Gu Liyue nearly spat out the water in her mouth. A marriage proposal?
Lu Yunxi hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I didn't do it on purpose today. I know your fourth brother and Qin Caiyin are deeply in love, and I have no intention of breaking them up. Moreover, Qin Caiyin is usually straightforward. I think she... must not be the kind of person who only cares about appearance. If they can be together, I will... will... surely bless them. But if, by any chance, things don't work out and your fourth brother is rejected, I will take responsibility for him."
She said so, but when she said "surely bless them", Lu Yunxi couldn't help choking with sobs, feeling heart - broken.
Gu Liyue didn't know how to console her anymore, so she just kept silent.
Compared with Lu Yunxi's uneasiness, the whole Gu family was much calmer. Seeing his son injured, although Gu Zhongxian felt a twinge of pain, he still said sternly, "Serves you right. If you hadn't been so wayward on weekdays, how could this have happened? This lash was already a light punishment."
Lord Gu had taken his intact nephew into the palace and brought back an injured one. Naturally, he felt a bit sad. After consulting the doctor, he earnestly admonished Gu Chengzhi, "Zhi'er, you should learn from this experience. After suffering such pain, you should understand in the future that a real man should have lofty aspirations. It's really inappropriate to fool around all day long. Do you understand?"
Gu Chengzhi quickly nodded and said, "Uncle is right to teach me a lesson."
Lord Gu looked at Gu Chengzhi carefully. He thought the wound was terrifying, but it wasn't life - threatening. Afraid that his nephew might be too bothered by it, he added, "A man's appearance is the least important thing. Many generations of your ancestors were generals. Not to mention such a minor injury, even life and death are fated. As long as you act uprightly, nothing else matters. You are a member of the Gu family and a pillar of the country."
Gu Chengzhi nodded again and said, "Chengzhi will listen to Uncle's teachings respectfully."
Lord Gu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He thought this incident was not a bad thing for his nephew. Usually, he would cry and seek his grandmother's protection at the slightest thing, but this time he didn't show the slightest dissatisfaction. He had really grown up.
On the other hand, after seeing her son's face, Mrs. Qin immediately drove to the Qin family and told her elder sister - in - law all about it. "Anyway, it seems that Zhi'er's appearance may not fully recover. But even his uncle praised him secretly, saying that he had become much more sensible. It can be considered a blessing in disguise."
Madam Qin clapped her hands and said, "Among your four sons in the Gu family, only Zhi'er was too unruly. Now this is really something to celebrate."
The two of them were even more delighted and got together to discuss the marriage matters of the children from the two families.
After seeing off her younger sister - in - law, Madam Qin thought for a while and then went to Qin Caiyin's yard. She exaggerated the matter and said, "Your fourth cousin suffered a great loss this time. I heard that when he was carried back to the Gu family, he was unconscious."
Qin Caiyin was stunned, then asked worriedly, "Why is Princess Yunxi so angry? Is it okay for Liyue to enter the palace? Will the princess do something to Liyue?"
Madam Qin hesitated for a moment and said vaguely, "No..."
Qin Caiyin became even more anxious. She stood up and said, "Mother, how can it be okay? Since Princess Yunxi is angry with Fourth Cousin Gu, and Liyue is Fourth Cousin Gu's younger sister, she will surely suffer. Oh, what should we do?"
Madam Qin got up angrily, glared at her daughter, and stormed out of the room. But in her heart, she was really worried. She originally thought that the two children had grown up and might have developed some other feelings, but now it seemed that her daughter was still as dull - witted as ever.
Could it be that Zhi'er had finally come to his senses?
It made sense. Caiyin was a girl of good character and appearance, and she had a cousin - brother relationship with Zhi'er. Although girls usually mature earlier than boys, there were always exceptions. Maybe Zhi'er was that exception.
Once a daughter got married, she would naturally focus on her husband.
Madam Qin put this matter aside. She was very busy recently. In a month, it would be the wedding of Second Cousin Gu and Yuyin. And the second branch of the family was not very honest. She had to be on guard all the time so that no one could take advantage of the situation.
Qin Caiyin was extremely anxious in the room. Her cousin had an accident. What would happen to Liyue? She always asked her elder sister for advice when she had something to do. So she lifted her skirt and ran to her elder sister's yard. But she saw that the maids and grannies were surrounding her elder sister, and there were a lot of things for her elder sister to handle. She stood at the door of her elder sister's yard for a long time, and only one maid greeted her to come in. After that, no one noticed her.
Forget it. Her elder sister was also busy.
After much thought, Qin Caiyin decided to go to the Gu family to find out the truth. Early the next morning, she told her mother and called a carriage to go to the Gu family.
...
Gu Liyue had accompanied Lu Yunxi in the palace for four days. Although it was said that she was accompanying Lu Yunxi, in fact, she accompanied the Empress Dowager to do her religious lessons every morning and evening. The Empress Dowager worshipped Buddha and didn't allow the palace servants to pay their respects in the morning and evening. She only caught Lu Yunxi, saying that her nature was too naughty and she needed to practice well.
But Lu Yunxi was a naughty girl and always tried every means to sneak away. It was Gu Liyue, who accompanied them, who always counted the Buddhist prayer beads attentively.
After the Empress Dowager finished her evening lesson, she saw Gu Liyue still counting the Buddhist prayer beads whole - heartedly. She had a sudden thought and asked, "How many rounds have you counted?"
Gu Liyue replied, "One hundred and twelve."
The Empress Dowager shook her head slightly and said, "The Buddhist prayer beads should be counted for one hundred and one rounds. You counted eleven rounds more."
Gu Liyue was a bit confused and lowered her head, saying, "Your servant is incompetent."
The Empress Dowager shook her head again and asked, "Have you ever worshipped Buddha before?"
"Never. After I returned to the Gu family, my grandmother occasionally recited Buddhist scriptures, but not very often, and she never took me to worship Buddha."
The Empress Dowager slowly got up, motioning for Gu Liyue to support her out. She smiled faintly and said, "People turn to Buddha when they can't achieve what they desire. Your grandmother has a simple mind and has no desires."
Gu Liyue paused for a moment. It seemed to be true. If her grandmother had any desire in this life, it might be to pray for her father's safety. But after she came back, even this little desire was gone.
The Empress Dowager added, "Life is too bitter. If one doesn't worship Buddha, how can one endure it?"
Gu Liyue was silent for a long time and then said, "Can worshipping Buddha really relieve the bitterness?"
The Empress Dowager looked at Gu Liyue in surprise. She really thought for a while, then nodded and said, "You're right. It's just a kind of spiritual support."
She asked the granny to fetch some incense and said, "I think you have a strong affinity with Buddha. You were very attentive when counting the Buddhist prayer beads. These are a gift for you."
Gu Liyue quickly thanked her and respectfully held the two boxes of incense.
The Empress Dowager asked someone to find out where Lu Yunxi was, then sighed, "Keeping her by my side always makes her suffer."
Gu Liyue replied, "Parents who love their children will plan for their future in the long run. The princess's parents are not around, and you take care of everything for her. Naturally, you think a lot for her."
"But how much longer can I protect her? With her nature..." The Empress Dowager didn't continue. Her eyes were very cloudy.
Gu Liyue quickly said, "They say that children and grandchildren have their own good fortune. The princess's lively nature is not a bad thing. In my opinion, there's no need to demand that everyone be the same."
The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows and looked at her, then laughed and said, "You're really good at talking, and you're right. Well, you've been in the palace for several days. Go back home today."