Ouyang Ming saw his grandfather in trouble and said, "Why not ask Brother Cheng, since he is his elder brother, he would surely know."

Brother Cheng was brought to the study just like that. The little fellow, hearing Ouyang Ming’s words, had his eyes light up and said, "I know what my elder brother likes!"

He likes you, Third Sister.

Brother Cheng has been very happy ever since he discovered this secret. Third Sister has a good temper and can ride and shoot, unlike other noble daughters who always speak in convoluted riddles, dizzying people and looking down on us farmers.

"You really know." Ouyang Ming laughed, looking down at the little guy, "Then you tell Third Sister what your elder brother likes... I thought I saved him before, but now I know it was meddling. Your elder brother has helped us a lot with the new bank, and I thought to send him a gift, as a formal apology and thanks."

Brother Cheng looked at Ouyang Ming, blinked; if he tells the truth, he’d be surely beaten to death by his elder brother, and Third Sister can’t possibly give herself to his elder brother.

So Brother Cheng stayed silent.

Snap, Master Ouyang picked up a book and smacked Brother Cheng on the back of his head: "Didn’t you say you know what your elder brother likes? Why aren’t you speaking? Are you deceiving us?"

Brother Cheng turned around, looked at the book on his head, and said, "Of course not, I was raised by my elder brother. I slept in the same bed with him until I was eight. How could I not know what he likes? But what he likes is hard to find now."

Then he said, "Master, you know Feng Family’s Criminal Law talks, right? My elder brother is interested in them, but I heard the Feng Family fell on hard times, and not only was Minister Feng dismissed, but many books were also seized. They can’t be bought at bookstores anymore."

"Good Brother An likes Criminal Law." Master Ouyang was a bit surprised, but thinking about it, that boy did mention several topics about Great Chu’s criminal law, and the Gu Family liked to report to the officials from time to time, so liking Criminal Law is not surprising."

Ouyang Ming laughed and said, "What a coincidence, I happen to have Criminal Law, left to me by my father."

Ouyang Ming’s father greatly admired Minister Feng and Old Master Feng, collected many of their calligraphies and books, and after his death, these were all given to Ouyang Ming.

"Miss, this is the old master’s relic." Mrs. Han strongly disagreed with her lady giving away the old master’s belongings.

Master Ouyang said, "It doesn’t matter, I remember the second son kept several volumes of Criminal Law, sending one out is nothing."

And if Good Brother An reads Criminal Law and can write an extraordinary essay, the second son will be pleased even in his grave.

He looked at Mrs. Han again and said, "Go and prepare, gather a four-cornered gift set to send to the Gu Family for Good Brother An."

Mrs. Han saw that Master Ouyang had given orders, even if unwilling, she could only obey: "Yes."

Brother Cheng said, "Master, no need to trouble yourself, just give the gift to me, and I’ll bring it to my elder brother. It’s chaotic lately, the village is fenced, and they don’t let people in freely."

Master Ouyang agreed upon hearing this, "Alright, today you’ll get off class one hour early, so that you can take the gift back to Good Brother An."

Brother Cheng was extremely happy, squinting with laughter and said, "Thank you, Master!"

The little fellow returned to class joyfully, and Ouyang Ming followed Mrs. Han back to the inner courtyard to prepare the gift.

Ouyang Yu heard about this, came with a maid to mock, "Third Sister, if you had listened to me back then and not meddled to save them, now you wouldn’t have to prepare a gift as an apology."

She complained again, "A noble lady apologizing to farmers, aren’t you ashamed, Third Sister!"

Ouyang Ming ignored Ouyang Yu’s sarcastic remarks, only saying, "Sending an apology was approved by grandfather, and Scholar Gu helped the Ouyang Family this time, it’s only right that we send a gift."

Ouyang Yu was displeased upon hearing this, snorted coldly, "You can only rely on grandfather to suppress me, if not for his approval, do you think I’d only say these few sentences?"

Would have long cursed you as shameless, voluntarily sticking to a peasant!

However...

"Ha, Third Sister, let me remind you, it’s best not to get too close to those farmers, lest you get entangled with them, ruin your reputation, and find no good family in the future."

Being an orphan with no siblings to support, if her reputation suffers too, her life will be over.

Ouyang Ming said, "Fifth Sister is overthinking; I understand the etiquette of the boudoir, no need for Fifth Sister to worry."

Mrs. Han hurriedly said, "Rest assured, Miss Wu, sending a gift to Scholar Gu was approved by Second Old Master, Third Miss has not done anything improper, I urge you to be careful with your words."

With a bang, Ouyang Yu slammed the table, looked at Ouyang Ming, "Third Sister, is this how you let servants contradict the master?"

Ouyang Ming frowned slightly, showing some displeasure, handed the found Criminal Law book to Shan Ru, turned to Ouyang Yu, and said sternly, "Fifth Sister, Mrs. Han is one of the nannies supported by the mansion, us being the masters should respect the nanny, to avoid outsiders accusing us of being ill-mannered."

Ouyang Yu was choked by this, just as she was about to find words to retort, Ouyang Ming dismissed her: "Fifth Sister, I am busy, you go back to your own room, come back after I’m done."

"You!" Ouyang Yu was furious: "Ungrateful thing, one day you’ll regret it!"

Sick-headed, choosing to be entangled with farmers when you could be a noble lady. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Ouyang Yu left in a huff with her maid.

Mrs. Han looked at Ouyang Yu’s back, then turned to Ouyang Ming and said, "Third Miss, Fifth Miss doesn’t speak without reason."

Though Second Old Master approved the gift, as a noble lady, you should keep a distance from such peasant family sons.

Ouyang Ming smiled and said, "Don’t worry, nanny, I know the limits."

Is marrying a noble son from the capital really good?

Ouyang Ming’s heart answered no, influenced by her parents, she always felt mutual admiration and loyalty between spouses were the best partnership, but looking around the entire capital, there simply weren’t such families.

Noble sons are proud and selfish, they do as they please, as long as they give the official wife enough face, they won’t be devoted to you.

And ideas of loyalty are seen as sickness in their eyes.

Back then, her father was laughed at for not remarrying after a period of praise for his devotion.

She heard those mocking words about her father and was upset, running to him, "Father, living with Mother’s memorial and not remarrying other women, is that really sickness?"

Her father laughed, then fell silent for a long time, finally saying, "Maybe it’s sickness, but what of it? As long as it pleases oneself, there’s no need to care about others’ opinions... We live once, life’s many trivial matters are already bothersome, if we can be carefree even once, then that’s most fortunate."