Jin Rong lowered her head, twisting the handkerchief in her hands back and forth. Seeing her like this, Gu Sinian understood everything. She was smitten with the sixth son of the Yan family. Logically, she had only seen his portrait, it shouldn't be like this!
Gu Sinian thought a bit more, a possibility occurring to him. He immediately lowered his voice and asked, "Jin Rong, tell your cousin, have you met the Yan family's sixth son before?"
Jin Rong's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, "I snuck out once and met him. Someone was bullying an old man selling wares, and he stepped in to resolve it."
Gu Sinian understood everything now. A young girl in love was easily attracted to someone with heroic spirit, let alone someone she secretly admired. Therefore, her heart was entirely set on the Yan family's sixth son.
"He doesn't know you, does he?" Gu Sinian asked again.
Jin Rong nodded, "He helped the person and left. I didn't feel it was appropriate to step forward and strike up a conversation."
"This matter, your cousin will seriously and carefully investigate for you. As long as the Yan family hasn't betrothed him, and he doesn't have someone he fancies, this matter can be settled. Your cousin must remind you, if the Yan family's sixth son has someone he fancies, then you should drop this matter. Let your aunt select someone else who suits you; even if it's delayed by a couple more years, that's acceptable," Gu Sinian said.
He himself was fond of Zhen Zhen and knew what it felt like to have a crush. He couldn't bear to separate the Yan family's sixth son from his own intended.
"Cousin, don't worry. If it's really like that, I will definitely control myself and not cause him any trouble. When the time comes, I will still need your help with my marriage. I want to wait a few more years before taking a consort."
If that person was him, she was willing to marry early. If that person wasn't him, then there was nothing to look forward to.
Gu Sinian gently patted Jin Rong's shoulder, "Go back. Don't throw a tantrum with your aunt. You were born to her, and she wishes you well with all her heart. The words you speak in anger pierce her heart."
Jin Rong hummed, "Cousin, please send my regards to your wife. Tell her to take good care of her pregnancy. If there's an opportunity, I'll go to Taihe Temple to see her."
"Alright, I will definitely deliver your message."
After exiting the palace gates, a man in black robes joined Gu Sinian. Gu Sinian told him about the matters Chongwen Emperor had instructed him to investigate. The man in black robes nodded slightly, and within a few breaths, he disappeared.
Gu Sinian planned to return to his manor. His grandmother was there, and he had been away for so long; it was only right to pay his respects to the elder upon his return.
However, before he could reach the Duke's manor, he was stopped.
The one who stopped him was none other than Li An.
"Lord Li, we haven't reached the stage of drinking together yet." Gu Sinian's face was cold, his voice sharp as if laced with ice shards.
It was clear he disliked Li An, but Li An was not offended. He still smiled, "We didn't before, but that doesn't mean we won't in the future. Aren't all relationships built over time? I didn't have much of a relationship with Young Master Qian before, but now we do?"
"Li An, you know that you cannot covet what does not belong to you. If you behave yourself properly, your life will naturally not be bad. But if you harbor foolish desires and exhaust any goodwill, do you think you will gain anything good? The imperial family is the most heartless; you must have heard this saying."
Li An's expression finally changed, "He told you? Impossible."
Gu Sinian stared coldly at Li An, "Do you think you're the only one with brains? With so many things happening together, how could I not find any clues? Some matters, once investigated, will reveal themselves."