. He can even read; he will pursue an official position in the future. He’s neither an idiot nor a madman — you’re the madman, you old beast!"

Doctor Xiao was shaking with anger from the insults, unable to say a word.

Doctor Liu was incensed, pointing at Elder Gu and cursed, "You Gu, are you a dog? Snapping at everyone! Your Gu Chengzhi is indeed an idiot! I felt he was abnormal when I treated Gu Youwen and Granny Gu at your place earlier, but without a pulse check or examination, I wouldn’t say it outright. Now he’s gone mad on the street injuring people, yet you claim he’s normal? Perhaps you’ve gone mad yourself!"

He continued, "You claim Gu Chengzhi can read, fine — have him write a few words? If he can write them, he’ll be my father!"

Elder Gu furiously shouted, "Write then! My clever Chengzhi won’t have his reputation sullied by you all!"

Judge Tang immediately instructed the clerk to bring pen, ink, paper, and an inkstone to Gu Chengzhi.

Gu Chengzhi, having been pricked by Doctor Xiao, no longer acted like a firecracker; rather, he sat in court, laughing foolishly and drooling. Upon seeing the writing set brought by the clerk, he picked up the inkstone and drank the ink from inside.

After drinking, he chuckled, "Hehe, tastes good."

The courtroom fell silent. Drinking ink and saying it tastes good — could a normal person do such a thing?

No more questioning the Old Gu Family — Gu Chengzhi is indeed an idiot!

Elder Gu was trembling, nearly fainting, yet he maintained his spirit, defending Gu Chengzhi, "Chengzhi is mimicking the mad scholars — I’ve heard those mad scholars drink ink."

Judge Tang was speechless; could you really argue that way?

Judge Tang: "Bring another inkstone’s ink." Let’s see if he drinks it again?

To everyone’s surprise, when another clerk brought his inkstone over, Gu Chengzhi picked it up and drank again.

Ha ha ha!

The crowd burst into laughter, asking Elder Gu, "Elder Gu, should the diagnosis continue? Drinking ink twice — it’s truly not the behavior of a normal person."

Elder Gu shivered, nearly collapsing.

Doctor Xiao hastily pricked him with a needle, "Stay calm, don’t get too agitated, or you’ll have a stroke."

This remark startled Elder Gu, who quickly patted his chest and gasped; he mustn’t faint, have a stroke, or wind up bedridden like Granny Gu.

However, Elder Gu insisted, "Continue with the examination; I don’t believe Chengzhi is an idiot!"

And he suspected Doctor Xiao and Doctor Liu were deliberately targeting the Old Gu Family, expressing his distrust to Judge Tang, "Invite other doctors, not these two!"

Judge Tang was furious, "Whom do you want to invite? Do you have the money?"

Doctor Xiao was hired by the government at a cost.

Elder Gu loudly untied his money pouch, "Here’s twenty taels of silver — invite all renowned physicians from the Prefecture!"

Elder Gu believed twenty taels was a fortune that could hire every doctor in the area. But Doctor Liu said, "That amount can’t invite renowned physicians; at most it can hire four ordinary doctors."

This remark enraged Elder Gu, instantly feeling he’d gone from being a patriarch to a pauper. But the Old Gu Family wasn’t wealthy anymore; he only brought so much silver, "Then invite four new doctors; don’t use these two!"

Judge Tang agreed, sending a government official with the silver to summon doctors, yet Elder Gu called out, "Let Chengli go along!"

If not, who knows what those officials might say to the new doctors that could be unfavorable for Chengzhi?