Lin Youning was still mulling over a solution, when Mrs. Gu Sr. had already sent a ssage for Lin Youning to co to the mansion.
Lin Youning knew her aunt must have heard that the prison had blocked dicine supplies, so she tidied up briefly before taking a soft sedan chair to the Marquis Mansion.
Mrs. Dong was also attending to Mrs. Gu Sr., and when she saw Lin Youning enter, she hurried forward to greet her, taking her hand, "Mrs. Gu Sr. will surely have a solution, so don’t worry. You talk first; I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare lunch, and you can eat here at noon."
Before Mrs. Gu Sr. could speak, Mrs. Dong had already found an excuse to leave, showing both tact and intimacy. Mrs. Gu Sr. had been sowhat unaccustod to this tactful nature of Mrs. Dong before, but now she had gradually gotten used to it and found it rather agreeable.
After Mrs. Dong left, Mrs. Gu Sr. beckoned Lin Youning over, and she sat beside her, saying, "You heard, didn’t you, Aunt? Troubling you once again."
"I’m fine; what’s important is for you to hold firm. Have you thought of any solutions?" Mrs. Gu Sr. queried.
Lin Youning shook her head, "Older Brother already instructed to take care of soone in the prison, but we’re hitting a wall with Prince Xian Mansion and can only block dicine supplies."
After all, he was the Emperor’s blood brother, not an ordinary person; simply blocking dicine supplies was already a minor tactic.
Lin Youning truly didn’t know what to do if any other incident occurred.
Perhaps, as she thought, if all else fails, that might be their only option.
Not to ntion anything else, her eldest brother’s dicine must not be cut off, or else his wound might deteriorate, risking his entire leg.
Mrs. Gu Sr. patted her hand, her expression turning solemn, "I’ve spoken with Xu Mansion, but it’s clearly ineffective; our people never associate with those from Consort Zhou’s side. Now I do have a notion. Initially, I never planned to tell you, but given the situation, the only option is to go to Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion."
Lin Youning was slightly startled, not expecting her aunt to have the sa thought as her—it involved Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion.
"Listen carefully to what I’m about to say; it concerns you and your brother’s lineage." Mrs. Gu Sr.’s expression was grave, sinking Lin Youning’s heart.
"My and my brother’s lineage? Aunt knows?"
Mrs. Gu Sr. nodded and then sighed deeply, "Now only if Pri Minister Liu speaks up, your brother can be saved; originally, I intended to keep this buried for life, but Dalan is yet to return, it’s likely they can’t protect your brother’s leg even if they safeguard his life."
Lin Youning was astounded; her aunt clearly knew her and her brother’s origins, and her words implied a connection with Liu Mansion.
"I and your mother were very close; I was already married at that ti. Your mother was a few years younger and often ca to the mansion, eventually becoming dear friends. Your mother was Pri Minister Liu’s youngest daughter, born late in life, deeply favored, and quite talented. Do you recall the hairpin your brother gave you, which he claid your father carved himself? If it was indeed carved by your father, then I wasn’t mistaken—your mother was indeed Pri Minister Liu’s youngest daughter who eloped with the Capital’s top artisan years ago. This is why the Pri Minister’s Mansion’s female kin do not associate with the Capital’s noble families. Pri Minister Liu always believed if his youngest daughter hadn’t mingled with the noble families back then, the elopent wouldn’t have happened."
"After your mother left, she sent a letter stating she had gone; at that ti, I couldn’t stop her even if I tried, nor did I know where they had gone, leaving only a hairpin carved by your father. It’s fate, I suppose, as I rember giving you that hairpin when you were little. Now you have another one from your brother; keep them both as ntos."
"Though Pri Minister Liu harbors bla toward your mother, it’s born from deep affection—deep wounds heal deeply. Over the years, with no word from her, I suspect Pri Minister Liu doesn’t know their whereabouts either but simply chose to fulfill your mother’s wish. If not for the influence of Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion, how could they not have found the two of them?" Mrs. Gu Sr. reflected deeply, "Now, you must go to Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion with the hairpin to claim your kinship. Once Pri Minister Liu speaks up, even the Eldest Prince and Prince Xian’s Mansion will defer to the Crown Prince, for Pri Minister Liu is aligned with the Crown Prince. Moreover, your brother isn’t rely a third-rank Assistant General but Pri Minister Liu’s grandson. With such identity, even Prince Xian Mansion would show so leniency and release your brother."
"You and your brother are indeed the only legacy your mother left in this world; Pri Minister Liu surely won’t disregard you." Mrs. Gu Sr. said, patting her hand again, "I know revealing all this suddenly is overwhelming, and I hadn’t planned to say these things before because your brother was hiding your father’s identity, presumably out of concern. Now, preserving life is urgent; regardless of any instructions left by your parents, your brother’s survival matters most now."
Lin Youning was undoubtedly shocked; she had initially thought to threaten Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion, but who could’ve foreseen Pri Minister Liu being her grandfather?
When she seemingly reached a dead end, suddenly a path appeared; how could Lin Youning not be delighted? Yet, along with excitent, an unspeakable sadness washed over her heart.
Her father and mother surely wanted to assert themselves by refusing to recognize Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion, but now they had no choice but to seek recognition from them.
Would Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion look down upon them?
Lin Youning took a deep breath; perhaps her grandfather might underestimate her and her brother, but she wouldn’t let her grandfather intervene in vain. Perhaps she could exchange so of what she knew.
Mrs. Gu Sr. said no more afterward, and Lin Youning didn’t hastily depart, staying at the Marquis Mansion until after lunch before leaving.
Back at East Mansion, Lin Youning pondered deeply, ultimately penning a letter to be sent directly to Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion.
Aunt was right; her parents harbored pride, but nothing was more crucial now than preserving her brother’s leg and life.
Moreover, Lin Youning wouldn’t seek their help for free—being reborn, she vowed to ensure the safety of everyone in Pri Minister Liu’s Mansion.
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