Lady Du spoke, Lady Du’s mother was detained in the house of the Duke of the Country. If her mother was alive, she would certainly hope her maternal grandmother could leave here and return to her mother’s side. So, she turned around and said, "I’ve heard that Auntie Mei’s health was failing recently in the mansion. I don’t know if you, Duke of the Country, would allow my generation to take her to Bishui Villa for a short stay. On one hand, this fulfills Lady Mu’s role as a dutiful daughter. On the other hand, with her children, grandchildren and granddaughter by her side, Auntie Mei’s illness will surely recover swiftly."
A frail, aged and ailing concubine. Huo Yuan did not think the Duke’s house would refuse. However, unexpectedly, before Du Ruohai could speak, Du Yongzhi interrupted and vehemently refused.
"Young Master Huo, please understand. Although Auntie Mei is elderly, she is, after all, a woman of our Duke’s house. If she were to stay in someone else’s home, it would tarnish the reputation of our house."
Huo Yuan replied, "She’d only stay for a while. Once Auntie Mei is back in good health, she can be sent back. You, being a learned and reasonable person, why insist on these trivial formalities?"
However, Du Yongzhi remained firm, "Young Master Huo, please understand. The rules left by our ancestors dictate that women from our mansion cannot stay in someone else’s place, to avoid gossip. We dare not defy our ancestors’ teachings, and even more so, we cannot act unfaithfully because of a concubine."
Seeing him speak so solemnly, Huo Yuan could not insist anymore. The most pressing issue at hand was still to rescue Mu Zhongqing. In case they are pushed into desperation and do something reckless, so he laughed and said, "If so, I dare not persist. However, Madam Mu is quite concerned for Auntie Mei’s health. Therefore, later, I will send an imperial physician to check on Auntie Mei’s pulse. At that time, I hope the mansion will allow convenience."
Just as he had finished speaking, Du Yongbang said, "No need to trouble Young Master Huo. We will invite an imperial physician from our mansion to take care of Auntie Mei’s health. If there is anything improper, we will inform Young Master Huo first."
And Du Yongchun followed, "Indeed, Young Master Huo, please rest assured."
With their assurances, Huo Yuan became even more uneasy. Du Yongzhi had just refused to let Lady Mei leave the mansion, which didn’t arouse his suspicion. But when he proposed to bring a doctor for Lady Mei, Du Yongzhi immediately refused, making Huo Yuan feel there’s something more than meets the eye. Normally, Du Yongbang wouldn’t have the nerve to refuse him! Not just Du Yongbang, even Du Yongchun dared to refuse, this was so abnormal!
Suddenly, he recalled the thin coffin he saw when he arrived, and the expression on his face froze.
"Duke of the Country, all I wanted was to invite a doctor to check on Auntie Mei. As the mansion is being so evasive, could it be that something unfortunate happened to Auntie Mei, and the mansion feels guilty, hence all the excuses?"
As he spoke, his eyes were firmly fixed on the faces of the Du men, not missing a single expression on their faces.
Indeed, as soon as Huo Yuan finished, the expressions of the Du brothers became flustered, some drinking tea to hide their unease, some lowering their heads to avoid his gaze, some pretending to cough to alleviate their nervousness...
After asking the question, Huo Yuan stood there, waiting for their answer.
Silence. They were indirectly admitting!
In the guest meeting hall of the Duke’s mansion, it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone shut their mouth, dropped their heads, and none denied the matter!
After a while, there was finally a stir in the Flower Hall.
Duke of the Country, with disbelief written all over his face, looked at his son with grief and sympathy.