Chapter 282: Chapter 283: Change

So when Shanmoi and the others heard the young lady call the Marquis “Lord,” the people serving nearby were all taken aback.

Only Nanny Guo showed no reaction upon hearing it, after all, she had seen the world and come out of the palace.

Shanmoi couldn’t help but worry and privately asked Hailan, “Did the young lady have a quarrel with the Marquis? Otherwise, why would she even change the way she addresses him?”

“The young lady and the Marquis are husband and wife. When in the Capital, everyone knew the young lady grew up in the Marquis Mansion, so it was understandable for her to call him brother. But it’s different here. Here, people only know her as Madam, not that she grew up in the Marquis Mansion.” Hailan’s words made Shanmoi understand everything.

“It’s odd, hearing the young lady call the Marquis ’Lord’ feels awkward no matter how you hear it.”

“We’ve been serving the young lady for so many years, growing up with her in a sense. Naturally, suddenly hearing her address the Marquis that way feels awkward. But don’t express anything, I fear even the young lady might slip up while calling him that.”

Seeing that Hailan found it just as awkward as she did made Shanmoi feel a bit more at ease. She had thought she was the only one with this misperception.

Gu Yifeng had his own calculations. He believed that to further his relationship with Sister Ning, he needed to start by fundamentally changing it, particularly the relationship between them. Transitioning to ’Lord and Madam’ distanced them, but paradoxically brought them closer as a man and woman.

It was simply a transition from siblings to spouses.

Gradually, he would get Sister Ning to stop calling him big brother, and he believed it wouldn’t be long before the sibling connection between them faded in her heart.

Gu Yifeng had already begun his calculations slowly, but Sister Ning was completely unaware. After tending to herself for seven or eight days, her body gradually recovered.

Seeing the invites brought by Shanmoi and Hailan, Lin Youning carefully read each one and personally responded to each invitation, though no banquet was held at the residence, the basic etiquette had to be maintained.

Previously, there were no women in the mansion, so if these things were done poorly, others wouldn’t nitpick. But now it’s different.

When Gu Yifeng found out, he told her during dinner upon returning at night, “These matters don’t need to weigh on your mind, they’re just merchants after all. Your body has just healed, don’t let these things tire you out again.”

“It’s merely writing a few words, it’s not strenuous work.”

“These days, take a good rest as well. In a couple of days when I finish my tasks at the camp, I’ll take you into the city for a walk.” Gu Yifeng initially thought to let her go by herself for a few days but thought better of it and didn’t mention it, “Given your recent recovery and the cold climate here, you need more recuperation.”

Lin Youning hadn’t planned to go out, so she asked, “How’s the situation with the foreign tribes? Do they have any motives to invade?”

“They faced a snow disaster over there, many livestock froze to death. If there’s no food to make it through winter, I fear they might come here for food.” Though Gu Yifeng spoke lightly, his expression was very grave.

Sister Ning had long noticed that despite his demeanor, big brother’s expression did change, though others might not see it.

Whenever discussing something serious, he would display such an expression. Perhaps it’s because she’d been with him for a long time that she could notice these subtle changes.

“Is there another way? Could we help them find a way to survive the winter, so there won’t be a war?” Lin Youning felt that war causes harm and loss, and thought it better to spare them some resources, losing some minor possessions while saving greater wealth and lives, avoiding the death of many soldiers.

“It’s not that such thoughts haven’t occurred. In the past, the foreign tribes even sent their princess to the palace, hoping to ease relations. But given that side faces snow disasters every year, our Da Xian Dynasty can’t provide resources annually for one princess. As time passed after the princess married over, the foreign tribes resumed their invasions. The reconciliations that followed such relationships also slowly diminished. Over the years, because each invasion caused many soldier casualties, people in our Da Xian Dynasty have opinions about them, and even the Holy Emperor in the court no longer acts as before.”

Lin Youning showed surprise, “The foreigners even sent their princess here, when did this happen? Was it the previous dynasty?”

“It was during the reign of our current Holy Emperor. That princess even bore a prince with our emperor, but that was many years ago, back when you weren’t born, and I only heard of it as a child.” Gu Yifeng laughed, “Besides, royal affairs are never spread outside, and since it’s related to foreigners, it’s even less mentioned.”

Lin Youning nodded; indeed, she had lived two lifetimes and heard of such a thing for the first time.

“If a prince was born, he should be a prince now. Why haven’t we heard of him?”

“I heard he passed away early when he was very young, which is why there isn’t such a person now, and everyone might not know about it.” Gu Yifeng had never delved deeply into the matter since it was something from his childhood.

Lin Youning nodded, “It makes sense. If he were still alive today, it’s impossible for us not to have heard of such a prince.”

Noticing it was getting late, especially since it got dark early in the Northwest, and it was wintertime, making the days short, Lin Youning saw that big brother showed no intention of leaving, and remembering his wish for a change in her way of addressing him, she thought that if he were home, naturally they should stay together. Otherwise, seeing them apart, the maids in the mansion might not respect her as Madam.

“I will rest on the soft bed tonight.” Gu Yifeng had spoken, intending to get up and fetch the quilt himself.

In such cold weather, sleeping on the soft bed wouldn’t not feel the chill.

Lin Youning quickly stopped him, “Lord, better sleep on the bed with me, just like we did in the Capital.”

Gu Yifeng looked at her, “I don’t mind, it’s just that I fear you might find it uncomfortable.”

Lin Youning’s face warmed, “Then I’ll arrange the bedding.”

Understanding that big brother was referring to the recent time when she distanced herself due to his intimate gestures, she felt a sense of guilt. Seeing big brother so considerate of her, she realized she moved here to care for him, yet she was making him worried all the time. How could that be right?

Besides, having lived two lifetimes, how could she still be concerned about such things?

Thinking this way opened her up, and when lying in bed with big brother at night, Lin Youning felt more at ease.

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