Chapter 22: The Powerful Halo of the Holy Mother

  He followed up, and Shen Guiya had nothing to say even if she explained. In the morning, it was she who said that sisterly love is deep, and according to reason, she should take care of her own sister, and providing better food is natural, and further explanation would be self-defeating.

  What's called losing both wife and soldiers, she originally wanted to make Shen Guiyan resentful behind her back, but as a result, because of the Xushi matter, she ended up dragging herself into the water.

  "Yah'er was just thinking that her fourth brother's wife would be having a meal at the mansion for one day, and she should take care of it more... " Gnashing her teeth, Shen Guiya acknowledged this matter: "But that bird's nest was something Yah'er didn't know about. It was originally given to Qian to make in the kitchen, but unexpectedly these slaves were greedy for silver and took it to Madame Hui."

  Saying that, she covered her stomach with a sorrowful face and said: "Ya'er is also going to be a mother, how can she harm other people's children? That would shorten the life of her own child."

  Madam Gu furrowed her brow, glanced at Shen Guiya and Shen Guiyan, then shifted her gaze to the bottom where Shuang'er was standing: "Those who have come into contact with this bird's nest, apart from Beiyuan, are only people in the kitchen?"

  Shuang'er nodded: "I personally bought the bird's nest and sent it to the kitchen, but on the way back I thought of taking care of my master, so I asked the maid in the kitchen to help take care of it. I didn't expect that after it was done, it wasn't sent to the South Wing, but instead went to the North Wing."

  "Milady, please be aware! Since the mistress became pregnant, the master has personally instructed us in the kitchen on what can and cannot be used. We servants have been extremely careful, it's absolutely impossible that we would mix aloe into the mistress's bird's nest soup! There are so many eyes watching in the kitchen!"

  Mrs. Gu nodded and looked at Shen Guiyan, "In that case, the North Wing is still the most suspicious. Of course, I believe in Yan'er, new to the mansion, no grudges or grievances with Mengdie, how could she do such a thing? Just to clear the name of the North Wing, let's interrogate the servants again."

  Shen Guiyan furrowed her brow.

  It's clear that someone is trying to make things difficult for her, yet they still come to interrogate the people of Beiyuan? What can be achieved through interrogation? Will it lead to forced confessions?

  "If we're going to interrogate, we should also interrogate the people in the kitchen and the South Wing together." Gu Zhaobei clicked his tongue twice before speaking: "What if all the people in the kitchen are in cahoots with each other, or what if it's someone from the South Wing who made a careless mistake?"

  "How is that possible." Shuang Er frowned.

  "Just after entering the mansion, the swallow may have a wide range of knowledge and know that the swallow's nest was sent by Mrs. Xu, and also know that she is pregnant and cannot eat aloe vera, so intentionally added it in." Gu Zhaobei raised an eyebrow: "Then why can't someone be even more knowledgeable and set up a plot to frame the swallow?"

  Shen Guiyan couldn't help but turn her head and glance at him.

  Gu Zhaobei was still leaning against the pillar in the hall, with a smile on his face, not looking at her. But what he said was exactly what she had been thinking in her heart.

  She didn't have the courage to say these words herself, fortunately he was there.

  "Northern son wants to make trouble." However, Mrs. Gu did not think much of what Gu Zhaobei said, probably because she was used to his attitude, and directly ignored him: "The interrogation of the lower officials in the Northern Court will be handed over to Steward Gu."

  Bao Shan was slightly flustered and softly called out: "Miss."

  The backyard has always been a place where the masters fight and the servants suffer. I thought I had escaped from Madam Shen's palm, but who knew that Madame Gu was also unreasonable.

  "Madam, I implore you to reconsider, using private punishment is most unwise."

  Madam Gu said with a serious face: "If it weren't for this, how could we clear the name of Beiyuan?"

  Madam Liu is still unconscious in bed, and Chancellor Gu happens to have something to attend to tonight and hasn't returned yet. If there's no result before the Chancellor returns, she would be too derelict of duty as the mistress.

  Actually, as long as it doesn't involve the East Wing, Madam Gu is indifferent to which courtyard takes the blame. In the end, it will be pushed onto the servants anyway, just so that Master's impression of that courtyard isn't good.

  Shen Guiyan lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said: "Since Mrs. Xu mistakenly ate the aloe vera, I think it's better to start investigating from the aloe vera itself rather than interrogating the servants. Which courtyard in this mansion has aloe vera planted, or who bought it back? By tracing its origin and destination, won't we get to the bottom of things?"

  Everyone was stunned, Gu Zhaobei slightly raised an eyebrow, and Gu Zhao Nan even nodded directly: "This is a good idea."

  A group of people here have been shirking responsibility for half a day, and none of them thought of this. Shen Guiya pursed her lips and said: "Sister is right, there are not many places in the Luhui Mansion that need to be used. Since Ya'er took over the procurement, she has never bought such things. It's just that the South Courtyard has two pots of its own."

  "Ah?" Mrs. Gu was somewhat taken aback, took a sip of tea before lightly coughing and saying: "In the entire estate, only the South Wing has aloe vera?"

  Dui'er, who was kneeling on the ground, remained silent for a while before speaking: "It's true that there are some in the South Wing, but what about the other wings? It can't be that Master wants to harm himself, right? That child has been carefully tended to by everyone, and it's already been five months...

  As she spoke, she choked back a sob and lowered her head to wipe away tears.

  Shen Guiyan said, "Let's not discuss what happened in the South Wing for now. The suspicion on the North Wing and the kitchen has been cleared. Madam, please be aware that the North Wing is innocent. On the first day I arrived, I checked everywhere, and Jiang Shi doesn't like flowers or plants. All the flower pots in the backyard are empty, not a single green plant, let alone aloe vera."

  Mrs. Gu frowned and Shen Guiya pouted: "There may not be any in the North Courtyard, but there might be two by the roadside outside, this matter can't be said for sure."

  Everything that can be explained has been explained. If it still had to be poured on her, Shen Guiyan also felt helpless and could only silently glance at Gu Zhenbei.

  Gu Zhaobei's eyes calmly gazed back at her, and he slightly shook his head. Let them go, the worst that could happen is that a group of people in the Northern Courtyard would suffer a bit, as long as she was fine, nothing else mattered.

  "Madam!"

  Shen Guiyan was just about to let them go and investigate, when a maid from the South Wing suddenly shouted from outside: "Madam Xi requests that the mistress go to the North Wing for a look!"

  Xu Mengdie woke up, and after the induced labor, she cried bitterly in great pain. It was rare for her to come and ask Mrs. Gu to go with her in the past. Madam Gu got up, and Shen Guiyan and a group of family slaves also followed suit, walking together towards the South Wing.

  Kneeling for a long time, her legs were numb, Shen Guiyan lowered her head and gritted her teeth. Gu Zhaobei stretched out his hand and whispered, "It's just you being honest, haven't you seen that even Shen Guiya didn't kneel down? If she knelt down and wasn't called up, she wouldn't dare to get up, how about it, are your legs numb?"

  Shen Guiyan cried and laughed: "Etiquette is still necessary, right?"

  "Some people, the more polite you are, the more they want to bully you." Gu Zhaobei snorted: "That's about it."

  Shen Guiyan was slightly stunned.

  Shen Guiya and Gu Zhaodong walked ahead, Gu Zhaodong couldn't help but turn his head to take a look, then asked in a low voice the person beside him: "Was it you who did this?"

  "What?" Shen Guiya's face changed: "Me?"

  "Isn't it?" Gu Zhaodong pursed his lips: "Not only can you get rid of Lao Erjia's belly, but also cause trouble for Yan'er. Who benefits the most if not you?"

  "Shen Guiya's face turned cold and she gritted her teeth: 'Gu Zhaodong, I'm your wife, helping you with things. Why are you speaking to me in this tone? Let's not mention that it wasn't me who did that thing, even if it was me, what would you do? Would you divorce me for the sake of your brother's wife?'"

  Gu Zhaodong frowned, directly calling out her name was extremely impolite, let alone he being her husband. Moreover, he had only asked a question, and she reacted so strongly, making him feel somewhat annoyed.

  After a while, Shen Guiya also felt that something was wrong. Looking at Gu Zhaodong's not-so-good face, she hurriedly smiled and went to hold his arm: "Just now I was too loud, sir don't be angry, I didn't mean to scold you for not believing me, how could I be so vicious?"

  Gu Zhaodong hooked the corner of his mouth and didn't speak, he was getting more and more puzzled by this woman. At first, he thought she was shameless, but later he felt that she was profound in her thoughts. A pampered and spoiled lady from a boudoir, how could she make him, a proud man, feel somewhat intimidated?

  Arriving at the South Wing, Madame Guo went in first. Later, a maid came out and said: "Please ask Young Mistress and Fourth Young Mistress to come in."

  Shen Guiyan took a deep breath and followed Shen Guiya inside.

  It is said that Xu Mengdie is a very gentle Jiangnan woman, and I don't know what she will say when she comes. The North Court has already taken half of the blame, if this person also doesn't get along with the North Court and wants to push all the blame over, then the people of the North Court will have a good taste of flesh and skin suffering.

  As soon as she entered, she saw a pale face. Xu Mengdie was delicate and lovely, with the gentle and elegant temperament unique to Jiangnan women. Seeing them come in, she also smiled at Shen Guiyan.

  "Trouble the madam and two young ladies." Xu Mengdie said weakly: "Ate something wrong, can only blame Mengdie's bad luck. The child is gone, so be it, madam doesn't have to make things difficult for Fourth Young Lady either."

  Mrs. Gu frowned, knowing that Xu Mengdie was going to wake up and speak for the Northern Courtyard. Gu Lao Er was also a smiling tiger, getting along with everyone on a daily basis, except for Gu Zhaodong. This time, such a big thing happened, and he still wanted to take the blame for the Northern Courtyard?

  "What a good child is gone, don't you want to have an explanation?" Mrs. Gu said: "Nanyu (Mrs. Liu's maiden name) fainted because of this matter, how can I explain it to her?"

  "Children can be had again, but a harmonious family is the most important thing." Xu Mengdie smiled and looked at Shen Guiyan: "The Fourth Young Master's wife has just entered the manor, it can't be ruined by these things. When Madame Liu wakes up, I'll go explain myself."

  Isn't this Holy Mother Halo too powerful? Shen Guiya was tongue-tied, her own child was gone, and she didn't blame others at all, just for the sake of family harmony?

  Ancient women were really scary.

  Shen Guiyan also felt that something was not quite right, and just as she was about to speak up, Xu Mengdie said: "As soon as I saw the Fourth Young Master's wife, I felt a sense of affinity with her. She definitely wouldn't be someone who wants to harm me. Even if we investigate further, we won't find anything out of the ordinary. Why not just let it go and preserve the friendship between Mengdie and the Fourth Young Master's wife?"

  Mrs. Gu fell silent and looked at Shen Guiyan.

  Shen Guiyan bowed her head and thought for a moment before saying, "The innocent are always innocent. Whether we investigate or not doesn't matter. It's good that Meng Die can see things clearly."