After Shedding My Ar

IntheninthyearofYongqing,GeneralGuFudiedinQiHuai.ThecurrentemperorposthumouslyhonoredhimasMarquisZhongshun.Inthetwelfthmonthofthesameyear,thesecondMissGu,whohadaccompaniedhergrandmothertothemountainstoperformBuddhistritesforfiveyears,returnedhome.Thefirstthingshefaceduponarrivalwaspunishment—kneelingintheancestralhall.Intheancestralhall,theelderoftheGufamilyscoldedher,tellinghernottoactrecklesslyinthefutureandtoobedientlywaitfortheelderstoarrangeamarriageforher.However,sherespondedwithasinglesentencethatmadehimstormoffinanger.Anunawareauntandyoungersistercametovisit,seeminglyoutofconcern,buttheywereactuallymockingher.Shecalmlycounteredtheirremarks.Finally,herelderbrotherarrived.ThescholarlyeldestsonoftheGufamilypacedbackandforthinfrontofher,eventuallyblurtingout,“Themilitarycampisfullofmen!Doyouknowthatifwordofyourdisgracefulbehaviorspreads,itwillbringshametothefamily’sdaughters?”GuFufinallyshedhercarefreedemeanorandrepliedseriously,“Defendingthecountryisnotadisgrace.”UponhearingthattheGufamilywantedtomarryoffthesecondMissGu,thecurrentemperorimmediatelysoughtouttheempress,earnestlysaying,“IregardthesecondMissGuasmyowndaughter.Ican’tlethermarryjustanyone.Ifempresshastime,perhapsyoucouldhelpmebylookingforsuitablecandidatesforherinthecapital.”Theempress:“…”Understood,Matchmaking101itis.