Gu Jinzhong on the artificial hill was in a dilemma for a while, unable to advance or retreat.

  In the distance, there were still women and maidservants going back and forth, but she herself had not brought any attendants, alone by herself here.

  If those women and maidservants were to approach, calling out "Seventh Young Lady", Third Shu and Fourth Sister would definitely suspect that she was intentionally following them to eavesdrop.

  She weighed up the two evils and chose the lesser one, so she deliberately let out a light cough and slowed down her footsteps.

  The sound in the cave disappeared instantly.

  Third Granny Xia even scolded: "Who is it?"

  Gu Jinzi deliberately stepped on a wrong step and almost fell. She shouted loudly: "Who is it? Who's down there? You scared me to death."

  Third Granny and Fourth Maiden just came out of the cave.

  The fourth daughter's face still had tear stains, and her makeup was also ruined by tears.

  Seeing Gu Jinzhi lying on the rockery, both aunts asked her: "Qīmei, what is she doing?"

  Gu Jing smiled: "I took a shortcut." Then his eyes swept over Si Gu Niang's body, "Why is Fourth Sister crying?"

  The four girls were at a loss for words for a moment.

  Third Granny smiled and said: "Who cried? It's just sand in your eyes. I was helping your fourth sister blow her nose."

  Fourth Sister hastily smiled and said: "Yes, yes... I was blinded..."

  Gu Jinzhi suddenly understood and nodded his head, saying: "Today's wind is strong..."

  It's indeed windy today.

  "Fourth Sister, would you like to go back to my courtyard and touch up your makeup?" asked Gu Jing. "From here, just cross over and walk a few steps."

  Third Granny Xia hastily pulled her back, smiling and saying: "Good younger sister, these rocks are all fake, the arrangement is unstable, one careless move and they'll collapse, causing you to fall for no reason. In the future, don't take shortcuts."

  The artificially piled-up hill may be unstable.

  But this house is very stable. The plan was to build a separate pavilion for the princess, and everything was exquisite.

  Gu Jinzhi nodded obediently: "Then let's go around from that side of the woods."

  She said with a smile.

  The fourth daughter indeed cried until her face was disfigured, and going out would also raise suspicions.

  The third grandma secretly gave her a wink.

  The two sisters-in-law followed Gu Jin to her courtyard to change clothes.

  Then they bid farewell to Gu Jin and went to the front row seats to watch the play.

  Gu Jinzhi also got up and went to the main courtyard to see Yu Ge'er and Xian Ge'er.

  After seeing off the guests in the evening, Song Pan'er was so tired that her whole body felt weak and she couldn't lift her legs, but she still remembered that today was the 15th and she had to have dinner with Old Master.

  The old man doesn't care about any happy events at home and only comes out on the first and fifteenth of each month. The rest of the time is spent in his quiet study outside the house writing books.

  Gu Yanzheng and Song Paner's children had been making a fuss all day, and now everyone was exhausted.

  Especially Gu Yanzhong. Yawn after yawn.

  The old man didn't scold him either, and said: "Those two newly added little ones, have they been named?"

  Gu Yanwen suddenly woke up with a start, having dozed off for more than half the time, and hastily said: "......take......taken. Should have troubled Father instead. Also afraid..."

  "No need for idle chatter." The old man interrupted his explanation, "I don't have the leisure to help you name your child, do I?" Then he asked about the child's name, "What character is it?"

  The old man listened, nodded and said: "It's a good implication, also easy to pronounce, it's a good name." Then he took out two pouches from his sleeves and handed them over to Song Xiang'er, "I asked Huaiqin to go to the silversmith's shop, don't worry about what she bought back. Give it to her brothers."

  Song Pan'er hastily got up and respectfully accepted it. It was two pairs of small silver bangles, with two round South pearls inlaid on them.

  The silver bangles had been prepared at home long ago, but in the end, Grandpa didn't give them with any significance.

  Song Pan'er was overjoyed and thanked the old man.

  The old man said: "I know you've had a long day. Don't even need to eat dinner. Just send the rest back to my courtyard and bring those two little ones over, I'll take a look if they're real."

  Song Pan'er hastily went to call the wet nurse to bring her over.

  A month has passed. Little Shixi's brother has grown a lot fatter, now weighing around 7-8 jin, white and chubby, even cute; while Little Shiyi, due to being naughty and troubled, hasn't grown much, he was only 5 jin 3 liang at birth, now at most 6 jin, still looking pitiful.

  The old man was also casual, hugging one by one. He said to Song Xiang'er about Xiao Shi: "Xiaozi has good fortune and is born with a lovely face." Then he looked at Xiao Shi again and said, "Xianzi is clever and smart, so young, his eyes are already shining brightly."

  Every grandson gave it a thumbs up.

  Song Pan'er felt warm in her heart and thanked him again.

  He also said: "When the kids grow up, Dad will teach them more."

  "It's fine if you teach them." The old man's voice was soft and calm, "Jin Jie and Huan Ge are both very good."

  Then, she glanced at Xiu Ge'er and didn't say a word.

  Xu Geer was mischievous when he was young and broke the old man's ancient inkstone. The old man still holds a grudge to this day. It was an heirloom left by his grandmother, and it was more precious to him than his own life.

  Gu Jing thought, when Grandpa and Grandma were young, their feelings must have been very good.

  She remembered her and Zhu Zhongjun's past life.

  When she was dying, Zhu Zhongjun was visiting Africa. In fact, when a person is dying, they can try to hold on to their last breath and wait for the people they want to see. Gu Jinzhi only waited for her son Nan and adopted daughter Huainan, but did not wait for Zhu Zhongjun's return before she died.

  At that time, she didn't think so either. She had to see Zhu Zhongjun before leaving. Since Zhu Zhongjun hadn't returned, she left quietly and peacefully, without any worries.

  After she died, Zhu Zhongjun must not have even seen her remains.

  According to his son's temperament, when the mother passed away and the father was not around, he insisted on moving Gu Jinzhi's ashes away, so that Zhu Zhongjun couldn't see them.

  And this child, Zhu Zhongjun lived in her family's guest room, and he was also a 13 or 14-year-old kid...

  Gu Jin's heart couldn't describe what kind of taste it was.

  The old man took a look at his grandson and then stood up to bid farewell.

  Gu Jinzhi wanted to see him off.

  He said: "No need, just have Huajin accompany me. You're a young lady, don't walk the night roads too much..."

  Ancient people believed that a maiden's home had heavy yin energy and her eyes were clean, so it was easy to bump into all kinds of gods on the night road.

  Gu Jinzhi complied with his words.

  Gu Yanwen and Huan Geer, Xiu Geer accompanied the old man out of the inner courtyard.

  The two kids fell asleep again. Song Xiang'er leaned against the kang in the east room and dozed off, waiting for Gu Yanjin to return before washing up and going to bed.

  Gu Jin sat beside her and massaged her legs to relieve the soreness.

  Gu Jinzhi's technique, Haitang and others couldn't learn it no matter what.

  "Mother, I heard Fourth Sister crying today..." Gu Jinzhi told Song Tuaner about the situation he had overheard in the cave.

  Song Pan'er dislikes the people in the second house, but likes gossip.

  "What's wrong?" She indeed came back to her senses.

  Gu Jinzhi smiled and repeated what he had heard: "Third Aunt said that the second house is unreliable, we need to find Big Uncle... She also said that our Gu family is not a humble household. I think there's some big deal going on."

  Song Pan'er suddenly remembered something and said, "You say that. I recall that your third aunt was holding onto your fourth sister, and they were talking to your eldest maternal aunt about something. I had just arrived at their side when I heard your eldest maternal aunt laugh and say, 'Don't listen to rumors, how could a family like that do such a thing?' When I walked over, they stopped talking, and I didn't ask any questions. It turns out it was about San Jie's husband's family."

  Then she thought hard again. "She's only been married for a month, what could have happened? Your aunt also said that kind of family wouldn't do such a thing..."

  She thought about the private matters of wealthy families for a long time and thought a lot.

  "Is it that Fourth Master has had an illegitimate child outside and wants to bring him in?" Song Pan'er guessed, "Or perhaps Master wants Xiang's dowry; or maybe Xiang's mother-in-law is using her younger sister-in-law to bully Xiang and stir up trouble between husband and wife?"

  Because Big Aunt said so, it won't be the Yuan family.

  The Yuan family is also a big clan, but it was founded by doing business and has money, but not many sons have official careers. So they climbed up to the Gu family, wanting to rely on Eldest Brother Gu's power.

  The Yuan family is wealthy and can afford to raise a concubine's child; they don't need the dowry of a daughter-in-law; relying on their wealth, they wouldn't dare be disrespectful to Shan Jie...

  Not as bad as...

  Song Pan'er guessed for half a day.

  "Isn't it said that a new daughter-in-law can't leave her husband's side?" Gu Jinzhi asked Song Dang'er, "How come Fourth Sister married into their family just a few days ago and now her mother-in-law is bringing her to our place for a wedding banquet? It's clear that they're trying their best to curry favor with our family. Either way, something's gone wrong - either Yuan Jia's brother-in-law is particularly unbearable or Fourth Sister has misheard..."

  Among the several girls in the second house, the fourth girl was the most indecisive.

  She is neither as forthright as the fifth daughter nor as ruthless as the sixth daughter.

  Others give four girls a needle, and they can use it as a stick.

  Song Pan'er thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

  Later, she scolded the fourth daughter for being useless: "At home, there's a powerful uncle who dominates the court, and in the palace, there's also a second-rank De Fei's sister. If either of them just slightly raises their voice, they can crush the Yuan family. And what about her? She's been crying and wanting to return to her mother's house since she got married. She's useless herself, only knowing how to fight with her sisters in her mother's house, and a life of hardship is waiting for her ahead."

  Gu Jinzhi didn't respond.

  If you don't work hard yourself, no matter how hard others try to help, they won't be able to.

  Song Pan'er guessed for half a day and got tired of guessing, too lazy to think about it anymore.

  Gu Yanwen also returned to the inner courtyard.

  Gu Jinzhi stood up and bid farewell, returning to his own courtyard to rest.

  The next day was another formal dinner at home.

  All of them, including Big Uncle and Second Uncle, have arrived.

  The second lady and the fifth young lady had no choice but to come.

  Song Pan'er leaned in close to Madame's side and asked her, "Is something wrong at San Jie's husband's household? Don't try to hide it from me, I heard her crying yesterday. If you don't tell me, I'll ask Er Sao."

  The madam smiled and pulled her over, saying: "You're so clever."

  Then, lowering her voice again, she said, "It's nothing serious. San Jie's father-in-law took a liking to the maidservant who came with San Jie as part of her dowry, Ting Feng, and asked the gatekeeper and Fourth Master to persuade San Jie to give Ting Feng to him. Fourth Master is very filial, so he let San Jie give Ting Feng to his father-in-law. San Jie felt ashamed and didn't dare disobey her husband and father-in-law, so she didn't know what to do and ran back crying..."

  Song Pan'er stuck out her tongue.

  She guessed for half a day and still didn't guess it was like this.

  The lady said the Yuan family would not go that far, and indeed they did not go that far.

  The Yuan family is so wealthy, which maid can't be bought? It's actually for the new daughter-in-law beside her?

  It's really not that serious!

  Song Pan'er was both angry and amused: "How did the Yuan family produce someone like this? Their business is so big, it shouldn't be managed by this uncle of hers, should it?"

  "Fourth Master's family, he is the third child, with two older brothers who are very capable. Over the years, they have been getting better and better, all thanks to Fourth Master's eldest brother... Ah, San Jie's father-in-law, I don't know the details. I've already sent someone to talk to San Jie's mother-in-law, wanting our family's maid, just send a few over and it's done. The one serving by San Jie's side is Ting Feng, who has been serving since childhood, definitely won't be given away. Her mother-in-law came to my place early this morning to apologize in person. Just don't spread it around."

  Then Second Mistress Nunu pouted, "Sister Shan still has to live with them, if that person finds out, it will be even more troublesome for Sister Shan in the future."

  ——*——*——

  Someone said that the names of Ning Yue and Ning Xuan, this father-daughter pair, are a bit like siblings. Where is it just a bit? It's clearly exactly that! When I named them, my brain must have been addled, very sorry! From now on, Ning Xuan will be changed to Ning Huan, because there are too many previous ones, so I won't change them one by one, and from now on, all of them will use the female radical "Huan", please forgive me, thank you!

  Is there anything else inappropriate? Welcome to criticize and correct.

  Thank you for the rewards from Peach Momo 315, Peach Momo 315, Peach Momo 315, Peach Momo 315, Old Lady Lack Book to Read, Hot Love^^, Ai Pai Pai's Pig, xiao Mi Shuo, evenlysky, cici713, jojo8129.