The letter was written by Grand Uncle Gu Yanwu.

  The letter begins with an inquiry about grandfather's health and expresses the whole family's thoughts of missing him.

  Upon seeing this, Song Pan'er curled her lips: No wonder the old man was a bit annoyed, she couldn't bear to look at it anymore! In these six years, people from the capital had almost forgotten about them, whatever longing...

  Then, Dabo made great efforts to persuade his grandfather to return to the capital. Because he had official business, he was unable to come to Yanling Prefecture to serve his grandfather, and he felt uneasy in his heart, always feeling that he had not fulfilled his filial duties.

  Song Pan'er pouted even more severely.

  The relationship between Eldest Uncle and Old Master has always been bad...

  The letter was very long and had a lot of unnecessary words in the middle.

  Song Pan'er jumped up and saw that it was halfway through when he saw the eldest son of Da Bo, Gu Zhenzhi, coming to Yanling Mansion to pick up his grandfather.

  The old man probably saw this and put down the letter.

  Song Pan'er both wanted to throw away the letter.

  The old man didn't say he was going back to Beijing at all, but Eldest Uncle sent his nephew to pick him up, what hospitality is that?

  It's basically forced.

  According to Lao Ye Zi's personality, when his nephew came, he would also scold him.

  Song Pan'er straightened her body and stopped leaning over to look.

  Gu Yanzhong, however, read it carefully from start to finish.

  As she looked up, she saw her daughter Gu Jing sitting there drinking tea, elegant and refined, with a quiet serenity that seemed to have been steeped in the years.

  Song Pan'er would not have this calm and steady temperament even if she were reborn twice.

  Gu Yan thought his daughter was very strange, but her strangeness wasn't a bad thing, it was an aura that some people sought after but couldn't obtain. Gu Yan didn't worry or feel puzzled, instead he felt happy.

  "Father, what did Uncle Da's letter say?" Gu Jin asked as soon as she saw her father finish reading the letter.

  Gu Yanwen smiled and said, "Big Uncle has sent your big brother to take us back to Beijing." Then, in the tone of coaxing a child, he asked Gu Jinzhi, "Jinzhi sister, do you still remember your big brother?"

  "I was already six years old when I left Beijing, Father. It's strange if you don't remember." said Gu Jinzhi.

  Song Pan'er couldn't help but laugh.

  Gu Jing's tone was also that of a well-behaved daughter when she answered Gu Yan Zun. She seemed to be answering her father's questions with respect and obedience, but the words that came out were actually teasing, making Song Pan'er laugh uncontrollably.

  Gu Yanwen also smiled, rubbed his nose and said helplessly: "You this kid..."

  The atmosphere in the house has regained its long-lost warmth.

  That night passed, and the old man didn't mention this letter at all.

  Gu Yanzheng and Song Pan'er also didn't dare mention it.

  Song's mother and Haitang investigated where the rumor of "returning to Beijing" came from, and surprisingly found it led to Gu Yanzhen.

  The two of them immediately stopped and didn't dare to investigate further.

  "Song's mother specifically instructed Gu Jinzhi, telling her not to say it out loud. Even if Song Tian'er heard it from somewhere else, she should help cover it up: '...If the lady suspects Third Master, I'm afraid the two of them will have another argument.'"

  Women's association ability has always been stronger.

  Song Pan'er is even more so.

  No matter how Gu Yanzheng explains it, Song Pan'er will definitely suspect that he is doing it for Gu Xuanzhi, and when the time comes, she may make a big fuss again!

  "I understand, Mom, I promise I won't say a word!" Gu Jinzhi said.

  Song's mother nodded with a smile.

  She believed in Gu Jinzhi.

  Gu Jinzhi then let Nian Rong warn the maids and old women in the courtyard, whoever dares to spread rumors again will be driven out.

  Niang originally had a fierce temper and was also favored by Gu Jingzhong, so no one in the courtyard dared to offend her. Her words were even more effective than those of Rulan's wet nurse, Zhu Mama.

  As expected, Gu Jingzhi never heard the word "returning to Beijing" again.

  By the fifth of July, Gu Jinzhi's second aunt, Qinshi, came to the door and gave Song Pan'er a few pieces of satin, which was said to be from the same batch as those for offering sacrifices.

  Song Paner was overjoyed.

  "....Isn't Jian Jie'er going to be twelve next month?" Er Yi Mu suddenly mentioned.

  Song Pan'er nodded, smiling: "I want to hold a banquet, but I'm worried about where to get good materials for clothes. Last year's materials were all used up during the Dragon Boat Festival. Second sister really knows my heart."

  Madam Song picked up the Yuyao teacup, slowly stirring the floating leaves, and the fragrance wafted gently. Her voice also carried a hint of sweetness: "Xiang'er, have you made up your mind about Jin's sister?"

  Song Pan'er raised her eyes, with a hint of doubt.

  What's going on with Jie Jie? What happened?

  Mrs. Song laughed with an ambiguous expression on her face.

  Song Pan'er suddenly understood, it was Jin Jie's marriage.

  As soon as this is mentioned, Song Paner gets a headache.

  Still no one has come to propose...

  She had taken a liking to several children, but unfortunately, Gu Yan was dissatisfied with all of them. Either the family's social status was too low or she looked down on their child for being incompetent.

  "Second Aunt, have you found a good one?" Song Pan'er smiled and sat down beside Second Madam Song.

  Mrs. Song's eldest son, Song Yanpei, was only a few months older than Gu Cuijing. The child was a bit mischievous and not good at studying. But his parents were all gentle and refined, so Gu Cuijing wouldn't be at a disadvantage after marrying into their family...

  Song Paner didn't mind either.

  "...is the nephew of my mother's family." Song Ertao said with a low smile, "My eldest brother's fourth son, named Qin Zhi, courtesy name Ruo Ping. Ruo Ping is my eldest sister-in-law's only son, although he is ranked fourth, in the future, if Sister Jin really marries him, she will also be the legitimate daughter-in-law of the main branch of the clan."

  Madam Song's maternal family was a prominent clan in Jiangning, known for their literary and poetic traditions. Madam Song's elder brother, Qin Jiguang, was the head of the clan and the eldest son of the main branch.

  Qin Jianguang's wife had been married for eight years without giving birth, so the Qin family took in a concubine to continue the ancestral line.

  That aunt was very fertile and had two children in three years, which delighted Qin Jiguang.

  Madam Qin was furious that her own personal maid had been given to her husband as a concubine and soon gave birth to a son, so she promoted the concubine.

  In the tenth year, Mrs. Qin finally became pregnant and gave birth to Qin Zhi.

  Qin Zhi was the eldest son, but he ranked fourth in birth order.

  "If I'm not mistaken, Second Sister's nephew is older than Ji's sister, right?" Song Pan'er said.

  Mrs. Song smiled: "In March of the year of Renchen."

  Song Pan'er snapped her fingers and calculated that Qin Zhi was born in the year of Ren Chen, March, while Gu Jin was born in the year of Bing Shen, August, a whole four and a half years older!

  "Then he's seventeen now?" Song Pan'er was a little unhappy in her heart, "Has he achieved anything?"

  Mrs. Song said somewhat unnaturally: "Not yet..."

  Not going to school at seventeen is no big deal.

  Next year there will be autumn examination, if you can pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, wouldn't it be even better? Why bring this up at this time?

  It's completely out of control!

  Is it because the child is too stupid or can't bear hardship?

  No matter which one, a man who does not make learning his profession will have no future. Among scholars, farmers, workers and merchants, who doesn't want to become an official?

  "I'll ask San Ye about it." Song Pan'er smiled perfunctorily and didn't say anything more.

  She is dissatisfied.

  Mrs. Song sighed and forced a smile: The matter didn't come to an agreement.

  Song Pan'er always blamed others for not coming to propose. With her high standards and being a member of the Guo Gong Fu, who among the common people of Yanling Fu would dare to take the initiative? Song Er Tai Tai was still her sister-in-law, yet Song Pan'er didn't show any tolerance or consideration!

  ——*——*——

  The dock of Longxi River, a simple awning boat slowly moored.

  A man over fifty years old, wearing a plain blue robe with a patch on it, his temples combed neatly. Although he was simply dressed, his demeanor did not resemble that of an inferior person.

  He asked people: "In this Yanling City, where is the pharmacy?"

  The person being asked was a middle-aged man, and looking at this old man in a green robe, he didn't seem to be ill either.

  The old man in the green robe looked at him for a few moments, then said: "There are many pharmacies in the city. The Zhou family's pharmacy won't ask you for more money if you don't have any, but they can't cure serious illnesses; At the end of South Gate Street, there is a Qin Shi Bai Cao Hall, the owner is the imperial physician of the princess's mansion, with good medical skills and good character; Don't go to Xia family's pharmacy at all, the old couple are shameful, not even as good as little kids..."

  The old man listened attentively, noting down every word of Ah Gong's, and then bowed his head in gratitude.

  He is indeed a cultured man.

  The people at the dock, they don't bow much.

  The old man thanked the ferryman and got back on the boat.

  In a moment, a young man came down. He was about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and straight. Although he wore a light gray linen robe, he had an elegant demeanor and an extraordinary air.

  The old man followed behind this man, who was actually the master.

  This man also doesn't look sick at all.

  The old man said something in a low voice, and the man did not respond, but only nodded slightly.

  The master and servant moored their boat at the dock and entered the city.

  ——*——*——*——

  Thank you for the reward from Chulüxiang, Reitan and Qin!