Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Winter Solstice

On the day of the Winter Solstice, when Lin Youning woke up, she discovered it was snowing outside, and, delighted, she ran to the soft couch in the outer room just in her inner clothes.

Shanmoi and Hailan were startled and quickly brought a cloak over, saying, “Miss, be careful not to catch a cold.”

“When did it start snowing?” Looking at the thick layer of snow on the ground, Lin Youning hurriedly called out for them to help her get dressed, anxious to go outside.

“It started snowing in the middle of the night last night. Over at Mrs. Gu Sr.’s side, Sister Suyi was instructed early in the morning to send over charcoal, all top-grade silver charcoal.” Shanmoi had a look of shared pride.

The smile on Lin Youning’s face faded a bit, “Aunt worries about me too much again.”

Over the years, she had seen her aunt’s love for her, but thinking about her still planning an escape from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion made her feel guilty.

But walking the path of a past life again and thinking of having to wed Gu Er again filled her with discomfort, and the mere thought made her nauseous.

After breakfast, she went to Shi’an Garden to pay respects, only to find a little girl there, saying that the old lady went to the Buddhist Hall and those coming to visit didn’t need to wait; they should return to their quarters given the weather.

Lin Youning found it strange. Her aunt always doted on her; had there been an issue, she would have sent news early. This was unusual and made her suspicious, wondering if something had happened in the mansion.

The snow was thick, and while the snow in the corridors had been swept away, the snow hadn’t stopped falling, quickly covering the ground again with a heavy layer.

Lin Youning was wearing a silver horse face skirt with a lightly lacquered, pale yellow robe. As she entered the small garden, she saw Snow Fox running around in the snow, crashing into bushes, snow from above falling, startling it into jumping about wildly.

Amused, Lin Youning stopped and, circling around the path, walked onto the crescent bridge while Shanmoi and the others urged her to move slowly.

After all, the snow in the garden hadn’t completely been cleared, and it continued to snow.

Shanmoi and the others grew anxious when they saw the young lady chasing Snow Fox instead of taking the path.

Nanny Chang noticed but just told Shanmoi and them to keep an eye on her and not to stop her. The young lady had always been quiet since she was little, and now that she was finally showing a young girl’s heart, it was as if she had been suppressing it for a long time, letting out crisp laughter.

In the Buddhist Hall on the west side of Tingxue Hall, Mrs. Gu Sr. dismissed her servants, locking herself inside.

Suyi was anxiously pacing and had asked Sumian to keep watch before rushing towards the Woodland Pavilion.

Ever since Nanny Chi returned in the morning and spoke with the old lady, Mrs. Gu Sr. had been deeply preoccupied. Now that it was snowing and she was alone in the Buddhist Hall, how could her body withstand it?

Lin Youning, after playing chase with Snow Fox for a while, returned to her room all sweaty, ordered the servants to prepare hot water for a bath, and, after sending everyone away, secretly opened the small window to the back garden so she could enjoy the snow while bathing.

It created quite the unique ambiance.

Outside under the corridor, Nanny Chang came out of the side room, saw Shanmoi and Hailan with surprised expressions outside, and before asking questions, saw Sumian rush in from the west corner gate in a panic.

“Nanny, the old lady fainted,” Sumian said with reddened eyes. “Sister Suyi went to find the Marquis, but the old lady wouldn’t let anyone stay in the courtyard.”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Chang’s face changed immediately, and before Sumian could finish, she called over Shanmoi and Hailan, “You come with me.”

The Buddhist Hall was just a wall away from Tingxue Hall, so Sumian could find people there for help most quickly.

Shanmoi and Hailan quickly followed Nanny Chang, also instructing the little maid in the courtyard to take good care of the young lady.

Inside, Lin Youning heard the commotion outside, but it quickly quieted down, so she didn’t think much of it. She was playing in the water when suddenly something pounced in through the window, landing directly in the bath bucket.

It was so sudden that Lin Youning cried out in shock, realizing that whatever had pounced in was thrashing about in the water, a white blob she couldn’t quite see clearly, making her want to call out in fright.

Gu Yifeng had just entered Tingxue Hall from the East Corner Gate when he heard a scream from the main room. Without thinking, he rushed forward, kicking open the door and barging in.

What kind of scene was this?

Gu Yifeng was stunned.

A delicate, transparent figure, a slender waist that seemed like it could be encircled with one hand, so thin it looked as if it could break.

A small red mouth, slightly parted in shock, with a hint of playful reproach, and eyes under long lashes brimming with water, giving a pitiful, sorrowful gaze that seemed as if it could melt anyone looking into them.

Gu Yifeng felt as if something was blocked in his chest, about to burst out, yet instinctively suppressed it.

“Big brother.” It was as if she saw a savior; those watery eyes suddenly brightened, seeking help from him.

Gu Yifeng quickly took the robe draped over the screen, strode forward, pulled her from the water, wrapped her in the robe, then stepped back, putting some distance between them before looking into the bath bucket.

It was a white snow sculpture.

He went over, gently reached into the water, and pulled out the struggling snow sculpture, which, once free, flew out the window in an instant.

Gu Yifeng’s expression changed, indescribable feelings surging within him.

This was something he had brought back from the border, how had it ended up here?

The warmth from holding her moments ago lingered on his hands, her soft, jade-like skin making his body tense again.

Lin Youning’s face was also full of embarrassment. Though wrapped in the robe, it was already wet, showing her figure, not to mention that in her haste to save her life, she had let herself be held without a stitch on.

Just as she wondered how to address the awkward situation, she heard approaching footsteps, and her face reddened even more. What if someone saw this…

The steps halted outside, “Marquis, Mrs. Gu Sr. has fainted.”

It was Suyi’s voice.

Oddly, Lin Youning felt relieved.

Then she was startled, did her aunt faint?

Over there, Gu Yifeng’s expression turned serious, and without further word, he strode out. Lin Youning felt another wave of relief as he left, hurriedly pulling over a cloth to dry herself before dressing and calling for Suyi.

No one answered after several calls. Frowning, she decided to go outside with her hair still wet, casually tying it up herself.

As Lin Youning came out, she saw Nanny Chang and Nanny Chi helping Mrs. Gu Sr., who had already awakened, though her complexion was ghastly pale.

“Aunt,” Lin Youning felt a jolt in her heart, striding forward.

“Aunt is fine. Just got up too quickly and fainted. You’re still with wet hair, go back in now; don’t catch a cold.”

Seeing her frail aunt still worrying over her, Lin Youning’s eyes reddened, tears dropping like a broken string of pearls.

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