Su Mingyu twitched the corner of her eye. "You're not exactly popular among the officials and merchants in the capital anyway. And now you've turned people away. Isn't that a bit too much?"
Gu Ruobai just raised an eyebrow and looked at Mu Yi. "Just tell them that I'm a bit tired today and don't feel like seeing anyone."
Seeing Gu Ruobai being so willful, Su Mingyu couldn't help but give him a thumbs - up. "You really do things differently."
It was just like the time when those young ladies came to the mansion to look for her. Su Mingyu felt that she already had so many things to deal with every day. Now, having to spend time dealing with people she hardly knew, she really wasn't willing to do it.
Seeing that both masters had said so, Mu Yi had no choice but to go out and report.
Taking a big gulp of tea, Su Mingyu rubbed her aching waist.
Seeing this, Gu Ruobai waved to Su Mingyu. "Come here."
Without much thought, Su Mingyu walked up to Gu Ruobai. Before she could react, Gu Ruobai pulled her onto his lap.
Su Mingyu was startled. Just as she was about to get up, Gu Ruobai held her down. "Don't move. I'll rub your back."
Feeling the pressure on her waist, Su Mingyu bit her lip. "Your technique is quite good. Who did you learn it from?"
Gu Ruobai increased the pressure on his hands and didn't stop talking. "When I was on the border, the soldiers often got injured. But there were only a few military doctors, so when they were overwhelmed, we all massaged each other."
Su Mingyu nodded. "So you've learned a lot on the border."
"After all, we were far away from the capital. We had to rely on ourselves for many things." As Gu Ruobai said this, he pinched Su Mingyu's soft flesh, and she let out a startled cry.
"Do you know what locusts are?" Gu Ruobai rested his chin on Su Mingyu's shoulder. "Once our supplies didn't arrive on time. The soldiers were so hungry that they had to catch locusts. Of course, if they were lucky, they could also catch mountain rats. We survived on these for a long time."
Although Su Mingyu had never experienced the hardships Gu Ruobai had, when she was on missions, she also had to survive in the wild for various reasons. At that time, she wasn't picky about food as long as it was edible.
Su Mingyu leaned her head on Gu Ruobai's chest and said, "I know a guy named Bear Grylls. Once, because of the harsh living conditions, he had no choice but to eat insects and spiders. Do you know that when he ate spiders, he only removed their teeth and ate them raw?"
Listening, Gu Ruobai unconsciously increased the pressure on his hands. "As a young lady from a good family in the capital, how do you know such a person?"
Su Mingyu frowned because it hurt a bit. "I'm not a young lady from a good family anymore. And since I can even think of opening a shop, isn't it normal for me to know some strange people?"
"You always come up with such fallacies." Gu Ruobai said helplessly. "You asked Concubine Chen to verify things about Concubine Ning before. Were you trying to sow discord between Concubine Ning and the Prince of Yu?"
"Are you really a worm in my belly?" Su Mingyu widened her eyes. "I haven't even said anything, and you already know everything?"
Gu Ruobai lifted his chin. "Both you and I know that it's because the Prince of Yu and Concubine Ning trust each other that they've reached their current positions."
This was true. Su Mingyu lowered her eyes. "But now Concubine Ning is pregnant, yet she hasn't told anyone. Why do you think that is?"
"Because Concubine Ning is wary. She's already a first - rank concubine, so she doesn't need to be so wary of other concubines. So, I guess the person she's wary of is the Prince of Yu."
Since Concubine Ning was so wary of the Prince of Yu, it meant that their relationship wasn't as solid as it seemed on the surface.
"By the way," Su Mingyu suddenly remembered. "I remember you once said that you knew who injured your leg. Was it the Prince of Yu?"
"I thought it was him at first, but from many aspects, I don't think it must be him." Gu Ruobai frowned. "There are too many people who could benefit from my injury."
Su Mingyu nodded. "Then let's keep an eye on Concubine Ning first."
Without any interruptions, Su Mingyu and Gu Ruobai had a rather leisurely time at the mansion.
The next day was the day for them to visit Su Mingyu's family. To avoid gossip, Su Mingyu got up early and went to the Su Mansion with Gu Ruobai.
The two came to the main hall and served tea to Su Zhengyi and Wang Manwen. Su Mingyu was surprised to find that Su Yueyue wasn't there.
Just as she was about to ask something, Wang Manwen spoke first. "Mingyu, what's going on with your dowry?"
Su Mingyu looked at her suspiciously. "What dowry?"
"I know exactly how much dowry I prepared for you, but the dowry sent to the Prince Rui's mansion was more than double. What's going on?" Wang Manwen had been there the whole time, but she really didn't know when those extra dowries were taken to the Prince Rui's mansion.
Su Zhengyi didn't like it when Wang Manwen always brought up the dowry. But when he heard that there was so much extra, he also looked a bit suspicious. "Mingyu, did you take Ye Mengdie's former dowry with you?"
Su Mingyu pretended to frown and think for a long time before saying, "Do you mean the betrothal gifts that came later, Second Aunt?"
"Those were from Elder Ye." Su Mingyu looked at Su Zhengyi with clear eyes. "Elder Ye didn't want me to tell you all, so I didn't say much."
Hearing Su Mingyu's words, Su Zhengyi nodded in understanding. "If that's the case, I understand."
Wang Manwen originally thought it was Su Mingyu's private savings. Now that she heard it was from Ye Weiguang, she didn't say anything more.
"Why isn't my sister here at the Su Mansion today?" Su Mingyu asked suspiciously.
Wang Manwen's face suddenly darkened. "Although the Su Mansion and the Prince of Yu's Mansion are quite close, this is still her natal family. It's not appropriate for Yue'er to come here too often."
Su Mingyu let out an ambiguous "oh". "Father, Second Aunt, we'll go back to the mansion first. The Prince Rui avoided seeing anyone yesterday. He has to go back today to receive those officials."
Su Zhengyi had been around for a long time. He waved his hand. "Go."
As soon as they walked out of the Su Mansion, Su Mingyu patted Gu Ruobai's shoulder. "I saw Su Yueyue and the Prince of Yu walking hand in hand yesterday. Is something wrong with the Prince of Yu's Mansion?"
Gu Ruobai frowned. "Everything seemed fine when we were together. Maybe they went to see Concubine Ning after we separated. I'll ask Mu Yi to check later."
Su Mingyu let out a soft "en". If that was really the case, her plan to take revenge on Su Yueyue could probably be advanced.