How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Chapter 188 The Guo Family Invites You (2)

Seeing Yanru in a panic, Old Mrs. Guo suddenly lost interest. No matter how good other children were, they were not her own.

Just then, Mrs. Guo entered, and the maids began to serve the dishes one by one.

On the octagonal table, there was a plate of shepherd's purse pancakes, stir-fried eggs with chives, a pot of vegetable and tofu soup, and a few steamed buns. The maidservants didn't serve any more dishes.

Three sets of bowls and chopsticks were set on the table. Seeing that all the dishes were ready, Grandma Guo invited everyone to eat.

"Miss Lü, the food at home is simple, please don't mind, eat more."

Yanru nodded in agreement, and only dared to pick up her chopsticks after the old lady picked up a piece of thin pancake. She was a little puzzled. The Guo family was so big and powerful, so why were the old lady and the first wife eating so simply?

Perhaps sensing Yanru's question, the First Madam explained, "Back when the Marshal hadn't yet risen to power, the old lady and I survived back in our hometown by eating these wild vegetable buns. Later, after we became wealthy, we indulged in delicacies for a while, but now that we're older, we find ourselves increasingly longing for those wild vegetables. Please don't take offense; I've already asked the maid to make chicken soup for you to nourish yourself in a bit."

Yan Ru hurriedly thanked her, "Thank you, Madam. This is more than enough. Besides, wild vegetables are fragrant and have a special flavor in spring. Eating coarse grains regularly is also good for the stomach."

The old lady said happily, "That's what I said too, but unfortunately my grandchildren don't understand. They always say behind my back that I'm old-fashioned and don't know how to enjoy life. How could I not know how to enjoy life? A person's fortune is finite. I'll enjoy it a little less and live a few more years."

The first wife echoed the old lady's words, while Yanru ate quietly, occasionally responding with a few words; the atmosphere was harmonious and peaceful.

I picked up a shepherd's purse pancake with my chopsticks and put it in my mouth. My teeth easily broke it apart, and it was crisp, tender, and fragrant. The pancake was also cooked to perfection, with a soft crust and a fluffy interior. Before I knew it, I had finished the whole pancake.

Yanru couldn't help but sigh, "They really are a wealthy family." Even the wild vegetables prepared to please the old lady were the best and tenderest parts, and the chef prepared them with exceptional care.

The coarse wild vegetable dumplings that were once eaten to fill one's stomach would never have made it to the table of the old lady of the Marshal's Mansion.

Each meal had its own unique flavor.

After clearing away the bowls and chopsticks and drinking three cups of tea, the old lady finally let go and allowed the eldest wife to take Yanru back to her own room.

Yan Ru was anxious, but she couldn't show it on her face.

After entering the house and closing the door, Mrs. Guo finally burst into tears.

"Madam, please don't cry. Just tell me what's wrong, and I'll do everything I can to help!"

Madam Guo suppressed her sobs, tears streaming down her face, soaking her handkerchief in no time.

Once the first wife had calmed down, she spoke, "Did I frighten you, child?"

Yan Ru shook her head. "I was just worried about you. I wonder what happened?"

Madam Guo changed her handkerchief, dabbed at the corner of her eye, and then sighed deeply. "I'm worried about my son and your sister. But the Marshal won't let the old lady know the truth. We've gone to great lengths to get her to stop thinking about Zixing for now."

As she spoke, Mrs. Guo's tears fell again.

Yan Ru gently patted Madam Guo's back, afraid she would cry herself to death. "Weren't they on official business in Nanjing? What happened?"

Madam Guo, her eyes filled with guilt, apologized to Yan Ru, "Child, it's because we were afraid the news would leak out, so the servants didn't tell you the truth. My son Xing has gone missing, and your sister and Commander Jiang went to investigate. We don't know when they'll be back. Your sister left in a hurry, and before she left, she asked someone to give me a message, telling you to stay home obediently until she comes back and not go anywhere."

When Yan Ru heard about this, how could she not be anxious? Since the people from the Marshal's Mansion were already taking care of it, why should she get involved in this mess?

Madam Guo continued, "Zixing's disappearance is very strange. No one can say for sure which force is behind it. The Marshal won't tell me much either, so I can only eat vegetarian food every day and pray to heaven to bless my son, your sister, and Commander Jiang, hoping they will return safely."

Yanru found the whole thing absurd. It was the people from the Marshal's Mansion who had harmed the Lü family first, so how could her sister risk her life for Guo Zixing? She truly regretted not telling Qingru her suspicions before; she had been too foolish.

Madam Guo just cried, and it seemed that she really didn't know much about the inside story. When asked again, she only knew that little bit of information.

After calming down Madam Guo, Yan Ru decided to go and ask Marshal Guo herself: How could such a big matter not be explained to the family?

After bidding farewell to Madam Guo, Yan Ru headed towards the main courtyard.

Yan Ru felt strange. Why were Old Madam Guo and Madam Guo living separately in the East Courtyard, while Madam Guo the Second moved into the main house? But that wasn't something Yan Ru needed to think about. She had to find out the truth from Marshal Guo.

Before she even entered the main courtyard, Yan Ru was stopped.

"Who dares to wander into any place like this?"

Looking at the arrogant maid, Yan Ru couldn't help but think of the little thing, who was just as arrogant and domineering.

"I'm looking for Commander Guo. This is the main courtyard. As the head of the prefecture, does Commander Guo not live in the main courtyard?"

The maid snorted arrogantly, "So what if I am? Who do you think you are, to be seen just like that?"

The maid clearly mistook Yan Ru for someone who had come to curry favor, and simply blocked her from entering.

One side wants to enter, the other wants to stop them, so a dispute is inevitable.

The argument quickly attracted the attention of others. An elderly woman rushed out of the courtyard and looked Yan Ru up and down with great vigilance.

"What?"

Yan Ru straightened up and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Guests of the Guo family have just come from the old lady's courtyard and are here to pay their respects to Commander Guo."

Upon hearing that she came from the old lady's courtyard, the old woman hesitated for a moment, then said reluctantly, "Ha, it's just that some Tom, Dick, or Harry keeps saying they want to see the commander-in-chief. Let me tell you, even if you come from the old lady's courtyard, it doesn't mean you're any noble person. I've seen many wealthy families in Sifang City, but I've never seen anyone like you."

"Is that so? Just tell me whether Commander Guo is in the courtyard or not, and I will make my own decision."

The old woman got angry and clapped her hands, saying, "Tell me, tell me! Ah, can't you understand human language? I said I wouldn't see you, so get lost! Go back to where you came from!"

When had Yan ever suffered such humiliation? He sneered and turned to leave.

They must be out of their minds with anger. Why would Commander Guo be in the main courtyard in broad daylight? He should be working in the building in the front yard.

Yan Ru turned and left, leaving only a wisp of fragrant breeze behind.

The old woman, as if she had won a victory, proudly raised her head and warned the servant guarding the courtyard gate, "See that? If you see another little vixen like that, chase her away! Bah, she's blinded by greed, daring to seduce the commander in the second wife's courtyard, she's shameless."

After finishing his tirade, he flung his hand away and hurriedly ran into the yard to claim credit.