Gu Yifeng saw her like this and was not angry. In the darkness, unseen by others, there was an indescribable sense of decay on his face.
"From the day we got married, I told myself that you waited for for so many years, so I must treat you well. You adhered strictly to the rules, and although I didn’t understand love at that ti, I knew we were destined to be a respectful couple this lifeti. Over the years, I always stayed at the Woodland Pavilion, which you know, and I handed the household affairs over to you, letting you decide, never saying otherwise."
"Through these years, we’ve grown distant as a couple; I think you know the reasons, so I won’t say much more. I won’t bla you for this matter either, just as I said before, it’s also my fault that we’ve co to this point, so I won’t resent you. As for how you’re thinking of torturing yourself, that’s just your imagination." Gu Yifeng changed his posture, "Holy Emperor knows about Brother Zong’s matter too, but he sent him over, leaving a bit of face. You see where you can take Brother Zong, and I’ll have people arrange it well. This can be considered the last bit of affection between us as a couple."
Mrs. Dong was slightly stunned, looking at Gu Yifeng in disbelief, "Are the things you’re saying true?"
Gu Yifeng’s face showed a hint of mockery, "The words I’ve said naturally count. I ca today to discuss this matter with you, so now you speak."
"But... but with things happening like this, how can you let go? Let Brother Zong go?"
"I said that this matter is because I wronged you, and that’s why you acted. As for Brother Zong, he’s just a child; I haven’t reached the point of wanting to harm a child. The na Brother Zong, you heard it from Mother, right? You took the na Sister Ning had chosen for her future child, and that’s what I care about most. But now, I’m glad Brother Zong isn’t my child; once you and Brother Zong leave, it will be as if the child never existed." Gu Yifeng’s words were ruthless.
Mrs. Dong had already despaired with the man before her, but hearing such cold words, she couldn’t help but feel a wrenching pain in her heart. "If Brother Zong were truly your child, would you still say these things? Would you think this way?"
"See, even now, you’re still arguing." Gu Yifeng pierced through her with one sentence, "Your starting point is wrong. I’m a burden to both mansions; even if I visit each for three days, you wouldn’t be satisfied, you’d still do these things secretly, which is why I’ve always disliked you. All these years, you’ve appeared generous outwardly, but inside you’re petty, even though you’ve never troubled Sister Ning, you’ve never gotten close to her either. Sister Ning grew up in our mansion; could you truly treat her as family?"
Mrs. Dong raised her voice, "I wasn’t an to her, which should count as generosity. She’s just an outsider; what more should I do?"
"You’re mistaken. Sister Ning was brought to the Gu Family as a child bride from a young age, so she’s one of us in the Gu Mansion, yet you’ve always treated her as an outsider, and Mother never got close to her either. What have you done over the years? I’ve never ntioned it, not because I didn’t see it, but because I chose not to say anything to avoid making things bad." Gu Yifeng spoke with displeasure, "Enough, those things are in the past now; it’s unnecessary to go over them again, to bla each other. I’ll go with Brother Zong to Jiangnan; upon reaching there, we’ll find a secluded place where no one knows us and live well, changing nas and hiding identities to avoid bringing disaster, it’s the best I can do for you. I’ll have Li Si arrange everything and send you there."
Mrs. Dong watched Gu Yifeng’s departing figure, her entire body collapsing onto the soft couch without tears of sadness, only feeling like laughing. She had always regarded herself highly, believing she was important in his heart, but it seems she overthought it; she was nothing in his heart.
Not even bothering to hate her, Gu Yifeng was too indifferent to hold any hatred.
Gu Yifeng didn’t return to the East Mansion but went back to the Woodland Pavilion, first asking if Sister Hui had gone to rest. Soon, Sister Hui ca over, visibly not having rested.
For the first ti, father and daughter spoke alone; Gu Yifeng looked at his silent daughter, sighing slightly, "Your mother wants to leave here with your brother, to find a place where no one knows us, I’ve agreed."
Although Gu Yifeng was unsatisfied with Mrs. Dong, he couldn’t bear to let his daughter know the sordid details.
"I understand," Sister Hui showed a sad expression, fortunately, it was dark and she kept her head down, unnoticed, but her voice revealed her disappointnt, "With Mother leaving, Father should bring Sister Jian back. She’s not insincere and has been punished for so long."
"There’s no need to discuss her matter; I’ll find an ordinary family for her to marry into. As for your and Sister Ran’s marriages, let soone co to look next year, and let your Aunt help with these matters."
As Gu Yifeng spoke, his face revealed rare awkwardness, his daughter calling his woman Aunt, unfamiliar with such a situation, he felt uneasy.
Sister Hui answered, and with nothing more to say, she stood up to leave.
Leaving the Woodland Pavilion, her tears flowed; not daring to let the nearby servants see, she quickly used her sleeve to wipe them away. As she passed her mother’s courtyard, she hesitated for a long ti but didn’t enter, instead returning quickly to her own courtyard.
She knew sothing significant must have happened, otherwise Father wouldn’t send Mother away, as suddenly as her brother’s divorce and his departure to the Jiangxi Camp, everything so sudden it left her shocked.
Including the rumors in the Capital, she’d heard so of them and knew then those matters her brother provoked were true.
Now Mother was also to be sent away, she wondered if Mother was involved sohow, else why would Father send her away, even abandon Brother Zong?
Sister Hui cried all night, pondering endlessly, never understanding why Mother’s mistakes led to her being sent away, but Brother Zong was innocent. Hesitating for a long ti, early the next morning, Sister Hui, with swollen eyes, went to Shi’an Garden.
Mrs. Gu Sr., though unable to move well yet, could speak intermittently, and when Sister Hui arrived at Shi’an Garden, she had the attending servant, Suyi, sent away before speaking of Father’s decision.
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