CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 148: OFFERING ONESELF IN GRATITUDE

The second visit, of course, resulted in another polite refusal, but there were noticeably more people watching this time than the first.

Why was there a second time?

Was it because the Gu family didn’t refuse thoroughly? Or was it because the Wei family was too shameless?

"It must be that Wei has no shame! How could the Gu family possibly favor Wei the Thirteenth?" Tang Jiaojiao simply didn’t believe it.

Tang Xiaobai followed behind her, silent.

Of course the Gu family wouldn’t take a liking to Wei Sui, but...

Why did Wei Sui have such a misunderstanding about Gu Wan?

"Brother!" Tang Jiaojiao suddenly called out.

Tang Xiaobai looked up to see Tang Ziqian walking out of Ningchun Court.

This time, Tang Jiaojiao didn’t pretend to be uninterested. She hurried up and asked, "What did Mother say to you?"

She couldn’t be blamed for being anxious.

This morning, Gu Ning was invited by someone from Princess Ji’s side, and when she returned, her expression was indifferent. Then, she sent for Tang Ziqian to have a talk.

It surely had something to do with Gu Wan.

Tang Ziqian patted her shoulder and smiled, "It’s just as you thought."

Hearing this answer with her own ears, for some reason, Tang Xiaobai was not surprised.

But Miss Tang’s expression changed: "How could it be! Is Gu Wan blind—" A weight on her shoulder, as Tang Ziqian exerted force to stop her from continuing.

"Don’t speak recklessly!" Tang Ziqian gave her a meaningful look, "Everyone has their own considerations, and Grandma approved of this matter."

Tang Jiaojiao forcefully shook off his hand, sneering coldly, "I don’t care who approved it, if Gu Wan wants to degrade herself, she shouldn’t drag Duke Yan Mansion into it—" She turned sharply and commanded, "Deliver my order, from today onwards, Gu Wan is not allowed to step foot into Duke Yan Mansion! Anyone who disobeys will be driven out!"

"Jiaojiao—"

"You’re not allowed to speak for her either!" Tang Jiaojiao glared harshly at Tang Ziqian, her eyes suddenly reddening, "Otherwise, I’ll even drive you out!"

With that, she flicked her sleeves vigorously and left like the wind.

"Uh..." Seeing Miss Tang leave, Tang Xiaobai dared to speak, "Sister probably thinks Cousin Wanwan is ungrateful and used Wei the Thirteenth to insult Brother."

Tang Ziqian laughed and shook his head, "Our two families haven’t even come to an understanding, yet Jiaojiao is already so inexplicably angry."

"Even if nothing was said outright, Cousin Wanwan should be aware in her heart; indeed, she abandoned Brother to choose Wei Sui." Tang Xiaobai said.

Tang Ziqian shot her a sideways glance, "Must everything be said so plainly?" and turned to walk away.

Tang Xiaobai briskly followed after, "Brother, don’t be sad. Everyone with discerning eyes knows you’re outstanding. You’re ranked seventh among the Ten Young Masters of the Capital—"

"What? I’m only ranked seventh?" Tang Ziqian abruptly turned around, "What kind of ranking is this? Why am I only seventh? Who are the six before me?"

"It’s a ranking made by the capital’s noble ladies; they regard these as the ten most outstanding and desirable bachelors, but it doesn’t represent my opinion!" Tang Xiaobai quickly clarified.

Tang Ziqian frowned, "Who are the six before me?"

"Prince Jin, Pei Jiu, Xue Shi, Uncle, Xiao San, and Wenren Jia—"

"Who’s Wenren Jia?"

"The owner of Wenren Bookstore in West Market."

"Even a bookstore owner ranks ahead of me?" Tang Ziqian had no reaction when he heard his soon-to-be fiancée had run off with someone, but now his expression suggested he felt betrayed.

Tang Xiaobai explained, "He’s handsome, very handsome. I’ve seen him — but of course, he’s still far inferior to you! To me, Brother is definitely ranked first!"

Tang Ziqian gave a sarcastic "ha" and strode out through the courtyard door.

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment, then continued to follow him.

"What do you want now?" Tang Ziqian glanced at her, slowing his pace to let her catch up.

Tang Xiaobai quietly asked, "Is the hero saving the damsel really such an easy way to make someone pledge themselves to you?"

Tang Ziqian gave an ambiguous smile and said, "Go comfort your sister, stay out of this matter."

"I don’t dare comfort her..." Tang Xiaobai muttered when she stopped.

"The life-saving gratitude, is it not something Second Miss mentioned before?"

When Tang Xiaobai turned, Ah Xiao also stopped with her, looking puzzled and confused.

"Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t," Tang Xiaobai felt this needed a clear explanation, "Generally speaking, the rescuer should be attractive or have an exceptional family background to make it more likely for someone to pledge themselves, but it’s just using the rescue as an excuse. Think about it, if you were in danger and saved by an 80-year-old grandmother, would you pledge yourself to her?"

Li Mu shook his head, "Not even at eighteen."

Tang Xiaobai nodded contentedly, "There are many ways to repay a debt of gratitude, pledging oneself is the least necessary. You might want to pledge yourself, but the other person might not even be willing! Saving someone only to be clung to, wouldn’t that be a terrible injustice?"

Li Mu’s eyes darkened, pressing his lips together silently.

"Of course, there are cases where both parties find each other, a perfect match, bringing joy to all, but it actually has nothing to do with whether you save someone or not; they’d still find each other appealing even without the rescue."

"I saved Second Miss before."

Tang Xiaobai choked and looked at him with curiosity.

How could he mention that? As if she didn’t know the person was Li Xingyuan?

Perhaps the young master and Li Xingyuan struck up a connection during that time! Still hoping to claim a life-saving grace? Ha!

Li Mu’s ears turned red under her gaze, his face taut as he asked, "Second Miss, do you think I have any exceptional qualities?"

Tang Xiaobai snorted with laughter, "Of course, you have exceptional qualities, but I don’t like pledging myself!"

Gu Wan probably wasn’t about pledging herself either.

But, since her brother told her to stay out of it, she didn’t want to delve further.

However, encountering Wei Sui again, a question came to mind, so she casually asked, "Last time when I visited your house, I took a walk through Yankang Village on the way back. It’s not any closer than walking from outside; do you always take such a detour on your way home?"

Wei Sui replied, "Of course not, I usually walk from the outside. That day, Pei Jiu asked me to help him buy a book from Wenren Bookstore, which is why I took the route through Yankang Village."

Tang Xiaobai looked up at him, "What book?"

...

"’Xunzi Explanations’—"

Pei Xuan said, placing the scroll book he held onto the table.

The color was already somewhat old, yet it was still well-preserved.

"The book ’Xunzi,’ after the Qin and Han periods, had few readers and no commentary editions circulated until fifty years ago, when a learned scholar made this explanation—" As he spoke, he slowly unfurled the scroll.

His gaze skimmed the text on the scroll, and Pei Xuan seemed slightly lost in thought.

Tang Xiaobai, full of curiosity, leaned in for a look, bringing him back to his senses.

Upon regaining his composure, Pei Xuan rolled up the scroll and said calmly, "Today, the two of you will copy this commentary down, and study it in detail later."

That’s fine.

Tang Xiaobai had no objections.

She had taken just a brief glance and noticed it was all hand-copied, with quite an elegant script, possibly the handwriting of the learned scholar himself.

Such a treasured item, it’s reasonable not to let others see it easily, and it was generous enough for them to transcribe it.

Therefore, Pei Xuan read it word by word while Tang Xiaobai and Li Mu took notes.

It was definitely impossible to finish copying it in just one and a half hours a day. While packing her stationery, Tang Xiaobai casually asked, "Who was the senior who explained ’Xunzi’?"

Pei Xuan paused for a moment before replying, "The former secretary, Mr. Yu, given the name Nanfeng."

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.

So it’s surname Yu...