Chapter 172.1
The news about the collapse of the hanging bridge soon spread among the common people. Even the elderly woman and Old Chief had learned about it.
However, the children were fine, so they didn"t delve into it too much.
Next month was the metropolitan exam. Although cla.s.ses in the Imperial Academy had yet to start again, Gu Jiao still urged her family to study every day.
Xiao Liulang who had been shoved into the study room... felt unspeakably bitter!
On the tenth day of the month, Gu Jiao went to the Marquis Estate.
She kept those worrying incidents that happened in the family from Yao shi. Grannie Fang came to Bishui Alley every once in a while and knew something, but Gu Jiao also told her not to tell Yao shi anything.
Grannie Fang was now more and more obedient to Gu Jiao and really hadn"t said a word to Yao shi.
Yao shi was in good condition.
Gu Jiao thought that if it went on like this, it would not be long before she could stop taking antidepressants.
"The flowers in the plum blossom garden are blooming. Let"s go for a walk there." Yao shi said to her daughter.
Gu Jiao replied, "Okay."
After a brief pause, Gu Jiao said to Grannie Fang, "Call Gu Jinyu over."
"Huh?" Grannie Fang was shocked.
Wasn"t the eldest young miss always at odds with the second young miss? Why did she want to call her all of a sudden?
Yao shi also looked at his daughter in surprise, and then told Grannie Fang, "Go ahead."
"Yes." Grannie Fang went to Gu Jinyu"s courtyard.
Hearing that Yao shi and Gu Jiao were calling her to take a stroll in the plum blossom garden together, Gu Jinyu said nothing, changed her clothes and went over.
Recently, there was the matter of the broken bridge among the common folks, and the harem was also more peaceful than in previous years. Thus, Imperial Concubine Shu, who would always call her into the palace to accompany her at this time of year, didn’t summon her this time.
Gu Jinyu came to the plum blossom garden.
When she saw Yao shi and Gu Jiao sitting together affectionately, she felt sad, but she walked over with a smile and greeted, "Mom, sister!"
Yao shi"s eyes rested on her thin coat and said with a hint of displeasure, "Why did you come out wearing such thin clothes? Are you not afraid of freezing? How do your maids serve you?"
Gu Jinyu smiled innocently, saying, "I was anxious to see Mom and sister. I was careless in a moment of happiness."
Yao shi asked the servants to bring over a thick cloak for her to wear.
Gu Jinyu looked at Gu Jiao and said gently, "Does sister like plum blossoms?"
"En." Gu Jiao replied perfunctorily.
Gu Jinyu followed, "Then I"ll pick some, put them into a vase and send them to sister later."
"No need." She didn’t particularly like it.
After walking for a while, Yao shi couldn"t walk any more.
Seeing that the two sisters were in a good mood, she said to them, "I"m going to sit in the pavilion for a while. You two continue to stroll, don"t worry about me."
Gu Jinyu thought Gu Jiao would refuse. After all, Gu Jiao never liked being with her.
But Gu Jiao actually didn"t.
Gu Jiao walked on silently.
Gu Jinyu was a little confused.
Did this older sister of hers take the wrong medicine today?
She followed suspiciously.
Gu Jiao walked out of the plum blossom garden.
"Where does sister want to go?" Gu Jinyu asked with a smile.
"Just walk around casually." Gu Jiao answered.
At the mention of this, Gu Jinyu"s sense of superiority arose spontaneously. She said, "Marquis Ding"an Estate is very big. It is said that it used to be the residence of a w.a.n.gye, and then it was given to grandfather by the former emperor. Grandfather likes the fish pond ahead the most. Would sister like to go there and take a look?"
"En."
Gu Jiao unexpectedly agreed.
Gu Jinyu was surprised again.
She took Gu Jiao to the pavilion near the fish pond, where fish food was kept all year round so that the masters of the estate could feed the small fishes here anytime they felt like. However, now that the pond was frozen, it wasn’t easy to feed them.
Gu Jinyu: "If sister likes the Marquis Estate, you can consider moving back here. I can vacate the Grace Courtyard for my sister to move in..."
"What"s that over there?" Gu Jiao suddenly pointed to the back hill and asked.
Gu Jinyu"s words were interrupted and she displayed an unpleasant look, but she still answered patiently, "It"s the back hill where our three older brothers often go."
Gu Jiao: "Who went there today?" There were movements in the back hill, but Gu Jinyu"s ears were simply unable to hear it.
"It seems to be second brother." Gu Jinyu remembered that when she pa.s.sed by his courtyard just now, she saw her second brother heading to the back hill.
"Madame is calling you." Gu Jiao told her.
"Huh?" Gu Jinyu looked back, "Why didn"t I hear anything?"
Gu Jiao kept her face straight and said, "I think I heard it."
Gu Jinyu: "Then, does sister want to go back with me?"
Gu Jiao: "I don"t want to."
Gu Jinyu：“…”
Talking to this person could seriously make you angry even if she didn’t have any ill intention behind her words.
Gu Jinyu pinched her finger together and said, "In that case, sister can wait for me here. I"ll be right back."
After Gu Jinyu left, Gu Jiao walked towards the back hill.
Gu Chengfeng was currently picking fruits in the back hill. He simply had no idea what kind of wind had blown for Gu Chenglin to suddenly want to eat the wild fruits here.
The fruits in the back hill were red, slightly smaller than hawthorns, and it could survive the heavy snow for a long time. Its taste was actually not good, but Gu Chenglin, with his childish nature, always loved to eat this kind of strange stuff.
In the middle of picking fruits, Gu Chengfeng suddenly felt a murderous aura coming at him.
He quickly dodged the attack, tapping his feet to the ground and promptly jumping away from his spot.
When he saw that it was Gu Jiao, he froze in an instant.