The whole family died tragically? The eldest daughter is the most powerful in the capital after her

These words are more chilling than any reproach.

Lin Ruoxuan felt a surge of powerlessness in her heart, and her fingertips trembled slightly: "Nanyuan, it's not like this... I don't want to resist you, I just..."

Gu Nanyuan didn't look at her. He turned around and sat on the Luohan bed, arranging the bedding casually. "No need to explain. I already understand. You don't trust me after all."

His calmness is even more irresistible than his anger.

Lin Ruoxuan opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't find any words to refute.

The facts are before us. Her choice and her concealment make it impossible to justify anything.

Silence spread in the room.

Gu Nanyuan leaned back on the Arhat bed and closed his eyes, ending the silent argument.

Lin Ruoxuan stood there, looking at his back, her fingertips curled up in her sleeves, and the feeling of powerlessness in her heart became stronger and stronger.

She knew what to say, but she didn't know where to start.

"Nanyuan..." Her voice was almost inaudible, "I know I did something wrong, but..."

"Rest." Gu Nanyuan interrupted her, his tone cold, "I'm already very tired tonight."

In the end, Lin Ruoxuan could only let her hands drop helplessly, slowly turned around and walked towards the bed.

There was a faint sound of turning over on the bed behind her. She closed her eyes and forced herself to be calm, but she could not suppress the bitterness in her heart.

Gu family.

The ladies of several houses gathered together, and the aroma of incense rose up, filling the hall.

The Sixth Madam was the first to break the silence. She smiled softly and said, "Sister-in-law, there have been a lot of interesting things happening in the house recently. Have you heard about it?"

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo frowned slightly, but remained calm as always. She glanced at the ladies sitting there and responded calmly, "What interesting thing are you referring to, Sixth Sister-in-law? This mansion has always been peaceful, and I haven't heard any special news."

The Second Madam took over the conversation and chuckled, "Everyone is talking about this, you really don't know anything about it?"

The Third Madam gently put down the teacup in her hand. Her tone seemed nonchalant, but it also revealed a hint of teasing: "Don't the prince and the eldest lady sleep in separate beds? This word has spread everywhere now. Even those of us in the side rooms have heard about it. How could the eldest sister-in-law not know about it?"

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo's expression turned slightly cold and her eyes became sharp.

Her hand gently stroked the teacup, and she spoke in a calm tone: "Sleeping in separate beds? Where did this rumor come from? Why have I never heard Nanyuan and Ruoxuan mention it?"

The ladies looked at each other. The Sixth Lady continued to smile and lowered her voice, "Sister-in-law, we dare not say anything. It's just that the maids in the house are talking behind her back, saying that it came from the eldest lady's yard, and it sounds quite convincing."

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo's gaze gradually became colder, and a faint displeasure rose in her heart.

She slowly put down the teacup, her tone calm but with a hint of pressure: "Did it come from Ruoxuan's courtyard? The mansion has always been strict in discipline, how dare these people discuss the master's family affairs? If they really spread rumors recklessly, they will be severely punished."

The Third Madam nodded in agreement, with a slightly flattering tone: "Yes, sister-in-law, you have always been the most sensible. If these words were to spread outside, wouldn't people laugh at our Gu family?"

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo did not respond immediately, and the smile on her face faded a little.

She looked out the window, and after a moment she spoke slowly, her tone normal but with a hint of coldness: "I will investigate the matter between Nanyuan and Ruoxuan, but if I find out that the servant was the one spreading rumors, I will punish him severely."

Several ladies were silenced by her words and could only smile awkwardly and change the subject.

After everyone left, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo was still not at peace.

She called her trusted nanny, whispered a few instructions to her, and then went straight to Lin Ruoxuan's yard with a stern look.

In Lin Ruoxuan's courtyard, several maids were tidying up the fallen leaves beside the flower bed, and the winter wind was cool.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and a low voice broke the tranquility of the courtyard: "The Madam is here, everyone stand still!"

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo walked in and glanced coldly at the maids and old women standing in a row, with a scrutinizing look in her eyes.

She raised her hand and waved, her voice not loud but full of unquestionable authority: "Everyone come to the yard."

Soon, the servants in the yard gathered together, stood in a row with their heads down, and their faces were more or less filled with fear and anxiety.

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo stood in the corridor, her eyes swept across everyone's face, and her voice was cold and solemn: "Recently, rumors have been spreading in the mansion, saying that the prince and the eldest lady are not getting along, and there are even ridiculous rumors that they sleep in separate beds. Who spread these rumors? Stand up!"

The maids and old women looked at each other, and no one dared to answer for a moment. Only the wind blew by, bringing dead silence.

Seeing that no one admitted it, her eyes became colder and her voice was sharp: "Since no one is willing to stand up, then I will say it clearly. These words came from Ruoxuan Courtyard. If one of you didn't talk about it, how did those ladies outside hear it?"

As soon as the voice fell, an older woman could not help but shiver and whispered in defense: "Madam, please understand, we servants would never dare to talk about our masters behind their backs. Someone must have deliberately framed us..."

"That's enough." Lady Zhenguo interrupted her coldly before she could finish, her eyes icy as she swept over her, "False accusation? Then you guys can investigate it yourself. I'm going to leave it all to you today. If I hear anyone say anything that shouldn't be said again, I'll sell them out without mercy."

Before he finished speaking, the curtain in the corridor was lifted, and Lin Ruoxuan walked out slowly with a slight tiredness on her face. She was also startled by the noise.

She spoke softly, her eyes sweeping over the servants cowering in the yard: "Mother, what happened?"

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo turned to look at her, her expression slightly relaxed, but her tone was still somewhat serious: "I just heard that someone in the house was spreading gossip that Nan Yuan and you were not getting along, and that you slept in separate beds. Now that the news has spread outside and people are talking about it, I have to come and check it out."

Lin Ruoxuan was slightly startled, and the surprise on her face was obvious.

She pursed her lips, and swept her complicated eyes over the servants standing there, saying in a self-blaming tone: "I didn't expect this matter to be spread out. It was my negligence."

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo patted her hands and softened her tone: "Don't worry, I will take care of this matter for you today."

Then, she turned her head and looked at the row of cowering servants. "Now I ask again, who is gossiping behind my back? Stand up! If no one admits it, then supervise each other and report each other. Don't blame me for not giving you a chance."

These words were so powerful that the maids and old women lowered their heads, not daring to look her in the eye. The atmosphere was so tense that it was hard to breathe.

Afterwards, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo went into the house with Lin Ruoxuan.

"Ruoxuan." She raised her hand to signal the heroine to sit down, and asked inquiringly, "What is the situation between you and Nanyuan now? Are those rumors outside true?"