Gu Wuji was truly stunned.
Even Changshan and Bai Lu were dazed for a long moment before looking at Gu Wuyou with expressions of disbelief.
Everyone in the residence knew that Gu Wuyou had never been fond of studying since childhood. She had been doted on from a young age, indulged by everyone, especially the old madam of the Wang family. She had always done whatever she pleased. So many years had passed, and Gu Wuyou had probably never seriously read anything except for those storybooks and opera scripts, let alone practiced embroidery or other feminine skills.
Afraid that Gu Wuyou didn’t know the rules of Luming Academy, Gu Wuji spoke gently to his beloved daughter, “Manman, the academy is not like home. The women’s school there not only teaches the four arts—zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—but also embroidery and cooking. Additionally, students must learn etiquette, archery, and mathematics.”
“Every year…” His voice softened, “There is also an evaluation.”
He didn’t particularly care about his daughter’s academic performance. After all, with him protecting her, no one could do anything to her.
But the problem was—
Gu Wuyou had always been proud and valued her reputation above all else. She could never tolerate being looked down upon. If she ended up ranked at the bottom in the evaluation, she would undoubtedly be upset.
Thinking it over carefully, he tentatively suggested, “Manman, how about I hire a private tutor to teach you at home?” As he spoke, he carefully observed Gu Wuyou’s expression, afraid that she would be displeased.
If it had been in the past—
Gu Wuyou would have certainly thrown a fit. But now, with another lifetime’s experience, how could she still behave as she once did, throwing tantrums when things didn’t go her way? She simply pressed her lips together, her delicate little face showing a determined expression as she resolutely said, “No, I want to go to the academy.”
“Second Sister teaches there, Seventh Sister also studies there, and even Ninth Brother is attending classes at the Yu family’s school. I don’t want to be the only one staying at home.”
This sentence was like a needle piercing Gu Wuji’s heart, making it ache instantly.
Because of her temperament, Manman had few friends since childhood. Just thinking about how she used to sit alone in her room, pitifully playing by herself, made his eyes sting with sorrow. Gu Wuji had always upheld the principle that “nothing matters more than his daughter’s happiness,” so at this moment, he disregarded all concerns and cast aside his worries.
He coaxed her, saying, “Alright, if you want to go, then we’ll go.”
After saying that, he smiled again. “When spring comes, I’ll go talk to Master Xu of Luming Academy for you.”
Unexpectedly, Gu Wuyou shook her head and looked into his eyes, speaking softly, “I want to go tomorrow.”
Gu Wuji was taken aback. He hesitated, “But in just a month, it will be the New Year.” With the bitter cold of winter, he didn’t want his daughter to suffer. But when he saw Gu Wuyou’s downcast expression, he couldn’t help but give in.
He hurriedly comforted her, “Since you want to go, then go. I happen to have a day off tomorrow, so I’ll go with you.”
In his heart, he thought that this was probably just another one of Manman’s whims. In a few days, she would likely start complaining about waking up too early for school or that the academy’s food was unappetizing… Since that was the case, why make her unhappy now?
Seeing that he agreed, Gu Wuyou finally let out a breath of relief.
It was already late at night, and she needed to leave. Although Gu Wuji was reluctant, he still took into account that she had just returned and needed rest. So, he walked her to the door. As she reached the entrance, Gu Wuyou sensed the gaze following her from behind. The words “Father” hovered on her lips, but she hesitated more than ten times and still couldn’t bring herself to say them.
She could only turn back, press her lips together, and softly say, “Go back inside.”
“Alright.” Gu Wuji smiled and nodded but still didn’t move, watching her persistently.
Gu Wuyou had no choice. She didn’t know what else to say, so she simply pulled Bai Lu along and left. Even after she walked some distance, she could still feel that warm and lingering gaze behind her. She sighed inwardly, feeling that she was truly useless.
As she thought about it, she couldn’t help but remember Li Qinyuan. If the Great General were here, he would definitely know what to say to her.
Beside her, Bai Lu saw her lowering her head and smiled in encouragement. “Miss did very well today.”
Gu Wuyou pursed her lips, glanced behind her, and sighed, “Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Bai Lu held the lantern, carefully shielding Gu Wuyou as they made their way to the Zhaixing Tower. On the way, she couldn’t help but wonder—others might not understand why her mistress wanted to attend the academy, but she could guess a little. Just what was it about that Seventh Young Master Li, whom her mistress had never even met, that attracted her so much?
“I know what you’re thinking.”
Gu Wuyou kept her gaze fixed ahead, her lips pressed together as she spoke in a low voice, “Bai Lu, I know you and Hong Shuang sincerely care for me, and I know you’re worried, but… there are some things I can’t explain to you right now.”
After saying this, she turned to look at Bai Lu, her clear apricot eyes glistening under the lantern’s light. “You only need to know that I won’t do anything to harm myself, and I am still me.”
These words—
Were a little strange.
But looking into those familiar eyes, Bai Lu hesitated for a moment before eventually nodding, choosing not to ask further.
The two continued walking forward. Just as they were about to leave the courtyard, they saw a figure standing on the small path ahead. The person stood in the shadows, holding no lantern. But the Duke of Ding’s residence never lacked wealth, and the servants were always considerate of their masters walking at night—every small path had lanterns hanging along the way.
So—
Gu Wuyou still saw that figure.
The boy looked about ten years old, dressed in a blue robe and wrapped in a cloak. His face bore some resemblance to her father’s, but his brows lacked a scholar’s gentleness and instead carried a hint of delicate sharpness. Yet, because his lips were tightly pressed together, the youth didn’t seem to possess the liveliness of his age. Instead, he carried a kind of stubborn aloofness.
He had been standing there, staring at the courtyard, lost in thought.
It wasn’t until he met Gu Wuyou’s gaze that he suddenly snapped back to reality, his eyes filled with a complicated mix of emotions, tinged with resentment. He didn’t say a word before turning and running away.
“It’s…”
Bai Lu raised the lantern to illuminate the area but could only catch a glimpse of the young boy’s retreating figure. “Ninth Young Master.”
Gu Wuyou nodded, but her gaze remained fixed in the direction Gu Jiufei had disappeared. His figure had long vanished into the dark, leaving only scattered shadows cast by the lanterns.
She had clearly seen the resentment in Gu Jiufei’s eyes, yet in her mind, she couldn’t help but recall another young boy—the one who had accompanied her father to Langya to fetch her.
That day, he had also worn a blue robe, though by then, he had already grown taller than their father.
When he saw her, the first thing he said was, “He actually dared to treat you like this!” And then, under her dazed gaze, he clenched his fist and swung it hard at Zhao Chengyou, who had just stepped through the door.
She and her younger brother had never gotten along. She resented that Fu Jiang had taken her mother’s place, and naturally, she blamed Gu Jiufei’s very existence. As for Gu Jiufei? He probably resented her as well. Although he was the legitimate son of the Duke’s residence, he had never received their father’s affection because of her.
Not to mention how, when they were young, she had bullied him time and again.
She had thought that when she fell from grace, Gu Jiufei would be the happiest of all. After being suppressed by her for so many years, he could finally hold his head high. But she never expected that he would stand by her side, escorting her all the way back to the capital. Even after returning, when she was ridiculed and mocked, he had repeatedly defended her in front of others.
“Miss?”
Bai Lu saw that Gu Wuyou was still standing there, lost in thought, and couldn’t help but call out to her, “What’s wrong?”
Gu Wuyou came back to her senses, withdrew her gaze, and shook her head. “Let’s go.”
When they returned to the Zhaixing Tower and finished washing up, she dismissed everyone. Though she was proud by nature, she still cared about the bitter cold of winter and never allowed her maids to keep vigil through the night.
But there had been too much happening today, and her mind was a bit chaotic, making it hard for her to fall asleep.
In the past, whenever she couldn’t sleep, Li Qinyuan would hold her and read to her. But now that he wasn’t by her side, and she had no particular book she wanted to read, she simply picked up a blank booklet she had made while idly passing time in the carriage earlier. Sitting in her chair, she began to write—
“Finally back in the capital. So happy to see them again, and I really miss the General. Although they say the General they know is completely different from the one I knew, I still miss him so, so much. Fortunately, I can go to the academy tomorrow. I hope I can see the General.”
After finishing, Gu Wuyou rested her chin on her hand, waiting for the ink to dry. Her handwriting had been taught by Li Qinyuan. Looking at these characters, she could recall the way he had once held her hand, guiding her stroke by stroke.
It was strange—after writing these words, the restlessness and unease she had been feeling earlier seemed to settle. She reread what she had written, then curled her lips into a slight smile, placed the booklet into a box, and carefully locked it with a small key.
—
The Next Day
Main Hall.
By early morning, news of Gu Wuyou’s decision to attend the academy had already spread throughout the Duke of Ding’s residence.
Although everyone was shocked, most shared the same thoughts as Gu Wuji—they believed this was just another fleeting whim of hers, so no one said much about it. Gu Wuji, eager to make her happy, beamed with joy after she finished paying her respects to the Old Madam and cheerfully said, “Manman, let’s go, Daddy will take you to the academy.”
Back when Wang Chengdai was first pregnant—
Gu Wuji used to love holding her hand and speaking to her round belly, saying, “When you’re born, Daddy will take you to learn martial arts and go to school.” He hadn’t cared whether the child was a boy or a girl.
He never expected that one day, he would actually get to experience the joy of personally taking his daughter to school.
Standing off to the side, Gu Wuji looked at Gu Wuyou, unable to hide his excitement. But seated nearby, Gu Jiufei suddenly lowered his gaze. Pressing his lips together, his small hands clenched into fists on his lap.
His father had never sent him to school.
In fact, he suspected his father didn’t even know where he studied.
Other fathers eagerly looked forward to their sons growing into accomplished men, carrying forward the family’s name and prestige. But his father? His father had never cared—whether he did well or not, it made no difference.
Oh, no.
There were times when his father did care.
The corner of Gu Jiufei’s mouth lifted slightly into a sneering smile. Whenever it came to Gu Wuyou, his father would transform into an entirely different person.
He still remembered once when Gu Wuyou had falsely accused him of breaking her favorite vase. Their father had worn a cold expression as he ordered him to apologize to Gu Wuyou.
Suddenly, a warm hand grasped his own.
Gu Jiufei knew it was his mother. He didn’t want her to worry, so he took a deep breath, deciding to leave for the Yu family’s academy early. There was still plenty of time before classes started, but he simply didn’t want to stay and witness this scene any longer.
However, just as he stood up and was about to speak—
Gu Wuyou’s voice rang out, “Ninth Brother, come with us.”
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