Chapter 19: The Gu Family's Nanny

Just as Lin Jinyan reached the entrance of the hall, Lin Jin'an entered the room accompanied by a woman carrying a food box.

Seeing the woman, Lin Jinyan smiled and said, "Mother Gu, what delicious treats have you brought me?"

Smiling, Mother Gu placed the food box on the table and spoke

"The young master had me buy fresh pigeons this morning. I've simmered the pigeon soup for two full hours with medicinal herbs, and I also brought the autumn pear paste that the young lady loves."

Lin Jinyan and Lin Jin'an sat at the table. Looking at the two bowls of food Mother Gu brought out, Lin Jinyan said with a beaming smile

"It smells wonderful. Thank you for your hard work, Mother Gu, and thank you too, Brother."

Lin Jin'an replied, "No need for thanks. As long as you don't burst into tears the moment you see me, I'll buy you whatever you want to eat."

Mother Gu had a maid bring bowls and chopsticks, then ladled the soup into a bowl and placed it before Lin Jinyan, saying

"I added the medicinal ingredients to this soup exactly as the Madam left instructions; they are all warming and nourishing herbs. Drink it while it's hot. You must have been quite frightened, Miss; you've grown so thin from this illness. How were the servants looking after you? How could they let you play by the water all alone? If your mother were still here, she would have been heartbroken."

As she spoke, Mother Gu's eyes could not help but redden. She was a lifelong servant of the Gu family and had been Gu Qinglan's dowry maid. She had accompanied Gu Qinglan to the Lin residence for two years, but Gu Qinglan had passed away due to postpartum hemorrhage, leaving behind these fraternal twins. Alone, she could not watch over both of them at once and could only tend to one and then the other.

Fortunately, both the Gu and Lin families doted on the two children. The wet nurses, maids, and all provisions in the manor were of the highest quality. As the children grew older and were weaned and moved to their own courtyard, the Lin family dismissed the extra wet nurses, leaving only a nurse surnamed Zhou to serve as a maid by Lin Jinyan's side.

Mother Gu herself served by Lin Jin'an's side, visiting Lin Jinyan at Yanyu Pavilion whenever she had free time.

Seeing Mother Gu's sadness, Lin Jinyan hurriedly comforted her

"Please don't be sad, Mother Gu. Look, Yan'er is much better now. That night was Yan'er's fault for being naughty; while playing with Sister Yueshe, I ran to the water's edge on my own and slipped in. I will certainly be more careful in the future."

Lin Jin'an also added, "Mother Gu, please don't be like this. Ever since Yan'er fell into the water, she has become delicate and prone to crying. If you keep this up, she'll start crying along with you."

Hearing this, Mother Gu quickly suppressed her heartache and gently urged Lin Jinyan to drink the soup.

The two watched with smiles as Lin Jinyan finished the soup. After clearing the bowls, Mother Gu complained

"This Miss Yueshe is truly something. She took you out but failed to look after you properly. If it weren't for the fact that she is the Old Madam's grandniece and is so dearly loved by her, I would have certainly lectured her."

Lin Jinyan's eyes flickered as she said, "Since you know Grandmother likes her, just bear it to avoid displeasing her. It's just that..."

At this point, Lin Jinyan glanced outside. After ensuring no one was at the door, she leaned forward and whispered

"It's just that she was clearly the one who took me out that night, yet she didn't mention it after I fell into the water. Instead, she made Grandmother feel even more sympathetic toward her. She is not as innocent as she appears on the surface."

Lin Jin'an frowned and asked, "Why didn't Cousin mention it? Is she afraid of being punished?"

Lin Jinyan said, "She is staying in our household; it would be reasonable for her to fear punishment and be sent back to her ancestral home in Shangyang. Although she didn't say a word about me falling into the water, she knelt until she fainted for my sake. Now that I am out of danger, bringing this up would inevitably make me seem petty. So, it is enough that we know she is a calculating person. We shouldn't make a scene or show it; we only need to be on our guard against her."

Hearing this, Mother Gu and Lin Jin'an fell into deep thought.

(End of Chapter)