Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Training Servants

Lin Youning understood she shouldn’t be like this. In Gu Yifeng’s eyes, she was just a child, yet she didn’t know why in her past life her heart was like dead wood, and nothing could stir her emotions. After living again, just one small action made her blush and feel guilty.

Thinking this way, her legs wouldn’t stop, and Lin Youning had already reached the steps leading down to Gu Yifeng. Before she could speak, she was lifted up by Gu Yifeng once again.

“Big Brother, I can walk by myself.” Lin Youning didn’t know where to place her hands as her body swayed upwards with Gu Yifeng’s strides. Fearfully, she instinctively grabbed onto Gu Yifeng’s collar, though she felt as if it burned her hands, yet she dared not let go as her body swayed.

Her entire body tensed up.

Gu Yifeng was completely unaffected, walking up the mountain in big strides, “Did you see anything you liked on the streets of the capital?”

“Did you eat osmanthus candy?” A gust of wind blew past, and the scent of osmanthus on the small body in front of him wafted to Gu Yifeng’s nose.

Lin Youning’s face was already as hot as it could get, but she still timidly responded, “Big Brother, Nanny used osmanthus to bathe me this morning.”

Knowing she couldn’t break free, Lin Youning had no choice but to let her face burn.

She also thought this was a good chance to inquire about Xu Kuan.

Hearing the low laughter coming from above, Lin Youning’s ears turned red again, “Big Brother, you’re not allowed to laugh.”

The domineering tone was contradicted by the soft, glutinous rice-like speech.

A certain place in Gu Yifeng’s heart felt touched, an indescribable feeling, yet he truly stopped laughing.

Suddenly, Lin Youning felt embarrassed again. She wanted to cling onto Gu Yifeng, without saying anything, Gu Yifeng could certainly relieve her of her burdens.

But at that moment, Lin Youning didn’t know what to say, so she randomly brought up a subject to break the silence, “Big Brother, I heard from Nanny that many people come for the vegetarian food on the mountain. They also say the vegetables here grow up listening to the monks’ chanting, and all have spiritual insight.”

“The monks grow vegetables and eat them themselves. They chant daily, and since the vegetables grow on the mountain, they naturally grow up listening to the chanting. As for whether they taste better than the ones at home, you’ll know once you’re on the mountain.” Gu Yifeng saw through the little girl’s thoughts.

Though he didn’t laugh, his eyebrows relaxed and his eyes were bright, signaling his good mood.

Li Si and Nanny Chang followed behind, heads slightly lowered, also feeling the Marquis’s good mood.

Falling behind, Gu Yixuan accompanied their mother who sat on the soft bridge, seeing this scene from afar, couldn’t help but complain sourly, “Sister Ru is closer to Big Brother, and doesn’t like me anymore.”

Inside the soft bridge, Mrs. Gu Sr. rested with her eyes closed, speaking calmly, “If you took as much care of your little sister as your big brother does, she would be close to you too. I’ve been busy with your aunt’s affairs lately, haven’t looked after you, and you, unaware of where you were going when your little sister was upset, didn’t even show her some concern.”

Feeling guilty, Gu Yixuan dared not say more, just admitted his mistake, “I know I was wrong, I will certainly care more for my little sister in the future.”

The servants around acted as if invisible, their faces bearing no change, observing their noses, directing their gaze nowhere else.

The group left the mansion in the morning, and by the time they reached the mountain gate, the sun emerged from behind the clouds. The sky was bright blue, surrounded by cheerful birdsong, with the Pure Path Temple quietly settled halfway up the green mountainside.

A little monk had long been stationed at the temple gate, waiting for the servants to announce their names, before leading them to the eastern guest rooms, a small square courtyard.

The main room was for Mrs. Gu Sr. and Lin Youning, while the servants lived in the side rooms, and the left and right wings were for Lin Yifeng and his brother. Due to the head-seven ceremony and scripture chanting, the sky turned early afterward, so they stayed on the mountain for a night.

Once Gu Yifeng had arranged everything, a little monk came to invite him to the meditation room, mentioning that the abbot had prepared tea. Only then did Lin Youning realize Gu Yifeng was on familiar terms with the abbot, unlike the treatment of ordinary noble families, where they’d be met at the temple gate. Instead, preparing tea and waiting hinted at a deep friendship.

Gu Yifeng reported to Mrs. Gu Sr., who merely waved him off to go. When Gu Yixuan also wanted to leave, Mrs. Gu Sr. stopped him, “A servant just delivered a note saying the Duke Mansion is also staying at the temple next door; you’ve exchanged notes with Sister Ru, meeting before marriage isn’t proper, so don’t wander off.”

Gu Yixuan dared not show displeasure, quickly agreeing. Raising his head, seeing Lin Youning and Nanny Chang heading out, he asked, “Little sister, where are you going?”

“We’re staying a day on the mountain, so Nanny Chang is taking her for a walk.” Mrs. Gu Sr. knew her son’s intent well, “You can also help me sort out the copied scriptures, to offer them at the Buddhist Hall later.”

Seeing his mother’s earnest refusal to let him wander, Gu Yixuan had no choice but to accompany her, wondering why she suddenly acted this way.

Meanwhile, in the guest room of the Duke Mansion next door, family members had already arrived at the temple an hour earlier. Kong Tianru paced anxiously in the guest room, while Yinchun and Pianqiu, her two major maids, dared not breathe heavily.

“Yinchun, go find out what the Second Young Master is doing,” Kong Tianru suddenly stopped, her gaze falling intensely on Yinchun.

Yinchun gingerly complied, “This servant will go right away.”

Once Yinchun exited through the curtain, Kong Tianru coldly withdrew her gaze, “Pianqiu, do you think Yinchun will go to Mother or help me gather information?”

Pianqiu was so frightened she knelt on the ground immediately, “Miss, this servant doesn’t know.”

“Not knowing is alright, what’s important is that a servant’s heart aligns with the master’s,” Kong Tianru, with a sweet smile, yet her eyes chilled, “I know you are loyal, you may rise.”

“This servant thanks Miss.” Pianqiu wiped the cold sweat off as she got up from the ground.

Seeing the young lady had already left the guest room, her heart raced with worry, yet she dared not stop her, only able to follow along.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep