Chapter 441 - 433: Questioning
Although Lin Youning was thinking like this in her heart, she didn’t ask.
Gu Yifeng liked Sister Ning this way, knowing certain things in her heart but never asking.
After all, now he hadn’t investigated anything substantial, and if Sister Ning truly asked, he wouldn’t know how to answer.
On Mr. Dong Sr.’s side, the letter finally reached Mrs. Dong, but it was already half a month later. Mrs. Dong’s health had improved, but after being ill for half a month, she looked much skinnier and seemed very lackluster.
After reading the letter, Mrs. Dong stared at it in a daze by herself. Jingfu stood by her side, not knowing what was written in the letter. Madam had already had things on her mind these days, and now seeing the letter from the Dong Mansion, she seemed even more silent.
"Go and call the young lady over. It’s been some time since she came over, and I do miss her here." Mrs. Dong put the letter away under her pillow and instructed Jingfu as she spoke.
Jingfu responded and left. Not long after, when she returned, Sister Hui came along with her.
After Mrs. Dong fell ill, Sister Hui had only come here once, and that was when Mrs. Dong was asleep. She didn’t let anyone disturb her, took one look, and returned to Mrs. Gu Sr.’s side.
Now, although Mrs. Gu Sr.’s health was restored, Sister Hui’er had been serving by Mrs. Gu Sr.’s side and had not returned to Mrs. Dong’s side.
Jingfu knew Madam must have something to discuss with the young lady, so after she entered the room, she closed the door from the outside and stayed outside herself.
Mrs. Dong just leaned on the bed and watched her daughter walking in slowly. Her heart was filled with indescribable complexity, especially with the things her elder brother mentioned in the letter. Mrs. Dong didn’t know whether she should think more about it, after all, this was her own daughter.
"Mother has recovered well, yes? I’ve been staying with Grandmother these days, knowing Mother likes peace and quiet, so I haven’t come to disturb you." Sister Hui sat by the bedside and seeing her mother just looking at her without speaking, she took the initiative to speak up.
After she spoke, seeing her mother still remaining silent, Sister Hui did not speak further; mother and daughter just sat there quietly.
"Was it you who spoke about the matter?" After a long time, Mrs. Dong finally found her voice.
Sister Hui was slightly taken aback, looking at her mother in confusion, "What is Mother talking about that daughter doesn’t understand?"
"You don’t understand? Then let me explain. Was it you who spoke about the matter I told you back then? Your father has already sent people to secretly investigate these things. We are mother and daughter by blood; of course, I would tell you these things, but it was out of desperation that I sought your help. You ignored our mother-daughter bond and refused these things, which is fine. I know that forcing you to do it would be too selfish of me as a mother. I’ve been thinking about these things lately, and whenever I think of it, I feel guilty. I always imagined seeking an opportunity to talk to you about these matters again. But I can’t believe you told such matters to outsiders. Are you trying to kill me?"
Mrs. Dong’s eyes were cold as she spoke these words, her gaze like an ice pillar of a thousand years. Even just being looked at by her made one feel a chill all over.
Sister Hui’s eyes reddened, "I don’t understand what Mother is saying. I also don’t know what Father is investigating. Matters of life and death, how could I possibly speak of them? These days, thinking of what Mother mentioned, I have felt uneasy. But I know that, even if it makes me uncomfortable and gives me a reputation for being unfilial, I do not wish to do anything that betrays my conscience. Loyalty and filial piety are difficult to balance, and I believe that Mother will one day understand me. Now Mother calls me over, immediately bringing up these words. I don’t understand what I did wrong for Mother to think like this."
"Mother also said it was a matter of life and death; how could I tell anyone about it? If Mother doesn’t believe me, I can now go and ask Father, and just ask what he is investigating about Mother?" Sister Hui stood up, her eyes full of indignation.
Mrs. Dong watched her daughter, "No matter what you say, it’s useless. Your uncle has already written a letter saying your father has been trying to find out what I did when I went back to Dong Mansion. Without reason, why would your father do these things? Moreover, I know you went to the East Mansion the day after I asked for your help. So tell me, what were you doing at the East Mansion?"
Sister Hui was momentarily stunned, lowering her head, "After the matter with Sister Jian, I’ve felt uneasy. I’ve always wanted to talk to Father. Big Cousin’s incident has passed, and I knew going over would make Uncle and them uncomfortable, so I wanted to discuss with Father how to handle it. Father told me not to go, as what I thought wasn’t wrong. With such matters from Mother, I was already overwhelmed. Now that Big Cousin’s incident happened, I did not want to think about Mother’s matters, so I turned to Father. I also knew coming to Mother would be useless. Did I do wrong in this?"
Mrs. Dong stared at her daughter silently. Sister Hui stood up and bowed, "Mother can be assured, I won’t tell outsiders. Now although Grandmother has recovered, she has gotten used to me accompanying her daily to chant scriptures. The hour is approaching, so I will go back now."
Mrs. Dong watched her daughter leave without calling her back. In her mind, she considered the matter, feeling her daughter wouldn’t do such a thing. After all, it was her own child, impossible to harm her. Yet, somehow, after telling her daughter, the Marquis began investigating the matter.
Mrs. Dong took the letter out and read it again. She discovered her elder brother mentioned in the letter that the Marquis had investigated the brewing matters in Dong Mansion months ago, realizing she truly misunderstood Sister Hui. The Marquis had been doing this for months.
Remembering her daughter’s disappointed expression just now, Mrs. Dong felt troubled. She wanted to call her daughter again to talk, but couldn’t bring herself to. This is where the matter remained stagnant.
On her side, after walking out of her mother’s courtyard with a composed face, Sister Hui felt her strength drain from her whole body, almost falling to the ground. A maid helped her to sit by the corridor.
Sister Hui sat there, dazed, not letting the maid stay by her side. She felt sure her Aunt would not tell Father about this matter, but now she couldn’t help thinking it was her Aunt who told Father.