How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Chapter 167 Guo Zixing's Plans

Guo Zixing rushed into the backyard of the Marshal's Mansion and headed straight for the Second Madam.

At this moment, the second wife was holding her daughter, recounting the family treasures, "This pearl necklace is made from South China Sea pearls that your brother brought back. They're so beautiful, each one as big as a longan. You can't find such round pearls anywhere else in the country. And these twisted bracelets are the same as those worn by Madam Meiling, with such a beautiful translucency..."

Before she could finish speaking, Guo Huaitong interrupted her, "Oh, I don't want these. These are for older people like you. It's not right for a young girl like me to wear these old-fashioned clothes. Make them for me again."

Guo Huaitong pleaded sweetly, and the second wife couldn't resist at all. She smiled indulgently and pinched her daughter's nose, "You, I really owe you. Go to the Huang family and choose whatever you want. Just take it."

"Thank you, Mother, I love you the most." Guo Huaitong hugged and kissed the Second Madam, overjoyed to the point of being completely oblivious to her surroundings.

After talking for a while, Guo Huaitong carried a pile of jewelry out.

"Hey! Big brother? You scared me! Why are you hiding at the doorway scaring people?" Guo Huaitong glared at him and scolded him with great dissatisfaction.

Guo Zixing glanced at the items, his expression changed slightly, and then he caught a warning look from the Second Madam out of the corner of his eye.

Where is Guo Ziyou?

"How should I know?" Guo Huaitong rolled her eyes and turned to leave when she heard that they weren't looking for her.

Guo Zixing's target wasn't her, but rather he looked directly at the second wife and asked, "What do you think?"

Guo Zixing's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

Even though the second wife was used to his indifference, this was the first time she had experienced his contempt, and her pride immediately took over.

"What kind of tone should you use when speaking to your elders? Didn't your mother teach you that?"

Guo Zixing didn't care. He snorted and ordered his men to search the place.

The second wife panicked, "Guo Zixing, what are you doing?"

"Second Madam, please don't worry. It was my fault just now. I didn't explain things clearly to you. Ziyou is suspected of opium use. I've come to arrest him. Please don't mind."

"You scoundrel!" the second wife shouted angrily. "What opium? Don't make baseless accusations! I know you're jealous that Ziyou is favored by the Marshal, but how can you, as his elder brother, slander your own brother?"

Guo Zixing heard the tremor in the Second Madam's voice; her loud shouting was nothing but a show of bravado masking her inner weakness.

Guo Zixing gently adjusted his collar, his expression respectful. "It's just a matter of routine. You know Father's bottom line. Someone has informed on us, so I have no choice but to find Ziyou to clarify this matter. Don't you think so? Would it sound good to have Ziyou labeled as an opium addict?"

The second wife's chest heaved violently, her face was pale, she clenched her hands tightly, and bit her lip hard.

Of course she knew that Commander Guo hated opium, but Ziyou...didn't he say he had already given it up? Why did he have to get involved with it again?

Guo Zixing ignored the second wife and walked straight inside.

The second wife's eyes reddened, her heart aching; she absolutely could not let Guo Zixing capture her.

"Wait a minute, this is the women's quarters. Ziyou won't be in there. You're using public office for private purposes."

Guo Zixing laughed, "Second Madam is right. If it weren't for your kind reminder, I'm afraid I would have done something wrong. I'll be going now to look for him somewhere else. Oh, by the way, if you see him, tell him to go to the police station."

"Of course," the second wife said through gritted teeth.

Guo Zixing came and went in a hurry, probably to warn him. No, he must not let Guo Zixing find any fault with him.

She knew that if she didn't stop Guo Zixing today, she might not be able to get past Commander Guo.

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down, and watched Guo Zixing walk away.

Ziyou, Ziyou, why did you have to cause trouble? I've already done so much for you... why did you do something so foolish? Do you really think the Commander-in-Chief will let you off the hook because of me? If he finds out the truth, he'll probably be the first one to shoot you!

Having utterly disgraced the Guo family, Marshal Guo was even less likely to forgive Ziyou.

The second wife suddenly became energetic, and her former battlefield alertness returned.

After closing the door, the second wife changed into military attire, took a gun, mounted her horse, and headed straight for the outskirts.

She must stop Guo Zixing from arresting Ziyou; she absolutely cannot let Ziyou be captured by Guo Zixing!

The Guo family owned a manor in the suburbs, which was originally the estate of a landlord from the Qing Dynasty. It was old and rustic, and none of the Guo family members wanted to live there.

Now it is the place where Guo Ziyou gathers people to smoke opium.

Guo Zixing watched the dust kicked up by the Second Madam's departing horse and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; I'm curious how the second wife will turn the tide this time."

To avoid alerting the enemy, Guo Zixing and his men traveled on foot. Fortunately, the horses' hoofprints were deep, so they weren't worried about losing track of them.

As she continued forward, the second wife arrived near the manor. From a distance, she saw several men blocking the gate. Their eyes darted around, and they carried weapons that did not resemble those of soldiers.

These weren't Guo's private soldiers; they looked more like lowly servants from some unknown family.

It was this group of people who led Guo Ziyou astray?!

Enraged, the second wife swiftly dispatched the guards with her gun.

He leaped off his horse and strode toward the manor. But as soon as he reached the entrance of the hall, he heard a woman screaming inside, followed by the lewd laughter of the men and the woman's pleas for mercy.

Gunshots weren't enough to bring them to their senses?

The second wife grew even angrier and kicked the door open.

Guo Zixing was enjoying himself when he was startled by a sudden loud noise. He turned around abruptly and found a second wife standing in front of him.

"mother?"

The man next to her didn't recognize Mrs. Guo and thought she was a woman's family member coming to ask for her return. He shouted angrily and tried to jump off the bed, but was held down by the two men next to him.

"Who is it?" the man shouted.

Guo Ziyou slapped her across the face, saying, "Are you blind? This is my mother."

The man trembled with fright and got off the bed, shaking. Madam Guo the Second—even Marshal Guo dared not offend her.

"Second, second wife."

Guo Ziyou felt guilty upon seeing the second wife. "Mother, why are you here?"

The second wife snorted coldly, "Hmph, that's a question for you!"

After speaking, the second wife looked around the room. The smells of smoke, alcohol, and an unknown sweet fragrance were mixed together, and there were several men and women with disheveled clothes.

His seemingly carefree and ignorant demeanor was actually her son?

"Do you know what you're doing? How did you end up like this?" Mrs. Guo was furious. She rushed over, grabbed Guo Ziyou's clothes, and pulled him up.

Guo Ziyou tried to resist, but the second wife threw a punch, making him see stars. He staggered and fell to the ground.

Being knocked to the ground in front of his underlings and losing face made him resentful, even towards his own mother.

"What do you want? Things have already come to this. We've already hit you and yelled at you. If you have nothing else to do, just go home."

Guo Zixing rubbed his forehead, which was sore from being hit, and impatiently shooed him away.

"Do you know your father has already heard that you're using opium? Guo Zixing is searching the whole city for you. If I hadn't stopped him in time, he would have even searched my yard. And you still want me to leave? Is your brain filled with opium and you can't tell the difference between the sun and the moon?"

"What?!" Guo Ziyou's eyes widened.

His father has already heard? How could that be? He kept it so well hidden, never revealing a single word, except…

"You wretched child, how long do you intend to keep this a secret? Your father has spies all over the city, who do you think you can fool? I warned you long ago not to get involved with this stuff, but you... do you know how embarrassed your father will be by this? How could you be so foolish! How could you make such a basic mistake?"

The second wife was disappointed in her son and disliked the other people in the room even more.

Guo Ziyou, now fully awake, asked, "Mother, how did Father know? Was it... the newspaper...?"

"Someone tipped us off."

Guo Ziyou breathed a sigh of relief; at least it wasn't a newspaper.

"Then just kill the informant. It's no big deal," Guo Ziyou said dismissively.

The second wife was furious. "You make it sound so simple. Do you know who betrayed you? Why did they betray you? How did they know the information? Son, don't be so confused."

"What the Second Madam says is absolutely right." Guo Zixing stood with his hands behind his back, with officers lined up behind him, protecting him firmly.

Guo Ziyou stared wide-eyed in horror at Guo Zixing's sudden entrance. "It's you?"

How does he know? !