Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Highs and Lows

Gu Yifeng entered with a calm demeanor, dressed in a deep blue robe, his hands clasped behind his back. While he had the grace of a gentleman, there was an undertone of authority that kept others at a distance.

Lin Youning felt that his concerned gaze resembled the caring elder brother she knew, despite his aloofness, which seemed to envelop everything around him.

His expression was indifferent yet deep; although he spoke in a cold manner to everyone, making it seem as if he was overlooking everything in the world with just a simple gesture.

Looking down at Gu Chaoxuan, his elder brother’s eldest son, he clearly shared his bloodline but inherited only a fraction of his countenance and none of his grace.

Combined with his deceitful nature, this father-son duo was as different as heaven and earth.

When Lin Youning met those calm eyes once more, she wasn’t startled by having her words heard. She felt reassured, “Big Brother.”

“Sister Ning said quite a lot just now. To be born ill-hearted is worse than being a pig or a dog.” Gu Yifeng’s voice was flat, yet the chill in it was palpable. “Brother Xuan, you should go back. You’re no longer a child, and once you have a family and career, you’ll have to rely on yourself. If you scheme against outsiders, I won’t interfere, but if you direct your schemes toward your family, I won’t hesitate to disown you from the Gu Family.”

“Son will heed Father’s teachings.” Gu Chaoxuan struggled to his feet and, bent over, made his exit.

Hailan and the others, seeing this, also retreated quickly.

Faced with Gu Yifeng on her own, Lin Youning blushed, “Let Big Brother ridicule me.”

She couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed after getting into a tiff with a junior.

Gu Yifeng looked at the bashful Rong Yan in front of him, feeling a pang of wistfulness, “Sister Ning, come sit, I have something to discuss with you.”

Gu Yifeng was already moving toward the Warm Pavilion, with Lin Youning trailing behind him.

When they were seated, Gu Yifeng spoke, a note of reluctant resignation in his voice, “You must understand your background by now. Zhao Housheng has approached me, and I intended to send you back to Zhao Mansion. Would you agree?”

Lin Youning widened her eyes.

Zhao Housheng?

Her brother?

Big Brother knew about it?

Since when?

“There’s no need to worry about Mother; I’ll explain everything to her myself.” Gu Yifeng, seeing the wide eyes staring at him, smiled slightly. “You can ask your brother how I found out later; you don’t need to figure that out now. I’ve watched you grow up and see you as a sister; perhaps you feel the same. Now that things have come to this, once everything is explained to Mother, she’ll agree to it.”

“Big Brother, don’t you think I’m ungrateful?” Lin Youning bit her lip.

“If you were, Mother wouldn’t be so fond of you. You don’t need to dwell on this. I came today to let you prepare your heart for this. After I talk to her, Mother might be angry with you for a while, but she’s always doted on you and won’t stay angry for long. Once you think it through, it’ll be fine.”

Lin Youning lowered her head, feeling complicated, “I owe Aunt my apologies.”

With that said, Gu Yifeng did not linger, as there were many matters in the mansion awaiting his attention.

After sending Gu Yifeng off, Lin Youning returned to the Warm Pavilion and sat in a daze.

Despite having lived two lives, she hadn’t realized her Big Brother had known all along and quietly helped her.

Even though he knew she would leave the Marquis Mansion, he was still considerate of her feelings, fearing Aunt would show her disapproval.

Lin Youning felt a stinging in her nose, suppressing the urge to cry.

She knew she’d let down Aunt’s affections, but she had to leave the mansion. In this lifetime, she’d never share her husband with another woman again.

Shanmoi and Hailan, noticing the young lady’s silence and occasional red eyes since Marquis’s departure, were worried but didn’t dare approach her. They could only stand quietly by as attendants.

At Shi’an Garden, as Gu Yifeng stepped inside, he saw his younger brother kneeling in the middle of the flower hall, with Mrs. Gu Sr. wearing an expression of fury.

Even though the eldest son had arrived, Mrs. Gu Sr.’s demeanor hadn’t softened in the least as she glared at her youngest son on the floor. “Repeat what you just said to your elder brother, so he can hear your ridiculous plans.”

Gu Er hung his head, “I want to marry Sister Ning.”

Mrs. Gu Sr. chuckled in exasperation, speaking bitterly to her eldest son, “Da Lang, do you hear the nonsense this fool is saying?”

Her next words were a sharp rebuke directed at her younger son, “You wish to marry Sister Ning? Do you realize it means bearing the responsibility for the Gu family’s main house? What about future heirs?”

Mrs. Gu Sr. knew her words would hurt her son, especially since he’d been in such a low state, as if lifeless, and just as he was finally reviving, he came to her with such foolishness. How could she not be infuriated?

It was mostly disappointment.

“I only want to marry Sister Ning; she has been my betrothed since childhood.” Gu Er persisted stubbornly, pausing, “Da Ge can assist me with the bridal chamber…”

Before he could finish, Mrs. Gu Sr. threw a teacup at him. In the room, only Suyi was attending to Mrs. Gu Sr.

Hearing such outrageous words, Suyi turned pale with shock. How could Second Young Master utter such scandalous notions?

Mrs. Gu Sr.’s chest heaved with anger, and if Suyi hadn’t composed herself to help calm her down, Mrs. Gu Sr. might have fainted from rage.

Gu Yifeng, though seated, crushed the teacup in his hand.

His piercing gaze shot toward Gu Er, who understood the horror of his own words yet couldn’t shake the feeling of something being hollowed from his heart at the thought of his brother marrying Sister Ning.

He no longer considered himself a man, someone unable to father a child; how could that still qualify him as a man?

He had lost everything, and reflecting on the trust he’d placed in Mrs. Kong, only to be betrayed and left in such a state, all he had left was Sister Ning. Without her, what else could he hold on to?

“Mother, please calm down. Let me talk to my younger brother. His time spent in the courtyard must have left him confused.” Gu Yifeng rose, striding behind Gu Er and, with what seemed a simple lift by the collar, pulled him to his feet.

Yet Gu Er suddenly resisted, “Talk about what? Talk about giving up Sister Ning to Big Brother? I won’t agree! Big Brother, abandon the thought; I consented to have you assist in the bridal chamber, what more do you want?”

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