He shi didn’t care how much Yao shi had suffered in the Marquis Estate over the years. To put it bluntly, she was selfish.
Yao shi got up to leave.
When He shi saw that Yao shi was angry, she quickly grabbed her and apologized, "Oh, this sister-in-law didn't an that. Don't get wrong. If this sister-in-law said sothing wrong, I know you’re a magnanimous one; don't lower yourself to your sister-in-law’s level."
Yao shi responded, "I don’t have any say in the marriage of Marquis Estate’s young masters."
He shi, however, still didn’t give up even after hearing her words.
He shi: "Why don't you at least take Xin girl to the estate? Perhaps one of them will take a fancy to her upon seeing her?"
Yao shi: "Who does sister-in-law expect to take a fancy to her? Shizi?"
He shi smilingly said, "It's certainly best if shizi can take a fancy to her..."
Yao shi was greatly dumbfounded.
She was really hoping to marry Yao Xin to the shizi of the Marquis Estate?
This was simply a dream!
Seeing Yao shi's expression, He shi added awkwardly, "The second young master is fine too… So is the third, the third young master?"
Yao shi said in a cold voice, "Since when is it the Yao Family‘s young miss’s turn to pick the young masters of the Marquis Ding'an Estate?"
Not that she wanted to speak for her three stepsons, but the two families were just unsuitable in terms of backgrounds. Old Mada Gu already rejected her for being just the second wife, and here Yao Xin wanted to be the legal first wife?
In the end, was it to help her or to make Old Mada Gu hate her more?
He shi's temper flared up again, "Hasn’t sister-in-law married into the Marquis Estate? Sister-in-law was even engaged to others at that ti! You weren’t so innocent then like our Xin girl today! If the Marquis could have liked sister-in-law, why can the shizi not take a fancy to Xin girl? Isn’t it all about appearance? It’s not like Xin girl’s looks are worse than sister-in-laws, right?"
He shi was basically saying that she wasn’t so pure, she used her appearance to serve others, and she married into the Marquis Estate voluntarily...
Good, good, very good!
Yao shi took a deep breath and asked, "Those words, is it sister-in-law’s aning or mother’s?"
He shi was speechless.
Of course, she and her mother-in-law had the sa aning, but her mother-in-law wouldn’t say it herself and let her do the talking.
Yao shi understood everything.
Change?
She was naive.
Yao shi and others were supposed to go back ho after dinner, but Yao shi couldn't stay here any longer.
"JiaoJiao, let's go back ho." Yao shi went into the room where Gu Jiao and others stayed and said.
“Okay." Gu Jiao didn't ask why, nor did Gu Yan.
Old Mada Yao chased after them outside with the help of her servants, reprimanded He shi and told Yao shi not to bother about her, and took out the gifts she prepared for several children.
Gu Yan sneered and knocked over his present along Gu Jiao’s in front of everyone.
He saw the sa snack inside, but an extra red envelope slipped out of his box.
Gu Jiao's box had nothing.
Neither did Little Jing Kong's.
Then they found that the box that Yao shi was supposed to bring to Gu Jinyu also had a red envelope in it.
Yao shi's face turned white with anger after seeing the presents to her four children.
Little Jing Kong was asleep, and Gu Yan was too lazy to present a false appearance of peace.
He took Little Jing Kong's gift directly and threw it into the waters!
Of course, he also threw away Gu Jinyu’s present.
If you want to curry favor with others, do it yourself! Don’t get their hands dirty!
……
On their way back ho, Gu Yan also fell asleep inside the carriage.
He was lying on Yao shi's lap, and Little Jing Kong was lying in Gu Jiao's arms. Both of them slept soundly while snoring.
Yao shi didn’t say anything.
She tried not to let her emotions affect Gu Jiao, but Gu Jiao could still feel them.
"I’m sorry, JiaoJiao, you shouldn't have co today." She said with guilt.
Gu Jiao replied, "I think it’s great."
"Hm?" Yao shi was slightly stunned.
Little Jing Kong kicked the blanket in his sleep. Gu Jiao pulled it over and covered him again, saying, "I was also curious to know where Mada used to live."
Yao shi looked at Gu Jiao dazedly and said, "JiaoJiao… Why are you curious?"
Gu Jiao thought for a mont before replying, "I don't know. I'm just curious. I want to know about Mada’s past and also how she is doing every day."
Yao shi covered her mouth, unable to believe what she heard.
Was her JiaoJiao starting to care about her?
“JiaoJiao…”
"Does Mada regret it? Regret marrying Marquis Gu?"
When Yao shi quarreled with He shi, Gu Jiao was in the garden not far away. With her sharp hearing, she vaguely heard their dispute.
Yao shi didn't hesitate to shake her head, "No regrets."
"Why?" Gu Jiao asked.
Yao shi bowed her head and caressed Gu Yan's cheek, then looked at Gu Jiao fondly, saying, "Because if I didn't marry Lord Marquis, there wouldn't be you and Yan'er. You two are the most precious gift your mother had in her life."
Gu Jiao didn’t understand such feelings.
The things she experienced in her childhood led her to shut down her emotional system early, which was a self-protection chanism to prevent herself from collapsing completely under the harm caused by her parents.
But at the sa ti, it also made her lose the ability to see different feelings in different views.
In her world, like was like, hate was hate, it was either black or white.
But Yao shi's experience was more like a gray area— having given birth to precious children she really desired with soone she didn't want to marry at all.
Looking at her daughter's confused face, a giggle escaped from Yao shi’s mouth.
Her daughter was truly sweet and lovely.
Yao shi's unhappiness disappeared like smoke.
Yao shi sent Gu Jiao back to Bishui Alley first before returning to the estate.
Gu Jinyu spent the whole day at the palace with Imperial Concubine Shu and then returned to the Marquis Estate after dark.
……
With New Year’s Eve less than ten days away, Qinghe Academy already had no more classes. On the other hand, the Imperial Academy’s private elentary division still had one day of classes while the six halls still had three days.
Gu Jiao left for the dical hall early in the morning.
The elderly woman and several neighbors were playing pai gow in the house. Old Chief stood aside with a dark expression, paying for her and serving her tea!
anwhile, Gu Xiaoshun was pounding wood in the backyard.
As for Gu Yan, he silently ca to the front yard and looked around at the gate. Then, he walked to the alley entrance next to look around there.
This end of the alley was connected to Chang'an Street.
There was a steady stream of people coming and going, and the shops everywhere were plastered with paper cutting decorations and couplets, creating a jubilant atmosphere.
He looked ahead, and suddenly a tall shadow enveloped him.
"What are you doing?"
It was Gu Changqing.
With his body clad in an expensive-looking fur coat while sitting atop a tall and mighty horse, he looked really formidable and valiant.
Gu Yan, who was taken by surprise, turned around and said, "I'm not waiting for you anyway!"
Gu Changqing:“…”
Seeing him with his hand behind his back, Gu Changqing asked again, "What's in your hand?"
Gu Yan hesitated for a mont, then took his hand from his back and handed sothing to him, "Here."
Gu Changqing took it.
It was a wood carving.
As to what kind of wood carving it was... It was a bit hard to tell.
Gu Changqing: "Is it a monkey?"
Gu Yan blew his top, "What monkey? Open your eyes wide and look clearly! Is there such a handso monkey in this world?!”
He learned how to carve wood with Gu Xiaoshun for several days and nights; his hands even got blood blisters!
He couldn’t believe this guy couldn’t tell what he carved!
He actually called it a monkey!
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