The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 82 - 81: Inner Voice

Lin Youning put aside the things she had been worried about, looking noticeably more cheerful, and she was no longer as reserved as before when interacting with Gu Yifeng.

If Lin Youning was a beauty before, she was a beauty that was too quiet, like a painted beauty.

But now she was a beauty with a soul. Gu Yifeng, who never valued female beauty, paused as he watched her.

Lin Youning was completely unaware and, when asked about matters of the Xu Mansion, she mentioned Wu Xueya getting close to her.

"And how are you getting along with the brothers and sisters of the Xu Mansion?" Gu Yifeng’s question made Lin Youning realize something was amiss.

She tilted her head to look at him, "Big Brother, did you hear some rumor? Since entering the Xu Mansion, I have been with everyone in the garden and haven’t met the Xu family’s brother."

Big Brother is not someone who talks much, could it be that he heard some gossip and came today because of that?

Gu Yifeng’s doubts were relieved. It seemed that it was not that both of them were fond of each other, but that the Xu family was being narcissistic.

"It was just a casual question, there are no rumors, don’t overthink." Gu Yifeng shook his head and replied nonchalantly.

Lin Youning’s face had long turned red, and with these words, it became even redder, as if it could drip blood.

If she were a real young girl in her boudoir, she wouldn’t think so much.

But having lived two lives, she thought a lot and didn’t know if Big Brother thought she had too many thoughts about men.

"Didn’t I ask Li Si to bring you a set of warm jade chess pieces? Bring them out, let’s play a game today." Gu Yifeng leaned back, showing a rare lazy side here.

He could see the embarrassment on Lin Youning’s face too.

Lin Youning secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly called Shanmoi to come in, gave some instructions, and shortly after, Shanmoi brought up the chess pieces and board.

She regarded Gu Yifeng as an elder brother, and naturally didn’t mind these things.

During her usual free time, Lin Youning either read sutras or chess books. She had read almost all the chess books throughout history, and playing chess with others merely relied on deploying those strategies.

Gu Yifeng knew this about her, saying that matching her in chess was more about breaking chess strategies than anything else.

After a game, two hours had passed, and the Warm Pavilion had already lit the lamps. Nanny Chang peeked in several times in the afternoon, and seeing that the Marquis and the girl were still playing chess, she decided to have the kitchen prepare more dishes, and when people from Yingshui Courtyard came over, she sent them back, saying the Marquis was dining at Tingxue Hall and wasn’t coming back.

Nanny Chang was someone around the old madam, even Mrs. Dong in the mansion showed her some respect, and the little maids dared not ask too many questions.

After hearing the little maid’s report, Mrs. Dong waved her off and sat in a daze on the couch.

Sister Hui gently put down the teacup in her hand, "Mother, since Father isn’t coming back to eat, shall we eat first?"

Mrs. Dong nodded, letting Jingfu help her up to the West room, where the mother and daughter had their meal and rinsed their mouths before returning to the Warm Pavilion to sit.

By this time, it was already dark outside, and seeing that no servants reported the Marquis’s return, Mrs. Dong couldn’t help but glance outside a few more times.

Sister Hui quietly worked on her embroidery as she sat by her mother’s side, and seeing her mother’s unease, she put down the embroidery, "Mother, are you wondering when Father will return?"

"You need not worry, I understand what’s going on. Nanny Chang is someone of your grandmother’s side, and she always handles matters discreetly. Since she sent word that your father is dining at Tingxue Hall, your grandmother must agree." Mrs. Dong gave her daughter a soft smile, "In all these years, even when your father is at the mansion, aside from the first and fifteenth, how many times has he stepped into the main house? I’ve long since come to terms with it. I just wish I had given you a brother, a legitimate son. I feel sorry for not providing that, so when you marry, you won’t have a family to rely on..."

"Mother, why worry about this?" Sister Hui saw that her mother’s sad memories were stirred and comforted her warmly, "I am Dingyuan Marquis’s legitimate daughter, and this status alone means that no one would dare bully me when I marry. Our family boasts three generations of resolute loyalty that even the Emperor acknowledges as the backbone of the nation. Who would dare mistreat the daughter of such a family? Even the Emperor has to give us some face."

"I know you understand, and always pick nice words to comfort me. Alright, alright, what’s the use of my worry here? I shouldn’t bother you with my anxieties." Mrs. Dong dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and forced a smile, "It’s late, you should head back. Be careful of the dark roads."

"Then I’ll take my leave, Mother." Sister Hui rose, curtsied to her mother, and then left.

She walked northwest after leaving Yingshui Courtyard, through a passage, to reach her boudoir. If one follows this long corridor to the end, the courtyard of the two concubines and the concubine’s daughter, Mengpo Pavilion, is in the corner over there, and upon exiting Yingshui Courtyard and walking southwest through the passage, is Woodland Pavilion.

After coming out, Sister Hui walked slowly on the passage, hesitated for a moment, then strode towards Woodland Pavilion but didn’t enter. Instead, she passed by Woodland Pavilion’s main gate and continued north, heading towards the large kitchen in the back courtyard.

Xiangyun saw her master request some ingredients from the cook and roll up her sleeves to help, without asking much, dismissed the cook, and stepped forward to assist.

The master and servant were busy in the big kitchen for nearly an hour before a bowl of rock sugar bird’s nest was ready.

"Take it up." After cleaning her hands, Sister Hui straightened her garments before heading out.

Xiangyun carefully carried the bird’s nest and followed but took a detour through the passage past Gu Chaoxuan’s Guest House to arrive at Woodland Pavilion.

Xiangyun lowered her head again, holding the items as her young lady entered Woodland Pavilion.

When the Marquis isn’t around, Zhang Wu, who is another confidant of the Marquis, manages Woodland Pavilion; he normally stays here.

Hearing that the young lady had arrived, he hurriedly came to greet her, "This servant greets the young lady."

"Rise, I’ve made some supper for Father." Sister Hui spoke steadily, maintaining the demeanor of a noble family’s lady.

Zhang Wu respectfully stepped aside, "Please, this way, young lady."

Sister Hui nodded, and Zhang Wu led the way, guiding her to the flower hall.

Sister Hui frowned slightly, as the flower hall was mainly for entertaining guests. She had expected to be led to the Warm Pavilion or study, but knowing that her father was not one for intimacy, Sister Hui didn’t make a fuss about it.

She simply asked Zhang Wu to leave as she waited in the flower hall.

After Zhang Wu left, he sent word to Tingxue Hall.

In Tingxue Hall, Nanny Chang prepared border cuisine of Sichuan five-spice pork, the pickled vegetables were stewed first, and the pork belly was cooked until done in boiling water. Once the sour vegetables were almost ready, the sliced pork belly was added to stew over low heat, topped with chili at the end. In the cold borderlands where greens are scarce, this dish is one of the best.

Even though Gu Yifeng usually expressed little emotion, he was in high spirits when this dish was brought out, finishing two bowls of rice in a row.

Lin Youning also ate a piece of meat, which was not as greasy as usual and pairing it with rice made it particularly appetizing.

After the meal, they drank some tea, and seeing Li Si peeking in from outside, Gu Yifeng got up to return to Woodland Pavilion.

With the place quieting down after Gu Yifeng left, Lin Youning lay lazily on the bed thinking about the afternoon spent with her Big Brother, holding her pillow and couldn’t help but smile.