Chapter 137 Blushing (Second Update)
Gu Jinyu felt somewhat disappointed when she realized that the Crown Princess had ulterior motives for giving her the gift.
"Miss, the Crown Princess invites you to enroll in school. Will you go?" asked the maidservant beside her.
"have no idea."
Women are not supposed to show their faces in public, but this is an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Staying at home will limit the spread of her fame. She longs for more people to see her talents, and there is no better place than the academy.
But she was worried that Madam Gu and her mother would not agree.
Madam Gu was rather conservative in her thinking; it took her father a long time to persuade her to hire a tutor.
If they knew she was going to study abroad—
Gu Jinyu frowned.
Just as he was fretting, a servant reported that the Marquis had returned to his residence.
Gu Jinyu hurried to the door to greet him.
Lord Gu had been busy at the Ministry of Works for several days, and he was completely exhausted.
He stepped off the carriage, looking haggard, and entered the mansion to see his daughter walking towards him with a smile on her face.
"Father!" Gu Jinyu called out sweetly.
Lord Gu felt all his fatigue vanish with that "Father!" He smiled and looked at his daughter who had come to his side with affection: "It's so cold, what are you doing out here?"
"I'm here to wait for Father!" Gu Jinyu said with a smile.
Lord Gu said with satisfaction, "You're the most considerate one! By the way, how is your mother? Is she in the manor?"
"Yes, Mother just rested," Gu Jinyu said.
Lord Gu frowned: "You're resting so early? Are you feeling unwell?"
He had barely finished speaking when he noticed the invitation in Gu Jinyu's hand. "What are you holding?"
Gu Jinyu handed the invitation to Lord Gu: "The Crown Princess has established a girls' school and wants me to attend it."
Lord Gu opened it and looked at it: "What did your mother say?"
Gu Jinyu said softly, "Mother has gone to rest. I haven't had a chance to tell her yet. What does Father think?"
Lord Gu said, "If your mother thinks it's alright, then you may go."
Gu Jinyu hesitated: "What about Grandmother..."
"I'll explain." Lord Gu didn't think it was difficult at all. Then, as if thinking of something, he asked, "Did they only give you a letter? Did it say how to enroll?"
Gu Jinyu said, "It's just a letter. The person who sent the letter said that the noble ladies who are famous for their talent in the capital can enter the university without taking the exam. If anyone else wants to enter the university, they can just take the exam."
"Another exam?" Lord Gu frowned deeply. That girl only knows how to farm and doesn't know a single character. How could she possibly pass the exam?
"Is there any way to get another spot?" he asked.
Gu Jinyu asked innocently, "Father, do you want my sister to enroll in school as well? I'm asking, and if possible, please ask the Crown Princess to give my sister a spot as well. If there aren't any extra spots, I'm willing to teach my sister to read and write."
"I'm afraid that even if you're willing, she won't appreciate it. Never mind, keep the invitation for yourself." Lord Gu returned the invitation to Gu Jinyu, and seeing that she seemed hesitant to speak, he couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Gu Jinyu said in a low voice, "Father hasn't returned for several days, so he probably doesn't know that something happened in the manor."
Lord Gu asked, "What happened?"
Gu Jinyu lowered her eyes, tugged at her handkerchief, and said, "Third Brother... and Second Brother were locked up in the ancestral hall by Eldest Brother."
Lord Gu gasped, "What did they do wrong? No, your second brother hasn't done anything wrong yet, so what about your third brother? What did he do this time?"
Gu Jinyu looked troubled: "It seems... that Third Brother and Sister had a disagreement, and Third Brother was beaten up by Sister. He was seriously injured."
"Why does that girl beat up everyone she sees?" Lord Gu, his teeth aching, rolled up his sleeves and said coldly, "Has that girl gone back to the manor?"
"elder sister……"
"The young lady has not returned to the manor yet."
Gu Jinyu was interrupted halfway through her sentence by Granny Fang, who had appeared nearby at some unknown time.
Granny Fang bowed to the two of them and said in a respectful but not arrogant manner, "The Third Young Master bullied the Young Master, causing the Young Master's heart condition to flare up. The Eldest Miss was so angry that she taught the Third Young Master a lesson. The Third Young Master only suffered superficial injuries, which are nothing compared to the Young Master's."
It was definitely a superficial injury, the kind that would keep someone in bed for a month.
Gu Yan was already lively and energetic, but Gu Chenglin's torment had only just begun. Every night he was in excruciating pain, and medicine was ineffective.
Granny Fang sighed: "The Third Young Master has always been spoiled. He cries and screams even when he has a minor injury. Poor little Master, he doesn't cry or make a fuss when his heart disease flares up. How heartbroken he must be, yet people think he's fine."
Gu Jinyu's face burned.
Granny Fang's words not only satirized Gu Jinyu, but also put a bad label on Gu Chenglin. Even if Lord Gu saw Gu Chenglin crying loudly, he would only think that he was being spoiled.
Lord Gu frowned and asked, "Has Yan'er met with Cheng Lin?"
Granny Fang sneered, "It's quite a coincidence that the three young masters entered the same academy. On the first day of school, the third young master recognized the young master, but the young master did not recognize him. He was kidnapped to the woodshed, tied up, and locked up for a whole day. Later, his heart disease flared up, and he barely escaped with his life."
Lord Gu roared in fury: "You unfilial son! Make him kneel in the ancestral hall!"
After saying this coldly, Lord Gu didn't even bother to check on Gu Chenglin's injuries, and instead got into his carriage to go to Biyue Alley to see Gu Yan.
Only Granny Fang and Gu Jinyu remained on the lawn.
Gu Jinyu opened her mouth.
Granny Fang curtsied and said, "Second Miss, it's getting late. You should go back and rest. I also need to go back to serve Madam."
"Granny!" Gu Jinyu called out to her, "I...I was just about to say that."
Granny Fang nodded: "This servant understands. Although the Second Miss is not the Marquis's biological daughter, she was raised by the Madam with great care. How could the Second Miss not help the Madam but help others? Wouldn't that be too heartless?"
Gu Jinyu's face turned pale.
Granny Fang smiled faintly: "I am a servant and I don't know how to speak properly. Please forgive me, Second Miss."
Gu Jinyu didn't know what to say. She felt like she had been scolded, but Granny Fang hadn't said a single word specifically targeting her.
Granny Fang was Yao's confidante, and only Gu Yan could hold a grudge against her. As a well-behaved girl, Gu Jinyu should never do that.
"You flatter me, Granny," Gu Jinyu said. "Granny, please go and take care of my mother."
Granny Fang said earnestly, "Second Miss, you should remember Madam's words and avoid associating with the late Madam's three sons. They will not accept you, nor will they be your support in the future. Forgive my bluntness, but the only people you can truly rely on are Madam and Eldest Miss."
Gu Jinyu smiled slightly: "I'll remember that, Granny."
How can a girl who grew up in the countryside, who only knows how to make a living by farming, become her support?
Based on that lame husband who got the top score in high school?
The old woman has indeed aged.
Lord Gu went to see Gu Yan, who was already out of danger, but still pretended to be on the verge of death.
Lord Gu was furious. When he returned to his residence, no matter how much Old Madam Gu came to find him, he resolutely refused to go to Gu Changqing to release Gu Chenglin!
Madam Gu sent someone to deliver charcoal to Gu Chenglin.
Why send him charcoal? He might as well freeze to death!
Gu Chenglin's charcoal was confiscated by his own father.
Xiao Liulang also heard some rumors about the girls' school at the Imperial Academy.
This matter is actually slightly different from what is circulating in the circle. It was not initiated by the Crown Princess. More than ten years ago, Empress Dowager Zhuang proposed to establish a girls' school, but it was met with unanimous opposition from His Majesty and the cabinet ministers.
The matter was dropped.
The most likely reason for bringing up this old matter again is His Majesty's idea.
Grand Tutor Zhuang led the officials in pleading for the reopening of the Imperial Academy, which greatly increased his prestige in the eyes of the court and the people. His Majesty wanted to build up the reputation and prestige of the royal family, so he opened a girls' school in the name of the Crown Princess.
Since it was established by the imperial court, the quality of girls' schools must not be too bad.
During dinner, Xiao Liulang brought up the matter of the girls' school at the table.
Xiao Jingkong exclaimed, "Girls' school? Does that mean Jiaojiao can go there too?"
The old lady vaguely felt that the words "girls' school" sounded strangely familiar. She tried hard to recall, but couldn't remember anything. However, this did not stop her from supporting Gu Jiao's decision to go to school: "She can go."
Gu Jiao: ...I don't want to go.
Someone who experienced a series of brutal exams, including the college entrance exam, in their past life said they never want to open a book again in this life.
Her family didn't force her, after all, being forced to go to school is just too distressing.
Xiao Liulang, Gu Xiaoshun, Gu Yan, and Xiao Jingkong all deeply understand this!
After dinner, Xiao Jingkong suddenly looked at Gu Jiao with a cute expression and said, "Jiaojiao, I want to eat candied hawthorn!"
Gu Jiao adjusted his little tiger-head hat: "Okay, I'll go buy it for you."
That's the advantage of living on the street; you can buy whatever you want to eat anytime, something you don't have in the countryside.
“I’ll go,” Xiao Liulang said.
"It's not very far," Gu Jiao said.
The old lady waved her hand: "Alright, you two go together! Stop dawdling!"
The two of them went to Chang'an Avenue together.
When I went out, it hadn't snowed yet, but halfway there, snowflakes began to fall in abundance.
Looking at the snowflakes falling overhead, Gu Jiao remarked, "The snow in the capital city comes so early."
Xiao Liulang said, "It's not early this year; sometimes it rains as early as the end of October."
"Oh," Gu Jiao asked, "Did you live in the capital for a long time before?"
The two rarely asked each other about secrets, so this was the first time such a topic had been brought up so calmly.
"Hmm," Xiao Liulang hummed in response.
Gu Jiao didn't press the matter further. Some topics had been brought up unexpectedly, but it wasn't something she should delve into.
She gazed at the bustling streets and said, "The capital city is wonderful."
Xiao Liulang looked at her: "You like the capital?"
"Yes," Gu Jiao said, "Beijing is bustling."
She doesn't actually like crowds very much, but being in a lively environment makes her feel more clearly that she is still alive.
The snow was heavy, but the wind had stopped, and the snowflakes fell silently.
I remember once in town, on a snowy night like this, they came out to buy osmanthus cake and sat in front of a stall eating two bowls of steaming hot glutinous rice balls.
Those were tough times.
She wouldn't even buy herself a fried egg, only letting the shopkeeper give him one.
Although the truth is that Gu Jiao doesn't like fried eggs, Xiao Liulang doesn't know this, which is why he's still so touched.
"Oh dear—how do you walk?"
Gu Jiao bumped into someone; it was a young man who was in a hurry.
The young man was nearly knocked down by the impact and snapped at Gu Jiao, "Be careful!"
Gu Jiao: "Oh."
It was indeed she who hit someone.
She's not unreasonable.
She can be quite well-behaved at times.
She apologized.
The young man didn't know what else to say, so he muttered something and walked away.
Chang'an Avenue is bustling with people, and you can easily bump into someone if you're not careful.
Xiao Liulang glanced at her, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
The snow fell even heavier, and a chilly wind blew in.
"Huh? Why aren't there any candied hawthorn vendors here? I remember they were around here during the day." Gu Jiao's small hands were stiff with cold, so she picked them up and breathed on them to warm them.
Xiao Liulang looked at her hand, and his fingertips twitched.
But in the end, he didn't reach out.
Gu Jiao breathed out a few more breaths, feeling extremely cold.
Xiao Liulang finally mustered up his courage and reached out to take her hand.
"Ah—I found it—look!" Gu Jiaoyao pointed.
Xiao Liulang's hand missed its target. After Gu Jiao finished pointing, she turned to look at him. He seamlessly switched gears, calmly raising his empty hand and touching his handsome head.
Gu Jiao walked over and asked for five skewers of candied hawthorn: "By the way, young man, do you have any candied hawthorns with less sugar?"
The vendor smiled and said, "What a coincidence, young lady! I do have some! My little nephew is only one year old and loves to eat this, but eating too much can damage his teeth, so I made a few that look bright red but actually don't have much sugar in them!"
"Then, can I have two?" Gu Jiao asked.
"Alright!" The vendor handed Gu Jiao two strings of not-so-sweet candied hawthorns. "Seventy coins in total, plus a small one for free."
"Thank you." Gu Jiao took the candied hawthorns, holding them all in one hand. It was such a big handful that she almost couldn't hold them.
Seeing that she was struggling to hold on, Xiao Liulang said to her, "Let me do it."
Gu Jiao shook her head: "No need! I'll take it!"
After saying that, he turned and walked back.
Xiao Liulang followed, leaning on his cane.
As he walked, a soft little hand suddenly reached out and took his hand.
Xiao Liulang was taken aback.
Gu Jiao tilted her head and blinked, saying, "If you take the candied hawthorn, you won't be able to hold my hand anymore. Didn't you just want to?"
Xiao Liulang blushed, suddenly feeling his chest swell.
(End of this chapter)
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