Marrying a treacherous official

Yunji couldn't just stand by and watch the Gu family decline.

When she got married, her grandmother emptied her entire savings to make her dowry, but compared to the betrothal gifts brought by the Cui family, it was still too meager.

If it weren't for the late emperor's bestowal of marriage, which resulted in a substantial dowry being added to the palace, she would likely have been seen as marrying above her station by the Cui family, yet she brought in eight loads of dowry, becoming a laughingstock throughout the capital.

Without money, the Gu family could not establish themselves in Shengjing.

She didn't want her younger sisters to go through the same embarrassing and awkward experiences she went through.

"The year is extremely cold. I heard from my uncle that the fields north of the Huai River have been hit by a locust plague this year, and the harvest is only half of what it used to be. With the harsh winter wind and snow, those farmers who have no food will probably have no choice but to sell their land and their daughters to survive."

Madam Gu was exceptionally intelligent and immediately understood the hidden meaning in her words.

"Does Ji'er mean I should use these silver notes to buy fertile land?"

"Auntie, it's a grain shop."

Yunji couldn't say much more to her; the secret was only for her to know. She only gave her some instructions:

"We need to start stockpiling grain now; the more grain we accumulate, the better."

Madam Gu took all of her advice to heart.

Firstly, the five thousand taels of silver were given to the Gu family by Yunji. Secondly, the Gu family was not as prestigious as the Marquis's mansion, so the information Yunji obtained from General Cui must be secret and reliable.

She was decisive and efficient, and immediately gave the orders:

"Granny You, have the matchmaker come tomorrow and finalize the deal as soon as possible. Once the manager and staff are in place, we'll open the grain shop."

Granny You smiled and agreed, "This old servant understands."

Three drumbeats sounded in the deep alley.

Yunji greatly admired Madam Gu's decisive nature and entrusted her with the task with peace of mind. Seeing that it was getting late, she gracefully got up to take her leave.

"I've troubled you for so long, Auntie, I should go back and rest now."

"Your second uncle is on duty at the palace's living quarters and has trouble sleeping at night. Luckily, you're here to keep me company and talk to me intimately. Otherwise, how could I possibly get through this long night?"

Madam Gu gently squeezed her hand and said, "Yu-ge heard that you went back to your parents' home, so he asked the headmaster of Bailu Academy for leave today. He should be able to return to the mansion as early as tomorrow. You two siblings can have a good get-together."

Yunji hadn't seen Gu Jinyu for a long time and missed him dearly. "Thank you, Auntie, for sending someone to inform Ayu. I really want to see him."

Madam Gu said earnestly, "Of course, Yu-ge'er can attract the attention of many beauties when he walks down the street. It is only right that you, as his elder sister, should meet him."

One sentence brought a burst of laughter and joy to the room, which lingered for a long time.

The next morning, Granny You brought over a gift list and presented it to Yunji with both hands for her to review.

"The eldest daughter arrived with two carts full of gifts for her return visit. As is customary, the second madam said that the eldest daughter should not leave empty-handed. This is a small gift list; please accept it, eldest daughter."

"There's no need for such formality between me and my aunt."

Yunji said this, but still called out to Huachao and Chunxuan, and carried out two large red lacquered plain cowhide boxes from the house and placed them at the door.

Looking at the two large chests, each capable of holding over a hundred bolts of silk, Granny You suddenly felt that the gift list in her hands was rather meager. She silently put the list away and said with an embarrassed smile:

"If the young lady is not in a hurry, this old servant will call someone to carry away these two leather trunks. On the day you leave the manor, this old servant will send someone to load the trunks onto the carriage for you."

Hua Chao and Chun Xuan exchanged a glance, then covered their mouths with their embroidered handkerchiefs and chuckled.

"How can you two make fun of your nanny like that?"

Yunji didn't mean to tease Granny You. It was just that when the two large trunks were brought out, before she could say anything, Granny You nervously withdrew the gift list and even interrupted her, misunderstanding that she was trying to make a big profit.

"Why aren't you carrying the box into the library and filling it with books?"

Hua Chao and Chun Xuan stopped smiling and agreed in unison.

After this misunderstanding, Granny You, with an embarrassed smile, handed over the gift list again.

"Miss, please see if you want anything else added. This old servant will inform the Second Madam as soon as possible."

Yunji pushed the gift list back and smiled gently:

"I appreciate your kindness, Aunt, but since it's a rare opportunity to visit my parents' home, I only want to take a few boxes of books from the library with me. I'm afraid my second uncle would be heartbroken and wouldn't be willing to give me the books."

"The second master dotes on the eldest daughter the most. Let alone a few boxes of books, even if he vacated the entire library for her to move, the second master would not hesitate for a moment."

Granny You was good at sweet-talking people; with a few flattering words, she made all the maids in the room laugh.

Yunji couldn't help but laugh. "I'll remember those words, Granny. If my second uncle is reluctant to give me the book, I'll ask Granny for it."

The Gu family has been compiling history for generations, leaving behind tens of thousands of volumes of classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections. The vast collection of books is stored on the shelves of the six-story library.

Yunji climbed the tall wooden ladder and searched through the historical records on the dusty bookshelves.

Hua Chao held the ladder firmly from below, while Chunxuan took the books that were handed down and packed them into the box one by one.

The two people below watched Yunji climb higher and higher, and couldn't help but urge him on:

"Madam, please don't climb any higher. I know a few words. If you're looking for any book, I'll go up and find it for you."

"Be careful where you step, Madam. Do not climb onto the bookshelf to look for books again, or you may fall."

Yunji has always been obsessed with books and couldn't bear to hear a single word of their advice.

Thinking that they were tired of talking, they naturally wouldn't keep nagging.

Her slender fingers traced the dusty spines of the books, leaving rows of fingerprints, before she took out her father's books and letters and handed them out one by one.

Hua Chao and Chun Xuan couldn't persuade her, so they fell silent, and the study gradually returned to quiet.

Yunji climbed the shelf, pulled out a copy of "Xianyou Lin'an Zhi" and handed it down, then looked at the "Zhuzhou Tujing Ji" at the top, shook the book in his hand, and urged, "Hua Chao—"

No one answered from below the ladder for a long time.

She called softly again, "Chunxuan—"

No one in the library agreed.

Yunji turned around from the top of the wooden ladder, her bright eyes meeting the handsome features of the young man.

Gu Jinyu stood in the study, dressed in a moon-white robe trimmed with silver thread. He was as elegant and dignified as a gentle breeze rustling through a bamboo grove. Yet, his brows were slightly furrowed, revealing a sincerity that seemed beyond his years.

No matter how much the servants tried to persuade her, the lady wouldn't listen and insisted on climbing to the top shelf to get the book.

Standing behind Gu Jinyu, Chunxuan, emboldened by having someone back her up, shrewdly complained:

"Young master saw it with his own eyes. Even now, Madam is still reluctant to come down from the ladder, and her hand is still reaching for the top shelf."

Gu Jinyu steadied the wooden ladder in front of him and solemnly extended his hand to her, "Elder sister, come down, let me go up."