The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 216 - 217: Vanished

Gu Yifeng turned back to the Warm Pavilion of Tingxue Hall. Time passed slowly, and it was already evening, yet it was as still as ever.

Gu Yifeng rubbed his temples, "Nanny Guo."

Upon hearing the voice, Nanny Guo came out from inside, "Marquis."

"The young lady has woken up, hasn’t she?" Gu Yifeng’s voice was cold.

"The young lady said she doesn’t want to see anyone and requested a carriage to return to the Zhao Mansion," Nanny Guo replied directly.

Gu Yifeng’s gaze tightened slightly, "You all can leave. I have something to say to the young lady."

Nanny Guo responded and called Hailan and several young maids in the house to leave.

The door was closed, but the window remained open, allowing everything inside to be seen through it.

Yet, no servant dared to look inside.

Lin Youning lay on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. Now clear-headed, she understood everything: her aunt orchestrated it all, the Gao Mansion likely had its plans, and Brother De suddenly appeared here. She wasn’t sure who had outmaneuvered whom, but ultimately, her aunt emerged triumphant.

Lin Youning didn’t expect her aunt had always hoped she would bear the burden, but her elder brother wasn’t that kind of person; he wouldn’t agree with what her aunt did, so why did he appear by the lotus pond?

Brother De.

Yes, Brother De was there.

If her elder brother hadn’t rushed over, would Brother De have saved her in the end?

Her aunt...

Lin Youning closed her eyes, tears slid down her cheeks. To marry Brother De, while Mrs. Kong was confined because of her, and as for Gu Er, she was merely an enemy to Brother De.

What would happen even if he did marry her?

Was her aunt using this to force her elder brother to jump into this situation?

"Don’t blame your aunt. Her heart is devoted entirely to the Gu Family, and her care for you isn’t false." Gu Yifeng watched the tear stains, unsure of what to say.

Lin Youning remained silent and kept her eyes shut. She had feelings for her elder brother, but he saw her more as a sister, and now her aunt’s scheme made him have to come to her rescue.

She shouldn’t be saddened. If anyone should feel upset, it should be her elder brother, as he was the innocent one.

Yet she felt too ashamed to face her elder brother.

Though she ought to hate and accuse them, why in the end, was she the one unable to face them?

"Soon I’ll have a carriage prepared to send you back to the Zhao Mansion. Stay at home these days, and don’t pay attention to outside gossip." Gu Yifeng turned around, back to the bed, facing the window. Despite the lively scene outside, it inexplicably irritated his heart.

The footsteps grew distant, and only then did Lin Youning slowly open her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling until Nanny Guo and Hailan helped her up, and finally, she saw figures in her vision.

"Miss, you must lift your spirits. Madam and the Master were always worried about you when they left." Hailan’s eyes were red.

"I’m fine." Lin Youning waved them off from helping her, changed her clothes by herself, got out of bed, steadied herself, and looked at Nanny Guo and Hailan. "You two were handed to me by my aunt with your selling contracts. I can’t drive you away, but from now on, if you’re by my side, you’re my people. If you have divided loyalties, I won’t pursue the past sentiments, but I also won’t keep you by my side."

Nanny Guo and Hailan dropped to their knees in shock. Lin Youning pursed her lips, looking at the two, but what flashed in her mind were Nanny Chang’s black eyes. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Get up."

But she had already strode out.

As soon as she exited the house, she saw Nanny Chang kneeling in the courtyard. Lin Youning turned her head, pretending not to see, and left Tingxue Hall in large strides without even glancing towards Shi’an Garden.

Nanny Guo and Hailan followed closely, seeing Nanny Chang in the courtyard, and Nanny Guo sighed softly.

Mrs. Gu Sr. stood by the corner gate between Shi’an Garden and Tingxue Hall, supported by Suyi, watching as people walked away, not even turning their heads. Mrs. Gu Sr. couldn’t help but feel quietly heartbroken.

The Marquis Mansion was exceptionally quiet that day, and Mrs. Dong sat dazed in the main room. Despite the two seemingly unrelated people, how had they become entangled again?

She had thought of letting her niece take on the burden, but now everything was over. The ones involved had failed in their schemes connected with Jinghe Courtyard, ultimately benefiting Lin Youning.

Could it be fate?

Mrs. Dong angrily smashed the teacup in her hand, "Spread the word, just say the Lin girl had an affair with the Marquis while in the mansion."

"Madam." Jingfu was so frightened she knelt to the ground.

"Madam, the Marquis will surely find out it was Madam’s doing." Jingfu pleaded earnestly, "I know Madam feels uneasy in her heart, but Madam did her best, and the Dong Mansion won’t blame Madam."

Dong Cuo pursed her lips tight.

She wasn’t afraid of her natal family blaming her; she was filled with hatred, hating that after so much effort, Lin Youning still ended up back by the Marquis’ side. Even if there was nothing between them, just thinking of her alluring face made Mrs. Dong feel stifled and uncomfortable.

Finally, under Jingfu’s persuasion, Mrs. Dong cried quietly, ultimately giving up her impulsive idea from before.

Meanwhile, at the General Gao Mansion, General Gao Sr. was fuming, "Nonsense, one of you grew bold enough not to listen to me. Now scheming against the Marquis Mansion, you’re likely to ruin the last bit of goodwill."

Mrs. Gao Sr. lost all her spirit, and Madam Gao hugged her daughter, "Father, we can’t wrong Yue’er in this matter. What’s to be done now?"

Gu Chaode is only ten, and her daughter is already sixteen. In five years, how could Gu Chaode treat her daughter well?

Besides, that Kong Tianru hasn’t appeared, and rumors have it that she’s recuperating at the Marquis Mansion. Who knows if she’s been confined for some mistake.

All are women from the inner courtyards of noble families; it’s easy to see through the surface pretense.

"Send Sister Yue to a family temple." General Gao Sr. was unequivocal, "Our Gao Family’s daughter would rather spend her life in front of a lone lamp than be sent to someone else’s home to be humiliated."

"Father." Madam Gao was dumbfounded.

Mrs. Gao Sr.’s eyes widened in disbelief at General Gao Sr. This was their granddaughter, the one most resembling their eldest daughter; how could the Master be so ruthless?

But she didn’t voice any objection. No one could persuade the Master once he made a decision.

General Gao Sr. left, and Madam Gao was left staring blankly, and the tears in her arms, Gao Yue, even forgot to cry. Raised preciously in the Gao Mansion for so many years, who could have imagined she’d end up in such a state, destined to accompany a lone lamp for life.

In the Capital, a scandal erupted at the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion banquet, while the daughter of the Gao Family suddenly fell ill at night and was isolated, sent to the family temple. Moreover, big news spread that the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was going to split, with the second house being separated. The original residence remained intact, but the corner gate connecting to Yingshui Courtyard was sealed, leaving them to use the main gate of their own courtyard from now on.

As for the candidate to shoulder the burden of the Gu Family, it was determined to be the girl from Zhao Mansion who had recognized her ancestry.