Lin Youning was unaware that such a thing had happened when she was excited. She slept through to noon the next day, and Liang Hui and the others had already arrived upon hearing the news. So when she woke up, she saw her sister-in-law, Sister Ling, and her grandmother all in the room, and they all gathered around as soon as they saw her wake up.
"You lucky girl, before the midwife could arrive, you gave birth to the child yourself." Mrs. Liu Sr. was delighted, her smile unable to close.
Liang Hui also laughed, "The little guy is good, not crying at all."
Sister Ling also leaned forward, "Brother Zong is very well-behaved."
Lin Youning laughed, "How do you know he’s called Brother Zong?"
"The Marquis said so, said to call him Brother Zong," Sister Ling said fearlessly, although she was of the age for marriage discussions, she was still like a child.
Mrs. Liu Sr. didn’t say much, still unsure how to pamper her. With such a daughter, Liang Hui naturally cherished her as well.
This caused Sister Ling’s personality to beco even more lively.
Sister Hong and Sister Ying dared not speak recklessly before Mrs. Liu Sr., only giggling to themselves. Lin Youning looked at the room full of people, missing only her eldest brother, knowing it was inconvenient for him to be there, but also aware it broke convention.
Mrs. Liu Sr. was an elder, shrewd and insightful, she noticed Sister Ning was preoccupied. After so ti with the group sitting together, she finally spoke, "Sister Ling, take your two sisters to see Brother Zong, I need a word with your aunt."
Sister Ling blinked, then happily took Sister Hong and Sister Ying out. Once the door closed behind them, Mrs. Liu Sr. spoke, "What’s wrong? I can see you have sothing on your mind. You’re recuperating now, you can’t have distractions."
"It’s nothing, it’s just suddenly becoming a mother, I’m a bit unaccustod," Lin Youning lowered her head. How could she admit the truth, that she felt a bit down not seeing her older brother upon waking up.
Those words refused to leave her mouth, feeling herself spoiled by her elder brother.
Seeing her shy face, Mrs. Liu Sr. thought for a mont, then laughed, "Alright, alright, I understand, you young people, still young at heart. Your sister-in-law and I have been here for nearly half a day, now we’ll go see the child, the Marquis should know you’re awake."
Liang Hui imdiately caught on, laughing as she stood, "Yes, your elder brother is still at the front, worrying about you all along. I’ll go inform him."
Lin Youning blushed deeply, "Grandmother, please stay for a al as well."
Mrs. Liu Sr. laughed, "Your father and grandfather are here too, today we’ll dine before leaving. Don’t worry, we’ll be back shortly."
Hearing these words eased Lin Youning’s heart, watching her grandmother and the others leave, she let out a sigh of relief. She shifted her body and changed positions, soon hearing footsteps outside, Lin Youning quickly raised her head, seeing her elder brother walk in.
Gu Yifeng didn’t rush to the bedside, "I’m carrying the chill, let warm up here first. How are you feeling? The kitchen’s kept the soup warm, would you like to eat sothing?"
Lin Youning shook her head, "I’m fine, big brother, have you seen Brother Zong? Is he cute?"
Gu Yifeng’s expression tightened, Lin Youning imdiately noticed, nervously asking, "What’s wrong? Is sothing wrong with Brother Zong?"
"Brother Zong is fine, he’s great." Gu Yifeng saw her worry and quickly reassured her, "Besides, the child’s only a day old, how can one tell if they’re cute, just a little one."
Lin Youning first sighed in relief, but soon found herself puzzled, scrutinizing her elder brother, not understanding why he seed unhappy, her smile faded bit by bit, her face growing grave as she watched him, "Big brother, is sothing wrong?"
Gu Yifeng had already moved to the bedside, "Nothing, just focus on getting better."
Lin Youning grew more anxious seeing him like this, "What’s going on, big brother? Just tell , what is it that you’re hiding?"
"There’s really nothing, don’t dwell on it. Truly, nothing’s wrong." Gu Yifeng clasped her hand, "Don’t say anything more."
Lin Youning nodded but couldn’t muster happiness.
Despite her big brother’s words, she could see there was sothing he was concealing, though unclear what it might be.
Gu Yifeng saw that Sister Ning clearly had concerns, but said nothing more, pretending not to notice. When Sister Ling’s laughter ca from outside, Gu Yifeng finally stood, "I’ll head to the front courtyard, grandfather and father are still there."
Lin Youning nodded, watching him leave with long strides, feeling her heart sink little by little. When Sister Ling and the others ca in, she lacked the spirit to converse with them.
It wasn’t until later when Sister Yue arrived that Lin Youning perked up and asked to have her brought in. As Sister Yue entered, seeing so many people, her deanor grew rather restrained. She greeted the people in the room and exchanged a few pleasantries with Lin Youning.
"I’m curious what my little nephew looks like." Sister Yue said with curious yet cautious enthusiasm.
Her deanor was completely transford from what it was during her childhood.
Lin Youning found her rather pitiable, "Let have soone bring you over to look."
She was about to call soone in when Sister Ling interjected, "I’ll take her over, Sister Hailan is busy."
Seeing Sister Ling eager to help, Lin Youning smiled, "Alright, you accompany her then."
Sister Yue quickly thanked them, and she and Sister Ling left together.
With only Sister Hong and Sister Ying left in the room, Lin Youning asked them what they had been busy with at the manor lately. The two, not feeling reserved before Lin Youning, responded. Learning they had been viewing potential matches, Lin Youning asked which families, and upon hearing knew it was under her grandfather’s guidance and understood why.
Although they were legitimate daughters, they were ultimately born to concubines, seeking a family with a slightly lower status seed wise.
The conversation didn’t last long before Sister Ling ran back in from outside, "What are you discussing? I heard laughter from outside."
"Oh? Do you want to hear?" Lin Youning teased her, Sister Ling’s eyes darted, but she quickly shook her head.
Seeing her like this, Lin Youning and the others laughed, and once the laughter quieted, she asked about Sister Yue, "Finished so quickly? Where’s Sister Yue?"
"She said she’d watch for a little while longer, I got bored and ca back first, she’ll be along shortly." Sister Ling shrugged.
Lin Youning’s smile montarily paused, "Is the nursemaid over there?"
Sister Ling nodded, then shook her head, "She left when we went in."
Lin Youning said nothing further, but her expression changed, and even Sister Hong and Sister Ying felt sothing was off, a weighty feeling rising on their faces.
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