Qing Dai entered the room and approached Yao ngxian, bowing in greeting.
"Miss, the old lady wants you to go over to discuss the matter of returning to the Capital."
Qing Dai stood beside her mistress, looking at her fair and radiant face, sowhat lost in thought.
In the past two years, the young lady has blossod beautifully. Upon returning to the Duke Mansion this ti, it seems there will be talks of marriage. But to whom will she be betrothed?
Lianxin sighed upon hearing this, "We’re afraid that once we’re back, these leisurely days will be gone."
Qing Dai was not resistant to returning. Although the Liang Mansion was good and the population simple, her family was in the Capital. Not having seen them for over two years, she missed her family.
Yao ngxian glanced at Qing Dai. Both Lianxin and Qing Dai had grown into young ladies. In the Capital, it would be necessary to arrange matches for them. The relationships among the servants in the mansion were complex, and she feared that she wouldn’t be able to decide their marriages.
Lianxin was already sixteen, and barely could stay another two years. Qing Dai was a year younger than Lianxin, so she could wait a bit longer. However, this would depend on Qing Dai’s conduct upon returning to the mansion. If she acted insensibly, she would have to arrange her marriage sooner, lest it disrupt her affairs and cause her suffering.
Yao ngxian stood up, checking her outfit, finding no flaws. She then called Qing Dai, donned a simple cloak lined with fox fur, and headed to the main house.
The next day, the sky remained gloomy. Gu Chengyu looked up, thinking it would probably snow.
"Let’s go! We should head to Wu Mansion early, it might snow soon. If ti permits, we can also visit the third senior brother’s place."
He had already sent out invitations with Ming Mo in the previous days. The New Year’s visit had been hurried, leaving only gifts with little conversation. Wu An had invited him to co again in the next two days. So having visited at the first and second senior brothers’, naturally he couldn’t exclude the third.
The carriage navigated through the streets and alleys and turned into a northern alley.
"Ah, it’s Young Master Gu, please co in! The master instructed to wait for you here." The gatekeeper was a young servant, quite talkative.
Gatekeepers held significant roles in wealthy households. Without being clever or having so connections, one couldn’t beco a gatekeeper. As the saying goes, ’In front of the pri minister’s gate stand third-rank officials,’ providing nurous daily benefits.
However, the responsibility was heavy. The job required keen observation, or offending soone could lead to severe repercussions from the estate’s master.
Gu Chengyu entered the corner gate, then switched to the steward of the outer courtyard, who led him to the outer study.
"Greetings, second senior brother!"
"Hmm! Sit down!" Wu An, as usual, was unsmiling and sparing with words.
In dark blue straight robes, his long face and ordinary features, his posture was upright, with his back straight as a pole, making him appear stern.
Gu Chengyu sat down. The study fell silent for a mont. With no other option, he had to find topics for conversation.
"Senior brother, do you have hopes of remaining in the Capital this ti?" Gu Chengyu held the teacup, concealing his awkwardness.
"I don’t know, it depends on orders from above." Wu An replied and looked at Gu Chengyu.
Gu Chengyu grumbled inwardly, at least there’s an answer. Better keep pushing.
"With excellent performance reviews, is there hope for your promotion?" If there’s soone in court, news might co early.
Wu An frowned, "Hard to say, the examination is approaching, do you have confidence?"
Gu Chengyu rubbed his nose, alright! Maybe due to unfamiliarity before, today Wu An seems to talk more, perhaps like the first senior brother, he’s cold outside but warm inside.
"Confidence is elusive, can only say I’ll do my best." Wu An disliked boastful people, which seed to be his ideal answer.
Sure enough, Wu An nodded and replied to Gu Chengyu, "Do well in the exam! Don’t sully the teacher’s reputation."
Gu Chengyu hurriedly agreed.
"Since you’re here, the junior brother wishes to pay respects to the old lady."
Wu An nodded, allowing Gu Chengyu to be led into the inner courtyard by the outer courtyard steward.
"It’s been several days since you’ve co by, are you busy lately?" the old lady asked with a smile.
"Isn’t it that I see your mansion is bustling? I’ve been thinking of coming in a few days. Would the old lady miss ? Seeing you today confirms it, the old lady truly does think of ."
The old lady was amused by Gu Chengyu, "Who goes around shalessly like that?" She pointed at Gu Chengyu, scolding with a smile.
After chatting for a while, Gu Chengyu could tell the old lady was in a good mood, perhaps because her son had returned to the mansion.
At this mont, a maid entered the room and whispered a few words beside the old lady.
Gu Chengyu promptly rose to bid farewell, "As of now, I have to visit the third senior brother’s mansion, so I’ll take my leave."
The old lady rely said she wouldn’t retain him for today and invited him to dine at the mansion in a few days.
Gu Chengyu followed the maid out of the main house, and from afar, he saw a young lady leading several maids and matrons coming his way.
He quickly walked towards the front courtyard, guessing that the young lady was indeed Wu An’s legitimate daughter. Although she was far, with just a glance, he could see the resemblance to her mother, Mrs. Tan.
Wu Jinyan watched from afar as the young man in black robes walked from the main house to the front courtyard.
She was sowhat puzzled. There shouldn’t be any relatives visiting the mansion today. Seeing the young man, it seems he ca alone to the inner courtyard. The only one who would co alone could only be her father’s junior brother, Gu Chengyu.
The one who had been fad as the top scorer in the Capital back then.
She saw the edge of Gu Chengyu’s robe disappear at the Hanging Flower Gate and then headed to the main house.
Leaving Wu Mansion, Gu Chengyu breathed a sigh of relief.
"To He Mansion!" Gu Chengyu climbed onto the carriage, having not lingered long at Wu Mansion, he still had ti to head to He Mansion.
Actually, compared to the second senior brother, he’d prefer interacting with the third senior brother. Although the third senior was sowhat a smiling tiger, slightly antagonistic toward him, it’s better than total silence.
Upon reaching He Mansion, Gu Chengyu wasted no ti, heading directly to the study.
Since court would not comnce until the eighteenth of the first month, officials were at leisure at ho these days.
"I haven’t seen the teacher for several years. Fortunately, he says he’ll visit the Capital in March, which coincides with your examination days." He Jisheng smiled at Gu Chengyu.
Gu Chengyu smiled slightly, silently pondering, is there doubt again? It seems the rift between the third senior and the teacher is deeper than he imagined.
"The teacher ntions staying in the Capital for a while and appears not planning to return to Jingyuan Prefecture City this year. After staying away for long, returning is natural."
Gu Chengyu couldn’t simply say the teacher was returning for his granddaughter’s marriage, people are still young girls, and there’s no need to tarnish their reputation.
He Jisheng remained unconvinced and shifted the conversation to other topics. However, Gu Chengyu inferred from his expression that he didn’t believe it, and was too lazy to explain further.
It seed there was so misunderstanding between He Jisheng and the teacher.
After a few exchanges, Gu Chengyu took his leave.
"Master! Steward Yu and Li Zhuang have arrived." Back in the mansion, after a little while, Ming Mo ca to report.
"Have them wait for in the flower hall." Gu Chengyu thought it over, considering the crowd, it was better to et in the flower hall.
Looking at the sturdy n before him, he felt they appeared very different from their past selves. Previously they seed like hooligans, now they looked clear-eyed and robust, albeit slightly nervous.
"Steward Yu spoke to all of you, didn’t he? Is everyone settled at ho? Since you’ve decided to follow , there’s no turning back from now on."
Li Zhuang and his subordinates had arrived in the Capital just two days ago, feeling sowhat apprehensive. Yet after experiencing the Capital’s grandeur, they unanimously decided to stay in the Capital and work diligently under the master’s guidance.
"You can rest assured, master, since we have agreed, we will naturally keep our promise. Being able to work under the master is the blessing for us brothers."
Li Zhuang would soon realize what dangerous situation they had gotten into by following the master, as it was like boarding a pirate ship.
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