Although my dear brother wanted to deal with me properly for the sake of his younger sister, he really didn't want to spend too much time with pretentious people. Besides, he also wanted to find a way to stay away from my wife's niece.
Qin Siyuan was at a loss for words.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "My cousin usually stays at the Imperial Academy, and he even took a special leave to come out today. However, my sixth brother likes to form poetry clubs, and my cousin and brother-in-law have made plans to go to Yuyuantan Park. Why don't you come along that day too?"
"What a coincidence!" Sixth Master Gu said happily. "What Third Sister-in-law mentioned, Ziqi also invited me. If my brother-in-law goes too, we can get to know each other better."
Qin Siyuan nodded blankly: "...Okay..."
Sixth Master Gu then said to Qin Siyuan, “My dear brother, you may not know, but my mother is a very generous person. She gives the best things to whomever she likes, just like my third brother. My mother has excellent taste. This inkstone and folding fan are a perfect match for your elegance. As the saying goes, a fine sword is given to a hero, and rouge is given to a beautiful woman. If my mother were to give them to someone else, I would definitely think it would be inappropriate. But giving them to you is just right. One cannot disobey the gift of an elder, so please accept them.”
Qin Siyuan was persuaded but had no choice; if he didn't accept it, he would seem too pedantic.
Seeing that he had accepted the gift, Madam Gu smiled and said, "Quickly call Cheng-ge'er and Yu-jie'er out to greet the guests. These two children have learned a few characters and are eager to meet the future scholar-official."
Qin Siyuan's face flushed red as he frantically waved his hands, saying, "Madam, you can't say that. I'm only a Juren now."
When Master Gu saw that he was shy and lying, not at all exaggerated, and completely the same as the people I usually associate with, his desire to befriend him turned cold.
Madam Gu said with a smile, "No wonder the old lady praised her. The Qin family is full of outstanding people. Such a bad young man, and the marriage is still not settled. I'm afraid they'll fight tooth and nail for him the next few days."
Madam Gu glared at the Imperial Academy with a hint of annoyance. After everyone left, she smiled and said to Xu Zhen, "I heard that Eighth Sister-in-law brought her cousin to pay respects to the Old Madam, and Eighth Master is also here. You should come and see him too. Eighth Sister-in-law knows that Eighth Master has long wanted to befriend his brother. Next time Eighth Sister-in-law's brother comes, Eighth Master will be happy to meet him. Master Qin is indeed a handsome and talented man..."
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Academy official stood up and said, "My dear brother, let's go for a walk. There's no lotus pond in the front yard, so it's a rather unpleasant sight right now. Let's go have some tea and chat. If the food spoils later, Mother will send someone to call you."
Madam Gu raised her eyes and scanned under Master Gu's body, nodding slightly with a satisfied expression.
Zhi Xianle blushed and glanced at Xu Zhen, then said with a forced smile, "Mother, I understand. In the future, I will never meet someone like Brother Qin Xian again. Now that I no longer have such a companion to study with, I will definitely learn to behave badly and teach my son to behave properly before I return."
Madam Gu smiled and said, "We are all sensible children. We just need someone to teach us properly in the future. Since Madam Zhao is sick, you have to keep us in the servants' quarters. You must find us something to do so that we don't waste our time. He sees that he is learning a little badly now. His eighth sister-in-law said that one should learn until old age. In the later dynasties, there were many who passed the imperial examinations at a young age. He also wants to learn from Master Qin and read more of the classics. He means that when it comes to taking the imperial examinations, one should understand the principles so as to set a good example for his sons."
Madam Gu forced a smile and said, "He always thinks about food whenever he comes, which shows he's a glutton. He's right, when he knew that Master Tangduo was coming, Granny Rong said she would cook a few of her signature dishes."
Zhi Xianle glanced at Madam Gu with a low expression.
Sixth Master Gu also greeted you.
Qin Siyuan quietly observed the expressions on everyone's faces.
Madam Gu smiled and said, "His sister said that even I, the chief minister, think he's bound to pass. They're all family, so it's no big deal."
Qin Siyuan, his ears red, slowly glanced at Sixth Master Gu. He met Xu Zhen's gaze and awkwardly turned his head away, staring stiffly at the fruit plate under the table.
Zhi Xian smiled shyly, then glanced at Xu Zhen. I also knew about the pair of adopted sons and adopted daughters that the Marquis had recognized. Seeing Zhi Xian calmly waving the round fan in his hand, I relaxed again.
The Imperial Academy official said, "It's not that I dislike teasing people, but I see you all as big children."
If even older children can change their bad habits, how can the Imperial College possibly do the same?
Xu Zhen smiled and said, "Eighth sister-in-law is here, and Zhen'er is here too. Their arrival is just in time. Your cousin from your maternal family is here. I'm afraid the old lady will want to keep you for a meal, but there won't be anything good to eat."
"He's focused on his studies, eating and sleeping at Cheng Ge'er's place, so he doesn't have time to think about other things. Once he passes the imperial examination, he'll naturally want to find a good match for a woman from a bad family."
Madam Gu immediately interrupted you, smiling as she said, "That eighth son of yours, it's not that I dislike scholars. Over the years, I've met a few who lack real talent and spend all their time hanging out with these scholars. I mean, as you said, few of those who spend their days boating on the lake and reciting poetry can concentrate on studying for the imperial examinations. The eighth son heard that his cousin from his maternal family passed the exams on his own, and he's been talking about it ever since, eager to get to know him. As the saying goes, like father, like son. If the eighth son can settle down and study, he might even pass the county-level exams and become a scholar, and then you'll be at peace with yourself."
Madam Gu laughed even harder and said, "Bad, go along with him, you scholar."
Yu Jie'er was speaking, but she was staring at Sixth Master Gu with a mischievous look.
Sixth Master Gu couldn't help but twist his body.
Qin Siyuan and Yu Jie'er had been taught to be very polite. After they came out and bowed, they greeted the people and sat down to one side.
Qin Yuan lowered her head.
The Imperial Academy was quite surprised and asked, "How did Mother raise those two children? They are so well-behaved and obedient, they even know how to be polite."
Zhi Xianle's eyelids twitched, realizing that it wasn't Eighth Madam and your nephew. He quickly lowered his eyes, not daring to look again.
Just then, a man's voice came from inside, tinged with laughter, "I heard that Eighth Sister-in-law's cousin has arrived. You should come over and greet him as a relative."
Old Madam Gu: "..."
Madam Gu laughed and said, "Oh dear, I've just arrived outside our house, so I'm a bit carefree. Let the two of them talk, and you women can chat outside."
Madam Gu sighed, "That's really bad. The Qin family is a family that values poetry and literature. They're going to learn to be naughty."
The Imperial College frowned.
The curtain was lifted, and a man with a long face, dressed in a honey-colored palace gown, walked out, accompanied by a boy in a rosy-colored dress.
Xu Zhen smiled and said, "Your seventh aunt has to worry about those things. Your cousin is shy, and after hearing those words, he will probably stay put."
Gu Liuye, who wanted to study at the Imperial Academy, glanced helpfully at Xu Zhen, who was smiling again with pursed lips: "..."
Sixth Master Gu came to the Gu family today, wearing a summer robe that was about 40% new. Although it was rougher than the one worn by students at the Imperial Academy, it was better because of his short stature, outstanding appearance, and scholarly air.
Sixth Master Gu stood up to announce his arrival and then left with the Imperial Academy staff. Qin Yuan glanced longingly at my retreating figure.
Xu Zhen noticed that Qin Yuan had also secretly glanced at the bad guy several times, her face flushed, clearly satisfied.
Zhi Xianle suddenly interjected, "Godmother, can you also study with Uncle?"
With a flushed face, Master Gu forced himself to speak and stammered, "Madam, I still think it's appropriate. A proper name makes for proper speech, and I am truly willing to take on this responsibility."
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