Marrying a treacherous official

Yunji placed the local gazetteer in his hands, slowly descended the ladder, stood at his level, and smiled gently, saying:

"Move all of Father's books off the shelves."

"Listen to your sister."

Gu Jinyu will be participating in the spring imperial examination administered by the Ministry of Rites next year, and he is currently studying at Bailu Academy, where his studies are quite demanding.

Upon learning of Yunji's return to her parents' home, he immediately asked the headmaster for leave and rode back to his residence at breakneck speed, just to see how his elder sister was doing.

But when he actually saw her, he was filled with concern but didn't know how to ask, so he stood on the wooden ladder and took down the ancient books she wanted, passing them to her one by one.

Seeing the deep, lingering sorrow in his eyes, Yunji guessed that he was burdened by the upcoming exams and couldn't help but gently comfort him, saying:

"There aren't many scholars who enter the imperial examinations before they've even reached adulthood. Why don't you give it a try? Passing the exam would be the best thing ever. Even if you don't pass, you can try again later."

"Don't worry, elder sister, I will definitely pass the imperial examination this spring."

Gu Jinyu couldn't stand such discouraging words. Always proud and composed, he would never allow himself to be so disappointed in the examination room.

"Besides, my father passed the imperial examination at the age of seventeen and was even personally selected by the late emperor as the third-ranked scholar. No matter what, I will pass the examination and will never bring shame to the Gu family."

"Father is father, and you are you. Why do you have to compare yourself to father?"

"I never said I wanted to be the third-ranked scholar, I just wanted to pass the imperial examination. Look how anxious my elder sister is, as if she is carrying a huge mountain that is about to crush me."

"How could a mere third-place scholar possibly catch your eye? In my opinion, he should at least be the top scholar to satisfy you."

"Elder sister, then I'll take your kind words."

Gu Jinyu readily agreed.

Yunji, fearing he was too tense, tried to relax him by saying:

"Your father's books are covered in dust. How long has it been since you last read one of his books?"

"I'm not watching anymore."

"Classical texts are of paramount importance in the imperial examinations, and are certainly crucial during the metropolitan examinations. However, history is the foundation for policy questions. In your spare time, you might as well read more of your father's notes. The anecdotes in them are quite interesting, and perhaps they will enlighten you a lot."

"Elder sister, if I were to enter officialdom in the future, I would not become a historian."

Gu Jinyu descended the wooden ladder, his tense expression revealing the stubbornness and reckless courage unique to a young man.

"What are you talking about?"

Yunji looked at him with heartache, hating his lack of ambition, her eyes welling up with tears:

"The Gu family has been compiling history for generations. My grandfather and father both died for upholding the truth in their writings. Ayu, are you going to let this family legacy, passed down from our ancestors, fail to continue and be ruined in your hands as the eldest grandson?"

"Eldest sister—"

Gu Jinyu tried his best to suppress the indignation in his chest and said sadly, "Ever since my second uncle personally burned the late emperor's daily records and came out of the palace alive, the Gu family's integrity in compiling history has been broken."

"Without compromise."

"Eldest sister, it broke here with me."

Gu Jinyu jabbed his heart hard with his long finger, suppressing all the pent-up grievances in his eyes:

"I'm not blaming my second uncle. On the contrary, I secretly hoped that he could leave the palace alive. But no matter what, I can't convince myself to go back to being a historian."

Yunji knew that he had always been arrogant and aloof, but she had no choice but to do what she did back then, and never thought that she would humiliate him in this matter.

"Ah Yu, your second uncle only burned the daily records; he didn't burn that part of history."

"It doesn't matter anymore."

Gu Jinyu had made up his mind. In countless sleepless nights, he had made his choice:

"Leaving a name in history is for posterity to see, but all I need is for my family to be of noble birth, no longer a family that can be ridiculed at will by powerful figures in the capital."

Over the years, he watched his second uncle suffer from discrimination in the court, watched his eldest sister be married off to a mad and powerful minister by imperial decree, and watched his aunt struggle to make ends meet for the entire family, while he could do nothing about it.

He was fed up with this helplessness.

Life is so hard these days, we might as well give up on the so-called reputation of the Gu family.

He wanted to climb the ranks step by step until he reached the highest position among civil officials.

"Elder sister, how does Cui Zemin treat you?"

"……good……"

Yunji tried her best to persuade him, but under his questioning gaze, her confidence vanished the moment she opened her mouth.

Gu Jinyu slowly walked up to her and solemnly promised her in a voice that only the two of them could hear:

"Once I have established myself in the court, if my elder sister wishes to divorce, I will go to the Cui family to bring you back to your parents' home."

After hearing this, how could Yunji still harbor resentment towards him?

He was merely forced to abandon his reputation as a historian in order to shoulder the heavy burden of the entire Gu family and trudge forward.

On the day of his departure, Huo Xi prepared a carriage in the front yard. He waited for a long time but his wife did not come out. Instead, a maid carried out boxes of classics and historical texts.

He hesitated before stepping forward and asking, "What are you going to do with all these books?"

Chunxuan said to him irritably, "You'd better not ask about the Madam's affairs."

Huo Xi was only worried about how to explain himself to the general after returning to the manor, so he had to find out, "Where does Madam plan to put all these books back to Qinghui Courtyard?"

Chunxuan was momentarily stumped by his question, her almond-shaped eyes revealing a clear sense of confusion.

They both thought of the only outer study in the courtyard.

Huo Xi kindly reminded her, "Whatever you do, don't go to the general's study. You should know that when gods fight, it's always the mortals who suffer."

How could Chunxuan bear to see her wife suffer under the master's nose?

"Don't worry, these books have their own place. They won't be able to enter the master's outer study no matter what."

Before leaving, Yunji met Gu Huaizhang, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.

She overheard Madam Gu mention that her second uncle had experienced something in the palace, and ever since returning to the mansion, he had been plagued by nightmares. Not only had he become thinner, but he also often stayed alone in his study for most of the day without saying a word.

"I hope my second uncle is well."

"Um."

Gu Huaizhang nodded slightly and then said nothing more.

Yun Ji saw through his hidden bitterness at a glance. Even someone as proud as Gu Jinyu couldn't get over that hurdle in his heart, let alone his upright and honest second uncle.

He survived only for the sake of the entire Gu family.

"There's something I've kept to myself for a long time, and I've never known how to ask my second uncle."

Looking at Gu Huaizhang, whose temples were streaked with gray from the ravages of time, Yun Ji said softly, "Between A-Yu and me, who resembles our father more?"

Gu Huaizhang almost blurted out in the authentic language, "Ji'er has even more of his father's style."

Yunji avoided his gaze and smiled triumphantly with her head down.

"My father never looked down on me because I was a girl. From the time I could remember, he took me to visit many counties and prefectures along the Huai River, to see famous scenic spots and historical sites, to learn about historical events, and to observe the social customs."

Gu Huaizhang was momentarily lost in thought when she changed the subject, speaking with tender affection:

"No one knows my father better than me. Even if he were still alive, after that coup in the palace, he would have survived the same burden as my second uncle in order to preserve the historical facts."

Like a gentle knife, it cuts straight to the vitals.

A slight moisture welled up in Gu Huaizhang's cloudy eyes.

He was never as outstanding as his older brother since childhood, and after that incident, he could never compare to his older brother in this life. But Ji'er said that he made the same choice as his older brother.

Yun Ji curtsied, bid farewell to Gu Huaizhang, and then turned to get into the carriage behind him.

Huo Xi rode his horse to clear the way, escorting the carriage all the way back to the mansion.

Yunji instructed Chunxuan to stay behind to store the books in the carriage, and then took Huachao back to the backyard.

The loading of books and moving of boxes took a little longer, and by the time we got back to the mansion, it was already late.

She was eager to change her clothes quickly and rush to Minghe Hall to pay her respects to the Lady of the Marquis. She walked briskly through the covered walkway and stopped abruptly when she saw Chi Ying standing outside the main room.

Chi Ying bowed and said directly, "Master went to the palace for a banquet last night, and after returning home drunk, he rested in the main room."

Yunji thought to himself that this guy was really drunk, he couldn't even figure out which room he was sleeping in.

"Is the old man still not awake?"

"Not awake."

"Then what are you still standing there for? Why don't you go in and invite them in?"

Having witnessed Cui Zemin's rage after his peaceful sleep was disturbed in his previous life, Yun Ji dared not provoke him easily. Suddenly, she remembered the time when Chi Ying deliberately blocked her door, and retaliated in kind:

"No one else is allowed to enter the master's room. Only you are allowed in. Remember to announce your arrival once you are inside, saying that it is high in the sky and the master should get up."