"Where... where did this come from?" The old Duke pressed his hand heavily on the table. His face changed and then became angry. He slapped the table again. "Where did this nonsense come from? What is this? Is someone trying to deal with our Duke of Qi's Mansion?"
The series of questions left the old lady speechless for a moment, and the words of rebuke she was about to utter were stuck in her mouth.
My heart skipped a beat.
The previous hatred and anger seemed to have found a breakthrough suddenly and slowly dissipated, replaced by a feeling of fear and panic. He told the story again.
"What are you talking about? How could this note come from the Liu Mansion? It's just groundless speculation. Is someone suspecting our mansion?"
The old Duke said with a sullen expression, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Is someone suspecting us?" The lady panicked for a moment, subconsciously lowered her voice, and her fingers twitched.
"Otherwise, why would someone send this note to you using the name of the Liu Mansion? The date on it is more than 30 years ago, and the words here are completely fabricated. Who wants to deal with our Duke's Mansion?" The old Duke pondered.
"It's happening again, is it happening again?" The lady's hands and feet were sore, she muttered to herself, "It's been so long since it happened, how come it can't get better? But... but we were fine at the beginning, what can happen now?"
"The past was the past, and the present is the present. Have you forgotten about the affairs of the Duke of Jingguo's Mansion?" the old Duke scolded.
Among the several major duke's mansions today, the Jingguo Mansion has long disappeared. The Jingguo Mansion was once a prominent place in the capital. The eldest daughter of the Jingguo Mansion was once a famous beauty in the capital. Some people even said that the eldest daughter was the most beautiful woman in the capital. However, there is no one left in the Jingguo Mansion today. The entire family was executed.
"Will...will it be the same as the Duke Jingguo's Mansion?" the lady asked anxiously.
"I don't know... I need to be more careful. It's been more than 30 years since what happened. In the past 30 years, it seems like nothing has happened, but in fact, the things that happened to Empress Yuan, the Duke of Yu, and the Duke of Jing were all very prominent, not to mention Empress Yuan..."
The old Duke sighed, leaned back, and told the lady, "You should be careful too. Because of what happened more than 30 years ago, so many people were implicated. We were the first to bear the brunt of it. We should be more careful now and not let anyone take advantage of us. Today... this kind of thing... is the most taboo..."
The old Duke stopped talking here and the room became gloomy and stuffy, as if something was suppressing one's breathing so much that even breathing was difficult.
More than thirty years ago, twenty years ago, more than ten years ago, and four years ago.
Although the Rebellion of the Three Kings was quelled more than 30 years ago, the consequences have not been eliminated until now. Even wealthy families have to be cautious, for fear of having the slightest connection with these things.
The current emperor had no tolerance for the Rebellion of the Three Kings.
The lady's breathing became heavier again. "I heard that the Duke of Yu's Mansion...is no longer in trouble. The current emperor...wants Duke of Yu to take control of the military power again."
"The relationship between Duke Yu and the current emperor is not as simple as you think. As for what happens next, it is none of our business. I am old, and you are old too... I just want to see my children and grandchildren live a good life. Other things... are not that important."
The old Duke said bitterly, lowering his head, looking depressed and powerless. He was no longer the high-spirited second son of the Duke's Mansion, nor was he the brave and solitary man he was when he was young.
After all, he felt guilty towards that mother and daughter!
Even if she went to hell, she would not be able to face that child. She felt tears were about to fall from her eyes, so she quickly closed them tightly, "Think about this carefully, don't let anyone take advantage of you... We now have two sons, and several grandchildren..."
The old Duke stopped talking. The lady clenched her teeth tightly to calm the fear in her heart. She grabbed the chair railing and stopped talking.
After a long while, he said weakly, "I'm going back first. I'll... look into the matter of the fourth young lady in the Qu Mansion later."
"Look around and find a good one. Although Yongning Marquis' Mansion is nice, if she doesn't like it, there's no need to embarrass her... She should be allowed to pick a good one, one that suits her heart. She can't be like Qu Zhizhen, who looks glamorous on the surface but is actually like this."
The old Duke gave another order in a deep voice.
When he opened his eyes again and looked at the lady, his eyes were filled with fatigue.
The lady did not say anything, but just looked straight at the old Duke. Suddenly her eyes turned red and she stood up abruptly. In a flurry of movements, she pushed the coffee table beside her away with one foot. The teacups on it swayed twice, rolled down, and shattered to the ground with a "clang".
The old Duke was still looking at the Lady Dowager, with sadness in his eyes.
The lady turned around and covered her face and walked out the door. When she walked out the door, she walked too quickly and bumped into the door frame, and her body fell out uncontrollably.
Outside the door, a maid was quick to help the lady and managed to hold her up.
"Madam, are you alright?"
"Madam, are you hurt?"
"Madam...how are you?"...
All the maids and servants rushed over and spoke at once.
"Everyone go!" the old lady said sternly, and suddenly pushed away a maid who was supporting her. This maid was her personal maid, and was also very favored in the past. The old lady pushed her away suddenly because she lost control. She took a few steps back and fell heavily to the ground.
For a moment, everyone was stunned.
After a long while, I heard the tired voice of the lady: "Let's go!"
After saying this, he held the hand of the maid beside him and walked forward with difficulty.
The maids and servants looked at each other, not daring to say another word, and followed behind cautiously.
In the study, the old Duke heard the noise outside stop and muttered to himself, "What an injustice!"
He lowered his head weakly and lay down in front of the desk. If he could really go back to the past, he would definitely not do this. No matter what he did, he should not let another person repay his kindness.
Even though my elder brother has done me a thousand favors, I am the only one who needs to repay him.
But he was accompanying the life of another person who was completely unaware of the situation. He died tragically at the prime of his life, and all of this was because of him.
But he couldn't let this past be exposed, so he had to suppress the lady and even threaten her so that she didn't dare to speak or ask more questions.
He felt no guilt towards his elder brother, but he did feel guilty towards her. The child, who was actually completely unaware of the situation, became a victim.
That marriage, that marriage, I really didn't know anything about it, I really just took a fancy to Liu Borui's character,
Is it because you really want to get married that you ask for the marriage decree
His fingers trembled as he held onto the corner of the table. If... if there really was... if there was really a trace of calculation here, it would be like he was pushing the person to his death.
If Xiao Yue had not been unable to marry Liu Borui, she would not have hurriedly married Qu Zhizhen, and this would not have happened.
His heart ached as if it was being cut by a knife. He pinched the corner of the table hard with his hands, trying to suppress the pain, but it was of little use. He still felt so painful that he couldn't breathe.
"Madam, County Lady Jingyu is here." A maid came in hurriedly to report. Ever since the Madam returned to the inner courtyard, she had been sitting alone in the room without any servants around her. The whole courtyard was depressing as if something was suppressing her.
No one dared to disturb the Dowager at this time. No one dared to ask what the old Duke had said to the Dowager in the study just now, but something must have happened, otherwise the Dowager would not be in such a state.
Fortunately, Lady Dowager Dowager's favorite, Lady Jingyu, came.
The trusted maid hurried to the door to report.
After a long while, I heard the tired voice of the lady inside, "Let her in!"
The old woman hurriedly reported to Liu Jingyu who had arrived in the yard.
"Is grandma so unhappy after coming back?" Liu Jingyu didn't rush in, but asked in a low voice. The atmosphere in the yard was too unusual today, and she would not go in rashly.
"She's like this since she came back from Minister Qu's residence." The maid said, and after a moment's hesitation, she whispered, "Maybe Fourth Miss Qu made the Madam angry."
"Miss Qu Si...what's wrong?" Liu Jingyu asked in confusion.
"I can't say for sure. It may be because Fourth Miss Qu doesn't like the marriage chosen for her by the Madam." The old woman said vaguely while making way for Liu Jingyu.
There are some things that cannot be passed on even to the lady's own granddaughter.
This is the residence of the Duke of Qi, not the residence of Minister Liu. The Dowager had warned them a long time ago that it was okay to reveal a little bit of information, but if they said too much, they were afraid that it would make the Dowager angry again.
Seeing that the lady's personal maid didn't want to say anything, Liu Jingyu stopped thinking and went into the main room.
"Grandma, are you okay? Are you sick?" Liu Jingyu smiled softly as soon as she entered the room. After she bowed to the old lady, she went to her side, pulled her sleeve, and shook it like a spoiled child. "Grandma, if you have any problems, tell Yu'er. Yu'er will definitely help you get everything done."
The lady raised her heavy head and looked at her most beloved granddaughter. She moved her mouth but could not utter a word. She had sat in the room for a long time without speaking. Now she wanted to speak but could not make a sound.
"Grandma, drink some water first to moisten your throat. If there's anything you want to eat, Yu'er will have someone go to the kitchen to prepare it. Don't be angry. It's not worth getting angry over someone who has nothing to do with you."
Liu Jingyu handed the teacup on the table to the lady and said with concern.
The lady took the tea, drank it silently, and slowly put it down.
"Grandma, what happened? You always loved Yu'er the most. Please don't scare her." Liu Jingyu squatted down in front of the lady, his eyes filled with admiration and sincerity.
The lady opened her mouth to speak, but found that she couldn't say anything. Her heart was tugged at...