Chapter 246: Chapter 247: Night Conversation

Lin Youning at this moment no longer had the mind to think about these things. No matter what the motives were at the time, the matter had already happened. Whether she liked it or not, she now owed Mrs. Dong a significant human favor.

What she was most worried about at the moment was the potential reactions from the Prince Xian Mansion and the Zhou Mansion.

Shanmoi walked in, “Although it’s not cold, you’ve been rushing around all day, it’s time you should rest early.”

“My elder brother is in prison, and I cannot visit him. How can you expect me to sleep? I’m afraid that as soon as I turn around and leave, my sister-in-law at the Zhao Mansion will be wiping her tears,” Lin Youning sighed with a bitter smile.

“What’s done is done, and now we can only wait for the head of the family to return. Miss, you need to take it easy,” Shanmoi hesitated for a long while, “Just now when Hailan and I returned, we ran into the Second Young Master. He seemed to have been waiting for someone, stopped us, and asked how you were. He seemed very worried about you. You know I am always indecisive, so I didn’t say anything. It was Hailan who exchanged a few courteous words before hurriedly pulling me back.”

After they saw Li Si’s change in address last time, Shanmoi and Hailan discussed it and changed how they addressed the Marquis as well.

“Hailan did the right thing. It’s better to stay away, since Princess Yuanhua is there. Even if a starved camel is larger than a horse, even if Princess Yuanhua has been demoted to commoner, she is still the Emperor’s daughter. Who knows when the Emperor’s heart will soften and restore her title, and if there will be an accounting in the future? We better keep our distance,” Lin Youning mentioned Princess Yuanhua, but what she was thinking about was Gu Er’er.

She couldn’t understand why Gu’er would do such a thing. Is it because he couldn’t attain it, thus behaves this way?

What about the previous life? Clearly, her reputation was already ruined, yet Gu Er married her and even took up the main responsibilities here. And regarding what happened to Gu Er, Sister Ning is now certain that the child wasn’t Gu Er’er’s.

Still, Gu Er endured it and truly took up the responsibility.

Lin Youning simply couldn’t make sense of whether Gu Er’er hated or loved her.

“Everything here is fine, you both should go rest early. Tomorrow, there will probably be a lot to deal with,” Lin Youning urged Shanmoi and Hailan to retire and rest.

Hailan had just entered when she saw the lady urging them to rest. She glanced at Shanmoi, who nodded, and they both left together.

“The lady is troubled now and wants to be alone, so let’s step aside,” Shanmoi explained to Hailan.

Hailan nodded.

Lin Youning did not feel sleepy at all, though she knew it was late at night. Thinking that tomorrow she must brace to face it all, she rose to rest.

Then she heard sounds outside the window, as if someone was tapping on the back window. She stopped and looked toward it.

During the moment she paused, the tapping stopped, making it seem like the sounds she heard were mere illusions.

Just as she was about to move again, the tapping resumed. This time she was sure it was not an illusion.

Lin Youning cautiously stared at the back window. She couldn’t explain why, but when she heard the window knocking, a shadow seemed to leap into her mind.

The window was gently pushed open, and a figure in a cyan robe leaped inside.

Seeing the person who stood up to face her, Lin Youning’s brow furrowed tightly. She knew she hadn’t guessed wrong. Indeed, it was this person—who else but this rogue would break into someone else’s room in the middle of the night?

“Did General Xu come to the wrong place?” Lin Youning remembered he had gone to the border, so why had he suddenly appeared in the Capital?

“I just returned to the Capital to report, and I heard about your brother’s affairs. I thought you must be very anxious right now, so I came over to see you,” Xu Kuan appeared worry-free, walked to the soft couch, and poured himself a cup of tea. “Don’t worry, now that you’re married, I will certainly observe propriety.”

Having broken into someone else’s room in the middle of the night is considered observing propriety?

However, Lin Youning knew arguing with him wouldn’t get anywhere. He was that kind of carefree person by nature.

Lin Youning sat down on the other side and looked at him, “General Xu sees that I’m fine now, in good spirits. Once you’ve finished your tea, please leave. After all, being seen wouldn’t be good.”

“Rest assured, I’ve dodged all the hidden guards in the mansion. No one will discover I came.” Xu Kuan boasted with a look of pride when he said this.

Lin Youning glared, “General Xu, while you’re so concerned about me, perhaps you should be more interested in what’s happening in your own house. I heard your daughter-in-law returned to her parents’ home some time ago. Isn’t your mansion in a rush for grandchildren?”

“She’s just a woman. If the Wu Mansion truly disregards decorum and supports her for life, our Xu Mansion would be willing. Her holding the position of lady doesn’t prevent concubines from being taken.”

“General Xu, what you say is true,” Li Youning mocked him, “General Xu is so adept at managing your son’s affairs. So why can’t you handle your own issues?”

“I have often wondered, does Taichang know you’re such an articulate girl?” Xu Kuan was genuinely curious.

Lin Youning smiled, “It’s late. General Xi should hurry up and leave. I hope that such incidents won’t happen again. Since you are friends with my elder brother, I assume you should show respect to him.”

Knowing his concern for her, Lin Youning didn’t debate anymore.

At least at this moment, someone still showed care for her, which touched Lin Youning’s heart. Between her and Xu Kuan, there was indeed nothing much, but every time they were linked, it always caused a stir.

Xu Kuan smirked, “Since I see you’re still spirited, I’m relieved.”

He said no more, and left the same way he came.

The boudoir was quiet, and Lin Youning sat on the bed, exhaling softly after a long while.

She hadn’t expected Xu Kuan to visit her, but she remembered what Xu Kuan said; there were hidden guards in the mansion. So, this meant they were left by her elder brother when he left.

Reflecting on the words her elder brother had repeatedly stressed before leaving and thinking about Xu Kuan’s mention of hidden guards, Lin Youning finally breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, she hadn’t done anything foolish, otherwise, everything would surely fall under her elder brother’s watch.

Meanwhile, over at Prince Xian Mansion, Zhou Wu was currently discussing matters with Prince Xian, “The Eldest Prince has long known how dear Prince Xian holds him. Just a few days ago, he acquired a Ferghana Horse and wanted to send it to the mansion. But who would have thought that the Heir would encounter such an incident? To say, it’s my fault as well; I should have stopped it then, and this wouldn’t have happened.”

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