Chapter 8

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Dou’s Pawnshop?! Xu Momo nearly jumped out of her chair, her face turning even more unpleasant. “Go to the pawnshop and redeem the earrings immediately.”

After instructing Feng Pozi, Xu Momo, accompanied by four or five other maids, stormed off to find Gu Yan Fei.

The sun was high in the sky, leaves scattered all over the courtyard, occasionally stirred by the autumn breeze, just as desolate and bleak as the day before. Juan Bi, who had left, had not yet returned, and there was no one else in the courtyard. Xu Momo barged into Gu Yan Fei’s bedroom, fuming with rage.

Gu Yan Fei sat leisurely by the window, her right arm lazily resting on the window frame.

“Second Miss, have you lost your mind? How could you have Juan Bi pawn something at the pawnshop!” Xu Momo immediately began a tirade upon seeing Gu Yan Fei.

Though she appeared imposing, she was actually quite fearful inside. Dou’s Pawnshop was one of the most famous pawnshops in the Dajing Dynasty, with branches all over the country, including in the capital. If news of the Second Miss selling jewelry reached the capital, it would bring shame to the entire Dingyuan Marquis’s residence!

If the situation developed to this extent, the Old Madam’s temper would certainly fall upon her, and her fate would be obvious. Thinking of this, Xu Momo felt a pang of discomfort in her chest and tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand.

In contrast to Xu Momo’s bluster, Gu Yan Fei remained calm and collected, casually grabbing a handful of fish food from the box and scattering it into the pond outside the window. The fish food fell in a flurry, and the golden fish in the pond, attracted by the scent, came forth, creating ripples. In the sunlight, the clear pond water shimmered.

To Xu Momo, this was like adding fuel to the fire. She exclaimed angrily, “Second Miss, don’t you understand? I’m doing this for your own good. Our Dingyuan Marquis’s residence has been a prestigious family for a hundred years, with strict rules. The young masters and misses are all well-educated and behave with propriety.”

As she spoke, Xu Momo cast a contemptuous glance at the stack of papers on the corner of the desk. The paper was inscribed with the “Nü Xun” (Female Precepts), written in a stiff and mechanical hand, barely considered neat.

A country girl who doesn’t even know basic characters is hardly presentable.

“How can you return to the Marquis’s residence like this!” Xu Momo raised her voice, looking down at Gu Yan Fei.

Gu Yan Fei grabbed another handful of fish food from the box and scattered it into the pond, finally giving Xu Momo a glance and nonchalantly saying, “Didn’t I already say it? I’m not going back.”

The sunlight outside the window cast a pale golden halo around her, giving her an ethereal, dream-like glow. Xu Momo looked as if she had been choked, her face turning pale, unable to continue with the prepared remarks.

Indeed, last night, the Second Miss had publicly declared she wouldn’t return to the Marquis’s residence, but Xu Momo hadn’t taken her seriously, thinking it was just a frightened girl throwing a tantrum. She didn’t expect that after a whole night, the Second Miss would still be so stubborn.

Xu Momo’s forehead twitched with veins, her instinct was to explode, but she held herself back. Since being forceful wasn’t working, she had to try a softer approach. Taking a deep breath and raised her hand, making a gesture. The maids behind her discreetly withdrew, leaving only Gu Yan Fei and Xu Momo in the room.

The surroundings became much quieter, with only the occasional splash of goldfish leaping from the pond and falling back in, creating a series of “plop, plop” sounds. Xu Momo forced a seemingly friendly smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes, and patiently said, “Second Miss, you’ve grown up outside and don’t know many things. Normally, the Old Madam would explain this to you, but today, I’m taking the liberty to discuss it with you.

Second Miss, your grandfather and the old Duke Ying’s residence were old friends. Even when you were just born, they had agreed to betroth you to the eldest grandson of the old Lord, furthering the family ties.”

As she spoke, Xu Momo observed Gu Yan Fei’s changing expression. Gu Yan Fei took a plain white handkerchief and slowly wiped her delicate fingers. Seeing that she was listening, Xu Momo smirked with satisfaction, thinking to herself: This wild girl marrying into a family like Duke Ying’s is like a phoenix rising to the top.

A girl’s lifelong desire is usually just a good marriage, and as long as she has such desires, she will naturally be controlled.

Xu Momo’s smile deepened as she continued, “Miss, Fang Ming Feng Gongzi is seventeen this year. He’s one of the most renowned young talents in the capital, not only of noble birth but also proficient in both literature and martial arts, even praised by the current emperor himself. When you go to the capital in the future and see Fang Gongzi for yourself, you will surely…”

“I’ve already met him,” Gu Yan Fei suddenly interrupted Xu Momo.

Xu Momo: How could this be possible!

Gu Yan Fei raised an eyebrow and calmly commented, “He’s just mediocre, hardly a good match.”

These eight characters summarized her opinion of Fang Ming Feng.

Xu Momo’s eyes widened in shock, and she scolded, “Miss, don’t speak nonsense! If this reaches the Duke Ying’s residence…”

This time, before Gu Yan Fei could speak, another clear female voice interjected:

“What the miss said is true!”

Juan Bi returned hurriedly, sweating and looking exhausted. The evening before, she had pawned the jewelry at Dou’s Pawn Shop and immediately hired people to collect the bodies of the coachman Old Wang and Aunt Zhang, and only now had she returned to the estate. Marching over to Gu Yan Fei’s side, she stood tall and briefly recounted how they had encountered Fang Ming Feng at the city gate yesterday.

Xu Momo listened to Juan Bi’s detailed account and, given Juan Bi’s simple-minded nature, found it hard to believe such a story, feeling utterly confused. Her mouth opened and closed as if to say that the young miss must be out of her mind—such a good match was hard to find even with a lantern, and countless young ladies in the capital would vie for it. Yet, the young miss had the audacity to say she found Fang Gongzi unworthy!

She must be crazy—this country girl is definitely mad!

Xu Momo’s chest heaved rapidly for a while before she calmed down, and with a stiff tone, she asked, “So, Miss, have you firmly decided not to return to the capital?”

“If you want me to return, you can,” Gu Yan Fei said nonchalantly as she caught a falling red maple leaf, “Have the Old Madam come here in person to fetch me.”

“Miss, do you know what you’re saying?” Xu Momo’s voice squeezed out through gritted teeth.

How dare the young miss act so high-handed towards the Old Madam! Isn’t she afraid of overstepping? How could the Old Madam possibly lower herself to come to Dan Yang City to fetch her!

“Remember, it’s not that I want to go back; it’s that the Marquis’ Residence is begging me to return,” Gu Yan Fei said, gently waving her hand to signal dismissal, “You still have a journey ahead, so I won’t keep you any longer.”

Gu Yan Fei smiled faintly, her expression cool and her eyes as cold as ice. She would certainly return to the capital to confront all the causes of her inner demons from her past life.

Only by doing so could she break through her inner demons and be reborn from the ashes.

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