After leaving Sun Xian, Gu Chengyu prepared to return to his room to wait, but on the way, he unexpectedly bumped into Mrs. Gao.
Mrs. Gao’s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.
"An old servant greets Mr. Gu!" Mrs. Gao always called him Mr. Gu, unlike others, who called him the scholar. As for benefactor, Gu Chengyu had declined that title long ago, hearing it repeatedly was awkward.
"No need for formalities!" Gu Chengyu smiled, gestured for her to stand, and then planned to bypass her and return to his room.
"Is Mr. Gu planning to take a carriage ho?" Mrs. Gao had a letter in her arms, originally intending to have the guard deliver it.
However, she had just seen Ming Mo and the others from upstairs, driving back the carriage, now packing luggage onto the carriage.
"Oh! Yes! My elder sister is about to get married soon, I’m afraid of missing the auspicious day, so I need to leave early."
Upon hearing, Mrs. Gao had an idea, but feared the young lady might not agree.
"Well, congratulations!" Then, she said a few more words of praise and quickly parted ways with Gu Chengyu, hurriedly returning to her master’s room.
"Miss, the old servant just saw Mr. Gu planning to take a carriage ho!" Mrs. Gao reported as soon as she entered Yao ngxian’s room.
Yao ngxian was unsurprised; they were in a hurry, and people always returned ho promptly after becoming a scholar, with family eagerly awaiting at ho.
"Hmm! Has the letter been delivered?"
"Not yet, the old servant thought it might be better to have Mr. Gu take the letter back, as they are heading to Jingyuan Prefecture anyway."
Mrs. Gao figured it was better to give it to Mr. Gu than send it via escort agency.
Yao ngxian pondered and found this approach more appropriate, but wondered if it would be too much trouble for them?
"Would it be too much trouble for them? They may not have ti to deliver it once they return ho."
"The old master is in the Prefecture anyway, Mr. Gu is bound to enter the city. Why not let the old servant inquire?"
Of course, the matter required the young lady’s consent first, she dared not make the decision alone.
"Very well, please ask on my behalf, Mrs. Gao."
"Oh!" Mrs. Gao responded and hurried downstairs, fearful she might be late and Mr. Gu would have left.
Gu Chengyu was preparing to bid farewell to Lord Tian and others, as one should always greet before leaving.
"Brother Ming Mo, is your master in?" Ming Mo had organized everything and walked ashore, intending to ask permission from the master for departure.
Just as he reached the door, he saw Mrs. Gao.
"Ah, it’s Mrs. Gao; my master is inside. Might I ask the purpose of your visit? We are just about to depart."
Gu Chengyu heard the voice within the room and called out, "Co in!"
Mrs. Gao entered the room and paid her respects.
"Our miss is returning to Jingyuan Prefecture to visit her grandfather; however, a ship won’t depart in these few days. She fears missing the timing and worrying the old master, so she wrote a letter, hoping Mr. Gu could deliver it. Might I ask if you are available?"
Mrs. Gao knew they were in a hurry, so she straightforwardly asked, believing this task wasn’t particularly troubleso; this young man seed agreeable and likely to help.
"Oh! To which mansion should it be delivered? Is it far?" Gu Chengyu intended to clarify first; if it was too distant, it would be problematic.
"Not far indeed, it’s just within the city; the old master is teaching at the Prefecture School. You can find the retired Mr. Liang Zhirui there."
Mrs. Gao spoke while retrieving the letter from her bosom and added, "If you don’t see him at the school, you can go to his mansion nearby."
A bit concerned Gu Chengyu might find it troubleso, she hurriedly explained.
But just as she finished, not only was Gu Chengyu puzzled, but Ming Mo’s expression turned odd as well.
Isn’t this precisely his master’s household? For Gu Chengyu, the mansion was overwhelmingly familiar!
A couple of years ago, Gu had spent more ti at the Liang Mansion than his own, how could he be unaware of its location?
Gu Chengyu felt it too coincidental; saving a young lady from a prominent family, only for her to be the master’s granddaughter? And the one upstairs must be his martial niece?
Yet he remained silent, accepting Mrs. Gao’s letter, which indeed bore Liang Zhirui’s na.
Employed at the Prefecture School, retired, with the sa na, who else could the teacher be?
Clearing his throat, Gu Chengyu laughed, "This is like flooding the Dragon King Temple, family mbers not knowing each other."
Mrs. Gao was mystified by Gu Chengyu’s words; could he perhaps be a relative of the old master?
"Is Mr. Gu related to the young lady’s grandfather?"
Ming Mo found it exceedingly convenient, "Mrs. Gao isn’t aware, my master is precisely Mr. Liang’s disciple!"
Mrs. Gao heard and grew even more confused; the old master had only taken three disciples, two in the Capital, and one serving as a magistrate locally, never had she heard of such a young disciple!
This was because Liang Zhirui hadn’t publicized his closed-door discipleship, furthermore, girls from wealthy households seldom ventured outside, certainly not discussed by household n before the ladies.
Earlier, Yao ngxian rarely left her chamber, nor frequently corresponded with family; how could she have known of Liang Zhirui taking a final young disciple?
Mrs. Gao grew sowhat suspicious; the old master was renowned, might this young fellow be seeking kinship or impersonating the old master’s disciple?
Seeing Mrs. Gao’s disbelief, Ming Mo was discontented; his master had no need to pretend.
"My master was accepted as a closed-door disciple by Mr. Liang more than two years ago, his three seniors all attest to it!"
Saying this, he also began doubting, having never heard of a granddaughter from Mr. Liang!
Regarding the teacher’s granddaughter, Gu Chengyu had learned through casual ntion from the teacher and had been reticent to elaborate.
This trip to the Capital, senior brother had ntioned that the teacher’s elder daughter had passed, married to the Duke Zhen’s Heir.
There was a younger daughter, wed to a scholar from a poor family, now sent to Yingnan Mansion, assuming the role of Assistant Prefect.
Additionally, a son had perished young.
It seed this young lady was indeed Duke Mansion’s Princely Heir’s legitimate daughter.
Realizing Ming Mo’s implication, Mrs. Gao also understood, knowing little of the master’s affairs, assuredly the closed-door discipleship was genuine, she had improperly offended earlier.
"How fortuitous, to find we are indeed family," Mrs. Gao hastily said with a smile.
"Since she’s the teacher’s granddaughter, she counts as my junior. The ship will take several days before departure; if your young lady can wait, perhaps she might accompany us, I’ll escort her to the master’s mansion."
Given she’s the granddaughter of the teacher, Gu Chengyu could not abandon her, ethically bound to ensure her safe arrival at Jingyuan Prefecture.
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