Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Urgency
Liu Yun, "If it’s really like this, what can we do about it? What can we actually do?
I think we should focus on our own tasks instead of worrying obsessively every day. It’s only going to trouble ourselves."
"Is that really what you think?" Xu Yulan looked incredulous. This big sister-in-law didn’t use to be like this. Could it be that the journey of exile had left her disheartened?
"If we end up like my aunt, what about our children? They haven’t grown up yet." Unable to persuade the other, she decided to prod with the mention of children, not believing that Liu Yun would really be indifferent.
"Who knows what the future holds," Liu Yun remained unmoved. Xu Yulan had no good intentions in coming to her now. No matter what she said or did, it might even draw dissatisfaction from her husband and father-in-law.
Plus, Xu Yulan’s brain—talking to her would surely lead to exposure. She really didn’t want such a clumsy ally.
"If father-in-law wants to remarry, it wouldn’t be with Xu Shuanghong, but someone else. We should just play our part."
Xu Yulan wanted to say more, but seeing Gu Kaiping standing not far away, she swallowed her words, "I’m not against it, just feel it’s too soon.
How long has my aunt been gone? Although the rituals of mourning can’t be followed on this road of exile, at least a year should pass, right?"
"You don’t know that during ’hot mourning,’ a son can still marry, let alone a husband who hasn’t such constraints.
What difference does waiting a year make compared to now? Can we stop it?
If you want to stop it, you shouldn’t come to me. Don’t forget, mother-in-law has three sons."
Liu Yun now just wanted to protect her two children. As for whether Gu Baijiang would remarry and whom he’d choose, she didn’t care.
She had after all warned Xu Shuanghong. A wise person wouldn’t dare to provoke her.
"Big sister-in-law, are you so sure that big brother isn’t having second thoughts?"
Unexpectedly unable to sway her, Xu Yulan still tried to sow discord. If it were before, Liu Yun might have worried, but realizing the truth, it seemed insignificant.
However, it reminded her to be more wary of Gu Kaiping, though not right now.
"Whether he has second thoughts or not, up to now, nobody’s caught his eye." After saying this, she raised an eyebrow at Xu Yulan. Everyone saw Gu Kaichen’s behavior; if not for Xu Yulan’s existence, he might even have called her mother-in-law.
Xu Yulan, "..."
Initially confident, Xu Yulan hadn’t expected Liu Yun to be so uncooperative.
But she dared not say more, since Gu Kaiping was already walking over.
"What are you two doing here? There’s still so much work to do."
Gu Kaiping sized them up, deliberately hiding over here, discussing something perhaps?
Xu Yulan felt a bit guilty, having just badmouthed Gu Kaiping, and he appeared right in front of her, "Nothing, just chatting with big sister-in-law, I’ll get back to work now."
Upon saying that, she ran off, Gu Kaiping, "... How long has it been? Second sister-in-law’s manners have already become like this."
Liu Yun, "We’re now worse off than commoners, what manners are we talking about."
Seeing Liu Yun about to leave, Gu Kaiping reached out to stop her, "What’s with the food today?"
His taste buds weren’t failing. He’d covered it up before because they were spouses.
But Liu Yun even put herself in trouble, he was determined to get to the bottom of it today.
"Didn’t I explain clearly? Maybe my hand shook, and I accidentally added too much salt.
If husband feels my cooking unsatisfactory, why not do it yourself next time?"
"A gentleman stays away from the kitchen..."
"Husband, you’re not a gentleman now, but a prisoner. Haven’t you noticed? Your third brother’s doing better in this regard than you all." After saying this, Liu Yun walked away.
"..." Gu Kaiping didn’t understand. What happened? Why did Liu Yun change so much overnight?
...
☆
"Lord Ming, why are you here at this hour?" In the dead of night, Gu Baijiang was awakened by a pebble, greeted by familiar secret code sounds.
"I’m here to give you a heads-up; those three people you took in have ulterior motives, you should get rid of them quickly."
"Lord Ming, Xu Shuanghong is an old friend, I’ve already promised to take her in, wouldn’t going back on my word be bad?"
"They’re sent by other forces, we’re investigating who exactly. You mustn’t be careless, if things get delayed..."
"Lord Ming, rest assured, I’m well aware.
Our Gu Family’s last chance, how could I casually reveal it?
Please inform your master, if I have no other fault, it’s that I keep my mouth shut."
Ming Peifeng heard the underlying threat and urgency from Gu Baijiang, at the same time, seeing it as his bottom line.
He hoped that their master would clear the family soon. Who knows if Gu Baijiang would be blinded by women, and then that pile of silver would be anybody’s game.
As a fellow man, he knew the allure of an old flame. Seeing Gu Baijiang still clearly, he dared not underestimate alluring whispers.
"As long as Lord Gu knows," Ming Peifeng’s attitude softened, "Our people are nearby. If anything happens, signal us at night."
Gu Baijiang wasn’t surprised by the change in attitude; it seemed his understanding was correct. Adding urgency had a marked effect.
"With Lord Ming protecting us, I can rest assured, without fear of those ghosts and monsters."
After more conversation, they parted ways.
But when Ming Peifeng left, his expression was heavy. It seemed Gu Baijiang indeed made backup plans. He had to report it to the master quickly, lest someone else reap the rewards.
As for Gu Family’s daughter’s relationship, to him, it was negligible.
If Gu Baijiang truly had second thoughts, he wouldn’t care about a granddaughter’s life, let alone withholding key information. He might even let Gu Antong marry higher up.
☆
Gu Kaiyuan waited a moment before emerging from the shadows, observing Ming Peifeng’s direction, a cold smirk forming.
Ming Peifeng was clearly tasked with protecting the Gu Family, yet in his previous life, he had rarely intervened, leaving Gu Kaiyuan to hold on alone.
It could be said that the last life’s tragedy stemmed from his own reasons, the Gu Family’s, and Ming Peifeng’s too.
Currently, these people were still temporarily useful, so Gu Kaiyuan didn’t plan on dealing with them.
Tonight, he’d deliberately kept watch to confirm if Ming Peifeng was restless.
It seemed his speculation was correct, suggesting their freedom was closer.
Watching the snowflakes still falling, Gu Kaiyuan tightened his cloak and vanished with a few swift leaps.
The fluttering snow quickly covered all traces of him.
Gu Baijiang returned to his place, and as he lay down, Liu Yun, lying not far away, opened her eyes.
