The homecoming gifts were prepared uniformly by the household, and Xie Zhaozhao did not add or subtract anything from the official gifts.
But before leaving, Gu Shaoyu had five boxes carried onto the car and said to Xie Zhaozhao, "These two large ones are for my father-in-law and elder brother. The other three small ones are for my three younger brothers."
She opened two large boxes; one contained the fragrant wine bestowed by His Majesty, and the other contained a precious luminous pearl.
The wine was specially offered to Xie An, and the luminous pearl was for his elder brother Xie Yu.
The other three gift boxes each contained a valuable inkstone.
Gu Chengyan came to Qingpu Courtyard and invited Gu Shaoyu to walk together.
Upon seeing Xie Zhaozhao, he bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Auntie."
"Mm!" Xie Zhaozhao uttered only one word, then followed Gu Shaoyu's steps without changing her pace, slightly lagging behind and following obediently.
Gu Chengyan only saw that her back was straight, and she was wearing a silver-threaded embroidered crown with pearl and gold trim, adorned with emerald feathers and shimmering light.
Her manners were impeccable; every smile, gesture, and movement exuded elegance and grace, making her exceptionally noble.
A delicate silk fan adorned with white orchids, a slender waist slender with a jade belt, dancing in the celestial gauze. She seems like a fairy descended from heaven, her smile more radiant than the stars.
The Xie family's daughters are renowned throughout the land. This wasn't referring to his own wife, but rather to this Miss Xie, his aunt.
Gu Shaoyu turned his head, and a sharp gaze shot towards him. Gu Chengyan's face instantly turned into a smile as he caught up and stood shoulder to shoulder with Gu Shaoyu.
Gu Shaoyu, however, did not want to stand beside him and said seriously, "Aren't you going back to take care of the Crown Prince's wife?"
Gu Chengyan smiled and said, "Third Uncle is right, I'll go and prepare now."
Xie Anfeng and Xie Yu both took the day off. Butler Qin was waiting at the door. Madam Xie and Madam Xu were already prepared.
Before long, they saw the Marquis's carriage arriving at the intersection. Old Qin told the servants in the manor to quickly inform Xie Anfeng and Xie Yu: "Miss has returned home."
Xie Anfeng and Xie Yu immediately came out to greet them.
The carriage stopped, and Gu Shaoyu got off first, reached out to take Xie Zhaozhao, and helped her carefully down.
Xie Yu was very happy; his sister and the Grand Secretary seemed to have a very good relationship.
Gu Shaoyu bowed to him and said, "Brother."
He bowed to Xie An and said, "Greetings, Father-in-law."
This time, Xie Anfeng didn't call him "Grand Secretary," but happily patted him on the shoulder and called him "My dear son-in-law."
Without waiting for Gu Chengyan, he accompanied Gu Shaoyu inside.
Xie Yu wouldn't give Gu Chengyan and Xie Xiangxiang any face. He accompanied his sister into the house and asked her if she was used to the Marquis's residence.
Xie Zhaozhao naturally agreed, and told Xie Yu's servant to carry the two boxes, saying that they were specially prepared for him and his father by Grand Secretary Gu.
After greeting her, Madam Xu went to pick up Xie Xiangxiang.
Xie Zhaozhao and Yuanyuan arrived at Madam Xie's Wutong Garden. All the relatives were waiting in the courtyard, and they all greeted Xie Zhaozhao with polite compliments.
Who wouldn't want to curry favor with Xie Zhaozhao? Grand Secretary Gu is a powerful minister second only to the emperor; who wouldn't want to get some benefits from him?
Xie Zhaozhao gave each of her younger siblings a gift, and each branch of the family was naturally overjoyed.
Seeing that she was doing well, Madam Xie even went to the palace yesterday to express her gratitude. Emperor Hui actually received the couple at Xingning Palace and asked them to serve tea.
I was incredibly excited.
Because her granddaughter was successful, the Imperial Concubine also gained favor.
Seeing that her eldest granddaughter was doing well in every way, the old lady asked her maid Ying'er to accompany Xie Zhaozhao to the ancestral hall. She specially offered incense to Xie Anfeng's first wife, Xu Zhiyan, and told her mother that everything was fine.
After offering incense, Ying'er quietly told Xie Zhaozhao something.
"Yesterday, the old lady asked the eldest master to inquire whether the newly appointed top scholar, Master Ling, was married, as she wanted to betroth the third young lady to Master Ling."
The lady was furious upon hearing this, saying that her husband was biased, that all her daughters were being married off to men of lower social standing; the second young lady was already marrying the heir of a marquis, but the third young lady was to marry into a poor family.
Xie Zhaozhao was not surprised. She had already said that Xu's vision was only as far-sighted as the teacup in front of her.
"The master went to ask Master Ling, but he was unwilling, saying that his father had passed away and he had to observe three years of mourning for his father."
Xie Zhaozhao thought of Ling Xun's "adoptive fathers" and smiled, saying, "Young Master Ling is a filial son."
Ying'er said, "Who says otherwise? Master wanted to ask Master Zhang, but Madam said not to. Since Madam is unwilling for her daughter to marry down, they will only be a resentful couple and it will only harm them."
Xie Zhaozhao did not express her opinion.
Grandmother's painstaking efforts were in vain.
She went back to her room to take a look. The courtyard was very clean. Ying'er said, "The young master has someone clean it every day."
Xie Zhaozhao walked behind the bamboo shadow wall, took out a new begonia beaded hairpin from her bag, put it in Ying'er's hair, examined it for a moment, and nodded.
"Ying'er looks even prettier wearing this," Manman said happily. "Sister, the other day, Miss got some mosquito repellent cream from Xiandou's place. Shall I get you some?"
Ying'er was overjoyed; Xian Dou's mosquito repellent cream was something only the empresses in the palace possessed.
While Xie Zhaozhao was talking, Xie Xiangxiang and Madam Xu also returned to their courtyard.
Madam Xu asked Xie Xiangxiang, "Is Prince Gu good to you?"
Xie Xiangxiang dared not say anything bad. Gu Chengyan was someone she insisted on marrying, and Madam Xu had even beaten her for it.
You have to finish the path you chose, even if you have to crawl on your knees.
"He's naturally very good to me, with a wonderful personality, and he always puts me first." She smiled broadly, genuinely believing that Gu Chengyan was a wonderful person and deeply in love with her.
"Has your mother-in-law given you any trouble? How's your sister-in-law? She was kicked out of the palace last time, and I wonder what she's doing now?"
“My sister-in-law is even better to me. She has such a sweet tongue. She calls me ‘sister-in-law’ all day long and hugs me around the neck. She’s even closer to me than Tingting is.”
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com