After discussing the overseas shipping route plan, Xie Zhaozhao gave Yuanyuan a wink, and Yuanyuan understood and immediately went out to find Moyan and Guanyan.

And so on, and so forth.

Before long, Mo Yan, Guan Yan, Xu Li, Nan Xing, and other young men from Qingpu Courtyard came over with smiles and called Zhou Lingyin, Lao Liao, and others to play pitch-pot in the front yard.

Taking advantage of the break, Xie Zhaozhao called Yin Jin'an, Li Yunmu, and Gu Chongjin together.

After closing the door, she earnestly introduced Gu Chongjin, saying, "This is my cousin Gu Chongjin. He is currently the head of the Imperial Guard Cavalry Division. I would like to appoint him as our commander-in-chief for the Northern Expedition."

He then introduced Gu Zhongjin to Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu, saying, "They are my childhood friends."

Gu Chongjin then realized that what Xie Zhaozhao wanted to talk to him about was extremely important.

Although he came from a humble background, he was not afraid of Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu, these two playboys from the capital. Others might be afraid of them, but he was not. Although he only reached the rank of captain in the Imperial Guard, his martial prowess was far superior to that of the commanders and captains.

When Yin Jin'an saw Xie Zhaozhao call him "eighth brother," he knew that Xie Zhaozhao intended to give this person an important position.

No one but themselves could hear what the group was talking about.

They talked for over an hour. When the door opened again, Gu Shaoyu stood under the eaves looking at the group and noticed that both the two纨绔 (playboys) and the lowly half-brother from the same clan were shining with a light in their eyes and bodies.

Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu, along with Gu Chongjin, left without stopping.

The New Year's greetings continued until the end of the 5-7 PM, when the entire mansion gradually quieted down.

Seeing Xie Zhaozhao's tired face and dark circles under her eyes, Gu Shaoyu pushed her into the room without saying a word: "Go to sleep!"

I woke up to find it was already the second day of the Lunar New Year!

The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day to welcome the son-in-law.

It was even more grand than the three-day homecoming ceremony after the wedding.

The two new sons-in-law, Gu Shaoyu and Gu Chengyan, are going to visit relatives at the Xie family residence, and the family has already prepared gifts for them.

This New Year's gift must be paid from public funds; it is the duty of the Marquis's household.

Xie Xiangxiang held Gu Yuebai in her arms, smiling as she waited to depart.

Yesterday, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xie Tingting's maid Caiwei relayed a message to Xie Xiangxiang, saying that early that morning, the imperial edict appointing Xie Tingting as the Crown Prince's concubine, along with betrothal gifts, a ruyi (a type of scepter), and jewelry, had been delivered to the Xie residence.

Xie Tingting is already a royal consort, and Xie Xiangxiang is her biological sister. Yesterday, many noble families, seeing which way the wind was blowing, came to the Marquis's residence to pay New Year's greetings and also made a special visit to Xie Xiangxiang.

She will definitely become a Duchess of the State, a first-rank noblewoman, with her younger sister becoming an imperial concubine and her son becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Tingting is right. Things change every thirty years. Be patient, and the future is bright.

Xie Zhaozhao rode in her own carriage, accompanied by four guards and Yuan Yuan. Gu Shaoyu took Nanxing with him, and the two rode to the Xie residence.

According to the custom of welcoming the son-in-law on the second day of the Lunar New Year, the new bride is to bring a child from her own family when she returns home. The bride's family is very polite and will give the child a red envelope containing New Year's money.

Xie Xiangxiang brought Gu Yuebai with her, and the old lady handed over Lu Shi's youngest son, Gu Chenghuan, to Xie Zhaozhao to take to the Xie residence.

Xie Zhaozhao's carriage left the mansion, and Gu Yuebai, dressed in new clothes, prepared to go to the Xie mansion with Xie Xiangxiang.

When he saw Xie Zhaozhao's carriage come out, he stopped and tilted his head to look.

Third Aunt (Xie Zhaozhao) wore small red sheepskin boots with gold-embroidered cloud patterns, covered with a large red feather gauze cloak lined with white fox fur, tied with a blue-gold and green double-ringed ruyi sash, and covered her head with a snow hat.

Next to her, Yuanyuan was wearing a half-new light-colored, three-paneled, autumn-fragrance-colored, gold-embroidered, five-colored dragon-patterned, narrow-sleeved, silver-gray short jacket, with a silver-gray fur trim, and underneath, a light red satin fox fur pleated coat.

A long, five-colored palace sash with a bow was tightly tied around her waist.

Both of them were wearing deerskin boots.

Gu Yuebai felt that at the age of four, he suddenly understood what it meant for a god to descend to earth and what it meant for the most beautiful scenery in winter.

But Mother doesn't like them! Mother says that Third Aunt and Third Uncle are the most hateful people in the world, the most corrupt and feudal women, and the worst people.

Thinking this, he spat at Xie Zhaozhao.

Xie Zhaozhao didn't pay attention to him, but Nanxing, being a martial artist, heard it, walked up to Gu Yuebai, and asked, "Who did you spit on?"

Don't be fooled by Nanxing's usual carefree attitude; he's definitely not a good-tempered person.

Seeing his tall and fierce appearance, with a knife hanging at his waist, Gu Yuebai trembled with fear and hid behind Xie Xiangxiang.

Gu Chengyan didn't hear what Gu Yuebai was doing. He was feeling extremely complicated. Xie Zhaozhao should have been his wife, but his third uncle had gotten her by chance.

He hated his third uncle. Xie Zhaozhao originally belonged to him, but he couldn't have her, so he'd rather destroy her than give her to Gu Shaoyu.

But even though he planned so meticulously the first time he drugged someone, his third uncle and aunt still found out!

Upon seeing Nanxing fiercely gazing at Yuebai, he immediately approached and asked, "Yuebai, what happened?"

When Gu Yuebai saw Gu Chengyan approaching, she burst into tears and pointed at Nanxing, saying, "He's going to kill Bai Bai!"

"Did you say something you shouldn't have to your great-aunt?"

"Waaaaah, I didn't say anything."

When Xie Xiangxiang heard Yuebai crying and saw Nanxing standing in front of Gu Yuebai asking questions, she immediately became angry: "Trying to show off your power right next to my son?"

Xie Zhaozhao stopped and looked at Nanxing: "What's going on?"

Xie Xiangxiang said, "Your guards threatened my son, and you're pretending you didn't know?"

Ignoring Xie Xiangxiang, Gu Shaoyu asked Gu Chengyan, "Is this your son?"

“Third Uncle, this is my cousin’s son,” Gu Chengyan said calmly.

"Don't we have nephews or cousins ​​who can visit the Xie residence? Why bring an outsider along?"

“This child will be raised in the manor from now on; my cousin has given him to the Marquis’s manor.”

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!