After the selection, Ruan Niang kept Gu Qingtu behind.
python:src/backend/main.py Ruan Niang sent Green Fruit and Luo Xue outside, had Luo Xiao sent to Luoxi Pavilion, and then slowly said: “I heard you got involved in the Xie family’s disputes?”
“No such thing. It was just a quarrel between sisters-in-law. I just happened to see it,” Gu Qingtu firmly denied, not wanting to get involved.
“That’s good. In these big family disputes, just watch. Don’t say anything, and definitely don’t get involved.”
“Thank you for the advice, Ruan Niang.”
“Although your performance at the Yang and Jiang families was not bad, it wasn’t perfect. Your foundation is not as good as Liang Luoxi’s, so you need to consolidate what you’ve learned recently. Soon, I’ll invite the Jinyun theater troupe. Master Yu Qing is the best teacher, and you must study hard.”
“Yes.”
“And at Cloud Le Master’s place, you must also improve your vocal skills and not let them become rusty.”
“Yes.”
Ruan Niang listened to her, her expression respectful, and after saying a few more words, she let her go.
Gu Qingtong walked out, looked at Luo Xue, staring with big eyes, not daring to breathe. She just smiled lightly and walked ahead.
Back at Qingtong Pavilion, Gu Qingtong first had Lüguo take her down to wash and change into a clean, neat little outfit before calling her over. Although this young girl had an instinctive resistance to her, she was still her first disciple, and they would be together for at least two or three years. She didn’t want to spend those years exchanging cold glances.
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“Your name is Luo Xue, right?”
“Yes, Gu Qingniang.”
“How old are you?”
“Eleven.”
“Birthday?”
“April tenth.”
“Hmm, I’m probably only four years older than you. From now on, call me sister.”
“Yes, Gu Qingniang.”
“Hmm?”
“Sister.” Luo Xue called her carefully, then lowered her head.
Gu Qingtong nodded satisfactorily: “Lüguo, arrange a place for her to stay and call a tailor to make her a couple more suitable outfits.”
“Yes.” Lüguo responded and left.
Gu Qingtong sent Lüguo away, intending to speak candidly: “Like you, I also came to Hua Hao Yue Yuan Pavilion because of a declining family, so I pretty much know your little thoughts. You might feel that fate is against you, ending up in Hua Hao Yue Yuan Pavilion. But the Leng family has fallen, and you probably won’t have another chance to go back. At least in the future, you’ll be a young lady, able to preserve your innocence. For this alone, you should be grateful, and not resent the pavilion master or me.”
“Luo Xue wouldn’t dare.”
“I don’t know if you dare, I’m just afraid you’ll get stuck in a dead end and end up harming yourself and others. You have time to learn, and Hua Hao Yue Yuan Pavilion will wait for you, but not indefinitely. Since I’ve become your master, I will teach you well, but more depends on your own comprehension, so you must be serious and work hard.”
“Luo Xue understands.”
“Also, I must remind you. As my disciple, you are now part of me.”
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Your sister follows Liang Luoxi, so she is part of her. Liang Luoxi and I have always been at odds. I don’t ask you to help me, but absolutely do not help outsiders harm me.”
“Luo Xue will not be ungrateful.”
“Very good.” Gu Qingtong looked left and right in front of the bookshelf and pulled out three books, “Read these first. I will test you when the time comes.”
“Yes.” Luo Xue took the books, and just then Lüguo returned.
Soon after, the maid Qiulu, arranged by Ruan Niang for Luo Xue, was also assigned.
Gu Qingtong gave a few instructions and then had Lüguo lead her away.
“What I just told Qiulu, you also heard. She will be your maid from now on. But Qiulu has been in Hua Hao Yue Yuan Pavilion for a long time and may not be your confidante. You can’t mistreat her, but don’t be too good to her, or she’ll climb over your head.”
“I understand. My mother has told me these principles.”
“I noticed you were always concerned about the maids from your household, so I specially reminded you. Since you understand, I won’t say more.”
Luo Xue started crying. Gu Qingtong could only wipe her tears: “The affairs of the Leng family are beyond our control. Now that you’re in Hua Hao Yue Yuan Pavilion, just focus on your duties and temporarily forget those things.”
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Luo Xue raised her tearful eyes, nodding but crying almost to the point of fainting.
Gu Qingtong’s heart softened. She touched her soft hair, thinking she was still just an eleven-year-old girl with hidden thoughts, and sighed secretly: “Go wash your face. I’ll take you out for a walk.”
Gu Qingtong, intending to lift her spirits, chose a scenic place. On this spring afternoon, the sunlight was bright, willows swaying by the lake, a feast for the eyes.
Despite her low spirits, Luo Xue gradually relaxed amidst the flowers and greenery.
“Oh, Gu Qingniang!”
Gu Qingtong was enjoying the scenery when she heard a slightly hoarse male voice. Turning back, she saw Fan Xifeng, whom she had pushed into the water days ago. Unexpectedly, he had become thin, even his voice now sounding like a duck’s.
Fan Xifeng saw her half-smiling expression and his anger rose: “Gu Qingniang, you’re quite leisurely, with no sense of guilt.”
“Guilt? Why should I feel guilty?”
“You pushed this young master into the water, causing me to catch a cold that I haven’t recovered from. Don’t you owe me compensation?” Fan Xifeng, backed by a group of servants, stepped closer, forcing Gu Qingtong into the depths of the bamboo grove.
Gu Qingtong didn’t think she had any chance of escaping the servants’ encirclement.
Fan Xifeng was holding her, and two or three servants were harassing Green Fruit with vulgar language, proving that the superiors were corrupt and so were their subordinates.
Green Fruit, lacking Gu Qingtong’s composure, was already crying in fear.
Gu Qingtong sighed secretly, knowing she could only rely on herself. She suddenly grabbed Fan Xifeng’s wrist: “Young Master Fan, your health is not fully recovered. Why don’t you rest? I’ll treat you to Zhu Qingyue as an apology?”
“Zhu Qingyue? Haha, how can its dishes compare to Miss Gu’s beauty?” Fan Xifeng’s fingernail traced her cheek, “Truly the daughter of the Gu family, even more beautiful than her mother. But would her mother lament that this beautiful appearance has harmed not just her, but her daughter too?”
“You’ve met my mother?” Gu Qingtong discovered that the Gu family’s matters were not a secret, though most people were reluctant to discuss them.
“Of course I’ve met her. I even attended your third birthday celebration. Even then, you were a beautiful child, and you haven’t disappointed me now.”
“Since you have a connection with the Gu family, you shouldn’t be making things difficult for me today.”
“Connection?” Fan Xifeng tilted his head and pressed down on her, pinning her against a bamboo tree.
“Yes,” Gu Qingtong, backed against the hard bamboo, noticed his strange expression and spoke hesitantly.
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“Our Fan family has always been at odds with the Gu family. Have you forgotten?” Fan Xifeng sneered, then pressed his forehead, “I almost forgot, you were only about three or four when the Gu family had their incident.”
Gu Qingtong glanced at Green Fruit who had fallen to the ground: “Release my maid, and I’ll submit to you.”
“Release her so she can go inform others?” Fan Xifeng laughed and ordered other servants, “Strip her!”
“What are you doing!”
“Since you care about her so much, I’ll strip her for you to see.”
