Chapter 303: Chapter 3: Entering the City

This evening at the guesthouse, Gu Yifeng and Sister Ning merely embraced without doing anything else. Both understood that their hearts were already laid bare, and there was no urgency to rush into that relationship for such a wonderful night, rather than staying at this guesthouse.

Early the next morning, Zhao Housheng and the others tidied up their belongings and entered the city as a group.

The Eldest Prince had already received news and put down his tea, “Since Lieutenant Zhao has entered the city, have someone keep a close watch on him and see if anyone contacts him.”

“Rest assured, the servant has arranged for someone to watch him secretly. These days have been quite calm for Housheng, though he’s quite stupid. He obviously knows Master is in the city, yet won’t enter the city. Isn’t this just guilt of a thief?” Liu Xin mocked.

Li Min snorted coldly, “Do you really think he’s stupid? Perhaps he’s doing it on purpose, wanting us to watch him and focus our attention on him.”

Liu Xin widened his eyes, “Master only asked to monitor Lieutenant Zhao. Doesn’t he know what Master is looking for? How could he act like this? The servant is just foolish and can’t figure it out.”

Li Min said, “He doesn’t know what we’re up to, but since he’s not feeling guilty and knows we sent someone to monitor him, he’s naturally aware we’re trying to get some information from him, so this is precisely why he acts like that.”

“Isn’t he deliberately misleading us then?” Liu Xin immediately became anxious, “If Master knows he’s acting this way, why still send people to watch him?”

Li Min smiled with pride on his face, “By sending people to watch him, he’ll dare not enter the city, thus keeping him tied. If that’s the case, then let him stay outside the city. After all, Master has plenty of personnel and doesn’t lack a few men.”

Liu Xin quickly praised, “Master is indeed brilliant, but yesterday Dingyuan Marquis left the city, and now that Lieutenant Zhao has entered, it’s quite unfortunate. Otherwise, he could suffer more outside the city for a few days.”

“These past days were enough. She’s just a peasant by origin, and Master is too lazy to argue further. We found no clues here, so let’s prepare to return to the Capital before the New Year,” Li Min stretched lazily. Having spent another night at the brothel yesterday, he had experienced the frontier’s charms, and it’s time to return to the Capital.

Liu Xin hurriedly agreed, and went outside to give orders, feeling pleased inside. After all, the Capital is much better than the border city; the climate here is cold, and it’s always inconvenient running around outside. Returning to the Capital, staying within the mansion would mean less suffering.

In the backyard of the mansion, Wu Xueqin heard about Lin Youning going to see her brother outside the city. As for anything happening in the main courtyard, Nanny Guo was in charge, so nothing reached Wu Xueqin’s ears. With hardly anyone in the mansion, just the Eldest Prince around, Wu Xueqin couldn’t be bothered to go to the front yard. She sent Yangtao over just to deliver medicine, without facing anyone herself.

After two days of this and hearing no news from the Prince’s side, Wu Xueqin was relieved.

But by midday the next day, she heard the Marquis returned, and she sat up immediately. Then it was said the Marquis had returned with the Madam. Wu Xueqin played with the handkerchief in her hands while pondering.

The Marquis had clearly gone to the main camp, yet returned with Lin Youning, obviously having gone out of the city. Lin Youning hadn’t prepared anything, suddenly leaving out of the blue. Wu Xueqin stood up, wondering if it was because of the previous incident that the two were arguing?

Wu Xueqin smirked, thinking Lin Youning seemed high and mighty before, but now it’s just that. Aren’t they arguing now? Running back to her maternal home only to be taken back by the man later?

She hoped Lin Youning would continue like this. A man might initially fetch her back, but how many times before he grows tired of it?

Unfortunately, she couldn’t go to the main courtyard, otherwise she’d gently peek over to see Lin Youning’s current state.

Wu Xueqin settled onto the couch again, “Yangtao, when you have a chance, ask the Madam how she’s arranging the rooms.”

Yangtao paused, considering even in the Marquis Mansion, what good would arranging rooms do when the Marquis never enters their yard.

Now that the Marquis pampered the Madam so much, Miss is asking her to inquire about room arrangements, isn’t this stirring trouble with the Madam? If the Madam and the Marquis were arguing, the Marquis might only dislike Miss even more, never coming to their yard.

Wu Xueqin didn’t elaborate, simply waving, “Just go when I tell you to. I have my reasons; you needn’t worry.”

Seeing Miss spoke thus, Yangtao bowed and retreated.

Shanmoi intercepted Yangtao in the courtyard, “The Madam and the Marquis just returned from outside and are resting now. Is there something you need from Aunt Wu?”

“Aunt Wu sent me to inquire about the room arrangements with the Madam,” Yangtao replied, knowing she wouldn’t meet with the Madam directly. So, she told Shanmoi directly, figuring it wouldn’t change anything.

Shanmoi curled her lips into a mocking smile, “Our Madam and Aunt Wu are two separate households, and the arrangements are beyond our Madam’s control. If Aunt Wu wants answers, she should write to ask the Marchioness in the Capital.”

Yangtao didn’t dare argue and bowed before backing away.

Shanmoi called her back, “Also tell Aunt Wu, the Marquis and our Madam are doing well together. Her little tricks don’t work here; she should think about how to catch the Marquis’s eye, that’s the proper path.”

“Back in the Marquis Mansion, Aunt Wu understood proper etiquette and was always gentle and generous. Even if the day she arrived, the Marquis didn’t enter her yard, she didn’t complain. Now outside, entrusted by the Marquis’s Madam to take good care of the Marquis, she should focus on that, rather than meddling in the affairs between our Marquis and Miss.”

Shanmoi spoke quickly, each sentence barbed, in front of the courtyard’s little maids, wishing Yangtao would find a hole to hide in. She quickly responded repeatedly, escaping as fast as she could.

The little maids in the courtyard felt some enlightenment these days too, having overheard bits from Yangtao. Their Madam was from the Gu Family, while the genuine Marchioness was over in the Capital.

But they clearly saw the Marquis doted on their Madam. Otherwise, all these years, despite staying at the border for years back then, he never brought any ladies here. This time, however, he brought the Madam along, showing his favoritism.

Happy New Year.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep