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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.] [Vecintia N.]
O R A N G E S T A R
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G O L D S T A R
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R A I N B O W S T A R
[Amanda] [Book W.] [Britnae M] [Caroline] [Christigale M.] [DetectiveGeek421] [Haruka N.]
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[Quae] [Ray] [Scorpion Princess] [Victoria]
"If you go to the State of Liang in the future, remember to look for me at Yu Qinwang Estate. I'll treat you to delicious food!"
Knowing that Little Jing Kong had an endless appetite, Ming'er classified Little Jing Kong as a foodie.
Little Jing Kong: Actually, the real foodie is my family’s Grandaunt.
"This is for you!" Ming'er gave his favorite scimitar to Little Jing Kong.
This was no ordinary scimitar. It was the object he grabbed during his Zhuazhou. People of the State of Liang valued their Zhuazhou items very much and generally didn’t give it away easily.
[T/N: Zhuazhou is a custom of placing a variety of articles (writing brush, abacus etc) before an infant on its first birthday to see which one he or she picks up (The article chosen is supposed to be an indication of the child's inclinations, future career etc.)]
Little Jing Kong was actually a bit confused. He was a scholar. What did he need a knife for? He was also unlikely to need it in the future.
But since it was brother Ming'er's intention, he still very happily accepted it. Then, he also planned to give brother Ming'er a gift in return.
In order to avoid the same situation as brother Ming'er, he opened his small trunk of items and let brother Ming'er's choose a gift himself.
"You can pick whatever you like!"
A lot of Little Jing Kong's things were in tatters and in disorder. Gu Jiao cleaned them up, but they were messed up again by Little Jing Kong a few days later. For Ming'er, a little Wangye who was used to gold, silver and jade items, this was like a big car accident scene.
Ming'er suddenly felt sorry for this brother.
His brother was too poor to even buy a decent toy.
When he returned home, he must send the best toys to his brother.
In order not to hurt his brother's pride, Ming'er resisted the urge to quickly close the trunk, and picked the most inconspicuous small box inside.
He wouldn’t take those large pieces of junk inside. Maybe his brother could still exchange them for some money in the future.
Thinking that it was not enough to give him just a scimitar, Ming'er asked the attendant, "Do you have any money with you?"
"Yes." The attendant answered.
"Give it to me! Give it to me!" Ming'er robbed the attendant’s money, took out the old yellowed paper in the box and replaced it with the silver banknotes, and then kept the small box for his younger brother, in case the box could be sold for some money.
Ming'er then reluctantly bid farewell to Little Jing Kong.
After that, the family set off on the journey back to the State of Liang.
The visit of the State of Liang’s envoys had a great impact on the State of Zhao, but for the common people, it was just another topic to talk about. Of course, in the near future, they might feel the change themselves.
The State of Zhao had their imperial examination this year, so both sides inevitably talked about some issues concerning the imperial examination as well. The imperial examination system of the State of Liang was much more complete than that of the State of Zhao, not only because the State of Liang included military exams too, but also because the State of Liang didn't follow the stereotyped literary exam. In their literary exam, there was the addition of arithmetic, laws, farming and astronomy.
To a great extent, this broadened the comprehensive ability of talents. If it was in Gu Jiao's previous life, this was like taking a combined exam of literature and science; not only literature students would have an opportunity for advancement.
Of course, the proportion of the Four Books and Five Classics was still the largest.
The Emperor thought that this imperial examination method was very good. He himself was good at astronomy and arithmetic. Perhaps the State of Zhao could follow suit in the future.
……
Old Marquis had long resigned from his official post on the surface, so it wasn’t his turn to worry about the reception of the envoys. These days, he had just been resting in the estate.
After a drunken night, Old Marquis woke up and remembered what he had promised at the wine table. He was suddenly full of remorse. How could he have agreed to let his son call someone else "father" as soon as his head got hot with alcohol?
That little brother was really… At an early age, how could he have such a strange hobby?
But a nobleman’s words could not be taken back. To Gu Chao, he should be a man of his words, so he could never go back on his promise!
Therefore, on the first day of Marquis Gu's recovery, Old Marquis stepped into his room with an amiable face.
Marquis Gu saw his father for the first time since he was severely beaten by him. His surprise wasn’t small.
He immediately gave him a salute, "Father!"
"En." Old Marquis cleared his throat deeply and asked, "How are your injuries? Have they healed?"
His father was concerned about him?
Marquis Gu felt flattered, saying, "I'm much better! To let father worry, it's this son's fault."
He wasn’t worried though.
Old Marquis coughed again and said, "I've come… to tell you something. I... found you a father."
Huh?
Marquis Gu was at a loss.
Come again? I can still understand if you find me a mother. But what do you mean you find me a father? Has your old age finally kicked in and your memory began to fail you? What's wrong with you being disrespectful to yourself?
Old Marquis also recognized his error in speech and hurriedly corrected himself, "I recognized a father for you."
This was no better than the previous sentence. How else would there be a saying that military men were foolish in speech? If Old Chief was here, he definitely would have a hundred ways to speak both beautifully and clearly.
"I mean, I became sworn brothers with someone! According to seniority, you are also his son. So you have to call him father too!"
Having said that, Old Marquis simply took him to see his little sworn brother.
Gu Jiao told Old Marquis that her surname was Gu. At the beginning, she was surnamed Li in the martial arts school, but she made a few slip ups later, and she was already too lazy to cover up her surname, so she just kept her real surname Gu.
In any case, there were many people surnamed Gu in the capital. Old Marquis not only didn't suspect her, but felt that the two of them were predestined— both of them surnamed Gu, and ended up becoming sworn brothers. This kind of destiny was hard to find!
Old Marquis kept in contact with Gu Jiao through the Taihe Martial Arts School, where they would leave their letters and replies. Old Marquis left a letter to Gu Jiao, asking her to meet at the tea house tomorrow evening, and that he would take his unfilial son with him.
Gu Jiao quickly wrote back to him.
There was only one word in the letter: Okay.
After Gu Jiao finished her work at the medical hall, she put on her young master’s attire as well as the peacock feather mask, and then headed to the tea shop happily!
Today, someone was going to call her father.
Gu Jiao sat and waited quietly in a private room of the tea house. Because she was a little excited, she couldn’t help but sway her lower legs, which didn’t reach the floor, in front of the chair.
Old Marquis was a punctual person. He didn't keep Gu Jiao waiting for long.
He took Marquis Gu to the second floor of the tea house.
"Young Master Gu has already arrived." The waiter said with a smile.
"Gu? Father? Is your sworn brother surnamed Gu?" Marquis Gu felt strange for some reason!
Old Marquis glared at him, "Be sure not to offend the other party in a while."
"I know, I know, it’s your sworn brother after all, how dare I offend him?" Old Marquis had been saying the same thing all the way, as if he were afraid that he wouldn't be sensible and actually offend the other party.
What a joke! He was a Marquis at least, and he had been in the officialdom which was full of ups and downs for many years. Could he still not understand how to deal with people?
Didn’t he just have to call him father?
Godfather, adoptive father, you couldn’t call these names without the word father. He also had nothing to lose if he called his father's sworn brother that!
Squeak——
Old Marquis pushed the door open, and said full of vitality, "Little brother Gu, elder brother is here!"
Little brother? Shouldn't it be just brother?
What Marquis Gu had in mind was an old man of the same age as his own father, who knew he would see a youth who resembled a flawless and white jade as soon as he entered the private room.
The youth was wearing a peacock feather mask that had a stylish and coquettish look.
Marquis Gu was simply dumbfounded!
He wanted him to call this boy... Father?
Gu Jiao's excitement could barely be hidden. She sat with her eyes wide open, staring at Marquis Gu.
Call me, call me, call me father!
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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