The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 76 - 75: Strange

After Lin Youning came back to life, this was the first time she entertained guests. Although she didn’t do much, the whole day felt like it took a toll on her body.

After having lunch and seeing the guests off, she hurried back to the Warm Pavilion, changed into a cotton robe, and leaned casually on a soft couch with a sutra book. She hadn’t read a few pages when Gu Er arrived.

"Did Second Brother come directly from Aunt’s place?" Lin Youning, though displeased with Gu Er, still mustered the energy to entertain him.

Shanmoi and Hailan, who had been serving the young lady, could tell she wasn’t close to the Second Young Master, so after serving tea, they stayed, standing by her side.

Gu Er was already feeling irritated today after seeing Xu Yuxian’s gaze at Sister Ning. When he saw the servants being oblivious here, his face darkened, "Leave us. Can’t you see the masters are speaking? Where are your manners? How were you taught the rules?"

Shanmoi and Hailan’s expressions changed, and they apologized as they looked at the young lady. Seeing her nod, they withdrew.

Once outside, they both wondered why the Second Young Master was acting this way; normally, he never lost his temper with the servants.

Inside, Lin Youning’s expression also darkened after the servants left. "Second Brother, where have you picked up such a temper to come back and scold my maidservants? Even when scolding a dog, one considers the owner. If you’re upset because of me, just direct it toward me. Why use the servants as a punching bag?"

Gu Yixuan regretted it when he saw Sister Ning’s sour expression. Hearing her words, he knew she was offended, and he cautiously apologized, "Sister Ning, you’ve misunderstood. I merely chastised them for their lack of awareness, not directing it at you. Please don’t think too much of it."

"Men and women should not share a seat at the age of seven. For Second Brother to be here in my Warm Pavilion, the servants staying is quite proper. How is it then a sign of a lack of awareness in your eyes?" Lin Youning thought of how her reputation had been tarnished in her past life due to rumors of her affair with Gu Chaoxuan, and her eyes reddened. "I’m tired today, Second Brother. Please, just go back."

In the past, she never thought of embarrassing Gu Yixuan, considering she was still living in the Marquis Mansion.

But now, seeing that although they were engaged, allowing Gu Yixuan to come and go from her pavilion so casually before marriage, what would people think?

They would undoubtedly suggest she was eager to get married as soon as possible.

"Second Sister, don’t cry. It was my mistake, can’t you forgive me?" Gu Yixuan, seeing her tears, quickly got off the couch and bowed to Lin Youning.

Lin Youning gritted her teeth, "Second Brother, doing this in front of the servants, what will Aunt think when she hears about it? Don’t make it difficult for me. How could I possibly deserve your bow?"

Gu Yixuan realized she was right, but seeing Sister Ning still angry with him, he was at a loss for words.

Lin Youning knew her emotions were delicate at the moment, so she steadied herself, "Second Brother, don’t worry. I spoke out of anger. It’s just a small matter, and it’s my fault for being petty."

"As long as you don’t overthink it. Since you’re tired, I’ll head back first," Gu Yixuan said, looking at her tear-stained face, feeling even more regretful for making her cry.

After seeing Gu Yixuan out, Lin Youning let out a sigh of relief.

She couldn’t understand why he would visit her today, considering he rarely came around, sometimes not for months, yet here he was after just seeing him in Shi’an Garden during the day.

Lin Youning couldn’t figure it out and dared not send someone to inquire at Shi’an Garden, but Shanmoi kept her wits about her and had found out by that night.

Lin Youning sighed in relief. It turns out Aunt had scolded Second Brother, which explained why he suddenly visited her courtyard.

No matter what, as long as he wasn’t thinking about her in any suspicious way, it was fine.

After sending everyone out of the room, Shanmoi stayed for the night, and Lin Youning asked her softly, "Did you find out what I asked you to inquire about?"

Shanmoi worriedly looked at her mistress, "I found out; it was about serving as a County Magistrate in the south. This past year, no one had returned. However, the maid heard that Mr. Lin has been performing well and is due to report back to the Capital for duty."

Returning to the Capital for duty?

Even if a County Magistrate has a good reputation, it’s still not a significant position.

Lin Youning sighed softly in her heart.

Mr. Lin refers to Lin Youning’s biological father.

Since her rebirth, Lin Youning had been discreetly inquiring about her biological parents all along, and finally, there were some bits of news.

In the previous life, they never reached out to her. She felt like a true orphan.

But upon reflection, given her tarnished reputation, perhaps even if her parents wanted to acknowledge her eventually, upon hearing about it, they might have pretended they never had such a daughter?

Now she was doing fine, but she wondered if her parents would remember this daughter of theirs.

If it were possible, letting them come to demand her at the mansion could be a way out.

"Gunuong, in the mansion, Mrs. Gu Sr. favors you, which the other girls can only envy," Shanmoi thought she might have misspoken again.

Usually, the young lady would tell them not to compete with other servants over such things.

But thinking that the young lady was still thinking about her family, yet there had been no message for years, it was evident that they fundamentally didn’t remember they had a daughter like her.

Of course, Lin Youning understood Shanmoi’s thoughts and smiled, "Don’t worry, I know. It’s just a sudden desire to know how they are doing. Don’t worry about me; it’s late, let’s go to sleep."

Turning over to face inward, even through the gauze curtain, Lin Youning couldn’t sleep at all, and Shanmoi dared not sleep either, only daring to nap slightly after the young lady hadn’t stirred for hours deep into the night.

The next day, perhaps thinking he’s upset Sister Ning, Gu Yixuan sent an assortment of small trinkets he had bought from outside.

Looking at the sugar figurine crafted almost lifelike, Lin Youning was momentarily transfixed, and Shanmoi, thinking her mistress liked it, kept only the sugar figure while packing away the other items.

Lin Youning, looking at the sugar figure, felt both bitter and sour inside.

In the previous life, Brother Zong got one from Gu Yixuan. The children in the Marquis Mansion didn’t like it, and thus it ended up with Brother Zong.

It was the only thing his father had given Brother Zong. She once saw it in a box in the study, kept for all those years, showing Brother Zong’s desire for paternal love.

Lin Youning turned her head away, her nose feeling sour.

She truly wasn’t a good mother and worried whether in this life she could still maintain a mother-son bond with Brother Zong.

Since seeing the sugar figure, Lin Youning fell ill, and Mrs. Gu Sr. had someone summon the Imperial Physician, who remarked that she was overthinking and needed to ease her mind.

Mrs. Gu Sr. couldn’t get any information from the servants, only knowing it happened after the son sent the items, prompting her to scold her son once more.

Gu Yixuan felt increasingly guilty and began visiting Tingxue Hall more frequently.

This action, however, alarmed those in Jingshui Courtyard.