By the end of July, the heat had dissipated.

  The autumn begonias in the courtyard are blooming beautifully. In the early morning, a magpie stands among the flowers, chirping and calling out with a delicate and gentle voice that is soft and touching.

  The maid pushed open the window, and the sparrow was startled, spreading its wings to fly away, lightly brushing against the eaves. The branches of the peach tree were still trembling, and suddenly petals fell like snowflakes, and the flowerbed was like a brocade spread out.

  Wei Ru and Zhi Le helped Gu Jin comb her hair, and also heard the sparrow chirping.

  Zhilan smiled and said to Gu Jinzhi: "The magpie chirps at dawn, today will definitely be a good day."

  The weeds also say so.

  Gu Jin smiled.

  As a result, when going to see his mother, Eldest Cousin Gu Zhen had already arrived, and Gu Yan Zhen and Song Tan Er were accompanying him for breakfast.

  Upon seeing Gu Jinzhi arrive, Gu Chenzhi was slightly surprised: This seventh younger sister hasn't changed much in six years! Except for being taller than when she was a kid, she still looks so young and naive.

  The second aunt's sixth sister is six months older than Gu Jin, already slender and elegant, a big girl with a reputation, several families have proposed marriage but were rejected.

  With comparison, I was even more surprised: these seven younger sisters' heights were almost catching up with Third Aunt's, how could their appearances still be so... young!

  Anyway, looking at her, although she is tall and slender, she is still a child... I won't associate her with beautiful women, but just think of her as a lovely and cute doll.

  He came back to his senses and found Gu Jin had already bowed to him with a smile, calling him "Big Brother".

  "Seventh Sister!" Gu Chenzhi smiled and returned the courtesy, "Seventh Sister has grown up so big, with a heavenly appearance, more and more like Third Aunt!"

  Song Paner smiled complacently, she didn't feel that others were flattering her at all.

  In her eyes, there was no child more handsome than Gu Jinzhi. Moreover, although Gu Jinzhi's eyebrows and eyes were not yet fully formed, they had the same mold as Song Daner.

  As they were speaking, Gu Xun and Gu Xuan, the two brothers, also arrived.

  Gu Zhenzhi didn't know these two brothers very well anymore. When the two brothers left Beijing, one was four years old and the other was one year old, now they are both half-grown young men.

  They exchanged another round of greetings before sitting down again. The maids brought over the breakfast for Gu Zhen's three siblings as well.

  After breakfast, Gu Xunzhi and Gu Xuanzhi went to the clan school as usual.

  Gu Jin stayed behind and sat idly with him.

  Song Pan'er asked about the affairs of the people in the capital city.

  Gu Zhenzhi then told Song Xiang'er about the things at home: "...... My room has added a little maid." He had a daughter.

  Song Pan'er smiled: "You were quite naughty when you were young, and now you're also a father."

  Gu Zhen's face turned slightly red.

  When Song Pan'er got married, Gu Zhen was only seven years old and was at the age when boys are most mischievous and disobedient. No matter how much he was scolded or beaten, it had no effect on him.

  "Second Uncle... how's their family doing?" Song Xiang'er asked again.

  The second aunt, Madame Cheng, was the stepmother. She was somewhat greedy for small advantages and also lived next to Song Dang's Jingyuan, with whom their family had a not-so-good relationship.

  Gu Zhenzhi burst out laughing: "This time I came south, not only to fulfill my father's orders and pick up my grandfather, but also to deliver the wedding invitation for Third Uncle and Third Aunt. The auspicious day is on February 6th next year."

  Lao San Gu was the eldest son of the second wife, Ye Shi. In the past when they were in the capital, Cheng Shi had not been very good to Gu Qingzhi.

  "Whose daughter is she?" Song Pan'er asked. She remembered that Gu Qingzhi was already almost nineteen, and had just gotten married?

  "She is Xia Shou's little granddaughter." said Gu Zhen.

  Gu Yanwen smiled and said, "That's great. We'll definitely go."

  Song Pan'er smiled with pursed lips, this marriage must have been arranged by Eldest Uncle. Eldest Uncle is now in the Imperial Cabinet, although not the First Minister, he is the most trusted official and has the Emperor's favor.

  Xia Shoufu is getting old and will retire soon, so he naturally needs to recommend a new chief assistant.

  Is this what Big Brother has in mind?

  He is the head of the clan and all the Gu family in the capital are under his control. However, he is not a straightforward person and only cares about his own interests.

  If Song Pan'er also returned to Beijing, her children might not be able to escape either. Gu Yan would still be weak and at the mercy of Eldest Uncle.

  After hearing this news, Song Pan'er made up her mind and absolutely refused to move back to Beijing!

  They lived their lives of luxury and wealth, but Song Pan'er wasn't envious. She just wanted freedom and to follow her heart's desires.

  After talking for a long time, Gu Zhen asked: "I wonder if Grandfather has gotten up yet? I'd like to go pay my respects."

  Gu Yanzhen and others told him that his father had already gone to the capital: "He set out on the sixth of this month, I'm afraid he's already arrived in Shandong?"

  Gu Jinzhi sat on one side listening, barely holding back a smile.

  They chatted for half a day but didn't mention the main topic at all.

  Gu Zhen was also shocked.

  "Your grandfather has always been impatient..." Gu Yanwen explained.

  Gu Zhen returned to his senses, also quite delighted. He was really afraid that he would come to Yanling but couldn't invite his grandfather. Since he had already gone to the capital, then this time going south, the task entrusted by his father could be considered completed.

  He suddenly felt much more at ease, thinking of the beautiful scenery in Jiangnan, and strolling around wouldn't be a waste of this trip. Although it's not the misty rainy flowers of March now, it's also beautiful, so I'll just take a stroll.

  "Live a few more days in peace!" Gu Yanwen said, "It's hard for you to get to Yanling Mansion, I'll take you around."

  Gu Yanzhun seemed to see through Gu Chen's mind.

  Gu Chenzhi repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

  Song Pan'er ordered the servants to clean up the outer courtyard and arrange a room for Gu Chen.

  Gu Jin took advantage of the opportunity to return to her room and review her medical books.

  Time flies quickly, and before you know it, the sun sets, casting a warm glow over the courtyard.

  Gu Jinzhi went to his mother's place to pay his respects and had dinner there at the same time.

  As they passed by the pond in front of the courtyard, the housekeeper was leading a few young servants to pull out the lotus leaves, fearing that the residual flowers would contaminate the water.

  "The autumn shade doesn't disperse, the frost flies late, leaving the withered lotus to listen to the sound of rain." This kind of artistic and melancholic scenery was something Mother Song Xuaner wouldn't even bother to look at.

  Gu Jin smiled slightly.

  Arriving at his mother's place, he learned that his eldest brother was ill, lying on the couch, unable to come for dinner. His father was somewhat worried and wanted to ask a young servant to invite Dr. Qin to take a look, but couldn't find an excuse.

  Song Pan'er will definitely make Gu Jinzhi see.

  Gu Yanzheng still didn't trust Gu Jinzhi's medical skills.

  "Is it the water and soil that don't match?" Song Pan'er had already said, "I remember when we went south, except for Old Master and Jin Jie, everyone got sick. They only recovered after taking the prescription made by Old Master... Let Jin Jie make a prescription..."

  Gu Yanjun hesitated for a moment.

  "Come on, Jie Er, let's go take a look." Song Tan'er pretended not to understand Gu Yanjun's hesitation and pulled Gu Jin's hand towards the outer courtyard.

  Gu Chen lay on the bed with his eyes closed, resting his mind.

  He has a fever.

  "Auntie, I've caused you trouble as soon as I arrived!" Gu Chen heard the footsteps and opened his eyes to see Song Pan'er and Gu Jinzhi. He sat up halfway and his first words were an apology to Song Pan'er.

  "What a nuisance!" Song Pan'er said, "Pitiful to see. You don't have to worry either, when we went south, everyone got sick and recovered after taking medicine." Then she turned to Gu Jinzhi and said, "Jin sister, take a look at your big brother. Chen brother doesn't know that Jin sister learned good medical skills from her grandfather."

  Gu Chen's face revealed an astonished expression.

  ——*——*——*——

  Thanks for the rewards from 熱戀^^, 小院子, 书友130507121308717 and others, muah!