Chapter 403

"Du, you are pregnant and I really worry about you as your aunt. As someone who has gone through this before, I have a lot of experience in taking care of expectant mothers. Come and stay at the Ye Mansion for a month to settle down before going back, it won't be too late."

On Gu Ying's left was the "pushy" Qin, on the right was the worried Mrs. Lin, and in the middle sat Zhao who seemed to want to say something but held back.

She was Mrs. Lin's daughter-in-law, so Mrs. Lin naturally didn't want her to stay at the Ye Mansion with a Zhao family child.

If outsiders heard about this, they would probably think she was an abusive mother-in-law to Gu Ying. It wouldn't reflect well on the Duke's Residence's reputation if they couldn't even accommodate Gu Ying after Du left.

Moreover, she was a doctor herself and was better at taking care of pregnant women, so she stubbornly refused to let Gu Ying go.

Qin on the other hand had an impatient personality. She was thrilled to see her niece get so close to the Ye Family and wanted to seize this great opportunity to "win back" Gu Ying while the heir was away.

Zhao felt even more awkward... She had come to ask a favor regarding her daughter's marriage. But she happened to walk in on the duchess and madam arguing over Gu Ying.

Seeing they couldn't convince each other, Mrs. Lin hardened her attitude, "Gu Ying, you know your mother is a doctor. It would be better for me to personally take care of your pregnancy than someone who doesn't know anything."

Qin frowned. "Aunt Zhao, I'm unhappy to hear you say this. I've given birth to a son myself, how could I not know anything? Moreover, Old Ye has arranged the best midwives in the manor to take care of Gu Ying's body. If she stays with us at the Ye Family, from eating to sleeping, everything will be taken care of. Wouldn't that be more reassuring?"

Mrs. Lin remained calm. "The Duke's Residence has a very capable midwife personally invited by Du."

Qin shamelessly smiled. "Then bring the midwife along too. We're all family, no need to separate yours and mine."

Mrs. Lin nearly laughed from anger. She pressed her lips and also smiled. "Madam Ye, you've bested me with words, but you can't make this decision unilaterally. After all, the child in Du's belly is my Duke's heir. She belongs to the Duke's Residence. What would others say if she went to the Ye Family?" Qin felt wronged. "What's wrong with the Ye Family? It's her parental home."

Mrs. Lin calmly said, "The Zhao family is her marital home. I treat her like my own daughter."

Seeing she couldn't get through, Qin generously said, "Alright alright, let's not argue since we can't agree. Gu Ying, it's up to you. We elders should respect the youngster's opinion, right?"

Mrs. Lin kept silent and also looked over.

Gu Ying's temple twitched. She had never experienced such familial warmth in her past life at the Earl Manor. Being treated like this for the first time, she was at a loss.

After all, both sides were "her flesh", and she didn't want to offend either.

Her eyes turned as she pulled Aunt Zhao and said, "Aunt Zhao, what did you come to see me for today? I was so immersed in conversation with my aunt and mother that I forgot you were here waiting. How rude of me."

Aunt Zhao had been elevated to the Earl's madam.

Hearing Gu Ying affectionately call her Aunt made her heart warm.

"Gu Ying..." Zhao looked left and right at the deadlocked Mrs. Lin and Madam Qin. She had something to say but hesitated on whether she should. "If not, why don't you ladies finish your discussion first before I say my piece?"

Qin chuckled. "Our matter can be easily resolved. Tell us your business first."

Mrs. Lin had also heard the recent rumors about the Earl Manor.

Especially regarding the Fourth Young Lady's marriage.

Talk on the streets was that after the Fourth Young Lady was kidnapped at Concubine Wan's birthday banquet, the Fu family originally wanted to call off the engagement.

But somehow, after Qin's mediation, the rumors were dispelled and the Fu family's minds were settled.

Yet as the wedding day approached, the Fu family kept delaying again and again. The carefully chosen auspicious date had passed two days ago, yet there was no sign of a groom coming to fetch the bride.

Let alone getting married, there wasn't even word from the Fu family.

Amongst the many prominent and powerful families in the capital watching the Earl Manor become a laughing stock, which family didn't say the Fourth Young Lady's kidnapping was staged to cover up the truth? The Ye Family manor, recognizing Qin as a godmother, were all just excuses to conceal the facts. Who's to say the Fourth Young Lady hadn't already lost her chastity and was shamelessly trying to marry into a reputable family with an impure body?

Mrs. Lin agreed. "You should speak first."

Zhao thanked them. "Thank you both sisters. This is about my family's disgraceful daughter..."

Qin frowned. "The Fu family still hasn't given a definite answer about Shuanger's marriage?"

Gu Ying's eyes darkened as she steadily handed the teacup to Zhao. "Don't worry Aunt Zhao, speak slowly."

Zhao shook her head and sighed. "You all know about Shuanger's circumstances... Now some baseless rumors have emerged, saying my Shuanger was ravaged and is anxious to marry herself out, so the Fu family learned the truth and refused to be strung along. That's why they called off the wedding on the eve of the big day."

Although the Earl Manor had declined, they couldn't tolerate others maligning the manor's daughter like this.

She was so angry she couldn't eat. With no heart to care for her younger children, as soon as the heir's matter concluded, she hurriedly had a carriage brought to the Duke's Residence.

The old madam didn't care for Shuanger. The Earl was only concerned about his reputation and wanted to escalate this to the authorities to demand an explanation from the Fu family.

But how could Shuanger establish a foothold in the capital after that?

Just to marry a man, she would shamelessly take this to court. Even if Fu Xunzhi was forced to marry her, what awaited Shuanger in the Fu family?

She couldn't bear to think about it and felt even more distressed.

After thinking it over, only Gu Ying could help come up with a solution.

"These rumors can be ignored. As long as Fu Xunzhi doesn't care, they love each other, that's all that matters."

Zhao continued. "I thought the matter would blow over like this. But unexpectedly, the Fu family is treating my Shuanger this way. The wedding day we agreed on has passed two days ago, yet the Fu family shows no intention of fetching the bride. The old madam fell ill in anger. The Earl flew into a rage and ordered all the red silk in the manor taken down. Seeing Shuanger sitting alone in her room, I felt uneasy. So I sent someone to the Fu family to investigate."

Everyone in the room frowned.

Gu Ying pondered Zhao's distressed face. "What about Fu Xunzhi?"

Zhao sneered. "My person reported back that the Fu family shut their doors and didn't go out. There were no preparations for a wedding whatsoever. So from the beginning, the Fu family never intended to marry Shuanger. I was furious."