In the afternoon.
"Baozhu, what do you think I'm suited for? I don't want to just stay at home after getting married. That would be so embarrassing," Yin Susu pleaded, tugging at Shen Baozhu's arm.
Shen Baozhu was looking through the memorials submitted by the Ministry of Works. Since she was twelve, she had been helping the emperor handle government affairs. Thanks to her assistance, the Great Yong Empire enjoyed national peace and stability. Even when disasters occurred, they were quickly dealt with.
Hearing Yin Susu's question, Shen Baozhu put down the memorial in her hand and thought seriously. "How about the Ministry of Rites? You can be in charge of all kinds of ceremonies in the Great Yong Empire. During palace banquets and the New Year, you can decorate the palace."
Yin Susu's eyes lit up. She liked this job and immediately decided to go to the Ministry of Revenue!
After deciding on the general direction for her future, Yin Susu propped her face up and frowned. "But my parents want me to get married. Baozhu, what if the man I marry wants me to stay at home?"
"Smack!"
A letter gently tapped Yin Susu on the head. Gu Chen walked over and handed the letter in his hand to Shen Baozhu. He said helplessly, "Since you've thought of this, why don't you choose a husband who listens to you?"
When it came to choosing a husband, Yin Susu's face flushed slightly, and she began to fantasize. "I want to choose a husband with a good family background, lots of money, good looks, who will revolve around me and come at my beck and call."
"Yin Susu, it's broad daylight. What kind of daydream are you having?" Gu Chen was speechless towards his cousin. He stood behind Shen Baozhu and massaged her shoulders.
Yin Susu shook her head, looking very smart. "I'm not daydreaming. I will meet such a man, and so will Baozhu in the future!"
Gu Chen looked at the person in front of him and couldn't help but imagine himself in that role. He was the crown prince, with a good family background. The entire Great Yong Empire belonged to him, so he was very rich. His looks had been praised, so he could be considered good-looking. Moreover, he revolved around Baozhu every day and came to her without her having to beckon. He should be a good husband...
Shen Baozhu thought for a while and recommended that Yin Susu wait at the entrance of the Imperial College.
The students at the Imperial College had excellent family backgrounds. Although Yin Susu's requirements were high, if she looked carefully, she might really find someone.
Yin Susu unconditionally trusted Baozhu. She pounced on Baozhu and hugged her, coquettishly saying, "Baozhu is so amazing! I'll go look for him then!"
Gu Chen felt heartache seeing this. He pulled Yin Susu away. "You're such an adult, but you're always hugging. It's really improper."
"Stingy!" Yin Susu made a face at Gu Chen.
...
At the entrance of the Imperial College.
Hearing that someone had brought him something, Gu Xuyang didn't dare to waste a moment and ran as fast as he could.
When he saw Caixing standing at the entrance with a food box, Gu Xuyang slowed down. His eyes were filled with mist. He lowered his head to adjust his emotions and then walked over quickly.
Caixing had made a bowl of wontons and some side dishes according to Gu Xuyang's childhood taste. "You've loved spicy food since childhood. I cooked a bowl of wontons for you with chicken soup, and there are also some side dishes."
Gu Xuyang couldn't wait to eat the wontons. He pulled Caixing to a street stall and borrowed the tables and chairs to eat.
He still remembered Caixing's concerns and was about to ask when he heard Caixing explain in a long-winded way. "Miss Susu is kind-hearted and allowed me to come and see you, Xuyang. You mustn't hold a grudge against the queen and the crown prince. That bitch... that Cui family is so immoral. The queen still has headaches and heart palpitations, and the crown prince is still recuperating his body..."
Gu Xuyang listened quietly. After finishing the wontons, he replied with a bitter smile. "I know. Teacher Xiao told me and took me through some things. I owe the queen and the crown prince. The queen was very kind to me. It was my stubbornness."
When Gu Xuyang first came to the Imperial College, he was still a bit arrogant. After eating and drinking his fill, he ordered his senior brothers around. It wasn't until Teacher Xiao appeared.
Teacher Xiao was very strict. He directly threw Gu Xuyang into a beggar's den, forcing him to behave. Then he took him to live in the countryside for a month and forced him to work, making him have no time to think about things in the palace. It wasn't until the day the crown prince ascended the throne that Gu Xuyang heard the people's expectations for the future in the countryside.
A good crown prince and a good king seemed to be very important to the common people.
Caixing saw his appearance and felt both heartache and relief. She had personally raised Gu Xuyang. Knowing that he was the child of the Cui family, after her initial anger, she still had some affection for him. She was also afraid that Gu Xuyang would hate the queen and the crown prince. Now that he could let go of his grudges, she was relieved.
"By the way, I also brought you some pairs of socks. What size shoes do you wear? While Miss Susu is in a good mood, I'll make you a new pair of shoes." Caixing took out the socks and also handed over some small items such as hair ribbons and belts.
Gu Xuyang took the things and was very touched. He could tell that these things had been made a long time ago. It must be that Caixing hadn't had the chance to give them to him.
Caixing looked at Gu Xuyang tenderly and talked about her life in the Yin family. She was the queen's personal maid. Although she had made a mistake, the Yin family still took her in. It wasn't until a few years ago when Yin Susu turned ten that Madam Yin asked Caixing to serve her.
When it came to Yin Susu, Caixing had even more to say. When she saw Yin Susu, she seemed to see the young queen.
Caixing smiled and said, "Miss Susu is a good girl. I hope she has a good future. I hope I can hold her little daughter in the future."
Not being able to take good care of the crown prince was already Caixing's regret. But thinking of Yin Susu's child, Caixing felt full of energy again.
Gu Xuyang was stunned. "Will you follow her when she gets married?"
Caixing nodded with a smile. "Naturally. If Miss Susu is lucky enough to marry in the capital, I can still see the crown prince a few more times."
For Caixing, Madam Yin's asking her to serve Yin Susu and even allowing her to accompany Yin Susu when she got married was a great kindness.
Gu Xuyang lowered his head slightly and pinched his palm. The words asking Caixing to stay with him were stuck in his throat. He knew that in Caixing's heart, Yin Susu must be more important. Why should he humiliate himself?
When they were about to part, Gu Xuyang still couldn't help but say those words.
Just as Gu Xuyang had guessed, Caixing refused. "Your Highness, I'm a member of the Yin family."
Caixing also noticed Gu Xuyang's uneasiness and suggested, "Your Highness, you're also at the age to get married. Find a good marriage for yourself."
Marriage, wedding...
Gu Xuyang took the things and went back. He lay on the bed, mumbling these two words.
"Yo, are you in love?" His senior brother heard Gu Xuyang's mumbling and deliberately waved the thing in his hand.
It was a new novel by Gu Wanzhu, and it was a limited edition.
Gu Xuyang squinted his eyes. "Where did you get the money?"
The novel his senior brother had asked Gu Xuyang to buy was just a regular edition, while the limited edition was a hundred times more expensive than the regular one.
After showing off to his poor junior brother, the senior brother said proudly, "My uncle found me a marriage. This was given to me by my future wife. She saved up for a long time! I have to work hard to earn some money these days and give her a gold hairpin in return."
Gu Xuyang hesitated. "The limited edition is expensive, but it's not as expensive as a gold hairpin. The collector's edition is the price of a gold hairpin..."
"You don't understand. The daughters of good families in the capital all want to establish their own careers. If you want a girl to stay at home and take care of your family after marriage, you have to be better than the girl." The senior brother told Gu Xuyang about the requirements of the girls in the capital. "My future father-in-law is in charge of water conservancy in the Ministry of Works. Following in his father's footsteps, my future wife is young but has already entered the Ministry of Works. If I don't work hard, after we get married, I'll be the one staying at home to take care of the family."
"Actually, it doesn't matter if I take care of the family, but I have to pay back the money my uncle spent on my studies over the years."
This marriage was very good, and his senior brother's uncle had put in a lot of effort.
Gu Xuyang nodded thoughtfully.