Seeing that Gu Yaoniang was still depressed, Gu Xingzhi said again, "Don't worry too much. Perhaps the Xie family isn't such a heartless family, and they will fight for Xie Niangzi."
He knew in his heart how hollow his words of comfort were. Yao Niang was new to Shuojing and unaware of this, but he had been operating in Shuojing for many years and had made a point of inquiring beforehand, so he knew.
Xie Danqiu was extremely pampered at home, but her birth mother had passed away early, and although her stepmother was virtuous, she didn't genuinely care about her. Although her father doted on her, he was still a man, and his rigid personality meant he couldn't understand the suffering of a woman.
They must think that even out of respect for the Xie family, Qin Yuxiu wouldn't dare to treat Xie Danqiu badly, and that her past absurdities are no longer valid.
Seeing that Yao Niang was still downcast, Gu Xingzhi wanted to comfort her, so he asked if there was anything else that had happened that day.
Gu Yaoniang then recounted her conversation with Princess Ruining that day.
She said, "At first, the princess had a dark face and sat on the high seat, which really scared me. Later, the princess said that she had made a bet with the second young master Lu and was just trying to scare me. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief."
Gu Xingzhi pondered for a moment, then asked her, "So what are your thoughts?"
Gu Yaoniang hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'm not sure if the princess was testing me or if she was just making a bet and trying to scare me."
But I think the princess genuinely cares about Lady Xie. Whether she initially had a stern face or later appealed to her emotions and reason, she wanted to know the true nature of my relationship with Qin Yuxiu, and whether Qin Yuxiu was morally flawed.
Qiao Niang, who had been silent all along, spoke up at this moment: "I have heard that the princess is on good terms with that lady from the Xie family. Sometimes when I go to clothing shops and cosmetic shops, I have even run into the two of them shopping together."
Gu Xingzhi nodded and said, "You injured someone at the princess's residence, so it is only right that the princess intervenes."
The princess has done many good deeds in the capital over the years and is kind to everyone. It's unlikely she was testing you to establish her authority. She probably wanted to teach you a lesson, which is why she treated you that way at the beginning. After all, the people in the capital are complex, so it's always good to be careful.
Gu Yaoniang nodded, and then Gu Xingzhi said, "Now that you have told the princess about your engagement to Qin Yuxiu, you have made it public. In the future, our family will not be considered to have deceived the emperor."
The princess has a good relationship with that lady from the Xie family, and perhaps she can intervene on her behalf before the emperor, and the marriage might be called off. You don't need to worry.”
Gu Yaoniang replied, "I think the princess means the same thing."
Women are always more able to empathize with the hardships women face. It is hoped that in the future, there will be more women like Princess Ruining who stand at the pinnacle of power, making life easier for women.
Gu Xingzhi, however, was still worried and cautioned Yao Niang, "Although the princess is not a bad person, she is still a member of the royal family, and her thoughts are unpredictable. Be careful."
Gu Yaoniang nodded obediently.
But then, recalling the amusing events of the evening, she smiled and said, "At the princess's banquet today, I also saw the third-ranked scholar of this year's imperial examination. He's quite an interesting person."
She told him that Zhang Wushan had won first place in the paper boat race at the princess's palace flower banquet, and that although he had instinctively asked for a favor, he had only asked for a box of pastries from the princess's palace to take home to his wife.
Qiaoniang sighed, "I never expected that Lord Zhang would be such a kind-hearted person."
Gu Xingzhi scoffed at him from the side.
He had seen Zhang Wushan before; he did indeed have an honest and simple face. A perfectly respectable scholar, yet when bargaining at a shop, he was more astute than some stewards in other mansions.
However, he was extremely patient and insisted on negotiating the price down to a satisfactory amount; he also had a loud voice, so that the surrounding customers could hear him when he was negotiating.
In the end, the shopkeepers couldn't resist his persuasion and had no choice but to sell at the price he asked for. Naturally, the other customers in the shop refused to buy at the original price, and in the end, all the customers present paid the price that Zhang Wushan had agreed upon.
Every time Zhang Wushan visited the Gu family's shop, Gu Xingzhi would earn tens of taels of silver less.
He gets angry just hearing that name! What kind of good person is someone who makes him earn less money?
He scoffed, "He's a shrewd man! If there wasn't something to gain, why would he give up the princess's favor?"
Yao Niang said, "Perhaps Lord Zhang simply finds the princess's pastries so delicious that he wants his wife to try them?"
Qiao Niang nodded in agreement, and said to Yao Niang in a low voice, but loud enough for Gu Xingzhi to hear, "Second Master is holding a grudge against Lord Zhang for always haggling at our shop!"
She smiled broadly, and Yao Niang nodded thoughtfully in agreement, glancing sideways at Gu Xingzhi as if to say, "Second Uncle, you're being too stingy!"
Seeing this, Gu Xingzhi said sarcastically, "Although he only asked for a box of pastries, the princess will naturally remember that he is a loyal and righteous person who knows how to behave appropriately. In the future, she will naturally promote him if the opportunity arises. It may seem like he picked up a sesame seed and lost a watermelon, but in reality, he gained a great favor. Good fortune is yet to come!"
He snorted and said, "You women are so easily blinded by the illusion of love and affection. You saw him bring a box of pastries for his wife and were fooled by his honest and kind face!"
Qiaoniang was both amused and exasperated, but she retorted, "Yes, yes, yes! You men are all so cunning, your minds are full of schemes and plots! No matter what, even Lord Zhang remembers to bring a box of pastries for his wife when he attends a banquet at the Princess's residence. What about you?"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became very subtle.
Gu Yaoniang was very excited, her heart clamoring to find out what the relationship between the two was, but she didn't want to be too obvious.
She stole glances at their reactions.
After Qiaoniang finished speaking, she seemed to realize that something was wrong. She sat down awkwardly, picked up a teacup with both hands, put it down again, and unconsciously twisted her hands together and rubbed them together.
Gu Xingzhi appeared much calmer, though his ears were burning red. He also secretly observed Yao Niang's reaction, and when she looked at him, he quickly coughed lightly and stammered, "Perhaps he brought the snacks back to the manor just for himself..."
Seeing that Qiaoniang was keeping her head down and not speaking, while Yaoniang was looking at him with an inscrutable light in her eyes, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
Gu Xingzhi glanced at the sky outside the door; the bright moon was already high in the sky.
He then pretended to be sleepy, fanning himself and yawning as he walked out the door, saying as he went, "Oh dear... it's getting late. Since Yaoniang has gone home, let's go to bed early."
As people get older, they do get sleepy more easily at night. I can't stay awake any longer; you two should go back to your rooms early!
Before the words had even finished, his figure had already disappeared around the corner under the corridor.
Seeing his actions, Gu Yaoniang couldn't help but become even more curious. However, seeing Qiaoniang huddled in her seat with her head down, unlike her usual forthright self, Yaoniang felt she couldn't press her second uncle for answers, so she could only suppress her curiosity.
She said goodbye to Qiaoniang, who lowered her head and responded before returning to her room.
After the two men left, Qiaoniang raised her head, her cheeks flushed, and even the corners of her eyes were red.
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