Lin Youning knew it was too late to leave now. It wouldn’t matter if she didn’t et Mrs. Xu in the future, but if she did, she would naturally earn a reputation for eavesdropping. She was relieved that she was still just a child.
She pretended to be innocent and naive, tilting her head to assess the other party without a hint of guilt for eavesdropping. As she assessed the other, the other was assessing her too.
Within monts, the other party’s sharp gaze softened, "Are you from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion?"
Lin Youning was clearly in mourning attire, but the fabric was high-quality satin. The small white jade plum blossom hairpin on her hair could be enough for a common family’s expenses for a few years. Although she had only an old nanny by her side, her deanor was noble, evident in her actions.
Recalling what her son had told her, she could guess the other party’s identity by about seventy to eighty percent.
Lin Youning was worried about not being able to start a conversation with the other party. Hearing the other party take the initiative to speak, she was naturally happy, and responded crisply, "How did Granny know I’m from Dingyuan Marquis Mansion?"
Her innocent and naive deanor amused Mrs. Xu Sr., who had a warm and kindly appearance. Her round face broke into a smile, making her seem approachable, "Then you must be Sister Ning? I’m quite familiar with your aunt."
"Granny, you’re amazing." Lin Youning approached warmly, but she deeply felt the prowess of the won in these mansions, who could deduce her identity with just a glance.
As Lin Youning moved closer, Nanny Chang was sowhat worried. She dared not intervene and could only tentatively ask, "Is Madam the mother of General Xu?"
Mrs. Xu Sr. looked at the little one before her, gesturing for her to co closer while nodding towards Nanny Chang, "It’s rare for a servant to recognize my old identity. You must be serving the elderly lady of your house, right?"
"Thank you for your praise, Ma’am. I am indeed a servant to our old lady, now dispatched by her to take care of the young lady." Nanny Chang, understanding the other party’s status, naturally bowed again.
Mrs. Xu Sr. simply waved her hand, "When out, there aren’t so many rules."
Her attention then fell on Lin Youning, who she held by the hand. Having a child like her was rare and made Mrs. Xu Sr. happy, leading Lin Youning along the little stone path, followed by two maids with their heads lowered.
However, as an elderly person, having walked only half a circle in the small garden, Mrs. Xu Sr. was already sowhat breathless.
"Granny, let’s rest here for a bit." Lin Youning pointed to a patch of green near the lotus pond and pulled out a cloth from her own collar, "I’ll use this to cushion for you."
As she ran to the green area, Lin Youning called out to Nanny Chang, "Nanny, help Granny a little."
Mrs. Xu Sr. was also amused, but her heart ward. Once Lin Youning assisted her to sit on the bluestone, she praised, "She’s a caring child, our Sister Ning will surely turn out well."
"Granny, are you going down the mountain?" Lin Youning straightforwardly asked, echoing what she had heard earlier, without any concealnt, making people fond of her.
Thinking of her granddaughter, Mrs. Xu Sr.’s brow furrowed briefly, "Indeed, I have urgent matters. Next ti, I’ll send an invitation, would you like to co play at Granny’s house? I have a granddaughter your age."
Lin Youning nodded, grateful at heart for being a child as it made things easier, without needing to go around in circles, "But just now, this nanny said there were bandits down the mountain. It isn’t safe to go down at this ti. Granny loves the young lady at ho, and the lady will worry for you too. Wouldn’t it be better to send soone back to inform the young lady that you’ll return to the mansion tomorrow, so she won’t feel guilty for your travel on her behalf?"
Lin Youning spoke softly, her voice like feet stepping on cotton, her frail appearance evoking sympathy, yet she could articulately voice such coherent reasoning, warming the heart.
The old nanny beside Mrs. Xu Sr. was also moved, "Madam, even such a young girl knows not to let you travel. If the young lady at ho knew, she’d also worry. Why don’t you stay at the temple for the night? I will return to the mansion for you and you can return tomorrow, it’s not too late."
Mrs. Xu Sr. was swayed, observing this, Lin Youning hastily advised, "Even if the nanny helps Granny return to the mansion, she should take so guards along. Nanny serves beside Granny, shouldn’t she also not cause any worry?"
Knowing the dangers of the journey, Lin Youning had no other solution but hoped for more guards, believing that since it’s a servant going, the bandits wouldn’t harm her life.
Nanny Chang, standing by, frowned slightly, disapproving the young lady’s involvent in other family affairs, but considering the young lady’s age, figured teaching these rules later would suffice.
Mrs. Xu Sr. laughed, "Enough, I am fated to et Sister Ning, and she beca close to upon our first eting, sincerely considering my wellbeing. If I insisted on returning, it would hurt Sister Ning’s goodwill."
She affectionately hugged Lin Youning, who bashfully buried her face into Mrs. Xu Sr.’s embrace. This gesture was familiar, like when her aunt would hold her and praise her intelligence and good behavior, at such a young age having morized scriptures by heart.
Above her, Mrs. Xu Sr. instructed the accompanying nanny on the arrangents for returning. It had rained earlier, and though it stopped, the mountain winds remained harsh. After sitting for a short while, still needing to return for detailed instructions, Lin Youning bid farewell to Mrs. Xu Sr. and followed Nanny Chang back.
On the way back, Nanny Chang advised, "Miss, it was improper to have overheard affairs of the Xu Mansion without avoiding it, and to offer suggestions, this isn’t customary."
Lin Youning knew she ant well and agreed with a smile, her well-behaved deanor making it hard for Nanny Chang to continue lecturing.
The Lady had assigned her to be the young lady’s nanny, intending for her to teach and raise her, but the young lady’s usual sensibility and consideration, like in the Xu family matter, though her words were heartwarming, it defied convention, making it difficult to fault her.
However, while one may not bear to reprimand her, the young lady must eventually uphold the etiquette necessary for managing the Gu Mansion’s main house.
Upon returning to the guest quarters, as Suyi and others assisted Lin Youning in washing up, Nanny Chang relayed the situation, yet Mrs. Gu Sr. didn’t mind, "Little sister is still young, and kind-hearted. She’ll understand when she’s older."
During dinner, Gu Yixuan ntioned hearing from a little monk about a pond in the front hall with green fish, which surprised Mrs. Gu Sr. However, being advanced in age, with cold tolerance weakened after autumn rains, she couldn’t visit.
"Alright, take little sister to have a look." Her son wished to go, and Mrs. Gu Sr. didn’t mind, but seeing the anticipation in little sister’s eyes, she couldn’t refuse.
"I want to stay here with Aunt." Lin Youning was unwilling to go with Gu Yixuan.
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