Chapter 1329: Chapter 1165: Cleverness

Yao Mengxian was taken aback upon hearing about the flowers delivered by the Gu Mansion. She hadn’t expected Gu Chengyu to step in for her. Originally, she thought Gu Chengyu was too aloof to involve himself in household affairs. Besides, she knew well how this marriage proposal came to be.

Yet, Gu Chengyu’s actions still warmed her heart.

"Alright, I’ve been feeling unwell these past two days, and I am rather tired at the moment. You young girls should find some other place to enjoy yourselves! Accompanying this old lady is no fun, is it? Xian, you are the legitimate daughter of the main branch; you should entertain the esteemed guests well!" The old lady stroked her forehead and began ushering her guests out.

"Grandmother, are you feeling unwell? Perhaps we should call for a doctor!" Yao Mengxian stepped forward and supported the old lady’s arm.

"It’s nothing, I’m just a bit weary. Good child, take your sisters out to play!" The old lady patted Yao Mengxian’s hand, her face showing a bit more warmth than before.

"Then please rest well, Grandmother, and don’t overexert yourself!"

After Yao Mengxian and the others left the room, Mrs. Qin stepped forward to massage the old lady’s temples.

"Out of all these years, only your touch knows my heart," the old lady sighed, her furrowed brow finally relaxing.

"I’ve been practicing this for many years; if I didn’t do it well, you wouldn’t have kept me by your side," Mrs. Qin said with pride in her tone, making the old lady chuckle.

"Flatterer," the old lady laughed and lightly scolded.

"What do you make of today’s events? Sanya has made quite some improvement compared to before. Indeed, a woman needs to marry well. Now that Gu Chengyu holds the title of Standard Third Rank, she can hold her head up high. A wife’s prestige comes from her husband’s status, and she’s certainly justified in her confidence," the old lady commented with her eyes closed, suddenly bringing up Yao Mengxian.

"I think Mr. Gu’s smooth career path is beneficial for our mansion too. With the two families linked by marriage, mutual support is ideal. Actually, the Third Young Lady has always had a bit of a stern nature, but with no one to support her before, it didn’t come out," Mrs. Qin replied directly, being someone who had followed the old lady to the Duke Zhen’s Mansion as part of her dowry and had vowed to never marry.

The bond between them was naturally not easy for outsiders to match, which is why the old lady often sought Mrs. Qin’s opinions.

"I understand that, but if she holds any grudges from past neglect by the household..." The old lady’s hoarse voice filled the room, tinged with a trace of worry and coldness.

"Madam, after a woman marries, if she doesn’t have her natal family’s support, she’d surely suffer in her husband’s family. Moreover, regardless of Third Miss’s feelings towards the household, the fact remains she’s the legitimate daughter of the main branch in the Duke Zhen’s Mansion. Third Miss is actually a perceptive person; she knows what to do," Mrs. Qin advised.

The old lady suddenly sat up straight and glanced deeply at Mrs. Qin.

"You seem quite approving of Sanya! Speaking so kindly of her today,"

Mrs. Qin was startled in her heart, suppressing her panic, and smiled, "Isn’t it because you, madam, wish to elevate Third Miss? I just go along with what you say! After all, Mr. Gu is no longer who he used to be, so should your attitude towards Third Miss not change as well? It’s not too late to make amends now, and if Third Miss is insightful, she wouldn’t bear a grudge against the household."

The old lady gazed intently into Mrs. Qin’s eyes and closed her own again slightly, "You indeed understand my thoughts. You’re right; times have changed."

...

The next day, the snow stopped, but the cold wind still pierced the bones.

Gu Chengyu strolled on the cleaned blue stone slabs towards the long corridor. Before reaching the corridor, he saw a small figure sitting there from afar.

The Eldest Prince heard footsteps approaching and stopping when they reached him.

"Greetings, Eldest Prince!"

"Are you slacking off again today?" The Eldest Prince’s childish voice rang out, and he deliberately scooted inward.

Gu Chengyu paused, amused by the notion that he’d been mistaken for a eunuch from the palace. The child was quite amusing not to even ask who he was.

"Indeed, enjoying a half-day’s leisure!" Gu Chengyu jested and sat beside the Eldest Prince.

The Eldest Prince turned his head slightly, "Have you studied?"

"Yes! I recently obtained a book on unofficial history, and the stories in it are very interesting. Would you like to hear one?" Gu Chengyu smiled at the Eldest Prince, noticing the child was finally behaving today, bundled up tightly.

"Sure! After all, I’m quite bored,"

Pang Chu watched them interact amiably from a distance, smiling knowingly. The Eldest Prince had been irritable lately, and the servants were extra cautious to avoid displeasing him.

Unexpectedly, the Eldest Prince and Mr. Gu got along so well, which should ease the Emperor’s worries. Thinking of the Emperor, Pang Chu sighed heavily and headed towards the Imperial Study Room.

The Emperor was engrossed in the memorials when he suddenly felt a heavy tightness in his chest. He pressed his chest, and the hand holding the red brush trembled slightly.

"What’s wrong, Your Majesty?" Xiao Quanzi immediately noticed something amiss and asked anxiously.

"Ugh... Quickly, call for Director Zhang!"

The Emperor’s pallid face broke out in sweat, with beads the size of soybeans trickling down his temple. He felt a blanket of darkness before his eyes. He was overcome with waves of dizziness and finally lost consciousness.

"Your Majesty?" Xiao Quanzi was stunned as he watched the Emperor collapse into his arms. Just as he shouted out in surprise, Pang Chu appeared in the Imperial Study Room.

"Quick, go summon Director Zhang."

...

"You describe the scenes in the book as those of the borderlands, which, according to you, are quite different from our Capital. Does that mean the borderlands are exceedingly harsh?"

The Eldest Prince asked, his face filled with seriousness, brows furrowed.

Gu Chengyu was taken aback by this remark, realizing the Eldest Prince was not captivated by the intriguing tales but rather concerned with the livelihood at the borderlands.

"Yes, the borderlands are indeed bitterly cold. The climate there is harsh, making the soil unsuitable for growing crops. Hence, every winter, they rely on the stockpiled food to survive. Yet, how much grain can be produced from such impoverished land? Hunger, lack of warm clothing, and even deaths from starvation and cold are common for the border people. However, the borderlands have no shortage of special products, which can still be exchanged for some Silver Coin,"

Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but pat the Eldest Prince’s adorable little head; the child was indeed quite insightful.

"Are the people of Da Xing living in similar poverty?"

"Indeed! So every winter, they cause troubles at the border, pillaging and looting to get what they want. This provokes the conflicts with us. However, they’re indeed ambitious, willing to wage wars for our Dayan’s vast and fertile lands year after year,"

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