As dusk settled, the fragrant carriage rumbled along the bluestone pavement.
The carriage was silent. Gu Yaoniang frowned, pondering the events of the day.
Seeing her solemn expression, Bitao didn't dare to interrupt. The two of them returned to the Gu family in silence.
Night had fallen when they returned home to find Gu Xingzhi pacing in circles in the living room. Qiaoniang was also sitting in the living room, her hands clasped together, watching Gu Xingzhi pacing in circles with worry.
Upon seeing Yao Niang and Bi Tao return home, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Xingzhi took a few steps toward the door, but seeing that Qiaoniang had also gotten up to pull Yaoniang to sit down, he quickly slowed down to hide his intentions and sat down with the two of them.
Gu Xingzhi spoke first: "Why are you back so late today?"
He was clearly getting impatient.
Indeed, most banquets end before dusk. But today, as Yao Niang returns home, she can just hear the night watchman's drum sounding outside the house.
"Thump, thump. Thump, thump."
It was already past midnight.
If it's any later, the curfew will be in effect until midnight.
Yao Niang knew she had probably kept them waiting, so she quickly said, "It's nothing! I just had some things to attend to today, and the princess kept me here to talk, which is why I'm a little late."
She did not hide anything and told Gu Xingzhi and Qiaoniang everything that had happened at the princess's residence that day.
She only omitted the fact that Qin Yuxiu wanted to drag her into the river at the princess's residence, saying only that she couldn't stand Qin Yuxiu's arrogant and self-righteous manner, so she kicked her.
Upon hearing of Qin Yuxiu's actions, Gu Xingzhi's usual gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by a livid expression. He slammed his fist on the table, yelling, "You brat!"
In a fit of anger, he stood up again, put his hands behind his back, and began to pace around the hall.
Qiaoniang couldn't stand it and pulled him to sit down.
Gu Xingzhi waved his hand and pushed him away, still pacing around the hall, his anger unabated.
"What is the Qin family anyway! That woman wants you as a concubine? I just think she's an ignorant fool! Qin Yuxiu dares to speak so arrogantly and disrespectfully to you! This brat really doesn't know his own limitations! He's just become arrogant because he passed the imperial examination!"
Gu Yaoniang looked at Gu Xingzhi in the hall. Her second uncle was usually a gentle and refined scholar, and he never showed his emotions on his face.
The way he walks around the hall with his hands behind his back now bears some resemblance to his father.
She had already passed the initial anger stage, and only a faint sense of mockery remained in her heart.
Seeing Gu Xingzhi like this, she felt a warmth in her heart.
Ultimately, your own family members are the ones who care about you the most.
She said, "Second Uncle, please stop bothering me. Qin Yuxiu probably gets angry whenever she sees me now, so she won't be thinking of making me her concubine anymore."
After thinking about it, I decided to voice my concerns about what I had seen today.
"I saw Madam Xie today, and she should be unaware of what Qin Yuxiu did. I always feel that Qin Yuxiu is despicable and unworthy of her."
Those girls, born under the heavens, are clearly pampered and raised in a life of luxury. They are cheerful, straightforward, and have a chivalrous spirit.
If I were to marry Qin Yuxiu, and after a while I came to know her true character, things probably wouldn't be peaceful.
Upon hearing this, Gu Xingzhi became anxious: "Have you spoken to her?"
Gu Yaoniang shook her head and said, "No, I went back to my seat, but she had already left, so I didn't have a chance to speak with her."
Gu Xingzhi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"That's good! Yaoniang, you've finally gotten rid of Qin Yuxiu, so don't get involved in their affairs again!"
Qiaoniang frowned slightly upon hearing this, wanting to say something but remaining silent.
Yao Niang, however, had no reservations and said, "Madam Xie is not a bad person! She even helped me fend off a lot of drinks today, and she's been very kind to me. How could I just stand by and watch her jump into a fire pit!"
My second uncle usually helps others out of kindness, so why won't he allow me to?
Gu Xingzhi raised an eyebrow and said, "If the Xie family were an ordinary family, I wouldn't stop you. But now that their marriage is bestowed by the Emperor, and the Xie family is a prestigious family, even if you tell her, their marriage will probably be difficult to change."
What difference does it make whether you speak up or not? Since that's the case, it's best for you, an outsider, to refrain from interfering in their engagement.
"Why! If Madam Xie knew about someone like Qin Yuxiu, and the Xie family knew about it, would Madam Xie still be unable to remarry!"
Gu Yaoniang was somewhat indignant and puzzled. Xie Danqiu clearly seemed to be extremely pampered, so how could Xie's parents really not care?
Gu Xingzhi knew that she was innocent and had not yet seen the filth within powerful families, so he patiently explained, "In a family like the Xie family, true feelings are the least important thing in marriage. Qin Yuxiu needs the flourishing branches of the Xie family to pave the way for him, and the Xie family also needs Qin Yuxiu, the newly appointed top scholar, to solidify its foundation in the court."
Yao Niang had been studying with her teacher for over a month and was not unaware of the exchange of benefits involved. Yet she still couldn't understand: "Even so, isn't Lady Xie's happiness important?"
Gu Xingzhi said meaningfully, "It's important, and it's not important. The person she's going to marry is Qin Yuxiu, and the Xie family values Qin Yuxiu more, so her happiness is not important."
Yao Niang was somewhat disheartened: "Qin Yuxiu is just an outsider. No matter how much the Xie family values this top scholar, can they just ignore Xie Niangzi? Won't her parents feel sorry for her?"
"If only Madam Xie were also a top scholar. That way, the Xie family wouldn't value Qin Yuxiu, an outsider, more than they would her."
After she finished speaking, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Gu Xingzhi.
Seeing that she understood the meaning behind his words, Gu Xingzhi smiled and nodded.
But Gu Yaoniang immediately fell silent again: "Even if Lady Xie is full of talent now, it will be three years before she can take the imperial examination and become the top scholar."
Seeing her silence, Gu Xingzhi said, "Yaoniang, your kindness and innocence are good things. Your second uncle hopes that you can stand on your own two feet, and that's why."
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