The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 276 - 277: Realization

Yangtao glanced at her young lady and didn’t know how to console her, so she hung her head low. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

In the carriage ahead, with Shanmoi and Hailan attending, the food had already been set on the small tea table. It was the stew made at noon and reheated for the evening. Though the taste wasn’t great, it was still better than eating pastries.

The rice was wrapped in lotus leaves and lightly roasted over a fire. When opened, the outer lotus leaf was dry, while the rice inside was warm, with a subtle fragrance of lotus leaves when eaten.

Lin Youning was already sitting in the carriage and didn’t feel hungry, especially after having had a few pieces of pastry. Thus, her appetite was light, and she only took a small portion of the lotus leaf rice for herself, leaving the rest to Shanmoi and Hailan. As for the meat, which she wasn’t particularly fond of, she decided to eat a few more pieces since her older brother had taken special care to have it prepared.

Gu Yifeng knew she wasn’t fond of meat and pushed a plate of cucumber toward her. "These have been washed. If you don’t like the meat, just eat these."

Nearby, there was also a small bowl of minced meat sauce.

Lin Youning liked this, dipping the cucumbers in the meat sauce while eating half a bowl of rice. Afterward, she could only sit in the carriage, gently rubbing her stomach, unable to get down and walk.

Gu Yifeng stopped the carriage, "Let’s get down and walk a bit. We’ve been on the road for quite a while, a short break won’t matter."

Lin Youning had long wanted to get down. She had been wanting to use the restroom but was too embarrassed to ask.

Especially after lunch, she hadn’t dared touch any water, afraid that needing to stop for her would delay the journey. Besides, once she asked to stop, everyone would know what she was doing, making her too embarrassed to speak up.

Now that her older brother suggested taking a walk, Lin Youning breathed a sigh of relief.

"Drink more water on the road. Every hour, I’ll have someone stop for a rest," Gu Yifeng casually mentioned as he lifted the curtain and jumped out, extending his hand to help her down.

Lin Youning hid the redness on her face and, taking her older brother’s hand, got down from the carriage. Even though it was already mid-November and cold, getting some fresh air after being inside the carriage for a long time didn’t feel cold at all, so she refused the cloak Shanmoi offered her.

Seeing her older brother ahead waiting, Lin Youning, along with Shanmoi and Hailan, followed him into the woods. By now, it was dark, so there was no worry about being seen.

Gu Yifeng stood still, "I’ll wait here. Go five paces away and let the two girls accompany you."

Lin Youning nodded, maintaining a composed and graceful demeanor as she walked away with the two girls. However, her heart was drumming, aware of the inconvenience this posed throughout the journey, yet feeling a bit embarrassed facing it directly.

Shanmoi and Hailan were also anxious about this, having sat outside the carriage without drinking much water, so their afternoon was endurable without inconvenience.

After they finished, the three of them walked a bit further. Lin Youning’s hand was taken by her older brother as they headed back.

Hesitant for a moment when her older brother took her hand, Lin Youning eventually placed her hand in his.

Wu Xueqin, dismounting from her carriage, saw this scene from afar. Though it was dark outside, the road was lit by a lantern carried by the carriage ahead, allowing her to clearly see the two holding hands as they walked back from the woods.

Wu Xueqin felt envious, thinking how cold and aloof the Marquis usually was, yet showing such care; how blessed the person receiving such care must be.

Yangtao whispered a reminder, prompting Wu Xueqin to look away and turn with Yangtao into the woods. After a short while, they returned, finding no sign of the Marquis outside.

Yangtao noticed the disappointment in her young lady’s heart but didn’t know what to say. Throughout the journey, the Marquis had stayed inside his carriage without emerging and hadn’t inquired about the aunt either.

Yet the young lady had just witnessed how attentive he was to the great lady, which naturally upset her mood.

When they got back into the carriage, Wu Xueqin never spoke again, leaning into the bedding with her eyes on the floor, lost in thought.

Yangtao dared not disturb her, huddling in her own thin jacket and nodding off in a corner.

After Lin Youning stepped out and then returned to the carriage, she appeared much more spirited. Gu Yifeng continued talking about the customs and manners in the Northwest, while Lin Youning occasionally inquired, her energy visibly improved from before, and Shanmoi and Hailan were also called inside.

Late into the night, when Lin Youning couldn’t hold off her fatigue any longer, they reached the relay station.

Getting off the carriage, Lin Yongning noticed that Wu Xueqin had come up from behind.

With a slight bow, Wu Xueqin greeted Lin Youning, "I didn’t have the chance to pay my respects along the way. I’ve made some things in hope that using them on the road will be more comfortable for Madam and the Marquis."

"It’s late now. Whatever needs doing can wait until tomorrow. Rest well first," Gu Yifeng, coming from the side, spared no glance at Aunt Wu, "Everything’s arranged. In the backyard courtyard, everything is prepared, have your things taken there and rest early. We’ll have to set off early tomorrow."

Lin Youning nodded.

At her side, Wu Xueqin slightly bowed again, "This concubine greets the Marquis."

Gu Yifeng seemed to notice her only then. He gave a slight nod, "You, too, rest with Madam."

Wu Xueqin agreed with a smile, then followed Lin Youning toward the courtyard.

Lin Youning didn’t have many belongings, and with Shanmoi and Hailan’s help, Nanny Guo and her husband joined Li Si in aid, moving things after the stop. Thus Wu Xueqin was left with only Yangtao.

Yangtao, all by herself, carried her load back and forth until everything was finally moved into the courtyard.

Inside, Wu Xueqin sat, gazing at the neighboring room, already darkened for rest, while her side hadn’t even a bedsheet laid out yet.

Such disparities reminded Wu Xueqin of her early years at the Minister Mansion. As a concubine’s daughter, she was neglected until her talents emerged, making her life there more bearable.

She had forgotten those feelings, but at this moment, remembered the cold treatment she’d experienced as a child in the Minister Mansion. She used to disregard the distinction between legitimate and concubine-born, but now, she realized just how important a woman’s birth could be.