Chapter 518: Something Fishy

Upon mentioning this, Old Madam Gu fell silent.

Marquis Gu quickly said, "Mother, I know you feel indebted to Mo Xiaoni, but we can only blame it on the fate between her and Fourth Brother. So many years have passed since then; perhaps she has her own family now. If we approach her now, we might only reopen her old wounds and hurt her once more."

Old Madam Gu sighed heavily.

Marquis Gu continued, "We are not in such a rush, right? I will have someone quietly investigate. There are pressing matters in front of us, please don’t let them weigh on your thoughts now. Once we uncover everything, and the current situation calms down, if you wish to see her personally, I will arrange for Yuan’er to accompany you, alright?"

Such words were truly meant to persuade with reason and move with feeling.

After a pause, Old Madam Gu smiled and said, "Third Son, you married well. In the past, you certainly wouldn’t have been able to say so much to ease my heart."

Seeing his mother appeased, Marquis Gu finally breathed a sigh of relief, grinning cheekily, "Mother, the wife you found for me is naturally good. Just pity your son and bring this matter up after some time, alright?"

Old Madam Gu sneered, "What do you know of Mo Xiaoni’s pitiful circumstances? Our Gu Family truly owes her, but it’s beyond my words to explain. Just remember, Mo Xiaoni’s issue is our Marquis Mansion’s issue. If she’s not doing well, I won’t be able to sleep at night."

"If you don’t say anything, how can I know how we’ve wronged her?"

Marquis Gu inwardly grumbled.

Outwardly, he smiled and said, "I understand, I will instruct Sixteen to send messages via Hai Dongqing, and urge them to be diligent in their inquiries."

Only then did Old Madam Gu relent, ceasing to demand Qiujie pack up and leave the mansion.

"Get up, being of this age and still kneeling on the ground, what would others think if they saw?" Old Madam Gu urged her son to stand.

Marquis Gu rose, helped her to sit in the chair, and said, "It’s alright, I’ll spare my dignity. Your son is still being beaten with a stick at this age by you, the likes of which even those serving by your side have never seen."

Seeing his shameless demeanor, Old Madam Gu felt quite weary, waved her hand, "I know you’re missing your wife, go ahead. You two older brothers should treat Treasure Bead well, don’t always reprimand her, speak kindly, teach reason slowly. Pay attention to her martial arts."

Marquis Gu agreed to each point.

Old Madam Gu looked tired and urged, "Go on, I’m exhausted and need to rest."

Marquis Gu finally retreated, privately instructed Qiujie, "Keep an eye on Old Madam, if she’s sad or upset, let me know."

Qiujie promised to do so.

Marquis Gu pondered and added, "If I’m not in the mansion, have someone call Seventh Miss to cheer her up; if she can’t, call the lady. We can’t have Old Madam bottling things up, someone by her side to comfort her would be best."

"Grandma Cheng sometimes comes to talk with Old Madam to alleviate her boredom, and they find common ground."

Marquis Gu nodded, "Very good, invite her too if need be."

After all, Qin Yuan was still young; Old Madam Gu being able to talk to Mrs. Dai was beneficial.

Only then did Marquis Gu head to the outer courtyard to find Sixth Master Gu.

"Did you look for me today?"

Sixth Master Gu sighed, "Yes."

Glancing at Marquis Gu’s dark face, he cautiously asked, "Is Mother asking about Fourth Brother’s matter again?"

Marquis Gu nodded gravely.

Sixth Master Gu gathered his courage to speak.

"Third Brother, is the person in the abandoned well Mo Sister from the Mo Family?"

Gu Jinghui shook his head.

Sixth Master Gu breathed a sigh of relief, "I knew it couldn’t be..."

Before finishing his sentence, Gu Jinghui said, "Uncertain."

"Uncertain?"

Sixth Master Gu became anxious.

"Third Brother, whatever you know, just say it all at once."

Gu Jinghui said, "I’ve been keeping this from Mother. Sixteen sent people to investigate, saying the old Mo Family residence is deserted, and the old couple is gone. The situation already seems strange."

Sixth Master Gu nodded, "I recall Mo Sister had two brothers."

"Are you confused?" Gu Jinghui said, "Her elder brother went with Father to the Northern Border, never returned."

Sixth Master Gu said, "Then, what about Second Brother?"

"Sixteen says her second brother went south to Lingnan for business and hasn’t come back."

Sixth Master Gu felt choked, considering the Mo family elder brother died at the Northern Border, and the second brother’s fate is unknown.

"...This...This, how did things turn out like this when our family hasn’t communicated with the Mo Family for years?"

Families can fall so suddenly.

Gu Jinghui, hands behind him, not looking at him, stared at a painting of galloping horses on the wall and murmured, "This is extremely strange, aren’t the Mo couple supposed to stay and wait for Second Brother Mo to return? The neighboring folks say the old couple possibly went looking for their daughter."

Sixth Master Gu immediately said, "That’s possible, Third Brother, they have no one beneath them, going to live with a son-in-law could be better."

"However, Sixteen sent people to investigate Mo Family’s married daughters, who have gradually passed away over the years. The Mo couple hasn’t moved near any daughter’s home either."

Sixth Master Gu’s mouth opened wide, unable to utter a word.

Marquis Gu lowered his head, "There’s something even stranger, Mo Xiaoni’s husband actually married her maid."

"What, what is going on here?"

Sixth Master Gu’s heart felt as if tossed into boiling oil, staggering a few steps back, collapsing into a chair.

Marquis Gu’s voice was icy, "Sixth Elder, Mother often says our Marquis Mansion owes Mo Xiaoni. Her marriage with Fourth Brother was set to be arranged, but who knew such things would happen? Nonetheless, it’s not entirely Dingbei Marquis Mansion’s fault; Mo Xiaoni also settled on another marriage eventually. What exactly does Mother mean by her words? Did something happen that I am unaware of?"

Sixth Master Gu hurried to say, "Third Brother, I’m in the mansion, and I don’t know anything either. Every family member is facing trouble one by one; I returned from the Imperial College to observe mourning and disconnected with classmates. Your acquaintances didn’t contact me either. Aunt was pregnant, stayed cooped in her courtyard. Mother struggled to manage the house, crying every night. You left a letter and went away, leaving things in chaos."

"After Fourth Brother ran into trouble, did you still see Mo Xiaoni?"

Marquis Gu stared at Sixth Master Gu and asked.

Sixth Master Gu nodded, "I did, she seemed to have fallen seriously ill, spoke weakly, after arriving, she didn’t say much to Mother, just wept together. They’re women, I... some matters were avoided from me. Moreover, my aunt had just given birth to Seventh Sister, wanted to go to Shuijing Temple after confinement. I was deeply troubled, I only recall she..."

"She what?"

"She hugged Treasure Bead tightly, both crying and laughing, saying she was reluctant. At the time, I also felt distressed. Who knew that was the last time seeing her?"

By this point, Sixth Master Gu realized, Mo Xiaoni was most likely in grave danger, speaking more and more despondently.