Gu Wuyou’s words instantly quieted the originally somewhat noisy room.
Whether it was the old Madam Gu, who sat on the Luohan bed holding prayer beads with an indifferent attitude, or Madam Liu, who was chatting and laughing about interesting matters to the side, both stopped their actions and turned their gazes toward Gu Wuyou. As for Fu Jiang, there was even less need to mention her.
She stared blankly at Gu Wuyou, her mouth wide open, seemingly still unable to react to the words she had just heard.
It was Gu Jiufei, however—
From his initial stunned bewilderment to his current frowning indifference, it was merely the span of a breath. Compared to his mother’s delight and excitement, he felt more suspicion… What was Gu Wuyou trying to do this time? Letting him go out with them? Could she really be so kind-hearted?
Wasn’t it said that once they stepped out of this door, no one was allowed to know about their relationship?
She was probably coming up with another way to make fun of him.
Yes.
This was the Gu Wuyou he knew.
She had always been self-centered. No matter who it was, as long as they upset her or made her uncomfortable, she would go to great lengths to torment them.
Then bring it on.
Gu Jiufei looked at Gu Wuyou. His delicate and handsome face remained calm, but cold laughter echoed in his heart. He wanted to see what kind of trouble she planned to stir up this time. He was no longer the person he used to be. If Gu Wuyou wanted to torment him again, she would have to see whether he agreed to it or not.
“Jiufei, why aren’t you quickly thanking your Fifth Sister?” Behind him, Fu Jiang, seeing that he remained silent, hurriedly tugged on his sleeve and softly reminded him.
Gu Jiufei furrowed his brows. He did not like his mother acting this way, as if Gu Wuyou had done something extraordinary. But he pressed his lips together and, in the end, said nothing. Under everyone’s gaze, he lowered his head and said in a low voice, “Thank you… Fifth Sister.”
Regarding the decision for Gu Jiufei to accompany them out, Gu Wuji had no objections.
He simply cast a light glance at Gu Jiufei, then turned his head toward Gu Wuyou. This time, there was a hint of a smile in his eyes. “Manman, let’s go.”
Gu Wuyou nodded.
She did not miss the coldness and doubt in Gu Jiufei’s eyes when he looked over just now. Of course, she knew what he was thinking. The prejudices in a person’s heart could not be erased with just a few words, let alone the fact that she had indeed not been a good person in the past.
It was only natural for Gu Jiufei to be suspicious of her actions.
Let time prove everything.
Retracting her gaze, she respectfully saluted Old Madam Gu and the others before stepping out first. Naturally, Gu Wuji followed closely behind. As for Gu Jiufei… watching the figures of the father and daughter ahead, he curled his lips, then lowered his head and silently followed them out.
Luming Academy had a rule: no maids or servants were allowed to accompany students to school.
Originally, Bai Lu and Hong Shuang had wanted to escort Gu Wuyou to the academy’s entrance, but Gu Wuyou found it troublesome and did not let them come. As a result, the three of them sat together in the same carriage. The carriage was spacious, so even with three people inside, it did not feel crowded.
As soon as Gu Jiufei got into the carriage, he instinctively moved to the innermost corner and sat there silently.
This had always been his nature, and now that Gu Wuji’s heart and mind were entirely focused on Gu Wuyou, how could he possibly pay attention to the son he had never favored since childhood? He had spent his youth recklessly, never caring for refinement or elegance. Later, when he fell for Wang Chengdai, he began racking his brain to cater to her preferences.
Now, his tea-making skills had reached a level widely praised throughout the capital.
However, very few people had the privilege of drinking tea personally brewed by Gu Wuji. Yet now, he was holding a cup of tea, offering it to his beloved daughter. After handing the tea over, he even looked at Gu Wuyou expectantly, speaking softly, “Manman, try it and see how it is?”
At present, Gu Wuyou truly did not know how to interact with her father, but she no longer wished to trample on his goodwill like before.
She accepted the tea, took a light sip, and nodded. Seeing the man across from her immediately break into a joyful smile, she couldn’t help but curve her lips as well. Holding the teacup with both hands, she took another sip. As she did, her gaze fell on Gu Jiufei, who still sat silently in the corner with his lips pressed together.
A thought flickered in her heart, and she spoke up.
“I remember that Ninth Brother also likes tea.”
A sudden remark made Gu Jiufei abruptly lift his head. His delicate brows furrowed tightly, unable to understand what exactly Gu Wuyou was playing at this time.
Gu Wuji, however, was slightly taken aback, then also handed a cup of tea to Gu Jiufei. “Drink it.”
The familiar male voice made Gu Jiufei withdraw his gaze. He lowered his head and stared blankly at the steaming tea in front of him. The rich fragrance wafting to his nose made him lose focus for a brief moment.
Gu Wuji was not as patient with him. Seeing that he had yet to take the tea, he frowned. “What, you don’t like it?”
Gu Jiufei hurriedly responded, “…I like it.” He reached out with both hands, carefully taking the tea cup, and as if afraid there wouldn’t be enough tea, he took an especially cautious sip.
Then, he simply held it in his hands.
This was the first time his father had ever brewed tea for him.
He couldn’t quite describe his feelings at this moment—somewhat excited, somewhat happy, but mostly confused. Since childhood, he had always wanted his father to notice him, so he had poured all his efforts into making achievements. While boys his age were still climbing trees and catching birds, he was already sitting on a high chair reading those obscure books.
He thought that as long as he became better and better, his father would eventually notice him and his mother.
But as he grew older—
He came to understand that no matter how much he achieved, he would never make his father happy.
His father didn’t like his mother, and because of that, he didn’t like him either. Their very existence was a stain on what he believed to be his father’s earth-shattering love story.
Later on,
He thought—
If you don’t like me, then I won’t care about you either.
But how could he truly not care? From the moment he could remember, the only goal he had set for himself was to make his father notice him. And now, his father had finally noticed him—taking him out, brewing tea for him. The joy in his heart was impossible to suppress.
Yet, everything he had longed for had come through Gu Wuyou.
This made him both happy—so happy that he couldn’t bear to finish this rare cup of tea—and wary, wary of whether this wretched woman was plotting something against him again.
Gu Jiufei secretly lifted his eyes and glanced in Gu Wuyou’s direction.
From his angle, he could see her delicate profile. There were many beauties in the capital, and he had seen plenty of stunning women, but Gu Wuyou was undoubtedly the most beautiful of them all.
He had never been worried about what tricks Gu Wuyou might pull on him before.
This woman merely had a sharp face but was actually incredibly foolish. Everything she did was the kind of idiocy that would harm others by a thousand while hurting herself by eight hundred.
But this time—
He couldn’t quite see through her.
Gu Jiufei recalled how, last night, his mother had held his hand with joy and told him, “Jiufei, your sister is really different this time. She even thanked me today!”
His fingertips lightly traced the rim of the teacup as he kept running through all the possible explanations in his mind.
Until the carriage came to a stop.
From outside, Changshan’s voice sounded, “Duke, we have arrived at the Yu family’s residence.”
Only then did he snap out of his thoughts. He finished the tea that he had cradled in his hands the entire way, unwilling to drink until now. Then, after saluting Gu Wuji and Gu Wuyou, he withdrew.
The carriage didn’t stop for long before continuing on its way to Luming Academy.
Gu Jiufei did not immediately turn around and enter the Yu residence. With his hands behind his back, he squinted his eyes and gazed in the direction where the carriage had left. His face bore an expression that someone of his age should not have. He was in no hurry—one day, he would know what that woman was planning.
When soldiers come, use generals to resist; when water arrives, use earth to block it.
If Gu Wuyou caused trouble again this time, he would not let her off so easily.
A hand lightly patted his shoulder from behind.
A boy around the same age as him walked up beside him and followed his gaze forward. “Jiufei, what are you looking at?” After speaking, he glanced at the carriage and curiously said, “Isn’t that your father’s carriage? Did he specially bring you here?”
Gu Jiufei gave him a glance and, without any change in expression, brushed his hand away. “No.”
“Then—”
The boy blinked, then suddenly said, “Could it be that your sister is also in the carriage? I heard yesterday that Gu Wuyou had returned to the capital, and it was a grand affair. I didn’t expect it to be true.” He was naturally sociable, and even if ignored, he couldn’t help but continue, “What is your sister going to do?”
Gu Jiufei originally had no intention of responding, but upon hearing this, his steps paused, and he replied, “Going to school.”
“Ah?”
The boy was stunned. “Going to school?” Then his voice raised in surprise, “To Luming Academy?!”
At that moment, several other young noble sons, who had also arrived at the Yu residence for their studies, stepped down from their carriages. Upon hearing this, they immediately asked, “Liu San, what are you talking about?”
Liu Sanlang hadn’t expected so many people to hear and immediately flushed red. He glanced at Gu Jiufei somewhat awkwardly, but seeing his indifferent expression and lack of objection, he lowered his voice and said, “I was talking about Princess Leping. She is reporting to Luming Academy today.”
“Who?”
“Princess Leping?”
“Wasn’t she always in Langya? Why did she suddenly come back?”
The group of young men chattered endlessly until someone finally scoffed, “Someone like her, going to Luming Academy? Isn’t that just a joke?”
“Keep your voice down, Jiufei is still here.”
“What’s there to be afraid of? Their sibling relationship isn’t good anyway.”
Perhaps because they saw that Gu Jiufei wasn’t angry, their courage grew, and they began speaking even more brazenly, filled with mockery toward Gu Wuyou. Walking at the front, Gu Jiufei heard these words carried by the wind, and the corner of his lips curved slightly.
Yes.
Gu Wuyou—wasn’t she just a joke?
Luming Academy? He was just waiting to see that high-and-mighty woman fall into the mud.
—
Luming Academy was founded a hundred years ago by the founding Empress of the Great Zhou. At that time, the customs of the Great Zhou were not yet so progressive, and women were not allowed to attend school. However, Empress Xiaohui had been different from other women since childhood—she disguised herself as a man to enter the academy, where she formed a deep bond with Emperor Yuanyin, who was then just an ordinary scholar.
Later, when the Great Zhou was established,
Empress Xiaohui personally founded Luming Academy, not only permitting women to study but also employing many female scholars as teachers.
Even now, Luming Academy had many female instructors.
Although it was not as prestigious as the Imperial Academy or the National Academy, its teachers were still highly respected. Gu Wuyou’s second cousin taught the guqin here…
At this moment, the current headmaster of Luming Academy personally received Gu Wuji and his daughter.
Unlike the awe-inspiring general he was outside, Gu Wuji now appeared just like an ordinary father. He politely said to Master Xu, “This is my Manman’s first time attending school. I ask Master Xu to take good care of her in the future.”
Master Xu naturally agreed one by one.
He carried himself with integrity and did not bow under Gu Wuji’s polite demeanor. Instead, he smiled and responded, “Duke, rest assured.” As soon as he finished speaking, he caught sight of Gu Tiao entering from outside. He smiled again and said, “Just in time. Since Teacher Gu and Princess Leping are sisters, let her take her around first to familiarize herself with the environment.”
Gu Tiao had arrived early today because she had classes, but she had overheard some things before leaving home.
Now, seeing Gu Wuyou, she smiled and said, “Manman is here.” She set down the guqin score in her hands, saluted Gu Wuji, and greeted, “Uncle.”
Gu Wuji was still a bit worried. After nodding to Gu Tiao, he turned back to Gu Wuyou and spoke softly, “Manman, go with your cousin to get acquainted with the place first. If…” He had many concerns—worried that Gu Wuyou would be excluded, that the academy’s food might not suit her, and most of all, that she might not be happy here.
He even had the urge to stay and accompany his daughter through her studies.
But Luming Academy was not just any place. Even he had to be cautious about propriety. He could only suppress those worries deep inside and said gently, “I will come to pick you up in the evening.”
Gu Wuyou shook her head. “No need, I’ll just go home with Second Sister later.” Seeing Gu Wuji furrow his brows, about to speak again, she sighed. Before he could say anything, she blurted out, her face reddening, “Father, you should go back first.”
She had never experienced something like this growing up, especially now that she carried the soul of a thirty-year-old inside her body.
Being sent to school by her own father and being fussed over like this—it truly left her at a loss.
This sense of helplessness made her momentarily forget herself. After speaking, she realized her own words, her mouth slightly agape in surprise. Before Gu Wuji could react, she quickly saluted Master Xu and then grabbed Gu Tiao’s hand, pulling her away.
This time, Gu Wuji did not call after her.
Instead, he stood there in a daze, watching Gu Wuyou’s retreating figure.
His mind echoed with that soft and delicate “Father” she had just uttered.
Had he… imagined it?