Yanzhi was puzzled, "Yin Lan sister, what is there for Cui Ling to make trouble over. Could it be that after the young master left, she still wants to follow along and serve the young master at the Duke's mansion?"
Yin Lan's expression was solemn as she told Gu Ying, "I just heard that early this morning, Cui Ling was kneeling and crying at the gate of the Duke's mansion, saying that our young master must give her an explanation."
Gu Ying's brows furrowed slightly when she heard this. She immediately recalled how Cui Ling had used the child in her belly to threaten A Ning in her previous life.
So this girl still hasn't given up.
She actually dared to openly make trouble at the Duke's mansion.
Gu Ying frowned. "Is she pregnant?"
Yin Lan said, "Yes, My Lady. She is truly shameless. She actually made a scene about her premarital pregnancy in front of so many people on the street."
"Yanzhi, bring me my cloak." Gu Ying calmly laughed coldly, her expression calm. "I'm afraid someone deliberately instigated this."
Yin Lan said, "Could it be Wang from our household? How could she have the audacity."
"Why wouldn't she have the audacity?" Yanzhi replied as she put on her mistress' cloak. "On the day my Lady got married, she dared to ruin my Lady's reputation by coming to the door. What won't she do?" My Lady, I fear they are targeting the young master's reputation."
Gu Ying's brows twitched slightly, a satisfied expression on her face. "Yanzhi, now you even understand these tricks."
Yanzhi scratched her head shyly. "I learned it all from my Lady and Sister Yin Lan. Don't worry my Lady, I can clearly distinguish black from white now. I won't let anyone harm you right in front of me."
Yin Lan smiled at her. "Alright, stop buttering up my Lady. I'll go with my Lady to meet Cui Ling. You go take care of the young master and see what else he needs."
"Yes sister!" Yanzhi said as she left.
As soon as Yanzhi left, Gu Ying took her umbrella and went to the Zhengde Pavilion with Yin Lan.
Old Steward Zhao Sheng was standing at the door. He bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly when he saw Gu Ying. "Eldest Young Lady."
When they heard the voice inside, a noisy cry immediately rang out.
Gu Ying lifted the corners of her lips into a charming smile and calmly walked into the hall.
"Mother."
Cheng was sitting on a rosewood rosewood chair. Seeing Gu Ying come in, she had a pained expression on her face. "Ying, you've come at just the right time. Quickly call over your younger brother. This maid from the Earl of Dongping's mansion says she's pregnant with your brother's child. She's making a scene at the gate of the Duke's mansion today insisting your brother give her an explanation. She's giving me a headache with her antics out there."
Gu Ying glanced to the side and saw Cui Ling kneeling on the ground, blood seeping from her forehead. There were still traces of tears in the corners of her eyes that hadn't been wiped clean.
A few maidservants were nervously standing behind her, ready to pull her back at any time for fear that she would smash her head into a pillar and die in the Duke's mansion where they wouldn't be able to explain what happened.
At this moment, she had a resolute expression on her face as she glared fiercely at Gu Ying.
Gu Ying's face didn't show a trace of panic as she calmly looked at Cui Ling for a while. "Cui Ling, you said this child belongs to my brother. What proof do you have?"
Cui Ling's eyes turned red as she cried, "Second young lady—"
Yin Lan coldly cut her off. "Ignorant maid, what second young lady are you calling her? Call her Eldest Young Lady."
Cui Ling was overawed by Yin Lan's imposing manner. She thought of how the former second young lady had married into the prominent Duke's mansion and become a wealthy wife. She choked up and her voice weakened. "Y-your Ladyship, this servant was always responsible for serving the young master in Muffeng Studio. Whenever the young master wanted me to...do that, I didn't dare refuse. As I was still young then, I didn't know anything at first. But later, my body gradually became uncomfortable, weak all over, and I vomited while being bedridden for some time. Mother invited an imperial physician into the manor to examine me, and that was when I found out I was pregnant with the young master's child. This child is still the second master's bloodline after all. My Lady is older sister to the young master, so you should stand up for me..."
As she spoke, she began to sob pitifully.
Gu Ying watched Cui Ling's lively performance and found it laughable.
It was the exact same words from Cui Ling that wrongly implicated her underage brother in her previous life.
After her brother died from his serious illness, Liu even kept Cui Ling by her side as a concubine and allowed the child in her belly to enjoy the prosperity and nobility in the Earl's manor as a descendant of the Gu family.
This maid really deserved death.
And now she actually still wanted to rely on her brother to enjoy the honor of the Duke's household?
Hmph, it all depends on whether she agrees to it or not.
Cheng loved watching a lively disaster unfold. She earnestly said, "Ying, I think you should have your brother take this girl in. Although she is just a maid, the child in her belly is still from your Gu family. It wouldn't be unreasonable for your brother to take her as a low-ranking concubine."
If that were to happen, Gu Ning would be utterly disgraced, and his future prospects would be ruined by half. When the time came for him to take a wife and have children, he wouldn't be able to find a nice girl from a good family to be his principal wife.
The more Cheng thought about it, the more delighted she was. She wished Cui Ling would make an even bigger fuss to let everyone know about the matter.
"Ying, what do you think? Even though your brother is the master, he can't just toy with a girl's innocence without taking responsibility, can he?"
Granny Sun quickly echoed her words. "Yes, word of this spreading would be so shameful."
Cheng's brows twitched. Changfeng Pavilion was the only area in the Duke's estate that she was unable to insert her own people. Ever since Zhao Changdu returned to Bianjing, he had Changfeng Pavilion guarded tightly like an iron barrel. Especially after Gu Ying married into the household, aside from the one time her people were allowed inside after the wedding night, they couldn't even go near it on any other occasion.
Today was a good opportunity for her. Not giving Gu Ying a chance to speak, she ordered, "Granny Sun, go invite Young Master Gu over."
Gu Ying's slender brows knitted slightly. Her brother didn't need to get involved in this matter. She could resolve it herself.
Just as she was about to refuse—
She suddenly heard Yanzhi's vigorous voice coming from outside. "Our young master is here already. No need to trouble Granny Sun!"
Next, Yanzhi and Yin Zhu lifted Gu Ning's wheelchair in.
The youth wore a black robe printed with auspicious clouds. A thick fox fur cloak was draped over his shoulders. His features were cold and clear, his skinny face sharp and distinct. Because he was too thin, it made his nose bridge appear especially high.
"Sister."
Seeing the cold youth sitting in the wheelchair, Gu Ying felt distressed. She walked over and grasped his icy cold hand in her small hand. "A Ning, why aren't you resting properly in Wanli Pavilion? You didn't have to come over for this. Sister can resolve this matter."
What pained her most was this little brother of hers. She hadn't taken good care of him in her previous life. In this life, she was determined to watch her brother grow up safely into adulthood and let him live free of worries.
But Gu Ning looked up at her with his clear eyes, the contrast between his black irises and white sclera distinct. "I know sister can help me, but I also want the world to know from my own mouth that this matter wasn't my doing."
The youth's stubbornness exceeded that of his peers. Gu Ying smiled at his sincere gaze. "Alright then. Can sister assist you?"
