Gu Yifeng was most bothered when Sister Ning cried, especially when he was the one who caused it. Frightened, he quickly explained, "I was just teasing you, hoping to make you a little jealous, why are you crying?"

Lin Youning, held in her big brother’s arms, remained silent, but a mischievous smile flashed across her unseen face. She knew her big brother was teasing her, so she took the chance to tease him back.

Seeing her big brother’s panicked look, Lin Youning found it amusing.

Gu Yifeng saw her silent and assumed she was still crying, gently saying, "Your tears feel like a knife digging into my heart. It’s all my fault; I shouldn’t have joked like this with you. I promise I won’t do it again, alright? In my eyes, there’s only room for you, no one else."

"Are you really upset?" Gu Yifeng grew a bit anxious.

When he lifted Sister Ning’s chin to look at her, he caught the mischievous smile on her face, leaving Gu Yifeng momentarily stunned, finally understanding what was going on.

He shook his head and tapped her chin with his finger, "Mischievous."

Lin Youning put away her laugh, "Big brother, once something is blocked, it won’t be blocked the second time. Aunt’s side will definitely oppose what you want to do, I think it’s best to find a solution."

"What’s so difficult about it? Once your father comes out of the palace, just send someone to inform him to take you to your brother’s mansion for a few days. Even if you say nothing then, mother will naturally be worried. If she stops mentioning the matter, you’ll return home. If she brings it up again, you’ll go back. She’s now focused on the baby in your belly, she won’t make you return. Besides, if your father isn’t pleased, mother will have a hard time explaining things." Gu Yifeng smiled faintly.

Lin Youning was once again impressed by the big brother in front of her and then laughed, "Isn’t it bad for us to deceive Aunt this way?"

Yet inside, she couldn’t help but laugh.

But inside, she couldn’t help but laugh, just too embarrassed to do it openly.

Gu Yifeng stood up and directly lifted her up, startling Lin Youning into a low cry, but she quickly quietened down, blushing, "Big brother, put me down, I can walk myself."

"There’s no one else watching, no need to be shy." Gu Yifeng teased her intentionally.

Lin Youning couldn’t help but blush deeply, "I’m worried about tiring big brother out."

Gu Yifeng simply chuckled softly, "When the baby grows bigger, even if I carry you both like this, I won’t get tired."

Lin Youning stopped talking, knowing the more she spoke, the more suggestive big brother would become. Seeing her silence, Gu Yifeng’s laughter grew louder; Lin Youning reached out, pinching him under his arm, her feisty demeanor surprising Gu Yifeng for a moment; his laughter, however, only increased.

When the two lay down on the bed, Lin Youning turned her back to him, not responding, Gu Yifeng was not worried, just wrapped her in his arms from behind, "When I received the news that you were taken by the Eldest Prince, I wished I had wings to fly back. Now, Holy Emperor has spoken out, the Eldest Prince won’t rest easy. Finding an opportunity, I will show him the consequences of targeting you."

"Dong Boyun must have been deceived too. When returning home, I heard from Shanmoi and others that Dong Boyun came to the mansion that night, seeming anxious; I suppose she learned of the deception later." Lin Youning thought for a moment, "Wang Wen has resigned now, so Dong Boyun’s days aren’t easy. When she came to the mansion, she didn’t do anything but sought a doctor, not knowing she was being used, so let’s leave it at that."

"I hadn’t planned on pursuing it anyway." Gu Yifeng still didn’t take Dong Boyun seriously.

Once something happened in the Dong Mansion, he didn’t believe she would have a good time with the Wang Family.

These were things Gu Yifeng wouldn’t discuss too much, avoiding making Sister Ning feel guilty.

"It’s snowing now, father probably won’t stay at brother’s place, I wonder what Holy Emperor will ask of him?" Lin Youning turned over, facing her big brother, "Now that there’s some time, big brother, how are Sister Hui and Sister Ran’s marriage arrangements going? They are grown girls now, can’t keep delaying."

"Things are already on track. I will send the invitations to mother’s place, all are honest families, no need to worry about others, and they won’t suffer grievances there."

Lin Youning mentioned it because Sister Ran and Sister Hui were nice people, after all, Mrs. Dong was still around, she couldn’t interfere with Marquis Mansion’s affairs.

Especially now, Aunt was urgently trying to bring someone to the mansion for big brother, she understood Aunt wasn’t targeting her, it’s just a sensitive time.

After chatting for a while more, the two finally slept.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Gu Sr. hadn’t slept, keeping Nanny Chang and Nanny Chi to talk, "I’m doing this for the sake of the Marquis Mansion; I know Sister Ning’s heart may feel unrest, but ultimately, we cannot let the Marquis Mansion fall into decline."

"Madam’s concerns, the girl will surely understand. Marquis has watched Sister Ning grow up and being a little biased is natural; if the Marquis truly neglects someone he’s watched grow, how could he be our Marquis?" Nanny Chi tried to comfort.

"That’s how I think too, I’m happy seeing the two children having a good relationship, but my biggest worry is now, Eldest Brother is focused entirely on the East Mansion. Before Mrs. Dong spoke to me, I turned a blind eye; now things are different, Mrs. Dong has gone to the estate. I can’t keep pretending, otherwise, when I’m gone, who will manage things here in the Marquis Mansion?" Mrs. Gu Sr.’s words startled Nanny Chi and Nanny Chang, the two exchanged a glance, then Mrs. Gu Sr. added, "You need not overthink, I don’t intend to hide this from you, even if now we bring outsiders in to distance Sister Ning and Eldest Brother, I think it’s just right, to discourage Eldest Brother from staying only in the East Mansion, with balance between the two households, I’ll be at ease."

Nanny Chi and Nanny Chang were shocked again but hadn’t expected Madam to plan like this; however, upon deeper thought, wasn’t it logical? Only when feelings cooled would the Marquis not neglect them; otherwise, even if Madam brought more outsiders in, the Marquis wouldn’t spare them a look.

But such action could cause the girl to resent Madam.

Thinking of Madam considering the mansion’s affairs, she seemed to set everything else aside, the two wanted to persuade but didn’t know where to start, thought about it and gave up.

Now with Madam saying this, she surely made her decision, yet they had served Madam for a long time and never noticed.