Chapter 780: 362 Revealing the Truth (Second Update)_3 Chapter 780: 362 Revealing the Truth (Second Update)_3 The two of them approached Gu Jiao.
Nanxiang smiled and said, “So you are Xiaoshun and Ayan’s sister? I’m Nanxiang.” She drew Master Lu’s hand to her side, “This is my husband, Lu. If it doesn’t bother you, call him Lu Dazhuang.”
The group entered the house.
Gu Jiao introduced Master Lu, Nanxiang, and Elder Wei to each other.
“Nice to meet you, Elder Wei,” Nanxiang greeted cheerfully.
Elder Wei looked at Nanxiang, feeling an inexplicable familiarity with her eyes, as if he had seen them somewhere.
The Yao Family and Chambermaid Feng had gone for a walk in the fruit garden and were not at home. Little Jingkong was out playing. Xiao Liulang and the old Priest were putting in extra hours at Hanlin Academy and Guozijian.
Gu Jiao led the guests to the main hall.
The assortment of items in Gu Xiaoshun’s arms were gifts from Master Lu and Nanxiang. Gu Jiao, who had lived two lifetimes, had only seen students present gifts to teachers before but never the other way round.
Gu Xiaoshun sat beside Nanxiang.
Nanxiang smiled at Gu Jiao, saying, “I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve actually come here to discuss something with you, Miss Gu. ”
“What is it?” Gu Jiao asked.
Nanxiang gently ruffled Xiaoshun’s hair and confessed, “I’m really fond of Xiaoshun and want to adopt him as my foster son. I hope you won’t misunderstand; it’s not that I don’t like Ayan, but he already has his parents. It wouldn’t be appropriate to take him away. I’ve made inquiries about Xiaoshun; his parents aren’t in the capital city.”
Her wording was tactful. What did she mean by not being in the capital city? Xiaoshun’s parents did not want him at all. They were overjoyed when Gu Jiao took the burdensome child away, severing his ties with the Gu Family for twenty taels of silver.
Nanxiang had learned about this from Gu Yan.
Knowing this, her sympathy for Xiaoshun deepened.
Gu Jiao looked at Xiaoshun, honestly surprised that Nanxiang could be so fond of him.
Put it this way, if the four of them had been in the orphanage together, Xiaoshun would be the last one to be adopted.
“Xiaoshun, what do you think?” Gu Jiao decided to hear his opinion.
“I’ll listen to my sister,” Xiaoshun replied.
Clearly, he was rather slow on the uptake. Gu Jiao rephrased her question: “Do you like Master Nanxiang and Master Lu?”
“I like them,” Xiaoshun responded without hesitation.
Gu Jiao continued, “Would you take care of them when they are old and can no longer fend for themselves?”
Xiaoshun puffed out his chest,” Once a teacher, always a parent. I naturally must take care of my foster parents!”
Having been his sister for so long, this was the most eloquent sentence Gu Jiao had ever heard him say.
She roughly knew what his thoughts were.
Having two more people care for Xiaoshun was not a bad thing.
Gu Jiao was pleased with the idea and nodded, “Alright, listen to me. Why don’t you pour tea for your foster father and foster mother?”
Xiaoshun blinked, “Huh?”
“Ah! “Gu Yan nudged him with his shoulder, “My sister agreed!”
“Just like that? She agreed?” Xiaoshun stuttered from the surprise.
He had also just found out today. He had not yet fully digested this piece of news, and now…he was going to be someone else’s son?
Nanxiang was perhaps the happiest.
She had been yearning for Xiaoshun for a long time and could finally legitimately adopt him as her son!
Elder Wei did not expect the trip to Bishui Alley to bring such joyous news. He hadn’t known Xiaoshun’s origins were so bleak.
He suddenly felt a twinge of sympathy for Xiaoshun.
“Come on, Xiaoshun, come here!” He beckoned Xiaoshun over.
“What is it?” Xiaoshun walked over.
Elder Wei untied the purse from his waist, pulled out a money bag, and from it, a gold leaf. “Here.”
“Why are you giving this to me?” Xiaoshun declined.
Elder Wei wanted to say, congratulations on being adopted. However, the words didn’t seem right. He cleared his throat, “Take it as a token of goodwill, just accept it!”
He didn’t know what else to say.
Xiaoshun firmly declined.
Elder Wei clicked his tongue, “Ahh you kid, you think it’s not good enough?”
Xiaoshun insisted, “No, it’s not that I don’t like it. I just can’t accept it! My sister said we shouldn’t take things from strangers.”
Elder Wei tried to stuff it into Xiaoshun’s hand but Xiaoshun pushed it back.
Nanxiang walked over, “What’s the matter?”
Elder Wei seized the opportunity to stuff the gold leaf into Xiaoshun’s pocket.
Xiaoshun took out the gold leaf and said, “Elder Wei wanted to give me this, but I don’t want it.”
Nanxiang smiled, took the gold leaf, and was about to return it to Elder Wei, but she suddenly caught a whiff of a peculiar aroma.
Her brows furrowed as she held the gold leaf up to her nose to sniff it.
“What’s wrong?” Elder Wei asked.
Nanxiang’s eyes flickered as she smiled, “This gold leaf is quite unique, it looks just like the real thing. Elder Wei, do you have more? May I have a look?”
“Sure, sure! Here they are!” Elder Wei handed the bag of gold leaves that Cai Chambermaid had given him to Nanxiang.
Nanxiang calmly scrutinized the contents of the money bag, pretending to accidentally tear the lining by saying, “Oh dear, I’m sorry. My long nail has hooked your money bag.”
Elder Wei laughed, “No worries, it’s just a bag!”
Nanxiang asked, “Is this money bag yours, Elder Wei? It has such a beautiful design.”
Elder Wei replied, “It was a gift from the young master in the palace. If Mrs. Lu likes it, I can inquire whether there are any more.”
Nanxiang smiled and said, “There’s no need for that. Since I ruined it, I’ll replace it with a new one.”
Elder Wei: “No need, no need!”
Despite Nanxiang’s insistence, Elder Wei refused to accept. To him, the money bag was not worth much.
Gu Jiao sensed something off and looked at Nanxiang.
Nanxiang explained, “Miss Gu, do you have needle and thread? I need to mend Elder Wei’s money bag.”
“There’s really no need,” Elder Wei insisted.
Gu Jiao gave Nanxiang a look, “Yes, we do. Please follow me.”
The two entered the east room.
Gu Jiao closed the door, “Is something wrong?”
Nanxiang took out the money bag and tore it open, a pile of dried flower pieces fell out from its inner layer.
Gu Jiao picked up a piece of dried flower and sniffed it, “This has a pleasant scent, what kind of flower is this?”
Nanxiang replied, “It’s not a flower, but a grass. A medicinal herb native to Yan Country. It’s usually colorless and odorless, but after being soaked in medicinal liquid, it gives off a fragrance similar to flowers.”
Gu Jiao asked, “Is there a problem with this grass?”
Nanxiang looked at her and said, “There’s no problem with it per se. But after being soaked, it becomes a kind of medicinal guide.”
“A medicinal guide?” Gu Jiao frowned.
Nanxiang stared at Gu Jiao resolutely and explained: “It is a medicinal guide that can induce feelings of affection or aversion in people. Has this Elder unexpectedly taken a liking or disliking to someone recently?”
Elder Wei has not…but the Emperor has!