Chapter 250: Chapter 251: State of Mind

Liu Wen stood there silently, but his expression showed that he was very emotional.

Sister Xian said she was her younger sister, but in reality, she was the same age as his eldest daughter. So naturally, Liu Wen had a special affection for this sister.

Over the years, he had thought about inquiring about his sister’s news, but from his father’s side, it was as if his sister never existed. He always thought his father knew how his sister was doing and secretly watched over her, so he never went to find out.

But now he understood that his father had never paid attention to his sister’s affairs. Now that his sister had passed early, and his brother-in-law was gone too, leaving only two children behind, if it weren’t for the children’s diligence or perhaps good fortune, he feared he wouldn’t know what their situation might be now!

Not to mention other things, he knew that the adopted daughter of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was beautiful, and rumors in the Capital said she was very good-looking.

Even with such a beautiful face, living as an ordinary person, she might not have met a good end.

Besides, he was now very grateful that his niece could grow up in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and receive the teachings of the noble family.

Liu Wen was troubled, and Mrs. Liu Sr. asked anxiously, “You know a lot about things in the Capital, tell me. Is our Sister Ning really being bullied? Are many people gossiping about her behind her back? I say this Dingyuan Marquis has no discipline; since he raised Sister Ning to adulthood, how can she become a daughter-in-law? Child brides are the doings of small households, how can a noble family like ours do such a thing, no wonder people talk.”

“Mother has seen it; the matters in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion trace back to the previous generation. Back then, only two widows held the family together. At that time, if the Madam from the main branch of the Gu Mansion could hold on, it was because she had a child around; it was only when Sister Ning was taken in as a girl of the Lin Mansion and brought to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. Lin Mansion probably had no daughter then, so they stole Sister Ning, using her to assume the identity of a daughter of the Lin Mansion.” Liu Wen, what kind of person was he? After thinking it all through, he understood clearly how things stood.

But after all, the Madam of the Lin Mansion was the daughter of the General Gao Mansion, and perhaps it was only because of the Gao Mansion’s connections that the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion did not seek accountability. As for his own nephew, merely a lowly legitimate Assistant General without the solid backing of a noble family, how could he dare to oppose the Gao Mansion?

Previously not knowing they were his nephew and niece, but now Liu Wen knew, and thinking about those matters again, anger reignited within him.

“You child, talk about it then, does Sister Ning look like your sister?” At this moment, Mrs. Liu Sr. no longer dwelled on her daughter who left early but was only concerned about the two children left behind with no one to rely on.

“I only heard that the adopted daughter of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was beautiful, but I don’t know exactly what she looks like.” Liu Wen returned to his senses.

“Your sister was beautiful since she was young, just too kind-hearted; otherwise, how could she have been deceived by that craftsman’s sweet words?” Speaking of this, Mrs. Liu Sr. was also angry, “Forget it, these things are all past. Your sister is gone now, talking about this is just futile and sad. Right now, the most important thing is those two children. You better make preparations, I must go to the house now. With things like this happening, Sister Ning over there must be worried. Otherwise, how would it be possible for someone to deliver a message to us?”

“My sister was proud back then; no matter how much hardship, she never let it show, even when losing Sister Ning. Now I am glad the Dingyuan Marquis was sent by the Emperor to the Jiangxi Camp, otherwise, I fear Sister Ning wouldn’t have found us.” Liu Wen knew about these inside affairs.

After all, the whole Capital was discussing this matter, how the Assistant General under the Dingyuan Marquis dislocated the grandson of the heir of Prince Xian. Yet, the Emperor sent the Dingyuan Marquis to Jiangxi, suggesting he did not want conflicts to arise between a relative and a trusted minister.

However, none of it matters now. Sister Ning and Housheng are the grandchildren of the Prime Minister Liu’s Mansion; no matter what, he must be released from prison.

As for the Prince Xian Mansion, Liu Wen was not concerned, as he knew his father and Prince Xian had private ties. Even if displeased, Prince Xian would spare it out of their usual relationship.

Mrs. Liu Sr., having listened to her son’s words, nodded in agreement. Thinking of her daughter’s temperament, and looking at her grandson and granddaughter, she momentarily did not know what to say but sat there sighing instead.

“Mother, there is no need to worry, I will prepare the carriage, and we’ll go to the East Mansion,” Liu Wen hurried forward to comfort his mother.

Mrs. Liu Sr. had given birth in this lifetime to only two children, one being her son in front of her, and the other was Sister Xian, who left early.

Sister Xian was a daughter conceived late in life, cherished in the hearts of the Prime Minister and Mrs. Liu Sr. But who could have thought, in the end, she would do such a thing.

Over the years, Mrs. Liu Sr. had not been without longing for her daughter, but as soon as her husband brought her up, he would not speak to her for days. Gradually, Mrs. Liu Sr. realized her husband also resented their daughter, otherwise, how could he react so strongly?

Gradually, Mrs. Liu Sr. just kept the matter in her heart and never brought it up. The couple understood in their hearts but had never mentioned it again.

Now their grandson had already started a family and career, and the grandson and granddaughter found their way to the mansion but brought news that made Mrs. Liu Sr.’s heart ache.

Upon hearing her son say to prepare a carriage, Mrs. Liu Sr. didn’t say more, only nodding, “Go and tell your wife too, I won’t be going over there.”

Liu Wen’s wife was the daughter of his own teacher, a childhood sweetheart of sorts. However, Prime Minister Liu established a rule: the women of the Liu Mansion’s inner quarters would not socialize with others, which dissatisfied the Sun Family. Apart from daily greetings, she seldom came to Mrs. Liu Sr.’s courtyard.

Because of this, there was tension between Liu Wen and the Sun Family, leading to a cold relationship.

After hearing this, Liu Wen said indifferently, “No need to inform her; she should be busying with flowers in the garden with the maids right now. Telling her would be of no help.”

Mrs. Liu Sr. nodded, since her son said it was unnecessary, she naturally wouldn’t insist.

If not for her son’s affection for the Sun Family, she would not have agreed to their marriage, merely the daughter of a small teacher. If not for inviting the teacher to teach her son to read, how could they have had the opportunity to marry the daughter off to her son?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep