An Old House Catching Fire

Gu Wanning felt completely at ease with her sisters.

After saying that, she took Er Ya to the backyard to change her clothes.

When she came out after changing, she bumped into a man.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be his third brother Gu Anfang.

What are you doing here?

The brother and sister asked each other in unison.

Gu Wanning: "... I came to see the Hua Ying! What's wrong with you?"

The Third Concubine blushed slightly. "Miss, please don't misunderstand. The third master suffered a minor injury and ordered medicinal meals from me."

"Injured?" Gu Wanning looked Gu Anfang up and down. He stood up straight and looked energetic. He didn't look injured at all.

The only abnormal thing was that her face was a little red.

"Does she have a fever?" Gu Wanning asked.

Gu Anfang was annoyed, "You're the one with a fever! You'd better wish me well."

Okay, okay, you're injured, yet you still have the energy to scold her. It's obvious you're faking illness.

However, Gu Wanning didn't say anything in front of him.

After Gu Anfang finished his medicinal meal—a large pot of gastrodia elata and chicken soup, plus a basket of steamed buns he had brought with him—and left, Er Ya said, "I want to eat this medicinal meal too. Could it be that Third Master is hiding some money and secretly cooking for himself outside?"

The Third Concubine lowered her head and remained silent.

Gu Wanning said, "He's giving me money, so there's no reason for Hua Ying not to take advantage of it. But let me tell you, Hua Ying, I have a feeling he's being overly attentive and has ulterior motives!"

"Third Master is a good man; he's helped me several times," Third Concubine said. "I originally thought I'd have to trouble you a lot since I started my clinic, but the first time someone caused trouble, Third Master happened to be passing by and helped me settle things. After that, no one dared to cause trouble again, so I'm very grateful to him."

"He might genuinely want to help you, but think about how shameless he is to ask you to cook for him. What do you think his intentions are?" Gu Wanning carefully analyzed for her.

What's the difference between this and Xu Weibei asking her to order food?

They're all just trying to get on my good side!

A man's attempts to get close to a woman.

"Hua Ying, don't treat him differently just because he's my third brother. You still need to be wary..."

"Third Master mentioned it to me."

"Hmm? What did you mention?"

"Third Master has some wrong feelings for me."

Gu Wanning was dumbfounded.

"My third brother... he... he told you directly?"

"Yes. But I refused Third Master," Third Concubine said. "Originally, I should have cut ties with Third Master, but unfortunately, I still have to ask him to take care of me..."

It wasn't that she didn't care about her reputation, but rather that she simply couldn't afford to, so she could only refuse while inevitably having to make contact.

She doesn't like things as they are now.

But how many choices does she really have?

She had to rely on herself to make a living, and taking that first step was no easy feat.

Gu Wanning slammed her hand on the table. "Why didn't you tell me about something this big sooner! Look at me, I brought the feast myself, eager to share it with you. Hua Ying, you're so unfair!"

Third Concubine smiled bitterly, "You and the Marquis are a match made in heaven. Third Master's affection for me is misplaced. Don't let me tarnish Third Master's reputation."

Chapter 236 The Old House Catches Fire

"His reputation? What reputation does he have?" Gu Wanning scoffed. "Are you saying he was bitten on the butt by a dog when he was six, or that he was chased and cursed for eight blocks when he was fifteen for peeping at an old lady taking a bath?"

Third Concubine looked at Gu Wanning in shock.

Peeping at an old lady taking a bath?

"Third Master isn't that kind of person," she couldn't help but say.

"Would I lie to you?" Gu Wanning said. "Although that matter was indeed a misunderstanding, and he was just unlucky, it made him 'famous' now, and everyone knows that Grand Secretary Gu has a good-for-nothing youngest son."

"That Third Master is a bit pitiful. Is that why he hasn't found a wife yet?"

"That's not quite right," Gu Wanning said. "For my father's sake, even if he had a face that could deceive people, or even if he were horribly ugly, there would still be people willing to marry their daughters to him. Anyway, we have many daughters, so it doesn't matter. But being able to marry into the Grand Secretary Gu is such a great joy."

Let alone Grand Princess forced Xu Weibei to marry her against his will, wasn't that also because she valued her father's status?

"Then, why?"

"He's still a bit traumatized by that incident, and coupled with my parents' pickiness, he doesn't take it to heart, so it's been delayed until now."

The Third Concubine remained silent.

She thought that Mr. and Mrs. Gu certainly had the right to be picky.

"But don't get the wrong idea, my parents' pickiness isn't the kind you're thinking of—they're materialistic. I think," Gu Wanning stroked her chin, "That they're just making things difficult for themselves."

What does it mean to force yourself to endure hardship?

"That's right," Gu Wanning said. "They are actually very picky and wary of families who are well-matched in social status, because my father feels that he is different from other high-ranking officials, you understand?"

The Third Concubine was completely bewildered.

"My parents probably don't want a daughter-in-law from a prominent family. My father's position means he's very careful about marriage arrangements; a slight misstep could easily become a threat to the imperial power. But they also don't want a daughter-in-law who lacks experience... Can you imagine how difficult that is!"

Not born in Rome, yet expecting others to have the perspective of someone born in Rome—tsk tsk.

Gu Anqi's wife was his junior sister, probably the type of daughter-in-law they envisioned.

In this sense, Gu Wanning felt that her Third Concubine, who possessed excellent medical skills, rarely spoke, but always hit the nail on the head, was the type of daughter-in-law the Gu family preferred.

However, the fact that she was once Xu Weibei's concubine is indeed a big problem.

As for whether or not she lost her virginity, that's something the two of them discuss behind closed doors. As long as Gu Anfang has no objections, everyone else is just talking nonsense.

Gu Wanning carefully analyzed the situation for her Third Concubine, and finally concluded, "I'm telling you all this not so that you'll insist on following my third brother. Like I said, he's far inferior to my eldest and second brothers."