Chapter 255: The Princess of Nanzhao
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Aunt had just said that she would not let Guo Yun’niang come and take advantage of her, but in the end, she was going to take advantage of her new son-in-law. How could she be willing?
Yu Wan said, “You call this taking advantage? Then we’ve been eating free food with your family every day for half a year, isn’t this taking advantage too?”
“How is this the same!” Aunt said angrily.
“Aunt, let Second Brother go,” Yu Wan urged.
Aunt was really embarra.s.sed, but she also understood that she was different from Guo Yun’niang. Although the two families did not live in the same house, they were actually not separated yet. She treated Ah Wan as her biological daughter, so Ah Wan naturally treated Yu Song as her biological brother. Of course, the most important thing was still the new son-in-law. He really did not despise them, the poor relatives, and sincerely thought for them.
!!
“Sister-in-law, let Little Song go,” Madam Jiang said.
Madam Jiang was a person who “could not make decisions” in the Yu family. It had always been her family who made the decision. She was only responsible for nodding. This time, even she spoke. It was not good for Aunt to be coy anymore. She happily and nervously agreed.
She was happy that her family could also have a scholar. She was nervous that this brat would not take it seriously after three days.
This was all in the future. It was already half-succeeded to have a good start. Yu Wan thought highly of her second brother and was very grateful to Yan Jiuchao. When she asked Yan Jiuchao how he could tell, Yan Jiuchao snorted. “I’m not telling you!”
Yu Wan was both angry and amused. She pulled her aunt to the old residence to pack things for her second brother.
“Ah Wan, don’t you think this is a dream?” Aunt still couldn’t believe it when she returned to the old residence. Their family was full of country b.u.mpkins, especially Little Song, who had been beaten up more than he ate rice since he was young. Aunt really couldn’t imagine him obediently holding a book.
Yu Wan thought for a while. It was indeed quite comical. If not for Yan Jiuchao’s sharp eyes, their family would probably never have realized that Yu Song was actually good at studying.
After cleaning up, the dishes were also served. Uncle personally cooked, and Yu Feng helped him make a large table of delicious dishes. There was stewed mutton soup, c.u.min mutton leg, crispy roasted goose, braised carp, lily egg custard, and a few vegetables.
There were adults at one table and a few children at another. Little Bruiser had the demeanor of a big brother and a little uncle, taking good care of his sister and nephews. Uncle didn’t know if Yan Jiuchao was used to eating the food from the countryside or if he was used to eating with them, but he couldn’t eat freely. However, after he drank a few gla.s.ses of strong wine given by Yu Shaoqing, he instantly lost his bearings and talked to Yan Jiuchao like his brother.
After dinner, Madam Jiang took a break with the little munchkins. Yu Wan took the gifts from the carriage and walked towards the Zhao residence. She and Yan Jiuchao had decided not to mention the incident on the day of the wedding to their families. However, Ah Wei had saved her, so she should personally come and thank him.
The Zhao residence’s door was tightly shut. Yu Wan raised her hand and knocked on the door. The door was opened by an old man in his sixties. When the old man saw Yu Wan, his expression was very calm.
Yu Wan smiled. “Are you Ah Wei’s grandfather?”
Everyone in the village knew that it was three generations of people who had moved into the Zhao residence. There was a grandfather, two uncles, and Ah Wei.
The old man’s old eyes were calm.
“Yes, I am. Who are you?” He asked the obvious.
Yu Wan was not sure if Ah Wei had told his family that he had saved her. If he had not, then she would be causing trouble for him if she exposed him. Yu Wan said, “I’m Ah Wan, from the Yu family’s third branch. I came back today and brought something for Ah Wei.”
Ah Wei had once killed the little thief who infiltrated her house. The entire village knew about this. It would not be overboard for Yu Wan to give him a few more gifts.
The old man accepted it. Then, he closed the door without a word.
Yu Wan raised her eyebrows strangely. Ah Wei’s grandfather did not look easy to get along with. It was really difficult for Ah Wei.
The old man listened to Yu Wan’s footsteps walk away before taking a deep breath and revealing a strange expression that he did not dare to show in front of Yu Wan.
Yue Gou walked over. “Grandma, what’s wrong?”
Yue Gou was one of the two young men who accompanied the old man. The other was called Qing Yan. Qing Yan and Ah Wei had gone up the mountain to hunt, leaving him at home to accompany the old man.
The old man placed the basket on the table and frowned. “I sensed the Gu King’s aura just now.”
“The Gu King that you’re talking about is…” Ah Wei’s Gu worms were just some small Gu worms in his eyes. Only their family treasure could be called the Gu King by him.
“That’s right.” The old man nodded.
Yue Gou was stunned at first, then he wondered, “That’s not right. Wasn’t the family treasure already sent to the Nanzhao Nation as a betrothal gift? Why would it appear in the Central Plains? And it’s on her?”
This was also what the old man could not figure out. The two of them had never been to Nanzhao, so how could they obtain the Gu King, which was already a holy artifact of Nanzhao’s royal family? Moreover, it was said that the Gu King had already chosen a master and chose the Little Princess of Nanzhao. Because of this, the Emperor was overjoyed and conferred the Little Princess as the Queen.
The Gu King, who had already chosen a master, would not easily leave his master unless his master was dead, but he had never heard any scandals of the Queen of Nanzhao.
The old man shook his head. “I must have made a mistake.”
… .
After dinner, Yu Wan and Yan Jiuchao set off for the Capital. Yu Shaoqing wanted his daughter to stay for a few more nights, but there was a saying that the bridal chamber could not be empty for the first month. No matter how reluctant he was, he could only urge his daughter to return to the manor quickly.
“Study hard and don’t be silly, understand?” In front of the carriage, Aunt kept reminding Yu Song. When her son was at home, she wished she could chase this little b.a.s.t.a.r.d out. But when he really went out, she was extremely reluctant.
“The Capital isn’t far!” Yu Song muttered. He couldn’t bear to see his mother’s eyes turn red.
Yu Wan said, “That’s right, Aunt. Second Brother and I will come back often to see you. When you’re free, come to the manor more often to see me and Second Brother.”
This was not polite talk. She really wanted to see her family more.
Aunt smiled through her tears. “Silly child, how can a newly wed woman go back to her maiden home whenever she can? She’ll be a joke! Let that kid study hard and don’t always think of coming back!”
Yu Song snorted. “Can’t I come back?”
“Are you asking for a beating again?” Aunt raised her fist. Halfway through, she remembered that this was half a scholar and gritted her teeth before putting it down.
The little munchkins liked Uncle’s stewed mutton soup. In the afternoon, Uncle went to town and bought ten pounds of mutton to stew. He put it in a jar and asked Yu Wan to bring it back to the manor to eat. Naturally, there were a few jars of mutton in the manor, but Yu Wan did not want to reject her family’s kindness.
“Are you really not going to the Capital with me?” Yu Wan asked Little Bruiser after putting the jar in the carriage.
Little Bruiser pouted. “If I don’t study, I’ll go.”
How much did this child dislike studying! However, did he think that he could really escape studying after she left? Dad could read too. Yu Wan pinched his chubby little face and carried the three little lads into the car.
The carriage drove out of Lotus Flower Village. Yu Wan lifted the curtain and looked at her family who was sending her off in the twilight. A strong reluctance surged in her heart. She seemed to be slowly tasting a feeling she had never felt in her previous life.
It was a little sour, painful, and warm.
… .
After returning to the manor, Uncle Wan arranged for Yu Song to stay in the Zhuyue Pavilion. This was the courtyard closest to the library. In Uncle Wan’s words, the Second Young Master was here to study, so he naturally had to find a quiet and elegant courtyard. Yu Wan was worried that Yu Song would feel lonely if he was not close enough to the Qingfeng Courtyard, but Yan Jiuchao said, “He won’t stay for a few days.”
“Huh?” Yu Wan looked at Yan Jiuchao in confusion.
Yan Jiuchao said, “Since he’s studying in the Directorate, he naturally has to stay there.”
Yu Wan was stunned. “The Directorate?”
Did she hear wrongly? That was the most authoritative academy in the Great Zhou. Could her second brother, who only knew the Three Character Cla.s.sic and the Thousand Character Cla.s.sic, really enter such an arrogant place?
Yan Jiuchao said casually, “I can stuff people in.” As for what cla.s.s he would enter after stuffing him in, it would depend on his own ability.
“By the way, I forgot to tell you that Zhao Heng is also in the Directorate.”
“Ahem!” Yu Wan, who was drinking tea, choked. “You didn’t do it on purpose, did you?”
“No.” Yan Jiuchao spread his hands.
“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?” Yu Wan widened her eyes.
Yan Jiuchao said innocently, “I just remembered.”
Yu Wan held her forehead. What kind of ill fate was this? Zhao Heng was actually also in the Directorate. Then wouldn’t her second brother become Zhao Heng’s cla.s.smate?
“In your dreams.” Yan Jiuchao saw through her thoughts at a glance. Although Zhao Heng was a jerk, his grades are real. It was said that Gao Yuan admired his talent very much and had praised him more than once. There were at least ten levels between Yu Song and him. To be Zhao Heng’s cla.s.smate? Long way.
Yu Wan crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. “I suspect you did it on purpose, but I don’t have any evidence.”
Her second brother hated Zhao Heng so much. If he found out that Zhao Heng was in the Directorate with him, wouldn’t he study hard?