The Prince Ning has fallen, Grand Tutor Zhuang has been beheaded, and the entire Zhuang family has been exiled.
Zhuang Yuheng was first expelled from the family by Grand Tutor Zhuang, then achieved rit afterward. Although he could have stayed in the Capital City, he chose to be exiled without hesitation.
When the Zhuang family was at the height of its power, he abandoned all glory and left the family.
When the Zhuang family fell into the mud, he again forsook a bright future and returned to the Zhuang family.
Thinking of him, the Empress Dowager felt both heartache and regret.
She harbored emotions in her heart, but others dared not ask or ntion them; only Gu Jiao could make her speak.
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply, "He’s now a teacher in a small private school at the border pass. During the day, he teaches, and at night, he helps people write letters and copy docunts, earning a ager amount of silver to supplent the family inco."
Even though exiled, Zhuang Yuheng himself did not carry a criminal status, allowing him to teach in a private school.
Even so, life was particularly harsh.
Zhuang Yuheng himself didn’t find it bitter; when the Empress Dowager’s man asked how he was doing, he said these hardships Xiao Liulang had endured before, and since Xiao Liulang could withstand them, he could too.
The Empress Dowager snorted, "He’s competitive with Liulang. By the way, little Xue sent you a letter."
Gu Jiao: "Oh?"
The Empress Dowager, too lazy to move, pointed to a spot for Gu Jiao to retrieve the letter.
There were altogether six letters.
In ancient tis, transportation was inconvenient, and a letter might take two to three months on the road, so the fact that Gu Jiao received six letters in a year and a half shows that Xue Ningxiang was fairly frequent in writing.
Xue Ningxiang mainly ntioned matters related to the Back Mountain and her daily life in the countryside.
"Her handwriting is even better than mine..."
Gu Jiao mumbled.
The Back Mountain has been completely cultivated, and according to Gu Jiao’s requirents, various kinds of herbs have been planted, expected to be harvestable next year.
Dog Wa is five years old, very naughty, always running across the Avenue, making Xue Ningxiang worried.
Dog Wa gets along well with Headmaster Li. He truly believes he is Headmaster Li’s biological child, and Headmaster Li taught him to write, guess what? He learned very well.
The second-to-last letter ntioned that an aunt had sent Xue Ningxiang a letter, asking her to bring her husband and Dog Wa to visit the Capital City; she said she would co soon.
The last letter followed half a month later, stating she was pregnant and couldn’t co to the Capital City temporarily. She would co to visit the aunt and Gu Jiao after giving birth.
Gu Jiao listened to the news all afternoon and read so many of Xue Ningxiang’s letters, and suddenly felt a sense of ti passing by like another life.
When she first crossed over, Dog Wa was only one year old, and now he was already five.
Originally unknowingly, she had already spent four years here.
In her sentint, Gu Xiaobao toddled in.
He stood before Gu Jiao and the Empress Dowager, looking at the Empress Dowager with an especially innocent and obedient look.
"Auntie." He called out in a tender voice.
The Empress Dowager snorted, "Ha, what trouble have you caused now?"
Gu Xiaobao placed his small hands together, with his right hand pinching his left index finger, "Nothing."
Just as he said, Yu Yaya and a small palace maid from Renshou Palace walked in flustered.
Both lowered their heads.
Yu Yaya didn’t know what it was, nor how to report it.
The small palace maid bit the bullet and spoke, "The...Phoenix Seal is broken."
The Empress Dowager’s face darkened, her eyes shooting daggers!
Gu Xiaobao stepped forward and hugged the Empress Dowager’s hand, "Auntie, Xiaobao loves you."
The Empress Dowager’s body jolted: Who on earth taught him that!!!
Gu Jiao only returned after having dinner at Renshou Palace.
Gu Xiaobao was already tired and asleep, snoring sweetly in Gu Jiao’s arms.
Gu Jiao looked at him, "Hmm, children are quite adorable."
Yu Yaya smiled and said, "Miss, no need to envy, you’ll soon have one with the brother-in-law too!"
Her? Having children? Gu Jiao was bewildered, dumbfounded.
...
Yuan Family.
Pri Minister Yuan and the old Marquis were chatting happily in the Flower Hall.
Gu Changqing sat next to the old Marquis like sitting on needles.
Suddenly, he glimpsed a shadow flash past the window, seemingly glancing at him.
Understanding, he stood up and said, "Excuse , I’ll go to the Greeting Room."
The old Marquis discontentedly glanced at his grandson, grumbling about why go to the Greeting Room during official business?
Pri Minister Yuan chuckled and raised his hand, "No matter, go ahead. Zhao San, take Gu Shizi to the Greeting Room."
"Yes."
The servant called Zhao San led Gu Changqing to the Greeting Room.
Gu Changqing calmly said, "I know the way, you go back, I might take a bit longer."
"Yes." Zhao San returned to the Flower Hall.
Gu Changqing changed his steps, using light martial arts to arrive at a nearby small Garden.
There, a little nun in a Taoist robe had been waiting for a while, holding a newly published storybook.
The little nun closed the half-read storybook, turned to face Gu Changqing, "You finally ca, if you hadn’t co, I would have personally fetched you."
He said, "Was it you who sent for ?"
"Yes." The little nun nodded.
He asked, "What’s the matter?"
The little nun glanced behind him and signaled to the maid beside her.
The maid understood and went to stand guard nearby.
Only then did the little nun ask, "How did your grandfather and my grandfather communicate?"
"They..." Gu Changqing recalled the scene of the two elders agreeing heartily, his expression complicated, "I’m sorry, I didn’t expect my grandfather to seek the Phoenix Bird, give so ti, I’ll find another way to break off this engagent."
The little nun hesitated and cautiously asked, "Once you break off the engagent, will you no longer need to get married?"
"What?" Gu Changqing didn’t understand why she asked that.
The little nun explained, "What I an is, our initial plan had flaws. It’s not so easy for to return to the Taoist temple, especially since my grandmother recently threatened with death... And it’s the sa for you, even if you break the engagent with , your family will propose another marriage until you are wed."
Gu Changqing fell silent.
Yuan Baolin was right; as the Marquis Residence’s heir, destined to inherit the Marquis family business, his grandfather wouldn’t abandon his marriage.
Yuan Baolin pondered a mont, then asked him, "Do you still feel the sa as before, not wanting to get married?"
"Yes." Gu Changqing firmly nodded.
Yuan Baolin said, " too, I don’t want to marry. What’s good about n? All the long-lived won I’ve seen had husbands die early. Cherish life, stay away from n."
Gu Changqing: "..." I have no words to respond.
Yuan Baolin held the storybook in her hands, her eyes spinning mischievously as she looked at him and smiled, "Since you don’t want to marry, and I don’t want to wed, why don’t we collaborate?"
Gu Changqing looked at her deeply, "You an—"
Yuan Baolin took a few steps forward, spoke lightly and said, "Let’s just deceive them for now! In the future, if you have soone you love, or if I do, we’ll separate then!"
Gu Changqing hesitated for a mont and said, "But it’s unfair for you."
n may face no consequences for separation, but won, even soone like Yuan Baolin, will inevitably face societal criticism, no matter her status as Pri Minister Yuan’s legitimate granddaughter.
Yuan Baolin smiled and said, "No need to worry about . Honestly, I don’t care how others view ; their eyes and words can’t hurt . Just tell if you agree or not?"
This unconventional temperant... is sowhat reminiscent of my sister.
Gu Changqing furrowed his brows. This matter would benefit him greatly, but for her it was indeed—
Yuan Baolin candidly stated, "You shouldn’t see won as weak, nor asure by your standards; I know what I want. Unless you don’t want to cooperate with , then forget I said anything."
Gu Changqing pondered for a mont, gazing at her with a complex expression, and made his decision.
Reviews
All reviews (0)