Chapter 171: Chapter 170: Husband and Wife

Mrs. Gu Sr. only looked at Mrs. Dong, her eyes cold, yet filled with disdain.

Neither of these daughters-in-law had won her heart.

Even Mrs. Dong, over time, had lost the composure of the master mother of the house.

Gu Yifeng stood up and, under Mrs. Dong’s hopeful gaze, walked to her side, lifted his robe, and knelt beside her facing Mrs. Gu Sr.

“It is my fault as an unfilial son.” Although Gu Yifeng said nothing more, his attitude indicated he was willing to be punished alongside Mrs. Dong as her husband.

Mrs. Dong, feeling guilty, covered her face and cried, “Marquis, it is my fault, I should not have been jealous, nor should I have contradicted mother’s words. It is I who am unfilial.”

Causing the Marquis, a man of honor, to kneel down for her.

Moreover, her womb being unworthy, she couldn’t even bear a son.

Mrs. Gu Sr. had no real intention of slapping Mrs. Dong, and seeing her son kneel, it also gave Mrs. Dong a step to walk down, so she raised her hand slightly, “I am tired too, you both may leave.”

Though she said no more, it could be considered that she would not pursue the matter further for the sake of her son.

Gu Yifeng stood up, and Mrs. Dong also quickly stood up, saluted Mrs. Gu Sr. at the top, and then followed the Marquis out.

The couple returned all the way to Yingshui Courtyard, and Gu Yifeng did not return to Woodland Pavilion, but directly entered the main courtyard.

Jingfu saw this and quickly called a young maid to serve tea and snacks; when the Marquis and his wife entered the room, she closed the door from outside.

In the main room, Gu Yifeng sat on the couch, and Mrs. Dong saluted and went into the Warm Pavilion to change clothes. Meanwhile, the little maid also served tea and snacks, and when Mrs. Dong returned in a clean dress to sit on the couch, half an hour had passed.

“Marquis, it is my fault, I know I have disappointed you.” Mrs. Dong cautiously confessed her mistake.

Gu Yifeng looked at her, “You are in charge of the Marquis Mansion’s household affairs, and you are also the matriarch of the Gu Family. The future upbringing of children in the Gu Mansion will also fall on you. Today, you acted in such a way—how can Mother not be worried about the future of the Gu Family?”

And how can he be at ease?

Gu Yifeng was extremely disappointed, and he did not want to say anything more beyond this.

All these years, although he was not close with Mrs. Dong, he always cared for her face and never even mentioned the subject of offspring.

Sometimes he thought it was because he had killed too many people on the battlefield that his offspring were so sparse, so he never blamed Mrs. Dong.

But he never expected that the more he did this, the more Mrs. Dong lost her root and asked for more.

“Marquis…” Mrs. Dong tried to hold on to something, feeling something slipping away but not knowing how to grasp it.

She stared blankly at the man in front of her, her husband, the man she had favored since their engagement, willing to wait three years for him.

Gu Yifeng gave her a deep look, “If it weren’t for my elder brother taking an arrow for me back then, the one alive now wouldn’t be me.”

Just bearing, even returning his life, Gu Yifeng wouldn’t hesitate for a moment.

Mrs. Dong understood too.

Staring blankly at the departing figure, her whole body felt as if it had been drenched in cold water, cold to the bones.

At Woodland Pavilion, Li Si was reporting back, “Ms. Yan has been sent to the convent and was instructed to be ’well taken care of’. Liu Shusheng fell seriously ill and passed away an hour ago. As for Qiongshan Academy, Mr. Yan was not in good health and has closed the academy, moving the whole family back to Jiangnan.”

Gu Yifeng seemed not to hear, his eyes gazed out the window. Li Si knew the master heard him but did not dare make a sound and stood quietly beside him, waiting for instructions.

“Any movement from the Lin Mansion?” Gu Yifeng asked indifferently.

“Lady Lin seems to have quarreled with Clerk Lin and took her son back to General Gao Mansion.” Li Si glanced at his master, then lowered his head and stood respectfully.

Lately, the Marquis’s actions were baffling, and even though Li Si was by his side, he couldn’t figure it out.

“How is Gu Er doing?”

“Gu Er is in low spirits, just sitting idly in the study, not allowing anyone to disturb him.” Upon seeing his master change the topic, Li Si breathed a sigh of relief.

This unfathomable master always exerted an indescribable pressure on Li Si.

“Have someone keep an eye on him.” Gu Yifeng waved his hand.

Li Si responded and withdrew.

On the other side, Sister Yue couldn’t get into the main courtyard and, in her anger, scolded the maidservants around her, “Where is Pianqiu? Where is Nanny Guan? Where did they all run off to? Useless lot.”

The matter concerning Gu Er had been kept hidden, such that Sister Yue naturally did not know.

Some small maidservants however knew, “The two were sent to return Pianqiu and Nanny Guan to the Duke Mansion.”

“What?” Sister Yue’s eyes widened, losing her previous fury.

She was a girl raised by a noble family, even if the rites taught by Mrs. Kong were inadequate, she understood some things just by observing.

Pianqiu and Nanny Guan were Mrs. Kong’s chief maidservants, yet they were suddenly sent away, so something major must have happened.

After having figured this out, Sister Yue looked flustered and hurried towards Shi’an Garden, but stopped at the corner gate.

Her mother being confined must be her grandmother’s decision. Pleading with her grandmother now would be futile, so her gaze slowly landed on the arbor of Tingxue Hall.

If Aunt could plead, Grandma surely wouldn’t refuse.

This thought instantly sprang up in her mind.

Sister Yue also strode towards Tingxue Hall.

It was already evening, Lin Youning only had the meal laid on the table atop the soft couch, and Lin Qining, claiming to be unwell, did not come to eat. So, she alone partook of the meal simply here.

Hearing a maid announce that the Fourth Miss was here, Sister Yue hurriedly walked in.

“Aunt, are you having dinner? I was going to dine at my mother’s courtyard, but who knew the old woman stopped me from entering, saying it was Grandmother’s order.” Sister Yue pouted, sitting on the other end of the couch.

The expression on her face was as though she was saying, how can you eat while I can’t?

Lin Youning disliked Mrs. Kong, and now that Mrs. Kong was in trouble, it was her own doing. Sister Yue was here throwing a tantrum at her, and Lin Youning felt no need to show her face.

Originally intending to set down her chopsticks, she paused and continued to eat leisurely.

“Then, Sister Yue, you should ask Aunt over there, why come to me?” Lin Youning glanced at her.

Sister Yue’s face stiffened, realizing that she had come too hastily and had offended before even stating her case, which made her feel suddenly stifled.

Lin Youning saw her silence and spoke no more, recognizing her as someone thoughtless and, in some ways, very much like Mrs. Kong.

“Aunt, please help plead with Grandmother for my mother.” After some inner struggle, Sister Yue lowered her face to plead.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep