Chapter 922 The Grand Wedding (Part 1) - Two chapters combined
It was an hour later when Gu Jiao returned to Bishui Hutong. To make the act more convincing, she actually bought some things—a few strings of candied hawthorns.
She arrived at her doorstep carrying candied hawthorns and unexpectedly heard a low-volume conversation coming from the alley.
"Go in."
It was Xiao Jingkong's voice.
"I dare not."
It was... a young man's voice. Gu Jiao thought it sounded familiar, but she didn't immediately remember it.
Xiao Jingkong sighed in a wise and mature tone, "If you make a mistake, you should face it bravely."
The young man hesitated and said, "But my hair hasn't grown out yet."
"Jiaojiao! You're back! Why are you so late?"
As Grandma Zhou came out of Aunt Sun's house, she immediately spotted Gu Jiao carrying a candied hawthorn.
The conversation in the alley stopped abruptly, followed by the sound of fleeing footsteps; the young man had gone.
"I went and bought some candied hawthorns." Gu Jiao bent down, took a candied hawthorn, and handed it to Grandma Zhou's grandson.
The little grandson looked up at his grandmother, his eyes filled with longing.
Grandma Zhou felt a little embarrassed, so Gu Jiao said, "Take it, Xiao Bao will come to play with you tomorrow."
Hearing Gu Jiao say this, Grandma Zhou smiled and accepted the candied hawthorn, letting her grandson thank her and accept it.
After Gu Jiao said goodbye to Granny Zhou, Xiao Jingkong happened to walk out of the alley.
"Jiaojiao." He skipped over to Gu Jiao and gave her a loving hug.
He's clearly over six years old, but he looks like he's five. He can be incredibly cute without looking out of place.
He saw the candied hawthorn in Gu Jiao's hand and blinked his big eyes: "Wow! Jiao Jiao, you went to buy candied hawthorn!"
Gu Jiao had no choice but to say yes, otherwise, if she told him that she had gone on a date with her bad brother-in-law, he would get jealous.
"Are you going to school tomorrow?" Gu Jiao asked.
"Tomorrow is a holiday!" Xiao Jingkong said.
"It's okay to sleep a little later." Gu Jiao told him to pick out a string of candied hawthorns.
He picked the second largest bunch, leaving the largest one for Gu Xiaobao, truly showing his doting affection for his younger brother.
Gu Jiao took his hand and walked home: "By the way, who were you talking to just now?"
Xiao Jingkong held Gu Jiao's hand with one hand, took a bite of the candied hawthorn with the other, and said, "Brother Chenglin."
Gu Chenglin?
Gu Jiao remembered this person.
The youngest son, who was raised most crookedly by Aunt Ling, always believed that Yao had killed his mother, so he always bullied Gu Yan. Later, he was stabbed in the back by Aunt Ling, whom he trusted and was closest to the most. He became disheartened and even wanted to become a monk.
When Xiao Jingkong was halfway through shaving his head, the old Marquis returned, and he slunk back to the mortal world with his tail between his legs.
"Huh? I remember his hair growing out."
Gu Chengfeng bought a lot of hair growth products from her.
Xiao Jingkong said, "It had originally grown out, but during the New Year, he played with firecrackers and messed up his hair again."
Gu Jiao asked pointedly, "So, are you playing with firecrackers or your Black Fire Beads?"
Xiao Jingkong blinked: "My Black Fire Pearl."
Gu Jiao: "..."
Xiao Jingkong innocently said, "But I fixed it! I...I...I saw that his hair was all messed up, so I shaved it again!"
And then it stopped growing...
Xiao Jingkong licked a candied hawthorn and exclaimed, "Oh dear! I suddenly remembered I haven't fed Xiao Jiu yet. I'm going to feed Xiao Jiu now!"
After saying that, he tilted his head up and looked at Gu Jiao with an adorable expression, "Jiao Jiao, you look so beautiful today! I'm completely captivated by your beauty, and my heart is bursting with joy!"
Gu Jiao: Alright, Xiao Bao's sweet talk has solved the case.
"Wait!" Gu Jiao called out to Xiao Jingkong, who was about to run into the house.
Xiao Jingkong's eyes darted around, and she turned around with a beaming smile: "Jiaojiao, is there anything else?"
See? How could anyone possibly get angry at such a well-behaved, adorable, and sensible child?
Gu Jiao thought for a moment and asked, "What did he come here for today?"
...
The next day, Gu Changqing and Gu Chengfeng got up very early.
Gu Chengfeng returned home too late last night, and Gu Changqing had already retired for the night. He only confirmed the marriage that Yuan Tong had mentioned with his elder brother this morning.
"Brother, are you really going to marry the Yuan family's daughter?" he asked Gu Changqing.
Gu Changqing had just finished practicing his horse stance, his handsome face drenched in sweat. He took the towel handed to him by the servant, wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck, and said, "What's wrong? Do you have a problem with that?"
Gu Chengfeng snorted, "What objection could I possibly have? I'm not your father."
Gu Changqing looked at him coldly.
He shrank back, chuckled awkwardly, and changed the subject: "Brother, didn't we agree to go to Bishui Hutong today? That girl has been resting for two days since she came back."
The implication was that they could come and bother them.
Gu Changqing raised an eyebrow and suddenly said with a hint of pride, "I saw Jiaojiao yesterday."
Gu Chengfeng's eyes widened: "What? Didn't we agree to go today?! You actually did it behind my back—"
Gu Changqing said, "Who told your grandfather to call you to the palace and you didn't go? When my grandfather and I returned from the palace, we happened to run into her visiting the Duke of Anguo."
Gu Chengfeng felt like he had missed out on a fortune; he was completely devastated!
The eldest brother, in particular, spoke in a boastful tone.
Seriously!
Dude, are you really that childish?
Gu Changqing glanced at his younger brother and walked away triumphantly.
Gu Chengfeng gritted his teeth and returned to his own courtyard.
As he was packing his things, Gu Chenglin came over.
"Why are you up so early today? Are you going to school?" he asked.
Gu Chenglin scratched his head: "It's a holiday today."
"Oh, so Gu Yan is on holiday too." He said, opening the cabinet door and stuffing another box into his bundle. "I wonder if the Imperial Academy gives holidays."
“They were placed there too,” Gu Chenglin said.
Gu Chengfeng forgot to ask him how he knew, and stuffed another thing into the bundle: "My elder brother and I are going out in a while, you can study at home by yourself."
"Oh." Gu Chenglin lowered his head.
"What's wrong?" Gu Chengfeng noticed that his younger brother's emotions were off.
Gu Chenglin hesitated, then said, "...It's nothing, I'm going to study."
"Something's off." Gu Chengfeng watched his departing figure, packed up the brocade box, and went to the main gate to meet his elder brother.
Since Xiao Jingkong was on holiday, Xuanyuan Qi and Liaochen also came over.
Liao Chen was dragged here by his father; otherwise, he wouldn't want to face that little monk who could chant sutras even better than the abbot.
Xuanyuan Qi was teaching martial arts to three young men in the backyard, while Liao Chen was relaxing on a rattan chair nearby.
Gu Xiaobao was taken by Yu Ya'er to find Grandma Zhou's grandson, while Gu Jiao went to the clinic.
Yao was making snacks for the children in the kitchen.
Xuanyuan Qi taught a set of very basic introductory boxing techniques. He first demonstrated it once, and then taught each movement one by one.
Xiao Jingkong learned the fastest, followed by Gu Xiaoshun, while Gu Yan was the slowest and barely learned anything.
Seeing that all three children were covered in sweat, Xuanyuan Qi knew that it was about time for today.
Xiao Jingkong's talent surprised him; Xiao Liu had truly left the Xuanyuan family with an outstanding descendant.
The two brothers arrived at the backyard, first greeting Xuan Yuanqi and his son, then greeting Gu Xiaoshun and the other two, before going to the kitchen to pay their respects to Madam Yao.
"Big brother, big brother! Watch me box!"
Xiao Jingkong couldn't wait to show off his newly learned boxing technique to Gu Changqing.
Both Gu Changqing and Marquis Xuanping taught Xiao Jingkong some martial arts. He learned a variety of skills, but mastered them all.
This is a hardworking child.
He struck with fluid, effortless skill.
"Wow, not bad," Gu Chengfeng praised.
Xiao Jingkong nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes! I learned it the best!"
Gu Xiaoshun wasn't very skilled at a few of the moves, so he practiced quietly on the side, with Xuan Yuanqi correcting him from time to time.
Gu Yan, however, returned to his room with a sour face.
Gu Changqing followed behind him and said understandingly, "Actually, I also know this set of boxing techniques, and I can teach you."
Gu Yan turned his face away and snorted, "Who wants to learn?"
The few punches he had just used didn't require much space, so Gu Changqing demonstrated them to him right in the room.
Even though Gu Yan pretended not to care at first, he gradually became attracted to her later.
"Give it a try," Gu Changqing said to him.
"I won't try." Gu Yan refused to lose face in front of Gu Changqing.
Gu Changqing smiled gently, lifted Gu Yan's arm, and helped Gu Yan assume the starting position.
"I said I'm not practicing..."
"Tighten your waist and abdomen." He touched Gu Yan's soft belly with his long fingers, and his other hand touched his thin back.
Gu Yan unconsciously took a deep breath.
“Like this.” Gu Changqing came up behind him, grabbed his arm, and led him through the first movement.
He leaned against his brother's arm, feeling the specific details of each movement: "So that's how it is?"
When he looked at it, he could only see the front or the back, and it was always difficult to combine them. But after Gu Changqing grabbed his arm and did it once, he suddenly felt enlightened.
With Gu Changqing giving Gu Yan one-on-one tutoring, Gu Yan finally learned the first half of the boxing technique taught by Xuan Yuanqi.
Not only that, he also practiced the second half of the routine in advance. Although he didn't play it as smoothly as the first half, he still managed to perform it, albeit haltingly.
He immediately went to Xiao Jingkong to show off, feeling triumphant!
Xiao Jingkong was struck dumb, his face filled with disbelief!
Even Brother Yan knows it?
no!
He needs to practice more!
Bishui Hutong has officially begun its internal competition—
...
Gu Xiaobao didn't come back until almost lunchtime.
As soon as he entered the house, he began looking for his sister.
However, my sister is not here today.
Gu Xiaobao clenched his little hands, stared blankly at his head, and saw one older brother, two older brothers... a whole row of older brothers.
Gu Changqing hadn't seen Gu Xiaobao for a long time. He still remembered the first time he saw him, when he was trembling in his arms. Now that he's grown up, he probably wouldn't be like that anymore.
Gu Changqing confidently bent down and picked up the bewildered Gu Xiaobao.
Gu Xiaobao didn't tremble like before, but his whole little body stiffened.
"Big brother, he still seems so afraid of you. Let me handle this." Gu Chengfeng picked up Xiaobao.
As expected, Gu Xiaobao relaxed as soon as he was in Gu Chengfeng's arms.
Gu Changqing refused to believe it and hugged him again.
Gu Xiaobao froze again.
Gu Changqing: "..."
"Hahaha!" Gu Chengfeng laughed three times, hands on his hips. "Big brother! Little Bao still doesn't like you after all!"
He picked the little guy up and hugged him again, unable to hide his pride, and said, "Little Bao, you like your second brother the most, don't you?"
Gu Xiaobao looked at him intently, as if pondering his words.
Suddenly, Gu Xiaobao reached out with both hands, grabbed his ears, and pulled them out so that they protruded!
Gu Chengfeng: "...!!"
...
In the year or so that Gu Jiao was away, Miaoshoutang's business was booming. Xiao Song, who had come to the capital with Gu Jiao, had become a well-known figure, and many people came to visit him every day.
The second boss is a business prodigy; he's already planning to open another Miaoshoutang on Chang'an Avenue.
In addition, Mo Qianxue, the courtesan of Xianleju who was recuperating at the clinic, left, and Hua Xiyao also disappeared from the capital.
The second landlord was unaware of their whereabouts.
For some people, a separation may last a lifetime.
The imperial decree that moved up Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng's wedding date was indeed issued, on June 18th, just as Xiao Heng had said.
At the end of May, Lord Gu finally finished his mission at the Ministry of Works. He had already heard the news of his father and son's triumphant return. He first went to the Marquis's residence to wash up, changed into dry clothes, and planned to go and pay his respects to his father.
Then he saw Gu Jinyu's maidservant rushing over to see him.
"What is it?" he asked, frowning.
"My lord, Miss...she..." the maid stammered, hesitating to speak.
Lord Gu frowned and went directly to Gu Jinyu's courtyard.
Ever since Gu Jinyu's true colors were exposed last time, Lord Gu was deeply shocked and could not accept that his beloved daughter of many years was so scheming.
He was angry with Gu Jinyu.
Gu Jinyu knelt down and cried about her hardships, saying that she was just an adopted daughter of the Marquis's family, and that her grandfather and brothers did not like her at all. Even her mother only had her biological daughter in her heart.
She had no choice but to resort to some clever tricks to protect herself.
She had already lost everything except her father, and she didn't want him to hate her.
If even her father doesn't want her anymore, then there's no point in her living.
She slammed her head against a pillar, and blood splattered everywhere.
Lord Gu softened and forgave his daughter.
But he still had a knot in his heart.
When Lord Gu arrived at Gu Jinyu's place, Gu Jinyu's eyes were swollen from crying.
"Jinyu, what's wrong?" Lord Gu asked as he came to her side.
With red and swollen eyes, Gu Jinyu said aggrievedly, "Father..."
Lord Gu said, "Don't cry, talk it out."
Gu Jinyu burst into tears.
Chunliu, standing to the side, added fuel to the fire, saying, "My lord, you probably don't know yet, but the eldest young lady has returned! And she's even recognized someone else as her father! She's no longer the daughter of our Ding'an Marquis's mansion!"
Lord Gu's face darkened: "What?"
Gu Jinyu choked up as she said, "I saw it with my own eyes. My sister became the daughter of a noble family and was going to marry again as such..."
Lord Gu clenched his fist: "You unfilial daughter! Where does she put the dignity of the Marquis's mansion?!"
Chunliu said, "Actually, it's fine for the eldest young lady to get married, but why humiliate the Ding'an Marquis's mansion? There are so many places in the capital, why did she have to buy a house right across from our mansion, and deliberately humiliate the second young lady in front of all the servants!"
Gu Jinyu scolded, "Chunliu, stop talking!"
Chunliu said solemnly, "Even if Second Miss beats me to death today, I will still speak out! Second Miss, now a daughter of a noble family, flaunts her dowry in front of the Marquis's mansion and Second Miss, and deliberately causes the old Marquis to misunderstand and make him dislike Second Miss! Not only that, but she originally planned to get married in October, but just to steal Second Miss's thunder, she changed the wedding date to the same day as Second Miss's wedding!"
Gu Jinyu wiped away her tears: "I can tolerate everything else... but why did my sister change her wedding date to be the same day as mine... I know I can't compare to her... and I never even thought about competing with her... I just hoped that my parents could come to my wedding... but now... now..."
Lord Gu said coldly, "Has she really changed the wedding date?"
Gu Jinyu's tears fell in a steady stream: "Chunliu ran into my sister and mother at the jewelry shop and said that my wedding date had been set for the eighteenth of next month. Then, just a few days later, the imperial decree changing the wedding date was issued, making it the same day as my wedding..."
Lord Gu's fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "Outrageous! That brat!"
It's clearly a deliberate attempt to oppose Jin Yu!
She knew that Yao loved her and would not give up her wedding, which would mean that Jin Yu's mother would be absent from her wedding!
...
Lord Gu didn't even bother to pay his respects to his own father; without saying a word, he went to Bishui Alley.
"You brat, are you bullying Jinyu again? Who told you to change the wedding date! Who told you to move across the street! You better pay up—"
He pushed open the courtyard gate with a whoosh and saw a large, dark crowd of powerful figures inside. His voice stopped abruptly.
Today, as usual, Xuanyuan Qi and Liao Chen came to teach the three young men martial arts.
The old Marquis came over to tease Gu Xiaobao.
Later, when Mrs. Zhuang played cards, she got involved with her inseparable little Honghong.
The old chief priest and the Duke of Anguo were also there, leisurely enjoying tea and playing chess.
Leaving aside the powerful figures of Yan, the mere presence of the Empress Dowager and Emperor of Zhao made his legs go weak.
What's going on?
Why is such a small courtyard so full of hidden talents?
"Mother, Tai, Tai, Queen Mother..."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
"Father, Father, Father, you're here too."
He stuttered terribly.
Upon hearing him call the old Marquis "father," the Duke of Anguo immediately realized who he was.
That Marquis of Ding'an of Zhao State, who is so biased!
Duke Anguo learned some things about his actions from Gu Xiaoshun and knew that this man was extremely deserving of a beating.
Sure enough, on his first day back in Beijing, he came to confront Jiaojiao and demand an explanation.
Duke Anguo said calmly, "I bought the house."
The Emperor of Zhao said solemnly, "I changed the wedding date."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said coldly, "Does my desire to have a wedding to bring good fortune require your consent first?"
Lord Gu, who had been tricked by Gu Jinyu again, thought: ...Is it too late for me to leave now?
In the very end, Lord Gu was rewarded with a double beating from his own father and Xuan Yuanqi.
...
The day before her wedding, Gu Jiao moved into the Duke of Anguo's mansion.
Regarding the location of the wedding, after unanimous discussion among the elders, it was decided that the wedding would be held at the Xuanping Marquis's residence, while the bridal chamber would be set up in the Princess's residence.
As for where the newlyweds will live after their wedding, that's up to them.
Duke Anguo was well-versed in the wedding customs of Zhao State, and everything was done in accordance with local customs.
The mansion was adorned with red lanterns decorated with the character for "happiness," and the flowers on both sides had been replaced with the most beautiful red peonies.
These peonies are quite valuable; a single pot could provide enough for an ordinary family to live on for several years.
Duke Anguo didn't feel any remorse or think it was excessive to spend money on his daughter. The money was earned by him penny by penny; he neither stole nor robbed it. It was his freedom to spend it all on his daughter.
It's late at night.
Duke Anguo sat quietly in his wheelchair in the courtyard, gazing at the moon.
Xuanyuan Qi walked over: "You're still not asleep?"
Duke Anguo turned his head, smiled, and said, "Second Uncle, can't you sleep either?"
There was a stone bench next to him, but Xuanyuan Qi did not sit down.
He looked up at the endless sky and said with emotion, "I never expected that she would get married."
Duke Anguo laughed and said, "What are you saying, Second Uncle? Of course Jiaojiao will get married."
Xuanyuan Qi sighed, "Yes, she is Jiaojiao now."
Duke Anguo was slightly taken aback. What did his second uncle mean by this? Did he know that Jiaojiao was Yinyin?
"Will you be able to stand up tomorrow?" Xuan Yuanqi suddenly asked.
His thoughts were interrupted, and Duke Anguo lowered his head, giving a self-deprecating smile: "Second Uncle already knows."
"You practice every day, it looks like you're working really hard."
Duke Anguo thought he would say, "Actually, you don't have to go through all this trouble. Whether you stand or sit while you send her off to her wedding, her feelings for you will not change."
Unexpectedly, he said, "Do you know that back then, my elder brother and I were both strongly opposed to your marriage with Azi? Azi is a wolf on the grassland, and you are a bird in a cage. The two of you are simply not suitable for each other."
He said that speaking too long a passage is still difficult for him.
"But you are brave, just like Azi."
“Azi was right about you.”
“Azi married the right person.”
"Hopefully, she married the right person."
...
The next day, just after dawn, Madam Yao went to fetch Lady Shiquan, and together they went to the Duke of Anguo's mansion.
Gu Jiao, who was sleeping soundly, was gently awakened by a pair of gentle hands.
"Jiaojiao, it's time to get up," Yao whispered in her ear.
"Hmm?" Gu Jiao opened her eyes groggily.
Yu Ya'er brought a brand-new phoenix coronet and wedding gown to the bedside, and the dazzling red light immediately caught Gu Jiao's eye.
Gu Jiao's expression froze.
Yu Ya'er said with a smile, "Miss, you're getting married!"
(End of this chapter)
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