"Brother-in-law, what do you think of this courtyard?" Zheng Yu pointed to the courtyard in front of them and asked, "This is the first one, and there are a few more to see. If you don't like it, we can go to the next one later."
The locations of these houses were all excellent, carefully selected by Zheng Yu's subordinates after a long search.
"Is this your esteemed husband?"
"No, no!"
"Of course not!"
Before the homeowner could finish speaking, they were both hastily interrupted.
"This is my brother-in-law." Zheng Yu let out a sigh and patiently explained to the homeowner. If Lu Yu heard about this, wouldn't Lu Yu challenge him to a duel?
"Then I am indeed blind. My apologies." The homeowner was also a bit embarrassed and apologized repeatedly, but inwardly wondered which man would go out with his wife's elder sister to look at houses.
Thinking this, their gaze towards the two changed. It turned out they were shamelessly entangled, buying a house outside to live in secretly.
"We're not selling, we're not selling!" the homeowner shouted, not wanting to sell their house to such people.
Zheng Yu, Shen Xuan, and Afu were all kicked out by the homeowner, utterly bewildered.
"What's wrong with you! If you don't want to sell, fine, we didn't want to buy yours anyway, so why are you pushing!" Afu angrily yelled at the door.
"Forget it, Afu. This house isn't for sale, let's go to the next one."
"Yes, let's go to the next one."
Zheng Yu was also completely baffled. Seeing Shen Xuan say this, he went along with it. After all, since they didn't want to sell, he couldn't use his status as town mayor to force a sale.
As the homeowner watched them leave through the crack in the door, they spat fiercely on the ground. Their own husband had abandoned his marital duties and run off with someone else. They hated clandestine affairs, secret collusion, and shameless adulterers and prostitutes more than anything.
Silently memorizing their appearances, they prepared to expose their scandal later.
The three, having already arrived at the next house, were naturally unaware of the homeowner's thoughts. Everything was still calm.
Around noon, they returned to the medical hall and told Lu Yu about the day's events.
"The house is fine as long as the husband likes it. I'll go pay the money this afternoon and see what the house the husband chose actually looks like."
Lu Yu hadn't wanted to go. As long as Shen Xuan liked it, the money had already been given to Shen Xuan. But Shen Xuan insisted she go, saying it wasn't proper for a wife to be absent while her husband used money to buy a house without her. Lu Yu couldn't refuse Shen Xuan and reluctantly compromised with a smile.
The layout of this mansion was indeed excellent. It was a three-courtyard house, a three-stage courtyard strictly constructed along a central axis, with a regular and progressive layout.
Although not overly opulent, it excelled in its exquisite design. The courtyards were connected by corridors, and the gardens were adorned with flowers and trees.
To the left of the main gate was a room, likely where the night watchman stayed. Passing the room and turning left led into the first courtyard. Straight ahead was the stable for the horses.
Turning right through the hanging flower gate led into the second courtyard. Directly facing it was the main hall, used for entertaining guests and holding meetings. To the left and right were side rooms and the kitchen.
Passing the second gate, there was a small connecting corridor. Ahead was a long covered walkway, which led to the leisure and recreational area of the mansion.
This area had a lotus pond surrounded by fragrant gardens. It was autumn, and the lotus flowers in the pond had withered, with only one or two still stubbornly blooming.
By next summer, the entire pond would be filled with lotuses of various shapes, just like the screen Shen Xuan had painted.
She knew Shen Xuan would like this.
The roses blooming in the garden had not yet fallen. In the corners were several osmanthus trees, their blossoms in full bloom, golden against the green leaves, full of vitality.
On the other side, several snow plum trees were planted. It wasn't winter yet, so the plum blossoms hadn't bloomed. However, the plum trees had no diseased or weak branches that consumed a lot of their nutrients, indicating that the original owner of this courtyard was a lover of flowers.
Walking to the right from the main hall led into the third courtyard, which had the most exquisite layout. There were two rooms side by side. The left was a study, not large, but it suggested the owner did not enjoy reading.
The right side had more everyday flowers and plants, meticulously maintained and tidy.
Lu Yu was very satisfied with this house and praised Shen Xuan's taste. The courtyard was simply perfect for her.
"Let's move in tomorrow."
Lu Yu was efficient and never delayed what could be done immediately.
Lu Yu designated the west wing of the second courtyard as Afu's room, one room in the third courtyard as her and Shen Xuan's room, and the other room as a study. She had many medical books, and the small study was clearly not enough.
"So, Young Master, you are Yi Tong's younger brother. I am Yi Tong's friend. You can call me Sister Zheng, just like Shen Xuan."
"Sister Zheng." Gu Yi performed a standard courtesy of a young master from a prominent family towards Zheng Yu. "Thank you for your help yesterday, Sister Zheng. Gu Yi is deeply grateful."
"No need to be so polite. Yi Tong is my good sister, so of course I would help."
"Your face..." Zheng Yu noticed Gu Yi's cheeks were still somewhat swollen and red. Gu Yi had covered his forehead with his hair, so it was not clearly visible.
Hearing Zheng Yu mention his face, Gu Yi lowered his head as if startled, instinctively not wanting Zheng Yu to see his injured and swollen cheek. He felt ashamed and sad.
"It's nothing serious. Thank you for your concern, Town Mayor."
Even his words carried a clear sense of distance.
Although he had fallen into the pleasure quarters, he still had his pride and did not wish to show his severely damaged appearance to outsiders.
Zheng Yu sensed Shen Xuan's distance and understood, so she did not converse further with him, only advising Gu Yi to take good care of himself.
While talking with Gu Yi Tong, Zheng Yu's eyes occasionally glanced at Gu Yi. Seeing him sitting alone on the bed, looking dejected, Zheng Yu didn't know how to comfort him, only feeling that such an emotion shouldn't appear on Gu Yi's face.
"Yi Tong, I see your brother's complexion is still not very good. He's probably upset about the injury on his face."
Gu Yi Tong also turned to look at her silent younger brother, feeling a bit sad. "He was originally very handsome. It's my fault for not protecting him well. Now there's an ugly scar on his face."
"Can't the scar removal medicine that A Yu prescribed completely remove it?" Hearing Gu Yi Tong say this, Zheng Yu's eyes widened in disbelief.
In her eyes, Lu Yu was a doctor with excellent medical skills. If Lu Yu couldn't treat it, then there was probably no hope. Thinking that such a handsome person had an indelible scar on his face, Zheng Yu felt it was a pity.
"Does he know about it?" If he knew, he would surely be very sad.
"He knows." Gu Yi Tong nodded and sighed. "Lu Yu said that even with daily application of medicine, the scar on his forehead will take about a year to completely disappear."
A year? That was also a waste of a young man's prime years.
Gu Yi Tong saw Afu, who had been accompanying her brother, and a smile inadvertently curved her lips.
She was very grateful to Afu. If Afu hadn't been comforting and accompanying her brother these past two days, Gu Yi would probably have been even more sad and dejected.
"When will your illness get better?" Afu noticed Gu Yi Tong's gaze and walked to her side to ask.
As if feeling her actions were inappropriate, she uncomfortably defended herself, "I'm not here to care about you. I'm asking on Yi'er's behalf. As long as you're not well, Yi'er will worry for another day."
Gu Yi Tong felt something strange, but couldn't quite pinpoint it. She answered Afu's question, "There's nothing seriously wrong with my body. After drinking a few doses of medicine, I'll be fine in a few days."
This liar. The family head said she had internal injuries, so how could she get better so quickly?
Afu glared at him, turned, and left, leaving Gu Yi Tong standing there, looking bewildered.
"Shen Xuan, I've finally caught your weakness. Just you wait, I'll make you pay the price."
At this moment, a hateful voice echoed from a room in the Shen mansion. The person sat in a chair, their face contorted, their eyes filled with ice.