At this point, Prime Minister Yan could only admit defeat.
"We can’t mess up that little girl from the Xiao Family again."
"You’re saying that Xiao... Ning came to our Gu Residence today to deliver the invitation to her coming-of-age ceremony?"
Xiaoxiao had already prepared an answer. "When I was in the Ning Family, my Eldest Brother wanted to study since he was young. However, because our family was poor, he didn’t even have a book that belonged to him. Books were too expensive and our family couldn’t afford them. Eldest Brother could only lean against the wall and eavesdrop on Little Uncle’s memorization. Then, he wrote on the mud in the backyard with a wooden stick."
Initially, it was also the Zuo Family’s sudden visit and she happened to be "coincidentally" met at the door. She let the Zuo Family in for a cup of tea out of respect. Otherwise, their family would not have taken a fancy to that stupid daughter of the Zuo Family.
The servant told him everything that had happened today. In the end, Grand Secretary Gu still felt that he was not thorough enough and asked someone to find Gu Ruoruo.
The servant looked at his Master, who had suddenly stood up and raised his voice. He stammered, "She left."
Then, she approached Gu Ruoruo with a smile. "By the way, since my father is your Little Grandpa, shouldn’t you change the way you address me?"
Grand Secretary Gu paced back and forth. "What is the General’s Residence doing?"
"Nice to meet you. I’m Zuo Xiangling, the daughter of the Imperial Censor Zuo."
Xiaoxiao was a little stunned when she heard that someone had pulled her and the Crown Prince together. Zuo Xiangling had already walked far away in this short period of time.
Xiaoxiao was busy with the opening of the second book house. This time, it was different from the time in Xijiang County. With the Emperor as her backing, it was much more convenient to choose a location or collect various books.
Then, she saw her great-grandfather’s handsome but serious face gradually relax, and he even revealed a smile for the first time.
"Heh, you do know your place."
Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and felt that it was not appropriate to visit today, so she turned around and returned. However, she did not know that Grand Secretary Gu was told that she had been here as soon as he returned.
Gu Ruoruo said awkwardly, "My great-grandfather is famous for being strict. Xiaoxiao, aren’t you afraid of him?"
She had already left in anger, but after thinking about it, she still came back and said ruthlessly to Xiaoxiao, "Let me tell you, Xiao Ning, the Crown Prince won’t like a wild girl like you! Don’t think that you can fly up the branch and become a phoenix just because of your mother! The Crown Prince and my older sister are a match made in heaven!"
Gu Ruoruo heaved a sigh of relief after being stunned. She said, "No, Xiaoxiao said that only by coming personally can she show her sincerity. She said that others will send the other invitations, but she has to come to the Gu Residence herself."
Gu Ruoruo’s face instantly turned bitter. She was right, but she did not want to call Xiaoxiao "Little Auntie".
Although the Gu Family did not fight for anything, they were the benchmark in the hearts of all the scholars in the world. It was as if anyone who could be related to the Gu Family would have a better image in the eyes of those scholars in the future.
Grand Secretary Gu frowned and looked dignified. "How do you treat our guests?"
Xiaoxiao did not have time to retort when they quarreled. She was so angry. She was unwilling to be wronged. Her gaze changed and she decided to give this woman the number of times she could use Range Control in space today.
A noble and elegant woman walked out, followed by a dainty teenage girl. The girl was quite affectionate when she saw Gu Ruoruo, but her eyes suddenly rolled back after she asked about Xiaoxiao’s identity. "Oh, it’s that country bumpkin... Aiya, what am I talking about? I mean, is this the daughter who has been missing from the famous General’s Residence for more than 10 years?"
After that, both Xiaoxiao and the Gu Family entered a very busy period. She tried to find an opportunity to visit again, but she failed. Helpless, she could only leave the invitation and wait for the day of her coming-of-age ceremony. fre ewebnove l.com
"Where is she?"
Everyone received the order and dispersed.
While Gu Ruoruo was puzzled, the door opened.
"I see."
She even deliberately lowered her voice and spoke. She looked gentle and docile. No one could guess that she was making fun of someone just by looking at her face.
Gu Ruoruo was also a little stunned. "I’ve never heard of them interacting with us in the past."
After dinner that night, Grand Secretary Gu, who originally did not like to meddle with his family affairs, said lightly, "The Zuo Family is not suitable."
Gu Ruoruo was most afraid of her great-grandfather. At this moment, she did not dare to look up like a little quail. "Great-grandfather, yes."
Zuo Xiangling’s expression immediately changed. She flicked her sleeves. "You’re just a wild girl. You really think highly of yourself." free.web(n)ove(l)(.)c(o)m
Then, she suddenly realized and exclaimed, "Ah, I know!
Xiaoxiao could sense very obvious malice from her tone, so she stopped smiling. "Oh, I’ve never heard of you. Don’t touch me. We’re not familiar with each other."
Xiaoxiao asked Gu Ruoruo, "Are the Zuo and Gu families on good terms?"
"Yo, you specially came to the Gu Family today because you know that you’re extremely vulgar and want to use the Gu Family’s book fragrance to increase your value?"
Xiaoxiao shrugged. "What are you afraid of?"
"She met Mrs. Zuo and Miss Zuo at the door. After exchanging a few words, they... parted on bad terms."
Gu Ruoruo came nervously and left for no reason. Her great-grandfather even asked her to pass a message to Xiaoxiao, telling her not to be in a hurry to visit.
Xiaoxiao touched her chin. "But no matter how strict he is, he’s still my grandfather."
Gu Ruoruo leaned close to Xiaoxiao’s ear mysteriously. "I reckon that they’re here to discuss marriage!"
Rong Yan told the Emperor that the bookhouse was Xiaoxiao’s idea. The Emperor specially summoned her to the palace and asked her where this idea came from.
His eldest daughter-in-law stood up and agreed.
"Later on, when I went to the county, I would see Eldest Brother’s yearning gaze every time we passed by a bookstore. At that time, I thought that there must be many people like Eldest Brother in Great Xia. Because their families were poor, they could not fulfill their dream of studying."
The Gu Family members were stunned. That was not all. He added, "Imperial Censor Zuo claims to be upright to the public, but he has actually been in cahoots with the Yan Family for a long time. The upright official style of the Zuo Family’s ancestors has almost been ruined by them. We don’t have to interact with them anymore."
Gu Ruoruo was a little nervous. "Are you afraid?"
Gu Ruoruo was stunned. Oh no, oh no, her great-grandfather was angry! But why was he angry? Was he angry that the General’s Residence still came rashly even though they clearly did not have much contact with the Gu Family? Or was he angry that Xiaoxiao did not enter to pay her respects?
She was supposed to make friends, but in the end, she found an elder for herself.
Grand Secretary Gu glanced at him coldly. "What’s going on?"
The servant begged for mercy. "Master, Miss Xiao didn’t enter."
However, her great-grandfather, who was well-read in poetry and literature, actually pondered over such a simple sentence for an hour, making her very puzzled.
Grand Secretary Gu said, "How can they let a young lady like her come personally to send the invitation? Could it be that the General’s Residence doesn’t even have a page to send the letter? How can she send so many invitation letters one by one?"
Xiaoxiao, whom they had ideas on, was knocking on the door. To be precise, she was holding Gu Ruoruo’s hand and knocking on the Gu Family’s door.
"If only studying didn’t cost anything."
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