Chapter 8: Inner Demon

The Dou Family Pawnshop?! Mama Xu nearly jumped out of her chair, her complexion turning three shades uglier.

"Hurry to the pawnshop and redeem those earrings!"

After barking the order at Old Woman Feng, Mama Xu led four or five other matrons, storming off in a fury to find Gu Yanfei.

The sun hung high in the sky. The courtyard was littered with fallen leaves, which were stirred up from time to time by the autumn breeze, looking just as desolate and bleak as they had yesterday.

Juanbi, who had gone out, had yet to return. There was no one else in or around the courtyard. Mama Xu barged into Gu Yanfei’s boudoir, her temper flaring.

Gu Yanfei sat leisurely by the window, her right arm resting lazily against the window frame.

"Second Miss, have you lost your mind? To actually send Juanbi to a pawnshop to pawn things!" The moment Mama Xu saw Gu Yanfei, she launched into a scathing interrogation.

Though she appeared imposing on the surface, she was actually terrified inside.

The Dou Family Pawnshop was one of the most famous in the Great Jing Dynasty, with branches stretching from the north to the south, including one in the capital. If news of the Second Miss selling her jewelry reached the capital, the entire Marquis Dingyuan estate would lose face!

If things reached that point, given the Old Madam’s temperament, she would certainly vent her anger on her, and her fate would be obvious.

At the thought of this, Mama Xu felt a tightness in her chest and gripped her handkerchief tightly.

Compared to the blustering Mama Xu, Gu Yanfei was calm and composed. She casually grabbed a handful of fish food from a box and scattered it into the pond outside the window.

The fish food fell in a flurry. The goldfish in the pond caught the scent and swarmed over, creating ripples. Under the sunlight, the clear water shimmered.

To Mama Xu, this was like adding fuel to the fire.

She snapped, "Second Miss, don't be ungrateful. I am doing this for your own good."

"Our Marquis Dingyuan estate is a century-old noble house with strict rules. Every young master and miss is well-versed in etiquette and careful in their speech and conduct."

As she spoke, Mama Xu’s eyes swept contemptuously over the stack of paper on the corner of the desk.

The paper contained copies of *Admonitions for Women*, the strokes stiff and clumsy. This small regular script could barely be called neat.

A country girl who didn't even know many characters like this could never be presentable.

"How can you return to the Marquis estate like this!" Mama Xu raised her voice, looking down at Gu Yanfei from her superior position.

Gu Yanfei grabbed another handful of fish food and scattered it into the pond. Finally, she gave Mama Xu a glance and said nonchalantly, "Didn't I already say? I’m not going back."

The sunlight outside the window cast a pale golden halo around her, giving her a dreamlike radiance.

Mama Xu: "..."

Mama Xu looked as if she had been choked by something. Her face turned ashen, and the speech she had prepared died on her lips.

It was true that the Second Miss had said in public last night that she wouldn't return to the estate, but Mama Xu hadn't taken her words seriously, thinking it was just a frightened young girl throwing a tantrum.

She hadn't expected that after a whole night, the Second Miss would still be so stubborn.

A vein throbbed on Mama Xu’s temple. Her instinct was to explode, but she forced herself to hold back.

Since the hard approach wouldn't work, she would have to try the soft one.

Mama Xu took a deep breath and gestured with her hand.

The matrons behind her retreated tactfully, leaving only Gu Yanfei and Mama Xu in the room.

The surroundings suddenly became much quieter. Occasionally, a few goldfish leaped from the pond and fell back in, the "plop, plop" sounds echoing one after another.

Mama Xu put on a seemingly friendly smile, though it didn't reach her eyes, and said patiently, "Second Miss, you grew up outside, so there are many things you don't know. Originally, this matter should have been discussed with you by the Old Madam, but today I will overstep my bounds and speak with you."

"Second Miss, your grandfather and the Old Duke of the British Duke’s estate were old friends. Back when you were born, they agreed to betroth you to the Old Duke’s eldest grandson, to bring the two families even closer."

As she spoke, Mama Xu observed the changes in Gu Yanfei’s expression. Gu Yanfei picked up a plain white handkerchief and began to wipe her fair fingers in a leisurely manner.

Seeing that Gu Yanfei was listening, Mama Xu curled her lips in self-satisfaction, thinking to herself: *For this wild girl to marry into a family like the British Duke’s is like a phoenix rising from the ashes.*

A girl’s only goal in life is a good marriage. As long as she has desires, she will naturally be under her control.

The smile on Mama Xu’s face deepened as she continued, "Second Miss, the Heir of the British Duke, Fang Mingfeng, is seventeen this year. He is a renowned young talent in the capital—not only of noble birth but also gifted in both literature and martial arts. Even the current Emperor has praised him personally."

"When you go to the capital in the future and see the Heir in person, you will surely..."

"I’ve already seen him," Gu Yanfei interrupted, cutting Mama Xu off.

Mama Xu: "..."

Mama Xu was stunned. Her first reaction was that it was impossible!

Gu Yanfei arched a willow eyebrow and commented calmly, "Nothing special. Hardly a good match."

Eight words summarized her evaluation of Fang Mingfeng.

Mama Xu’s old eyes widened, and she snapped indignantly, "Second Miss, stop spouting nonsense! If these words reach the British Duke’s estate..."

This time, before Gu Yanfei could speak, another clear female voice interjected

"What the Miss said is true!"

Juanbi hurried back, her face covered in sweat and showing clear signs of exhaustion.

Yesterday evening, after she had pawned the jewelry at the Dou Family Pawnshop, she had immediately hired people to go outside the city to collect the bodies of the coachman, Old Wang, and Old Woman Zhang. She had been busy until just now.

Juanbi strode to Gu Yanfei’s side, stood tall with her head held high, and gave a rough account of how they had encountered Fang Mingfeng at the city gate yesterday.

Hearing Juanbi’s logical account, Mama Xu felt that even with Juanbi’s dull head, she couldn't have fabricated such a story. Her mind was in chaos.

Her mouth opened and closed. She wanted to ask if the Second Miss had hit her head, as such a good marriage was impossible to find even with a lantern—something many noble ladies in the capital begged for. Yet, the Second Miss had the audacity to say she didn't think much of the Heir!

*She’s mad. This country girl must be mad!*

Mama Xu’s chest heaved rapidly for a few moments before she finally regained her composure. Her tone was stiff as she said, "So, the Second Miss is determined not to return to the capital?"

"If you want me to go back, that’s fine," Gu Yanfei said, catching a red maple leaf that had drifted into the room, her tone indifferent. "Have the Old Madam come here herself to fetch me."

"Second Miss, do you know what you are saying?" Mama Xu’s voice squeezed through her teeth.

The Second Miss dared to put on airs before the Old Madam—was she not afraid of breaking her back?

How could the Old Madam possibly lower herself to come to Danyang City to fetch her!!

"Remember this, Mama: it is not that I want to return, but that the Marquis estate is begging me to return." Gu Yanfei flicked her hand lightly, signaling for her to leave. "You have a journey ahead of you, so I won't keep you."

Gu Yanfei curled her lips into a faint, shallow smile, her eyes as cold as ice.

She would return to the capital, of course. She would face all the causes that had created her inner demons in her previous life.

Only in this way could she break through those demons and be reborn from the ashes.