novelnext Chapter 548 - 540: Evasion and Delay
Chapter 548 - 540: Evasion and Delay
On the other side, Zhao Wu was very efficient. He located the young maid in the Marquis Mansion and then interrogated her, ensuring her testimony matched that of the older maid. Only then did he take them to the Duke Mansion, where he coincidentally met Gu Yifeng at the gate.
Gu Yifeng dismounted, glanced at the maid and older maid being escorted from the carriage, and signaled to the guard. The guard then knocked on the Duke Mansion’s door. This was the first time in years that anyone from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion had come to visit in the dead of night.
In no more than fifteen minutes, the entire Duke Mansion was in an uproar. Upon hearing that Dingyuan Marquis had come calling, the Duke shot glances at Mrs. Gao. "You seemed out of sorts during the day, I had a feeling something was wrong. I hoped you didn’t have the courage for anything reckless. You know the kind of days we’ve had these past years. I thought you’d look after the bigger picture. But you’ve let me down, going and doing something like this."
Mrs. Gao looked aggrieved, "Why is my lord blaming me? All these years I’ve hardly left the mansion, not even to see my sister if there were matters. Now to be accused like this? Something happened at the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, and they’ve come to us. We don’t even know what’s going on, yet you blame me. Raising such a daughter already makes my heart ache. Today, I wouldn’t even consider visiting Sister Yue’s place, for fear the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion might take offense and implicate us."
Hearing this, the Duke found it hard to continue blaming her and strode out of the room. In the hall, Gu Yifeng had already sipped a cup of tea. Seeing the Duke enter, he set down his teacup, "I apologize for disturbing so late at night, I hope the Duke understands."
The Duke smiled courteously, "The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is too kind."
Inside, however, he couldn’t muster a smile, knowing that the visit likely bore ill news.
After both sides sat down again, Gu Yifeng nodded to Zhao Wu, who brought in the older maid and young maid from outside and had the older maid recount the events. The Duke’s face turned increasingly pale as he listened, and by the end, he was trembling uncontrollably.
"Marquis, could there be some mistake? How could such a thing happen? I implore you to investigate further and prove the Duke Mansion’s innocence." The Duke couldn’t remain seated, turning nervously to the kneeling older maid and young maid, "Speak up, were you coerced to frame the Duke Mansion?"
"Duke, we are not lying. I personally overheard it. That person came to the Marquis Mansion, accompanying the Duchess. It was a few years ago, but I’ve never forgotten."
The young maid continued, fearing the Duke’s disbelief, "I also heard the older maid mention that Mr. De and Madam discussed it together."
"Mr. De?" The Duke was taken aback.
"Yes, it was Mr. De," the young maid, though afraid, told everything she knew.
Gu Yifeng turned his head at this point, aware of Mrs. Kong’s connection to the Duke Mansion, now surprised to see Brother De implicated. Gu Yifeng’s heart felt a cold sneer as he contemplated how many more were targeting Sister Ning.
The Duke’s face changed, "Is what you heard true?"
"I wouldn’t dare lie."
The Duke could no longer contain himself, directly instructing a servant, "Bring Brother De and Madam here."
The servant, already frightened by the proceedings, dared not delay and promptly fetched Brother De and Mrs. Gao.
Though Mrs. Gao’s expression remained mostly unchanged, she seemed barely able to stand, while Brother De followed her in.
At his age, Brother De should be married, but due to the situation with Gao Yue, it was postponed. Although the Gao Mansion hadn’t held him responsible, even sending Gao Yue to a family temple, Brother De secretly spread rumors after learning Gao Yue sought marriage privately, thus burying the incident.
Mrs. Kong, overwhelmed by her own troubles, and Gu Er, caught up in his affairs, had left Brother De to tarnish his reputation. Though studying under the Duke Mansion’s name at the academy, his marriage had been delayed.
"Brother De, do you have anything to say?" Gu Yifeng asked, "You can disregard your sister, but such heartlessness isn’t welcome in our Gu Mansion."
Brother De immediately dropped to his knees, "Uncle, I didn’t know I did anything wrong. My sister’s death grieves me too. Today, the teacher wouldn’t allow me to leave, detaining me, so I planned to return tomorrow."
"Marquis, Brother De has always been diligent. These past years, he’s suffered—his mother neglects him, his father ignores him, and rumors outside aren’t kind. He’s had to hold on, all alone." Mrs. Gao wept beside him.
Gu Yifeng didn’t bat an eye, "I know the intricacies here well. But tonight, we’re discussing another matter. Who among you admits to Brother Zong’s incident? This Marquis demands a thorough investigation tonight. Since everyone is here, sort it amongst yourselves—decide who will confess to the crime?"
The sarcasm in his words was unmistakable to everyone present.
Kneeling with his head down, Brother De’s expression was obscured, while Mrs. Gao, though trying to maintain her composure, needed support from a maid to stay upright.
"This Marquis holds grudges. Brother Zong was just born and someone plotted against him. Such people will not be spared. If we don’t catch the culprit, no suspect will be left unpunished." Gu Yifeng lightly fingered the jade pendant at his waist, "I came to the mansion out of old ties."
Gu Yifeng’s patience was wearing thin, clearly expressing his readiness to act decisively and apprehend all suspects if the matter dragged on.
The Duke, anxious, urged, "Speak up, was it any of you involved?"
"My lord, I didn’t do this," Mrs. Gao was the first to deny, "But I know a maid seemed close to Brother De. When Sister Yue had her incident during the day, I specifically asked Brother De, who said it was nothing."
At this point, fear compelled Mrs. Gao to reveal everything she knew.