In Song Yan's study, there were many new and ingenious toys that had been picked up from the temple fair.

  There are exquisite lanterns, oilcloth umbrellas as big as fans, finely woven birdcages, sets of carved arhats, and crystal lotus-shaped sugar boxes.

  There were also some strange-shaped inkstones and brushes.

  There are also various pastries sold in the market. The taste is not great, but the shapes are strange and unusual, they can't be served on the table, wealthy families wouldn't make them, yet looking at them is really delightful.

  Several girls had never seen it before and were all stunned.

  Weng brother was even more reluctant to let go of that crystal lotus-shaped sugar box.

  Song Yan Zhao smiled and opened the sugar box for him, which was full of jasmine snowflake sugar, pinched one and put it in his mouth, turned around and pinched another one, stuffed it into Guan Zhi's mouth.

  Gu Jin subconsciously took a step back.

  Song Yan Zhao's hand fell empty, stunned for a moment, then stuffed it into his own mouth, squinting his eyes to laugh, to cover up his embarrassment.

  These actions happened very quickly, and Hu Jie and others were attracted by Song Yan's new and strange things, so no one noticed.

  "You spend all day not studying properly, and instead run around messing with these things!" Hu Jie scolded Song Yan Zhao with a stern face after her initial surprise.

  Song Yanzhao gave her a white eye and scrunched up his nose at her.

  "Mind your own business!" Song Yanzhao muttered under his breath as he turned his head.

  Gu Jinzhi remained by his side, pretending not to have heard.

  "I like this umbrella..." A small oilcloth flower umbrella, naturally not for rain protection, but a plaything. The craftsman painted beautiful pictures on it, several beauties with languid and charming expressions, vividly lifelike.

  The painting style is a bit wild, but it's really beautiful. Hu Jie took one look and fell in love with it, holding it in her hand, she said to Song Yan Zhao.

  "No way!" Song Yanzhao snatched it over, "Is this something you girls should be playing with? If your mother finds out I let you take it, I'll be in trouble too..."

  Hu Jie thought for a moment and agreed.

  Her mother was very strict with her upbringing, and these gaudy things would definitely get her scolded if she took them back.

  Although she knew that Song Yan's words were not wrong, Hu Jie was still angry at his refusal. Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, she snatched it away: "I'll go tell the mistress! See what you've been up to in the study!"

  She turned around and was about to walk out.

  Song Yan Zhao was indeed deceived by her and hurriedly chased after her.

  The two of them ran out.

  Several people laughed at Gu Jin's words.

  When they came back, Hu Jie's face was red, and Song Yanzhao looked embarrassed, which made people curious about what they had done outside.

  After making a fuss, Song Yanzhao's good things were sorted and sent to each person, and it was finally settled.

  Gu Jin got an ink box.

  Song Yan Zhao still didn't say what he wanted to give to Gu Jin.

  Gu Jinzhi remembered that he had been saying he wanted to find him for something a few months ago.

  At mealtime, Song Yanzhao insisted on squeezing in at the girls' table. Mrs. Song glared at him with her eyes, and he reluctantly went to another seat.

  The meal was finished and because there were no performances, it quickly dispersed.

  Gu Yanzhun invited Song Ertao's nephews to visit the Gu family tomorrow, and then took Gu Chenzhi and others back to Ma Yuanxiang.

  After returning, Song Pan'er naturally asked about how Song Daitai treated her guests and what dishes were served.

  Gu Zhen said it was very good and also said: "Too polite! Shouldn't be so troublesome."

  "It's nothing, it's just a rule." Song Pan'er smiled and said, "Tomorrow I'll also have to invite the young masters of the Qin family to sit at home, and then you'll have to accompany me too."

  Gu Zhen naturally said it was good.

  Song Pan'er asked Gu Jinzhi again, how was today's banquet after Gu Yunzhen and others went to the outer court.

  "It's fine." Gu Jinzhi also used a set phrase, "Eldest Auntie has also invited Hu Jie and two girls from the Song family to keep her company. They are all gentle in nature and easy to get along with."

  Song Pan'er nodded.

  "Mother, there's another interesting thing..." Gu Jinzhi continued.

  Song Pan'er hastily asked what it was.

  "Hu Jie seems to have some feelings for Second Brother..." Gu Jinzhi said with a smile.

  Song Pan'er's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Gu Jin's face.

  Gu Jing's eyes sparkled with a smile, pure and joyful, and didn't show any signs of sourness or discontent, only then did Song Pan'er feel at ease.

  "That's no use!" Song Pan'er laughed and said, "The Hu family are people from the capital, once their term is up they will have to go back. Your two elder cousins are studying for the exams, according to Eldest Aunt's temperament, she definitely won't mention marriage before they pass the Imperial Examination."

  "Ah Xiong or someone said that Zhao Ge might not necessarily pass the exam next year. I look at him, he's like a kid who can't grow up, and hasn't seriously studied before."

  Gu's smile made him talk about the messy things he had dug up from Song Yanzhao's study again.

  "I'll say!" Song Xiang'er said, "Zhao Ge'er loves to play and is mischievously clever!"

  Gu Jinzhi smiled again and echoed her mother's conclusion.

  Song Pan'er is now extremely disappointed with her two sisters-in-law from her mother's family.

  She often revealed her desire to strengthen family ties by marrying her daughter back into the Song family, but Eldest Sister pretended not to understand, and Second Sister arranged for a nephew from the Jiangning branch of the family to marry Gu Jinyi.

  It's clear what they mean, they're not very willing to have Gu Yu as their daughter-in-law.

  Gu Jinzhi is not disabled, why would Song Pan'er worry that her daughter can't get married?

  The Song family had no intention, and she also dispelled the idea. Anyway, those nephews were not one of the best talents, Song Pan'er took a liking to them, among the dwarfs, choosing a general, just thinking about her mother's family, the daughter married over without having to suffer humiliation.

  Lost that idea, and started picking on younger siblings.

  Gu Jinzhi just stood by and smiled.

  The next day, Gu's family invited Qin's children over.

  Song Pan'er also saw Qin Zhi with her own eyes.

  Qin was of medium build, with fair skin and deep, dark pupils that seemed to be bottomless. He was taciturn and gave people a sense of stability and solemnity.

  When speaking with him, his responses were also respectful.

  Song Pan'er looked at him and thought that Qin Zhi was neither frivolous nor lazy, nor was he a foolish dandy. He was actually better than her own cousins. When other people's children grew up, they reached the age of marriage and did not use their studies as an excuse.

  It's just Song Pan'er who thought too much.

  She suddenly felt a little regretful, and shouldn't have refused so bluntly at first.

  "...... Does Second Aunt know if she has returned to her mother's home?" Song Pan'er whispered to Song Mom, "If I ask again, will Second Aunt get angry?"

  Song's mother just smiled and said, "How could that be? Your second aunt would love it."

  Song Pan'er thought carefully again and felt that it wasn't right. By doing so, she seemed to be rushing to marry off her daughter, which would damage Gu Zhen's reputation.

  Had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill.

  "Alas, it's okay, I'll just go later!" Song Pan'er comforted herself.

  The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner.

  At noon, Song Dang'er personally cooked longevity noodles for Gu Jinzhi, and the people of the Song family also came to congratulate him.

  As today is also Hu Jie's birthday, Song Pan'er had someone send a longevity noodle dish to the Hu family.

  Mrs. Hu sent away the gift-bearing servant girl with two eight-fen silver ingots and separately packed a longevity noodle for Hujie to take back.

  After Mid-Autumn Festival, Gu Zhen said he wanted to head back.

  He has been in Yanling Prefecture for over 20 days and has not mentioned returning. Firstly, he is recovering from illness, secondly, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, a day for family reunions, so his uncle and aunt will naturally keep him there.

  "I flipped through the almanac, and the 20th is a good day." Song Xiang'er said, "I know you're thinking of Beijing, so I won't keep you here for nothing. The 20th is suitable for traveling, your third uncle will help you with packing and arranging boats, you can just go out and have some fun these few days."

  Gu Zhen thanked him.

  ——*——*——*——

  Thank you enigmayanxi, enigmayanxi, 熱戀^^ and others for the rewards! Seeking recommendations!