Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Discussion

Early the next morning, Nanny Chang spoke with Mrs. Gu Sr. about the matter. After hearing it, Mrs. Gu Sr. was not angry but instead smiled.

“That child, Zichang, never beats around the bush, but it’s precisely this straightforward nature that shows he genuinely cares for our Sister Ning.”

Nanny Chang was slightly surprised. She understood the old madam well. For such a breach of etiquette, the old madam, who was always strict about rules, not only refrained from reprimanding General Xu but even praised him. Could this mean the old madam was satisfied with this marriage proposal?

As Nanny Chang pondered this, Mrs. Gu Sr. spoke again, confirming her thoughts, “That child from the Xu family is indeed good. I hadn’t considered it before. If he and Sister Ning truly become a couple, I’d be at ease letting her go to him.”

“But it seems the young lady doesn’t seem interested,” said Nanny Chang, genuinely caring for the young lady as if she were her own child, regardless of whether the old madam would be displeased.

The old madam smiled, “I understand that, and we must ask Sister Ning’s opinion. Last night, Zichang asked in front of so many people; what could Sister Ning say?”

Nanny Chang saw the old madam still held hope, yet she secretly shook her head. It seemed the old madam didn’t understand that the young lady, despite appearing gentle, always had her own mind on these matters.

If it weren’t for the previous engagement to the Second Young Master, about whom she felt such disdain, why would she have remained silent for so long?

Seeing the old madam happy, Nanny Chang didn’t say much more, shifting the conversation to Sister Yue’s elopement. Mrs. Gu Sr. smirked coldly, “It seems the second branch can’t remain vacant; send someone to Jiangxi with a letter asking his intentions. Should he divorce and remarry, or take another concubine? At their age, the Miss of the house must be supervised by someone.”

Nanny Chang nodded, feeling sorry for the Fourth Miss. If she truly lived under a concubine, who would want her upon hearing she was raised under a concubine?

The old madam was genuinely angered by the Second Young Master’s family.

Recalling the Second Young Master’s shocking words, Nanny Chang thought the old madam had been pushed to her limits. If the Second Young Master continued his antics, who knows what further trouble he might cause?

Later that morning, Lin Youning visited and noticed her aunt scrutinizing her with a smile, causing suspicion. But she immediately surmised it was about Xu Kuan’s public confession.

She then forced a bitter smile. Knowing her aunt’s fondness for the Xu family, could she truly want to tie her to Xu Kuan this way?

After breakfast, indeed, Mrs. Gu Sr. pulled her aside in the warm pavilion to talk privately. “What do you think of General Xu?”

“Auntie, it won’t work.” Lin Youning thought for a moment, then explained what Xu Yuxian had confessed. “Besides, even without such matters, I don’t wish to marry him. His stepson is already married and older than me.”

Mrs. Gu Sr. clicked her tongue, “You silly girl, how could you not tell your aunt about such things?”

Lin Youning wore a bitter smile. At that time, she was engaged to Gu Er. How could she dare to speak? What would her aunt think then?

After Mrs. Gu Sr. inquired further, she immediately realized this, regretfully patting her hand, “Yes, yes, your aunt has aged and forgot about this matter. What a pity, if only….”

If only there hadn’t been an engagement with Second Young Master back then, the Xu Mansion’s eldest son was quite remarkable, a fine gentleman.

Lin Youning did not respond further, only smiling.

Mrs. Gu Sr., afraid Lin Youning would feel upset, steered the conversation away, “Before the wedding festivities at the mansion, I was thinking of holding a few banquets. At that time, you should also come help. When you marry, these are tasks a home mistress must handle. Previously, you weren’t allowed to handle them; now that you have the opportunity, you shouldn’t be lazy.”

Lin Youning smiled bitterly, “There is still the Madam in the mansion. Why would you need me? Please spare me, Aunt.”

“She naturally has her own matters to attend to. Second Miss Wu will be entering the mansion, and there’s Brother Xuan’s marriage too. Both are scheduled for early autumn. The Wu Mansion’s matter is easier, merely carrying her into the mansion in a small sedan. Though she’s a concubine, Brother Xuan, despite being an illegitimate son, is the first of the next generation in the Marquis Mansion to marry. It must be decent.”

Speaking of these, Mrs. Gu Sr. couldn’t help but sigh, “That child Brother Xuan has gone astray. Such a pity. In their generation, it’s only him and Brother De. The Gu Mansion lacks heirs; perhaps it’s due to the heavy killings on the battlefield.”

“The Gu family fought to protect the people of the Da Xian Dynasty. How could it be too much killing? It’s simply fate that there are no descendants. Aunt shouldn’t dwell on this matter. Sometimes the more you seek, the less you get. Besides, isn’t Second Miss Wu about to enter the mansion? Who knows, she might bear a golden grandson this year.”

Lin Youning wanted to say it cheerfully, but her heart felt heavy, as if the air had been drawn out in an instant.

She consoled herself again in the dark. As long as these filthy thoughts went unnoticed, just watching her dear brother’s happiness from afar was enough.

Rather than having her dear brother view her with disdain, isn’t this better?

Never taking that step allows her to be cherished by her dear brother.

Mrs. Gu Sr. was lost in her own memories and, upon regaining her composure, saw Lin Youning’s face return to normal.

“I asked you to help with the banquets to see if there are suitable families. Though you’re only fifteen and not in a rush, you should start looking. It’s best to arrange the marriage, marrying in a year or two. Waiting to find a match at that time will be difficult.”

“Aunt thinks of me with such care. I’ll follow your wishes, Aunt.” Lin Youning bowed her head. Maybe finding someone else wouldn’t be bad; it might help her let go of those persistent thoughts.

Mrs. Gu Sr. interpreted this as shyness, simply smiling as she patted her hand, “Before, I thought you didn’t need to learn this. Just stay by my side and observe. Now it’s different. When you marry, you don’t know what kind of family you’ll enter. Your mother-in-law shouldn’t find any fault either.”

Outside, Gu Yifeng had been standing without announcing himself for a quarter of an hour, listening to everything said inside the warm pavilion.

Having been contemplating Xu Kuan’s matter since last night, he came this morning to inquire about Sister Ning’s opinion, only to hear such a conversation.

Sister Ning wants to find a family.

Clearly, he should feel relieved that Sister Ning didn’t choose Xu Kuan, but why does his chest feel so heavy and unable to breathe?

Nanny Chang lowered her gaze with curtains drawn, sneaking glances at the Marquis, noting the fleeting expression of loss on his face, frightening her into lowering her head.

The Marquis typically showed no expressions. In Nanny Chang’s memory, the Marquis always had a cold face, but now, she saw disappointment on the Marquis’s face.

Why?

Was it because he heard the girl rejected the Xu Mansion’s proposal? Or…

Nanny Chang felt the previous day’s events with General Xu had set her mind spinning, daring her to imagine anything.

She dared not let that thought surface, suppressing it.

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