Sixty-one suspicious

  The eighth day is a good day, suitable for incense and making wishes. The day when several people go out of the house was set on the eighth day.

  Gu Boqi hadn't entered Madam Ma's quarters for a long time, and she couldn't help but feel anxious. The servants in this mansion were all looking down on her, if she lost Gu Boqi's favor, she would only be half a mistress.

  Gu Chengyu went to see her and saw that she was nervous, so he asked her: "Sister has always been very determined, why don't you go ask her?"

  The things in the boudoir, he didn't understand much, so he could only pin his hopes on Gu Yan.

  Ma Yiniang's eyes lit up, but after the excitement passed, she hung her head again. Half a day later, she sighed and explained to Gu Chengyu: "Your sister has been in a bad mood lately, and I had another falling out with her. How can I go look for her now?"

  Gu Yan is not that kind of person who steps on others to elevate herself, nor is she the type of illegitimate daughter who only acknowledges her stepmother and not her biological mother. How did things become so awkward between her and her own mother?

  Gu Chengyu was surprised and asked her: "What's wrong with you? Why are you being so unreasonable? Did your sister do something wrong?"

  He and Gu Yan have only recognized Ma Niang as their biological mother since childhood, and they are determined to help her gain favor, so they don't think it's wrong to use respectful language towards her.

  Ma Yinniang didn't want to tell Gu Chengyu these things.

  Gu Yan's recent audacity has really increased, previously it was just small-time scheming, but I don't know when she started to become more and more excessive, wanting more and more.

  If this continues... She felt a little tremble in her heart and grabbed Gu Chengyu, saying urgently: "You have to advise your sister!"

  After all, Gu Chengyu grew up with Gu Yan since childhood and had a good relationship. Gu Chengyu also studied abroad and had broad vision, so maybe his words would be listened to by Gu Yan.

  Gu Chengyu saw that her complexion was not good, and her words were a bit confusing, so he also restrained his smile. Seriously asked her: "What exactly happened? You tell me, the two of us can think of a way to solve it."

  Ma Yinniang hesitated for a moment before telling him everything Gu Yan had done.

  At the end, he said: "Looking at her momentum, she won't give up until she reaches the Yellow River. I don't know why she has such a big grudge against Madam and Ninth Sister at such a young age, it's as if she won't rest until she dies. The other day, if I hadn't persuaded her, I'm afraid she would have really joined forces with that Liu woman!"

  That Liu Niang had heard of Gu Chengyu, and from the fact that she could eat and drink her way to the capital, Gu Chengyu knew she wasn't a simple woman. Moreover, she was even pregnant with Gu Boqi's child, so even Old Lady Gu could only swallow her anger and let her in.

  How can such an inscrutable person be trusted?

  Join hands with her? I'm afraid in the end it will still be a case of "killing the donkey after crossing the river".

  As he spoke, he recalled the humiliation of yesterday and the hatred in Gu Yan's eyes that couldn't be hidden, along with her fierce gaze, which also made him feel a little uneasy.

  After some careful thought, he stood up and said to Ma Niang: "I'll go there for a visit. You can rest assured and wait for my news."

  The gate of Gu Yan's courtyard was half-closed, and a maid was holding Gu Yan's favorite cat in the corridor, grooming it. Seeing him arrive, she softly said: "Fifth Master, you're back?"

  Gu Chengyu slowed down his pace and nodded, then asked her: "Where are your sisters?"

  That girl nodded slightly and whispered to him, "Just now she had a big outburst of anger, even scolding her sister Yinhuai."

  Gu Chengyu nodded in understanding and didn't want anyone to open the curtain for him. He lifted it himself and entered the house, where he saw Gu Yan leaning against a beautiful daybed with her eyes closed, resting.

  Hearing footsteps, Gu Yan suddenly opened her eyes and waited until she saw who the person was before getting up to ask them to pour tea. She asked him: "Didn't you say that today your father from Genhe went out to recognize the gate? Why did you come to my place?"

  Gu Chengyu didn't say a word and just sat down there. Then he asked her, "I heard you have some connection with that Liu woman?"

  It doesn't count as involvement, it's just mutual use.

  She rolled her eyes and asked him, "Was it your aunt who told you that?"

  Gu Chengyu didn't deny it either, but instead asked her: "Don't be silly, I've got this brother here to take care of everything, I'll handle it!"

  How to solve it?

  Gu Yan was somewhat skeptical, no matter how capable Gu Chengyu was or how much he pleased Gu Boqi, he was still just a bastard son. Meanwhile, she was a modern person with modern knowledge, well-versed in the history of China's past 5,000 years, and had watched many palace dramas and TV shows about intrigue and backstabbing. She didn't believe anyone could be more cunning than herself.

  Liu Niang is a tiger, so what? She's a tiger, and she's also a fox. No one can take advantage of her.

  She calmly handed tea to Gu Chengyu, then mysteriously smiled at him: "Brother, rest assured, I've prepared a good show. Brother just needs to wait and watch the good show."

  Gu Chengyu saw her smiling complacently and became somewhat curious, but when he asked her again, she refused to say anything.

  On this side, the brother and sister were chatting idly, while on that side, Liu's wife was making secret arrangements for Liu's mother to follow their plan.

  Luo Yunmiao was at Shengjing's suburb, on the top of Shengshi Stockade. The stockade is a high mountain with clouds and mist around its peak all year round, making it a great scenic spot but also very difficult to climb. Therefore, people who go there usually start early in the morning and only have the energy to come down the next day.

  This time they were no exception. Gu Boqi had already sent someone to make arrangements with the abbot, so that on that day they would only receive female guests from the Hou Mansion, which was quite convenient.

  "Looking at the rough map, Liu Niang asked Liu Mama: 'Are we going to take action at the corner of the mountain top? This place is very difficult to walk, and it's only enough for one horse carriage to pass through. How can people hide here?'"

  Liu's mother just smiled and said, "No need to hide your tricks. This road is so steep and slippery, if you scatter some beans there, the horse will surely go crazy. The path is really narrow, and if the horse moves slightly, it will inevitably fall off the cliff."

  This method is indeed feasible.

  Liu Yiniang thought for a moment, and then worriedly said: "Gu Man that girl is cunning and unpredictable, maybe she saw the steep road ahead and got off to walk by herself? Besides, only one horse carriage can pass through there at a time, and Gu Yan was also on it."

  Where are Gu Yan and Gu Man? Liu's mother smiled like a chrysanthemum, reminding her: "The three girls will also go together, of course they are there."

  Liu Yiniang understood, and after some thought, she hesitated: "Welcoming the Child-Giving Guanyin resulted in the death of three daughters, Second Master will surely be suspicious, not to mention Wangshi's brother who had a difficult birth."

  Liu's mother advised her, "It's only when all of them encounter difficulties that it can be proven to be a coincidence. Otherwise, if three girls went and only the ninth girl had an accident, it would easily arouse people's suspicion."

  Liu Liu Niang thought for a moment, and indeed, what Liu Ma said made some sense, so she nodded in agreement. Then she instructed her: "Think of a few more ways, maybe those girls will be lucky enough to escape, won't they? Those girls must also have a car, and I'm afraid that when the time comes, their car will break down first."

  As soon as Liu Liuniang made up her mind to do this, Liu's mother had already thought of a foolproof plan. At this moment, hearing her mention it, she replied: "Don't worry. Even if we get past here, there is still the temple. The incense is strong during the Chinese New Year, and even if the Luo Yun Temple catches fire, it wouldn't be anything unusual. Taking a step back, even if we avoid all this, there's still the descent down the mountain. If we encounter a few mountain bandits on our way down, that would truly be a disaster with no one to turn to."

  Liu Liu's mother finally nodded in satisfaction, this is indeed a foolproof plan.

  Gu Man, this girl absolutely cannot stay. Gu Yan, although she has some uses, is ultimately too cunning, and it's better if she dies. Only that Gu Zhao, who usually doesn't speak or act, is somewhat a pity.

  Gu Man's eyelid had been jumping for several days. She felt a little annoyed and put down the book, pressing her right eyelid with her hand, feeling some inexplicable anxiety.

  She was in a daze when she heard the sound of the door being pushed open. Looking over, it was Xiǎo Huā with a book in her arms, saying to her: "Miss, Seventh Sister said this is the book you lent her."

  Gu Man nodded and watched her put the books on the back bookshelf, thinking of Gu Qi and smiled: "That girl is not worse than Fourth Sister. She's a good girl to get along with."

  "Really?" Zhi Hua turned back with a smile: "Just now when I passed by, Mei Zi next to Seventh Girl told me. Yesterday, Liu Po went to her place to deliver shoe samples, but she talked to an aunt with a face full of wrinkles for half a day, and Seventh Girl didn't say a word of complaint."

  Auntie with a face full of wrinkles?

  Gu's eyes immediately conjured up Liu Mama, whose face was full of wrinkles.

  Liu Pozi was originally a person brought by Gu Yanpai to her side, how did she get involved with Liu Yiniang again?

  She had a hunch that something was wrong and asked her: "Liu Pozi is doing rough work, how did she get to deliver shoe samples?"

  "Is that so? We don't let her interfere with anything in our household, and sending shoe samples is also a task for the younger maids. How did she end up going?"

  Gu Man felt even more that something was amiss. Last time, the incident of framing Wang Shi was related to Liu Liuniang and Gu Yan, now these two people were colluding together again, what kind of shady business were they up to?

  She felt her eyelids jumping more and more fiercely, thought for a moment and ordered her: "Didn't we say last time to ask Uncle to investigate Liu Liu's mother carefully? Go ask if there is any news. Also, keep an eye on that old woman Liu, I always feel like something is going to happen."

  She was busy drawing and promised to go, then Qiu's mother pushed the door in and asked her: "Miss, this time we're going out for a night, should we bring those quilts and bedding? As for the maids', it's not necessary to bring them."

  Gu Man finally woke up with a start, and tomorrow was the day he would go to Luoyun Temple to welcome and see off Zi Guanyin.

  The Guanyin of Sending and Receiving Offspring...... It's really strange, isn't it? Gu Boqi actually thought of asking the Wang family for this kind of thing. Moreover, at this time, Liu Pozi had dealings with that Liu Mama...

  What is Gu Yan planning again?

  Her heart was racing fast, and she didn't come back to her senses until they had walked for a while, remembering that Gu Yan wanted to go with her to the incense shop.

  No use trying to avoid it, what's meant to happen will eventually happen.

  If it were Gu Yan who wanted to plot against herself, she would have done so after leaving the house. After thinking for a moment, she instructed Qi Nian: "Nian doesn't need to follow me that day, just stay at home and take care of Mother for me."

  PS：

  I think I posted a chapter title yesterday...

  I'm not sure if it's the chapter title or the chapter itself that has been repeated, so if the content of the chapter is also a repeat of two chapters, please let me know and I'll modify it. Alternatively, I can re-release the public chapter as compensation. I'm really sorry...