Chapter 241: Chapter 242: Framed

This was the second time Gu Yifeng heard about Aunt Wu from Sister Ning’s mouth.

Thinking of that woman, he only sat in the courtyard for a few minutes before leaving, and has not seen her again until now. Gu Yifeng saw Sister Ning looking at him with a curious expression, then shook his head.

“As a woman, one should stay quietly in the inner quarters, doing what the mistress does, instead of thinking about those strange things every day. It’s quite surprising that the Wu Mansion could raise such a daughter. I’ve also heard about her having some peculiar ideas. If she were a man, it would naturally be good, but unfortunately, she is a woman.” Gu Yifeng is a man deeply ingrained with conservative and noble family values. “She was originally a concubine’s daughter in the Wu Mansion, unable to recognize her own identity. As the ancients often said, ’No talent is virtue.’ Her talent would not bring her good reputation, but rather make noble families dislike her. If she hadn’t entered the Marquis Mansion, she would have married into a merchant’s family.”

Lin Youning stuck out her tongue and smiled, “According to big brother, then what about me? Wouldn’t I also be considered not well-behaved?”

Gu Yifeng answered with a smile, “You are different from her. You have the manners of a noble family girl. Besides, you grew up in the Marquis Mansion—who would dare say anything about you? Your status as a legitimate daughter is something she can’t compare to.”

Lin Youning couldn’t help but laugh, “It seems like big brother is obviously biased towards his own family. In the future, I won’t trust what big brother says anymore.”

“Mischievous.” Gu Yifeng shook his head.

But he felt a bit guilty, thinking that after all, what Sister Ning said was true.

Sister Ning was someone he watched grow up, so she could do no wrong, and none from outside could say anything.

The little girl pointed it out with just one sentence.

How could Gu Yifeng, known for his fairness, not feel embarrassed?

Fortunately, they arrived at the house, and Sister Ning’s attention was drawn to the house. Bamboo-enclosed fences, then a quaint courtyard gate, and little maids waiting there who came forward to greet them when they saw people arriving.

It was just a two-entry courtyard, built very simply, but the difference was that there was a small stream of water introduced from outside in the courtyard, and even small fish could be seen in the stream.

The flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard seemed as if they grew naturally.

How could one not be amazed?

Since it was a two-entry courtyard, they could only stay in the back courtyard, leaving the front for the servants to live in.

Lin Youning thought this place was very good, and if there ever came a day when she tired of worldly matters, she could come here, which wouldn’t be a bad idea.

There wasn’t much in the way of furnishings in the rooms; the bedding was newly taken from the estate by Shanmoi and the others.

After taking a turn around, the two sat by the stream in the courtyard, and Lin Youning inexplicably thought of Xu Kuan. When they went to the Pure Path Temple last time, he also followed her by the stream like this, watching until she returned to the guest room before he left.

Since that confession, they hadn’t seen each other again, and now she had married big brother. She wondered if there had ever been a conflict between Xu Kuan and big brother.

“Is General Xu still in the Capital?” Lin Youning couldn’t help but ask at this thought.

Gu Yifeng looked up, and Lin Youning did not avoid big brother’s gaze, though her heart didn’t understand why he looked at her like this. Could it be he thought she had affections for Xu Kuan?

But before she could think more, Gu Yifeng had withdrawn his gaze, “He returned to the border, and now with unrest at the border, who knows when I might have to go back too.”

“Will there be war again?” Lin Youning asked quickly.

“It’s hard to say. Every year when winter is about to come, the border is the most unsettled.” Gu Yifeng didn’t say much more, “You needn’t worry. Having stayed at the border all these years, battles are not much to us. What’s truly frightening is when one hasn’t been on the battlefield for a long time, that can even dissipate morale.”

Lin Youning nodded, “When big brother leaves, it’s for seven years. If we calculate the time spent in the Capital, it hasn’t been much. Have you ever thought about staying at the border indefinitely?”

“Let’s see.” Gu Yifeng replied.

But Lin Youning knew that big brother not staying there all the time was because of Aunt and a few young ladies in the mansion. After all, if they settled over there, the marriage affairs for the young ladies would be difficult to say.

Seeing big brother being respected and holding a high position, nonetheless, there are many things he cannot do as he wishes, and he can’t act entirely freely.

“Miss.” Shanmoi ran in from outside.

Lin Youning was startled, patting her chest, “In such a hurry, what happened?”

Gu Yifeng, seeing Sister Ning frightened, also cast a cool glance at Shanmoi.

Shanmoi shuddered in fear but soon remembered what she needed to report and didn’t care about anything else, “Miss, they sent word from Aunt that Uncle has been imprisoned.”

Lin Youning quickly stood up and took a few steps toward Shanmoi. “Where is the person who came to deliver the message? Did they say what happened?”

“The person is in the back, as they were anxious to hurry here, so the servant girl came to report to Miss first.”

Gu Yifeng also stood up, “Did they say what for?”

Lin Youning steadied her heart, “Yes, did they say what for?”

“I heard he injured the Heir of Prince Xian, and it was Prince Xian who ordered Uncle to be imprisoned.” Shanmoi said with an anxious expression, “Miss, Aunt has already fallen ill.”

“Let’s go back.” Lin Youning pursed her lips and walked out in large strides.

The Prince Xian Mansion belongs to the younger brother of the current Holy Emperor, with just a few sons and only this one surviving. The Heir of Prince Xian is also a notorious scoundrel, capable of anything.

Her brother is always steady. If he came to blows and injured someone, there must have been something serious.

The most hateable thing was Prince Xian stepping in; that made the matter tricky to handle.

Lin Youning remembered in her previous life the Prince Xian was alive, but the Heir of Prince Xian later wasn’t, could it be because of this incident?

If so, when the time comes, would her brother’s entire family be left without a single survivor?

Lin Youning dared not think further, even though regretting not having investigated this matter thoroughly back then.

Gu Yifeng caught up in stride, “I’ll have someone prepare a carriage now. We’ll have a few hours on the road, and we can first inquire thoroughly what happened from the messenger before finding a way forward.”

Lin Youning nodded, “I’ll trouble big brother.”

“We are family, no need to say such things in the future,” Gu Yifeng’s face turned stern.

Lin Youning nodded, and after a few steps, they encountered the person sent by the Zhao Mansion to deliver the message.

It was the doorman they later bought over, who upon seeing Lin Youning, knelt down immediately, “Miss, please plead with the Master, the Master has had his leg broken by people from the Prince Xian Mansion and thrown into prison. If the hours are delayed, I’m afraid that leg can’t be saved.”

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