Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Testing the Waters

Rong Ruiyuan heard the noise outside and was about to lose his temper, but then remembered the current situation.

He sat up and called out, "Pei Feng?"

"Master, Pei Feng is preparing hot water. Is there anything you need?" Gu Baijiang was already waiting outside, while the other members of the Gu Family were busy with breakfast.

To make a good impression on the Third Prince, Liu Yun had been busy for a long time with Gu Antong and Xu Yulan.

The culinary skills and dishes she had previously neglected were all revisited, and she barely managed to put together two dishes with the current ingredients.

"Mother, do you think this porridge will do?" Gu Antong was constantly watching the carriage, quickly tidying herself up whenever she heard any noise.

"Hurry up and find some clean bowls to serve two bowls," directed Liu Yun while attending to the pot, all the while taking care to serve even Lord Ming, who was accompanying the Third Prince.

Chen Dafu saw that the Gu Family was busy surrounding the Third Prince, whispered a few instructions to his family, and quietly left the corner.

When he reached Gu Kaiyuan’s place, he found the couple enjoying their noodles. If he wasn’t mistaken, there were two eggs on top of the noodles.

He couldn’t help but swallow his saliva, pondering how the Bai Family seemed to have thought of everything. Why couldn’t he have such a good in-law?

"You two seem to be living quite comfortably," remarked Chen Dafu, joining without being invited, finding a stone to sit on without feeling awkward.

Gu Kaiyuan, after giving Bai Suihe a piece of pickled bamboo shoot, said, "Mr. Chen, it seems you’re not too busy preparing for the journey, yet you still find time to drop by."

"Well, the night wasn’t peaceful. I, an old man with little sleep, have concerns I wish to share.

As for the luggage, my wife at home will handle it properly.

Aren’t you curious about who visited your family yesterday?"

Gu Kaiyuan, "No matter who the visitor was, I believe my father and the others will handle it well.

Given our current situation, our hospitality might not meet the standards, so the visitor might leave soon. Why should I concern myself with it?"

"You seem at ease. Judging by your father’s attitude, the visitor’s identity mustn’t be low. Aren’t you tempted?"

Gu Kaiyuan, finishing the last bit of noodle soup, went aside to wash up with the fresh water fetched in the morning before saying leisurely, "Surely Mr. Chen knows the visitor’s identity?

You used to be an old minister at court, didn’t you feel the urge to go greet your master? 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Mr. Chen, you can’t miss such opportunities. Perhaps it might lead to a pardon."

"Is that the Gu Family’s plan?" asked Chen Dafu, internally scornful as he watched Gu Kaiyuan tidy Bai Suihe’s bowl. This is the price of living off one’s wife.

"I wouldn’t know. Why don’t you ask my father?" Gu Kaiyuan put the bowl into the basket, cleaned up the water, and packed everything, ready to set off at a moment’s notice.

"Mr. Chen, I don’t know why you’re here, and I don’t want to speculate. However, I must tell you, if you’re hoping to extract information from me, you might be off track.

My father and the others never discuss family matters with me. I’m less clear about household affairs than the mundane tasks at the manor.

If you’re asking about cultivating land in Lingnan, I’m more than willing to discuss that."

Chen Dafu, "You always overthink. Do you think I, Chen Dafu, am that sort of person?

I merely came to ask if the Chen Family could travel together with you."

With the Third Prince present, he dared not follow behind the Gu Family, so he only found Gu Kaiyuan as a feasible option.

"This isn’t something I can decide on. The escort determines how to arrange personnel. As long as Mr. Liu arranges it, I have no objections, neither can I afford to. Don’t you agree, Mr. Chen?"

Chen Dafu rubbed his hands, "Of course, I understand these principles. It’s just that I’m unfamiliar with the escort and hoped you could help make the introduction."

"Seeing how well you interact with them, I thought asking you might help..."

Gu Kaiyuan, "That’s quite simple actually."

Chen Dafu felt a sense of joy, finally seeing some results.

"As long as Mr. Chen doesn’t mind spending silver, maybe Mr. Liu’s carriage could accommodate you as well," Gu Kaiyuan said earnestly, "Though for your situation, preparing eighty to a hundred taels shouldn’t be a problem."

Bai Suihe raised her sleeve to cover her face. Where Chen Dafu got his confidence to dare deal with such a villain, only to look foolish.

Chen Dafu’s face froze immediately, "Does it really require so much silver?"

"Mr. Chen, don’t you know? Isn’t it expected?" Gu Kaiyuan looked surprised. "Anywhere, if you seek favors, there’s a cost. Especially now.

Mr. Chen, if you’re planning to hit the road soon, you’d better act quickly, as changing plans isn’t allowed on the road."

"It is indeed a bit troublesome," Chen Dafu, annoyed, wanted to leave, but thinking of Rong Ruiyuan, he held back, "Anyway, today I’ll just follow behind you to have some peace of mind."

Bai Suihe had already returned to the carriage with the help of two maidservants, while Zhuang Datou and others were preparing to hitch the horses.

Seeing Chen Dafu still lingering, Bai Suihe had to remind, "Husband, I’ve packed everything. Check if anything is left behind."

Gu Kaiyuan, "I just remembered I left some dry firewood there. I’ll fetch it right away."

Saying this, he ran off quickly, ignoring Chen Dafu.

Chen Dafu, "..." Couldn’t he find a more credible excuse? There’s plenty of firewood along the way, no need to carry any on the carriage.

Gu Kaiyuan slipped away, and Chen Dafu felt awkward speaking to Bai Suihe, so he slowly returned to the Chen Family ranks.

Mrs. Chen had packed all the luggage, and their son and daughter-in-law were also burdened. Seeing Chen Dafu return, she knew he hadn’t achieved his purpose.

She could only whisper reminders, "Follow behind and slowly distance yourselves, try not to show yourselves, or just go and greet directly."

"Long hair, short wisdom. What do you know? If I could appear, I would have already.

Our family came with a mission. If exposed, all our previous suffering would be for nothing.

Make sure all the youngsters lay low, and avoid troubling the Gu Family.

Now let’s hope this master leaves soon."

"If he accomplishes his goal, do we still continue to follow?" Mrs. Chen was puzzled as to why such an idea arose.

Chen Dafu gave her a glance, "That’s beyond our control and doesn’t concern us."