Eleanor returned to the courtyard, and the maid immediately brought her pain relief ointment.
The black and purple bruises on her right arm had spread more, looking very frightening.
After Eleanor applied the medicine, she sat in the courtyard for a while. Then the servant who had followed Miguel back came to report to her.
"Madam, the Mo family is very shocked and surprised that the second young master was stabbed. The head of the Mo family and Madam Mo have already sent people to investigate."
The servant took out several broken bullet casings from his sleeve. "The bullet type has been identified. Only the Hong Ying Military Factory run by the Hong family ten years ago could produce these."
Hong family?
Eleanor took the broken bullet casings from the servant's hand.
In Anhui City, gun control has been very strict for ten years under the management of the Jiang family and the Gu family.
Not only are all black market exchanges banned, but private possession of firearms is also strictly forbidden. Every gun on the market has detailed records. Without special certification, no one can even buy one.
However, the Hong family has suddenly risen as a force in Anhui City in recent years.
Originally a third-rate family in Anhui City, the Hong family gained some opportunity a few years ago and quickly rose. Two years ago, they even made a connection with the Jiang family.
Jiang Jing, the head of the Jiang family, is old and leaves most matters to Gabriel, his brother-in-law.
But two years ago, Jiang Jing suddenly favored the Hong family and treated them warmly. The head of the Hong family, Hong Xiang, has become somewhat of a favored figure in front of the Jiang family.
The Hong family attacked her?
Because of Gabriel?
Eleanor put the bullet casings back into the servant's hand. "Tell everyone still at the Mo family to come back." This assassination attempt was aimed at her.
After the Jiang family was destroyed fifteen years ago, the Hong family rose the fastest along the same path.
They have grown so quickly that they are close to replacing the Jiang family and entering the top ranks of the four major families.
Like the Jiang family, the Hong family's rapid rise was through military industry.
But compared to the Jiang family's century-old foundation, the Hong family's base is too weak.
The head of the Hong family is clearly not smart among the many cunning politicians. He doesn't realize his dangerous situation.
A few years ago, he happily became a tool for some people. After the Hong family expanded, he directed his power against the Gu family, becoming the vanguard for the powerful to bring down the Gu family.
If Gabriel had not been busy rebuilding the Gu family and unable to deal with the Hong family, they might have taken the chance and broken in.
Thinking of this, Eleanor smiled bitterly and looked down at her hand.
If it is about taking advantage of weakness, how is she different from them?
They want the power of the Gu family, and she only wants Gabriel.
By now, Gabriel has taken revenge on all those involved.
Most of the powerful people involved in the Gu family's fall have been wiped out by him.
The Hong family has not acted yet, probably because of the Marshal's mansion.
But Eleanor is sure Gabriel will not wait long.
As for her, she is also suffering the consequences.
Eleanor lifted the corner of her lips and suddenly felt the air in the Gu family courtyard was thin.
She stood up, about to go out, but saw a maid passing by with a large stack of invitations.
"Whose invitations are these?"
Eleanor suddenly spoke, making the maid pause. Usually, she hardly attended these banquets unless necessary.
Whenever invitations came, if it was not important, the maids knew her habit and would not report again.
"Madam, these are invitations from the high-ranking nobles of Anhui City. The latest is from the Mo family's eldest young master. He will hold a poetry event tomorrow, inviting almost everyone in Anhui City."
Bernard?
Thinking of Melisa's forced smile last time, Eleanor stepped forward and picked Bernard's invitation from the pile.
"Send a reply to Bernard."
"Yes."
.......
Mo family
"Hmph, Miguel is already over twenty, not young anymore. Yet he goes to bars and nightclubs all the time. When Eleanor was not the lady of the Gu family, it was fine. But now she is the matriarch of the Gu family. He still goes there carelessly. He really has no shame."
"Enough! Say less!"
Melisa sat quietly on the sofa, listening to the older Madam Mo and the third Madam Mo's snide remarks.
The main seat was held by Madam Mo, Bernard's grandmother and the mother of the head of the Mo family.
Next to her was a heavily made-up woman, the third wife of Bernard's father.
This generation of the Mo family has few descendants. Although the head of the Mo family married five wives, only the first and second wives gave birth to Bernard and Miguel.
With such a small family, Bernard, as the eldest grandson, is almost thirty but still unmarried.
Miguel is wild but never brings women home. This worries Madam Mo deeply.
Every time she sees Melisa, who was brought in to bring luck to Bernard, her face grows worse.
"Melisa, since you are friendly with Madam Gu, you should tell her to teach Miguel better manners. He is reckless and thoughtless. As the lady of the Gu family, doesn't she care about the family's reputation?"
Melisa lowered her head and quietly said, "Yes," then said no more.
She had heard such words many times.
When it came to Eleanor and Miguel, she usually let the words pass right through.
Miguel always went to see Eleanor. Since Eleanor married, she deliberately limited contact with the men around her.
She and Miguel almost cut off relations, only speaking occasionally when they met.
Maybe this is why Miguel resented Eleanor and spoke so sarcastically to her in the bar last time.
But except for Miguel, no one could do anything to him, not even Madam Mo. How could she control him?
After scolding Melisa, Madam Mo saw her silent face and became angrier. She snorted and got up, leaving with the maid's help.
When Madam Mo left, only the third Madam Mo and Melisa remained in the room.
The third Madam Mo looked at Melisa's silence and smiled scornfully.
"I heard Bernard is holding another poetry event tomorrow. He is almost thirty but does not pay attention to the family. He just indulges in poetry and romance."
She lifted her eyes toward Melisa. "Speaking of which, Melisa, although you were brought in to bring luck to Bernard, you are the only one in the big house now. You should quickly learn how to please Bernard. Stop him from always thinking about that 'butterfly' and spending time with other women writing poetry and drinking.
Otherwise, you will be alone in the cold room. Not only will you feel lonely, but Madam Mo will also blame you for not keeping Bernard's heart."
Melisa tightened her hands on her lap and pressed her lips, softly replying.
The third Madam Mo lost interest when Melisa did not react to her insults.
After all, Melisa was only a concubine brought in for luck. Her status was just above a maid.
Nobody knew why Eleanor favored her and made her a close friend.
Besides that, there was nothing to care about.
The third Madam Mo snorted and left the room with a maid's help.
Only Melisa remained inside. Her tense shoulders finally relaxed.
Just as she relaxed, a maid came to report.
"Madam, the eldest young master wants to see you."
Melisa paused and quickly stood. "Where is he?" Melisa knew Bernard would not call her without reason.
"In the study."
Melisa nodded, adjusted her clothes, and walked quickly to the study.
Inside the study
Bernard wore a blue robe that made his tall and straight figure stand out.
His handsome, gentle face looked delicate because of years of illness.
He studied abroad for many years but never cut his hair. His long black hair was loosely tied behind, adding a casual scholar's charm.
Hearing soft footsteps, he looked toward the door.
Melisa ran over, afraid he had waited long. "Sir, you called me."
Bernard looked at the slight blush on her face from running and nodded.
"The book you read to me last time, where is it?"
It was a book Eleanor had given her before. "By my bedside, sir. Do you want it?"
"Yes."
A faint light shone in Melisa's eyes. She was quietly happy Bernard asked her for help with such a small thing for the first time.
She turned and went to get the book for Bernard.
"Wait, I will get it."
Married to Bernard for years, Melisa knew he cared for someone else and rarely paid attention to her.
But even in that rare attention, he was always gentle.
That gentleness might be his scholar's manner, but to Melisa, it was her greatest motivation to stay in the Mo family.
In fact, she and Eleanor were worthy friends.
Eleanor decided from the first time she saw Gabriel that she wanted him.
Melisa decided the moment she saw Bernard that she was willing to enter the Mo family for him.
She hoped this pale but handsome man would soon be free from illness and smile with ease.