Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 345 - 181: Liang Mansion

After eight or nine days, Gu Chengyu and the others finally approached the Prefecture of Jingyuan.

The city gate of the Prefecture was already in sight, and Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but sigh with relief, they had finally arrived!

The coachman drove the carriage, and soon it reached the city gate. It was early in the morning, and there was a long queue at the gate.

Previously, when planning to return, he had already sent a message via the escort agency. Because they switched to a carriage halfway, they were two days behind the original schedule.

"Miss Yao! We’ve arrived at Jingyuan Prefecture!" Gu Chengyu sent Ming Mo over to inform Yao Mengxian, since she had never been to the Prefecture before and it wasn’t appropriate for a lady to lift the curtain and look outside.

Yao Mengxian sighed in relief upon hearing that; after sitting in the carriage for nearly ten days, she felt completely exhausted.

Unlike on a boat, though it might sway sometimes, as long as one doesn’t get seasick, the days aren’t too bad. There’s more space to move around on a boat, but in a carriage, there’s only one cabin, and even lying down is impossible.

Moreover, for women, things are always inconvenient; just consider the call of nature, which isn’t as convenient as it is for men. She had to stop the carriage midway, go deep into the roadside bushes, and then surround herself with cloth.

Gu Chengyu and the others were all men, so she was embarrassed to keep stopping the carriage; this kind of thing is always difficult to speak of.

Thus, she drank less water and opted for dry food, avoiding even soup. She worried about delaying everyone’s journey and losing face herself.

Lianxin and the others were also excited; the past few days of traveling were truly a torment for their fragile bodies, and everyone was weary.

Even the usually composed Mrs. Gao was smiling broadly, "We really have arrived at Jingyuan Prefecture, Miss! I wonder if the old master is at home now."

"He should be at home; it’s still early!" Qing Dai chimed in, everyone’s spirits high, sweeping away the previous weariness, leaving smiles on their faces.

Qing Dai, unable to resist, wanted to lift the curtain of the carriage but was slapped on the hand by Mrs. Gao, "This isn’t the wilderness, the Prefecture is full of people, how can you lift the curtain? Where did your manners go once we left the mansion?"

Back at the mansion, Mrs. Gao didn’t notice. But having left home, she found herself increasingly dissatisfied with Qing Dai.

Qing Dai, being born in the family, naturally should have impeccable manners as a second-class maid. But outside the mansion, Qing Dai seemed more and more undisciplined.

Qing Dai was stunned by Mrs. Gao’s chastisement. Even she felt she had become a bit wild lately. Back in the mansion, since her mistress wasn’t favored, even the kitchen servants dared show her attitude. But after being out for over ten days, she lost her sense of propriety.

Yao Mengxian said nothing; she agreed with Mrs. Gao’s sentiments. Qing Dai needed proper teaching on manners.

Lianxin was stable and considerate, always protective in moments of life and death; her bond with Lianxin was naturally different.

As for Qing Dai, since she didn’t accompany her to the end in her dreams, the emotional bond was naturally weaker. Still, she had a certain level of affection for Qing Dai because she never betrayed her.

Gu Chengyu looked at the crowd waiting for inspection ahead and noticed quite a number of people. The government officers guarding the gate were stabbing two blades into the peasants’ vegetable baskets before waving them through.

Regarding bundles, the officers didn’t inspect, only checking large items before letting them pass. Carriages required detailed inspection. For Gu Chengyu, being a man, inspection wasn’t troublesome; only for Miss Yao, there was some difficulty.

He wasn’t sure if his scholar credentials would be useful; he could only try when the time came.

Gu Chengyu glanced ahead and suddenly noticed that someone at the city gate looked familiar.

Huh? Isn’t that the outer manager from the teacher’s mansion? Could he be here to pick them up? But they shouldn’t know exactly when the carriage would arrive.

"Ming Yan! Go ahead and greet Steward Liang."

Ming Yan acknowledged, jumped off the carriage, and headed toward the city gate.

Gu Chengyu watched as Ming Yan and Steward Liang exchanged greetings, after which Steward Liang seemed a bit excited and followed Ming Yan over.

"Servant greets Mr. Gu!"

Gu Chengyu lifted the curtain to accept the greeting and then curiously asked, "Steward Liang, did you come to the city gate just to wait for us?"

Steward Liang smiled, "The old master estimated that you and Miss would arrive in these few days, so he ordered me to wait at the city gate during opening and closing times. The rest of the time, he had the mansion servants wait here; today is my first day, and you’ve returned by chance."

Gu Chengyu didn’t think he deserved such treatment; the teacher usually addressed him as a brat, so how could he be come to fetch him? It must be for the granddaughter.

"The teacher is truly considerate. Your cousin is in the carriage behind; go greet her. Let’s head to the teacher’s mansion." Many people had already gone ahead, and their carriage was about to be next.

Steward Liang quickly went to the carriage at the back to pay his respects.

When Gu Chengyu was about to get off the carriage for inspection, Steward Liang hurried forward and handed a note to the officer, who looked at it and allowed the carriage through without inspection.

Gu Chengyu suspected it might have been his senior brother’s; the teacher had already retired, without an official position, and the officer wouldn’t recognize retired officials, regardless of being a Great Scholar.

Since they’d arrived at the Prefecture, visiting the teacher’s home first was necessary. Having become a scholar, he should first thank the teacher.

Liang Mansion wasn’t far from the Prefecture School, consisting of a three-entry residence. Liang Mansion favored elegant decor, with pavilions, towers, and artificial lakes and mountains.

Gu Chengyu’s carriage drove straight into the corner gate, and he went directly to the outer study while Yao Mengxian entered the inner courtyard. Having delivered them to the mansion courtyard, the coachman hurried off with his carriage, as Gu Chengyu had already paid the fare.

According to the usual routine, Liang Zhirui would still be another hour before heading to the Prefecture School, so he was likely practicing calligraphy in the outer study.

Gu Chengyu followed Steward Liang inside and found Liang Zhirui washing pens.

"Student greets the teacher!" Gu Chengyu stepped forward and performed a grand gesture, lifting his robe and kneeling before Liang Zhirui.

Liang Zhirui, looking at Gu Chengyu, seemed moved and quickly said, "Good! Good! You indeed didn’t disappoint me! Quickly rise!"

Liang Zhirui put down the brush and personally stepped forward to help him up.

A student must perform kneeling obeisance before his teacher, which is not the daily etiquette. Gu Chengyu, after three years of learning from his teacher, had become a scholar; only now did he perform this ceremony to express gratitude.

Once Gu Chengyu stood straight, Liang Zhirui laughed and said, "I’ve long believed you had the talent of a top scorer, and didn’t expect you to achieve it now."

Gu Chengyu was somewhat speechless; previously, you certainly didn’t say that.

Seeing what Gu Chengyu was thinking, Liang Zhirui continued, "Earlier, it was to make you guard against arrogance and impatience. I feared you would assume your talent was unmatched. Though I know your temperament is steady, I worried about you becoming conceited. Well? There were many talented individuals at the Provincial Examination, weren’t there?"