I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 58: Second Uncle

You’er said, "Young Master Xie’s grandfather was once the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty. Although the Xie Family didn’t have as deep roots as the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion or the Prime Minister’s Mansion, it was still a prestigious family in the Capital City during its heyday.

However, over a decade ago, when Grand Tutor Xie presided over the imperial examinations, he was accused of embezzling ten thousand taels of gold, and was also reported to be colluding with the Third Prince at that time. Subsequently, many pieces of evidence were brought forth, leading to the execution of the entire Xie Family, all because the former Emperor was deceived by treacherous ministers."

Gu Lan raised an eyebrow and, without waiting for You’er to continue, said, "So, only Xie Yun survived from the Xie Family, and after a few years, he cleared his family’s name?"

"Isn’t it said that the Young Master knows nothing about Xie Yun?"

Gu Lan: "Isn’t that how it’s written in the storybooks?" She might not know Xie Yun, but she knows the usual plot.

Zijin nodded, "What you said is correct. At the time, Old Prime Minister Su took pity on the young Xie Yun and secretly hid him away. Unexpectedly, Young Master Xie was extraordinarily gifted, and at the age of seventeen, he achieved the top three ranks in succession and became the top scholar. He then found evidence to overturn the old wrongful case and cleared his family’s name, becoming our Dayan’s unparalleled First Young Master."

Zipei couldn’t help but say, "Alas, Young Master Xie became the top scholar at seventeen, and even at sixteen, he was already famous in the Capital... I wonder when you, Young Master, will..."

"Say one more word, and I’ll take you to the palace immediately," Gu Lan said coldly.

Zipei felt a chill below and dared not speak further.

Zijin casually added, "But, Young Master, you are already famous in the Capital."

——Though that fame, whether for good or bad, remains unknown.

"..." Zijin, if you can’t speak properly, don’t speak at all.

After listening to Xie Yun’s story, Gu Lan asked, "Just based on these, why is he so admired by many noblewomen?"

Zijin restrained her playful mood, adding a hint of reverence, "Young Master Xie is not only exceptionally talented. Ever since he entered the court as an official, he has been consistently petitioning for women to take on roles beyond being female officials in the palace. He even advocated for women’s academies, giving a voice to the women of Dayan."

Gu Lan was momentarily surprised, not expecting the seemingly mundane, tree-climbing Xie Yun to be quite interesting.

Dayan’s First Young Master can be his title; she could hold the title of Capital City’s First Young Master.

After spending a day in the Marquis Mansion, Gu Lan learned by evening that the recent flood was severe, not only submerging the Capital City but also the nearby villages and towns.

Overnight, countless citizens were left homeless, becoming disaster victims.

With the autumn harvest approaching, encountering such a natural disaster, how the Emperor would respond remained unknown.

The Old Madam opened the Marquis Mansion’s storeroom, asking Uncle Li to distribute porridge at the mansion gates the next day to relieve the disaster.

With Madam Zhou in the Marquis Mansion, there was no shortage of money, yet not much grain was stored.

However, when the Old Madam mentioned opening the mansion’s grain reserves to provide disaster relief, not one person in Dingyuan Marquis Mansion opposed.

That evening, Mrs. Wang personally cooked, making fragrant scallion meat pies and handmade small wontons.

Although there was less meat than before, Mrs. Wang’s excellent culinary skills made the food even tastier than usual. Gu Lan devoured three meat pies and a bowl of wontons.

At the dining table, Gu Lan finally saw his Second Uncle, Gu Chengye, finish work on time.

The reason Second Uncle Gu was able to leave work on time today was because his office was flooded.

He finished eating the last wonton, leaving no soup behind, even showing the bottom of the bowl to Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang nodded in satisfaction, "It’s rare to see you eat so enthusiastically; this will be the last meal."

Gu Chengye: "What?"

"With such a disaster, I must return to the Wang Family to see my aging parents, not knowing what may happen."

In such special circumstances, Second Uncle Gu had no reason to stop his wife from visiting her family.

Uncle Li handed an account book to Gu Chengye, "Second Young Master, the grain from the Marquis Mansion’s granary is all listed here."

Gu Chengye solemnly accepted it, then knelt on both knees, kowtowing to the Old Madam with a loud thud, and said in a deep voice, "Mother’s profound sense of justice and righteousness represents the people of Dayan; I thank Mother on their behalf."

Second Uncle Gu donned a black cloak, his features rugged yet gentle, with deep wrinkles between his brows, closely resembling the Old Madam’s facial shape upon closer inspection.

Beside Second Uncle Gu, Gu Changting also knelt.

"The Marquis Mansion has safeguarded the nation for generations, with generations of sons dying heroically on the battlefield. Chengzhao fights valiantly in the Northern Territory, securing Dayan’s current peace. Now that disaster strikes, how can our Dingyuan Marquis Mansion stand idly by?" the Old Madam declared.

Gu Chengye’s eyes reddened, nodding vigorously.

The Old Madam gently touched the jade crown atop her second son’s head, distractedly noting the silver strands in her hand. In a moment of reflection, she said, "Chengye, you’ve worked so hard. Look at you; you’re not even thirty-six and already have gray hair."

Gu Chengye raised his head, moved, "Mother, I’m thirty-eight this year."

"Uh, ahem, alright, alright," the Old Madam awkwardly touched the Buddha beads on her wrist, smiling.

Second Uncle Gu stood, looking at Gu Lan with a hint of helplessness and indulgence in his eyes:

"Lan’er, do you know that some time ago you beat up the Second Prince? The Emperor outwardly has not held our Gu Family accountable, but in reality, he’s doubled my workload, and that Minister Qian gives me dirty looks every day."

In the Marquis Mansion, Gu Lan was the most cherished, and Second Uncle Gu, though chiding, merely sought to chat with his nephew more.

The Old Madam immediately raised her eyebrows to protect Gu Lan:

"What’s the big deal about doubling your workload? As an Assistant Minister of Rites, do you ever have actual work to do? Working a bit more each day won’t kill you. With all the rituals at the Ministry of Rites, how is there still a flood? Why blame my precious grandson? Aren’t you proud that your grandson defeated their Rong Family’s Second Prince?

And what’s so special about Minister Qian? Does our Dingyuan Marquis Mansion fear the Qian Family? Isn’t it just because Qian Zhen has a Noble Consort sister? The younger generation of the Qian Family—Qian Zhao, Qian Rui—live in debauchery, none can compare with our Changting and Lan!"

Consort Qian’s brother, Minister of Revenue Qian Zhen, was a highly valued court official in recent years, but in terms of heritage, he couldn’t compare to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

"——Proud, truly proud; I never imagined that Lan could defeat the Second Prince." Second Uncle Gu quickly reiterated the Old Madam’s words.

"Moreover, now that my precious grandson has learned our Gu family’s spear technique, the Gu Family Spear has a successor. Look at Lan’er, look at you, such a lack of ambition."

The more the Old Madam spoke, the more she admired Gu Lan.

Gu Lan remained unfazed, while Madam Zhou blushed listening.

She didn’t even realize how admirable her daughter had become.

"I..."

Second Uncle Gu wanted to say something, only to be interrupted by his son, Gu Changting: "Father, stop underestimating little Lan’er. Just yesterday, she saved many people at the imperial palace, exhausting herself to the point of fever."

"Really..."

Gu Changting: "Of course it’s true!"

"Is it..." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Gu Changting: "I can vouch for little Lan’er!"

Gu Chengye shouted, "You little brat, keep quiet."

After scolding his son, Gu Chengye looked at Gu Lan, his eyes filled with grievance, "If that’s true, then Lan’er, could you teach Second Uncle your spear technique?"

Gu Lan:...

Who would have thought that Second Young Master Gu Chengye actually admired his elder brother Gu Chengzhao, harboring a dream to become a general since childhood.

However, he couldn’t learn the Gu Family Spear.

Of course, the main reason Second Young Master Gu couldn’t learn was because no one taught him.

The Old Marquis didn’t intend to teach him, his brother Marquis Gu was busy commanding troops outside, and the Gu Family Spear wasn’t to be passed outside the family. Before, the only one who knew it was Gu Changting, but like his father, he’s a civil servant.

Second Young Master Gu experienced hardship. Dealing with affairs daily left him with aching back and legs, all because he didn’t exercise well in his youth.

Thinking of Prince Rui, nearly his age, who could punch ten of him into the air, he wondered why. Dingyuan Marquis Mansion had a military origin, his brother was the General of the North, the current Dingyuan Marquis.

And yet, little did he know Lan would learn the Gu Family Spear?

Seeing Second Uncle’s hopeful eyes, Gu Lan reluctantly agreed: "Second Uncle, from now on, run around the Marquis Mansion twice daily."

Running two laps occasionally, even if not for spear practice, helps in strengthening the body.

"No problem." Second Uncle Gu readily agreed with joy.

First Yunhao, now Second Uncle; how come it seems she’s become a martial arts instructor?