Chapter 97: Chapter 96: New Year’s Eve

Lin Youning wore a bitter expression. In her two lifetimes, she had always worked hard to change two things: not marrying Gu Er and her handwriting.

She didn’t know why, but her handwriting was just like her—soft, without any backbone.

Fortunately, she usually only copied scriptures and did nothing else.

Now that she heard they wanted to see her handwriting, she blushed even though she had lived two lifetimes. “Big Brother, you already know what my handwriting is like, let’s just forget about it.”

“What needs to be forgotten?” Without anyone announcing him, Gu Er walked in around the screen.

Seeing his elder brother, the playful smile on Gu Er’s face faded, and he respectfully greeted, “Big Brother.”

Gu Yifeng responded with a mild nasal sound, “You haven’t been around the mansion much these days, what have you been busy with?”

Lin Youning enjoyed seeing Gu Er acting like a mouse in front of a cat when facing Gu Yifeng, so she was happily watching the drama unfold.

Gu Er’s back noticeably hunched lower, “The end of the year is approaching, and some of my usual acquaintances have returned from the academy, so we’ve been gathering.”

Gu Yifeng gave another indistinct hum, said nothing more, and just let his gaze sweep over Lin Youning. Lin Youning immediately stepped forward and grabbed the completed couplets.

Gu Er didn’t dare behave as casually as when he entered and just quietly stood aside watching.

It was rare for him to return to the mansion this early today; he thought about not seeing Sister Ning for some time, so he came over for a visit, not expecting his elder brother to be there as well, making it impossible to leave now even if he wished to.

He could only endure it on the side, and after Gu Yifeng finished writing the couplets, it was an hour later.

Gu Er hurriedly called a servant to bring in water for his brother to wash his hands, feeling relieved in his heart, and after Gu Yifeng cleaned his hands, the three of them went to Shi’an Garden together.

Today is the Small New Year, and all the courtyards will dine together.

Mrs. Dong had been overseeing things in the main kitchen early on, while Mrs. Kong was chatting with several girls in the green gauze cabinet. Hearing that the Marquis and the Second Young Master had arrived, everyone stood up to greet them.

After exchanging salutations and taking their seats according to rank, everyone listened while only Mrs. Gu Sr. and the Marquis spoke. When Mrs. Dong came in and said it was time to dine in the flower hall, Mrs. Kong let out a sigh of relief.

Over the years since marrying into the Marquis Mansion, she felt increasingly distant from the Marquis. She was closer to him before she married into the family.

She knew well that it was due to past events lingering in his heart, but if even the Second Young Master bore no grudge, did the Marquis really need to concern himself so much?

Mrs. Kong only dared to complain inwardly, without daring to express it openly, much less say it out loud.

After the meal, the group moved back to the Warm Pavilion and started talking about New Year’s matters.

There were also discussions about New Year gifts for various households.

Upon hearing that the Lin Mansion’s New Year gifts were mentioned this year, everyone was taken aback; Mrs. Gu Sr. realized what had happened after a long while. She glanced at Lin Youning, who was peeling tangerines beside her, and saw her looking back with a bewildered expression, and sighed softly in her heart.

“Since the gifts have been sent, prepare a return gift,” she said. The Lin Mansion was Lin Youben’s birth family.

Earlier, Mrs. Dong mentioned that perhaps those in the Warm Pavilion might not understand, but by now they did.

Lin Youning was genuinely surprised too; she hadn’t expected the people she had always inquired about, who had never visited the mansion in her previous life, to send New Year’s gifts. Did that mean they had come to the capital?

In the following hours, Lin Youning was noticeably distracted, something that was apparent to everyone in the room.

Mrs. Gu Sr. aptly claimed she was tired and let everyone disperse.

Wrapped in her cloak, Lin Youning walked towards the courtyard, with Shanmoi and Hailan quietly following. They had been in the Warm Pavilion at the time and naturally overheard everything.

Back in her boudoir, Lin Youning stared at the candle flame, “Shanmoi, what kind of people do you think they are?”

To give away their daughter and never inquire about her.

Seeing the young lady’s dispirited look, Shanmoi comforted her, “Miss, they must have worried that making contact would make life difficult for you in the mansion, and thus didn’t reach out, doing everything for your own good.”

“Perhaps,” Lin Youning lowered her head.

She didn’t believe it.

Was it because they knew she was doing well and was favored in the Marquis Mansion, that they remembered her as their daughter?

If she were just as disreputable as in her last life, would they still remember her?

Hearing a young maid’s voice and a man’s voice outside, Lin Youning immediately recognized it as Gu Er’s. She signaled to Shanmoi, whispering, “Tell them I’m asleep.”

Then she got up, moved to the bed, and Shanmoi went to draw down the gauze tent and retreated from the inner room to the outside.

“Second Young Master, Miss has already rested,” Shanmoi said, feeling a bit guilty.

But having done this many times already, she was used to it.

Gu Er didn’t intend to enter the room, “How’s your Miss’ spirit? Was she unhappy?”

He had seen Sister Ning looking dejected at his mother’s place, so he had returned mid-way, concerned.

Who wouldn’t be dejected upon hearing news about their own parents from Sister Ning’s position?

“Not at all; Miss just said she was tired from grinding ink today and that she has to cut window decorations tomorrow, so she went to bed early.”

“That’s good,” Gu Er nodded, instructed Shanmoi to attend her well, and then left.

Hailan didn’t understand; the Second Young Master clearly cared so much for Miss, why didn’t she like him?

In the eyes of outsiders, Miss and the Second Young Master seemed distant because of shyness, but having served by Miss’s side for so many years, they knew it wasn’t shyness but rather that she didn’t like him.

Next year, when Miss reaches the age of marriage, if she doesn’t like the Second Young Master, the days after marriage will be tough.

Mrs. Kong saw him turn back midway, knowing he went to Tingxue Hall, and felt like grinding her teeth, but couldn’t do anything about it in front of the servants and everyone else.

At the passage, the two houses went separate ways.

Gu Yifeng did not enter Yingshui Courtyard, “I have some official work to handle; some subordinates from the border have arrived, so there’s no need to wait for me tonight.”

“Shall I have the small kitchen make some night snacks to bring to the front courtyard for you?” Mrs. Dong asked considerately.

“No need,” Gu Yifeng replied, not stopping his stride as he walked away.

Mrs. Dong watched as he walked into the distance before returning with the women from Yingshui Courtyard.

Mrs. Kong, who had been unhappy earlier, felt a comfort seeing this scene.

Swaying her waist, she led her people back to Jinghe Courtyard.

After the Small New Year, the mansion started preparing busily for the New Year celebrations. Lin Youning was tasked by Mrs. Gu Sr. to change the gauze in the green gauze cabinets at Shi’an Garden and Tingxue Hall.

With things to do, the matters with the Lin Mansion gradually faded from her mind. After all, in these years, Lin Youning didn’t really feel she had such a family.

On New Year’s Day, Lin Youning also donned a red dress, dressed festively, and went to Shi’an Garden. Seeing her, Mrs. Gu Sr. beamed with joy, repeatedly praising her and saying that in the future, she should always dress like this; young girls should do so.

She had just sat down for a short while when a young maid came in with a message, “Old Madam, the eldest young master has come to pay his respects.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep