Gu Xuyang seemed to be forgotten in the Imperial College. Although he was a prince, he had been staying in the academy all the time. He even spent the New Year there. People just thought he was putting on an empty show. They assumed the eunuch who sent him to the Imperial College back then was his relative.
Because of this rumor, Gu Xuyang's days in the Imperial College became even harder.
It was just because he had neither power nor influence, and he had offended the grandson of Grand Tutor Ye, the so - called Young Grand Tutor Ye.
The Young Grand Tutor Ye was also a teacher in the Imperial College, but he didn't get along well with Grand Tutor Ye. He was a disciple of Master Li. It was said that Crown Prince Gu Chen was his classmate.
Gu Xuyang was targeted by the Young Grand Tutor Ye not because of Gu Chen, but because of Shen Qingshan, the former - former prime minister.
Shen Qingshan stole the family heirloom of Master Li, which almost killed Master Li. Later, the Shen family was destroyed. The Young Grand Tutor Ye then took this grudge out on Gu Xuyang. His reason was well - founded. Gu Xuyang had received favors from the Shen family when he was a child, so it was only natural for him to pay off the debt for the Shen family now.
At the age of eight, Gu Xuyang would still argue with the Young Grand Tutor Ye, but at seventeen, he became increasingly silent.
It was the beginning of the month again. The senior brother who had once shown Gu Xuyang around the academy happily brought some pastries from home to share with him.
The senior brother's biological mother had passed away early. His step - mother was in charge of the family, and his father favored his younger brother. But he had the support of his maternal grandparents. It was his uncle who pulled some strings for him to study under Grand Tutor Ye. The pastries were sent by his aunt, along with some clothes.
Looking at these things, Gu Xuyang felt envious. When he was a child, he disliked the Queen's exhortations, but now he envied them.
Gu Xuyang was not short of money. When he left the palace, the Queen had stuffed a lot of gold, silver and jewels for him. Over the years, although he hadn't returned to the palace, the Emperor had given him everything he was supposed to have.
He wasn't short of money, but he was short of love.
Taking advantage of lowering his head, Gu Xuyang wiped away his tears and said to his senior brother with a smile, "It's a rare day off today. I'll go out and buy some good wine and dishes."
The senior brother wasn't short of love but was short of money. He rubbed his hands and discussed with Gu Xuyang, "Can you help me buy a storybook on the way? I want the latest one by Gu Wanzhu."
"I'll save money to pay you back next month!"
Gu Xuyang nodded in agreement.
...
This wasn't the first time Gu Xuyang had helped buy storybooks. He went to the bookstore with ease and picked up the storybook he had reserved.
When he was leaving, Gu Xuyang suddenly saw an acquaintance. He couldn't hide his joy and shouted, "Auntie!"
The acquaintance was Caixing, who had been expelled from the palace by the Queen many years ago.
Caixing was getting old and no longer had the charm she had in the palace. She was squeezing in the crowd, scrambling for the new storybook with others.
Hearing Gu Xuyang's voice, Caixing was a bit surprised. She squeezed out of the crowd and talked with Gu Xuyang in a corner.
Gu Xuyang had inherited Cui's good looks. The young man was good - looking, but there was a gloomy air around his eyebrows. At this moment, in front of Caixing, he showed a rare bit of joy. He stuffed the money bag around his waist into Caixing's hand and asked carefully, "Auntie, can you send something to me one more time? Just say you're my relative from far away..."
Before Gu Xuyang could finish, Caixing pushed the money bag back. She sighed and said, "Your Highness, the maid has a hard time in the Yin family. If the master and mistress know that I'm still in contact with you, they will surely drive me out."
"I've been away from the palace for many years. I'm just counting on the mistress to take me with her when she enters the palace during the New Year festivals so that I can see Her Majesty. Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for me."
Gu Xuyang took back the money bag a bit disappointedly. He forced a smile and said, "Auntie, are you here to buy a storybook? Coincidentally, I bought one. I'll sell it to you."
Although Caixing didn't want to accept it, she really needed a storybook. After hesitating for a long time, she took the storybook and gave the money to Gu Xuyang.
In order to make Caixing accept the storybook, Gu Xuyang took the money.
After Caixing left, Gu Xuyang used the money to buy a few meat buns. He put the meat buns on his chest, pretending they were bought for him by Caixing.
...
Storybooks were hard to come by. Caixing was the first servant in the Yin Mansion to buy one.
"Wow! You really bought it? Nurse Caixing, you're amazing!" Yin Susu got the storybook and couldn't wait to show off in front of her friend.
She named her friend directly and said, "Humph, Chen Wanqiu, if we're going to break up our friendship, so be it. Even without you, I can still buy the storybook."
The grown - up Qiuqiu was sitting at the table. She was wearing a dark - gold long dress and had jade bracelets on her wrists. She was bright and generous.
Qiuqiu touched her jade bracelet, thinking of her good friend, and chuckled, "Okay then, I'll tell Baozhu about this. I won't allow you to go to Baozhu's manor to play."
"You, Chen Wanqiu! Qiuqiu, I was wrong. Please forgive me. Don't tell Baozhu. Qiuqiu, my dearest Qiuqiu." Yin Susu changed her tune and pleaded in a low voice.
When she needed something from others, Yin Susu had to give in.
Since Yin Susu had taken the initiative to soften her attitude, Qiuqiu didn't make things difficult for her. "I'll take you to Baozhu's manor in a few days, but you can't steal the Crown Prince's pastries anymore. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you."
"I've asked someone to reserve two limited - edition storybooks for you. Send someone to pick them up."
Yin Susu was extremely happy. She ran towards Qiuqiu. Her flying skirt made a beautiful arc in the air.
Putting her arms around Qiuqiu, Yin Susu complained, "Cousin is so stingy. He won't even let me into Baozhu's manor. What a miser."
Shen Baozhu's manor was very large. As her good friend, Yin Susu could not only enter and leave freely but also had a small courtyard of her own. But two months ago, Yin Susu had stolen the Crown Prince's pastries in the manor and was banned from entering by the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had a very high status in the manor. No one dared to disobey his order. Only Qiuqiu, who had the same high status as him, dared to take Yin Susu in.
Qiuqiu gently patted Yin Susu's back and said, "Who asked you not to control your mouth? Brother Mingli has been busy taking care of the children in recent years. It was rare for him to take time to make a pastry for the Crown Prince, and you stole it. You should be lucky that the Crown Prince didn't beat you up."
Yin Susu took Qiuqiu's hand and coquettishly said, "I know, I know. By the way, Qiuqiu, help me think of a way. I want to intern in the Ministry of Works. How can I persuade my parents?"
Yin's father and mother were relatively traditional. They hoped that Yin Susu would get married and have children, rather than become an official in the court like some noble ladies in the capital.
Originally, Yin Susu had the same idea, but all the people around her were so motivated and studious that she felt like a slacker. So she had the new idea of entering the Ministry of Works to study.
Qiuqiu didn't have any good ideas either. She patted Yin Susu's shoulder and said, "How about I take you to the manor tomorrow and let Baozhu help you come up with an idea?"
Yin Susu thought it was a good idea. She hugged Qiuqiu's arm and thanked her repeatedly.
Just as they were chatting, Yin Susu suddenly noticed that Caixing was still standing outside the door and hadn't left. She asked, "Nurse, is there something wrong?"
Caixing nervously rubbed her hands and whispered about Gu Xuyang coming to see her, "Miss Susu, can the maid go and visit His Highness the Third Prince?"
The thing about being bullied by Gu Xuyang when she was a child was too long ago. Yin Susu had already forgotten it. She didn't know the story of the previous generation either. She just regarded the Third Prince as the same as other princes and directly gave her permission.
After Caixing left, she put her arms around Qiuqiu and whispered, "Nurse Caixing is so amazing. She can do everything and even has a private connection with the Third Prince."
Qiuqiu, who knew the inside story, was a bit helpless. "No wonder you like Brother Mingli's cooking. It turns out your personalities are a bit similar."
Yin Susu was happy. Yan Mingli was Chen Miaochun's husband, a well - known good husband and good father in the capital. If she was like Yan Mingli, wasn't Qiuqiu praising her for being a good wife and mother in the future?
She justifiably accepted Qiuqiu's praise.