The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 84 - 83: Graceful Restraint

Lin Youning’s mind hadn’t quite processed everything at the moment, or rather, she was reminded of the time when her older brother scooped her out of the wooden tub while she was bare.

This brief moment of her daze, however, aroused Wu Xueya’s suspicion.

"Oh, it turns out the falcon belongs to the Marquis, how did it end up here? This is the inner courtyard, isn’t the Marquis staying in the main residence? Could it be that this creature has some intelligence, knowing that Sister Ning is beautiful? That’s quite amusing," Wu Xueya said with an ambiguous expression, then pursed her lips and smiled, "I’ve only heard it’s fierce before, but never saw it. I wonder if there’ll be a chance to see it." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Then she turned to Sister Yue, playfully blaming her, "You’re always so surprised by things. The creature came to the boudoir, how could it harm anyone? If you hadn’t scared it off, wouldn’t we have been able to see it better?"

Sister Yue, having regained her composure, laughed as well, "If you saw such a big thing, you’d be scared too. If you really want to see it, I can take you to my uncle’s courtyard to have a look."

"Better not. Seeing it by chance is one thing, but going there just to see it, what would people say about me?" Wu Xueya said as she asked Lin Youning for her opinion, "Sister Ning, am I right?"

"You come to our residence often; you’re not considered an outsider. It’s just a beast, no one would say anything if Sister Yue takes you to see it," Lin Youning replied with a pleasant demeanor, not showing any discomfort from Wu Xueya’s previous words.

She understood that Wu Xueya was alluding to something. The Marquis’s falcon coming over here was nothing but a beast; unless brought by its owner, how could it possibly come here?

The Marquis came here, still the boudoir.

And she was engaged to Gu Er but had unclear entanglements with the Marquis, what would outsiders say?

Lin Youning, having lived two lifetimes, understood these things well. But she also knew that ignoring and not engaging in such conversations was always the best way to handle them.

Wu Xueya, being from a noble family, had also deeply studied "Women’s Education," which teaches, "Pay no mind to idle words, nor should you speculate."

After all, it was Sister Yue who saw it first, and she merely followed the conversation. If such rumors spread, wouldn’t it demean her status?

Smart as Wu Xueya was, she wouldn’t do such a foolish thing.

Sister Yue, being younger, didn’t consider these things, and as for Lin Youning, she didn’t mind them.

Wu Xueya looked at Lin Youning, whose face bore a graceful and calm smile, slightly raised her eyelids, and said with a smile, "If there’s another chance, I’ll surely go and see. Today, we decided to come with my mother at the last minute, and seeing the hour, we should probably head back now." With the invitation already sent, Wu Xueya didn’t want to linger, "Thank you for having us today. Do come to our residence next time; I’m waiting for you, Sister Ning."

"Don’t worry, we’ll go together when the time comes," Sister Yue, who had felt embarrassed earlier and then got scared, didn’t want to stay any longer.

After bidding farewell to Lin Youning, she and Wu Xueya left, surrounded by servants.

Shanmoi gestured for the maid to clear the tea set, and seeing the young lady daydreaming, exchanged a look with Hailan. Hailan shook her head, so Shanmoi didn’t speak up.

Shanmoi, having served since childhood, was still uneasy. After Hailan left, she approached cautiously, "Miss, I think Miss Wu harbors no good intentions. Regarding their family’s banquet, perhaps you shouldn’t attend."

Furthermore, it’s going to be a poetry banquet. As someone who has served by the young lady’s side since childhood, she had never seen her compose a poem.

What if the young lady was asked to compose a poem there? Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?

"The invitation was delivered to me personally. If I don’t go, wouldn’t that make her think I’m afraid?" Lin Youning was still thinking about the large falcon, "Did you know that my older brother is raising a falcon?"

The banquet matter was left unfinished, and the young lady suddenly changed the topic. Shanmoi was taken aback but then nodded sheepishly, "Yes, I’ve heard about it. It’s kept at the training ground in the main courtyard, usually looked after by someone. It eats a whole rabbit at a time. I’ve even seen it once, pure white like Snowball."

Lin Youning had named the snow fox Snowball mainly because the little fox usually preferred eating to moving, now chubby like a small ball.

Lin Youning sat up straight, "How come I never heard you mention this? And you’ve even seen it?"

She didn’t recall Shanmoi ever leaving the courtyard.

Shanmoi smiled, "Miss usually isn’t interested in these things, so I didn’t mention it. When the Marquis just returned, you made taro-braised meat for him and asked me to deliver it. I went to the Woodland Pavilion, but the servants told me the Marquis was at the training ground. So I went there and saw it."

She added, "The Marquis was personally feeding the falcon at that time."

Lin Youning acknowledged briefly.

Shanmoi, seeing her young lady bowing her head, didn’t understand what was wrong and thus said nothing further.

Lin Youning was still pondering that embarrassing incident; her older brother initiated conversation but never brought up that day, clearly to avoid awkwardness.

Given the situation back then, with her being so startled and screaming, how could her older brother think of anything else? Naturally, it was most important to get her out first.

Only now, knowing that falcon was raised by her older brother, Lin Youning felt slightly uncomfortable.

Yet, she didn’t believe the beast did it intentionally to advantage its master.

Could it be that it had become sentient?

Lin Youning bit her lip.

Never mind, it’s all in the past now. Dwelling on this would make her seem petty.

Though there was nothing significant, Lin Youning couldn’t help but blush.

As Shanmoi entered, she saw her young lady’s face blushing and was startled, quickly putting down what she was holding, "Miss, what’s the matter with you?"

"Nothing, nothing, I just plan to read for a bit before going to the front courtyard. You go ahead and get busy," Lin Youning replied, feeling guilty.

Though she hadn’t done anything, the feeling of guilt was inexplicable.

"Are you really okay?" Naturally, Shanmoi was concerned, given Lin Youning’s health had been frail since childhood.

Lin Youning picked up a book, using the act of flipping pages to cover her face, "I’m fine."

Half-believing, Shanmoi took the pressed clothes to the Warm Pavilion.

Left undisturbed, Lin Youning still couldn’t read, tossing the book onto the table, reflecting on how, even after two lifetimes, such a trivial affair could make her shy. It was truly embarrassing.

Thinking this, Lin Youning felt at ease.

Meanwhile, Wu Xueya returned with her mother to their residence, sitting alone with her in the carriage. Wu Xueya absentmindedly tapped her fingers lightly against the carriage’s wall, her gaze not anxiously focused ahead.