Qin Yuan listened, both angry and amused.
"Do you want to get in the carriage?"
Gu Baoshu glanced at the Old Madam Gu’s gloomy face and shook her head, "I can’t stand sitting in a carriage, I’ll ride a horse instead."
Qin Yuan no longer persuaded her and let down the curtain, as it wasn’t far from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, no need to trouble.
Gu Baoshu thought to herself that Third Sister-in-law really understood her, if she got in the carriage, Mother would surely start lecturing again.
Though inevitably, there would be lectures eventually, she’ll delay as much as she can.
Once Third Brother returns, Mother might not bother her anymore.
The carriage stopped at the alley corner, and Gu Baoshu took the lead into the alley to have someone open the side door, remove the threshold, from afar she saw the Gu Mansion burnt all pitch-black, half of the plaque was burned off.
"What happened? What happened here?" Gu Baoshu panicked.
Just went out to a feast, how could there be so many issues.
Who’s causing trouble this time?
Qin Yuan lifted the curtain to take a look, already had a guess, probably the Yelv clan causing trouble again, wondered if those dragon-phoenix twins were still here.
Qin Yuan said: "To burn the plaque like this in broad daylight, was it splashed with kerosene?"
Otherwise, next door is the Marquis Mansion, with people from the Five Cities Military Department patrolling now and then, and Gu Jingcheng is Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Military Department. How did this fire start? And burned this big?
The Old Madam Gu listened and panicked, hurriedly poked her head out to ask, "Your Sister-in-law Cheng and the others are at home, do you know how they are, were they frightened? Brother Cheng and Sister Yu are still young, could there be danger?"
Qin Yuan knew those dragon-phoenix twins had stayed at Old Madam Gu’s side for quite a while, certainly she’d be concerned, but those kids...
"Reporting to the Old Madam, it was a group of bandits causing trouble, don’t know what they were thinking, trying to rob Gu Mansion in daylight, just when Mr. Gu was on duty and away, only Mrs. Gu was home with the children, almost got them, luckily Marquis Gu returned just in time."
Housekeeper Cao hurried out to report.
The Old Madam Gu asked, "Is Mrs. Gu and the children alright?"
"They’re all fine, it’s just Young Master Cheng and Miss Yu were somewhat frightened, making a fuss wanting Marquis Gu’s company."
Housekeeper Cao glanced at Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan said, "Since everything’s alright, let’s get back quickly, it’s good to comfort Sister-in-law Cheng and the children, Gu Mansion got burned, don’t know if there’s a place to settle."
The Old Madam Gu nodded: "Yes, get inside quickly to talk."
Gu Baoshu settled her mount and hurried back, snuggled up to Qin Yuan and whispered, "This is truly strange, what do you think, Third Sister-in-law?"
Qin Yuan nodded.
Gu Baoshu was quite pleased, Third Sister-in-law also thought it was strange, surely great minds think alike.
While Qin Yuan was about to ask more, Gu Shiba received the message and had hurried over, kept signaling her with his eyes.
Qin Yuan said, "Mother, I’ll go change clothes and then come to the main room to accompany you."
The Old Madam Gu thought it over and said, "If you need to settle Sister-in-law Cheng and the others, no need to rush over, have the third and sixth brothers come over together later, I have things to tell you."
Gu Baoshu couldn’t help but shrink her neck, originally intending to go to Wutong Garden, but met the Old Madam’s gaze, obediently followed to the main room.
Gu Shiba followed closely behind Qin Yuan, whispered: "Reporting Madam, Hong Ye and the others were all sent back, no major harm, just inhaled some sedative, Doctor Li has been called to see them, fortunately everyone’s fine, all settled for rest."
Yang’er breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Yuan nodded, "What’s with Gu Mansion?"
Gu Shiba said with a dark expression, "Likely Mrs. Zhao’s people did it, took advantage of today when the masters were at Duke Zhen’s Mansion, set a fire next door wanting to abduct people."
"Setting a fire in broad daylight?"
Qin Yuan speechless, then asked, "They are all Yelv clan people? Does Marquis Gu know about this?"
Gu Shiba replied, "Marquis Gu received a letter from Mr. Songshan, turned back just in time, caught them on the spot, immediately apprehended a few and sent them to the Capital Governor Mansion, kept several locked in the dungeon.
They are idle men from the streets, claiming that they were angered when Mr. Cheng expelled elders back home during the investigation of commercial citizenships, one fell ill and died on the way, hence in rage wanted to burn down Gu Mansion in revenge."
"A letter from Mr. Songshan?" Qin Yuan puzzled.
At the mention of this, Gu Shiba’s spirits lifted: "Yes, Mr. Songshan received information, gathered us to discuss together, said that someone would surely sneak attack Gu Mansion, and sure enough."
He whispered: "Last time Madam asked us to investigate, Mr. Songshan was aware, said the Yelv clan wouldn’t miss this opportunity, surely they’ll come once, so we were on guard early, any signs and we’d know."