Chapter 517: Marrying a Wife and Forgetting the Mother

Gu Jinghui remained silent.

Gu Liuye was surprised and said, “I have never seen a maidservant who knows martial arts around my mother in all these years.”

Madam Gu was a little proud: “I knew you couldn’t guess it. I am the daughter of a military hero, so how could there not be someone who knows martial arts around me? You see this person every day, it’s Aunt Rong.”

Lord Gu was surprised and looked at Madam Rong.

Aunt Rong smiled and took a step forward, opened a door, and then slowly closed it, saying with a smile: “I have followed the old lady since I was young, and when I was a little older, I learned some boxing and kicking from the martial arts master in the mansion. Although my martial arts skills are not high, I can protect the old lady. Please rest assured, my lord.”

“Mother, I didn’t realize that Madam Rong was also a martial artist,” Lord Gu exclaimed.

Rong Mama smiled and said, “I don’t practice hard martial arts. I am good at life-saving tricks. They are not obvious in action. If the Marquis doesn’t pay attention, he will not notice it.”

Madam Gu said, “I am an old woman. When I go out to socialize, I just drink tea and chat with old women of similar age. When I leave the inner room, I have guards to protect me. It is enough to have Rong Mama to protect me. It has been fine for so many years. But Yuan’er, you need to keep more people around you.”

Qin Yuan’s eyes were full of stars, and she said with admiration: “Mother is so good to me.”

Seeing this, Madam Gu was very pleased and said with a smile: “I am old, how many people can move me? Besides, those old ladies value their lives more than I do, and they have people protecting them, so no one will have any ideas about us old ladies. You should accept it obediently and don’t refuse. Brother Hui is really thoughtful. I actually forgot about this and should have arranged it for you earlier.”

Lord Gu felt a little uncomfortable. He coughed lightly, turned around and asked, “Have all the people been settled? I haven’t seen them yet. What do mother and Yuan’er think?”

Madam Gu said, “It’s OK. It looks like he hasn’t served anyone before. I’m afraid he needs more training from Yuan’er.”

“If you are useful, stay. If you are not useful, wait until Lao Han has trained someone, then go back.”

Madam Gu nodded: “Your arrangement is correct. It’s more reassuring to have a child at home.”

Qin Yuan said, “Everything will be arranged by mother and Lord Marquis. I think both of them are quite smart. If mother doesn’t want it, it will be a good deal for me.”

“Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, take them out a few more times to see the scene.”

Madam Gu gave detailed instructions.

Qin Yuan naturally agreed to all of them.

After the meal, everyone said goodbye, and Madam Gu said, “Stay here, third brother. I have something to tell you.”

Lord Gu stammered, “Mother, I’m a little tired today. I want to go back and rest early. I’ll come and talk to you tomorrow, okay?”

Gu Baozhu smiled and took Qin Yuan’s hand and said, “Third sister-in-law, I’ll go to Wutong Garden to talk to you, okay? My mother is going to scold my third brother, so I can’t go back for a while.”

Master Gu Liu scolded: “You are the only one who talks too much.”

Gu Baozhu snorted and said, “If you don’t even want to give your sister a painting, then don’t act like a brother here.”

Mr. Gu Liu had no way to deal with her and could only stare at her.

Qin Yuan was a little amused and said, “You want to talk about the investment in pepper? Have you settled the accounts?”

Gu Baozhu pulled the person out: “We finally finished counting them, and found that a lot of jewelry was missing. There was a maid who served me since she was a child and she was not honest. She stole the jewelry and pawned it for gambling. She lost a lot recently, and she couldn’t redeem it when the pawn ticket expired. When she saw me start to count the jewelry and gold and silver, she was scared and confessed everything.” Qin Yuan followed her out.

Master Gu Liu gave his third brother a look that told him to wish him good luck, and followed him out.

Madam Gu then spoke: “Old Third, why are you so tired these days?”

Lord Gu had a tired look on his face and sighed, “The emperor assigned me such an important task as the imperial examination. The scholars in the six ministries have too many things to do, and the officials in the court are all trying to pass notes in. I have to send people to watch them, and I have to deal with the princes and ministers who come to plead for me. It’s exhausting.”

Madam Gu snorted coldly and said, “You traveled thousands of miles in the northern frontier and didn’t sleep for days and nights without feeling tired. Why are you complaining about being tired now?”

Lord Gu was speechless.

Madam Gu continued, “People say that you forget your mother after you marry a wife, but I never believed it. Now that I see you like this, I have to believe it. It’s obvious that your mother is old. If you are forced to sit here for a while, you will get impatient to deal with it.”

These words are very hurtful.

Lord Gu was anxious and said hurriedly, “Mother, mother, please spare your son.”

“Mother forgave you, have you ever thought of forgiving your mother?” Madam Gu said angrily, “It’s been so many days, what did you find out? You don’t take it to heart at all, do you?”

Lord Gu was so anxious that he was incoherent, and said, “Mother, how could I not take it seriously? I have been asking around. Mother, how could I not forgive you? I dare not accept this.”

Madam Gu said, “You deserve it very much. You clearly know that I am worried and sad about this matter, but you have no information. Aren’t you putting your mother on the steamer and roasting her on the fire? If you want mother to take back what you said, then tell me everything. Don’t hide anything.”

Lord Gu insisted: “Sixteen sent people to inquire, but found nothing.”

Madam Gu snorted coldly, “I know you think I’m old and useless, but you think I can get away with it just by making excuses. Qiuju, hurry up and pack your things. We’ll leave tomorrow, and I’ll go and find out by myself.”

After saying that, he stood up and was about to leave.

“Mother, mother, mother,” Lord Gu was squeezed to his knees in front of his mother, hugged his mother’s legs, and cried, “Mother, I didn’t lie. I didn’t find out anything. The Mo family is gone, and the old house is abandoned. People around said that the youngest daughter of the Mo family married a long time ago. The old couple missed their daughter, so maybe they moved to live near the youngest daughter’s husband’s family.”

Madam Gu let out a breath of foul air.

“Um… whether it is Mo Xiaonizi or not, you should tell me the truth today, don’t play tricks here.”

“Mom, the news from the investigation came back, saying that the Mo family had moved away, and they were still searching carefully. It was said that…”

Lord Gu was a little hesitant.

Madam Gu asked, “What did you say? Are you trying to make me anxious to death?”

Lord Gu said, “It is said that the Mo family moved away after their daughter got married, and the old house became deserted. Perhaps Mo Xiaoni’s parents couldn’t bear to part with her, so they moved to live near her husband’s house. As for the gold leaf, maybe the fourth son accidentally lost it and someone picked it up…”

“…Do you believe what you said?”

Madam Gu spat at him.

Lord Gu lowered his head to wipe the spit off his face and sighed, “Mother, it’s been so long, why do we need to go to the Mo family now? Sister Mo has been married for so many years, if we go to her suddenly, it will be impossible not to alert others. If her husband’s family is suspicious, won’t we harm them?”