The Gu family also has a student taking the exam—Gu Pingsheng.
The Gu family couldn't sit still any longer and started asking around for help to find out what was going on.
Gu Yaoniang searched for Lu Zhaoan and Princess Ruining many times. She still couldn't see Princess Ruining. The people from the princess's residence were always very polite, but Gu Yaoniang's inability to meet Princess Ruining fueled her suspicions.
Lu Zhaoan could see her every time, and sometimes he would even take the initiative to send messages to Gu Yaoniang, but they were all just casual words, nothing more than telling Gu Yaoniang not to be anxious and not to ask around.
As for what exactly happened, there has been no word for a long time.
But the more things were like this, the more uneasy Gu Yaoniang felt. Originally, she had planned to ask the academy for leave on Gu Pingsheng's behalf after the results were announced, so they could go back to Qingyun County to visit their parents. The two of them had been away from home for so long.
But now, who has the heart to leave Shuojing?
-
As the weather grew increasingly cold, palace servants were constantly going in and out of Yong'an Palace, creating an atmosphere of extreme tension.
Princess Ruining knelt on the emperor's footstool, watching intently as the imperial physician administered acupuncture. Empress Lu and Prince Qing also waited by the bedside, their eyes filled with concern.
The most distinguished people of the court gathered together. A bead of sweat appeared on the imperial physician's forehead, yet his hands remained steady as he calmly removed a silver needle and inserted it into the flesh. Each movement caused Princess Ruining to furrow her brow.
Finally, the imperial physician finished administering acupuncture and put away the silver needles. Emperor Zhenlong looked listless, leaving only Princess Ruining to speak in the hall.
Empress Lu, together with Prince Qing, went to the outer hall and inquired about the Emperor's health with the imperial physician.
Princess Ruining remained kneeling on the footstool, but leaned against the emperor's couch, resting her head on her arms, and looked at the emperor's face with concern: "Father, are you feeling any better?"
The sage's lips were a little pale, but his spirits were still quite good. He nodded slowly, "Much better."
He tried moving his legs and feet, lifting them slightly: "See, I can still move them."
Princess Ruining quickly pressed his legs down, tucking the blanket around him while scolding, "The imperial physician said you shouldn't move. But you wouldn't listen."
Throughout the entire world, Princess Ruining is probably the only one who would dare to criticize him like this.
The sage was not angry; on the contrary, he was somewhat pleased and relieved, and obediently stopped moving.
"Don't worry. Your father won't die."
He smiled kindly and spoke softly. Princess Ruining's eyes welled up with tears, and she murmured, "It was just a foot ailment, how did it become so serious?"
The emperor sighed softly and took Princess Ruining's hand, which was resting beside the couch: "My dear, don't be afraid. Your father is old, and some minor ailments are inevitable. Don't be afraid, okay?"
Princess Ruining nodded, tears welling in her eyes.
The sage looked at the daughter before him. In ordinary families, a daughter of this age would mostly be a mother. But this was his daughter, the most noble woman in the world, who could do whatever she wanted.
But he couldn't help but have expectations: "If you could give your father a child, I would be content."
Princess Ruining made a move to stand up: "Father! If you say that again, I'm leaving!"
The sage shook his head helplessly: "Father won't say anymore."
-
Since Xie Danqiu returned to the Xie family, although she brought her daughter with her, things were different from before she was married, but she still lived a very comfortable life.
The Xie family felt sorry for her difficult life. They were reluctant for her to divorce and return home before, but that was only because they were afraid of her being criticized. But now that things have come to this, they felt sorry for her and wanted her to live a better life, so they let her have her way.
However, the situation was quite different for Qin Yuxiu.
The Qin family had not expected Xie Danqiu to be so resolute. They had been confident that Xie Danqiu would not be willing to part with Qin Yuxiu, their precious daughter, but they did not expect her to leave without looking back.
Unfortunately, Aunt Qin caused trouble, insisting that if Xie Danqiu wanted a divorce, she had to take the child with her and not leave him in the Qin family.
Perhaps it was a threat, as Xie Danqiu was sure to face criticism for bringing a child. If she were to bring Xuan'er back to the Xie family, it would be like adding another burden, which would certainly not be welcomed by the Xie family.
Perhaps he felt that Xuan'er was just a daughter, and her death was no big deal. Qin Yuxiu was in the prime of his life, and even after leaving Xie Danqiu, he wouldn't have trouble finding a wife. A young scholar without children was certainly easier to find a wife than a bachelor with an eldest daughter.
In short, Aunt Qin declared that if Xie Danqiu wanted to leave, Xuan'er wouldn't be able to stay either.
Xie Danqiu hesitated for so long before divorcing because she was mainly worried about how to take Xuan'er with her. Qin Da Niang's actions were like handing a pillow to a sleepy person; Xie Danqiu readily agreed, while the Qin family panicked.
Xie Danqiu left without looking back. The Qin family, which had originally been considered a rising star in the capital, was now criticized for being arrogant and heartless, abandoning their own flesh and blood, and their reputation plummeted.
While it wasn't uncommon for daughters to be mistreated in private, those who acted so brazenly in public were usually ignorant country bumpkins. Those in the court, observing the situation, all sought to maintain a semblance of decorum. Now that the new policies had been implemented and the Emperor had made his stance clear—to elevate the status of women—the Qin family's actions, broadly speaking, were a sign of dissatisfaction with these policies. Consequently, numerous memorials impeaching Qin Yuxiu appeared in the court.
Qin Yuxiu and Xie Danqiu were originally betrothed by the emperor. Divorce would have offended the emperor's dignity. It was only after Princess Ruining brought Xie Danqiu to the palace and cried that the emperor granted the favor.
Now, Xie Danqiu went to the palace to cry again, and the emperor granted her a divorce by imperial decree, allowing her to take all eighty-eight dowry items back to the Xie family.
The Qin family has lost everything, both inside and out.
All the support the Xie family had given Qin Yuxiu in the past was gone. They no longer helped him, and instead of kicking him when he was down, they mostly kept their distance from him.
In this situation, a top scholar like Qin Yuxiu, whom everyone avoids like the plague, is truly one of a kind.
He was still unaware of what he had done wrong, only feeling resentful that the people of Shuojing were so obsequious and servile. Even Prince Qing, who had once treated him with great courtesy, was now treated with indifference.
Qin Yuxiu harbored a deep resentment, waiting for an opportunity to show his skills and make those who looked down on him regret it.
-
Gu Yaoniang took out a thick stack of silver coins from the box, quickly counted them in her hand, and handed them to Uncle Zhong, who was standing to the side with his hands hanging down: "Uncle Zhong, please give this to my parents for me."
Uncle Zhong didn't say much, only silently agreeing, and took away the family letters from Gu Yaoniang and Gu Pingsheng.
Gu Yaoniang rested her elbows on the table, watching Uncle Zhong's figure disappear into the distance.
Bitao smiled and chimed in, "You send so much money home every month, Madam. Knowing you're doing well in Shuojing, your husband and wife must be very happy."
Uncle Zhong had already disappeared from Gu Yaoniang's sight. Gu Yaoniang murmured as if unaware, "What's the use of having a lot of money? It doesn't mean I can stay by the old folks' side. Besides, it's hard to say whether we can even use the flying silver in Qingzhou."
Bitao chuckled: "My lady is just overthinking things. In her last letter, Madam mentioned that the family is now using silver coins, and few people carry heavy gold and silver coins out anymore. In Qingyun County, shops are starting to take orders to melt down gold and silver coins and make them into jewelry. You're always so worried."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yaoniang also laughed self-deprecatingly: "Mother always reports good news and not bad news. She wouldn't tell me if we didn't have money at home."
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