Chapter 286: Chapter 287: Eldest Prince

In the crowd, Aunt Wu watched this scene, just like everyone else, her eyes flashed with envy, yet it was full of jealousy.

She kept watching until the two walked farther away, then Aunt Wu turned and led Yangtao inside.

In the crowd, there was another figure who kept staring at Dingyuan Marquis and the others leaving, finally fixing the gaze on Wu Xueqin in the crowd, with a malicious smile at the corner of his lips.

The person lowered his head and thought for a while before following Wu Xueqin’s direction.

Wu Xueqin didn’t feel anyone following her. She wandered with Yangtao on the street. Wu Xueqin was indeed a person of superior appearance, with a different charm, naturally drawing the attention of others.

Behind her followed Yangtao and two guards from the Mansion. From the clothes, people could easily recognize them as people from the Marquis Mansion.

Upon hearing the little maid beside her occasionally call “Aunt,” it was clear that this was a lady from Dingyuan Marquis.

Even though she’s just an aunt, people eager to curry favor quickly approached.

Wu Xueqin didn’t say much about these people’s flattery, just looking around. Upon seeing a place with specialty snacks, she led Yangtao inside, strolling leisurely without rushing back to the Mansion.

Yangtao was very worried. Though the Marquis had approved their outing, the Marquis had returned, and if they didn’t return, what if the Marquis blamed them?

“Aunt, we should go back.”

“Go back for what? You need not worry, as long as we don’t do anything out of line, the Marquis won’t blame us.” Moreover, the Marquis doesn’t have time to mind us; right now, the Marquis is busy coaxing Lin Youning.

Wu Xueqin didn’t want to continue living that kind of life akin to guarding a widowed life in the Mansion. In the border city, she could enjoy such freedom, unlike being constrained in the Capital; nothing could excite her more than this.

This feeling of strolling down the street seemed to take her back to modern times.

Meanwhile, back at the Mansion, Gu Yifeng just returned with Sister Ning to the Mansion and saw several soldiers waiting there. Gu Yifeng nodded, quietly reminding Sister Ning about a few things, knowing there were matters to attend, Lin Youning went directly to the backyard.

Earlier, Shanmoi and Hailan thought the Marquis was worried about the girl, but now it seemed indeed something had occurred in the Mansion, causing the Marquis to rush back.

Moreover, when Shanmoi entered, she saw Li Si standing nearby with a serious expression, indicating that something big must have happened.

Lin Youning returned to the main room, took off her coat, and once seated, instructed Shanmoi, “There seems to be an occurrence, nothing our side can help with, just keep our inner courtyard affairs in order so as not to distract the master.”

Shanmoi and Hailan agreed.

Meanwhile, on Gu Yifeng’s side, upon hearing the report from his subordinate, his brows furrowed tightly, “Are you sure you saw clearly that the person is the Eldest Prince?”

That soldier nodded, “Back when the Marquis returned to the Capital, coincidentally caught a glimpse of the Eldest Prince. Now when the person entered the city, my subordinate immediately recognized them, though the Eldest Prince’s appearance has matured much since then, it remains unchanged.”

Gu Yifeng nodded, “Have someone follow discreetly, observe what the Eldest Prince is doing, and where he goes.”

The soldier acknowledged, then exited.

This was not among Gu Yifeng’s concerns; his worry was rather the Eldest Prince being here for other reasons. The Holy Emperor already assigned the Eldest Prince to Jiangnan, but the Eldest Prince is not in Jiangnan, instead here—clearly, things are not as simple as imagined.

It is evident the Holy Emperor must have tasked the Eldest Prince with something; these years the Holy Emperor trusts him, wouldn’t leave things unsaid. Hence, it’s not plausible the Eldest Prince came here just to pursue him; he must be handling Emperor’s tasks and traced things to here.

Gu Yifeng couldn’t think of what matter might cause the Eldest Prince to pursue investigations here.

Being a cautious individual, Gu Yifeng did not let his conjecture slide, instead called his confidants over, sent someone back to the Capital to inquire whether the Emperor did assign the Eldest Prince some mission, or if it involved only Jiangnan and the Eldest Prince ran over here halfway.

Before evening fell, Wu Xueqin returned to the Mansion, looking much more cheerful than when she left the Mansion.

The two guards who went out with her reported to Li Si about where they went and what they did.

Li Si didn’t find anything noteworthy, so he didn’t report to the Marquis.

Wu Xueqin returned to her courtyard, washed up, and asked Yangtao to prepare food. After Yangtao left and the room was empty, she quietly took out the envelope hidden in her sleeve.

She hadn’t expected it, just when eating snacks, suddenly a child bumped into her. Before she could scold loudly, the child ran off, and a letter was stuffed into her hand.

Wu Xueqin didn’t know who did this, but realized the letter mustn’t be known to those from the Marquis Mansion, so they seized the moment when the guards didn’t notice to take the letter. Not even Yangtao was told.

Upon opening the letter and seeing the content, Wu Xueqin’s eyes widened. She didn’t know how long she stood stunned, but until she heard Yangtao return outside, Wu Xueqin hurriedly hid the letter away.

Yangtao came in with food and found her lady sitting there in a daze, feeling puzzled as she seemed perfectly fine earlier, yet now looks so lost.

Afraid Yangtao might notice, Wu Xueqin pulled herself together, but during dinner, she had no appetite, took only a few bites, then asked Yangtao to remove the food, saying she was tired and went to rest early.

She couldn’t imagine the Eldest Prince had come here, even finding someone to secretly deliver a letter to her.

Wu Xueqin admitted it was after overhearing her father and the Eldest Prince’s secret conversation that she went to the mountain to search for opportunities, unintentionally saving the Marquis.

She thought the Eldest Prince wouldn’t find out, yet unexpectedly, he knew she eavesdropped, even aware she knew their plan to assassinate the Marquis, yet still sought to interfere.

If this matter was revealed by the Eldest Prince, she would be expelled not only from the Marquis Mansion but also lose her place, become hated.

The Minister Mansion had already abandoned her, and if the Marquis Mansion also ignored her, where would she find refuge?

Previously Wu Xueqin might not believe this, but now things are different, realizing how hard life was for a woman in ancient times.

Wu Xueqin felt her head ache.

She dared not continue pondering, yet upon seeing the content in the Eldest Prince’s letter, she was uncertain what to do.

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