Chapter 210 As if granted a pardon

Looking at Gu Shuyan who was not moving, Mingyu said helplessly.

"Help me change my clothes!"

As Gu Shuyan spoke, she sat up, looked at the maids bustling around in front of her, and sighed softly.

"Let everyone else go down. You two can take care of things."

The maids, upon hearing this, felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly put down what they were doing and left.

Gu Shuyan shook her head helplessly. Although no one had said anything these past few days, the atmosphere in the North Courtyard had become noticeably more tense, and all of this change was due to the change in her master's temperament.

Since returning to the Marquis's residence, Gu Shuyan has been all smiles, keeping many things to herself and never mentioning them to anyone. But things are different now. With Mingyu and Pearl as her right-hand women, there are some things she needs to know in advance.

"You all know about Aunt Zhang's death from poisoning. Actually, I didn't go there that day to force her to her death. I just wanted to find out why Chunyan, whom Li Yingxue regarded as her own sister, was her daughter, and what the situation was with Chunxiang, the real daughter of the Li family."

This was the first time Gu Shuyan had spoken so frankly, and both maids widened their eyes in surprise.

"Does Miss mean that Chunxiang is Li Yingxue's older sister?"

No wonder Miss wanted to keep Chunxiang and have Li Yingxue take her back to the Li family; that's why.

"Does Miss now know the reason?"

After her initial surprise, Mingyu's first thought was about the outcome. Her mistress had been so dejected these past few days; there must be more to it than met the eye.

Gu Shuyan nodded upon hearing this and simply recounted what Ji Wenxuan had told her.

"Judging from all these events, Aunt Zhang knew from the beginning that Gu Yingxue was an imposter, and my mother was able to learn of my existence. All of this was driven by an invisible hand. If I'm not mistaken, I'm afraid even my uncle's matter back then was deliberately orchestrated by someone."

It's hard to believe that Aunt Zhang was just an insignificant concubine in a marquis's mansion. Why would that person seek to cooperate with her and even give her so many rare medicinal herbs? It's simply too illogical.

The fact that the other party has extended their reach so far and managed to place such a high-ranking pawn in the Marquis's residence suggests that their ambitions are not small.

"No matter what, you all need to be more vigilant from now on. You must carefully check all the food and dishes you eat every day. Also, remind Aunt Liu and Aunt Wu privately to make sure no one takes advantage of you."

As Gu Shuyan spoke, she picked up a black medicine bottle from the dressing table, her hand unconsciously clenching tighter.

She was all too familiar with this medicine; perhaps even more so than Aunt Zhang. After all, it was the Soul-Snatching Powder that had taken her life in her past life—how could she possibly forget it!

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, August 15th, the first Mid-Autumn Festival that the Gu family would truly celebrate together, Ji prepared a great deal of food.

Sitting in the old lady's Yunxiang Courtyard, Gu Shuyan finally revealed a genuine smile.

"Big sister, you haven't gone out for the past few days. Are you feeling unwell?"

Gu Yuxin and Gu Yuhe sat to one side of Gu Shuyan, looking at this older sister they didn't know well, and asked somewhat timidly.

"Yuxin, is Yuhe showing concern for her older sister?"

Gu Shuyan didn't particularly like the second branch of the Gu family, but the two children were quite well-behaved, so she showed them a bit more care.

"Yes, I wanted to go see my older sister, but Mother wouldn't allow it."