No Saint

Gao Lan had come to greet him earlier, noticed Xu Weibei's unfriendly expression and cautiously said, "My Marquis, the prince consort may not necessarily like horses..."

He couldn't understand his master's thought process at all.

Why bring up the horse? Just because the character for "son-in-law" (驸马) contains the character for "horse" (马)?

"My wife is living a miserable life with such a father and brothers. I need to bring her back as soon as possible," Xu Weibei murmured.

They're so difficult to get along with!

Gao Lan: It's hopeless.

Gu Wanning ate snail rice noodles for the second time at home.

Others can't appreciate it, but she loves it to death. (To be continued today.)

Er Ya found her precious large palm-leaf fan, opened all the doors and windows, and fanned herself vigorously, muttering, "Girl, can we please stop eating this stuff? It's a hassle, and the stench is so strong it's practically pickling the whole house."

Gu Wanning laughed heartily, "You don't understand."

"Next time you eat your food in the outhouse, will it taste the same?"

Gu Wanning laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

Zhi Nu, who was kneeling on the kang writing large characters, laughed when she heard this, and her hand trembled, resulting in crooked and messy writing.

He was somewhat annoyed, so he quickly sat up straight and began to write seriously.

The wind was cold, chilling his hands, but he seemed oblivious.

Gu Wanning, draped in a blanket, lay on the couch reading Agricultural Books of this era with great interest.

Suddenly, the alpaca outside started spitting, and the sound came through the open doors and windows.

"I think someone's here," Er Ya said as she walked out, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan. "Could it be that Fourth Concubine has sneaked out again?"

"If you put it that way, she'll have to argue with you," Gu Wanning said with a smile. "She'll have to say that she came out openly and honestly, without needing to sneak around."

After a while, Er Ya came in from outside, her expression somewhat strange.

"Miss, Linglong has arrived with her child, saying she wishes to see you."

Linglong?

What does Linglong want from me?

"Let her in." Gu Wanning put down her book and sat up. "Let's talk in the flower hall."

"I have a feeling she's up to no good when she comes to visit!" Er Ya muttered as she went out.

A moment later, Linglong came in carrying the child, followed by a maid and a wet nurse.

Linglong is much taller than the average woman, and because of her martial arts training, she has a straight back and a very elegant demeanor.

"This servant greets Madam." Linglong knelt down and bowed, holding the child.

Gu Wanning looked displeased as soon as she heard her speak.

Linglong couldn't possibly be unaware that she had already divorced Xu Weibei, yet she immediately addressed her as "Madam," showing absolutely no consideration for her feelings.

"I dare not," Gu Wanning said calmly. "I am unworthy of Miss Linglong's generous gift, much less the title of 'Madam.' Since you are here, please have a seat. Er Ya, bring some tea."

"Yes, young lady."

Linglong, holding A Yi, sat down lightly on the chair, looked down at her sleeping daughter in her arms, and slowly said, "This servant wouldn't come here without a reason, but I really have no other choice but to ask... for your help, young lady."

Chapter 165 Not Playing the Saint

"How can I help you?" Gu Wanning maintained her previous distant tone, but inwardly she wondered, what was Linglong plotting against her?

"Miss, I won't beat around the bush with you. You know the situation in the manor. Jiaoniang and A Yi were both born outside the manor. But Jiaoniang is lucky; she's now back in the Marquis's Marquis's Residence and has become the Marquis's legitimate daughter. As for A Yi... to be honest, I've served the Marquis for many years, and my bond with Marquis is stronger..."

Gu Wanning didn't interrupt, but listened quietly to what she had to say.

"... This servant dares not presume for a title, but I always hope that A Yi can have a proper status so that she can marry into a good family in the future. If it weren't for Jiaoniang's example, this servant wouldn't dare to even think about it..."

"Hmm, so what?" Gu Wanning tilted her head and looked at her.

Linglong was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "This servant would like to ask you to put in a good word for A Yi with the Marquis... The Marquis only has eyes for you, and no one's words carry more weight than yours."

"I'm already divorced from the Marquis. What right do you expect me to speak to him?" Gu Wanning said sharply. "Besides, shouldn't you be asking the Marquis for help the most? Why go to such lengths?"

"This servant has already pleaded with the Marquis, but Marquis refused. That's why I'm risking offending Marquis by coming to you for help."

"Then you've taken a wasted risk. Coming to me is useless." Gu Wanning said coldly. "You'd better leave as soon as possible, lest you stay too long and get discovered, and then people will think I'm the one complaining to the Marquis."

This is completely baffling.

When she was the wife of a marquis, she had to clean up Xu Weibei's messes.

But now?

It is as far as Xu Weibei is.

"Miss, I beg you. Look at A Yi, she's so young, she knows nothing, and yet she's become a bastard child despised by everyone..."

"It seems you, not me, were the one who made her an illegitimate child." Gu Wanning's attitude was very aloof.

Firstly, she didn't want to get involved in Xu Weibei's affairs, and secondly, Linglong made her feel uncomfortable.

Gu Wanning's principle has always been to stay far away from people who make her uncomfortable.

In this world, nobody puts up with anyone else.

She indulges herself, and she truly ignores those she dislikes.

"Girl, please have mercy..." Linglong knelt down again, tears streaming from her eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

Gu Wanning, however, remained unmoved, her heart as hard as stone. "You may leave. I'll pretend you were never here today. But if you dare to come here again, I'll have to have the Marquis come and take you back."

Linglong left empty-handed, dejected.

Er Ya fanned herself a few times with a large palm-leaf fan, shivering from the cold, then threw the fan aside and came over to talk to Gu Wanning.

"What's wrong with the Marquis? Why is he showing favoritism? Linglong has indeed served him as a maid for so many years, how can she not compare to the women outside? You think about it, he and that woman outside don't spend much time together, do they?"