Chapter 428

Gu Ying smiled gently, "Miss Shen comes from a rural area and doesn't know the rules of noble families. In families like ours, the marriage matters of people like Miss Shen are always decided by the lady of the house. You have no say in this."

A cold light flashed across Shen Ruxu's eyes as she silently clenched her fists.

Yin Lan stood in front of Gu Ying without making a sound, raising her chin with a warning look.

Shen Ruxu's small face was stiff for a long time before she finally recognized the facts. The corner of her mouth twitched as she viciously said, "You dare!"

Gu Ying didn't bother to talk to her anymore and went to Duke's Residence with Yin Lan.

When they arrived at Mrs. Lin's Lingxi Pavilion, someone from Mrs. Lin's side came out and said, "The Lady is taking an afternoon nap. Please wait for a moment in the side hall, Young Lady."

It was rare for Mrs. Lin to take afternoon naps. Upon hearing this, Gu Ying asked in bewilderment, "Has my mother been well recently?"

While asking people to serve tea, the old woman said, "The Lady is fine, just a little tired. But the Duke often sends supplements and medicines. As a doctor herself, the Lady knows how to take care of herself, Young Lady, don't worry."

Gu Ying looked around Lingxi Pavilion. It seemed to be the same as before but also a little different, as if there were more traces of the Duke's life.

"Does the Duke come here often?"

"The Duke does come often," the old woman said plainly. "At first, the Lady didn't allow the Duke to come in, but later, the Duke brought a pile of rare medicinal materials that the Lady wanted. So the Lady let him in. In the last half month, the Duke often takes meals in Lingxi Pavilion."

As she talked about this, the old woman couldn't help but smile meaningfully. "Just yesterday night, the Duke spent the night in Lingxi Pavilion."

Gu Ying knew what the old woman was implying.

She raised a faint curve at the corner of her lips and instructed the old woman, "I see, you can go now." Just after the old woman left, Mrs. Lin came out supported by someone.

Gu Ying was a little surprised. "Mother, why are you awake?"

In less than a month since they last met, Mrs. Lin looked much better. She had also taken off her veil, revealing her face that was covered with scars but was still of peerless beauty.

It seemed that under Zhao Hui's persistence, Mrs. Lin had finally opened her heart to him and let go of the knots in her heart from years ago.

Mrs. Lin walked quickly to Gu Ying and held her hand with a smile. "I heard the sound outside and knew you were here. How could I still sleep?" She looked closely at Gu Ying. "How has Nian been recently?"

Gu Ying's eyes curved into a smile. She allowed Mrs. Lin to take her pulse. "Nian is doing well."

Mrs. Lin quietly felt Gu Ying's pulse for a while.

This child was the one everyone in the family was looking forward to. As the expected date of delivery approached, Mrs. Lin became more and more uneasy.

Having nothing to do, Gu Ying raised her eyes to look at Mrs. Lin. She wondered if it was her illusion that her mother's complexion seemed whiter and more lustrous, and her eyes were gentler.

Her uncle said that her father had been coming home earlier and earlier recently. It seemed that her mother and father's relationship had completely reconciled.

Well, they were both middle-aged. Holding on to the resentment from years ago didn't make much sense.

Hating someone was harder than loving someone, Gu Ying knew it well from experience.

What's more, Zhao Hui didn't really not love Mrs. Lin. He was just young and reckless and didn't know what love was. That was why they had missed so many years together.

If the Crown Prince victoriously returned home and saw his parents getting along well with each other, he would definitely be very happy too.

"Mm, the fetus is stable and the vital energy is flowing smoothly," said Mrs. Lin, smacking her rosy lips. She gently patted Gu Ying's bulging belly and smiled. "Nian is very healthy. Just wait three more months and Nian will be born!"

Gu Ying often dreamed of playing with a snow-white baby. Although she couldn't see the child's face clearly, she could feel the child's fondness of her.

She also couldn't wait to see her child.

Gu Ying curved her lips, looking extremely blissful. "That's good." Mrs. Lin further instructed, "Ying, don't touch your belly too often. It may make the fetal position abnormal which will make delivery difficult. Giving birth is a matter of life and death for women. You must deliver Nian safely."

Gu Ying nodded nervously. "Alright."

Talking about giving birth made her nervous. It wasn't that she was afraid of death, but that she was worried she wouldn't get to see Nian.

She had to try her best to protect this child that she had dreamed of having for a lifetime, and watch him grow into an adult.

Mrs Lin smiled gently. "Don't be too nervous. If the fetal position really becomes abnormal, your mother will be here to help straighten it for you."

Of course Gu Ying was at ease with Mrs. Lin around. The two happily chatted about Nian for a while, then talked about Shen Ruxu's marriage.

Mrs. Lin hesitated a little. "Ying, it's not that I don't want to find a marriage for Ruxu, but you know her personality. If it's not someone she likes, I can't make decisions for her."

Gu Ying's stance was also very clear. "Mother, it's not proper for Miss Shen to come and go by herself all the time, and it's not safe either. Having someone accompanying her would be better. Besides, she is getting on in years. If she doesn't get engaged now and ends up an old spinster in the future, I'm afraid the nobles in Bianjing will dislike her even more."

Mrs. Lin's love for Shen Ruxu was different after all. Gu Ying understood her doting indulgence of Shen Ruxu.

But Shen Ruxu had ruined her hibiscus flowers. Gu Ying didn't plan to let her off easily.

"As long as Mother agrees, I will arrange it on the same day."

"Let's put off this matter for a while—"

"If Mother wants to consider further, I'm afraid these excellent young men will slip by."

"Oh alright then."

After some hesitation, Mrs. Lin agreed. Gu Ying bid farewell and left.

When she walked out of Lingxi Pavilion, she did see Shen Ruxu standing in the yard with a gloomy face. Shen Ruxu must have heard her conversation with Mrs. Lin clearly just now.

Gu Ying smiled smugly. "Miss Shen, why are you standing here?"

Shen Ruxu finally dropped her composure, not even bothering to maintain the calmness on her face. She curved her lips slightly, a trace of viciousness flashing across her resentful eyes. "Gu Ying, don't push things too far!" "I'm doing this for your own good. How is this pushing too far?"

"You know I don't want to get married, yet you force me?"

Gu Ying's smile widened. She blinked, "It's not up to you whether to get married or not."