The wheels rolled on, and the noise outside was faint.
After Yu Tingwan got into the carriage, she hadn’t said much. There were few pedestrians on the street, with only the occasional carefree laughter of children.
She gently lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside. She saw a child’s father cover the child’s mouth in panic, looking around anxiously.
"How many tis have I told you, you can’t laugh outside these days. If the constables of the Capital Mansion see you, they’ll charge you with disrespecting the Eastern Palace, and that’s trouble."
But the child was not afraid at all.
He was still young, knowing little about reasoning and unaware of the insignificance of the common people in front of the powerful.
"Isn’t Daddy still here!"
"Can’t Daddy protect ? Daddy buys pinwheels, buys sweet cakes, and lets ride high; Daddy is the greatest in the world!"
The child’s words seed to rge with dialogues rembered from the past.
A classmate once showed off in front of her.
["My dad is an accountant, do you know what an accountant is? That’s soone who manages money!"]
Yaoyao raised her chin proudly.
["What’s so impressive about managing money? The money in the account doesn’t share your dad’s surna. Can your dad steal so out for you?"]
["My dad is the best and most capable."]
She was quite proud.
["No one can beat him; he can make money outside but never handles it, he gives it all to my mom. My mom saves it, saying it’s all for !"]
Her classmate was not convinced.
["My dad also saves money, saying it’ll be to get a wife in the future."]
Yaoyao didn’t understand: ["Does getting a wife cost money?"]
She climbed onto the desk, standing there with a proud stance.
["Looks like having a daughter is better. When I grow up, others will bring money to marry ."]
It was then that Yu Jingcheng ca to pick her up from school. He picked up the girl’s fabric wrap from her spot and skilfully tidied her drawer.
The drawer was ssy, filled with all sorts of things.
Half-eaten cakes, spinning lamps bought on the street, hairbands used by girls, and several books that were almost torn apart by her.
Had it been soone else’s father, they would have scolded long ago.
She didn’t look like a studious child at all.
But Yu Jingcheng asked.
["Why didn’t you finish the cake? Was it not to your taste? Tomorrow, Daddy will buy you sothing else."]
Once he finished tidying, he picked up the little person in his arms and took her ho.
He was strong, holding her with one hand and walking steadily.
Yaoyao wrapped her arms around his neck.
["You’re still young, who would you marry?"]
Under the setting sun, Yu Jingcheng held her as if they could walk into eternity together.
["No matter how much they offer, Daddy couldn’t bear to let you go."]
The girl seed to think of sothing, her lips curving in thought.
Gu Fuju poured the prepared tea and offered it to her.
Yu Tingwan returned to her senses, gently putting down the curtain, and looked at the person in front of her. Taking it, she thanked him.
Gu Fuju’s throat tightened slightly.
"There’s no need for such formality between us."
Yu Tingwan rubbed the dark patterns of the teacup with her thumb, remaining silent.
"Did Wei Zhao ever ntion to you that I co from a humble background?"
"He did."
Gu Fuju’s warm voice ca through, as if in casual conversation.
"Your grandfather died early; it was tough for an orphan and widow, with the small bit of land the family had seized by uncles. It was your grandmother who supported in my studies through her tofu-making skills."
"At eighteen, Daddy topped the provincial exams, and the following year he topped the national exams in the spring. After the imperial exam, he beca a top scorer and entered the Hanlin Academy, later transferred by the late Emperor to the Imperial Censorate."
Being an Imperial Censor was the most offensive position.
As he spoke, Yu Tingwan did not interrupt.
She listened quietly.
"Daddy was new to Shangjing then and had little experience beyond what he learned from books, full of ambitions yet unaware of the murky waters of the court. Not knowing how to adapt, he offended quite a few people."
"Fortunately, he later beca a disciple under your maternal grandfather’s tutelage and got his support."
He was Uncle Qingyuan, the father of Jiasan and He Xuran.
"The late Emperor was still alive then, and the current Empress Dowager was just an Imperial Concubine. Your mother had high status from birth, and she was arrogant since childhood. Due to a miscarriage by the Imperial Concubine, she was exceptionally granted the title of Princess by the Royal Family."
"The first ti I t your mother was at the Qingyuan Marquis Mansion."
As Gu Fuju couldn’t possibly go to the backyard where the won of the He Family lived.
He always intentionally avoided them whenever he visited, being led by a servant directly to Uncle Qingyuan’s study.
"I was discussing official matters with your grandfather when your mother barged in, questioning your grandfather about why her monthly silver was insufficient."
Could the He Family possibly short their children’s silver and coins? Jiasan was spending lavishly and extravagantly but refused to admit her mistakes, wanting Uncle Qingyuan to make up for it.
"Yaoyao, you resemble your mother quite a lot."
"Now that you’re sitting in front of , it’s as if I’m seeing the young her."
Yu Tingwan tentatively asked, "Did you co here just to tell these things?"
"Daddy knows, the reason you’re willing to see is clear, you want to know about the fire in the Yu Family, not to reunite."
Yu Tingwan slowly raised her eyes to et Gu Fuju’s gaze, admitting it.
"Yes."
Gu Fuju smiled faintly, "They’ve raised you well."
He said,
"You’re a filial child."
Yu Tingwan blinked.
Feeling there was nothing wrong with it.
She spoke seriously, "That year was truly strange. The weather wasn’t dry, it even rained a few days before, theoretically, there shouldn’t have been a fire."
The more she talked about it, the more she had to say.
"Yet it just happened."
"It happened that I was at ho that day, and didn’t go to school."
"I was napping with Mother, so it wasn’t like I was in a deep sleep. I sensed the acrid sll of burning, and when I sensed sothing was wrong and opened my eyes, there was already a vast expanse of flas; the fire was frighteningly fierce. Neighbors running over to douse it with water, yet the more they poured, the fiercer it grew."
She was choked to the point where she couldn’t speak, being young and scared, she could only cry.
This fire started suddenly.
It was big right from the beginning.
Yu Tingwan: "I’m afraid it was preditated."
"After so many years, it’s difficult for my husband to investigate, as a force had already wiped it clean early on, and He Yushi found no leads either."
"When sending out the door just now, my husband stated that you would surely be able to give an answer."
No wonder.
No wonder Wei Zhao always seed so hypocritical when seeing him, appearing respectful but every word was deadly.
Gu Fuju wouldn’t keep anything from Yu Tingwan.
He said hoarsely,
"That force... is under my na."
Yu Tingwan suddenly looked at him: "The thod they used to erase traces is just like my husband investigating my background, the birth of the Imperial Tutor’s Wife in Ze County back then, and how I ended up with the Yu Family."
"Were these also done by the Imperial Tutor?"
She couldn’t understand.
But Yu Tingwan was shocked.
Gu Fuju: "The last matter wasn’t."
Yu Tingwan nodded.
Yu Tingwan tapped her toes on the ground, digesting this fact.
"Gu Wu is your illegitimate daughter?"
She knew.
Back then, the He Family never despised Gu Fuju’s low rank and unstable foundation. Princess Jiasan marrying him was a marriage beneath her status.
It was widely said that Gu Fuju never took concubines and has always been very affectionate towards his wife and daughter over the years.
The way Yu Tingwan looked at Gu Fuju changed.
For an illegitimate daughter, you abandoned your own daughter?
Gu Fuju hurriedly said, "No."
"Daddy has only you as his biological daughter."
"We’ve arrived."
"This can’t be explained in just a few words, co inside and sit down, and Daddy will tell you everything you want to know."
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