"Brother Jin’an, you have arrived, and the teacher is waiting for you." Zheng Qing returned early yesterday and did not see Gu Jin’an and the others. This morning, upon his arrival, he heard that Gu Jin’an and the others had come back, and he waited at the door to greet them.

"Brother Qing." Gu Jin’an saw Zheng Qing, smiled, and bowed, patting his head, "You’ve grown quite a bit taller."

Brother Cheng had also grown taller; the little guy used to be only up to Gu Jin’an’s waist and abdomen, now almost reaching Gu Jin’an’s chest.

Zheng Qing laughed, returned Gu Jin’an’s salute, and said, "Brother Jin’an, Brother Dexing, please come in."

Gu Jin’an and the others nodded and entered the Ouyang Family home. Gu Dewang was very pleased and whispered, "Brother Dexing, you should stay longer, preferably until the end of the afternoon, so the old man won’t have time to bother us."

Gu Defa said, "Brother Dexing and the others are here so the teacher might not have time for us, but he will assign us more homework, three times as much as usual, an entire day’s work couldn’t finish it, more tiring than listening to his lectures."

Gu Dewang’s face turned green and he slapped Gu Defa’s head, "You jinx, can’t you keep quiet?"

However, it seemed Gu Defa’s words were prophetic.

Master Ouyang arranged for them to have three times as much homework as usual before he went to the study to meet Gu Jin’an and the others.

Gu Dewang felt like dying, but he couldn’t compete with Master Ouyang and had to resign himself. While writing his homework, he occasionally glared at Gu Defa.

Gu Defa remained unperturbed, acting as if he hadn’t noticed.

Gu Dewang was furious, while Brother Cheng and Brother Qing laughed uncontrollably.

...

In the study, Master Ouyang looked at the wine and ham brought by Gu Jin’an and chuckled, "Sending such expensive gifts every time, I almost dare not accept them. I’ve heard from the Dou Family boy that this ham has gone up in price again."

The Dou Family boy knew how to market things, if the items were good, he could sell them as gold.

Gu Jin’an looked at Master Ouyang and said, "These are for two life-saving acts, so they should be expensive. Please accept them, sir."

"Two life-saving acts?" Master Ouyang looked at Gu Jin’an, thinking it over, smiled, "Ah, you guessed right, smart as always. And my third granddaughter is fond of standing up for justice from a young age, encountering you being robbed, naturally she had to save you."

Ouyang Ming used the Ouyang Family’s Shadow Guards to save them, and there was no hiding it from Master Ouyang, thus he disclosed having rescued Gu Jin’an and his party the moment he saw Master Ouyang.

"Turns out the girl who saved us back then was Master Ouyang’s granddaughter." Qi Kangming and his friends were surprised, only knowing the girl had the surname Ouyang, unexpectedly she truly was from Master Ouyang’s family.

Master Ouyang waved his hand, "It’s just a small matter, you don’t need to mention it again."

"Yes, as instructed," Gu Jin’an and his companions replied, knowing the difference between men and women, it wouldn’t be appropriate to speak much of Miss Ouyang.

However, Gu Jin’an still took the opportunity to give the thank-you gifts to the two Miss Ouyangs, using the reason: "These are from the sisters at home to the two Miss Ouyangs, newly brewed beverages specially made by Xiao Yu for Third Miss. We hope you won’t think them too plain, sir."

"Oh, Xiao Yu made new flavored beverages again, that’s great." Master Ouyang, not only fond of good food but also good drinks, was eager to sip a few mouthfuls upon hearing of the new beverages. But since they were meant for his third granddaughter, he couldn’t ask for them before she had tasted them.

Thus he called for two maids: "Take these two gifts to Third Miss and Fifth Miss." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Yes." The two maids complied, each carrying one gift, heading to the back residence.

...

In the back residence, Ouyang Ming was practicing archery in the garden.

Ding, ding, ding!

The sound of long arrows hitting the bullseye echoed, all three arrows landed within the red spot.

Ouyang Ming was quite satisfied with the results. Observing this, Ouyang Yu frowned and said, "Third Sister, are you practicing archery early every day planning to fight the Rong people on the battlefield?"

Ouyang Yu’s voice was delicate, yet anyone could hear the sarcasm and discontent in her tone.

Knowing her temperament, Ouyang Ming did not argue and replied, "If needed, what’s wrong with going to the battlefield to kill Rong people?"

The Da Rong Army broke through Longshan Prefecture, turning it into a river of blood, and any Great Chu person who heard such news would want to go to war and kill the Rong people.

Ouyang Yu frowned at hearing this and said, "Third Sister, you actually want to go to war, that’s men’s work. We noble ladies of noble families should stay in the inner residence, learn etiquette, fragrance mixing, embroidery, managing household affairs, and prepare for family alliances."

Despite growing up together, Ouyang Yu couldn’t understand her third cousin. She thought Ouyang Ming was odd, a proper noble lady shouldn’t engage in horseback riding, surely she was born in the wrong body, destined to be a man.

Family alliances?

Ouyang Ming laughed at this, "As long as you partake in family alliances, it’s enough. The noble families, Imperial Family nobles, and high-ranking officials in the Capital probably wouldn’t favor me."

With a swift sound, an arrow flew, steady and true, landing in the bullseye.

Ouyang Yu smiled at the remark but quickly subdued her smile, "Third Sister, you’re overestimating. You’re the legitimate granddaughter of the Ouyang family; although your parents died early, with no brothers to assist you, it seems your fortune is somewhat thin, but considering you’re the direct granddaughter of your grandfather, and the great uncle adores you, finding a noble connection for you in the future is still possible."

She sighed, "Alas, it’s a pity that Second Uncle and Second Aunt passed away early. Had they lived a few more years, Third Sister could have been the most radiant noble lady in the Capital."

Thinking about her third cousin’s background, Ouyang Yu felt smug. Huh, no matter how beautiful, talented, or capable she is, being parentless, brotherless, the aristocratic young men would never marry her.

The true heirs of the nobles, high-ranking officials’ sons, marry noble ladies who’ve their fathers and brothers assist them through decades to come; marrying Ouyang Ming is useless, lacking familial support.

Whoosh!

An arrow flew past Ouyang Yu, directly embedding itself in the tree behind her.

Ouyang Yu was frightened pale, realizing the situation, she cried while accusing Ouyang Ming, "Ouyang Ming, you, you actually want to kill me!"

Nanny Li and Ouyang Yu’s two chief maids were so scared their legs went weak, yet as servants, they dared not question Ouyang Ming.

"Fifth Sister must be joking, you’re my close cousin, and as a cousin, I’ll protect you for life. This arrow only serves as a reminder not to disrespect deceased elders." Ouyang Ming’s eyes were as sharp as arrows, fixing on Ouyang Yu, "My parents are not subjects you can talk about."

The mother died giving birth to her, and although the father passed away, she still vaguely remembers him doting on her, personally teaching her to hold a pen and write, watching over her through sleepless nights if she fell ill.

Knowing she was at fault, Ouyang Yu did not dare to argue further, she apologized with deference to Ouyang Ming, "Third Sister, please calm down, it was my mistake."