Chapter 36: Breaking off Relationship

Lin Murou put down the jujube and yam cake in her hand and said with a smile: "Mom, even if I forget the monthly allowance for my own courtyard, I dare not forget my aunt's~"

Gu Hanyue, who had calmed down, spat and patted her arm. "Sister-in-law, you are making up stories about Zhenzhen while she's not around. I'm going to complain."

Ye Mingyan looked at the Gu brothers and sisters and smiled, "We don't have so many rules in our family, so don't be bound by them. You'll understand after staying for a few days."

"It stands to reason that Zhenzhen's maiden name shouldn't be spread outside, but Wen Min isn't an outsider, so Zhenzhen should call him cousin. Besides, she's already engaged, so it's fine."

Gu Wenmin's handsome and delicate face turned red and white, and finally turned as red as a monkey's butt.

Ye Mingyan took a sip of the Rain-Predawn Longjing tea and looked up at Lin Murou, "Rou'er, during the time Wen Min and the others are at home, their monthly allowances will be distributed as usual. They are all family members."

Gu Hanyan said timidly, "Aunt Su, this is unacceptable. We have already disturbed you."

Gu Wenmin also refused repeatedly, "No, no. My parents have already given us money."

If it weren't for the approaching Spring Examination, all the restaurants, inns and rented courtyards in the capital would be full.

In addition, they missed their elder sister whom they hadn't seen for many years, so they would not dare to disturb her.

"We're all brothers and sisters, why would we bother about a few bucks? It'll only hurt our relationship." Lin Murou said softly, "Wen Min will receive a monthly stipend of 20 taels of silver, and Han Yan will receive 2 taels. This doesn't include clothes, shoes, cosmetics, social events, or headgear. This is pocket money for you."

She chuckled and waved her hand, and the maid came forward with a plate of small gold ingots. "It just so happens that today is the day when the monthly allowance is distributed. You can take it and go for a good tour of the capital."

"If you don't have enough, ask your eldest sister for more. She has a very rich treasury."

Looking at the purse stuffed into their hands, the two men had no choice but to thank him.

Ye Mingyan then asked Mother Chen, "Is Zhenzhen still awake? Didn't she say yesterday that she wanted to come and see my second sister-in-law's younger sister?"

Mother Chen's tone was very doting, "The young lady just came out of the palace in the afternoon, so it's normal for her to sleep a little longer."

Gu Wenmin and Gu Hanyan, brother and sister, were shocked. Did their eldest sister marry so well?

My father-in-law is the emperor's confidant, so how can my daughter enter the palace at will?

Isn’t it said that wealthy families have the most rules? How come their daughter is so casual?

After replying to Ye Mingyan's words, Mother Chen looked at the surprised brother and sister and said with a smile, "Our young lady is the future Princess of Yan, whom His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan personally requested His Majesty's imperial decree to grant her marriage. She is an extremely outstanding person."

Her daughter was stunningly beautiful, with a plump figure and a small frame, a sweet and well-behaved personality, and a little knowledge of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting...

Ye Mingyan smiled and said, "You won't be able to see that lazy girl Zhenzhen now, but you will see her in the evening. Hanyan, your sister Zhenzhen is a bit casual and doesn't like to talk to people. She also likes well-behaved girls. Don't be scared by her lazy appearance."

Gu Hanyan lowered her head shyly and whispered, "Okay, thank you Aunt Su."

Gu Wenmin had no intention of joining in on this topic as he had to avoid suspicion.

The future Princess of Yan?

Words so far away from them...

The most powerful official they had ever met was probably the Governor of Jinling...

My elder sister married well indeed.

During the greetings just now, they observed that the eldest sister was very relaxed and was not under any rules set by Aunt Su.

The sisters-in-law get along quite well.

Does such a harmonious relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law really exist?

Thinking of when her mother told her that she had asked her elder sister to arrange her marriage, Gu Hanyan's eyes flashed...

Everyone started chatting about other topics, such as what they liked to eat, what they liked to play, and what were the characteristics of Jinling...

As they were chatting and laughing, Su Zhenzhen walked in leisurely, her sparkling eyes filled with water.

"Mother, are these my second sister-in-law's brothers and sisters?"

The Gu siblings heard a clear and tender voice and looked up at the door.

The visitor was wearing a light yellow pleated skirt with a cloud pattern of Huanhua brocade, had her hair combed into a bun, and wore a white jade headpiece.

She wore a jade pendant with auspicious clouds and a dragon on her waist, which made her look as round and smooth as a peeled lychee.

Her appearance is exquisite and beautiful, as if a goddess or fairy has descended to earth.

Her peach blossom eyes were full of water, with slightly red corners and a hint of water. She looked lazy but charming.

Gu Wenmin was stunned for a moment, then lowered his eyes, not daring to look any further.

After being amazed, Gu Hanyan stood up and performed the same greeting as his brother did for his peers.

"Meet Sister Su."

Su Zhenzhen returned the greeting gracefully and said with a smile, "As expected of my second sister-in-law's younger brother or sister, they are indeed as good-looking as my second sister-in-law."

"What's your sister's name? Cute and adorable?"

Gu Hanyan was slightly stunned. She said bluntly: "My name is Gu Hanyan, Han means cultivated, and Yan means consistent in words and deeds. I don't read storybooks."

Su Zhenzhen's eyes moved slightly and she smiled.

Ye Mingyan looked at her, who looked like she had just woken up, and said with a smile: "Zhenzhen, have you slept enough? Do you want to rest for a while?"

The girl puffed out her fair cheeks slightly and sat on the rosewood chair at the bottom, which was padded with dark green goose feather cushions embroidered with a pattern of acacia flowers.

Her pretty face was slightly red, her voice was soft and sticky, and she reached out and pinched a piece of Longjing green rice dumpling.

"Mom, you are so mean. I only dozed off for half an hour. The rest of the time I was reading a storybook."

After Su Zhenzhen finished speaking, she opened her cherry lips and tasted the Longjing green rice dumpling. Bai Zhi brought her a bowl of bird's nest.

"Mother, sisters-in-law, didn't General Xuanwu's mother, Qi Tian, file a complaint with the Emperor at yesterday's palace banquet? The result came out this morning. The Jinyiwei are really efficient."

Lin Murou was curious, "What was the result?"

Ye Mingyan also put down the teacup in her hand, and Gu Hanyue showed a look of curiosity and anticipation.

The Gu siblings had their eyelashes drooped, but their ears pricked up.

Su Zhenzhen said, "Qi Tian's mother saw her daughter yesterday, who she thought had been dead for twenty years, and immediately burst into tears. She was so heartbroken when she saw her daughter die young."

"Plus, the Jinyiwei found evidence that naturally proved Qi Xu and Qi Shou, the Imperial Academy's chief academic officer, conspired to murder the mistress of the household. According to the law, Qi Shou was dismissed from office, and Qi Xu was ordered to commit suicide with a white silk scarf, and her imperial edict was stripped away."

Although she felt that Qi Shou deserved to die, he just acquiesced to Qi Xu's behavior and did not take any action.

Dismissal from office is the result of severe punishment at the discretion of Your Majesty. This world is so unfair.

For a man, being cut off from his official career is worse than death.

She smiled again, "Qi Yide could have been made a marquis based on his military merits, but he insisted on severing his ties with Qi Shou and refused to bear the Qi surname. He preferred to use his military merits to escape the Qi family." Her eyes deepened slightly as she stirred the golden-threaded blood swallow. "Qi Shou's parents knew that their son and his concubine were not innocent of their actions."

Gu Hanyue was shocked. "What? Leaving the family? How can this be possible?"

Ye Mingyan, the Gu brothers and sisters, and Lin Murou were all stunned!