After a few days, less and less news about Lingyuan came back.
"...The owner of the salt farm had enough manpower, so he resold a batch, some going to the capital, some going to the northwest..." The young man with a dusty face said this in one breath before stopping.
The news ends here, which means I wonder where Lingyuan was sold
Gu Shiba Niang still held the scroll in her hand, as if the old monk was in trance, and the room filled with the strong aroma of medicine fell into silence.
It seemed like a long time passed before the boy with his head lowered heard the words "Go on down."
"Yes." He replied quickly.
"Fortunately, go to the accountant to pay ten taels of silver." Gu Shiba Niang said.
The boy who had received ten taels of silver was overjoyed, but thinking that his master's mood at this time was probably not very good, he hurriedly suppressed it, kowtowed his thanks and left.
The study fell into silence again, until the sun set, and with the last ray of light in the sky, darkness enveloped the room.
"Miss, miss."
The slightly anxious voice of the maid sounded outside the door.
The lady's study and pharmacy were not allowed to be entered casually, so although the maid could not hear the answer, she only dared to stand outside the door.
"What's the matter?" A faint inquiry came from the door.
"Miss, Miss Lingbao is leaving. Madam can't stop her. Go and have a look..." the servant woman replied hurriedly.
The door creaked open, and Gu Shiba Niang strode out and went to the guest room.
"I must find my brother, no matter where I go...Madam, you can fulfill Lingbao, and Lingbao will work hard in his next life to repay you and the lady for your kindness..."
Before he even entered the door, he heard Lingbao's hoarse cry.
"You kid, get up quickly. I won't let you look for your brother. How can you look for him?" Mrs. Cao helped her helplessly and advised.
Lingbao just cried and refused to get up.
"If you go, you will betray your brother's wishes." Gu Shiba Niang walked in and said in a deep voice.
Lingbao was stunned when he heard this. He looked up at Gu Shiba Niang with tears in his eyes. Seeing that her face was still expressionless, he felt even more terrified and ashamed.
"Miss," Lingbao burst into tears before he could speak.
"Your brother acted like this so that he could make a fortune and get ahead, so that he could protect you and allow you to live a life where you would not be bullied at will..." Gu Shiba Niang looked at her and said.
It's just that we took the wrong path...
She stretched out her hand to pull their brothers and sisters back from the edge of death, but it turned out that their fate was still chosen by themselves and was not something she could interfere with.
Lingyuan was originally a stubborn person. In the past few years, his family had been destroyed, his family had been destroyed, and he had been oppressed by others. He had already buried in his heart the belief to change all this. Just a few days ago, he was subjected to Gu Luoer's disdainful eyes and words. The stimulation finally catalyzed it to break through the ground and become unstoppable. Due to the excessive momentum, it was like a moth flying into a flame.
To say that a moth flies into a flame, she is somewhat similar to him.
"If you want to make money and be independent, is it so difficult to talk to me?" Thinking of this, Gu Shiba Niang couldn't help but sigh, feeling an unspeakable feeling in her heart.
Lingbao's whimpering brought Gu Shiba Niang back from her thoughts, and she reached out to stroke Lingbao's messy hair.
"Lingbao, the reason why your brother left so decisively was because of you." Gu Shiba's voice softened and she continued.
Lingbao raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Just think, if your brother had told Shunhe Hall and me, I would not have been stingy with the thousand taels of gambling debt... But" she walked through and looked outside the door. The lights in the corridor and courtyard were already lit. He got up, casting mottled light and shadow on the ground, "But do you still have the nerve to stay here with me?"
Lingbao covered his face with his hands and cried on the ground.
How could they still have the dignity to stay? Even if they worked as cows, horses, and sold themselves into slavery, they wouldn't even be qualified.
"Your brother decided to leave because he wanted to give you a chance to stay." Gu Shiba Niang said.
Lingbao cried even louder.
"So you should follow me well here. Don't think nonsense or do useless things. If you go out alone, can you find your brother? Instead, help yourself in. In this way, you will never want to see your brother again in this life." Gu Shiba Niang stretched out her hand to pull her up.
Lingbao's face was pale, his eyes were swollen like peach, and he looked in a trance, as if he was back there again begging passers-by for help.
"Besides, he was just sold, not killed. As long as the person is still alive, he will always be found." She reached out and stroked Lingbao's hair, feeling sour in her eyes. As long as the person is still alive, there is hope.
"Lingbao, you are lucky..." She murmured.
The lady said this again. This time Lingbao was not as confused as before. Instead, he pursed his lips and a trace of determination flashed in his eyes.
What the young lady said is correct. The young lady said that if she has a good life, she will have a good life, and her brother will definitely get her back.
"I have asked various medicine shops, which have branches in various places, to have people draw the portrait of Lingyuan. If I give it a little more time, I will definitely find your brother..." Gu Shiba Niang patted her hand and said, said.
"Thank you, Miss..." Lingbao knelt down and kowtowed again.
"You're welcome, just tell me if you have anything to do in the future." Gu Shiba Niang smiled bitterly.
Lingbao knelt on the ground, his head lowered, covering his mouth and crying.
In May, Gu Hai in the capital city received a letter from his family early in the morning. He stood in front of the window and read the letter in the shade of the trees, because the boring feeling of sitting and reading in early summer was so boring. Sweep away.
Gu Shiba Niang's letter mentioned the matter of Lingyuan, which did not disturb Gu Hai's state of mind to devote himself to studying quietly, but made him feel more at ease. This just showed that his sister did not only report good news but not bad news, so that he could be outside the home. I feel more at ease.
After reading the letter, he pondered for a moment, then walked to the table and sketched out the description of Ling Yuan on the paper.
"Come here." He put down his pen and called.
The boy outside the door came in immediately.
"Take a look and take note of this person. Pay attention when you go out and tell me if you see him." Gu Hai showed the painting to them.
The two boys didn't say much. They nodded and looked at each other fiercely.
"Young Master." A waiter from the inn sneaked in with a sly look, nodded to Gu Hai, bowed and said in a low voice, "The young master from Zhuxuan Tower is out."
Gu Hai smiled when he heard this, reached out and grabbed a broken piece of silver from the table, and threw it to the young boy.
"Thank you, Master." The young man caught it, thanked him with a smile, and turned around and went out.
"Master, I'll prepare the car." The boy immediately asked for instructions smartly.
"Prepare your horse," Gu Hai said.
As he turned the street, he saw Gu Yu's carriage walking leisurely.
"Master Yu, what a coincidence. Are you going out?" Gu Hai rode past the car.
The weather in Beijing in May is already a bit hot, and the cars are covered with gauze, so you can clearly see people inside and outside.
Gu Yu, who was wearing a plain white summer coat and a hosta in his hair, which made his fair face look even more beautiful, looked over through the car gauze with a half-smile.
"Yes, what a coincidence." He said, shaking the folding fan, his hair fluttering in the wind.
"We have sent our message to Mr. Li for a long time, but there has been no reply. How about we go take a look today?" Gu Hai said with a smile.
"Okay, that's what I meant." Gu Yu said with a smile.
There was no words for a moment, as the carriages and horses walked side by side on the wide street. Gu Yu's two bookboys stood behind the car, while Gu Hai's bookboy followed on horseback.
Although I have been in the capital for a while, because the young masters waiting for me are all students waiting for the exam, and they are not in the mood to go sightseeing, it is rare for them to come out. The bookboys can't see it, they shake their heads and smile, looking a little young. Human appearance.
"The prosperity of the capital city is indeed incomparable to that of Jiankang," Gu Hai said.
Gu Yu nodded and said with a smile: "The expenses are also higher than Jiankang..."
When he said this, the corner of his mouth curled up slightly and he glanced at Gu Hai.
Gu Yu's face showed no emotion and he just nodded in agreement.
"However, Brother Hai, there is no need to worry about this. There is a cornucopia at home." Gu Yu tapped the folding fan and smiled.
"It's better to be diligent and frugal. After all, you and I are currently dependent on others for support..." Gu Hai turned his head and said to him.
You want to say that I am relying on Shiba Niang, but do you think you are relying on yourself
The smile on Gu Yu's face did not diminish, and he nodded in agreement.
There were more people on the street, so Gu Hai urged his horse to move forward to get out of the way. It was only then that the corners of Gu Yu's mouth sank slightly.
Diligent and frugal? If you want to be diligent and frugal, why should you follow me to stay in this best inn? Why spend money to bribe the inn clerk to find out my whereabouts
If it wasn't an embroidered pillow, why would you be afraid that I would leave you? I also want to learn from Li Jianzhou and play tricks on me... Gu Yu closed the folding fan with a snap, you are still a bit young.
When they arrived at Yunmeng Academy, there was a long queue outside the door as always. Students from all over the country with various accents were chatting and waiting, exchanging gossip about who had been accepted by Mr. Li again.
This is their third time here. The first time they came here, they didn’t even send in the post. The second time they managed to send it in, but they were asked to go back and wait for news. They had to wait for nearly seven or eight days this time. They really couldn’t do it. waited.
Gu Hai looked at Gu Yu closely as soon as he got off the horse. When he saw Gu Yu saying a few words to a boy, the boy pushed his way into the crowd.
"There are still so many people." Gu Hai walked to Gu Yu's side in a few steps and sighed as he gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Gu Yu nodded, "Mr. Li is famous all over the world, which naturally attracts all the students to come here. It doesn't matter whether you can become his disciple or not. Just meeting him and talking for a few words will be of great benefit."
A hint of worry appeared on Gu Hai's face. From the looks of it, Huang Shiying's old friend's post might not be of much use. Maybe they should find another famous teacher to prepare for the exam.
With this thought in mind, he looked at Gu Yu and saw that his expression remained the same as before. He couldn't help but smile secretly in his heart. Trying to see this boy's emotions was like finding a needle in a haystack...
I wonder if Huang Shiying has any other explanation for Gu Yu... He has already thought of this idea, and he also knows that Gu Yu has no intention of helping him at all, so he wants to inquire about Gu Yu's whereabouts.
There is absolutely no way this kid can avoid himself and find someone else to take care of him.
After calming down for a moment, I saw that the boy just returned, followed by a man in his thirties wearing a long coat.
"But Jiankang Gu Cunzhi?" the visitor asked with a smile.
Gu Yu bowed and said yes.
"Your article is well written, please follow me." The man said with approval.
As soon as these words came out, Gu Hai was surprised, and even the people around him started to make an uproar, asking who this young man was.
Gu Hai's expression changed. He looked at Gu Yu without saying anything. He gritted his teeth and raised his feet to follow.
"Who is this?" The man noticed and looked at Gu Hai and asked.
"This is my Jie Yuan..." Gu Yu introduced with a smile as he looked at Gu Hai.
As soon as he said this, a hint of impatience flashed across the man's face. He had seen Jie Yuan too many times, and he waved his hand to signal Gu Yu not to say anything.
"Sir, the person you want to see is Gu Cunzhi. Please wait here." His attitude was modest but unquestionable.
Gu Hai bit his lower lip and looked at Gu Yu smiling at him.
"By the way, when I submitted the post, I felt that this great scholar must not be an ordinary person. He believed that seeing is believing when judging people and observing things. Therefore, I attached another essay. Because I suddenly thought of it, I forgot to tell you, Brother Hai. I didn't expect that you would see it. It was really unexpected..." He covered it with his folding fan, tilted his head and whispered, "...I really wasted the money you rewarded me with, Brother Hai..."
After saying that, he smiled, cupped his hands, turned around and followed the man and drifted away.
Gu Hai's expression changed, he stood in a daze for a moment, took a few deep breaths, turned around and walked out of the long queue.
"Master..." Two book boys rushed over.
"Let's go." Gu Hai said in a deep voice.
The two bookboys saw that he looked unkind and looked at each other. Neither of them said much, so they agreed and went to lead the horse.
Gu Hai stood on the road, clenching his fists. As expected, Gu Yu was not kind to him. Not to mention brothers from the same clan, they were from the same Jiankang family. They should support each other, but this happened...
Anyway, there are so many people in the world who cannot get guidance from famous teachers. Is it possible that no one can achieve anything successful
Because I was distracted, I didn't notice a team of carriages and horses approaching.
Seven or eight young people in bright clothes, all riding black horses, drove slowly towards a seemingly simple but eye-catching carriage.
This is a vermilion carriage pulled by two white horses. The doors and windows are black gauze, and a tall and thin figure sitting upright can be faintly seen inside.
Although there are no accessories, as the carriage approaches, it exudes an air of nobility that cannot be ignored.
"Get out of the way"
A deep shout woke up the stunned Gu Hai. When he raised his eyes, he saw the cavalry approaching and hurriedly moved aside.
The students who came here either rode horses or walked. Very few came in carriages, and even fewer came with so many guards.
Who is in this car? Gu Hai couldn't help but cast a curious glance at the carriage that was slowly passing by a few steps away.
The figure sitting upright in the carriage seemed to be turning around and looking towards him.
The carriage passed by in the blink of an eye, and the long queue at the entrance of Yunmeng Academy suddenly spread out, and two or three men rushed out to meet the two carriages.
The carriage did not stop, but passed them and went straight inward.
"Young Master..." the book boy who came with the horse called in a low voice.
Gu Hai looked away. No matter who came, it had nothing to do with him. He should just go back and study hard by himself.
"Let's go." He took the reins and turned to mount.
"Excuse me, is this Mr. Gu Hai?" A voice suddenly asked from behind.
Gu Hai turned around in surprise. It seemed that the person was a middle-aged man, dressed like the man who led Gu Yu in, with a kind expression and a smile.
"Is this Mr. Gu Hai from Xianren County, Jiankang Prefecture?" He asked again.
Xianren County? Gu Hai looked a little strange. To be precise, he was from Jiankang Prefecture. Xianren County was basically only mentioned when mentioning his father.
"I am." He suppressed his surprise, nodded and replied, wondering if someone from the Xianren County School was here? Naturally, I have seen it during my hometown audition, but this time I came to Jiankang, I really haven't encountered it before.
The man breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, his smile became more friendly, and he stretched out his hand to invite, "Sir, please come with me."
He was pointing in the direction of Yunmeng Academy, where countless students were waiting in line at the door. The door was now closed.
When Gu Hai walked in, he was still a little dizzy, as if he was walking in clouds and fog.
Outside a main hall with towering ancient trees, several students were standing, including Gu Yu. He was chatting with a few people when he suddenly saw Gu Hai come in, and his expression that had not changed for thousands of years finally changed.
"Why did you come in?" He lost his voice in surprise.
Gu Hai frowned and told the truth, "I don't know either.