Grandmother and grandson at odds

Her First Concubine advised her to leave, saying she could manage on her own.

Fourth Concubine was stubborn and insisted on staying with him to the end.

The First Concubine looked troubled and said cautiously, "Yaya, listen to me, go back first. I know you mean well, but you have a quick temper, and I'm afraid you might offend the Marquis in a moment of disagreement... This matter really cannot be allowed to go wrong."

Gu Wanning couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.

Fourth Concubine said in a muffled voice, "I won't speak, I'm mute. Eldest Sister, I'll stay with you."

Ghosts and spirits are very likely to cause trouble at night.

Unable to persuade her otherwise, Gu Wanning had no choice but to return home.

Er Ya offered to help her make the bed, Gu Wanning quickly refused, "No need, no need, I can do it myself."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing and I won't make a mistake."

She took the bedding from the kang table and spread it out on the couch. "Your affair with the Marquis, can you hide it from others, or from this servant? Actually, this servant has something to say, but I don't know if I should say it..."

"You'd better not say anything, I'm afraid I'll feel embarrassed." Gu Wanning sat down in front of the dressing table and combed her hair.

Her hair was as black as a cloud, smooth and silky, cascading down her back like satin.

"No, honest advice is hard to swallow." Er Ya said seriously, "After I came to the city with you, Master told me to study and learn to read. I've been studying all this time, and it hasn't been for nothing."

Although she's not very bright, she's obedient and hardworking!

Who is that old man?

That was the top scholar in the imperial examination, Wenqu Star descended from heaven.

Many people offered him money to become his students, but he refused them all. Yet, he was willing to tutor one of his own maids.

Er Ya felt that if she didn't study hard, she would be letting down her grandfather's advice.

Er Ya's blind worship of Gu Anqi was just like that.

"Madam, I'm being serious," Er Ya looked at Gu Wanning, her large, dark eyes filled with earnestness, "Is the Marquis impotent?"

"Ahem--" Gu Wanning looked guiltily toward the door.

Thankfully, Xu Weibei didn't eavesdrop this time.

Otherwise, she'd be in a situation where she couldn't clear her name no matter what.

How could she have known that Er Ya's "seriousness" was so unserious?

"Er Ya, what nonsense are you talking about?" Gu Wanning pretended to be serious, trying to scare her. "If the Marquis hears these words, he'll punish you, and I probably won't be able to stop him. He might even kick you out..."

"So you won't let us say it? Then it must really be a problem," Er Ya said. "You don't want anyone to touch your weak spot! Marquis, you have kidney deficiency, and your heart is weak too."

Gu Wanning: "... How come you know more than I do?"

"Because I'm an outsider with a clearer perspective!" Er Ya said confidently. "Madam, you inherited the best features of the master and mistress; you're a first-rate beauty. The concubines aren't much different. As for the First Concubine's figure, even I, a woman, feel my bones melt just looking at her... With so many of you, the Marquis hasn't taken a liking to a single one. Is he even a man?"

No man could resist that!

Gu Wanning: "... That's because the Marquis has someone else outside."

She had previously thought that Xu Weibei was remaining chaste for Gu Wanqing's sake, but she later learned that he was having an affair.

"Do men ever get enough of women? They wish they could sleep with every woman in the world!" Er Ya said. "I've thought and thought, and finally I understand..."

Gu Wanning: "Don't overthink it, I'm scared."

Speaking ill of others behind their backs can easily get you arrested; speaking ill of Xu Weibei behind his back doubles the chances of being arrested.

Er Ya didn't care about any of that. "This servant thinks that the Marquis's two children are like they sprang from a crack in Shitou; it's just a futile attempt to cover up the truth!"

"Um?"

"For so many years, the Marquis has had no woman by his side, no child. Who would believe it if word got out? Those men know men best, so they don't know what to say about the Marquis behind his back, or even to his face!"

Gu Wanning blinked. "You mean, the Marquis felt he lost face, so he hired someone to impersonate his mistress and child?"

That's exactly it!

"No way... right?" Gu Wanning had unknowingly led the conversation astray.

She didn't think Xu Weibei was incapable; after all, this man seemed capable in every way.

"Maybe there's another reason?" Gu Wanning said uncertainly.

"Other reasons? For example? This servant is not well-educated, this servant cannot think of any."

Gu Wanning: "Don't ask me, I'm less educated than you. But surely the Marquis wouldn't have been beaten so badly by the princess that he can't get up?"

The Grand Princess is indeed capable of doing things.

She wanted to be good to Xu Weibei, so she wouldn't allow Xu Weibei to refuse.

She has the final say and brooks no dissent.

"Sigh, if the Marquis really is causing trouble outside, then he certainly deserves a beating. But if he has some unspeakable reason, then he's a bit too pitiful."

Seeing that she was struggling with her "unspeakable secret," Gu Wanning quickly said, "Didn't you say you were going to make two pairs of shoes for your older brother? Go back and get busy, I don't need you to wait on me."

"Oh, you're right, I have to hurry." Er Ya remembered her most important matter and, without waiting for Xu Weibei to say "whether it's okay" or not, ran out in a flash.

Gu Wanning breathed a sigh of relief and continued to comb her hair absentmindedly in front of the mirror, her mind wandering elsewhere.

Xu Weibei's current situation can be described as a "great rise and fall".

He certainly got a cold shoulder from the Grand Princess.

Chapter 47 Dispute between Grandfather and Grandson

Xu Weibei told the Grand Princess that he wanted to bring his daughter and the pregnant concubine Linglong back to the mansion.

The Grand Princess remained silent, a cold smile flashing across her lips as she stared intently at Xu Weibei with eyes that seemed to see right through her.

Under his grandmother's watchful gaze, Xu Weibei gradually succumbed to defeat.

Because these are the elders who raised him to adulthood and supported him step by step to where he is today.

But like a naughty and unreasonable child, seeing that he was about to lose, he simply flipped the table and cheated.

"Grandmother, please don't interfere this time. My mind is made up. I won't allow my own flesh and blood to be left out in the wild, becoming targets for others."