Chapter 716 Uncle San, I’m here for Sister Lan’s matter.
Gu Lu's gaze moved between Lin Jiayou and Qian Zhenyun, and finally landed on Lin Jiayou's gentle and harmless smile, his eyes deepening a little.
He took a step forward, unnoticedly placing himself between Gu Qingchen and Lin Jiayou. "Jiayou is thoughtful. But Qingchen is cooped up in the mansion and is feeling bored. These street goods that Gungun brought might help her cheer herself up."
Qian Zhenyun also understood the situation and said, "Look at this, I guarantee it's more fun than that thumping drum!"
Gu Qingchen looked at him as if he was presenting a treasure, and then looked at the pile of messy little things in his arms. The complex emotions evoked by Lin Jiayou in his heart seemed to be blown away by a gust of wind.
She gently placed the rattle in her hand on the stone table beside her, then took out a colorful feather shuttlecock that made a sound when kicked from the net bag Qian Zhenyun stuffed into her hand and tossed it in her hand.
"This one looks good." She raised her eyes and looked at Qian Zhenyun, "Can you do it? Don't beg for mercy after just a few moves."
"Hey! Who are you looking down on?"
Qian Zhenyun immediately became excited and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a section of his strong forearms.
The gentle smile on Lin Jiayou's face finally showed a crack.
He looked at the rattle that was placed casually on the stone table, and a very faint gloom flashed in his eyes, so fast that it was almost impossible to catch.
"Since Qingchen has a new way to have fun, I won't bother him anymore."
Lin Jiayou regained his gentlemanly demeanor and bowed to Gu Lu, "I'll take my leave first."
Gu Lu nodded: "I'll take you there."
The two left side by side. Qian Zhenyun and Gu Qingchen were already enthusiastically playing shuttlecock in the yard. The crisp sounds and laughter made Lin Jiayou's back look a little lonely.
But out of the corner of his eye, Gu Qingchen caught a glimpse of Lin Jiayou looking at the rattle the moment he turned around.
That's not loss, nor is it reluctance...
Her heart suddenly trembled, her feet stopped moving, and the shuttlecock fell straight to the ground.
"What's wrong?" Qian Zhenyun picked up the shuttlecock and looked at her in confusion.
"Nothing." Gu Qingchen shook his head, forcibly suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, "I won't play anymore, it's boring."
The visit ended here.
After Qian Zhenyun left, the yard returned to silence.
Gu Qingchen walked to the stone table and looked at the lonely rattle without saying a word for a long time.
She finally understood why her brother said that Lin Jiayou was an overly sharp knife.
Because this knife not only hurts people, but also destroys their hearts.
…
At the same time, the atmosphere in the main hall of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion was far less relaxed than that in the courtyard.
Yang sat below Chu Ruohan, clutching a handkerchief tightly in her hand, looking anxious and embarrassed.
"Madam, I really have no choice but to bother you again." Her voice was filled with tears. "My father-in-law..."
Chu Ruohan put down the teacup in her hand, "What does he want to do now?"
Yang's face was filled with sorrow. "He said that Wang Shidu from the Hanlin Academy has sent a matchmaker to say that he is extremely pleased with our Lan Xin and is urging the two families to meet as soon as possible to finalize the matter."
"He also said," Yang's voice dropped to a whisper as she spoke, "this marriage will also be good for Lu'er's future."
"Patriarch Wang is the Crown Prince's man. With our two families married, he will definitely be able to provide more support in the court in the future..."
"Help?" Chu Ruohan laughed in anger. She picked up the teacup but didn't drink. She just looked at the tea leaves floating in the cup. "Does he want to use Lan Xin's life to pave the way for his most promising grandson?"
This was said bluntly, and Yang's face turned red and white, but she couldn't refute a word.
"You know my father-in-law's temper. Once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it. Now he's even putting Lu Ge'er's future at risk. I... I really don't know what to do."
Yang was really in a dilemma.
On one side is the stubborn father-in-law, and on the other side are the obviously unwilling nieces and nephews. As an aunt, she is caught in the middle and is neither side of the fence nor in a good position.
Seeing her like this, Chu Ruohan's anger subsided a little.
She knew that Yang was not to blame.
The real root of the problem lies with the selfish and confused Master Gu San.
"Don't worry about this matter." Chu Ruohan's voice returned to calmness. "Lan Xin's marriage will be decided by Brother Lu."
"As long as they don't want to, no one can force them."
She paused and added, "When you go back, you don't have to say anything. Just tell them that I already know about this."
After hearing Chu Ruohan's words, Yang seemed to have found her backbone, and the heavy stone in her heart fell instantly.
She thanked him repeatedly and then left with gratitude.
As soon as Yang left, Chu Ruohan's face became completely gloomy.
She called the housekeeper and ordered in a cold voice: "Go, prepare the car, I want to go to the third room of the Gu family."
The mansion of the third branch of the Gu family was far less magnificent than the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, but it was also kept in good order by Yang.
Led by the servants, Chu Ruohan walked into Master Gu San's study without any obstruction.
Master Gu San was sitting by the window, holding a book in his hand. When he saw her come in, he forced an unnatural smile on his face and stood up to greet her.
"Ruohan, why did you come here in person? If there's anything, just send someone to let me know."
Chu Ruohan didn't sit down, but just looked at him coldly and said straight to the point: "Uncle San, I'm here for Sister Lan's matter."
The smile on Master Gu San's face froze. He sighed, put the book on the table, and stretched out his hand to make a "please" gesture.
"Sit down and talk first."
"No need." Chu Ruohan's voice was silent, without emotion. "I just want to ask Third Uncle, do you remember how Lu Ge'er and Lan Jie'er came to the Duke's Mansion?"
Master Gu San's expression changed slightly, his lips moved, but he didn't say anything.
"I remember." Chu Ruohan's eyes seemed to penetrate time, seeing that snowy winter day many years ago. "Lu Ge'er was only that young, holding his sister's hand, kneeling in front of the door."
"Lan Jie'er was only three years old at the time. Her hands were red from the cold, and her palms were covered with blisters from the burns. She cried in pain, but she didn't dare to make a loud sound."
Her voice was very soft, but it was like a heavy hammer, hitting Master Gu San's heart again and again.
"Raising two children these past few years hasn't been easy. Sister Lan lost her mother's protection at such a young age. Even if we, as elders, love them less, we can't trade their marriages for money!"
Master Gu San's face flushed red, as if his most secret secrets had been exposed. He hurriedly defended himself, "I didn't!"
"No?" Chu Ruohan sneered, "The tutor Wang is the prince's man. Do you dare to say that you haven't had this thought in your mind?"
"Uncle San, when you were the county magistrate in your town, you weren't like this. Back then, you were fair in your judgments and cared deeply about the people. Did you ever imagine that one day you would have to sacrifice your own children's lives for a more convenient career?"
"Don't lose your original intention for those illusory futures!"
Every word of these words is heartbreaking.
Master Gu San was speechless. He sat back in his chair dejectedly. After a long time, he let out a long sigh, his voice full of fatigue and hoarseness.
"Do you think I, as a grandfather, am so heartless?" He raised his head, his eyes slightly red. "I'm only thinking about the child!"
"Besides the fact that Wang Shitu is the Crown Prince's man, more importantly, I have already sent people to make thorough inquiries about his son."
"That child has a good character, free from any frivolous habits, and is a promising student. I have been observing him for a long time before I became interested in him."
He looked at Chu Ruohan, his tone becoming more earnest: "Think about Sister Lan again, she's already nineteen! Girls of that age in Beijing would already have children running around. If you delay any longer, what good family will you find for her?"
"You can't just stay single forever, right?"
"What do you mean by mutual affection and mutual understanding? But there are so many people in the world, how can it be so easy to meet someone like that?"
"In life, after all, it's all about character. How can you know that he's not suitable if she hasn't even met him once?"
This series of rhetorical questions left Chu Ruohan, who was originally furious, speechless for a moment.
She had to admit that although Mr. Gu San's words were utilitarian, they also revealed a cruel reality.
Gu Lanxin’s age is indeed the biggest problem.
If she really wants to wait for someone who is said to be "like-minded", who can guarantee that she won't waste her time?
At this moment, Chu Ruohan's anger was mostly extinguished by these realistic considerations.
She looked at Master Gu San and saw that his eyes were full of genuine sorrow, which did not seem fake.
Maybe he really just used the wrong method.
The study fell into a long silence.
After a long while, Chu Ruohan's tense expression finally relaxed a little. She slowly sat down and picked up the tea served by the servant, but did not drink it.
"Okay." She finally spoke, her voice calm but firm, "Since Third Uncle speaks so highly of that young master, I'd like to go and see him myself."
"I want to see what kind of person he is and whether he is worthy of Sister Lan."
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