Chapter 111: Chapter 110: Eavesdropping

Lin Youning left with her servants, while Xu Yuxian stood in the courtyard, a look of embarrassment on his face.

He couldn’t understand how things had ended up like this.

Looking at the servants kneeling on the ground, he waved his hand helplessly, “You may go.”

The young maid, frightened, scrambled up and ran away.

Xu Yuxian sat down on a nearby stone step, not caring whether his bright red robe would get dirty, and stared blankly into the distance.

His mind was filled with the image of Sister Lin’s tear-streaked face as she had walked away.

He realized then that seeing a girl cry could indeed make one’s heart ache.

Previously, when he saw Sister An cry, he only felt annoyed, thinking that girls were too delicate. But today, seeing Sister Lin cry, his heart twisted with pain.

Thinking about Sister Lin’s devastated look, he couldn’t help but worry, fearing she might do something foolish, while berating himself for being stupid enough to say such things.

He heard footsteps behind him and turned around. The newcomer had already spoken, “The people in the mansion are frantically looking for you, and here you are, hiding out as the groom on your wedding day, come on.”

Xu Yuxian forced himself to perk up, stood up, and greeted, “Yuxian greets Lieutenant Zhao.”

Zhao Housheng was a trusted general under Xu Yifeng and was naturally close to Xu Kuan as well.

He often came to the mansion to teach Xu Yuxian martial arts, leading to a familiarity between them, like friends or a mentor relationship.

“Alright, alright, we’re in the mansion, there’s no need for so many formalities, let’s go,” Zhao Housheng laughed.

Xu Yuxian glanced towards the corner garden but was then pushed along by Zhao Housheng, not noticing the strange look flashing across Zhao Housheng’s face.

On the other side of the garden gate, Lin Youning felt something heavy pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She only stopped once she reached the garden gate, leaning weakly against the corridor’s railing to sit.

Tears fell uncontrollably, and Shanmoi, beside her, also started crying. While wiping her mistress’s tears, she comforted, “Miss, you must think optimistically. Over the years in the Marquis Mansion, Mrs. Gu Sr. has treated you like her own, never bearing to scold you. Even one’s own child wouldn’t receive better treatment.”

Shanmoi dared not mention the matter between the Second Young Master and Sister Yue, only choosing pleasing words to speak.

Lin Youning wiped the tears from her face, “Shanmoi, what kind of person do you think I am? Does everyone see me like that?”

See you as what?

Naturally, it was about the matter of her playing chess with the Second Young Master in the evening.

Shanmoi inwardly cursed Xu Yuxian for being such a gossip and spat, “Such a scoundrel from supposedly respectable families, being rejected by Miss and then speaking ill to insult her, what he says can’t be trusted.”

Lin Youning knew she couldn’t get a straight answer from Shanmoi, as the girl was entirely on her side and would never speak the truth if it hurt.

Thinking of the happy occasion at the Xu Mansion today, she couldn’t bear causing a scene with her swollen eyes, so she suppressed her sadness and stopped crying.

She asked Shanmoi to take out the powder box they had brought so she could touch up her makeup.

As the two were touching up their makeup, Gu Er appeared out of nowhere. Lin Youning was startled, and so was Gu Er, but he then walked over in a few quick strides.

“You’ve been crying? Who made you upset?” Gu Er’s face was clouded.

Thinking that she was being talked about because of him, Lin Youning pursed her lips tightly and said nothing.

Gu Er assumed she was upset about something else and asked Shanmoi, “Who upset your young lady?”

Shanmoi had been considering how to complain, and now seeing the person in question, she began to accuse, “Fourth Miss is spreading rumors that the Second Young Master spent the night playing chess with our Miss, and now everyone says our Miss’s reputation is gone.”

Shanmoi was clever, choosing to omit Xu Yuxian’s name and suggesting it was outsiders.

Today, at the Xu Mansion’s festive event, many guests were present, so it wasn’t necessary to point anyone out specifically.

“Shanmoi.” Lin Youning wanted to stop her but was too late.

This girl speaks too quickly, she thought, not realizing that even if she hadn’t said who, just mentioning it would cause quite a stir once back at the mansion.

Gu Er’s expression changed. Though not well-versed in matters of the inner residence, he knew the implications such rumors could have for a lady’s reputation.

Especially when it’s a niece speaking ill of her aunt. How could this be fitting for a girl raised in the Marquis Mansion?

“Second Brother, it’s just a few words that mean nothing. Sister Yue probably didn’t mean it,” Lin Youning wanted the matter to stop there.

Even if Gu Er stood up for her, scolding or grounding Sister Yue, it would only make the rumor spread further.

Moreover, her life in the Marquis Mansion had been peaceful, and she didn’t wish to cause a rift with Sister Yue or Mrs. Kong.

“I should have been stricter in discipline to prevent my Second Sister from being wronged. I apologize to my Second Sister.” Gu Er bowed.

Lin Youning quickly stepped aside to avoid it, “Second Brother, you’re depriving me of my luck by doing this. We’re not outsiders, so there’s no need for such formality. Moreover, we’re still in the Xu Mansion’s courtyard, close to the inner courtyards, where female guests frequently pass through. Second Brother should return to the front courtyard.”

Lin Youning was not willing to engage in pretense with him.

Gu Er had only come to this side to find some peace from the noisy front courtyard, unaware it was the passage between inner and outer courtyards. He wanted to console Sister Ning more but found it inconvenient, so he left.

After sending Gu Er away, Lin Youning dared not stay longer, fearing she might meet someone else and returned to Mrs. Xu Sr.’s Warm Pavilion with Shanmoi.

She had only been here once before, but Lin Youning remembered the way, and without needing guidance from the young maid, she found her way back to the Warm Pavilion.

No outsiders were in the Warm Pavilion. Mrs. Dong had gone to the front flower hall, leaving only Mrs. Gu Sr. while Mrs. Xu Sr. was out entertaining guests.

When Lin Youning entered, she rarely saw a young wife sitting on a small stool, talking to her aunt. Upon seeing Lin Youning, the young wife stood up.

Mrs. Gu Sr. smiled and waved, “No need for that. This is Sister Ning, who lives in my courtyard.”

She introduced the young wife to Sister Ning, “Her husband’s family name is Zhao, so you may call her Mrs. Zhao.”

“I really can’t accept such an address, being called sister-in-law by the young lady of the mansion,” said the young wife, looking to be in her twenties. Her clothes weren’t too luxurious but were neat and clean.

Even when speaking, she exuded a sense of competence.

Lin Youning quickly greeted her, and Mrs. Zhao returned the greeting before they both resumed their seats.

Lin Youning quietly listened, occasionally observing Mrs. Zhao. From her conversation with her aunt, she learned that she was the wife of Zhao Housheng, the Assistant General under her elder brother. Zhao Housheng was from a peasant family, and Mrs. Zhao was from the same village.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep