Chapter 1124: Chapter 960: Erlang’s Engagement
"We were just saying earlier, counting the days, big brother and the others should arrive in the Capital in about two days. There are many people coming this time—if your residence can’t accommodate them all, my courtyard can still take in a few."
"Oh? They’re almost here? Then there’s no need for that! If we really can’t fit them in, we can just rent another courtyard."
In fact, the Gu Mansion was now a three-entry compound. Even more people could squeeze in if they had to; it was just that there were some people Gu Chengyu did not want living there.
"That’s probably not proper. If word gets out, it won’t sound good. You’re already an official of the court now; you still need to cherish your reputation."
Gu Chengchi voiced his objection. The clansmen came to the Capital, and if they rented another courtyard and sent the clan members out to live there, once people found out, it would definitely invite criticism.
"We’ll talk about that later!" Gu Chengyu tallied the numbers in his mind and realized there were indeed quite a few. If so many people all moved into the residence, the whole place would be turned upside down.
Especially those few who liked to stir up trouble—they were simply headache-inducing.
"I got a letter today. It’s from the second son. He says he’s already engaged, and the wedding is set for the end of the year." Mr. Gu suddenly spoke up, addressing everyone present.
Everyone there fell silent; the originally warm and lively atmosphere instantly vanished without a trace.
Speaking of the second son inevitably brought Gu Chengyi to mind. Previously, there had been a rift between Gu Chengyi and Mr. Gu, and Mr. Gu did feel some disgust toward this son.
Given Gu Chengyi’s attitude toward Mr. Gu, the father-son bond between them had long since been worn down to almost nothing.
But when a man dies, his lamp goes out; in the end he was still his son, and Mr. Gu couldn’t help but miss him somewhat.
And the second son’s temperament was somewhat similar to Gu Chengyi’s. That kind of bullheaded nature made it hard for everyone to like him.
Especially the way the second son always liked to target Gu Chengyu, as if so long as Gu Chengyu existed for one more day, he had to suffer for one more day.
Only now did Gu Chengyu recall that the second son seemed to be four years older than him. He should be twenty this year—how was he still unmarried?
He was busy every day and had no time to keep other people’s affairs in mind; he truly hadn’t thought of it before.
"Oh? Hasn’t the second son already reached his coming-of-age? And he still hasn’t married yet? When he does, we can just send some congratulatory gifts. The Capital is far from Jingyuan Prefecture. It wouldn’t be convenient for Father and Mother to return to Jingyuan Prefecture for the wedding feast, and I can’t leave the Capital either, so I certainly can’t go."
"Fourth brother, why don’t you all go back? It’d be good if you helped manage the wedding. We can’t all stay away; that would be unseemly."
Gu Chengyu suddenly felt this was a good opportunity. Wasn’t this just the right time to avoid the court’s matter of selecting doctors?
The second son had now lost his father, and his mother had been divorced by Gu Chengyi. Strictly speaking, she no longer had anything to do with the second son.
Mr. Gu, as the grandfather, was far away in the Capital—how could a wedding be properly managed without an elder? If they asked Uncle Gu and the others to oversee it, that would be a branch removed.
Having Gu Chengchi return and invite the elders of the clan to preside over it would make sense and also prevent the clansmen from saying they’d forgotten their roots.
Gu Chengchi cast a puzzled glance at his little brother. Xiao Bao knew how busy their medical hall was every day, so how could he be making such a suggestion?
"But the second son wrote in his letter that he’s also coming to the Capital this time. He’ll be here in a couple of days." Gu Chengchi stared at his little brother and spoke slowly.
"Didn’t he say he was getting married? What’s he doing in the Capital instead of staying in Jingyuan Prefecture?"
Gu Chengyu frowned slightly. Since he was about to get married, why come to the Capital? Would he still make it back in time for the wedding?
After all, Gu Wanfang’s wedding was in about a month. After attending that feast and then going back, they’d lose quite a few days on the road; it might be too late for the auspicious date.
At this point, even the look in Gu Chengchi’s eyes carried some mockery. "He says he’s coming to the Capital to get married. Even his in-laws are coming along. I’m afraid there’s a whole big family coming this time."
Gu Chengyu was somewhat stunned. "The in-laws are coming to the Capital too? Who ever comes to the Capital to hold a wedding? What about the bride’s relatives and friends? Are they not going to hold any banquet at all?"
This really was a bit bizarre. Just to come up to the Capital with Gu Chengli and the others, he could treat something as important as his own wedding so carelessly. Who knew what new scheme the second son had in mind this time?
"I originally meant that since he’s lost his father and is getting married, I’d go back once to help him manage the wedding. Who knew he’d be coming to the Capital too? What’s he doing coming to the Capital for no good reason? Don’t tell me he intends to study here as well?"
Mr. Gu rubbed his pipe and couldn’t help speculating aloud.
Speaking of studying, to be fair, the second son had done quite well this time—he actually passed the exam and became a Scholar.
Gu Chengyu nodded; it seemed he wanted to settle in the Capital.
"Since he’s coming to the Capital to get married, then it’s not appropriate for him to live in our residence. We’ve already split the family; we can’t be the ones preparing a bridal chamber for him in our house, can we?"
This was a wedding—naturally the second son had to buy his own courtyard.
He didn’t even ask whose daughter the bride was; Gu Chengyu had no interest.
"Fourth brother, let’s go to the outer study. I have something to tell you." After a few more casual remarks, Gu Chengyu rose and spoke to Gu Chengchi.
Gu Chengchi understood at once—there really was something going on; otherwise, his little brother would not have said what he had said just now.
...
"So what you mean is you want me to leave the Capital for a while and go someplace else to lie low?" Gu Chengchi looked at Gu Chengyu, his eyes filled with some hesitation.
It hadn’t been easy for his medical hall to gain a foothold in the Capital. Now he was being told to leave—how could he bear it?
"Yes, fourth brother. I don’t want you dragged into this. To say something treasonous, if the Emperor really meets with some mishap, I’m afraid none of the doctors who enter the palace will escape."
Gu Chengyu knew how attached Gu Chengchi was to the medical hall, but a human life was more important.
"What exactly is wrong with the Emperor?" Gu Chengchi still hadn’t agreed; he was deeply torn at this moment.
"It should be poisoning. Don’t spread this around, not even to Doctor Li. I’m telling you because I want you far from this trouble—trust me on this. If you really can’t bear to abandon the medical hall, then have that sitting doctor stay there to keep it open, and hire a Shopkeeper to handle the Silver. They won’t drag just anyone into the Imperial Palace; they’ll only choose those who already have some fame among the common folk. Doctor Li is especially at risk—he has to leave with you."
Gu Chengyu had already made plans for them. The medical hall would remain open; as for whether the court would hold it against them later, they could find some excuse to muddle through.
"The Emperor has been poisoned? Who would dare to be so bold as to poison the Emperor?"
Gu Chengchi was somewhat shocked. He hadn’t expected that the Son of Heaven could be poisoned. And from the way his little brother spoke, it sounded like no one could cure this poison at the moment.
If the Emperor couldn’t hold on... Gu Chengchi didn’t dare think further. The Capital might soon be swept by violent storms.
"Don’t concern yourself with these things. Knowing too much is no blessing." Gu Chengyu said in a low voice.
"Then I’ll do as you say—we’ll leave for a while. It’s just... is it really proper for us to leave like this?"
Gu Chengchi sensed that the situation in the Capital was about to become turbulent. His little brother would be staying behind; if those people couldn’t find his master, would his little brother be in danger instead?
