sjar Chapter 621 This art style, this handwriting looks familiar...Gu Lu!
Chapter 621 This art style, this handwriting looks familiar...Gu Lu!
The main courtyard of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Gu Qingchen rushed into the courtyard carrying the long box, his face beaming with undisguised pride. "Mother! Mother! I got the Startling Bow back!"
Chu Ruohan was sitting in the yard basking in the sun when she heard her daughter's voice. She put down the book in her hand and a smile appeared on her face.
"Oh? How did you get it back?" she asked.
Gu Qingchen vividly recounted how he used the comic book to "lure" the young prince, how he pretended to be "unhappy" about the Jinghong Bow, and how he got the young prince to "voluntarily" return it.
As Chu Ruohan listened, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.
Looking at her daughter's proud little face, she felt both helpless and gratified.
"You," Chu Ruohan reached out and gently tapped her forehead, "you'd better think twice before trying to be clever next time."
"I'm not going to try anything funny again!" Gu Qingchen said confidently, clutching the bow. "Getting the bow back this time was exhausting. I'll never give away Father's treasures again!"
Chu Ruohan just smiled and didn't say anything more.
She knew that this girl, though she could say nice things, would probably forget them the next time something new happened.
At the same time, in the imperial palace, in the imperial study.
Zhao Yunci couldn't help but laugh as she listened to the eunuch's report on the Crown Prince's "deal" that day.
"This An'er has learned to make choices," Zhao Yunci chuckled. "However, that Gu Qingchen is indeed a shrewd little man."
He picked up the comic book that Gu Qingchen had given to the Crown Prince from the table and casually flipped through a few pages.
This art style, this handwriting... looks familiar...Gu Lu!
This little girl certainly knows how to find outside help!
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince seems very interested in this comic book," the eunuch said respectfully.
“Hmm.” Zhao Yunci nodded. “Go to the Imperial Household Department and find some artists who can draw comic strips. Draw more stories like these and send them to the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
"Yes."
Zhao Yunci looked at the comic book and recalled Gu Qingchen's smug little face.
He shook his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Gu Junze has indeed raised a fine daughter; she's quite interesting."
The main courtyard of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has been unusually lively these past few days. It's not the kind of liveliness associated with banquets and guests, but rather the sheer number of visiting cards being handed in by the gatekeepers that has left Chu Ruohan somewhat dazzled.
Without exception, all of these posts were for Attorney Gu.
“Madam, this is the fifth box.” Haitang placed a carved wooden box on the table, which was full of red and gold-painted invitations.
She had a smile on her face, but also a hint of helplessness.
Chu Ruohan picked up a document and glanced at it casually; it was from the Ministry of Revenue.
She chuckled softly and put the post back in the box.
"Everyone wants to be related to our family, and this Brother Lu has become quite the hot commodity." Chu Ruohan picked up her teacup and took a sip.
Haitang nodded: "That's right. Just a few days ago, Young Master Gu was still the 'unfilial son' of the third branch of the Gu family. Now he has transformed into the second-highest scorer in the imperial examination, a young talent praised by the Emperor himself."
"Those people would love to send their daughters to their homes."
Chu Ruohan put down her teacup. Of course, she knew what these people were thinking.
Gu Lu passed the imperial examination with flying colors and gained the emperor's favor. More importantly, he had the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion behind him.
This isn't a marriage proposal; it's clearly an attempt to use Gu Lu to get in touch with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
"Keep all these posts safe. Let Brother Lu read them when he gets back," Chu Ruohan instructed.
"Yes," Haitang replied, and went out carrying the box.
Chu Ruohan looked out the window; the sunlight was just right.
She knew in her heart that Gu Lu had made a brilliant move. He had thoroughly exposed the scandals of the third branch of the Gu family, both settling his personal score and silencing public opinion.
The Emperor and Gu Junze's tacit approval allowed Gu Lu to escape unscathed and even gain widespread fame.
However, this marriage is ultimately his.
As an elder, all she could do was to help him make informed decisions.
Just then, the gatekeeper came to report: "Madam, Yang from the third branch of the family requests an audience."
Chu Ruohan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Yang? What's she doing here?
"Let her in," Chu Ruohan said calmly.
A moment later, Madam Yang walked in with small, quick steps.
She wore a plain dress, her face was bare of makeup, and she looked somewhat haggard. Her eyes held anxiety, yet she forced herself to remain calm.
She walked up to Chu Ruohan and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Duchess."
"Please sit down," Chu Ruohan gestured.
Yang sat down, placing her hands folded on her knees, her fingertips fidgeting nervously.
She glanced at Haitang, who understood, left, and closed the door.
After the incident at the Buddhist temple, the third branch of the Gu family suffered a severe blow.
Although Master Gu managed to retain his official position, his reputation was damaged, and he became much more low-key in the court.
Gu Chengye was also affected and has not yet recovered. The entire third branch of the family is now relying on Yang Shi's efforts to keep it afloat.
"Sister-in-law, I've come today to ask you for a favor," Yang finally spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse.
Chu Ruohan didn't speak, she just looked at her quietly.
Yang took a deep breath, as if she had made a great decision.
"Gu Lu... He has now achieved the second-highest rank in the imperial examination, which is a great joy. But his marriage is still unsettled. People outside are saying that he is not on good terms with his family and refuses to marry."
She paused, glanced at Chu Ruohan's face, and seeing that she was still calm, she continued, "Sister-in-law, as you know, although Gu Lu is not my child, he is still a descendant of the third branch of the family."
“He has made something of himself now, and we, as his elders, are happy for him.”
Chu Ruohan sneered inwardly as she listened to her grandiloquent words.
Happy?
It's likely that seeing Gu Lu's current success, they want to bring him back to the third branch of the family so they can use his influence to revitalize it.
"Sister-in-law, you must have seen the invitations we've received recently. They're all from the families of high-ranking officials and vice ministers; their families are all quite well-off."
As Yang spoke, a hint of cautious flattery crept into her voice, "Chengye's mother, that is, my mother-in-law, she... she's been confused her whole life, but Gu Lu is still a member of the Gu family. You see, could you..."
Yang didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was already quite clear.
She wanted Chu Ruohan to help Gu Lu choose a marriage partner, preferably one that would benefit the third branch of the family.
Chu Ruohan put down her teacup with a crisp sound. She looked directly into Yang's eyes and said calmly, "Yang, what you said is somewhat inappropriate."
Yang's body stiffened, and her face turned pale.
“Gu Lu has already moved out of the third branch of the Gu family. He now lives outside and has opened his own residence. His marriage should be decided by himself.”
Chu Ruohan said calmly, "You know he's fallen out with his family. You know perfectly well what his relationship with the third wife is like."
Yang lowered her eyes and clenched her fingers even tighter.
She knew perfectly well that Gu Lu had completely severed ties with the third branch of the family this time.
Master Gu personally dealt with Madam Gu in order to quell Gu Lu's anger and preserve his own official reputation.
Even so, Gu Lu never set foot in the third branch of the family.
“Sister-in-law, I…I didn’t mean that,” Madam Yang hurriedly explained. “I just felt that Gu Lu is, after all, a descendant of the Gu family.”
"We can't let him do whatever he wants with this marriage. He's young and naive. What if he marries a scoundrel? Wouldn't that ruin his future?"
Chu Ruohan looked at her with a discerning gaze.
Yang claimed she was acting in Gu Lu's best interests, but in reality, she was acting in the best interests of the third branch of the family.
She wanted to use Gu Lu's marriage to re-establish contact with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and even hoped to use Gu Lu to help the third branch of the family regain its former glory.
"Gu Lu is not a reckless person. He has his own opinions and judgments." Chu Ruohan's tone grew colder. "Besides, he is now the second-place scholar in the imperial examination, an official position personally bestowed by the Emperor. Who dares to say he is disreputable?"
Yang was speechless. She knew Chu Ruohan was telling the truth.
Gu Lu's status is different now, and he has no connection to those so-called "unorthodox" things at all.
“Sister-in-law, I understand what you’re saying.” Madam Yang’s voice lowered, with a hint of pleading. “But the children are all grown up now, so we have to choose our daughter-in-law carefully. Only a good daughter-in-law can bring prosperity to three generations.”
Her words struck a chord with Chu Ruohan.
“That’s true.” Chu Ruohan’s tone softened a bit. “Choosing a good wife is of paramount importance to a family.”
“Especially for a talent like Gu Lu, his wife should be a virtuous helper, capable of managing the household, and able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.”
Madam Yang nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with anticipation.
She thought Chu Ruohan had agreed.