Chapter 18

She was enjoying this quiet and uneventful time right now.

Because she knew that soon, the news of Gu Jia's secret meeting with Jiang Yin would spread like wildfire, known all over the city.

But Old Madam Gu could not implicate all the young ladies in the Gu family.

For the sake of the other young ladies' reputation, she could only find an excuse, saying that Gu Jia was already engaged to Jiang Yin.

Jiang Yin coming to the Gu manor was not a secret meeting, but coming to propose.

This would protect both Gu Jia and the other young ladies of the Gu family.

There was no other way.

The more she thought about it, the more refreshed she felt. Standing at the door of the ancestral hall, even the dispirited Gu Jia glancing at her did not have the strength to argue with her.

"Eldest sister, do you like the gift I gave you?"

Gu Jia looked up in shock, "Gu Ying, what are you talking about! This was all your scheme? How could you, you fool—"

She could not believe it and stopped abruptly.

Gu Ying's gaze gently fell on Gu Jia's pale face. She raised the corners of her lips into a perfect smile, "I have to think carefully about what gift to prepare for eldest sister's grand wedding with Jiang Yin."

Gu Jia was so angry that she gnashed her teeth and scratched at the door of the ancestral hall like crazy. She screamed at Gu Ying, "Impossible! Gu Ying, you slut! You're spouting nonsense! I won't marry Jiang Yin! I'll only marry the young marquis! The young marquis is mine! How can a fool like you deserve the young marquis!"

At this point, Gu Jia was still dreaming.

Gu Ying even felt some pity for her and revealed a compassionate smile. "What's with that smile! Take it back! I don't need your pity!"

The calmer Gu Ying was, the more frenzied Gu Jia became.

"Eldest sister, do you still remember Gu Min?"

At this point, Gu Jia was completely frozen and slid to the ground, "What are you talking about, I don't understand..."

Gu Ying thought of the truth she had learned in her previous life, and said painfully, "Your twin sister, Gu Min, fell into a waist-deep pond in the winter when she was ten years old. When she was pulled out, she was already stiff and died inexplicably. Everyone thought it was an accident, even Mother Liu thought so. But I know—"

She sneered as she enunciated word for word, "It was not." Gu Jia suddenly looked up, staring at her in disbelief.

"Gu Ying, what nonsense are you spewing!"

"Aren't you afraid that Aunt Liu would know?"

"You dare—"

Murderous intent flashed in Gu Jia's frightened and terrified expression. It showed that she had achieved her goal.

Just this piece of information was enough to make Gu Jia suffer in the ancestral hall, not to mention she still had other tricks up her sleeve waiting for Gu Jia.

Gu Ying smiled coldly and did not elaborate further. She turned and left the ancestral hall.

"Miss, everything is done!"

Yanzhi popped open a pink oil-paper umbrella and ran smiling along the narrow bluestone path from the side door. When she reached Gu Ying's side, she held the bamboo umbrella over her head to shield her from the swirling snowflakes. She tilted her head and smiled charmingly, "Miss, you really can foresee everything. How did you know those gossipy women who often loiter around the alley next to our lane, just waiting to catch wind of things happening in rich families' back courtyards?"

Gu Ying chuckled softly, "Because I had a dream where I secretly met with Jiang Yin, just like today. As Jiang Yin was escorted out of the Gu manor, he happened to be seen by several gossipy women at the gate, so the news spread that I was promiscuous and wore a green hat on the young marquis."

Yanzhi listened in bewilderment, "What a nightmare! Fortunately, Miss had me go out in advance to get someone to stake out there. As soon as Master Jiang came out, that person deliberately made a commotion, causing the entire street to know."

Gu Ying did not say anything more. Tonight would be a sleepless night for them, so she could not rest either.

Since Dr. Liu was closely associated with Mother Liu, she would have to start with him regarding her brother's illness.

"Yanzhi, let's first bring some food to A Ning."

"Alright." Yanzhi felt that her young miss was really becoming smarter, trying to get close to the second branch. She spoke encouragingly, "In the future, Miss must treat the young master well. The young master is sickly and has no parents to accompany him. In this manor, Miss is the young master's only kin."

Gu Ying felt uncomfortable hearing this. She murmured in agreement as she personally went to the kitchen to prepare lots of food for Gu Ning before bringing it to Yu Feng Studio. Cui Ling was dozing off beside the incense burner in the room to keep night vigil. After Gu Ying gave her a bangle, the maid reluctantly went to sleep.

Gu Ning was still curled up in the quilt on the bed. His legs hardly moved at all. His whole body was lifeless, slumped against the pillow. He stared blankly at the canopy with a dull gaze.

He had no appetite and did not like to eat, becoming nothing but skin and bones.

After eating just one bite of the snacks Gu Ying brought, he could eat no more. He turned his head away, "Don't want to eat."

Gu Ying coaxed, "Eating more will help A Ning get better."

"Can't get better," Gu Ning shook his head. His eyes were somewhat empty and distracted. "Don't pity me."

Gu Ying's heart ached seeing how a maid had tormented her brother into this state. She was increasingly eager to move him into Twilight Studio to take care of him herself.

Yanzhi worried, "I'm afraid Old Madam will not be happy about this."

Gu Ying pondered briefly, "Not just Old Madam, I'm afraid Mother Liu won't agree either."

Yanzhi said indignantly, "Our second branch's affairs have nothing to do with Old Madam. Miss, go find Old Madam tomorrow. Our own young master, we will take care of him ourselves!"

Gu Ying put down the snacks in her hand and looked at Gu Ning's frighteningly pale little face. She felt that the blood vessels under his skin were clearly visible, making the boy look like he was on his deathbed.

In her previous life, Gu Ning had died the day after she married Jiang Yin.

At that time, she wanted to return home to take a look at her brother's corpse, but Jiang Yin did not allow it. Her eyes were swollen from crying, yet she did not get to see her brother for the last time. She only heard that in the end, the Gu manor used a tattered mat to shroud his body and quietly sent him out of the city to be buried somewhere unknown.

The more Gu Ying thought about it, the more stifling her chest felt. The howling wind and snow outside grew louder, and her chest felt more and more suffocating.

No matter what, she could not let her brother go down the old path of his previous life again.

"Today is about Gu Jia's lifelong happiness, yet Mother Liu still refused to hand over Dr. Liu. Yanzhi, why do you think this is?"

Yanzhi thought for a while. She was simple-minded and could only make wild guesses, "Miss, could Dr. Liu be Old Madam's person?"

Gu Ying's mind lit up suddenly. Her eyes curved as she looked at Yanzhi appreciatively, "Aunt Liu's person, this person is worth looking into! Is he someone who handles affairs, or someone with other unspeakable relations?"

After all, she had seen with her own eyes Mother Liu accidentally drop a pearl hairpin in Yu Feng Studio before.

To keep up appearances occasionally, Mother Liu would also come to visit her sick son. Dr. Liu was also an excellent doctor with superb medical skills that Mother Liu had found from outside.

At that time, she did not think too much about it, but it seemed rather dubious in hindsight!