Chapter 169: Becoming a Disciple

Su Wan was taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter with a “pfft.”

She looked at the frustrated Gu Huaizhi with amusement, raising her eyebrows as if to ask: Does your face hurt?

Gu Huaizhi shook his head helplessly. “You all go in with Uncle Jiang.”

Then, he turned to the butler and said, “Uncle Jiang, please inform the master that I’ve acquired a painting of ‘The Nine Elders.'”

Uncle Jiang gave Gu Huaizhi a meaningful glance, the smile on his face deepening. “First young master, rest assured, I will certainly deliver your message.”

Su Wan was full of confusion, not understanding what kind of riddles the two were playing.

“Please follow me to the flower hall,” Uncle Jiang said as he led the three of them into the residence.

Su Wan, holding the hands of two people, walked straight ahead toward the flower hall without looking around.

Gu Baozhu was very nervous. Although the residence she lived in now was grand and luxurious, and she was slowly getting used to it, coming to this unfamiliar place, even though it wasn’t as magnificent as her home, its quiet elegance added an even greater sense of solemnity and authority.

She tightened her grip on Su Wan’s hand, her eyes, moist like a startled fawn, gazed uncertainly toward Gu Jingyun.

Gu Jingyun kept a serious expression on his small face. After noticing Gu Baozhu’s anxious look, he pulled his hand away from Su Wan, walked around to Gu Baozhu’s side, and took her hand.

“Don’t be afraid, we’re just going to see the Master.”

Gu Baozhu smiled and leaned close to Gu Jingyun’s ear, whispering, “Second Brother, I’m not scared anymore.”

Gu Jingyun responded maturely with a simple “Hmm,” and added, “Just think of it as practicing your courage.”

Gu Baozhu nodded obediently.

Seeing the interaction between the siblings, Su Wan smiled softly.

“Su girl, it’s so good to see you again,” Old Jiang came out of the flower hall, his smile kind and warm. “Ever since I tasted your cooking, I’ve been craving it. You’ve been so busy, so I’ve been to Zuixiang Pavilion a few times. The flavors there are similar to yours, but there’s always something a bit off.”

Old Jiang was quite the gourmet, with a tongue as sharp as a seasoned critic. Anything that entered his mouth—he could tell what ingredients were used without even seeing them.

“Old Jiang, if you ever want to eat, you’re welcome at the Gu residence anytime,” Su Wan said before turning to the two little ones, “Pay your respects to the elder.”

Gu Baozhu and Gu Jingyun bowed properly, saying, “Master.”

Old Jiang’s eyes widened. “When did this old man agree to take you two as students?”

Gu Jingyun was quite sharp. Noticing that Old Jiang grumbled but didn’t avoid their salute, he grinned, revealing his two sharp little tiger teeth. “Since you accepted the salute from my sister and me, that means you are our Master.”

Gu Baozhu hadn’t expected such a kind and approachable old man, and suddenly, her fear vanished. She spoke crisply and confidently, “My second brother and I performed the proper etiquette for students paying respects to their Master.”

Old Jiang listened to the two little ones working together, and stroking his gray beard thoughtfully.

Uncle Jiang then spoke up at the right moment, “Old Master, the First Young Master left a message earlier. He said he recently acquired a painting of The Nine Elders.”

Old Jiang’s face lengthened, and he snorted, “You two are just like Gu Huaizhi, shameless!”

The Nine Elders painting had been Old Jiang’s favorite for a long time, something he had coveted for ages, and now it had ended up in Gu Huaizhi’s hands.

He deliberately made things difficult, keeping people locked outside, and now, shamelessly, Gu Huaizhi was trying to bribe him with The Nine Elders.

“Does Gu Huaizhi think that just by offering me The Nine Elders, he can calm my anger and get me to let him in?”

Old Jiang snorted coldly. “He underestimates me. Unless he also brings me that Duan inkstone in his possession and places it on my desk.”

“What? Do you have an opinion?” Old Jiang squinted, casting a sidelong glance at Su Wan.

“No, no, I wouldn’t dare,” Su Wan quickly waved her hand. “My apologies, my apologies.”

“You are truly the most shameless person I’ve ever seen,” Su Wan thought to herself.

Gu Jingyun was also stunned. “How can you, as a master, extort people like this?”

Old Jiang curled his lips. “How is this extortion? This is called filial respect!”

Gu Jingyun was speechless, casting a glance at Su Wan with a look of disbelief. His eyebrows furrowed like caterpillars: Sister-in-law, are you sure he won’t lead us astray?

Su Wan gave an awkward smile: Your elder brother was taught by him.

Gu Jingyun tilted his head back, looking up at the sky, and let out a long sigh.

We’re doomed…

His new master wasn’t tirelessly teaching; instead, he was tirelessly ruining.

“You go tell him,” Old Jiang said, hands clasped behind his back as he stepped into the flower hall. “I’m old now, retired from the court, and no longer involved in worldly affairs. How can I still teach little children?”

“A true man’s ambition only grows stronger with age,” Su Wan replied with a smile. “You’re certainly capable of teaching.”

Old Jiang couldn’t help but give Su Wan a glance. This quote came from the Book of the Later Han: The Biography of Ma Yuan, where it says, “A true man’s ambition should be firm, and as adversity strikes, one’s determination should grow, just as a man grows stronger with age.”

“Well, that requires the ambition of a true man,” Old Jiang said as he sat in the chair, carefully observing Gu Jingyun and Gu Baozhu. With just one look, he could tell they were promising talents.

Back when Old Jiang first met Gu Huaizhi, he had gone to great lengths—scheming, deceiving, and coercing—to take him in as a student. He had been as excited as if he’d found a treasure.

And what was the result?

Gu Huaizhi ended up colluding with the Regent, who was wreaking havoc on the court.

Old Jiang was utterly exhausted.

In his frustration, he said, “I can recommend a great scholar to be their master.”

Su Wan pondered for a moment and replied, “If you truly don’t wish to take them as disciples, we won’t force you.” In her heart, she had another candidate in mind—Xie Wuya, known as the child prodigy, who had never been involved in court affairs and had plenty of time to teach Gu Jingyun.

Moreover, the Eldest Princess had a certain influence over the court, and with Xie Wuya as Gu Jingyun’s master, he could also be considered an ally.

With this thought, Su Wan stood up and said, “We’ve disturbed you enough for today. I heard from Huaizhi that you still have matters to attend to, so we’ll take our leave.”

Gu Jingyun’s furrowed brow relaxed, and he quickly bowed, saying, “Goodbye, Old Sir.”

Gu Baozhu followed suit, “Goodbye, Old Sir.”

Old Jiang: “…”

He coughed a few times and said, “Actually, it’s not anything too urgent. There’s still time to stay for a meal.”

Su Wan smiled brightly and said, “No need, I’m meeting with Young Master Xie this afternoon to ask him to be the tutor for my second brother and third sister. I need to return early to prepare.”

Old Jiang was dumbfounded. They weren’t asking him to teach anymore?

How could Xie Wuya be a better teacher than him?

“You young people are too impatient, and that’s a terrible trait. It leads to mistakes. How can you just…”

Not even ask a bit more? Just a little?

Su Wan continued with a smile, “You’re getting on in years and enjoying time with your grandchildren at home. We wouldn’t want to burden you further.”

Old Jiang blew his beard and glared, too angry to utter a single word.

At that moment, Uncle Jiang brought Gu Huaizhi inside.

Uncle Jiang placed a scroll and a wooden box on the small table.

“Master,” Gu Huaizhi bowed respectfully.

Upon hearing Gu Huaizhi’s address, Old Jiang snorted coldly, turning his head away, refusing to look at him.

Gu Huaizhi gently swept aside the hem of his robe and slowly knelt down on the floor, respectfully saying, “Today, I, Tingyuan, come humbly to ask you, Master, to take Jingyun as your last disciple.”

Old Jiang almost blurted out: You’ve already betrayed your master, and now you want me to teach your younger brother and sister? Not a chance!

But then he reconsidered. If he said that, Su Wan would probably leave without a second word.

Old Jiang glanced at Su Wan.

Su Wan was smiling warmly, watching him intently.

Feeling stifled, Old Jiang reluctantly found an excuse for himself, grumbling, “Well, since you’re the one asking, I’ll begrudgingly agree.”

Gu Huaizhi was surprised, not expecting the old master to be so agreeable.