Qing Ya returned to the manor at dusk. "My lady, I have found out everything. The words came from Miss Zeng's side."
"Zeng Weiyang?"
"Yes, she admitted to her little friends that you are her elder sister."
Lu Nianfu frowned, "Why would she say that out of the blue?"
Qing Ya shook her head, "I don't know, but she just passed the Guqin trial at Ming Yue Tower during the Lantern Festival and her reputation is soaring. Many people are paying attention to what she says, so your identity has been widely publicized. My lady, what should we do?"
"What do you mean, what should we do?"
"You don't mind?"
"There's nothing I can do about it even if I mind. I am indeed a daughter of the Zeng family, and blood recognition cannot be denied. Lu Nianfu mused, "I just don't understand, why would Zeng Weiyang do this?"
Qing Ya said, "Didn't Madam say that the Pingning Marquis's manor is out of favor with the emperor, so they must want to use this to get close to the son-in-law?"
Lu Nianfu shook her head, "That's unlikely."
"Why? Madam even wants to use the son-in-law to get official positions for the two young masters of the manor, perhaps the Pingning Marquis's manor has the same idea."
"The Pingning Marquis has no sons. He is just a doctor in the Imperial Hospital. Even if Yan Chen is willing to help him seek office, he cannot find suitable positions."
Qing Ya said, "You don't understand this. Zeng Weiyang is approaching marriageable age. What good marriage can she get by relying on a declining marquis's manor? But with a brother-in-law who is the Minister of Justice, it's different. Once this news spreads, the matchmakers who come to propose to her family will be of a higher caliber."
Lu Nianfu had really not considered this.
But thinking of Zeng Weiyang's husband in her previous life, she denied this statement.
If she really wanted to climb high, how could she marry a poor scholar? Her status as a marquis's daughter was evident. Even if she was down on her luck, marrying the legitimate son of an official family would be more than enough.
Qing Ya asked, "My lady, regardless of why she did this. The problem is, everyone already knows about this. And since you came to the capital, the Pingning Marquis's manor has sent gifts to see you from time to time. To outsiders, this sincerity is very strong. If you insist on not acknowledging them, you might be criticized."
Lu Nianfu did not care much about reputation, but she did not want this matter to affect Gu Yan Chen. Regardless of the reason for not acknowledging her biological parents, she would be branded as "unfilial." As husband and wife, Gu Yan Chen would inevitably have to bear half of this stigma.
Filial piety is the foremost virtue. In any era, these two words are fatal to someone pursuing an official career. Lu Nianfu struggled for a while, and it seemed she could not avoid this kinship.
"My lady, I don't understand, why don't you want to acknowledge your family?" The master is gone, and Madam Li has no affection for her. Having biological parents for support is always a good thing."
It wasn't that she didn't want to acknowledge her family, but she didn't want to acknowledge her mother.
Lu Nianfu sighed, "I'll think about it again."
Madam Fang was extremely swift. The next day, she had the steward invite bricklayers. In one day, the wall rose by more than a meter, and the courtyard immediately became a bit dim. Therefore, Gu Yan Chen noticed as soon as he entered the house, "What's going on with this wall?"
Lu Nianfu sighed, "There's no choice. I was caught by Mother climbing over the wall yesterday, she's guarding against me."
Gu Yan Chen pouted, "With Qing Ya's skills, this wall would need to be three meters higher to be effective." This girl is truly strange. She is so plump and stout, yet she has practiced light footwork so well. I really don't know how she manages to be as light as a swallow with all that weight."
"This is a matter of attitude. From now on, you can't go out without finding her for a pass token."
Gu Yan Chen turned and said, "I'll go talk to Father again, and we'll move out and live separately."
Lu Nianfu stopped him, "Will Father agree?"
"It's difficult." Gu Yan Chen was depressed, "When I mentioned it to him last time, he refused. He said I am the eldest son, and there is no reason to move out even if the family splits. He never cared about me before, but now that he doesn't need to, I've actually become the eldest son."
Such resentment.
Lu Nianfu chuckled, "Father is not wrong. You are now a rising star in the court, and so many eyes are watching. If you move out, people will speculate about the relationship between you and your father. Father also wants to save face!"
"So I'll use this opportunity to negotiate terms with him. Even if we can't move out, he should properly manage his wife."
This fellow's mind was indeed turning fast. Lu Nianfu said, "There's no rush for that. Let's go after dinner."
Gu Yan Chen's expression was somewhat hard to describe, "He goes to his study after dinner."
It was widely known that the Marquis of Guangling kept beauties in his study. Lu Nianfu certainly knew about it and quickly let go, "Then hurry up and go. It wouldn't be good to disturb Father's good deeds."
Gu Yan Chen: ...
The Marquis of Guangling, who was being thought of by Gu Yan Chen, was currently kneeling anxiously in his study, filled with bewilderment. Why would the Emperor summon him? He was just a marginalized attendant of the Ministry of Rites.
"Your subject greets His Majesty. May His Majesty live for ten thousand years."
"Minister Gu, please rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Chang Wu disdained his trembling demeanor and lost the desire to beat around the bush. "I have heard that Minister Gu has a pair of twin sons."
Gu Rong: ...
How much trouble did these two boys cause to have the Emperor know about them? He braced himself and replied, "Yes."
"How old are they?"
"They will reach their coming-of-age ceremony this October."
"That's not young. Why are they not married yet?"
Gu Rong became even more confused, but this question was easy to answer. He said, "Men must achieve something before they can marry a good girl. My wife and I have discussed it, and it's not too late to talk about wives after they pass the imperial examinations."
With a "bang," a brush washer from an unknown era was suddenly smashed down, shattering into porcelain shards in front of him. One shard even splashed up and cut his face. But Gu Rong could not care about anything else. His knees buckled, and he knelt down, saying fearfully, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger, please calm your anger."
Although he had no idea what the Emperor was angry about.