The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 305 - 306: Manipulation

Lin Youning punished Shanmoi here, and not long after Wu Xueqin got the information. But upon hearing that the punishment was only house arrest, she snorted coldly and said nothing more.

Still, Yangtao couldn’t help worrying, "I know you feel bad, miss, but offending the main Madam like this will definitely make the Marquis angry with you."

The Marquis wasn’t coming to their yard in the first place. With this incident, wouldn’t he be even less likely to come?

"Whatever I do, the Marquis won’t come," Wu Xueqin realized now. "The Marquis is neutral, while I stand on the side of the Eldest Prince. I’m also the daughter of Wu Mansion, so naturally, the Marquis has to guard against me. I didn’t understand before, but after the Eldest Prince came here these days, and looking at the Marquis’s actions towards me, I finally figured it out."

Wu Xueqin was already disappointed. She knew that no matter what she did or whatever novel ideas she conceived, the Marquis wouldn’t give her a second glance.

Yangtao’s eyes widened, "Then won’t you have to guard an empty room alone for life, Miss?"

What difference is that for a woman compared to becoming a nun?

Wu Xueqin’s face was cold, and she didn’t respond. If she were an ancient woman, sitting here feeling this way, her life would probably wilt away in this splendid mansion.

But she is a modern woman, and she absolutely refuses to accept such fate.

Seeing her miss silent, Yangtao’s worry deepened. She knew her miss was decisive, but feared her kind of decisiveness. Back when they were in Minister Mansion, there were adults and concubines doting on her, and she was the Capital’s first talented girl, naturally being pampered. No matter what she did, there was no punishment until later, when she did such a big thing.

Yangtao still remembered the look in the master’s eyes, he seemed ready to devour her—that was how angry he was, otherwise, he wouldn’t have married her off as a second wife to a wealthy merchant.

At that time, if not for her miss protecting her, she would’ve been sold already. Now, after many efforts to enter Marquis Mansion and finally live a peaceful life, Miss seems to have another idea, how can Yangtao not be afraid?

"Miss, although there isn’t the Marquis’s favor in the mansion, it’s not just you. Even the madam and two concubines in Marquis Mansion are also so. Now being at the border, once we return to the Capital, the Marquis remains there, then the madam won’t agree even if you keep silent." Yangtao advised softly, "You don’t have to do anything now, just wait until returning to the Capital, and watch what the madam does then, we just observe from the sidelines. New Year is nearing, the foreigners aren’t invading, nothing going on, by year’s end we’ll return to the Capital. Only a few months left."

Wu Xueqin looked at Yangtao, feeling she was too naive, "You’ll see, the Marquis won’t return to the Capital. He might stay here for three to five years before going back."

"Isn’t there the old Madam in the city?" Yangtao interjected.

Wu Xueqin laughed, "The old Madam naturally prefers staying here with the Marquis, after all, she raised him; compared to her own son, he’s even closer."

Yangtao couldn’t argue anymore.

Wu Xueqin sat on the couch, "Is the Eldest Prince going to return to the Capital tomorrow? The Marquis isn’t in the mansion with him now, right?"

"That I don’t know."

"From now on, just go out and inquire directly about our yard’s matters, don’t care about the main yard’s attitude or opinions. You just saw it, this is an affair of two separate chambers. Whatever I do, they can’t control, and now I feel more free." Wu Xueqin felt this was better.

Yangtao finally bowed, "Then I’ll go inquire up front now."

"Also explain to the kitchen people how we’re of two separate chambers, not to assume we’re subordinates to the main yard. We’re from Marquis Mansion." Wu Xueqin said lightly, tapping her fingers, "I’m a concubine, but from Marquis Mansion, at least the Marquis should give me some face. It’s fine he doesn’t come to my yard but he shouldn’t let servants step on me, otherwise, Marquis Mansion loses its prestige, right?"

Yangtao dared not say more, and went out directly.

As soon as she left the yard, she saw servant girls avoiding her, knowing she was ostracized but continued to the front yard. Li Si was there, and coldly reprimanded her as she arrived.

"Is this front yard a place for a servant girl like you to come? Women are not allowed through this gate by tradition. Have you forgotten those rules? Now the Marquis works here, the study’s filled with documents; if any get lost, then who’ll be responsible?" Li Si wouldn’t answer Yangtao’s questions, lecturing her some more before driving her back.

Yangtao was full of grievances and could only turn to the kitchen instead, warning the kitchen staff to be cautious and explained Marquis Mansion’s background to them before they understood.

Once she got back to the yard, she explained things thoroughly to Wu Xueqin. Wu Xueqin laughed cold twice, "Just a servant, I don’t care about him. Now it’s getting late, have some hot water brought in, wash and sleep early. Tomorrow we’ll go out, also the Eldest Prince is leaving, we have to send him off."

Yangtao’s eyes widened, "Miss, it’s not appropriate to go to the Eldest Prince’s side, right? Especially since the Main Madam hasn’t gone either."

"Alright, alright, we’ll talk about tomorrow’s matters tomorrow." Wu Xueqin was too lazy to listen further and waved her off.

Wu Xueqin knew that Wu Mansion was unreliable like Yangtao said. Now, apart from enduring, she had no other way but to wait to return to the Capital, then use Madam and the two concubines to deal with Lin Youning.

But truly enduring left Wu Xueqin dissatisfied, yet she had many ideas but nowhere to use them. If the Marquis liked her, even noticed her slightly, she believed she’d have a place in his heart.

But now the Marquis’s mind was fixated solely on Lin Youning, not even glancing her way.

Wu Xueqin tossed and turned sleeplessly. In the distant main yard, Lin Youning thought that her big brother would return very late. After having taken a nap in the afternoon, she didn’t feel sleepy at night, sitting under the lamp reading while waiting, unexpectedly he returned quite early, albeit drunk, being supported back by Li Si.

Lin Youning hurriedly called Shanmoi and others to bring hot water, helping him sit on the couch, and asked someone to make sober-up soup. Gu Yifeng, however, pulled her away.

"I haven’t drunk much, just for show; have them bring some hot water, I’ll wash a bit and be fine." Gu Yifeng spoke as he pulled Sister Ning, and Li Si had already retreated.