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Chapter 150: Arriving in the Capital
Gu Jingyun, though young, was very perceptive.
He turned his head and, seeing the deep, worried look in Gu Huaizhi’s eyes, lowered the carriage curtain.
Today, as they were leaving his birthplace and hometown, Gu Jingyun had a restless night.
When his mother came in, he pretended to be asleep.
In a drowsy half-sleep, he drifted off briefly, and when he woke, his mother was still by his bedside, having watched over him for most of the night.
This unusual behavior made him feel uneasy.
In a sleep-talking manner, he grasped his mother’s hand and mumbled softly, “Mother…”
Mother Gu seemed startled, brushing the back of her hand against the corner of her eye, her voice tinged with a nasal sound, “Jingyun, you’re awake? Did I disturb you?”
Gu Jingyun stared at his mother in the darkness for a while before finally shaking his head.
“You go back to sleep. I was just checking if your things were all packed.” Mother Gu tucked him in and gently patted his chest. “Sleep a little longer; it’s almost dawn.” After saying this, she left the room.
Gu Jingyun listened intently for a while before he finally heard Mother Gu’s footsteps fading away outside.
This incident weighed heavily on his mind, and he couldn’t fall back asleep, repeatedly thinking about his mother’s unusual behavior.
It wasn’t until dawn that he managed to come up with a reason: perhaps because they were leaving their hometown, his mother was also feeling uneasy, so she came to his room in the middle of the night to check on him?
But the look in his elder brother’s eyes made Gu Jingyun overthink again.
“Elder Brother, when I left school, the teacher said that living in the capital is not easy. You’re going to the capital to take the exam; there’s no need to bring the whole family along.
The cost of living in the capital is high, and it’s full of talented people. While we might stand out in Xihe Town, we could easily blend into the crowd in the capital. Without enough funds, we might end up being a burden to you.”
Gu Jingyun straightened his small frame, his little face serious as he said, “I’ve thought about it carefully, Elder Brother. The teacher said my handwriting is very neat and good. I’ll stop going to school for now and find a bookshop where I can copy books. This way, I can earn money while continuing to learn. Once you pass the imperial exam and become a Jinshi, you can support me to go back to school.”
Gu Jingyun had been thinking that it might be related to his education.
In his mind, the capital was a money-burning place, and their family was very poor.
“What if I don’t pass the imperial exam?” Gu Huaizhi, seeing his worried and anxious expression, couldn’t help but tease him, “Will you continue copying books for another three years?”
Gu Jingyun frowned, “The teacher said that if you pass the provincial exam and become a Juren, you can still become a minor official.”
“Aiya!”
Gu Huaizhi reached out and flicked Gu Jingyun’s forehead.
Gu Jingyun covered his forehead and scooted over to Su Wan, complaining, “Sister-in-law, Big Brother is bullying me.”
“Let me see.” Su Wan gently moved Gu Jingyun’s hand aside, and there wasn’t a mark on his forehead, but his eyes were red. She understood that the little one was feeling uneasy about suddenly leaving his hometown and going to an unfamiliar place.
She reached out and hugged Gu Jingyun’s narrow shoulders, speaking softly, “Second Brother, don’t be afraid. No matter where we go, our family will be together. Don’t worry about us not having money to support your education. We have a house in the capital, and we have shops. We can even buy two servants to take care of you, and you’ll be like a young master from a wealthy family.”
Gu Jingyun’s eyes widened. Their family… Could it be that Sister-in-law was actually this wealthy?!
But—
Su Wan saw through his concerns and said, “Our medical hall and restaurant in Xihe Town won’t close just because we’re going to the capital. We have steady income every month, so don’t worry that we’ll run out of money by doing nothing.”
After digesting the news that they weren’t short of money, Gu Jingyun couldn’t help but glance at Mother Gu beside him, his little face full of confusion.
Mother Gu understood immediately.
Last night, she had stayed in Gu Jingyun’s room until the middle of the night, which had made the child uneasy.
“Your mother was worried that you and your sister wouldn’t adjust well. When she saw you were restless in your sleep last night, she stayed by your side for half the night.”
Mother Gu lovingly patted Gu Jingyun’s head, deeply worried that once they entered the capital, Gu Jingyun’s true identity would be difficult to keep hidden.
Years ago, when her youngest son fell ill, the doctor in the town said he couldn’t be cured. Unwilling to give up, she took him to the county. But before they even reached the county, he passed away.
That day, a light drizzle fell, and the sky was filled with dark, heavy clouds. She knelt by the roadside, holding her child, crying her heart out in agony.
Later, she encountered an elderly woman who was severely injured, holding a baby in her arms. The child appeared to be about the same age as her late son.
The old woman entrusted the child to her, urging her that if she was willing to raise him, she must never let him enter the capital, nor allow him to take the imperial exams.
After experiencing the pain of losing her own son, Mother Gu watched as the old woman took her last breath, and the child wailed loudly. Unable to bear it, she adopted the child and had been raising him as her own ever since.
She had always followed the old woman’s last wishes, but Gu Huaizhi was determined for Gu Jingyun to pursue his studies and a career in the government.
He said, “What is meant to happen will happen one day. Avoiding it won’t bring us peace; it’s merely self-deception.”
“Second Brother is talented and intelligent. Mother, can you bear to see him live an unremarkable life?”
Mother Gu couldn’t bear it, so she relented.
Her previous reluctance to go to the capital was partly due to her own deep-seated beliefs and partly because of Gu Jingyun’s true identity.
But since Gu Jingyun aspired to pursue an official career, he would inevitably have to go to the capital someday. She gritted her teeth, and decided to take the plunge.
It’s not certain that he would be recognized.
Gu Huaizhi spoke up, “Just now, you were staring out the window lost in thought. Was it because you were reluctant to leave?”
Facing everyone’s concerned gazes, Gu Jingyun understood—they were genuinely worried about him!
He let out a muffled “Hmm” and shrank into the corner, burying his face in his knees, pretending to sleep.
So embarrassing.
The carriage came to a stop, and Jiu Ge lifted the curtain and came inside.
“Big Sister!” Jiu Ge beamed with a delighted smile upon seeing Su Wan and greeted Mother Gu and the others one by one. She sat down next to Su Wan, her clear and bright eyes full of anticipation. “Are we going to the capital now?”
“Yes, we’re taking you to find Jiu Yu.” Su Wan glanced at Jiu Ge. After nearly a month of recuperation, she had gained a bit of weight, her skin had become fairer—she was quite the budding beauty. “How was your time on Qingfeng Mountain?”
“It was great! The brothers and sisters were all very kind!” Jiu Ge’s smile was pure, but she asked reluctantly, “Are they coming to the capital with us?”
Su Wan nodded, “Yes, they are.”
“Young lady, we’ll ride alongside on horseback,” Qi Guang’s loud voice called from outside.
Su Wan lifted the curtain and saw the Qi Family Army fully geared up and ready to go. Mrs. Hu’s thin figure stood at the mountain path’s entrance nearby, looking quite desolate. When she saw Su Wan, her eyes lit up instantly. Clenching her fists tightly, as if gathering courage, she ran over.
“Mrs. Gu, can I… can I go to the capital with you? I… I know I’m not very useful, but I… I can help you with the household chores.”
Mrs. Hu held her breath, nervously picking at the edge of her clothes, her gaze fixed intently on Su Wan, without the slightest hint of timidity or avoidance.
Su Wan looked at the now-braver Mrs. Hu and smiled slightly. “You can come with me to the capital, but it might not be as safe and peaceful as Qingfeng Mountain.”
“My life was saved by you; I just want to follow you.” On Qingfeng Mountain, Mrs. Hu had heard many things about Su Wan and knew about her numerous hardships. Mrs. Hu wanted to repay her kindness.
Su Wan indeed needed more people, so she decided to take Mrs. Hu along.
The group headed north to the capital, with a one-day stopover in the prefectural city. By the time they reached the capital, it was already the morning of the fifth day.
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Avrora[Translator]
Hello, I'm Avrora (≧▽≦) Thank you very much for your support. ❤️ Your support will help me buy the raw novel from the official site (Jjwxc/GongziCp/Others) to support the Author. It's also given me more motivation to translate more novels for our happy future! My lovely readers, I hope you enjoy the story as much as I do.(≧▽≦) Ps: Feel free to point out if there is any wrong grammar or anything else in my translation! (≧▽≦) Thank you 😘