The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Shen Zhiyi also actively introduced the product.

Yao Yao looked back.

That person walked the slowest. His brows were sparse and natural, exuding an unadorned nobility that reminded one of a secluded pool and quiet snow, a refined elegance cultivated from a centuries-old family.

Shen Zhiyi followed Yao Yao's gaze and said, "He is the heir of the Duke of Shun's mansion."

"They are well-behaved and polite, but they only stand on the edge of etiquette and are unwilling to cross the line."

Yao Yao didn't know if she had listened or not.

Xiao Huaiyan couldn't stand her praising others: "We can hear you."

Shen Zhiyi was somewhat restrained: "Then... shall we be gentle?"

Yao Yao asked, puzzled, "Why do you want me to be gentler?"

"We're speaking frankly and openly, and what we're saying is the truth. What's there to shy away from?"

Shen Zhiyi: ...

It seems so.

Xiao Huaiyan's eyelids twitched; he had no idea why these two were talking so much!

It would be better to actually fight.

If they all got together, what would happen?

He beckoned to Shen Zhiyi: "Come here."

Ning Yunling sneered: "Do you think she'll listen to you?"

Shen Zhiyi indeed wouldn't listen.

Ning Yunling, always eager to stir up trouble, said to Yao Yao, "Half of the Imperial Academy is spreading the word that you're going to deal with someone. What's going on? I came all this way to cheer you on, and you've already forgotten about this!"

Yao Yao glanced at him, her expression serious.

"Don't rush me."

She's waiting for someone to come!

Shen Zhiyi asked curiously, "Who are you going to deal with? Who offended you?"

She might be willing to help tidy up.

Yao Yao: "What's your name, Shen Zhiyi?"

Shen Zhiyi was taken aback: ? ? ?

No, did I offend you?

Yao Yao: "Do you know her?"

"They should be... quite familiar with each other."

Seeing that her expression was off, Yao Yao gently comforted her, "Why are you panicking? I'm not taking my anger out on you."

"No, do you even know her? You're going to punish her?"

"I don't know him. But my sister does."

Shen Zhiyi belatedly realized that she had mistaken someone for someone else.

The Lu family woman has no younger sister.

Yao Yao: "She must have been very touched."

Shen Zhiyi sneered.

With such a good older sister like you, how could Gu Wu not dare to make a move?

Yao Yao sighed, "I rarely put my heart into other people's lives."

Ning Yunling: "That would be an honor for Shen Zhiyi!"

Yao Yao said seriously, "Even though you're not very bright, I'm willing to listen to what you say."

Ning Yunling never expected that he would get into trouble again.

He turned his head and accused them.

"Brother!"

Why haven't you written any articles?

He thought that Yao Yao had just arrived and didn't know many things, so he spoke loudly.

"Miss Gu, are you afraid that my brother will take the books written by your female school teachers and use them to assign you lessons in various ways?"

He thinks Yao Yao and the others are just too idle.

"By the way, my brother even helped prepare the exam papers for your school's last assessment."

Ning Yunling is very proud!

Yao Yao frowned, looking extremely disgusted.

"He's really annoying."

Wei Zhao narrowed his eyes in surprise and looked up.

The girl was already exquisitely beautiful, and every piece of jewelry she wore was beautiful. Her baby fat made her look even more charming.

Noticing his gaze, Yao Yao showed no embarrassment at being caught.

She even looked back.

Eyes facing each other.

Yao Yao: "Putting everything else aside, you..."

Yao Yao's eyes were still sharp, and she said sincerely, "It's quite convincing."

—Yaoyao and Wei Zhao did not have much interaction.

The two never saw each other again after that.

However, Wei Zhao often heard his classmates mention how successful the Grand Tutor's daughter was at the girls' school.

—"While the teacher was giving a lesson, she would tear up scraps of paper and fold flowers. If someone needed something from her, she would give them a flower."

She has really improved.

They've stopped tearing up books.

—“She often couldn’t sit still, and each time she would tell her teacher that she wanted to stand outside as punishment.”

What a refreshing and unconventional excuse for skipping class.

"If it weren't for the Grand Tutor's sake, I'm afraid the Master wouldn't have tolerated her."

"No... no."

"Their teacher intentionally conducted a spot check last time, asking the students to recite the articles they had learned half a month ago. She hadn't arrived yet, so the teacher exempted her from it. Guess what? She had nothing to do, so she picked up the articles, read them a few times, closed them, and went to recite them from memory."

"Except for a few words she hadn't learned and forgot how to write, she wrote everything else perfectly. The teacher's eyes lit up when he found such a treasure."

Wei Zhao did not take these things to heart.

To him, Yaoyao was simply his teacher's daughter, nothing more.

There will be no overlap, and there's no need to pay too much attention to it.

Half a month later, on the Cold Food Festival, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, with a stroke of his vermilion brush, declared a seven-day festival.

During this time, Wei Zhao visited the Grand Tutor's residence.

Gu Fuju was quite surprised to learn of his arrival and immediately had someone invite him to the study for a talk.

"Why is Guizhi here?"

Wei Zhao respectfully greeted him: "In a few days, your household will be hosting a small banquet, and I have specially sent you this invitation."

Not just anyone needs to make this trip in person, as the heir apparent. This shows how much Wei Zhao respects him.

Gu Fuju took it and glanced at it.

It was a flower-viewing banquet held by the Duke of Shunguo's mansion, and he and the women in his family were invited to attend.

In reality, according to clan rules, this banquet should have been organized by the imperial palace.

It happens every year.

However, after the emperor ascended the throne, he never appointed an empress.

The Empress Dowager is quite old, and the Emperor does not wish to trouble her. The marriage between the Crown Prince and the Yao family's daughter has been arranged, but the ceremony has not yet taken place.

Who could manage the inner palace? So the Wei family was put in charge.

"You have a heart."

Wei Zhao was about to take his leave.

“Return to it.”

Gu Fujiu smiled and said, "Since you're here, have dinner at my place. Your father often says you're good at chess, but I've never had the chance to play. Come on, let's play a few games."

Wei Zhao did not refuse.

For a while, apart from the sound of brewing tea, the only other sound was the clattering of chess pieces inside the room.

On the chessboard, black and white pieces were scattered like stars. Gu Fuju, holding a black piece, gently tapped the chessboard and suddenly said, "When I was your age, my family was poor. I was the only scholar, and the villagers were kind and generous, contributing whatever they could to help me with the travel expenses to the capital for the imperial examinations."

Therefore, I dared not slack off and could only study desperately to advance my studies.

"But you are different."

Gu Fuju: "You're even more hardworking than I was back then. You don't neglect your studies or martial arts training, but you still need to rest when you need to. Do you think you're made of iron?"

Now that the world is at peace, Ning Suqian is not as strict with Wei Zhao's studies as she used to be.

Can……

Wei Zhao: "The students... are used to it."

I've long been accustomed to working non-stop, and it's really hard to change.

Gu Fuju frowned.

Just then, someone came out of the study, rubbing their eyes.

That was Gu Fuju's usual resting cubicle.

Wei Zhao then saw the Master get up.

"Why aren't you wearing shoes again? Aren't you cold?"

Gu Fuju carefully lifted her onto a chair, told Yao Yao to wait, and then went to the next room to get her shoes and socks, which he then put on her.

"But did your father disturb you?"

Yao Yao: "I want to drink water."

Gu Fuju poured her another cup.

Only then did he sit down opposite Wei Zhao again to watch the game and see who would make the moves.

"You must prioritize your health in all things."

"What you say is true."

"If you think what I'm saying is right, then listen to me."

(End of this chapter)