The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 229 - 230: Marriage

Mrs. Kong listened to these words, her face already pale and bloodless, turning even more ghostly white.

She had always thought that the Marquis was cold-hearted and never concerned himself with these matters, not even asking much about Gu Er from the old Madam, nor did he care about these things. But now, it seems, this was not the case.

Yes, how could she have forgotten? They were blood relatives, they were family.

Having done these things, how could it not anger the Marquis?

"If not for the issue between Gu Er and Princess Yuanhua being brought up now, you could still be the Second Madam in the Marquis Mansion. But that’s human nature, not knowing how to keep within one’s bounds. In the end, you can only end up like this," Gu Yifeng’s cold eyes pierced the other party. "The hundred-year legacy of the Gu Family, the noble family’s stature built over hundreds of years, has now been destroyed by you, a woman, and yet you have the audacity to accuse the Gu Mansion of wronging you. Truly laughable."

Mrs. Dong stood aside, not daring to speak, even less to step forward and support Mrs. Kong. Even when she looked at the Marquis standing there, her heart was filled with turmoil.

This side of the Marquis, she had never witnessed. In her impression, the Marquis was always a cold-hearted person, rarely caring about others’ affairs, not even the happenings of their courtyard.

But listening to those words just now, she finally understood. The Marquis was not indifferent nor cold-hearted, he had just become accustomed to keeping everything in his heart.

Seeing this side of the Marquis, Mrs. Dong thought back to what she had done, realizing that her mistake was not consulting the Marquis when there were matters at hand. Perhaps, if she had done so, their relationship wouldn’t have become so cold and unfamiliar today.

Mrs. Dong’s mind was in chaos. She was no longer focused on Mrs. Kong’s matters but on her own relationship with the Marquis, questioning why their marriage had come to this point.

She knew the Marquis had always respected her, sometimes even protecting her dignity. But living such a smooth and prosperous life in the Marquis Mansion made her slowly forget what other women in the inner chambers must do.

People’s greed knows no bounds.

It was precisely this life of ease that made her forget and gradually drift further from the Marquis.

Mrs. Dong clutched her chest tightly, taking a deep breath. But now, understanding these things, it was already too late.

Mrs. Kong, on the other hand, was still making her last struggle, "You all only know to blame me, but if it weren’t for you all, I wouldn’t be where I am today. What difference does it make if I’m sent to the nunnery? This state I’m in now is no different from being in a nunnery."

Gu Yifeng no longer looked at her, having already said everything necessary. If not for the fact that she bore two children for the Gu Family, he wouldn’t have bothered to explain these things to her.

"Take her back to the Duke Mansion," he instructed Li Si behind him, then turned and strode back to the study.

Mrs. Kong stood there, dumbfounded and dazed. This time, she didn’t make a fuss, and allowed Li Si to escort her, along with the maidservants, onto the carriage, taking her back to the Duke Mansion.

In the Capital, events like this would usually be the talk of the town, but this time, it was conspicuously quiet. Even those curious dared not discuss it, after all, one involved the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, another the Zhou Mansion, and the other was the Emperor’s daughter, Princess Yuanhua.

Hearing all this, Lin Youning didn’t show any surprise, but Shanmoi was evidently pleased and satisfied.

Nanny Guo’s expression turned somewhat grim upon hearing, as Lin Youning knew she came from the palace and was familiar with palace matters. Seeing her expression now, Lin Youning knew something must be amiss.

So, when Shanmoi and Hailan stepped out, she summoned Nanny Guo to speak, "Nanny, are you troubled by something you can’t speak of?"

"Though the Holy Emperor demoted Princess Yuanhua to a commoner, Consort Zhou has always been sentimental about her daughter. She had felt guilty for sending her to marry far away to the Fan Country, and now that she’s returned to the Capital, how could Consort Zhou bear to see her suffer? I fear that this commoner might be even harder to serve than a princess. I’m not worried about other things, only that when you marry over, Princess Yuanhua might trouble you."

After all, there had been an engagement between him and the orphan before, any woman would feel uneasy, especially a pampered princess like Princess Yuanhua.

Lin Youning, however, could understand and reassured Nanny with a smile, "Nanny, don’t worry. Once I’m married over, I’ll be in the East Mansion, and we won’t have much contact with them, not even in the same courtyard, so naturally there won’t be issues. Besides, even though she’s of the Royal Family, she is now merely a commoner. In terms of hierarchy, I’m the head mistress of the Gu Family’s main branch; she must address me as sister-in-law. If she dares to disregard decorum and act rashly, even the Royal Family wouldn’t stand for it."

After all, having such a disgraceful and ill-mannered daughter would embarrass the Royal Family, who would never endorse such a daughter rising to prominence.

Nanny Guo nodded, "It seems I was overthinking. The young mistress is right."

The matter between Gu Er and Princess Yuanhua gradually faded from public memory, yet people still kept watch for any developments. Gu Er quietly divorced his wife, and Mrs. Kong was sent back to the Duke Mansion.

As for Princess Yuanhua, demoted to a commoner, she shed her princess identity yet moved arrogantly into the courtyard of the second house.

As October first approached, Lin Youning began preparing the auspicious gifts and dowry list.

On the wedding day, Lin Youning felt as if caught in a dream, as if re-experiencing a previous life, only this time the wedding was lively compared to the cold, quiet ceremony before. The bright red wedding dress felt no longer dazzling to her eyes.

Her once calm heart was stirred again upon entering the bridal sedan.

Only when she was finally escorted into the bridal chamber, and her veil lifted, did she see the elder brother in a red robe before her, making Lin Youning’s eyes shimmer, her soul feeling fully restored.

The bridesmaid’s words were like background noise; after the nuptial toast, seeing the elder brother in red robes leaving, Lin Youning exhaled deeply. Glancing around at the smiling faces of Shanmoi, Hailan, Nanny Guo, and Nanny Chi in the room, Lin Youning finally relaxed.

"Young mistress, let Shanmoi and Hailan help you wash up and change clothes. There are no elders in this residence, so everything in the house will rely on you from now on, and at this time there will be no visitors, so there’s no need to adhere to these hollow customs," Nanny Chi remarked with a smile.