The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 346 - 338: Punishment

Mrs. Gu Sr. and Lin Youning went to the flower hall for a meal. Not long after they sat down, Gu Yifeng returned.

Gu Yifeng, while outside, had already heard about these matters. Upon returning and seeing the few kneeling people in the side yard, he simply asked them to rise, "You are girls of the Marquis Mansion, everything you do represents the Marquis Mansion. You are already a big girl, soon to discuss marriage, hence you should mind your reputation outside, as it pertains to your future. I think you understand these principles even without me mentioning them. But since you’ve done it, I won’t say more, as the consequences are yours to bear."

"Stand up. Go back to your own yards. You, copy the Heart Sutra three hundred times. You really should calm your minds." Gu Yifeng waved his hand without looking at them, and strode into the room.

Upon entering, he saw Mrs. Dong kneeling inside, assuming she was also here to admit fault and thus said nothing more, "Rise. There were mistakes on the children’s side; you should exercise more control over them in the future."

Mrs. Dong was inwardly delighted, aware that the Marquis was mistaken, but that hardly mattered. Since the Marquis had asked her to rise, she naturally did so.

However, Mrs. Dong couldn’t help thinking about Lin Youning’s rumored pregnancy, "Marquis, I’ve heard that Sister Ning is pregnant. Is it true or false? If she is pregnant, why hasn’t it been announced? After all, it’s a joyful event for the Gu Family."

"If you truly care about this, your form of address is wrong at this moment. You should call her the First Lady, not Sister Ning. She is now your elder. By addressing her inappropriately, what impression does it leave on outsiders?" Gu Yifeng didn’t mention Sister Ning’s pregnancy; instead, he reprimanded Mrs. Dong.

Mrs. Dong felt indescribably distressed as everyone scolded her, both the old lady and the Marquis. However, she still wanted to find out if Sister Ning was pregnant and endured the criticism, first admitting fault, then continuing to ask if Sister Ning was pregnant.

Gu Yifeng looked at her indifferently, "Yes, she is pregnant. Now that you have Brother Zong by your side, take good care of him. He is the only legitimate son of the Marquis Mansion."

Mrs. Dong staggered slightly but forced a smile on her face, "The Marquis is right, I understand."

Gu Yifeng nodded and said no more. In the flower hall, Suyi came along seeing Mrs. Dong stand up, feeling slightly surprised but immediately understood. Perhaps the Marquis hadn’t grasped the truth of the situation and hence allowed Madam to rise. She stepped forward and saluted Gu Yifeng.

"Old Madam in the flower hall heard the Marquis’s voice and asked the servant to invite the Marquis for the meal. The Madam is accompanying the Old Madam."

Gu Yifeng nodded slightly and glanced back at Mrs. Dong, "Would you like to stay for the meal here, or is someone already looking after Brother Zong? If you’re uncomfortable dining here, then return. But you should educate the young ladies in the yard properly."

Although Gu Yifeng seemed to ask Mrs. Dong’s opinion earlier, it was apparent he didn’t want her to stay for the meal.

Mrs. Dong had no mood to stay for the meal. Having previously been reprimanded by the old lady and kneeling with no one paying attention, letting the young maids make fun of her, now knowing Lin Youning is pregnant, it felt like the sky was falling. Mrs. Dong nodded haphazardly and left directly.

Suyi followed Gu Yifeng into the flower hall. Mrs. Gu Sr. was satisfied to see her son enter alone, nodded and said, "You sent Mrs. Dong away?"

Gu Yifeng laughed, "Knowing mother doesn’t like to see her, I feared she might displease mother, so I sent her away."

"Forget it, since she’s been sent away, don’t let her return. Now with a legitimate son, she doesn’t regard me, her mother-in-law, with any respect. She thinks I’m biased, yet she’s the mistress of the house, she should be more magnanimous, otherwise how can she elevate the Marquis Mansion in the future? She thinks I’m biased, without realizing these are tasks she should be managing as the mistress. Since she’s not doing it, I’m taking over to uphold her reputation. I don’t expect gratitude, just for her to understand, but look at her now, even with a legitimate son, she fails to grasp any rationale, not even comparable to Sister Hui."

Gu Yifeng sat down beside Lin Youning, taking up the chopsticks and serving her dishes while responding to his mother’s words, "As long as mother is mindful, this family’s glory is not something we can maintain just by wanting to. It’s all predestined; whether we are blessed depends on heaven’s will. Forced attempts won’t succeed."

Mrs. Gu Sr. froze upon hearing this but didn’t say more in front of Sister Ning, "Alright, alright, I understand this now."

After the three finished their meal and exchanged a few words regarding Lin Youning’s child, Gu Yifeng asked about Wu Mansion matters, and Lin Youning explained Wu Xueqin’s intentions. After hearing this, Gu Yifeng nodded.

Mrs. Gu Sr. coldly laughed, "Just rising up, and she can’t wait to display arrogance before others. Such people won’t achieve much in the future, and her talent is wasted. Did you see if she’s pregnant? Is it true?"

Mrs. Gu Sr. asked Lin Youning, who shook her head, "During the meal, she showed no reaction; she ate both vegetarian and meat dishes. By the looks of it, she didn’t seem pregnant. But I’ve heard from Nanny Guo that some have no reaction during pregnancy. Dong Boyun mentioned Feng Yufu noticed her morning sickness, but I didn’t see it myself; perhaps this is a misunderstanding."

Mrs. Gu Sr. nodded, very pleased that Sister Ning could analyze the situation through this simple matter, and now with Sister Ning pregnant and already growing fond of this young lady, Mrs. Gu Sr. couldn’t be happier.

After the meal, Mrs. Gu Sr. asked Sister Ning to return, mentioning she had things to discuss with her eldest son. Lin Youning, not keen on knowing the particulars, smiled and nodded, leaving with Shanmoi and Hailan.

Mrs. Gu Sr. also dismissed the servants, leaving mother and son alone to speak.