Mrs. Xie was talking happily with the eldest wife of the Xie family.
As a result, as soon as Gu Jiu entered the door, the air instantly became quiet.
So embarrassing!
The atmosphere in the room seemed suffocating.
Gu Jiu walked forward with a smile as if nothing had happened, "Greetings to the Madam, and to my uncle's wife."
Mrs. Xie looked at Gu Jiu and said, "This must be the second young lady of the family. She is really pretty."
Xie smiled and said, "That's my second daughter, whose given name is Jiu."
As the three of them talked, the air that was almost suffocating began to flow again, and everyone laughed.
Gu Zhen and Gu Lin followed closely behind and stepped forward to pay their respects.
Xie smiled slightly, "I'm glad you're here. These are all cousins of the Xie family, come and meet them."
Next to Mrs. Xie sat three young girls and three young men.
After introduction, it was found that the three young men were all descendants of the eldest branch of the Xie family. Xie Dalang and Xie Sanlang were both legitimate sons, while Xie Erlang was a concubine's son.
The Xie family has three daughters. The eldest and second daughters are from the first wife's family, while the third daughter is from the second wife's family.
Only then did Gu Jiu realize that the second branch of the Xie family, young and old, had all moved to the capital.
Gu Jiu brought Gu Zhen and Gu Lin to formally meet the young lady and young master of the Xie family.
The Xie family has a distinctive appearance: both men and women are not very tall, and the girls are fair-skinned and slightly plump.
The boy also looked chubby, but not to an exaggerated degree. He just looked a little fat.
After the two sides got to know each other, Mrs. Xie started chatting with Mrs. Xie.
Mrs. Xie smiled and said, "Madam, you are really blessed. The girls in your family are all very good-looking and graceful. Especially Yue'er. I can't take my eyes off her once I see her."
Gu Yue lowered her head, looking a little shy.
Mrs. Xie smiled and said, "Yuer has been beautiful since she was little, sensible, and caring. How can I not be partial to her?"
Mrs. Xie smiled and said, "Mrs. Xie is right. A girl only stays at her parents' home for a little over a decade, so she should be pampered more. But she still needs to be taught what she needs to learn. Take my daughter Yuan'er, for example. She has been learning how to manage the household since she was a child, and now she is able to handle things on her own and help me deal with all kinds of social situations."
Xie looked at Xie Yuan, the eldest daughter of the Xie family.
Xie Yuan was a legitimate daughter, with a round, slightly plump face. When Xie's eyes turned to her, Xie Yuan subconsciously straightened her back.
Xie smiled and said, "Yuan'er is naturally a very good child. It's really my sister-in-law who knows how to raise children. You have taught the girls to be generous and decent, smart and capable. Unlike the children in my family, they are still childish and have childish tempers from time to time."
Mrs. Xie laughed. "Don't say that, Madam. I think your children are excellent. Take Liu Lang, for example. I heard about his literary talent when you were still in the northwest. Liu Lang, have you taken a disciple since returning to the capital?"
Gu Yan had been sitting upright in the chair, with his head slightly lowered, without saying a word.
When Madam Xie asked, he raised his head and said, "My aunt, I haven't become a disciple yet. But my uncle, the headmaster of the neighboring mansion, said that he would arrange for me to study at Xishan Academy."
Mrs. Xie smiled and said, "Xishan Academy is indeed good, but it still can't compare to learning from a great scholar of the time."
Xie raised an eyebrow.
A few days ago, when she brought her children to visit the Xie family, Mr. Xie mentioned that he wanted to introduce a great scholar of the time to be a teacher for Liu Lang.
To be honest, Xie was very tempted.
She depends on her two sons for the rest of her life.
My youngest son has a lively personality and it’s hard to say for sure now.
Only the eldest son, Gu Yan, is good at studying and is very self-disciplined.
If one could learn from a great scholar of the time, one could save at least five to eight years of hard work. Perhaps one could even get a high rank in the imperial examination.
These are all visible benefits.
There are also many intangible benefits, such as the teacher's personal connections. As long as nothing unexpected happens, Gu Yan will be able to inherit smoothly.
What does one rely on to get into officialdom? It relies on personal connections.
If Gu Cheng could inherit these connections, his career path wouldn't be smooth sailing, but at least it would be easier than others.
Xie was very tempted. When she was at the Xie family, she was encouraged by Master Xie and almost agreed.
However, when thinking of Lord Gu's attitude, Xie only said that she would think about it carefully after returning home, and did not agree immediately.
Today, Mrs. Xie came to the house and brought up this matter again, so Mrs. Xie started to think about it.
The last time I went to the Xie family, Mr. Xie spoke in a very vague way. Xie had limited education and didn't understand a lot of what he said.
She didn't dare to discuss it with Lord Gu.
After all, she didn't understand what Master Xie said. If she rashly consulted Master Gu, she might end up angering him, which would be more trouble than good.
Lord Gu has already given Xie enough face by agreeing to allow Xie to interact with the Xie family.
Mrs. Xie was very tactful. She didn't mention it until it was confirmed.
Xie said, "What my sister-in-law said makes sense. It would be great if we had a great scholar as our teacher. But my master has already made arrangements for Liu Lang's studies. It's not convenient for me to interfere."
Gu Yan looked around, his expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything.
Mrs. Xie covered her lips and smiled, "Madam, you misunderstood. Not everyone can become a disciple of this great scholar of the time.
The great Confucian scholars were known for their tempers and their strict standards for their students. If Liu Lang wanted to become a disciple of a great Confucian scholar, he would have to overcome many obstacles, a process no easier than the imperial examination.
If Liu Lang is willing, his uncle said he can introduce him. Whether it will succeed or not depends on Liu Lang's knowledge."
Having said that, Xie can no longer just run away.
She looked at Gu Cheng, "Liu Lang, what do you think?"
Gu Yan pursed his lips, his expression serious.
Gu Jiu suddenly remembered that she hadn't seen Gu Yan smile for a long time.
Gu Cheng looked more and more mature than ever. His youth hadn't faded yet, but he already spoke and acted like an adult.
Gu Cheng said, "I still want to study at Xishan Academy. I've heard that the dean of Xishan Academy is a famous contemporary scholar."
Mrs. Xie said: "There are many people in Xishan Academy, including poor children and powerful children. The people there have their own small circles and the relationships are extremely complicated.
Liu Lang, you just came back from the northwest and don't know anyone in the capital. If you rashly enter Xishan Academy to study, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to adapt."
Gu Cheng looked at Mrs. Xie and said, "Thank you for your concern, Aunt. I have made up my mind and I don't plan to change it."
Mrs. Xie choked. She hadn't expected Gu Cheng to be so stubborn. Even the title of a great scholar couldn't impress him. He insisted on going to Xishan Academy.
Mrs. Xie was embarrassed at first, but then she started laughing. "Liu Lang is ambitious, not bad, not bad. Your uncle has some connections at Xishan Academy. If you go in to study, he will use his connections to take care of you."
Gu Cheng bowed slightly, "Thank you for your kindness, uncle, but it's not necessary. The Marquis' Mansion next door has already taken care of everything for me, so there's no need for you to worry about it for now."
Mrs. Xie frowned slightly and couldn't help but look at Xie.
It was as if he was asking, "Sister, what's wrong with your son? He speaks so rudely. I hope our Xie family hasn't offended him."
Xie was also unsure of Gu Yan's thoughts.
She was just thinking about how to resolve this awkward situation when she saw Gu Cheng stand up. "Mother, aunt, sisters, please continue chatting. I'll take my three cousins to the outer courtyard to talk."
Xie was speechless, but finally nodded and said, "You are all men, and you are impatient to listen to our chat about family matters. Forget it, let's all go to the outer courtyard, it's more comfortable there."
Gu Cheng nodded slightly and called his cousins from the Xie family out of Furong Courtyard.
As soon as they left, only the women were left in the room.
Mrs. Xie spoke much more casually.
"Madam, your Liu Lang is already quite old, isn't he? Has he ever proposed marriage?"
Mrs. Xie shook her head, "None of the children has been arranged to marry yet."
"If this continues, won't it delay the child's future?"
Mrs. Xie said, "It doesn't matter if the boy comes a few years later. What I'm most worried about now is the marriage of Yue'er and the others. There's still no sign of it."
Mrs. Xie couldn't help but look at Gu Zhen, Gu Jiu and Gu Yue.
At present, only three of them have reached the age of marriage, so they have to hurry up and arrange their marriage.
Mrs. Xie suddenly asked, "Madam, what do you think of my children?"
Mrs. Xie was confused for a moment and didn't quite understand what Mrs. Xie meant.
Mrs. Xie was not so particular and said directly, "How about we strengthen the relationship between our two families? We have three children, Xie Shi, Xie Ding, and Xie Ning. You can choose any one you want."
Xie's mouth twitched, and she looked upset.
My sister-in-law is so unrefined. She has been as vulgar as ever for many years.
Xie couldn't help but feel sorry for her elder brother.
Mrs. Xie's wife, Ma, came from a poor family. Her father, a minor official at the city gate, earned a good salary, but the family's expenses were high, and at the end of each year, they would suffer from famine.
Father Ma and Mr. Xie are old buddies. They are not brothers, but they are better than brothers.
The two families help each other and get along very well.
When Xie Mao, the eldest brother of the Xie family, wanted to propose marriage, Old Master Xie made the final decision, "The daughter of the Ma family. Our Xie family is a small family, so we should marry a daughter-in-law who is of equal status."
Back then, the Ma family and the Xie family were indeed a good match.
The only thing that makes the Xie family better than the Ma family is that they have no debts.
However, the real reason why Mr. Xie decided to marry into the Ma family was that many years ago, a monk passed by their area and saw Ma. He said that the child had a good life, that she would suffer first but then enjoy happiness, and that she would bring good fortune to her husband and family.
Mr. Xie always remembered these words. And Ma was truly capable, a master of both inside and outside matters. Marrying her would definitely make her a good daughter-in-law.
Soon, Ma married Xie Mao.
Just a few years after the two got married, the Xie family's fortunes changed.
Xie became Lord Gu's concubine, and Xie Mao, through scheming, finally got close to the prince and became an official in the Eastern Palace.
From then on, the Xie family rose to prominence and became wealthy again.
At that time, many people said that Ma was not worthy of Xie Mao.
Xie Mao also thought about divorcing his wife.
But he was stopped by Mr. Xie.
Mr. Xie said it very honestly, "Since you got married, our family has been living better and better. Now you have become an official in the Eastern Palace. It can be seen that Ma is indeed a woman who brings prosperity to her husband and family. That monk was right.
If you divorce your wife, I will be the first to disagree. I am afraid that your opponents in the officialdom will not let you go and will use the divorce as an excuse to bring you down."
Xie Mao was somewhat unwilling.
The wives of his colleagues were all well-educated, well-mannered, and had both good family background and good looks. But his own wife was so uncouth, barely literate, and couldn't speak well, she was a complete drag on him.
However, Xie Mao also listened to what Mr. Xie said.
It is hard to say whether Ma is really a lucky charm for her husband and family.
But it is an indisputable fact that the family has been getting better and better since he married Ma.
Moreover, Ma was able to bear children, and the first child she gave birth to was a son.
Mr. Xie continued to persuade Xie Mao: "I know what you want. You want a beautiful woman. You can't divorce your wife, but you can take a concubine, a beautiful one. Ma is virtuous, and she will definitely agree to your concubine."
So, Xie Mao gave up the idea of divorcing his wife. With beautiful concubines coming one after another, the backyard was almost full, so he simply moved to a bigger house and continued to take concubines.
Concubines who could bear children would stay, while those who couldn't would be sent away. In short, there had never been a shortage of women in the Xie family's backyard over the years.
Xie stared at Ma. Ma looked very good, without a trace of sadness on her face.
She seemed to be really open-minded and didn't seem to care about those concubines.
Xie snorted in her heart and felt a little contempt for Ma.
What’s the point if you can’t control your own man?
"Madam, can you give me a definite answer?"
Seeing that Xie didn't say anything, Ma urged her.
Xie coughed lightly twice and disdained Ma again. After all, she was a person with imperial decree, but why was she so unrefined in her words and deeds?
Xie said to Ma, "Sister-in-law, what you just said was really not a joke, right?"
Ma shook her head repeatedly, "How could I joke about my child's marriage? Madam, please don't joke."
Xie asked again, "Does Big Brother know?"
Ma nodded repeatedly, "Your eldest brother supports my idea very much, and he also hopes that our two families can get married."
Xie frowned.
Mrs. Xie first looked at the three Xie Yuan sisters, and then at Gu Yue and the others.
Finally, he said, "The marriage of our children is a matter that needs to be handled with caution."
Ma said, "Our two families know each other well, so there's nothing to worry about. Could it be that Madam Auntie doesn't like our boys? Otherwise, I will marry Yuan'er to your family."
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Xie Yuan was about to cry.
Mother is really something. She was fine at first, speaking politely and subtly. But as soon as my brothers left, she reverted to her old ways and showed her vulgar side again.
Xie Yuan felt very ashamed and embarrassed and really wanted to find a place to hide.
Gu Yue lowered her head with a look of disdain. The person before her was her own aunt, and she had so many expectations in the beginning.
It is indeed as vulgar as the legend says, not at all elegant.
There are also several cousins from the Xie family's eldest branch, none of them are good-looking and are fat.
Comparing them, Xie Xian is the most handsome among the current generation of the Xie family.
However, Xie Xian has a bad character and is a playboy, so he is not a good match.
Gu Jiu looked at Mrs. Xie, Ma, and the three girls of the Xie family with confidence.
Ma's clothes are very luxurious, but her taste is not very good, giving people a rustic feeling.
The three girls of the Xie family all had round faces. They weren't pretty, but they weren't ugly either. Judging by their appearance alone, they were easily liked.
Ma didn't care about Xie Yuan's complaints at all.
Ma said to Xie Yuan, "I am doing this for your sake."
Xie Yuan stamped her feet. She didn't want her mother to make plans for her.
If Xie Yuan hadn't been visiting someone else's home, she would have run away long ago.
Xie coughed twice and said, "Yuer, Shaner, take your sisters to the side rooms to play. I have something to say to your aunt."
Xie Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to get rid of this embarrassing situation.
The girls filed out of the main house and went to the side rooms to talk.
Everyone looked at each other, feeling a little awkward.
Xie Yuan hurriedly explained, "Sister Yue, Sister Shan, please don't take what my mother said seriously. When we went out today, my father didn't tell her about these things. It was all my mother's own decision."
Gu Yue smiled and said, "Sister Yuan, don't be nervous, we all understand."
Gu Shan asked, "Uncle, do you really have no intention of getting married?"
Xie Yuan was speechless. "Probably not."
Gu Shan frowned. "That's strange. I heard that my aunt listens to my uncle the most. If my uncle hadn't mentioned the marriage between the two families, why would my aunt bring it up in front of all of us?"
Xie Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I guess it's just my mother's wishful thinking. Anyway, don't take it seriously."
Gu Jiu suddenly asked, "If the two families marry, who would be the right person to marry into the Gu family? Or, who would marry into the Gu family?"
There was a silence in the room. Everyone looked at each other.
Gu Yue gritted her teeth and said, "Mother has already made plans for my marriage, and it shouldn't be me."
Gu Shan also said: "I'm young, I have to wait a few years."
Gu Zhen said, "The neighboring Marquis' Mansion has already agreed to help me find a marriage."
Finally, everyone's eyes fell on Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows, half smiling, "It's impossible for me."
Then, everyone's eyes fell on the three girls from the Xie family.
Gu Yue cried out, "Are we going to let Sixth Brother marry Sister Yuan? Wouldn't Sixth Brother be at a disadvantage?"
In an instant, Xie Yuan's face turned red.
Gu Yue realized it later and looked embarrassed.
Xie Shan hurriedly apologized.
Having said that, we can no longer continue the conversation.
If we continue chatting, it will just be awkward.
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