Chapter 139: Chapter 138: Confused

Gu Er didn’t say it out loud, but Ms. Yan, being such a shrewd person, was already thinking about it. If it was already achieved, there was no need to say more.

Sometimes just one sentence surpasses a million.

Saying more might even backfire.

“Second Young Master, no matter what, as long as Madam accepts the tea I offer, I am already content. Now that I have this child and can stay by your side, I am satisfied,” Ms. Yan looked at the man beside her with deep affection.

Gu Er was full of excitement, “Fourth Lady.”

As both of them were like this, Tang Ping, kneeling to the side, was secretly troubled. The old madam probably didn’t even want to lay half an eye on this Aunt Yan. Yet, here Aunt Yan was, with the Second Young Master like this; it’s no wonder Madam couldn’t forgive Gu Er.

It seems kneeling here today was in vain.

In the Warm Pavilion, the old Madam had already put away the scriptures, “Are they still kneeling outside?”

Suyi paused while tidying up the scriptures, “A light rain has started, yet the Second Master hasn’t moved.”

Mrs. Gu Sr. glanced at her, “There’s no need to hide anything from me—speak it all.”

Suyi knelt on the ground, “This servant is guilty.”

Mrs. Gu Sr. remained silent, only looking at her.

Suyi was the head maid by her side, always diligent all these years. Now, kneeling down to confess a fault surprised Mrs. Gu Sr. slightly, wondering what could make Suyi act this way.

“This servant saw the Second Master kneeling and was worried, so I sent a little maid to inform Second Madam. But it was Aunt Yan who came, and now she is kneeling in the courtyard with the Second Master.” Suyi truly felt she had meddled and made things worse.

Mrs. Gu Sr. spoke calmly, “Was your Second Master touched by Ms. Yan’s actions?”

Suyi nodded slightly.

Mrs. Gu Sr. sighed heavily, gesturing with her hand for Suyi to stand. The little maids, who had knelt along with Suyi, finally stood up after she got up, not daring to breathe heavily.

“You all worry so much for them, but look at them,” Mrs. Gu Sr. said disappointedly, not wanting to bring it up again, “Go tell them to return, so they aren’t an eyesore in my courtyard.”

Suyi knew her goodwill had gone awry. But who could have expected the Second Young Master to be so muddle-headed, letting Ms. Yan stay?

Now that things had come to this, even Suyi couldn’t go back on it, let alone Madam.

In the courtyard, seeing Suyi, Gu Er’s face lit up with hope. Suyi lowered her eyes, “Second Young Master, Madam asks you and Aunt Yan to return.”

“Mother…” Gu Er still did not understand.

Suyi shook her head, “Second Young Master, go back. Kneeling longer is useless; come again in a few days.”

Gu Er was utterly stunned.

Yet he knew that once his mother made up her mind, it wouldn’t change.

Even in Ms. Yan’s eyes, there was a flash of surprise. She only heard that Mrs. Gu Sr. always doted on this Second Young Master, but she didn’t expect her to be so ruthless to her son, showing no softening despite him kneeling outside for so long.

Ms. Yan steadied her mind, and together with Suyi, helped the Second Young Master up, thinking she might have to find another way in the future since Mrs. Gu Sr. was no ordinary person.

As they were leaving the courtyard, Ms. Yan thanked Suyi with a bow, to which Suyi quickly sidestepped, thinking that Aunt Yan indeed knew the ways of the world.

Gu Er saw this and was pleased, feeling that Ms. Yan was sensible.

After the two left Shi’an Garden, Gu Er found his legs almost useless from kneeling too long. Ms. Yan, being a woman, didn’t have much strength, so it was all reliant on Tang Ping to support him.

Looking towards Tingxue Hall’s main courtyard, Gu Er hesitated for a moment. Seeing Suyi from afar directing the servants, he instructed Tang Ping, “Escort Aunt Yan back, then bring a change of clothes for me to Tingxue Hall.”

Things weren’t working out with Mother, so he could only ask Second Sister.

Ms. Yan’s eyes quickly flashed with surprise, but she immediately hid it and said kindly, “I know the way back, and there’s a little maid too. Second Young Master is already soaked; let Tang Ping bring you dry clothes first.”

“No need, I will wash at Second Sister’s place first.” Gu Er saw her understanding and felt even more tenderness towards her, instructing Tang Ping to escort her first.

The two went their separate ways at the corner gate, one heading east, the other west.

It was already evening, and Lin Youning had just sent off Sister Yun and brought back the nearly finished embroidered pouch.

Amidst the chaos of footsteps outside, Lin Youning saw Gu Er enter, his clothes drenched.

She wondered why he was here.

Outwardly, she put down what she was doing and stepped forward, “Second Brother.”

She called for a servant to bring a dry towel.

Gu Er sat on the soft couch, his eyes landing on the white embroidered pouch, which looked like it was for a man, and he joked, “Is it embroidered for me?”

What a face.

Internally amused, outwardly Lin Youning showed no fear of making him uncomfortable, directly saying, “It’s embroidered for Big Brother. Over the years, Big Brother hasn’t forgotten to send gifts to me from outside. I can’t keep not returning the favor. I had nothing else to give, so I thought to embroider a pouch for him. Second Brother has many heart’s companions; I won’t do this for you.”

Gu Er’s smile faded a bit. Luckily, at that moment, a little maid brought in a dry towel to help him dry his head. With hot water already prepared, Gu Er went to the side chamber to bathe. By the time he changed into the clothes Tang Ping brought and returned to the Warm Pavilion, half an hour had passed.

It was already 5 p.m. Because Gu Er bathed here, the main kitchen sent over food. Lin Youning hadn’t eaten yet and waited for Gu Er to finish before reheating the dishes.

Gu Er first drank a large bowl of ginger soup, warming his whole body, and only then felt like eating. Four dishes and one soup, mostly greens, but Gu Er found them to his taste.

After moving from the flower hall back to the Warm Pavilion, Gu Er cautiously spoke after sipping hot tea, “Second Sister, are you angry with me?”

Lin Youning was just fretting over when he would leave, and hearing him speak, she let out a sigh of relief, thinking that it was good to send him away early, and said with a smile, “Second Brother, are you referring to Aunt Yan? If that’s what you’re worried about, you needn’t. That’s your affair; why would I be unhappy? You should worry about Second Sister-in-law instead.”

While Lin Youning spoke, Gu Er watched her face intently, seeing no trace of deceit. He felt he should’ve felt relieved, yet he couldn’t find happiness, only an unexplainable sense of loss.

If Second Sister isn’t angry, does it mean she doesn’t care about him?

Or doesn’t care about their engagement?

No.

Gu Er immediately refuted this thought; their marriage was arranged from childhood, so how could Second Sister not care?

It must be because they were engaged from a young age, so Second Sister must’ve learned proper conduct, knowing not to contest these matters.

He thought that Second Sister indeed had the demeanor of a noble lady, unlike Mrs. Kong, who was so unsophisticated.

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