Gu Yifeng’s expression did not change, and with a slight lift of his eyelids, Xu Kuan imdiately began to apologize repeatedly and said no more.
"It seems there are matters to attend to here today, so I’ll take my leave first and co to the mansion to express my thanks after descending the mountain," Xu Kuan, aware of Gu Yifeng’s current mood, didn’t say much and left promptly.
In the main room, as Gu Yifeng entered, he saw his mother with a gloomy face, servants bustling in and out, and Lin Youning, like a frightened child, hiding in Mrs. Gu Sr.’s embrace.
Mrs. Gao stood to the side, tightly twisting the handkerchief in her hands, "That Sister Ru, I’ve really spoiled her."
Mrs. Gu Sr., however, paid her no mind, only asking Suyi beside her, "Go see if Master Yuanji has arrived."
Being ignored, Mrs. Gao’s face showed a hint of embarrassnt.
She is, after all, the Duchess of the Duke Mansion, sought after and flattered wherever she goes, yet now she had to humble herself before others and endure cold shoulders because of her daughter.
Her temper flared up inside her repeatedly.
But there was nothing she could do.
"Look at this, how heavy a hand must have been used, look at this face, it’s so swollen you can hardly see the eyes anymore. Poor Sister Ning, what did she do to deserve this?" Mrs. Gu Sr.’s voice choked upon seeing her son enter.
Gu Er, who had been standing silently beside Mrs. Gu Sr., ground his teeth and said, "I’ll go find her and ask why she hit Sister Ning?"
Gu Yifeng gave a slight glance, and Gu Yixuan retracted his step.
"Wenxin, escort the Duchess back," Gu Yifeng, striding to the bedside, nodded at Mrs. Gao. Mrs. Gao breathed a sigh of relief, apologized to Mrs. Gu Sr., and followed Wenxin out.
Just as they left the main room, they heard Gu Yifeng’s cold voice from inside, "How long are you going to make a fuss? Your actions have implicated Sister Ning, and you still won’t behave?"
Mrs. Gao’s face, already severe, grew a few shades darker, and she picked up her pace.
Wenxin escorted her to the courtyard gate, slightly bowed and promptly turned to leave.
Not a word was spared, and although nothing impolite could be critiqued, the laxity of her attitude was apparent.
Mrs. Gao felt her chest tight, making it hard to breathe.
Within monts, Li Si had already brought Master Yuanji inside. Lin Youning was only five, and Master Yuanji, being a monk, had no concerns about gender separations, entering the interior directly.
Master Yuanji checked her pulse and nodded kindly, "The body is generally fine, just a little weak. A few doses of decoction will suffice. I have an ointnt for the facial swelling, apply it before bed tonight and it will subside by tomorrow."
Mrs. Gu Sr. sighed in relief, repeatedly thanking him, and Gu Yifeng personally saw him out, instructing Li Si to follow Master Yuanji to gather the dicine.
He then turned back towards the room.
"Aunt, don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt," Gu Yifeng heard this as he entered the room.
He strolled into the inner chamber, his posture upright, gaze deep, exuding an inexplicable majesty.
Mrs. Gu Sr., appreciating Lin Youning’s sensibility, felt affection for her.
Looking up, she saw her eldest son entering.
The gloom in her heart lessened slightly, as her eldest son had always been sensible, established early, decisive and resolute, never causing her worry.
Her gaze then fell on her second son beside her.
A look full of helplessness erged, both were her sons, but why was this son so unsupportive?
"Mother, since little sister is alright, you shouldn’t be too upset."
Mrs. Gu Sr. sighed helplessly, "As long as you’re all well, I, an old woman, might et our ancestors at any ti. The rest doesn’t matter. It’s just a pity that little sister is so small, what would she do if I were gone? Gu Er is unreliable, how could I entrust little sister to him?"
Saying this, Mrs. Gu Sr.’s anger flared, snapping at her second son, "Look what you’ve done, making little sister bear the burden at such a young age, and that woman, from the Duke Mansion no less, dare....."
Mrs. Gu Sr. really couldn’t speak ill of others behind their backs; she had been raised as a lady from a prominent family, bound by etiquette and rules, never engaging in gossip.
Gu Er knelt straight to the ground, "It’s all my fault, mother, please don’t be upset."
His attitude was earnest with no trace of perfunctoriness.
Lin Youning leaned against Mrs. Gu Sr.’s embrace, her eyelids lowered. She knew she should plead for Gu Yixuan, to make Aunt happy.
But recalling her past life’s experiences, Lin Youning couldn’t bring herself to speak.
"Alright, you two brothers aren’t needed here either. We’ve stayed on the mountain for two days, go make arrangents to return to the mansion tomorrow. It’s nearly Mid-Autumn, and there’s much to tend to at the mansion." Mrs. Gu Sr. glanced indifferently at the kneeling younger son on the floor.
Gu Er knew his mother was disappointed, not wanting to see him now, so he quietly took his leave with his brother and exited.
Pure Path Temple was on the mountain, and with deep autumn setting in, it was colder than below the mountain.
Mrs. Gu Sr. gently swayed the small body in her embrace, her gaze passed through the window to the round table, finally settling on the large water tank in the courtyard. Despite the heavy mountain chill, lotus flowers still grew in the tank.
"Our family has been connected with the Duke Mansion for many years, and I have long eaten vegetarian and believed in Buddhism. In sumr, I can’t even bear to kill a mosquito, otherwise, with the Duke Mansion’s conduct, after such an incident, I would have blocked people from entering. After all, that’s a life." Mrs. Gu Sr. seed to murmur to herself, perhaps explaining to those in the room.
Inside, only Suyi and a few young maids were present.
Seeing Mrs. Gu Sr. seemingly explaining to them, Suyi’s heart tensed.
Mrs. Gu Sr. appeared to be finding a reasonable excuse for the young lady from the Duke Mansion to enter, but in practice, she was sowhat undermining the future Second Madam’s standing among the servants.
When the future Second Madam enters, she would not be respected by the servants.
Suyi sighed inwardly. Who would have thought such an incident would happen?
The future Second Madam’s greaсhooter’s mistake was not involving Miss Lin, but rather raising her hand.
Now that Mrs. Gu Sr. was angered, it seed the future Second Madam would have to lower her head and endure, losing her dignity for good.
"Little Sister, tell Aunt, do you resent your second brother?" After a long pause, Mrs. Gu Sr.’s voice was heard again.
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