Chapter 63 Suspicion

  What's poetry? What is this thing, and why does it sound like something not quite right?

  "I'm not feeling well and need to rest quietly, it's not suitable for me to go out casually. Please excuse me, Brother Gu."

  "Please be assured, cousin," Gu Xiannian said with a elegant and composed smile, "the poetry gathering is purely for the sake of friendship through poetry. Not only men but also women will attend. You don't have to worry at all."

  He kept calling them "sisters", and Ye Qingning, the real cousin, felt a surge of jealousy in her heart. She couldn't help but interrupt: "Brother, if you're having such a gathering, why didn't you invite me to join?"

  Gu Xiannian smiled slightly: "If my cousin wants to participate, she is naturally welcome."

  Ye Qingning's expression changed from anger to joy, and she agreed without hesitation: "Okay, I'll go with Shimei at that time."

  ……

  Ye Qinglan silently looked at Ye Qingning, suppressing the urge to sigh. The expressions of everyone else were also very subtle. Especially Zheng Furen, if she still couldn't see Gu Xiannian's special attention towards Ye Qinglan by now, it would be a waste of being a mother.

  What charm does this pale-faced little girl have that makes both Gu Xi and his sister look at her with different eyes?

  Zheng also slightly frowned. Ye Qingning's admiration for Gu Xiannian was clearly written on her face, who couldn't see it? Even if Gu Xiannian was good, he was absolutely not a good match for Ye Qingning...

  Just then, a maid hurried over and broke the subtle tranquility: "Madam, lunch is ready, Huang Mama ordered me to ask if we should start now?"

  Mrs. Zheng nodded with a smile.

  Then, a group of people went to Jingxin Garden in a mighty and majestic manner.

  Ye Qinglan suppressed a bellyful of resentment and deliberately slowed down her pace. Unfortunately, this reliable method didn't work this time. Ye Qingning walked beside her, the displeasure in his eyes very apparent.

  As for her unhappiness, isn't it obvious where it comes from?

  It's rare to come to the Dingguo Gongfu, and it's even rarer to see the one I have in mind. But the attention of the one I have in mind is not on me at all. Instead, he keeps glancing at Ye Qinglan repeatedly. How can this not make her angry?

  Ye Qinglan felt innocent, but also couldn't help but make some explanations: "Sixth sister, don't be angry, I didn't intentionally provoke Gu Shixiong..." Her voice was extremely low.

  Ye Qingning hummed softly and glanced at Ye Qinglan: "What you said sounds good. If you hadn't provoked your brother, why would he be talking to you all day today?"

  She didn't know what was going on! Ye Qinglan smiled self-deprecatingly: "Maybe it's because Cousin Gu thinks I look good?"

  This joke is not funny at all.

  Ye Qingning didn't even bother to tidy herself up this time. Among the many elegant and beautiful noblewomen in Beijing who admired Gu Xiannian, how many were refined, lovely, and talented? And then there were those courtesans, geishas, and songstresses; what kind of beauty had Gu Xiannian not seen before? Even if Ye Qinglan looked good now, she was just a green, unripe flower bud. How could she possibly catch Gu Xiannian's attention?

  Ye Qingning had been feeling suffocated all along and didn't feel a little better until she sat down in the flower hall of Jingxuan Garden.

  Ye Qinglan just made a big show. Now she has made up her mind to keep a low profile, sitting quietly beside Ye Qingning with her head down and not making a sound.

  Gu Xiyu sat beside Mrs. Zheng and glanced at Ye Qinglan a few times.

  Mrs. Zheng watched with a keen eye, but it was unclear what she was thinking in her heart. On the surface, however, she chatted casually with Zheng Shi as if nothing was amiss.

  Logically speaking, men and women should sit separately. Gu Xiannian rarely had the interest to accompany the ladies for dinner and idle chat. But today, somehow, Gu Xiannian took the initiative to join in, sitting next to Gu Xiyu, coincidentally facing Ye Qinglan.

  Is it intentional or coincidental, does this question still need to be asked?

  Ye Qinglan rolled her eyes inwardly. She should have known better and stayed home pretending to be ill today.

  After a while, exquisite delicacies were served one after another. The masters naturally didn't need to lift a hand, as the maids helped with serving the dishes.

  Rui Xue had just picked up a few chopsticks and put them in Ye Qinglan's bowl. Then she heard Ye Qinglan softly instructing, "Alright, no need to hurry."

  Although she didn't look up, she could still feel two pairs of eyes staring at her vaguely. She had no appetite for food and drink anymore, and all she wanted was to end the meal as soon as possible and leave quickly.

  Rui Xue quietly retreated behind Ye Qinglan.

  Mrs. Zheng had been paying attention to the movement on the table and saw that Ye Qinglan had only eaten two mouthfuls before putting down her chopsticks. She hurriedly asked with concern, "Lan sister, is it that the dishes don't suit your taste?"

  Everyone's eyes turned over at once.

  Ye Qinglan smiled apologetically: "The dishes are very good. It's just that I haven't been feeling well lately, and I don't have much of an appetite. After resting for a couple of days when I get back, I'll be fine. I'm sorry to have worried Aunt." This remark was skillfully made. From now on, whenever the Dingguo Duke's estate invited her as a guest, she could use this excuse to decline.

  Mrs. Zheng was so perceptive that she immediately understood the refined meaning of the song upon hearing the zither, and her smile paused for a moment.

  "Is Orchid's body uncomfortable?" Gu Xiannian's voice was leisurely and slightly surprised: "That must be well taken care of. I happen to know a few famous doctors in the capital, and I'll invite them to come and take your pulse another day, and prescribe a few more nourishing prescriptions."

  Yè Qīnglán's heart was itching with hatred, but she forced a smile and replied: "Thank you, Cousin Gu, for your concern. It's not necessary to go to such trouble. Before Mother left the capital, she asked a doctor to examine me and also gave me a prescription."

  Ye Qingning naturally took over: "Yes, Shime's body is weak and needs long-term recuperation. What medicine to use comes second."

  No matter what reason Ye Qingning had for speaking up, Ye Qinglan felt deeply grateful at this moment.

  Gu Xiannian smiled faintly and stopped talking.

  After dinner, the maids cleared away the remaining dishes. Everyone went to the side hall again, drinking tea and chatting idly. Ye Qinglan made up her mind not to speak, sitting properly in her chair, smiling and listening attentively.

  Gu Xi sat leisurely across from Ye Qinglan, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Ye Qinglan's focused face before subtly shifting away.

  At this moment, a handsome young man quietly walked in and whispered a few words in Gu Xiannian's ear.

  Gu Xiannian's eyebrows wrinkled slightly, then immediately returned to normal, and he stood up with a shallow smile, saying: "Auntie, cousins, I have something to attend to, so I won't keep you company."

  "Go ahead with your important business, no need to keep us company," said Zheng with a busy smile.

  Gu Xiannian smiled faintly, and before leaving, he quickly glanced at Ye Qinglan. Ye Qinglan, however, remained oblivious, her head still lowered. Gu Xiannian curled up the corner of his lips, a hint of a meaningful smile flashing in his eyes. Then he departed with a flourish.

  Finally gone! Ye Qinglan let out a long sigh of relief, and her whole body suddenly felt light.

  Ye Qingning gazed longingly at Gu Xianyu's back, not looking away until his tall figure completely disappeared from the doorway.

  Madam Zheng took in Ye Qingning's expression, feeling a wave of displeasure in her heart, but not revealing anything on her face. She asked Madam Zheng with concern: "Xinye is already quite old, can't just go on like this forever, right?"

  Mrs. Zheng sighed: "I don't know how many times I've told him, but he just won't nod his head. You also saw it earlier, as soon as he mentioned the topic, he immediately changed the subject..." She said, deeply sighing: "He's too stubborn. That thing has been over for several years, and he still can't let go."

  What's that? Which thing is it?

  Ye Qinglan immediately perked up her ears, afraid of missing a single word.

  Zheng knew the old affair very well and sighed, "Xuan Ye was also a sentimental person, it's hard to let go. Maybe in two more years, he'll be fine."

  "I hope so!" Mrs. Zheng sighed again: "To be honest, as long as he agrees, no matter who he wants to marry, I'll accept it."

  Ye Qing Ning lightly bit her lip, and an unusual glint flashed in her big eyes.

  Ye Qinglan had already caught sight of Ye Qingning's unusual behavior out of the corner of her eye, and was secretly shocked. She had always thought that Ye Qingning's feelings for Gu Xiayear were just a girlish infatuation, like a teenage crush on an idol, only a temporary obsession. But now it seemed that Ye Qingning's emotions towards Gu Xiayear were much deeper than she had imagined...

  "Xī Nián won't get married, but there should be a few people around him who understand his temper!" Zheng Shi comforted her sister: "As long as they take good care of Xī Nián's daily life, you don't have to worry anymore."

  At that time, it was a common thing for noble men to have three wives and four concubines. Even if they didn't marry a main wife, there should be several concubines around them.

  Mrs. Zheng couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Don't mention it."

  Zheng's eyes widened in surprise: "What, doesn't he even have a maid by his side?"

  Mrs. Zheng sighed, "No, I did send him two a few months ago, but they were both sent to the laundry room by him." The two lovely maids washed clothes for half a month and then came crying to her to plead their case. She had to comfort them with a few words and secretly sent them out of the mansion.

  After this incident, she didn't dare to act arbitrarily anymore and had to follow his temper.

  It's unbelievable that there are still such unromantic men in this world. Zheng didn't know what to say, and after a while, she said: "Maybe his fate hasn't arrived yet. Perhaps one day, he'll really take a liking to some family's daughter and personally come to propose."

  These words are obviously just for comfort.

  Mrs. Zheng smiled slightly, her smile tinged with a hint of indescribable bitterness.

  A pair of children were once her pride, her son was handsome and unparalleled in his youth, a young talent, her daughter was born beautiful and clever. A few years ago, whoever mentioned them would be envious and praising one after another. But now...

  Watching peers getting married and having children, Gu Xiannian was still alone. His daughter, Gu Xiyu, became increasingly introverted, with such a personality, how could she get married and become the mistress of the house in the future?

  Ye Qinglan was also pondering Zheng sisters' conversation just now.

  Listening to the two of them, Gu Xiannian had never married, let alone having a concubine by his side. For a young man in his prime, this was truly abnormal. Not to mention Gu Xiannian's proud family background, just based on his face, he could have any kind of woman he wanted with just a snap of his fingers.

  What kind of past event could have made Gu Xiannian such a profound and unpredictable man?