Chapter 14

Gu Ning closed his eyes, and scalding tears slid down his cheeks, landing heavily on the back of Gu Ying's hand.

Gu Ying only felt her hand grow hot, and her heart felt as if it was being viciously squeezed, both painful and sour. She brought the water herself and helped clean Gu Ning's body, then changed him into clean clothes and pants.

Then she stared fixedly at his rigid legs, not knowing what she was thinking.

If she asked for her younger brother to be moved to rest in the Twilight Study now, who would be the first to anxiously jump out?

Yanzhi came in from outside and solemnly said, "Miss, it seems there is movement from the Old Madam's side."

Gu Ying raised her head. "How is Jiang Yin?"

Yanzhi shook her head. "This slave did not see him. He seems to still be inside the Hall of Eternal Life now. It's just that Li Mama by the Old Madam's side has personally come over. She is definitely headed for you, Miss."

Gu Ying lowered her eyes, replaying everything in her mind. Jiang Yin was a smart man, he wouldn't expose his own influence at the Bo Residence, the imperial physician Liu Langzhong, and push all the blame onto her.

Grandmother sending someone to summon her, there was only one possibility. They hadn't given up yet, they still wanted to give Gu Jia a way out.

How could there be such a biased grandmother in this world?!

Gu Ying felt oppressed and uncomfortable in her chest. She knew their vicious nature all too well, yet it still hurt her heart. It took her a while before she let out a breath.

"Yanzhi."

"This slave is here."

"You don't need to follow me to the Hall of Eternal Life. I have a task for you that you must finish before nightfall." Yanzhi's drooping eyes lit up. "Miss, tell me. This slave would die before refusing."

On her way to the Wind Pavilion, Li Mama first ran into a smug-looking Cui Ling.

She called out to her and frowned, scolding, "Why aren't you attending the Wind Pavilion? What are you running around everywhere for?"

Cui Ling hid her bracelet and bit her lip aggrievedly. "Li Mama, it's not that I don't want to serve, it's just that the young master grabbed and injured my hand. I need to bandage it now."

Li Mama looked her over and pulled her aside, speaking in a low voice, "Did your mother tell you to serve the young master well?"

"She did," Cui Ling said somewhat impatiently. To serve a cripple with her blossoming beauty was truly a waste. She was very dissatisfied in her heart, but she didn't dare say anything openly either. "But that little cripple is too dirty, filthy all over, and bad tempered. I don't dare go near him, let alone get close."

"He is the only son of the second master. If you follow him, you will have good days in the future. Why don't you keep that in mind?" Li Mama said unhappily.

She had planned wholeheartedly for this girl, yet never expected she would be unappreciative.

Seeing Li Mama's displeasure, Cui Ling tightened her sleeves, hiding the bracelet and jade hairpin within, and quickly smiled. "Li Mama, don't be angry. This slave knows she was wrong. After I bandage my hand, I'll go back right away."

Li Mama saw her sly expression and couldn't help reminding her, "Report anything that happens in the Wind Pavilion to me and your mother. Don't make decisions on your own."

Cui Ling bowed. There was faint impatience in her eyes, but her face still held a smile. "Li Mama, don't worry. This slave understands clearly. Everything is normal in the Wind Pavilion, nothing has happened."

"Really?"

"Truly."

In the end, she was just an inexperienced young girl. She shouldn't be able to make many waves.

Li Mama calmly put her heart back in her stomach and let Cui Ling leave. Just as she was about to lift her foot to walk away, she saw Gu Ying come out of the Wind Pavilion alone with red eyes.

"Aiya, second young miss, what is the matter? The Old Madam just sent me to summon you."

Gu Ying forced a smile. "It's nothing. Just seeing my younger brother's legs get worse and worse makes me feel bad inside. As soon as I entered my brother's room, I saw that no one was managing the medicine or helping my brother clean up. Ai, but Sister Cui Ling treats my brother extremely well. She specifically told the other maids to serve and feed medicine and dress my brother. I am grateful to her in my heart and was just about to say some words of thanks to her, but unfortunately Sister Cui Ling left first. Right, Li Mama, does Grandmother have something to ask me over for?"

Li Mama's brows furrowed. Hearing these words made her heart thump suddenly. That Cui Ling girl didn't tell the truth? She told Cui Ling to watch Gu Ning and not let anyone get near him, but she let others serve him instead?

This girl was two-faced. Could she have developed ulterior motives?

Gu Ying looked harmless. She sniffled, "Li Mama?"

Li Mama's eyes flashed. She smiled and said, "This old servant doesn't know. Why don't the young miss go over and see for herself."

Gu Ying hid the icy cold light in her eyes and revealed a weak and panicked expression. "Alright, I'll go with Li Mama..."

Once again returning to the Hall of Eternal Life.

Other than Jiang Yin kneeling below the hall, and several people sitting in chairs, they were suddenly enthusiastic towards Gu Ying.

Madam Liu walked up and pulled Gu Ying along, smiling. "Ying'er, you are the one who loves your eldest sister the most. Now you wouldn't watch as your eldest sister's reputation is damaged, would you?"

Gu Ying looked up, her clear and limpid gaze looking at each person in the hall. She spoke apprehensively and reverently. "Grandmother, Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, rest assured. Ying'er swears that she will absolutely not spread word of today's events and will protect my eldest sister's reputation."

Madam Liu gnashed her teeth impatiently. "You foolish child!"

Gu Ying continued pretending to be dumb. "Ying'er doesn't understand what Eldest Aunt means."

Madam Liu directly spoke frankly. "Ying'er, auntie will just speak straight to you. Young Master Jiang also carefully told us everything. His reason for coming to the manor today was originally to confess his feelings to you. He didn't expect to have lost his way and ended up at the ancestral hall by mistake. Speaking of which, Young Master Jiang took great pains to come here, all for your sake. Young Master Jiang's sincerity, how could you bear to miss this opportunity?"

The several people in the hall had different expressions.

When Gu Ying raised her head to look at her silently tea-drinking grandmother, she sneered coldly in her heart. On the surface, however, she revealed a simple and shy expression. "Auntie, be cautious in your words. This kind of talk absolutely cannot be carelessly spoken. Not to mention whether Young Master Jiang came here for anyone's sake, for an outside man to be able to openly avoid the manor guards and enter the ancestral hall, this matter should be carefully investigated. Our Bo Manor can't be treated like somewhere any cat or dog can casually enter. If this got out, all the prestigious families of Bianjing would laugh at us."

When she said the four words "cat or dog",

Jiang Yin's expression froze as he tilted his head to the side. His gloomy gaze swept over the exquisite and peerless beauty's profile, and an indescribable rage ignited in his heart.

Now, he had already compromised and explained his willingness to marry her to the Old Madam. Yet she still insulted him as a cat or dog?

Back when she had looked at him longingly and addressed him respectfully as Young Master Jiang every sentence, when had she ever been so cold to him?

Playing hard to get also had to have a limit!

If she continued, he would find a way to take her as a concubine and slowly torment her arrogance!