The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!

Chapter 515 - 507: Family Bonds

Mrs. Lin glared at her daughter, clearly displeased with what she said. However, she didn’t say anything too harsh, just, "What do you know? Now, it’s she who owes us, not us owing her. Besides, why did she agree when your father went to ask her? Wasn’t it for the sake of being family? No matter what, she’s been living so well in the Marquis Mansion all these years under the name of a daughter of the Lin Mansion. Otherwise, do you think she could have lived so well in the Marquis Mansion?"

Lin Qining retorted ungratefully, "Mother makes it sound easy. It’s not that simple. Look, she’s already acknowledged her biological father. What do we count as now? Don’t use the family name as a pretext anymore. If you want to find her, just do it. Spare your dignity."

"What kind of words are those? Losing face? Enough, enough, I haven’t even gone over yet, and you’re already making me half-dead angry." Mrs. Lin, unhappy, waved her hand to interrupt her daughter. As she looked up, she saw her husband standing at the door, unbeknownst to her.

Mrs. Lin nervously smiled, "Husband, you’re back?"

Mr. Lin’s expression was unpleasant. He ignored her and looked first at his daughter, "Why are you back again? I’ve told you many times, even if you quarrel, don’t run home. You’re married, now a mistress of a house. Acting so childishly all the time, no wonder your husband over there is dissatisfied. Now go back, don’t be so late."

Lin Qining was afraid of her father. She didn’t dare to refuse directly, only glancing at her mother for help. Mrs. Lin waved her hand at her daughter, who then hurriedly left, as if fleeing. Only then did Mrs. Lin clear her throat and speak.

She recounted the events, "You tell me, with such things being said, how can our Qining have any face left? How will people in the Capital view her in the future? I was thinking of going there tomorrow to talk to them, to make them stand up for our Qining. It’s mainly for their reputation as well. Think about it. If this spreads, how will outsiders view the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion? Surely there will be rumors about Youning and Gu Chaoxuan having something previously?"

Mr. Lin originally wanted to oppose, but after listening to his wife’s words, his expression softened, "Going there to talk about this is not wrong, but don’t make excessive demands. Our family has already wronged her. She didn’t hold it against us and later even helped with Qining’s matter. We must be content."

Lady Lin quickly agreed with a smile, but in her heart, she didn’t care much. The next morning she packed up and went over to the East Mansion.

When Lin Youning heard from Shanmoi that her mother had come over, she was slightly taken aback. Shanmoi was displeased, "Lady Lin has come over, claiming to be the girl’s mother in the mansion. Back then, she publicly said the girl was someone they picked up, and now she’s suddenly claiming to be her mother. Such a person is really unlikable. Should I say the girl is not feeling well and send her off?"

"Why use the girl’s health as an excuse? How about saying the girl is attending to Mrs. Gu Sr. at the Marquis Mansion? Let her go back," Hailan suggested from the side.

Shanmoi nodded, agreeing that this was a good reason. Meanwhile, Lin Youning smiled as she watched, "Let her in. Sending her away once won’t deter her. She’s not that easy to dismiss. I want to see what she wants."

Since the master had spoken, Shanmoi and Hailan couldn’t say much more.

When Lady Lin was brought in and saw Lin Youning, she immediately burst into tears, "Sister Ning, you need to stand up for your sister and yourself. How could such a thing happen? Now, the whole Capital must be gossiping."

This was completely opposite to how Lady Lin had always flattered every time she came to visit, leaving Shanmoi and Hailan stunned.

Lin Youning, having prepared herself mentally, was calm, "Please sit, Madam. Take your time explaining."

Seeing that Lin Youning wasn’t too anxious upon hearing about her reputation, Lady Lin was slightly surprised but sat down and started talking, "Yesterday, Gu Chaoxuan fought with the Xu Mansion’s young master outside, claiming there were ambiguous relations between you two. Those at the restaurant heard it all. You tell me, back in the Mansfield, he called you Aunt. How could this happen? Isn’t this slander? When your sister told me, I was shocked. If it hadn’t been so late, I would have come here sooner."

Lin Youning’s expression changed, and even Shanmoi and Hailan looked displeased. Hailan coldly spoke up, "Madam, there’s no need to be so shocked. Our girl grew up in the Marquis Mansion, always stayed in the old lady’s quarters, and rarely went out. At that time, the Young Master was studying at the academy and seldom returned to the mansion. Even during New Year’s, they only met when the whole family dined together. Now claiming such falsehoods, I suppose he’s dissatisfied with our girl for something she didn’t help with, hence his words?"

Hearing this, Lady Lin, who would usually have retorted, restrained herself because she was there to gain favor, not offend the other party. She timidly responded, "We all understand this reason, but outsiders don’t. Even your sister was startled when she heard it. Imagine how the people in the Capital are discussing it now. She has no face to see anyone."

"A clear conscience fears no false accusation. Let them talk. They’ve said plenty already. At the start, I didn’t care, and I care even less now," Lin Youning spoke calmly, her expression eased, "Back then, everyone pitied me as a child bride in the Capital, even though I knew what they said about me in private. Yet, I still faced them with a smile. I was just a young girl then, I didn’t mind. Now that I’m married and am about to be a mother, Madam need not worry about your daughter. Go back and advise her. One cannot stop living merely because of others’ words."

This time, Lady Lin couldn’t hold back anymore, "Just because such rumors are circulating about you, you say it’s fine. It’s fine for you, being Prince Shou’s daughter and having the Holy Emperor’s support, who’s going to gossip about you behind your back? But what about my daughter Qining? Must she bear it all alone? How will she step outside in the future? How can the reputation of those raised by the Gu Mansion be so disregarded?"

As soon as her tone changed, Lin Youning wasn’t surprised, having expected it. She knew Lady Lin couldn’t keep up the façade for long.

Such was the unchanged nature of Lady Lin, which Lin Youning had long become accustomed to. The earlier act was too fake.