When Xie Xiangxiang returned to the Xie residence, she didn't dare bring Chunling and Xia Hua with her. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to enter the Xie residence and would be looked down upon by the servants in the Marquis's mansion.

However, to her surprise, the servant at the door saw her and greeted her warmly, "Second Miss is back?"

Xie Xiangxiang was a little surprised: "Oh, are you all alright?"

"All is well, please come in!"

A servant from the gatehouse ran quickly to the second gate without saying a word.

Xie Xiangxiang's carriage stopped in the front yard. She wanted to go to Wutong Garden to pay her respects to Old Madam Xie first. But when she got to the second gate, Ying'er came out and blocked the door.

She smiled and said, "There's a meeting in the manor today. The old lady said that you, Second Miss, may make yourself at home."

Xie Xiangxiang immediately sneered and said, "Grandmother, are you avoiding me?"

Ying'er said seriously, "Second Miss, what are you saying? The old lady is very busy."

Xie Xiangxiang went directly to Mengxi Academy.

The teacher at Mengxi Academy was unaware that Xie Xiangxiang had been expelled from the Xie family mansion, and greeted her warmly: "Second Miss has arrived?"

"Master Qingqiu, there is a relative's child in the Marquis's mansion who is quite clever and intelligent. He would like to study at our academy. Is that alright?"

"Look at what you're saying, how could a child recommended by the Second Miss not be suitable?"

Xie Xiangxiang was overjoyed that she had achieved her goal so easily. She received a set of uniform clothing from the academy and left the academy happily.

Ying'er stayed at the second gate the whole time. Xie Xiangxiang knew in her heart that the Xie family had not forgiven her.

It doesn't matter. As long as her son can study at Mengxi Academy and become the top scholar in the imperial examination, reaching the highest position in the government, she might not even agree to enter the second gate if begged.

Back at the Marquis's residence, the entire Fanghua Garden was filled with jubilation. Madam Tu even took Gu Yuebai to the old lady's courtyard and quietly told her that this was Gu Chengyan's biological son.

The old lady was furious.

What kind of things are these?

The eldest son's family has never had a moment's peace.

"Don't let that woman outside into the mansion. No matter who asks, just say that the child's mother is dead," the old lady instructed. "In time, he will no longer recognize his biological mother."

Mengxi Academy, that's where the third son received his first education. Back then, it was the old Marquis who begged him to get in.

The old lady looked at Gu Yuebai, sighing with mixed feelings of joy. If she nurtured him well, perhaps another top scholar would emerge from the family!

The day before the initiation ceremony, Xie Yu came to the Marquis's residence to pick up Xie Zhaozhao, saying that the residence had a new play scheduled and he invited his younger sister to watch it.

The old lady naturally wouldn't stop her; with her brother-in-law personally coming to pick her up, how could she not go?

When Gu Shaoyu finished his shift, Xie Yu invited him to come to the mansion. Gu Shaoyu agreed immediately without even saying a word of politeness.

Like a little bee, she packed all the things she needed into a small package.

She blinked and asked, "Zhaozhao, is this enough?"

Xie Zhaozhao was both amused and exasperated: "Are you planning to stay at the Xie residence and never come back?"

Gu Shaoyu smiled and took out some more things: "Is it okay now?"

Xie Yu watched from the sidelines, chuckling to himself. He never imagined that Grand Secretary Gu, who was not exactly feared in court but at least frighteningly meticulous in his thinking, would interact with his sister like this in private…

Love!

Yes, only this embarrassing word can describe it.

The Xie family was overjoyed to welcome Xie Zhaozhao and Gu Shaoyu over.

When she had a moment, Madam Xie asked her why she had sent a message to invite Xie Xiangxiang into the mansion.

Xie Zhaozhao said with a smile, "I heard Lady Hou asking her to arrange for that child to enter Mengxi Academy. I thought that since they are sisters, I should ask my grandmother to give her some face. Besides, I was also bored and wanted to see the opening ceremony and experience the joy of being a child back then."

Madam Xie patted her hand tenderly and said, "Don't worry, the manor has invited Grand Secretary Liu and Chancellor Sun of the Imperial Academy to preside over the initiation ceremony tomorrow."

"Grandmother, this ceremony is too grand!" Xie Zhaozhao was a little uneasy. She had a feeling that her grandmother was making such a grand ceremony for her sake.

“Your father and the elders will be here tomorrow,” said Madam Xie. “The Xie family’s private school is one of the best in the entire capital. Grand Secretary Gu and your elder brother, aren’t they all graduates of this school? Inviting Grand Secretary Liu and Grand Chancellor Sun will not disgrace them. Besides, Grand Secretary Liu’s eldest grandson, Liu Xian, and Grand Chancellor Sun’s relatives’ children are also studying at Mengxi Academy.”

The next morning, Grand Secretary Gu, Xie Yu, and Xie Anfeng all took leave to attend the autumn opening ceremony of Mengxi Academy.

Xie Xiangxiang, Madam Tu, and Gu Chengyan came with Gu Yuebai. Gu Chengyan tried his best to conceal his father-son relationship with Gu Yuebai, while Xie Xiangxiang couldn't wait for someone to say, "This is your son?"

Anyone who didn't know better would really think that Gu Yuebai was their son.

Upon seeing Xie Zhaozhao, Gu Chengyan politely greeted her as "Third Aunt".

Xie Xiangxiang glanced at her triumphantly, then picked up Gu Yuebai and swaggered over.

Manman couldn't stand it and said angrily, "Tch, what's there to be so proud of? It's not like you gave birth to it yourself."

Xie Zhaozhao didn't bother to argue and went up to the high platform to watch the ceremony.

It was just a small initiation ceremony for elementary education, but today many mistresses of wealthy families in the western part of the city and their private tutors came.

In short, it was grand!

The first ceremony is to straighten one's clothes.

After the students put on their school uniforms, Master Qingqiu personally straightened their clothes and led them into the school.

Xie Xiangxiang repeatedly instructed Gu Yuebai: "Yuebai, you must be good and listen to the teacher. The teacher likes obedient children the most."

Gu Chengyan also squatted down, patted his head and said, "If you get praise from the teacher, I will give you a big reward when we get back."

Gu Yuebai grinned and asked, "Can I ride in the big carriage?"

"Yes!" Gu Chengyan and Xie Xiangxiang agreed at the same time.

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