Chapter 423 - 415: Denied
Gu Yifeng strode into Shi’an Garden.
The servants in the courtyard saw the Marquis arrive and rushed to greet him. Gu Yifeng did not stop and went straight into the main room, where Mrs. Gu Sr. was lying on the bed, her face a bit pale, looking as if she had fallen seriously ill, and lacking in spirit.
Upon seeing her son, Mrs. Gu Sr. complained, "There’s nothing wrong with me, how is Sister Ning doing over there? You didn’t have to come, elderly people are just like this."
Gu Yifeng had already reached the bedside, "Mother, how do you feel? Have you sent for the Imperial Physician?"
Suyi, who was standing nearby, replied, "Don’t worry, Marquis, someone has already been sent to fetch the Imperial Physician."
"I say you are all too worried, it’s nothing serious, I just need to lie down for a while and I’ll be fine." Mrs. Gu Sr. knew her son was concerned and realized that further discussion was pointless, so she didn’t say more.
But thinking about what she had just heard from Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Gu Sr. couldn’t shake off her bad mood. At the Gu Mansion, problems seemed endless, none of which brought any comfort.
Especially Sister Jian, who usually appeared so well-behaved, yet had done such things, it was impossible for Mrs. Gu Sr. not to be angry.
"I am aware of the situation. Mother still needs to ease her mind. When the descendants behave poorly, it’s naturally the sons’ matters. I have mentioned to Mother before, some things can’t be continuously maintained just by effort. The glory of the Gu Mansion depends on how many years Heaven wishes to grant us," Gu Yifeng thought of Aunt Lv, who had stopped him at the door earlier, his gaze turning colder, "They are nothing but disappointments. We can send them out of the Mansion if necessary. Why should Mother be angry with them and harm her own health."
"I’m not trying to take it to heart, but you tell me, just attending a banquet can lead to such incidents. What can’t she do? With the status of our Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, even if she is a concubine’s daughter, she can find a good family. Yet she went and snatched her sister’s fiancé, and who knows what the chatter in the Capital is now." Mrs. Gu Sr. felt a headache coming on as she spoke.
"Mother need not worry about this matter. I already have a plan. I will have someone send Sister Jian to the estate soon, after the gossip quiets down, I will find a distant family for her to marry, and she will not return to the Capital thereafter. This is already being fair to her on behalf of our Dingyuan Marquis Mansion."
"For now, that’s the only option, and also regarding Sister Hui’er, you should comfort her as well. After all, such incidents have occurred, and although she usually appears steady, she is still a young girl." Mrs. Gu Sr. was indeed pained for her granddaughter, for over the years, Sister Hui was the only sensible one in the Mansion.
Gu Yifeng responded lightly and said no more. After the Imperial Physician arrived, he checked Mrs. Gu Sr.’s pulse and commented that she was too old to withstand such a blow. He suggested thinking broadly and prescribed some medication to calm the nerves before leaving.
Seeing that Mrs. Gu Sr. was fine, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Suyi went out to brew the medicine, and after Gu Yifeng watched his mother take the medicine and lie down to rest, he got up and left.
After leaving Shi’an Garden, Gu Yifeng did not rush back to the East Mansion but went to Yingshui Garden instead.
Perhaps due to the incidents that day, the entire Yingshui Garden was quiet. Gu Yifeng made his way to Mrs. Dong’s side quickly, and as soon as she saw the Marquis arrive, unease filled her heart, unlike her usual grievance.
Although it was Sister Jian’s fault today, the man involved was from her own family, and earlier, Mrs. Gu Sr.’s words had blocked her protests. Mrs. Dong understood now, so she dared not make a scene.
Seeing the Marquis arrive now, her heart was even more unsure, afraid he would lay the blame on her.
"Earlier today, when you visited the Zhou Mansion, I heard Consort Zhou asked you some questions. How did you respond?" Gu Yifeng sat down and directly asked.
"Her Highness’s status is there, and I did not dare speak falsehoods, I merely spoke truthfully. Besides, Her Highness was putting pressure on Lady Lin then, and all the other Madams were present to witness, how could I dare lie?" Mrs. Dong defended herself.
At this point, she also called Lin Youning Lady Lin.
"It’s true you didn’t dare lie, but your words led people to think incorrectly. You know well what’s happening. I won’t say more, I’m here today to discuss matters concerning Sister Hui. The marriage you arranged for Sister Hui is with your family’s nephew. Given recent events, have someone from the Dong Mansion come tomorrow to address these issues. Even if Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is allied with Dong Mansion by kinship, it doesn’t mean men from their Mansion can casually take action toward ladies from ours. Especially a man, at an external banquet behaving in such a manner, it shows his character is poor. Thus, this marriage is to be dissolved, tomorrow Sister Jian will be sent to the estate, and in two years find a distant family to marry her off. As for Sister Hui, there’s no hurry, I’ll look if my subordinates abroad know of a good match, even though it would be beneath her, at least she’ll be respected and won’t struggle." Gu Yifeng had arranged everything directly.
After speaking, he didn’t linger nor wait for Mrs. Dong to respond, he stood up and left directly, heading to Sister Hui’s courtyard.
Mrs. Dong had yet to comprehend what was happening but saw the Marquis leave again. Her heart was suffocating with anger, knowing full well there was nothing she could do, especially since it was her own nephew’s actions. She fiercely smashed everything in the room.
The sky outside had turned dark, no maid dared to enter amid the commotion Mrs. Dong made, only after silence fell did Jingfu push the door open and enter.
Mrs. Yili with a grim face, "Did you send word to the Dong Mansion? What did they say?"
"The ancestor there said they would come tomorrow, and as for Young Master, they say he has yet to return home and they are still looking for him."
"Naturally, he wouldn’t dare return home after such disgraceful actions. I underestimated him, outwardly he seemed steady, but he’s privately licentious. Sister Hui was right, marrying a man like him wouldn’t lead to a good life, much like my own situation now, everyone views my life as splendid, but who knows what it really is." Mrs. Dong remembered her daughter’s words, involuntarily relating them to herself, and sat there somberly wiping her tears.
Jingfu comforted at her side, "Madam, don’t be upset, the Marquis cares about you and the young lady too. After leaving Madame’s place, the Marquis went directly to the young lady."