In the room, after Eleanor left, Gabriel stood still and watched in the direction she had gone. The butler hesitated and called softly, "Master?" Gabriel withdrew his gaze and sat back behind the desk. "Let her in."
"Yes, sir."
This "her" naturally referred to Hannah. Hannah was a well-known beauty in Anhai. The Bai family was also considered one of the established upper-class families in the city. Although they nearly got wiped out alongside the Gu family during the chaos ten years ago, once Gabriel regained power, they quickly returned to high society using his influence.
With this connection, and considering Hannah was the only woman who had stayed by Gabriel's side these past years, some daring gossip columns often paired her with him. In private, people speculated she might become the first woman to successfully marry into the Gu household under Eleanor's power and become Gabriel's second wife.
Hannah walked in carrying a beautifully decorated food box. Her soft autumn-like eyes glowed as she looked at Gabriel and said gently, "Master, this is soup I started making last night. I boiled it all night. It's good for energy and calming the nerves. You're always busy with government matters and staying up late, this can help you feel better..."
She walked closer with the food box. Gabriel, seated behind the desk, didn't even raise his head. The butler quickly stepped up to take the food box and subtly blocked her from getting closer. He smiled politely, "Miss Hannah, the master doesn't eat when he's in the study. I'll hold on to this for you."
Hannah glanced at the butler, handed over the box obediently, and smiled softly. "Thank you, butler." "It's no trouble at all." After taking the soup, the butler had the servant carry it out. He didn't let anyone bring it back in.
Hannah bit her lip and walked to Gabriel's desk. In a soft voice, she said, "I heard the master has been very busy recently and hasn't rested well. Will you rest a little?" The butler stood quietly on the side, watching, speechless.
She clearly came to report the findings about that person, but every time she came, she'd talk about unrelated gentle and vague matters. Hannah's true intentions were obvious. No one in the Gu household was blind to it. No wonder the madam used to get angry every time she saw Hannah.
Gabriel didn't respond to her words. His cold and deep voice directly asked, "What did you find?" Hannah gave a slight smile and smoothly changed the topic. "There is definite news from Bihé County in Shencheng. Twenty years ago, there was indeed a landlord family there with the surname Xi. They also had a maid named Servant Lian."
"However, that family lost their land due to disputes and had to sell everything. They left Shencheng with their whole family. But when they left, they did not take Servant Lian with them." Bihé County in Shencheng was the place where Gabriel's white moonlight, this maid named Servant Lian, had once lived.
More accurately, it was where Servant Lian had lived twenty years ago. As for why the dignified heir of the Gu family was entangled with a lowly maid for so many years, Gabriel never told anyone. Though Hannah wanted to find out, she had never been able to get a single clue.
Hannah carefully watched Gabriel's eyes and expression, but found that after saying this news, he didn't react the way she had expected. His eyes were still slightly lowered. His cold and sharp side profile remained striking under the lamp, but his expression hadn't changed. Hannah couldn't even tell if he felt anything at all.
"And then?" Hannah kept watching him closely and continued, "I had people keep investigating around Shencheng, and then I discovered..." She paused, as if hesitating whether she should say it. Gabriel looked up at her. "Say it."
Under his gaze, Hannah pressed her lips together and spoke with a trace of sorrow and regret. "I found out when the Xi family left, they sold Servant Lian like a possession to a local broker. She was passed around for years and eventually sold to an old, lonely man as a concubine..."
The entire study fell silent the moment her voice stopped. It felt like a freezing, invisible current suddenly filled the room. The butler stood at the door, almost holding his breath. Hannah also instinctively stopped talking, suppressing the brief wave of fear that had risen in her heart. She looked at the silent Gabriel behind the desk.
Gabriel stayed silent for a long time. Only when the tea beside his hand had completely cooled did he raise his hand and rub his forehead. His voice came out hoarse and faint. "Continue."
Hannah cleared her dry and slightly sore throat. A trace of sadness appeared on her face. "Two years later, the widower died from alcohol abuse. Not long after, Servant Lian also fell seriously ill and passed away..."
"What illness?" Hannah paused. "The exact illness couldn't be determined. The investigators didn't find out. Shencheng experienced a major earthquake fifteen years ago. Many records were lost..." Gabriel didn't say anything more. The study became eerily quiet again.
Under this kind of atmosphere, Hannah's heart couldn't help but contract rapidly. She looked at the silent man in the chair, both afraid and fascinated. Even without any official title or position, Gabriel held more power than the Marshal's Residence.
Behind the scenes, many high-ranking officials and nobles in the southern region privately considered him the most powerful man in Anhai. But what truly made her unable to resist was not only the power he wielded. It was the deep, calm, and cold nature of the man himself.
Hannah could barely hold herself back from saying, "There are still some ruins left from the Xi family in Shencheng. Would you like me to take you there to see?" Gabriel looked at her without answering. But that was enough. Joy rose in Hannah's heart.
From this man, not rejecting meant agreeing. After Hannah left, the butler walked over and bowed beside Gabriel. "Master, the soup Miss Hannah prepared..." "Pour it out."
Although this result wasn't surprising, the butler still sighed quietly when he saw Gabriel's cold and calm profile. He left the study and gave the box of soup to the servants. Over the years, the soups and porridge brought by all the young ladies ended up being eaten by the servants. It was a bonus for them.
He wondered how those young ladies would react if they knew the truth. And about the madam... The butler thought for a moment and shook his head. Forget it. That's not something he could interfere with. Gabriel was deep and calculating.
The matter with the madam was something Gabriel himself would have to consider. As for him, he'd just do his job as the butler.