Turning his head, he saw Lady Lou standing nearby, staring blankly at the back of Wang Yongzhu ahead.
Lady An had a good relationship with Lady Lou; after all, they were sisters-in-law from different branches of the family. Usually, Lady Lou was soone who knew how to behave appropriately and was a very composed person.
Thus, seeing her like this, Lady An quietly gave her a little nudge and whispered, "Second sister-in-law, what are you daydreaming about?"
Lady Lou ca back to her senses and hesitated for a mont before pulling Lady An back two steps, whispering, "Third sister-in-law, do you think I should say a few good words to the cousin and have her plead with Grandmother and Aunt to release Fourth Miss?"
Lady Lou was also troubled. Ever since Gu Zii was confined, she caused a ruckus in the courtyard every day. Others could avoid her, but as her sister-in-law, Lady Lou couldn’t escape.
She had said a lot of kind words, but Fourth Miss was stubborn, thinking her family didn’t care for her and only favored a cousin from another family.
From the in-laws afar, the reply was also awkward for her. They only said that although Fourth Miss was immature, since she was already confined, as her brother and sister-in-law, they should also watch over her so she wouldn’t be underestimated.
What could Lady Lou do? The year was nearing its end. If her mother-in-law did return, and Fourth Miss was still confined in the courtyard by then,
Lady Lou feared she would be the first to be blad.
Lady Lou was already deeply worried, and seeing Wang Yongzhu visiting, she got the idea.
Seeing how Wang Yongzhu could easily make Old Madam Gu and the Eldest Lady smile with just a few words, her heart beca more tempted.
She pondered whether she should privately ask Wang Yongzhu, thinking Yongzhu might give face to her cousin-in-law, wouldn’t she?
At this mont, when Lady An asked her, Lady Lou, who got along well with her and felt uncertain, candidly asked for her opinion.
Lady An took a look at her. Wasn’t this a case of desperate tis calling for desperate asures?
However, she also understood Lady Lou’s difficulties; that second aunt was not easy to deal with. As the year was ending, when she returned to find Fourth Miss still confined, Grandmother, Auntie, and Third Uncle wouldn’t dare bla her; the son would be reluctant, ultimately taking it out on the daughter-in-law.
But Lady Lou didn’t consider that the cousin was just asking about Fourth Miss earlier, unaware of what had happened.
If you ask her for a favor, knowing Wang Yongzhu’s character, she would definitely ask what’s going on, wouldn’t she?
Upon learning that the confinent was due to sothing bad Fourth Miss said about her, who wouldn’t be displeased?
Not to ntion, currently, that cousin has beco the Heir’s Wife of Duke of Weiguo and is destined to be the Duchess in the future. With their generation’s achievents, she will be the most illustrious among them.
Are you looking for trouble by offending her?
Moreover, knowing that the ancestors and the mother-in-law love the cousin, they couldn’t open this topic, letting them know would just cause another commotion, right?
When Second Aunt returns, it would just be another mistake, wouldn’t it?
In her opinion, it would be better to wait for Second Aunt to return, whether she rebukes or blas, just admit it, let go, and leave it for Second Aunt to manage. It would be more peaceful, wouldn’t it?
What’s the point in causing trouble?
Thinking of Lady Lou’s rits over ti, she still couldn’t bear for Lady Lou to end up caught in between.
She softly advised Lady Lou on a few points.
Lady Lou wasn’t foolish, just fearful of her mother-in-law.
Upon marrying into the Gu Family, everything was fine except her mother-in-law’s strictness.
Later, when her in-laws went away, and she didn’t have to follow, she truly breathed a sigh of relief.
She had only been having peaceful days for a few years, but whenever her mother-in-law returned, she beca jittery, afraid of doing sothing wrong, and being criticized.
She was montarily befuddled, only thinking about how to account for herself in front of her mother-in-law, neglecting the fact that offending the cousin could displease Old Madam or the Eldest Lady, making matters worse.
Enlightened by Lady An’s reminder, Lady Lou ca to her senses.
She looked gratefully at Lady An: "Third sister-in-law, thanks to your reminder, otherwise it would have beco my fault."
Lady An smiled and noted they had already fallen behind, while Grandmother and Mother-in-law were already entering the flower hall ahead.
She quickly tugged at Lady Lou and followed inside.
Since the Gu brothers all had engagents in the evening, Gu Changqing had to lecture Gu Changque, so the brothers simply dined in the outer courtyard.
It was just Old Lady Gu, the Eldest Lady, Lady An, and Lady Lou, joined by the grandchildren of the Gu Family.
At the dining table, no one ntioned Gu Zii; instead, they enjoyed the al happily.
After dinner, as night fell, Old Lady Gu felt reluctant, but she knew in her heart that her granddaughter was likely returning for an important matter.
She thought keeping her might not be convenient, so when Wang Yongzhu took her leave, she only added, "Co see this old lady whenever you have ti—"
She dared not say much else.
After bidding farewell to Old Lady Gu and the Eldest Lady, upon exiting the second courtyard, Gu Changque was already waiting by the carriage.
Seemingly having been scolded harshly by Gu Changqing, his face was sullen, but upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, he finally broke into a smile.
"It’s late, I’ll escort you back," he said.
Wang Yongzhu didn’t refuse.
Gu Changque had sothing to say to Wang Yongzhu, so he had his chief attendant lead his horse to follow behind and got into Wang Yongzhu’s carriage.
The wheels rumbled forward, and Gu Changque first chattered a bit about everyday matters with Wang Yongzhu.
Then he lowered his voice and asked, "I heard from Brother that entering the palace this ti was precarious?"
Wang Yongzhu gestured for silence and whispered, "Don’t worry, Uncle. I have it all figured out."
Gu Changque clenched his fist tightly then loosened, "Figured out my foot! Let’s not even talk about the dangers in the palace; your father-in-law is no good person. Has he been giving you a hard ti? If you ask , why stay at the Song Family? No one’s decent there, and since Chongjin isn’t in the Capital City, I worry about you being all alone."
"I told Brother, why not have you stay at the Gu Family, so we’d all feel more assured."
Wang Yongzhu shook her head, "I know you an well, Uncle, but don’t you know yet? I’m no pushover to be bullied, am I? Besides, today, the Imperial Noble Consort even assigned an esteed lady-in-waiting from her palace to look after . I couldn’t refuse and have agreed."
"These people in the palace have three or four pairs of eyes, and seven or eight ears. With her around, any little sches by the Song Family will be noticed."
"Just rest assured, Uncle. Make sure your wedding preparations are in order. This ti, returning to the Capital City, Mother instructed to tell you not to neglect Third Aunt, or she’ll not let you off!"
Gu Changque wanted to say more, but Wang Yongzhu stopped him with a look: "Big Brother should have told you, Uncle, right now, staying at the Song Family is most suitable for . If sothing goes wrong, and they can’t protect , that’s their problem. Also, using the Song Family as a buffer allows the Gu Family to know how to act properly."
"If I lived with the Song Family and sothing really happened, what would the Gu Family do? Besides, it would benefit the Song Family, wouldn’t it? Please, Uncle, just watch over it, and if anything really does happen, I’ll send you all a ssage. Would you just sit by and do nothing?"
Gu Changque had been scolded by Gu Changqing earlier, having had the situation explained to him, and wanted to send Wang Yongzhu back to Chicheng County imdiately at night.
Gu Changqing spent half the day suppressing his thoughts before considering having Wang Yongzhu co stay with them at ho.
After being rejected by Gu Changqing, he even pouted, saying that if his brother didn’t accept, Wang Yongzhu could stay in his courtyard, as he was not going to give up on her.
Furious, Gu Changqing tapped him with a ruler, calling him foolish.
He explained at length, in essence much like what Wang Yongzhu just said.
Hearing it from Wang Yongzhu now, he realized his brother and niece were on the sa page.
He could only nod, reluctantly agreeing.
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