Chapter 167: Chapter 166: Brought to Light

Gu Er clenched his teeth, confronting his mother’s sharp gaze, even if it meant disappointing her at this moment, he refused to back down.

“Mother, Ms. Yan is worthless dead, but before dealing with her, I want to ask her personally.” Gu Er kowtowed thrice.

Mrs. Gu swayed a bit, “Fine, fine, I’m curious what you want to ask.”

Gu Yifeng, seated at the head, saw his mother nod and then gestured for the cloth to be removed from Ms. Yan’s mouth.

Once able to speak, Ms. Yan started crying immediately, “Second Young Master, you must believe me, I was forced. Mr. Liu sent word while I was at the academy, claiming matters about my father required consultation, so I went, unaware of his malice against me, and I feel wronged.”

“Wretch, do you take me for a fool? Seeing is believing!” Gu Er’s eyes were murderous, glaring at Ms. Yan until she fell silent.

When the illicit affair was uncovered by Li Si, he had called Gu Er, who, unaware of the situation, thought his elder brother sought him. Turning a corner in a narrow lane, he saw Ms. Yan intimately with Liu Shusheng, making Gu Er feel like he’d been cheated on, stirring a murderous rage within him.

Liu Shusheng had been jailed for his crimes, and Ms. Yan brought back.

Gu Er, on the journey, was unsure of how he returned, only realizing once he faced his mother again.

“I ask you one question, before being with me, were you with Liu?” This thought alone sustained Gu Er.

Considering even if it wasn’t, recalling how Ms. Yan was introduced to his mother caused almost enough insanity.

For a wretched woman, he’d disappointed so many people.

“Just by looking, it’s evident they weren’t together recently.” Mrs. Kong muttered softly on the side.

The flower hall was silent, yet everyone heard her.

Sister Yue knelt behind her mother, her knees numb with dissatisfaction, relieved somewhat by her mother’s words.

Gu Er turned back fiercely glaring at Mrs. Kong, who returned a cold smile, meeting his gaze head on, “I’ve never been pregnant all these years, yet she got pregnant while with another man—is this the kind of woman whose words you trust, Second Young Master?”

Mrs. Kong spoke logically.

The facts were evident.

Mrs. Gu Sr. turned away, unable to watch her son in such vulnerability before the women of her courtyard.

In that moment, Ms. Yan seemed to find a lifeline, “Second Young Master, I haven’t, truly haven’t, the unborn child is yours!”

Gu Er turned blankly towards her, still dazed by Mrs. Kong’s words.

Sitting at the head, Gu Yifeng furrowed his brow in disgust, instructing Li Si, “Bring Doctor Li to check Second Young Master’s pulse.”

Everyone in the hall was stunned.

Even Ms. Yan ceased pleading in tears.

Mrs. Gu Sr.’s eyes flickered, yet she didn’t intervene.

Mrs. Kong was startled, “Second Young Master is well, but no pregnancies occurred in the courtyard these years, perhaps he lacks affinity with heirs.”

Certain explanations can invite suspicion rather than dispel it.

The more such factors are explained, the more it indicates underlying issues.

Mrs. Kong previously complained about the courtyard women being barren, while the outside woman was pregnant, which seemed contradictory.

Now at the mention of examining Gu Er, Mrs. Kong spoke of his lack of affinity with offspring, revealing issues between such conflicting statements.

Ms. Yan, the outsider, adept at manipulating Gu Er, quickly sensed something was off and stopped crying.

Knowing her fate was sealed at exposure, Mrs. Kong’s downfall would savored as solace, ensuring her death wasn’t meaningless.

Thus, internally, she found peace.

Mrs. Gu Sr. fixed her gaze narrowly on Mrs. Kong; if her suspicion was valid, a woman so ruthless even against her husband was unfit to remain.

Mrs. Kong knew she’d contradicted herself, feeling the piercing gaze from above, scarcely daring to breathe as her words went unanswered, her body chilled as if plunged into a frozen abyss.

Meanwhile, Gu Er, already struck by Mrs. Kong’s truth, was dazed as Doctor Li arrived to assess him in the Warm Pavilion, showing no reaction.

Doctor Li quickly finished his assessment, discreetly speaking with Gu Yifeng, who thanked him and sent Li Si with a silver note to see Doctor Li off.

Returning to the Warm Pavilion, Mrs. Gu Sr. sat dazed on the soft couch, while Ms. Yan and Mrs. Kong, initially kneeling in the flower hall, had been moved to the side room.

At the sound of footsteps, Mrs. Gu Sr. turned, “Is it true?”

Gu Yifeng nodded, “Old Second has Brother De and Sister Yue, so he isn’t entirely without heirs.”

In effect, confirming Mrs. Gu Sr.’s question.

Gu Er had been given medicine to cease his lineage, rendering him unable ever to impregnate a woman again.

Like a bolt from the blue, Mrs. Gu Sr. gasped, “My Sister Ning.”

She collapsed backward.

Alarmed, Gu Yifeng rushed forward to support, calling out for Suyi, who brought Doctor Li back from the main estate entrance.

After treatment, Mrs. Gu Sr. gradually regained consciousness, “Sister Ning, where is my Sister Ning?”

With tearful eyes, she only called for Sister Ning.

Gu Yifeng long arranged for Lin Youning’s presence, hearing his call, Lin Youning approached, grasping Mrs. Gu Sr.’s hand with red eyes.

“Auntie, I’m here, I’m here.”

“Good child, Auntie has wronged you.” Mrs. Gu Sr. began to cry.

The room was cleared by Suyi, leaving only Gu Yifeng seated on the side couch.

“Auntie treated me as her own; how could she be at fault?” Lin Youning was stunned upon hearing Gu Er was medicated against heirs.

In a past life, Gu Er had no children, seemingly due to such medication, but later she conceived Brother Zong’s child—how had that happened then?

If current events are considered, Mrs. Kong poisoned Gu Er post-Brother De’s birth, meaning even after marriage, pregnancy wasn’t possible.

Yet, she did conceive Brother Zong.

At this time, Lin Youning couldn’t unravel the chaos, attending to comforting Mrs. Gu Sr., feeling a deep sense of revelation that heaven had dealt retribution to Mrs. Kong and Gu Er as a couple.

“You are so good, Auntie has wronged you. Now that this has happened, how can I ruin your life?” Mrs. Gu Sr. let Sister Ning wipe her tears, forming a decision in her heart.

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