After returning to the mansion, Lin Youning went to see Mrs. Gu Sr. and naturally ntioned this matter, but Mrs. Gu Sr. smiled and didn’t ask much.
She told Lin Youning to go back and rest. Lin Youning knew that her aunt had a good understanding, so she got up and returned to Tingxue Hall.
After Lin Youning left, Mrs. Gu Sr. kept Nanny Chi to talk, "It seems that the second young lady of the Wu Mansion is interested in the Marquis?"
Nanny Chi, who had entered the Gu Mansion with Mrs. Gu Sr., knew the old lady’s temperant. At this mont, the old lady left her here, not really to speculate about the second young lady of the Wu Mansion.
With this in mind, Nanny Chi smiled and said, "What kind of person is our Marquis? Those interested in the Marquis would almost line up outside of the Capital."
Mrs. Gu Sr. laughed, "You old thing, clearly guessing what I have in mind, yet teasing like this."
"How could this old servant be teasing you, Miss? Every word is the truth," Nanny Chi replied with a smile.
Mrs. Gu Sr. shook her head with a smile, "Ah, the second young lady of the Wu Mansion has a reputation, but her manners are too small-minded. If she enters the mansion, she might not proceed peacefully. Those with talent, which one is not proud? If they really give birth to offspring in the future, their hearts will be even less steady."
"You have always been the most accurate in observing, so there’s no need to consider it anymore. Besides, she’s a young girl not yet married; it’s not that this old servant is criticizing her behind her back, but her appearance won’t stand out." Nanny Chi had changed her form of address naturally and spoke more freely.
"That’s exactly what I think. The Gu Mansion originally has few heirs; it cannot be further disrupted. We need to find soone stable to enter the mansion." Mrs. Gu Sr. had already evaluated the families in the Capital and was clear-minded: it had to be soone from an official family who is stable and without future upheaval in mind.
"Miss has a clear vision, too. This old servant will just wait to see the little ones and hold grandchildren." Nanny Chi felt heartache for her master’s mistress, "Miss should take a break; after all these years, others might not know, but this old servant knows how you endured."
If not for Miss holding the Marquis Mansion together, who knows how things would have turned out over the years.
No one ntioned this matter again. But Mrs. Dong had soone inquire about going out of the mansion and whether it went smoothly, but since Li Si followed along, naturally nothing was found out.
Lin Youning was happy to et new people and even to know that there’s a father who cares so much about her, yet she couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.
Even though she’s always pampered in the Marquis Mansion, she sotis can’t help but long for the care of her relatives.
It was already mid-March when she left the mansion, and by the end of March, invitations for a banquet to be held in mid-April at the Marquis Mansion had been sent out.
During this period, Mrs. Dong also returned to her natal ho once, a rare occasion outside of the New Year’s festivals, and returned in the afternoon of the sa day.
Lin Youning heard from Shanmoi’s inquiry that after Mrs. Dong returned, although her face was heavily powdered, her eyes still appeared swollen.
As the weather gradually ward, Sister Hui visited Tingxue Pavilion more frequently. Sister Hui has a quiet disposition, mostly engaging in embroidery work together with Lin Youning when she visits.
Having more interactions, Lin Youning thought Sister Hui’s temperant wasn’t bad—aloof but discerning, not catering to anyone nor targeting anyone.
Lin Youning even felt that, at tis, this disposition of Sister Hui’s was quite similar to her own.
Even when they didn’t talk sotis, they could spend a whole day together doing their own things.
Later, Sister Yue also joined them occasionally. Sister Yue had a lively personality and didn’t feel awkward for having spoken ill of Lin Youning outside. Whenever Sister Hui ca, she would follow along.
Lin Youning naturally wouldn’t drive anyone away. However, feeling noisy, she used going to Shi’an Garden to pay respects as an excuse. With this, Sister Hui followed her, and although Sister Yue pretended to be unaffected, after a few tis, her visits beca less frequent.
Lin Youning was relieved the peace returned. It was already April and during Qingming, on this day, families honored their ancestors at the tombs.
Gu Yifeng and Gu Er, along with the servants and guards, went to the cetery, returning to the mansion only in the evening.
The household had a long-standing tradition to observe a vegetarian diet on this day.
The banquet at the Gu Mansion was scheduled for mid-April, and after Qingming, the Marquis Mansion also beca busy, changing window screens and replacing winter items with those used in spring.
The previously somber Marquis Mansion beca vibrant.
Even the servants’ faces had more smiles.
anwhile, Lin Youning had her own plans. Her marriage contract with Gu Er couldn’t be broken, so she wondered if she could take advantage of the upcoming banquet at the Marquis Mansion to design a situation concerning Gu Er.
How could the daughter of a noble family willingly beco a concubine? This way, she could potentially be married to Gu Er as the main wife of the Gu family’s main house.
This matter seed simple but was challenging to execute. Every step required careful calculation without leaving traces.
More importantly, this was a matter she had to handle personally; even Shanmoi couldn’t be involved.
After all, with risk at stake, the fewer people were aware, the safer it would be.
It also pertained to her new life.
"Miss, word has co from Yingshui Courtyard, saying that Miss should go over for asurents; the mansion is having new spring clothes made for the young ladies." After Shanmoi entered and saw the young lady daydreaming, she bore a puzzled look, "Miss, have you been preoccupied lately? You keep sitting alone lost in thought."
"The mansion is inviting families from the Capital this ti. Do you know which families’ young ladies will co?" Lin Youning asked casually while letting Shanmoi help her change clothes.
Shanmoi laughed, "The servant only knows that many families of lower rank were invited this ti. The details are with Nanny Chi. If Miss wants to know, the servant can find out when free."
"I was just asking offhand." Lin Youning stopped Shanmoi’s hand, which was about to pin a pearl flower in her hair, "There’s no need to go out; you know I don’t like wearing those things."
After all, her heart was not that of a true fifteen-year-old girl, long filled with the vicissitudes of life.
Just as the master and servant were about to leave, Hailan walked in carrying a gift box, "Miss, Madam Xu sent sothing over," Hailan placed the items on a small square table on the couch, "The old lady directly had them sent to you."
Lin Youning paused, "Why was sothing suddenly sent over?"
Hailan, astute, opened the box, revealing so accessories for ladies to wear, among which was a white hairpin.
Shanmoi gasped, pointing at the hairpin, "Miss."
Shanmoi’s face turned pale. Hailan, not knowing why she reacted so, was startled by her reaction and looked at their master in a panic.
It was precisely the hairpin that Xu Yuxian wanted to give to Lin Youning, which she had ultimately refused.
Lin Youning frowned slightly, "Did the old lady say anything when having the items sent over?"
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