Chapter 611: Lowborn Bastards

Although Marquis Gu didn’t speak, he also looked at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

There must be some love affair in this; otherwise, how did Gu the fourth’s gold ornament end up on the Mo Family Girl, and why did she change her personal maid? But this... is it appropriate to talk about?

Gu Baoshu, oh Gu Baoshu.

Qin Yuan hesitated and said, "I fear there’s quite a bit behind this, the Mo family’s reaction is indeed peculiar, Miss Mo must have hidden reasons for running away to the capital and staying at the family temple, otherwise why did she encounter people like Zhi Guang? This... this is a theft case involving so many, with the Earl Chengen, the Former Crown Prince, and Black Wind Village, and now the Yelv people are involved too.

It’s truly complicated. Who knows what kind of relationship she has with Miss Mo.

If you ask me, digging deep into this matter might reveal unfathomable depths, but if taken lightly, perhaps it’s just a coincidence."

Sixth Master Gu wiped away tears with his sleeve haphazardly, "Third Sister-in-law is right, this can’t be a simple homicide, otherwise why is there only half a corpse in the dry well, even if they intended to silence someone, it shouldn’t be like this. Zhi Guang and others killed people and even tore down houses, yet they never thought of burying anyone, it’s truly strange."

The room fell silent.

Marquis Gu said, "Indeed strange, I’ve sent people to inquire about the whereabouts of the Mo family, and it turns out they all moved near their son-in-law’s home, and the son of the Mo family is also nowhere to be found. It’s been over ten years."

The implication is that it’s not easy to gather information.

Qin Yuan took a sharp breath; this way of handling things...

Marquis Gu continued, "The one behind the theft case appears to be Empress Lin; otherwise, why would the Death Warriors kept by Earl Chengen be involved in the prison break, it’s just unknown if they were already in league with Black Wind Village or got involved later with the Yelv people."

Qin Yuan said quietly, "Marquis, it’s hardly been long since you brought the hostage to the capital, calculating the days, Doctor Liu entered the mansion only half a year after you returned to the capital... Mrs. Zhao has been following you with her child for three years..."

Marquis Gu choked.

Gu Baoshu’s eyes lit up, "Third Sister-in-law, are you saying they were in league for a long time?"

Sixth Master Gu exclaimed, "Third Sister-in-law means Mrs. Zhao brought those dragon and phoenix twins to be planted by Third Brother’s side from the beginning?"

Gu Baoshu: "Right, Third Sister-in-law, is that what you mean?"

Qin Yuan looked towards Marquis Gu.

Old Madam Gu’s hands trembled incessantly within her sleeves, and her eyes fixed on Qin Yuan: "Yuan’er, do you know about the lineage of those dragon and phoenix twins?"

Qin Yuan coughed lightly twice, unsure whether to speak or not.

Marquis Gu quickly answered, "Mother, we haven’t known for long either; those children carry the blood of the Yelv people, and..." He paused and said with difficulty, "I’m afraid they are of Yelv Lord’s lineage."

"Good, good, very good," Old Madam Gu said in anger, giving Marquis Gu a hefty slap on the head, scolding, "This old lady raised such a blind little thing, always protecting them as if they were your own, if it weren’t for Yuan’er’s vigilance, you would have been schemed against by them long ago. It really infuriates me, our Dingbei Marquis Mansion has been raising Yelv dogs, if your father and elder brothers knew, they’d surely break their coffins. A stubborn and dumb thing, no matter how much is said, it remains unclear, how did this old lady even give birth to one like you? Looks like you weren’t beaten enough."

Old Madam Gu’s voice grew louder, and Marquis Gu’s head lowered further.

Sixth Master Gu curled up on his seat, not daring to move.

His Third Brother was scolded like this, what good would he get?

But indeed, his Third Brother was blind and heartless, letting the Yelv people plant two adopted sons, and if Mrs. Zhao hadn’t acted recklessly, those adopted sons might have grown up to serve in the Gu Family Army, harboring ill intentions, threatening the foundation of the Gu family.

Truly, he doesn’t know how his Third Brother defeated the Yelv people.

Marquis Gu was scolded to the point his soul nearly escaped, only then did Old Madam Gu stop talking.

But venting out like this, a lot of her pent-up anger dissipated.

Old Madam Gu cleared her throat, and her obedient daughter-in-law offered her a cup of hot tea; Old Madam Gu took a sip to soothe her throat and said, "If it weren’t for you marrying a good wife, I really wouldn’t want to look at you. If it weren’t for Yuan’er’s planning, who knows how much harm that Mrs. Zhao would have caused our mansion. Thanks to the protection from our ancestors, you’re blessed with such good fortune, and you’d better mention the good graces to the ancestors during clan worship."

Marquis Gu hurriedly said, "Indeed, it must be the ancestors’ protection; otherwise, how could I return safe and sound and marry such a great wife."

Old Madam Gu snorted, "Of course, while you’re out fighting, I’m chanting in the meditation hall every day, not to mention our ancestors, you’re ambitious and capable, who else would they protect if not you?"

Sixth Master Gu shrunk even smaller.

Old Madam Gu, calm again, asked, "Today’s events were arranged by the Crown Prince, King Jin, the Yelv people, and the Duke Zhen’s Mansion? Was the fire next door aimed at those two children?"

Marquis Gu nodded, "Mother guessed right, today we all went to Duke Zhen’s Mansion as guests, the Crown Prince wanted to trap Baoshu, King Jin wanted to harm Yuan’er, and the Yelv people took advantage of the chaos to reclaim the children."

Old Madam Gu sneered, "I knew that old thing had bad intentions. The late Empress Dowager treated her well, yet she became the Empress Dowager’s lackey, biting back. Now she tries to scheme against the women of our Dingbei Marquis Mansion, what a miscalculation from trying to steal a chicken, I’d like to see how the You family deals with this."

...

Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Madam You lay on her couch, unable to get up, Ru Hua serving cautiously at her side, while the rest of the You family’s master and madams stood silently, only Madam You wept bitterly.

Today, both her children got caught up in this.

This birthday banquet truly was vexing enough.

But what made it worse was the kind and simple Empress Dowager, who said while leaving, "The eldest daughter of the You family seemed fine enough, what happened now."

A casual remark shifted all the blame onto her daughter.

Her daughter, a perfectly good legitimate daughter of Duke Mansion, how could she fancy King Jin?

They failed in their scheme to harm others but ended up implicating her daughter, and then talk like this, truly too much to bear.

The Third Madam You was still advising, "Mother fainted from anger, once she wakes, she’ll surely stand up for Eldest Sister-in-law, the Empress Dowager favors the Crown Prince and King Jin, San Lang caused the Crown Prince to fall into water, the Empress Dowager couldn’t hold her anger against the eldest daughter, but she will calm down in time."

Madam You didn’t want to speak.

Why.

The whole family set aside even Old Madam’s birthday banquet to go all out, losing all face, only to end up like this.

It was merely some southern chieftain’s gift of a barbarian girl; she was favored once, bore the Emperor, and schemed against the late Empress Dowager, or else what would it have to do with her.

A nest of lowborn wretches.