Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Inquiries

“Good child, it’s okay now.” Mrs. Gu Sr. affectionately patted her hand. “I told you to dry your hair before coming over, but it seems you’ve learned not to listen to your aunt.”

Lin Youning, with reddened eyes, managed a smile through her tears, “I was just worried about Aunt, how could I think about anything else?”

“You silly girl.”

Mrs. Gu Sr.’s affectionate eyes saw only Lin Youning, and others, seeing this, each had a different expression.

Especially Sister Yue, who brazenly showed everything on her face, pushing forward regardless, “Grandmother, I’ve been worried about you too.”

“Alright, alright, Grandmother knows.” Mrs. Gu Sr., seeing her approach, did not show displeasure.

Gu Yixuan frowned slightly, this blatant rivalry, especially with Sister Ning, in front of so many people, Gu Yixuan felt only shame, glancing towards Mrs. Kong, who had her eyes lowered with an indifferent look.

“Alright, alright, all of you should go back now.” Mrs. Gu Sr. was somewhat tired and did not ask Lin Youning to stay, “You should go back too; it’s snowing now, and you shouldn’t be out in this weather.”

Lin Youning blushed, replied obediently, and left, looking back every few steps.

Up ahead, Mrs. Dong was filled with doubt, and after parting ways with the second family, she sent her daughter away, then took a few steps forward to catch up with the Marquis, “Marquis, your robe is wet, you should go back to Yingshui Courtyard to change.”

Gu Yifeng paused, not stopping his stride, “No need to trouble, I’ll go back to Woodland Pavilion to change.”

Leaving those words, he walked away briskly.

Mrs. Dong walked slowly behind, “Let someone find out what happened over at Shi’an Garden.”

Jingfu behind her acknowledged.

In Woodland Pavilion, Gu Yifeng let Li Si help him change his coat, sitting behind the desk with a military book in hand, not turning a page for half an hour.

Until the sound of wings flapping broke the silence in the study, Li Si opened the window, and a snow sculpture flew in, finally landing on the rack before the desk.

Gu Yifeng’s cold gaze swept over, but the snow sculpture was unmoved, tilting its head and studying Gu Yifeng, its small dark eyes darting around.

Just an animal, what could it understand?

Gu Yifeng withdrew his gaze, putting down the book in his hand. Today’s matter, he needed to find a time to talk to little sister about it.

Only doing so might make things more awkward.

Forget it, let’s just pretend it never happened.

After all, he was raised alongside his sister, in such circumstances, it was nothing.

At Yingshui Courtyard, by evening Jingfu had found out, “The Marquis was called over by Suyi from beside the old madam, and when he arrived at Tingxue Hall, the old madam was just being supported out, then the group headed to Shi’an Garden, and later the Madam got word and took the young lady there.”

“Then how did the Marquis’s clothes get wet?”

“That I don’t know, I only heard from a maid in Shi’an Garden that the Marquis’s robe was wet when he entered the courtyard. I’ve also inquired around our courtyard, and when the Marquis left, his robe wasn’t wet, only during the time at Tingxue Hall no maid saw anything, nor could they find out.” Jingfu didn’t understand why the Madam wanted to find this out.

“The Marquis has a cleanliness issue, his robe can’t be dirty or wrinkled, yet it was wet.” And Sister Ning’s hair was wet too.

Mrs. Dong didn’t finish her last sentence.

She shouldn’t overthink it, after all, the Marquis had always been a stickler for rules, and Sister Ning, in the future, would join the main family, by seniority, they would have to call her sister-in-law.

But how to explain the Marquis’s wet robe and Sister Ning’s damp hair?

Mrs. Dong’s mind was like a field of growing grass, Jingfu didn’t understand what was happening with the Madam and didn’t dare ask further.

Hearing a little maid outside saying the eldest young lady had come, she went out to meet her.

Sister Hui found her mother sitting alone on the soft couch dazing, waved the people in the room away, then sat down next to her, “Mother, what’s wrong?”

Mrs. Dong looked at her daughter, elegant and poised, fitting the image of a true lady, unlike those bright young girls, resembling….. Sister Ning.

Looking at her daughter, she inexplicably compared her to Sister Ning, Mrs. Dong took a deep breath and smiled, “It’s nothing, why did you come over? It’s cold, you should take care of yourself.”

“I was just worried about you.” Sister Hui, sensible from a young age, knew her mother felt uncomfortable seeing Grandmother favoring Aunt so, “Mother should look at things more positively, you’ve endured these years, in just a year Aunt will turn of age and be taken away, there’s no need for you to trouble yourself.”

“You understand, how could I not understand that reason.” Mrs. Dong smiled, “Our Sister Hui is level-headed, even your second aunt might not understand this reason.”

Mentioning this, Sister Hui’s face showed rare disdain, “Since Grandmother appointed Second Uncle to take charge, how could she understand?”

“You mustn’t speak like this again.” Mrs. Dong knew the words wouldn’t spread from their courtyard but had to be cautious, “That’s the second family’s matter, not related to us, just watch.”

Sister Hui showed rare childishness, “Mother, if back then Grandmother had appointed Father to take charge between the two families, what would you do?”

What would she do?

Mrs. Dong paused, asking herself internally.

She would continue to be the virtuous Marchioness of the Marquis Mansion.

Could she?

Thinking of the unease that had just arisen, Mrs. Dong felt uncertain.

Sister Hui was just joking, noticing her mother’s changed expression, quickly said, “I was just speaking nonsense, it’s impossible, Mother shouldn’t overthink it.”

“Alright, tonight let’s have the kitchen prepare some pots, invite your father over, and enjoy a lively meal together.” Mrs. Dong, not wanting her daughter to worry, quickly changed the topic.

That night, Yingshui Courtyard had the kitchen prepare hotpot, naturally prepared for the other courtyards as well.

Since returning to Tingxue Hall, Lin Youning had sent everyone away, sitting alone in a daze until she heard about the hotpot meal, finally perking up.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep