Zhang Tingyu had walked halfway there when he decided to head directly to see Zhang Tingzan that afternoon.

Upon seeing him, Zhang Tingzan felt a bit guilty. Looking at his second brother’s calm, unassuming demeanor, he slapped Zhang Tingyu heartily on the shoulder. “Second Brother, it’s rare for you to come see me. Is there something on your mind?”

“Is there something?”

Zhang Tingyu thought of Third Miss Gu, and recalled the strange look on Zhang Tingzan’s face that morning when he summoned him for a chat. “Elder Brother certainly sent me a fine student. I am truly grateful.”

Zhang Tingzan touched his nose, led Zhang Tingyu inside, and circled around a decorative screen before inviting Zhang Tingyu to sit.

“Historically, admiring beautiful women is a delightful pastime. Although this third miss of the Gu family is a bit unruly and somewhat lacking in talent, she’s got a pretty face, no? That’s me doing you a favor, a big favor.”

As he poured tea and laughed, Zhang Tingzan continued to think up ways to explain himself, absentmindedly adding, “But I heard that Miss Gu left the study with a darkened expression. You didn’t upset her, did you?”

Zhang Tingyu thought to himself, What does this have to do with me? It was just a ruler and some raw eggs, after all.

He smiled gently. “As they say, ‘strict teachers make excellent students.’ Since you entrusted her education to me, Big Brother, I feel it’s my responsibility to teach Miss Gu properly.”

“Teach her properly?”

Zhang Tingzan snorted. “I have to tell you, once I saw how that girl writes, I was completely floored. It’s not the stumbling of a drunkard, but more like a King Zhou stumbling out of his wine pool and sensual forest. You get what I’m saying?”

“…” That description, surprisingly, was quite accurate.

Zhang Tingyu sighed and recalled the moment when their father, Zhang Ying, and the Old Master Gu had cemented the decision for him to tutor Miss Gu. He had been present at that meeting but never imagined things would be this difficult.

“Your sister-in-law’s health hasn’t been good lately, so I’ve spent more time with her. These peaceful days are a rare treat. Soon enough, we’ll probably be heading back to the capital, and then I’ll have no chance to be with her.” Zhang Tingzan’s usually frivolous expression turned more serious. “You’re at the age for marriage now. You’ve been turning down proposals from capital ladies for years, saying none of them suited your taste. But now that Father has set his eyes on the eldest Miss from the Gu family, you should think about starting your own household. From what I hear, you weren’t particularly pleased when you first heard of this match?”

In traditional marriages, it’s all about parental decree and the role of matchmakers.

Zhang Tingyu didn’t really feel one way or the other. He was the second son of the family, and until the younger fourth brother, Zhang Tingyuan, was born, he had been stuck in the middle…

He lowered his gaze lightly and smiled. “It’s all preliminary. Nothing is set in stone.”

Zhang Tingzan found this odd. “Although our family may not be as prestigious as we once were, our status still outweighs that of the Gu family. You marrying Eldest Miss Gu would be a sure thing, particularly because of Father and Old Gu’s longstanding friendship. It’s practically guaranteed.”

“Perhaps.”

Zhang Tingyu didn’t bother refuting his brother’s claims. He wasn’t exactly sure if it was just his intuition, or something else.

In any case, whether the marriage happened or not seemed to make little difference.

The saying goes: for a man, establish a family first, then a career. Though marriage is said to be a serious matter, to people like them, how different was it from a game?

“You have such an indifferent attitude!” Zhang Tingzan sighed, observing his younger brother’s impassive demeanor. “Back in the day, young ladies were lining up at my door, hoping for a chance. But it’s as if every maiden in the capital was dead in your eyes!”

It wasn’t that exaggerated.

Zhang Tingyu, despite his cool appearance, could mingle with people. But his interactions with others tended to be shallow and detached, which is why no one in the capital had ever noticed anything particularly impressive about him.

Zhang Tingyu himself didn’t mind. “Now that the eldest Gu Miss is available—with both beauty and intellect—maybe this fortune is just arriving a bit late for me.”

For whatever reason, Zhang Tingzan chuckled at that and responded, “Well, in any case, you’ll take Miss Gu as a wife, and now that you’re also helping the elder sister tutor her little sister, it all seems perfectly appropriate. I’m off to accompany your sister-in-law. As for Miss Gu the third, don’t come to me about her. If you do, don’t be surprised when we have a falling out—”

Who’s going to have a falling out with whom here?

Zhang Tingyu barely had time to respond before Zhang Tingzan hurried off, vanishing faster than a rabbit.

Sitting back inside, Zhang Tingyu gently placed his finished teacup down.

As he stepped outside, his servant, Ade, greeted him politely, “Second Master.”

This was his personal servant. At this moment, Ade seemed to be stifling a laugh and gave Zhang Tingyu a casual nod.

Zhang Tingyu, noticing something strange, asked, “Is there something amusing happening?”

Ade raised his head and, upon seeing his master’s calm, detached expression, found the situation even more amusing. Leaning closer, he whispered a few words into Zhang Tingyu’s ear. After hearing them, Zhang Tingyu clasped his hands behind his back and let out a small chuckle. “Let her be.”

The morning session at the study hall must have really upset Miss Gu, he thought. Considering her reaction, it’s only natural that she’s angry.

Meanwhile, Gu Huaixiu stayed holed up in her room all afternoon, avoiding the outside. Her maid, Qingdai, was busy applying medicine to her hand while the miss wailed loudly.

“Miss, calm down. If you keep wailing so loud, your voice will carry all the way to Tongcheng.”

Her mistress had long endured hardships concerning her reputation. Whether they lived in the capital or returned to their ancestral home in Wuxi, gossip seemed to follow her wherever she went. Rumors clung to them like shadows, whispered by nosy neighbors eager to stir trouble. Those sharp-tongued, meddlesome women had a knack for spreading every small detail, and though Qingdai sometimes fantasized about silencing them all, she knew that rumors were impossible to suppress completely.

Qingdai sighed. Her mistress had cursed Zhang Tingyu through gritted teeth countless times, blaming him for the red marks on her hand that hadn’t faded despite the medicinal ointment.

Gu Huaixiu sneered, “You don’t understand, Qingdai. This isn’t just a fit of anger—it’s strategy. All part of my foresight.”

Speaking ill of someone in their own home could have benefits?

Qingdai marveled. The ideas Miss came up with were always unconventional. With a crooked smile, Qingdai responded, “Your servant is all ears, Miss.”

Poking Qingdai on the forehead, Gu Huaixiu said, “You’re so clueless. If my elder sister doesn’t marry into the Zhang family, that’s one thing. But if she does, just think—Zhang Tinglu, the third son of the Zhang family, and I are the same age, and Father has hinted at matching us. He and Old Master Zhang are both wily old foxes, matchmaking us into family wouldn’t be out of the question.”

“So what you’re saying is…” Qingdai began to understand.

Looking at her right hand and the boiled egg placed on the vanity table, Gu Huaixiu gritted her teeth in frustration.

“All I know is, whatever happens, I can’t marry someone connected to Gu Yaofang. She’s been a thorn in my side for years. If I marry into the Zhang family, and she does too, it will only make my life miserable.”

She was just taking precautions and making two plans. In her heart, Gu Huaixiu’s calculating mind clicked away rapidly.

Gu Yaofang was nothing but trouble. The farther away she was, the better. If she got too close, things would blow up.

Qingdai felt that her mistress, while often outwardly whimsical and carefree, had far more on her mind than people usually noticed. Wisely, Qingdai stopped bringing up the issue of the eldest miss and simply helped Gu Huaixiu lie down for a nap.

By the time the sun began to set, a servant woman from the Zhang family came by to invite Gu Huaixiu. She mentioned that there was a lantern festival in Tongcheng, and that both men and women could go out to watch. The woman asked if Gu Huaixiu would be interested in attending.

Gu Huaixiu immediately declined. She had no interest in these matters.

In this era, she adhered to the strict expectations of a Qing dynasty lady. Unless something truly piqued her curiosity, she wouldn’t step outside, staying strictly within the confines of her home. But on the rare occasions that she did go out, she often ended up making quite the scene.

Qingdai, already anticipating her response, sent the servant woman back. Upon returning, she mentioned that it was Zhang Tinglu, the third son of the Zhang family, who had been organizing the event, persuading everyone to attend: the eldest son, the second son, even the fourth son, along with the lady of the house and her cousin.

Hearing this, Gu Huaixiu found it odd.

Qingdai teased mischievously, “I reckon the third son is also handsome and well-groomed. Now that you’ve declined this lantern festival invitation, he might just be heartbroken.”

Gu Huaixiu was flipping through a blue-covered storybook and engrossed in the tales. Barely lifting her eyes, she answered Qingdai nonchalantly, “I’ve already told you, the Zhang family isn’t right for me. I have no interest in the Zhang family. Besides my sister’s business, even just having Zhang Tingyu as an older brother is enough to irritate anyone.”

Qingdai was suddenly reminded that even if Eldest Miss Gu didn’t desire to marry Zhang Tingyu and ended up marrying someone else, if her mistress were to marry Zhang Tinglu, they’d still have to call Zhang Tingyu ‘Second Brother.’ The tension between Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law would already be awkward enough. With that thought in mind, Qingdai sighed, blurting, “If Miss is this picky, when will you finally get married?”

Gu Huaixiu merely waved her away, “Don’t block my light. Go on, shoo, shoo…”

Qingdai: “…”

Her mistress could be this engrossed in storybooks, yet never seemed interested when it came to actual studies or writing! What an inconsistency!

That night, Gu Zhenguan heard the news that his daughter was up reading late into the night, the lights in her room staying lit until the third watch.

Zhang Ying chuckled, saying, “Perhaps she’s finally getting into her studies.”

To which Gu Zhenguan could only respond with a wry smile. He knew perfectly well what his daughter’s temperament is like, but figured it was better not to reveal the truth and tear down any illusions.

The next morning, Gu Huaixiu followed her usual routine and headed to the study hall. The breakfast spread was the same as the day before—she drank only a bowl of porridge, barely touching anything else, before leaving, instructing her servants to clear the table.

On the way to the study hall, she complained to Qingdai, “If we don’t go back to Wuxi soon, this place is going to starve me to death.”

Qingdai knew her mistress was finicky with food and that traveling away from home wasn’t as accommodating. She attempted to reassure her, “Master’s letters went out two days ago. Based on the timing, the reply should arrive by today.”

Hearing that, Gu Huaixiu suddenly paused mid-step and murmured, “The show is about to begin.”

Clasping her hands together, her bright eyes suddenly lit with excitement. “Keep your ears sharp and report back to me.”

“Yes, Miss.” Qingdai, equally curious, wondered how the eldest sister would react.

As they neared the entrance to the study hall, both master and servant fell into silence.

But as soon as Gu Huaixiu entered, she found herself unable to move—there, sitting inside, was her fierce adversary, Zhang Tingyu.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she greeted him with displeasure. “Good day to you, Second Master. May I ask where your elder brother is?”

Zhang Tingyu had anticipated her irritation and wasn’t the least bit bothered. He simply replied, “He’s accompanying his wife and children today. Given the depth of your calligraphy skills, any one of my brothers would suffice as your tutor.”

The nerve of this man!

Suddenly, Gu Huaixiu’s right hand began to throb—clearly, she had recalled the pain of yesterday’s ordeal.

Thankfully, today Zhang Tingyu didn’t make much fuss. He gestured toward the raw egg sitting on the desk. “Third Miss, please.”

Yesterday she was made to use a boiled egg. Today, judging by Zhang Tingyu’s expression, this egg was likely raw.

Gu Huaixiu bit her lip but settled into compliance. So long as she was under the Zhang family’s roof for these next few days, Zhang Tingyu had plenty of leverage over her. If he chose to spread rumors, she’d be the one whose reputation would be at risk. The feeling was utterly suffocating…

Zhang Tingyu seemed utterly uninterested in her. His attention was focused on a book, and occasionally, he would glance at his watch, as though keeping track of time.

Yet things wouldn’t unfold so smoothly this day.

From just outside the study hall, Old Xu, a long-serving servant under Gu Zhenguan, approached. Qingdai went out to speak with him briefly. Upon returning, she bowed respectfully before addressing Zhang Tingyu. “Second Master, my old master is requesting Miss Gu’s presence. May we…”

Gu Huaixiu’s pen stilled, perplexed. She exchanged glances with Zhang Tingyu, who nodded in acknowledgment.

“My apologies for any rudeness. I must take my leave now.”

With a slight bow, she excused herself from the hall. After walking some distance, she finally asked Qingdai, “The reply from my sister must’ve arrived, no?”

Qingdai nodded. “Old Xu didn’t say outright, but I’m quite certain.”