The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 174 - 173: The Fallout

Lady Lin listened to her mother and a smile emerged on her face, her eyes shining brightly.

"Do you have a plan?" Mrs. Gao Sr. surely knew how many thoughts her daughter had in her mind; seeing her like this, she knew it was not a good idea.

"When Lin Youning was sent to my sister’s side, I remember there was a birthmark of a plum blossom on her shoulder, very unique, a four-petal plum blossom. If someone is searching for a girl by her birthmark, I don’t believe there won’t be a reaction from the Marquis Mansion." Lady Lin’s eyes glinted, and as for the ’someone,’ naturally she had found such a person.

Mrs. Gao Sr. immediately understood, remained silent, and Lin Qining’s eyes also sparkled with concealed joy.

That day, upon seeing the Marquis in the Marquis Mansion, she could not forget that man. She had fantasized once, but she knew it was impossible.

She could never have a relationship with such a man.

But who would have thought that within a few nights, everything would take a turn, and she was soon to replace Lin Youning and marry the Dingyuan Marquis.

Lady Lin moved in with her daughter at the General Gao Mansion, and after the rumors of the Dingyuan Marquis replacing Gu Er spread, soon there were rumors circulating that the Dingyuan Marquis’s foster daughter was simply an unknown orphan girl. The reason for such rumors was naturally related to the plum blossom birthmark on her shoulder.

It was said someone had been searching everywhere for a child with a plum blossom birthmark on the shoulder.

When the words from both sides align, it’s only natural that these rumors are not entirely unfounded.

It’s already early June, the sixth of June is Lin Youning’s coming-of-age ceremony, so the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion has become busy. As for the rumors outside, even if the servants in the mansion hear them, no one dares to privately discuss them.

Currently, due to the Second Madam being grounded, the First Madam being ill, the whole Marquis Mansion is shrouded in a layer of gloom; who would dare risk their lives to discuss these matters?

Though no one discusses them, the unusual looks from those at Tingxue Hall are evident.

Shanmoi, who is impatient, grabbed a few little maids and questioned them before finding out what was going on, which shocked her greatly.

The young lady does have a birthmark on her shoulder, known only to those closest, with no outsiders aware.

But now, such rumors are circulating outside – could it really be related to the young lady’s background?

Shanmoi, being loyal, couldn’t keep quiet about such matters, reprimanded a few little maids from speaking further and went to the master.

"...young lady, who knows who is spreading this behind our backs." Shanmoi said with a face filled with anger.

Lin Youning’s eyes flickered slightly and she smiled, "You believe such rumors? If this is true, how come the Lin Mansion doesn’t say anything? You should know if I were an orphan girl, it should be the Lin Mansion’s girl enjoying this fortune, how could anyone see me being so prosperous without a stir?"

Shanmoi thought for a moment, nodded, feeling that the master made sense, but then recalled the Lin Mansion and shook her head, "Yesterday Lady Lin came over, but didn’t say she would see the young lady."

"She came over for something, and anyway, it’s only a few days until my coming-of-age ceremony, she’ll still come over herself." Lin Youning didn’t mind, but she still needed to persuade those around her not to overthink it, nor to let others see anything, "She truly cares for me, and might be worried Aunt wouldn’t be pleased."

Hearing the latter part, Shanmoi was relieved.

Meanwhile, in the Shi’an Garden, Mrs. Gu Sr. fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand, "Has the Marquis returned?"

Earlier, she had sent the eldest son to investigate what Mrs. Kong had said; now that the eldest son had no news, rumors outside had started, and even involved Sister Ning’s shoulder birthmark.

Mrs. Gu Sr. was not confused; she understood that if things were truly this way, it seemed Sister Ning’s identity was likely problematic.

A child she had cared for suddenly turned out to be an orphan of unknown origin, Mrs. Gu Sr.’s heart was complicated, unable to dare think further.

She had always valued heritage, but truly facing Sister Ning, she had broken her own rules countless times.

This time, then?

The Marquis has not yet returned to the mansion, I have sent a message to the Woodland Pavilion, and told the gatekeeper to escort him to the Woodland Pavilion directly upon his return." Suyi answered respectfully.

Mrs. Gu Sr. nodded, "Have the invitation cards been sent out? Who has responded?"

"All who received the invitations sent responses, saying they would arrive on time."

"That’s good," Mrs. Gu Sr. muttered softly.

While at the Marshal Zhao Mansion, Zhao Housheng returned with urgency, and Liang Hui waited for him; clearly, both knew about the rumors outside.

"Could it be that the Lin Mansion intends to find someone to impersonate Sister Min’s family?" Liang Hui, though from a farming background, wasn’t stupid, "If that’s true, on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, why don’t we directly identify them and bring Sister Min back, can’t let them ruin her."

Zhao Housheng nodded, "That’s what I think too, on the day of the ceremony stay close to the womenfolk, if anything unexpected happens, step out, and the Marquis will support us."

Liang Hui looked at her husband, assuming he was the Marquis’s person, thus believing the Marquis would support them, so she nodded, unaware Zhao Housheng was referring to something else.

Zhao Housheng didn’t explain, knowing his wife misunderstood.

Every family had its plans.

Something hidden seemed to be waiting, waiting to erupt on that June sixth day.

In Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Sister Yue wanted to return to the Duke Mansion but was not permitted, throwing daily tantrums, without Mrs. Kong to manage her, but the nanny was strict during this time, making Sister Yue tidy herself up after a few spankings.

Sister Yue heard the rumors, and having once heard Lin Qining’s careless words, now with the rumors outside, thinking about Lin Youning’s cold-heartedness, naturally didn’t say anything nice in front of the attendants.

She even vaguely revealed what Lin Qining had said.

This matter spread from the fourth young lady’s mouth in the Marquis Mansion, and the girls of Lin Mansion were the masters, and now before Lin Youning’s coming-of-age ceremony, each noble family was already lively.

Attending the ceremony seemed less important than verifying if all this was true.

Mrs. Gu Sr. finally waited for the eldest son this evening, and upon hearing his words, she remained silent for a long time without speaking.

"Have you found out whose girl it is?" With the rumors outside growing heavier, and hearing the eldest son’s words, Mrs. Gu Sr. was already convinced it was true.

"Not yet, but I investigated the events back then, Lin Sheng was just a scholar, Sister Ning is likely purchased from outside." Gu Yifeng said.

"Indeed." Mrs. Gu Sr. sighed.

The Lin Mansion wasn’t a large household, an extra child not bought from poor families, where else could she come from?