Eleanor really liked this child. He looked clever and cute and knew how to behave properly. The look in his eyes was full of sincerity and happiness.
He truly liked her as his aunt.
So every time Julian came, Eleanor would cook delicious food for him when she had time. When she was busy, she would not just leave him alone but took him to the trading company to play and told him some business stories.
Julian had a strong talent, somewhat like Gabriel. He learned things quickly and could still have fun while studying.
"I'm fine, not hurt. But how many times have you skipped class this month? Aren't you afraid your uncle will know?"
Eleanor smiled and let the boy sit in front of her. She asked Maid Yu to get a new set of bowls and chopsticks and had the cook prepare several dishes Julian liked.
When Julian heard Gabriel's name, his expression fell. After a few seconds, he straightened his slim back and looked at Eleanor confidently.
"I'm fine! Aunt, I have a get-out-of-jail-free card. You are my card. If I say I came to see you, uncle won't do anything to me."
Eleanor smiled but did not take his words seriously.
After Julian was sure Eleanor was okay, he relaxed and happily chatted with her. He told her about things he encountered at school, his likes and dislikes, sharing everything with Eleanor.
When Maid Yu brought the dishes the cook specially made for him, Julian made an exaggerated face with tears in his eyes as he looked at Eleanor.
"Aunt! You really are the kindest to me! Do you know how strict that military school uncle sent me to is? It's like torture! I haven't been full for almost a month! Let alone this food, it smells so good, so good!"
Eleanor did not interrupt him and smiled, waiting for him to finish talking before eating with him.
If you asked how much time Eleanor spent happily at the Gu family in recent years, half of it was definitely with Julian.
The Gu family still had people she liked, although the one she loved most did not love her back.
............
Elsewhere
Shen City
Hannah had some personal feelings about the news of Servant Lian, but having followed Gabriel for so many years, she knew his methods. She also knew she couldn't fool him, so she did not dare to lie about Chief Gu and that grave.
The grave had problems, but Hannah didn't know, and Gabriel was still investigating.
Gabriel left people in Shen City and took a car back to Anhai City the next day.
On the way, Gabriel looked out at the passing scenery, his dark eyes deep and silent. He said nothing.
The butler and attendants naturally did not speak until halfway through the trip. Doctor Wang, who had given medicine for Eleanor's hangover a few days ago, got in the car with a puzzled look.
Gabriel stopped looking outside and looked at the doctor.
"What is the mark on her arm?"
Doctor Wang was actually Bernard's family doctor but did not live with them. He happened to be on the road from Anhai City to Shen City.
He had gone to the pharmacy for a pulse check that morning but was called by Gabriel's attendants to wait at the house's roadside.
Doctor Wang waited nervously for almost two hours, wondering what Gabriel wanted. It couldn't be because Eleanor had a problem after drinking his hangover medicine, right?
But then he thought no, or he probably wouldn't still be standing there.
If not for that, what could a family doctor have to do with the chief?
The old doctor waited nervously on the roadside, then got in the car and heard this question.
The mark on the lady's arm?
Doctor Wang looked at Gabriel's dark eyes and suddenly understood something. Although he tried to control his expression, surprise still showed on his face.
"A mark? Madam has a serious scar sensitivity. Needles naturally cause marks like that. It hurts for a few days before it slowly fades. Sir, you really didn't know?"
After he said the last sentence, the car fell silent for a moment.
Doctor Wang looked at Gabriel across from him and then at the silent attendants. He opened and closed his mouth but said nothing.
Even though no one, including Gabriel, showed obvious surprise at what he said, Doctor Wang understood immediately.
But he still found it unbelievable. Gabriel and his family had been married for five years. How had no one noticed this obvious illness of hers?
Doctor Wang did not know what to say.
Should he ask Gabriel how he could be so careless with his wife?
He wanted to live longer.
The tense atmosphere inside the car was too uncomfortable. He had to say something to break it and let the air flow.
Doctor Wang held back for a long time and finally decided to tell them about the unusual scar sensitivity he discovered in the lady.
"Uh… also, sir, her scar sensitivity is different from usual."
The stiff atmosphere finally eased a bit. Gabriel looked at Doctor Wang. "How is it different?"
Doctor Wang recalled the pulse check and answered carefully, "Her skin is very fragile and sensitive. Even needles and medicine cause marks that take days to fade. Besides scar sensitivity, I think her body itself is too weak, like she had a serious injury that damaged her foundation. This weakness shows inside and out. Although she has recovered well and is almost like a normal person, this base problem causes such severe scarring."
The old doctor felt the atmosphere stiffen again, even worse than before.
He cleared his throat and spoke faster, "Sir, did Madam have a serious injury to her foundation? If yes, my guess might be right. Her scar sensitivity would need treatment to improve.
If not, then her body is just special. I'm guessing, forgive me…"
Gabriel did not answer, his dark eyes lowered. It was unclear if he did not want to answer or could not.
The old doctor guessed the latter but dared not ask or say anything.
After thinking, he wondered if he was overthinking. The lady was the eldest daughter of the Han family. Before and after marrying Gabriel, she was always watched and admired in the southern region.
If she had a serious injury, how could no news come out?
So maybe her body was just very sensitive and special?
As the old doctor thought this, Gabriel finally spoke after a long silence.
"How to treat it?"
Doctor Wang paused, controlled his thoughts, and quickly listed many medicinal herbs.
Gabriel raised his hand, and an attendant handed him paper, ink, and brush.
Doctor Wang wrote a full page and then reminded him carefully.
"If it is from serious injury, it will take years to recover and needs the best herbs. Also, if she catches a cold or fever, take medicine instead of injections. If injections are unavoidable, no matter how painful, she must endure the marks fading slowly. Never take painkillers. They harm nerves and are bad for the body, especially for someone with a weak foundation. It could cause side effects."
Doctor Wang finished and handed the prescription to Gabriel. After Gabriel nodded, he finally breathed out and got off the car.
After Doctor Wang left, the car remained silent.
The attendants were Gabriel's close servants. After hearing the doctor, they understood where the scary marks on Madam's arms came from.
Especially the butler driving the car. He was there when the doctor asked Gabriel to give Madam medicine, but Gabriel left because of a call from the Marshal's house. So the medicine was never given.
That day, the Marshal's house summoned Gabriel because of an assassin who was killed and hung on the city wall. The Marshal's house scolded Gabriel openly and secretly.
Thinking about it, the butler sneered.
The old marshal was not only old but more and more confused.
He didn't see the current situation of the Marshal's house but still dared to scold Gabriel.
The Marshal's house had been weakening for years. The old marshal had few sons. Besides a worthless son from the second wife who only wasted time, there was only Gabriel's sister, the eldest lady of the Gu family who married the old marshal and had a son, Julian.
Julian was born soon after the Gu family fell. Without support from his mother's clan, the old marshal's love for his eldest daughter quickly faded. He ignored Julian too.
Julian grew up neglected at the Marshal's house until Gabriel rebuilt the Gu family and went to the Marshal's house with his wife. Only then did they see Julian, who was skinny and bony.
It took a long time for Gabriel to gain the old marshal's trust and start raising Julian himself.
As Julian grew older and understood more, he liked to run to the Gu family not for Gabriel but for his wife.
Because she not only taught Julian but often took him to play, even some activities Gabriel did not allow but were not too much.
And if she was with him, Julian's playing was usually accepted by Gabriel. Without her, Julian playing alone would at least be punished severely.
But when Julian studied with her, he was lively and full of energy, much more than when with Gabriel.
In Julian's eyes, Gabriel was probably like a cold and terrifying instructor.