The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 189: Looking to the Future

Lin Youning welcomed the guests to the steps of the Warm Pavilion. After the tea was served, she asked Shanmoi and Hailan to bring out the collated accounts.

"These are the things I had someone organize; all these years, Aunt and Brother have given me these items. I’ve stored separately those that I’ve used. As for these valuable ones that haven’t been used, and the estates and shops Aunt gave me, I can’t take them all. Even those I’ve worn are quite numerous," Lin Youning said as she watched Brother flip through the accounts. "Throughout these years, Aunt has treated me like her own, and these things don’t equate to that affection. Yet regarding this matter, I’ve always kept her in the dark, which makes me uneasy."

As the two spoke, Lin Youning had already dismissed the servants, unafraid of any gossip.

"These things are yours, take them with you. I notice the land isn’t much, I’ll have Li Si bring over a few more land deeds for your dowry," Gu Yifeng closed the documents after flipping through them briefly. "As you leave the Marquis Mansion, Mother will feel sad, so not taking these things would add to her sorrow. I’ll have Li Si use a cart to send the items to Zhao Mansion tomorrow. Send a nanny from your side to sort things out. You should return to Zhao Mansion in these few days."

Lin Youning nodded, knowing she would have to leave eventually, and understood that Brother speaking to her himself spared her some awkwardness. However, hearing these words left her feeling empty inside.

In the past, she only thought of escaping the mansion, but now that she could truly leave, she realized there were many things she had overlooked.

From now on, she and Brother would be like strangers, unable to meet like before and play chess together.

The Warm Pavilion was quiet, the flickering candle flames making the silence even more pronounced.

Gu Yifeng looked at the little face before him, her head bowed, emotions clearly displayed. He reached over to touch her head across the table as he did when they were children.

"If you need anything in the future, just send word to me through someone. Even though you’ve left the Marquis Mansion, you’re still a daughter of the Marquis Mansion."

This tone resembled Aunt’s.

Lin Youning felt a sting in her nose, nodding gently, opening her mouth but unsure of what to say.

Living anew, she seemed to have lived more peacefully, perhaps due to Aunt and Brother’s care, which reined in the competence and assertiveness developed in her previous life.

"Brother, what exactly happened with Second Brother?" Lin Youning was full of doubts.

Feeling the withdrawing hand stiff in the air, Lin Youning grew even more puzzled.

Gu Yifeng met those clear eyes, his gaze lowered slightly, "Just some nonsense, knowing only brings more trouble; better to ignore him. He’s been spoiled over the years. Sending him to the camp for training might still save him."

Still save him?

Has it reached such a point?

The more things were like this, the more Lin Youning felt puzzled, especially since it was related to her staying at the Marquis Mansion. After all, Aunt had said it was because of something Gu Er did that Aunt decided to have her return to her ancestors.

It must have been something terribly rebellious, otherwise, how could Aunt have suddenly decided as such?

Lin Youning pursed her lips tightly, unable to comprehend how in both her past and present life, Gu Er had taken a sterility-inducing drug, leaving her wondering where Brother Zong came from?

Evidently not Gu Er’s.

Yet she was to marry Gu Er.

Could it be... Lin Youning’s face went pale. She knew Gu Er wanted to marry her and could even feel his lustful gaze upon her beauty.

But Gu Er was sterile, and clearly Aunt wouldn’t agree to let him shoulder responsibility, or else it wouldn’t have been changed to Brother. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

But what if Gu Er insisted on marrying her?

What would it take to convince Aunt to agree?

Unless she could bear offspring.

Lin Youning had already thought of a ridiculous notion and dared not ponder further. Perhaps it was that very notion that enraged Aunt, fearing harm to her, thus sending her to return to her ancestry.

"Don’t overthink it; no one can harm you," Gu Yifeng saw her face gradually grow pale and his expression turned colder.

Always this clever, not knowing whether it was good or bad.

Seeing Sister Ning like this, she clearly had guessed.

Gu Yifeng still couldn’t help but be angry thinking about the ridiculous idea that Second Brother had proposed.

Such a good Sister Ning, whom they had watched grow up, how could he utter such words?

Were it not for looking after their elderly mother, he would’ve liked to expel such a person from the Gu Family.

"Brother, I’m fine." Lin Youning knew her explanation was powerless.

Without a mirror, she knew just how terrible her face looked at that moment.

"Don’t overthink, sleep early," Gu Yifeng then rose to his feet.

Lin Youning stood and saw him off, still in a daze.

That scoundrel Gu Er, in her past life, she’d been schemed against by Mrs. Kong, and he treated her so, knowing full well, even arranging for others to share her bridal chamber, not sparing her.

But in her past life, Mrs. Kong was quite lucky, by chance, Gu Er’s actions covered up the matter of administering the sterility-inducing drug.

Yet in this life, Mrs. Kong wasn’t so fortunate, while Gu Er still relentlessly wouldn’t let her go. His downfall now was heaven’s justice.

Lin Youning’s heart simmered with anger all night, unable to find rest.

Meanwhile, in the backyard of Yingshui Courtyard, Aunt Lv had just helped Gu Yifeng wash his feet, "Master, Sister Jian and Sister Ran are grown now, who knows if I’ll have the chance to bear another child for you."

Aunt Lv was radiantly beautiful, with the candlelight illuminating her features, enhancing her charm.

Though Gu Yifeng’s gaze was sharp, lending an air of coldness, he was undeniably handsome, exuding a noble family demeanor.

At just thirty, he was at the prime of manhood.

Aunt Lv was six years younger than Gu Yifeng. At this age, she just matured, possessing none of a young girl’s immaturity, yet maintaining a hint of purity beyond that of a mature woman, with radiant beauty.

In the candlelight, the more one looked at the beauty, the more captivating she seemed.

Anyone would be moved, yet Gu Yifeng was indifferent to such matters of romance, but Aunt Lv couldn’t resist her feelings.

Aunt Lv called in a maid to take away the foot water and then used all her charms to seduce the man beside her.

Gu Yifeng lay on his side in bed, his expression unperturbed, restrained and calm, as if Aunt Lv didn’t even exist.

Aunt Lv, unwilling to give up, her voice choked with sobs, "Master, let me bear another child for you."

That night, a single bucket of water was needed in Aunt Lv’s room.

Early in the morning, Gu Yifeng departed, while Aunt Lv sat in a daze, touching her stomach, unsure if all those tonics would allow her to conceive before Second Miss Wu entered the mansion.