Traveling through time and space

"Yuanyuan, the New Year is coming soon. Why don't you move in with us? Mother will have your New Year clothes made for you."

"Mother, your daughter-in-law thinks this jade hairpin is very suitable for the princess and wants to give it to her." The second sister-in-law opened the box she brought.

"Wancheng, this won't do. This was passed down from your grandmother. It's your mother's heirloom." The second brother was a little anxious.

"Mother, this was suggested by my mother from my mother's family. She said that the princess has been so kind to our He family that we have never been able to repay her. This is just a small token of our appreciation."

"Okay, since it's a gift from my mother-in-law, Yuanyuan, you can accept it."

"Mother, this is someone's heirloom and also a thought. Yuanyuan cannot accept it, but I will accept the kindness of my second sister-in-law and your mother." Gu Yuanyuan pushed the box over.

"Yuanyuan, please accept it. This is also a token of love from the mother and daughter," the second brother looked back at Yuanyuan's hand.

"Yes, they are sincere and want to give it to you, so just accept it." Mother also said this.

"Okay, the princess will accept it. Thank you, second sister-in-law and Aunt He," Gu Yuanyuan took the box. "Mom, let's talk about the New Year later. I just came to see you today. Since the death of Master's wife, I heard that Master has not been well. I want to go see him, but I have to go first." Gu Yuanyuan stood up.

"Okay, go do your thing. Come back when you have time and have dinner with me."

"Mother, I want to go with Yuanyuan to see the headmaster."

"Okay, you guys go together." Gu Yuanyuan didn't expect that his second brother would come along.

"Second brother, is there something wrong? Is it difficult to say it in front of mother?" After leaving the Princess's Mansion, Gu Yuanyuan asked her second brother curiously.

"Let's talk in the car. Besides, my second brother really wants to go see the master." The second brother got in the car by himself.

"Zhou Chun, drive more steadily and go straight to the academy." Zhou Chun was Gu Yuanyuan's full-time groom, and Yu Lin had made other arrangements. "Second brother, you have something to say," Gu Yuanyuan instructed Zhou Chun and took her seat.

"It's mother's business. Eldest brother is not at home, and second brother has no one to discuss with. I don't know what to do?" The second brother looked very distressed.

"What's wrong with mom?"

"Mother and Du Heng have known each other for more than 20 years," the second brother hesitated to speak.

"Brother, is it something difficult to talk about?"

"Mother and Du Heng had a crush on each other back then, but my grandmother refused to agree to the marriage and even threatened to commit suicide."

"Is there such a thing? My mother is the eldest princess."

"It doesn't matter that my mother is the eldest princess. It seems that there is something going on between my grandmother and the old lady of the Du family." The second brother thought for a moment, "The consequence is that men and women get married. In fact, my mother and father are not what others see them to be, and my mother's life is not what others see."

"That's right. Mother has suffered enough. We must treat her well from now on."

"Second brother knows. He has seen what kind of life mother has been through over the years. Now, second brother has an immature idea. Father is gone, and Master Du's wife is also gone. Second brother has also inquired. Master Du has only one daughter and no other concubines in the mansion. In the past six months, he has often come to visit mother, but every time he comes, he drags Madam He with him, because he is afraid of what others will say."

"That's a good idea. They're not too old, so being able to spend the rest of their lives together is a good choice. But are you and your husband and your eldest brother willing to accept it? And let me ask you, in Qingyang, widows can remarry, right? Mother can take that step too. You have to fight for your own happiness."

"My second brother asked mother, but she said that she was the eldest princess and held a high position. If she remarried, she would be laughed at."

"Mom, do you want to erect a chastity arch? That's really boring. Is this how my life will end? What's more important, your own happiness or your face? We still have decades to live. Remarriage is not something to be ashamed of."

"But mother just can't get around that problem. When you have time, try to persuade her."

"Okay, I'll think of a way."

After getting off the car and entering the academy, they happened to meet a group of people coming out of the headmaster's courtyard. Senior Brother Pei was among them. Seeing Gu Yuanyuan coming, he dismissed the others and stepped forward to greet them. "Princess, are you here to visit the master?"

"Yes, Senior Brother Pei, let's go in together," Gu Yuanyuan and others entered the yard.

"Huai Qian meets the princess." It turned out that the master's second son was at home.

Gu Yuanyuan nodded. "It's been a while since we last met, sir. I came to see you. How are you?"

"Ever since my mother passed away, my father has rarely gone out. He has no interest in doing anything and is listless."

"It's understandable. After decades together, this person is suddenly gone. It's inevitable to feel a little lost." Standing at the door of the study, Gu Yuanyuan looked over and said, "Sir, Yuanyuan is here. Can we go in and talk?"

"Please come in, Princess," an old voice came.

The door was pushed open and Gu Yuanyuan walked into the room. "Second Young Master, open the window." It was a little dark, Gu Yuanyuan ordered, "Sir, what are you going to do? Are you going to drive yourself to death? And then follow the master's wife and leave, making your children sad, the academy without a principal, and our Qingyang without a literary giant?" There was some anger in Gu Yuanyuan's tone.

"Princess, father just misses mother too much."

"The deceased is gone, but the memory remains. The dead are gone, but the living are like this. Sir, your wife has passed away, please don't be too sad. She must be thinking about you and the children.

"Sir, you should live well, cherish your life with the children, and let your wife rest assured. Only when you and the children are well, you will not disappoint your wife's trust and expectations. Your wife is a kind woman, and everyone will miss her. Now that your wife is gone, you and the children are well, and your wife can rest in peace. The dead cannot be resurrected, but we who are still alive must live well." Gu Yuanyuan said to her husband who was sitting powerlessly in front of the window.

"Thank you, Princess, for your words of comfort." The people sitting down shifted. "Yes, we who are still alive must take care of ourselves so that the deceased can rest in peace." The gentleman looked at them and said, "You should sit down and talk too." Gu Yuanyuan and the others found seats and sat down. "Did the princess handle the matter well?"

"Thank you, Mr. Xie, for your concern. Everything has been very good. The vegetables and fruits we planted have all been successful."

"Your master's wife really likes the things the princess sent. She has always wanted to thank you in person, but now she doesn't have the chance."

"It's okay, sir. As long as my wife likes you, that's all that matters. Do you want to keep going like this? And make those who care about you feel worried and sad?"

"The master is old and can't do much. Besides, everything is well arranged in the academy, so it won't be a problem if the master is gone."

"Sir, you're wrong. You're not old. You can still do a lot. Besides, you've worked hard to learn knowledge for so many years. Can you just let it go?"

"Everywhere here, there is the shadow of your master's wife."

"Sir, why don't you leave for a few days, go out for a walk, and appreciate the beautiful scenery of our Qingyang."

"Princess, my father is old and can't go out."

"Second Young Master, you are in your prime, and you have been like this these days because you missed your master's wife too much. Sir, a few days ago, Yuanyuan told my father that we in Qingyang have not had a complete feng shui garden for many years. We don't know where the mountains, rivers, oceans, and plains are. What we have in the palace are just those sent by people, and they are not complete. No one has ever done this. If you are willing to take the lead in doing this, it will really be famous for thousands of years.

"No, Father can't take on this responsibility. If this thing is accomplished, it will take three to five years, and he will have to travel around for a long time, exposed to the sun and rain. I'm afraid his body can't bear it."

"Second Young Master, please don't make the decision for me. Let me think about it myself. As for three to five years, it won't take that long. We can find a few trustworthy people, split up the forces, and start working in different directions at the same time. Combined with the available township, county, and state annals in each place, it won't take long. Of course, this will definitely require some hardship. You brothers and sisters can discuss it."

"Princess, you actually thought of this. The master has also thought about this. If there is a complete geomancy map of Qingyang, we can have a good understanding of the topographical features of each side." This really seems to be an idea that the master has had. Why did he say that? Because in an instant, the master sat respectfully and spoke with great energy. With the tea and snacks brought by the second young master and Xiao Min, everyone chatted for a long time. Until they left, Gu Yuanyuan was also happy. Her idea was right, but Gu Yuanyuan also repeatedly instructed the master to discuss it with the children before making a decision. Yes, I will go and talk to my father, and the court will provide material and financial resources. The master also discussed it and got up personally to send people to the gate of the courtyard. Everyone who went out was relieved. The master's side was finally back to normal. As a disciple, Gu Yuanyuan was relieved. Several problems that he had been worried about for many days were finally solved. Gu Yuanyuan went straight back to the mansion. After these busy days, he rewarded himself and Yue'er. After returning to the mansion, he looked at the vegetable garden next to him to see which ones were ripe. He picked them up himself and asked people to send them to where they should be sent. Why did he have to collect them himself? It was just the right opportunity to take some things from the space and mix them in. This could also be considered as consuming space supplies. When I returned to Yishu Courtyard, I was really exhausted. I ordered that no one and nothing should disturb me, unless there was a letter from the palace. Other things were out of the question. I entered the space, took a bath, and made a lot of delicious food, but I still couldn't find Yue'er. She was supposed to have cultivated into a human form and would appear soon, but she was nowhere to be found. I couldn't call her, so I had to go out to look for her. I hadn't searched a few rooms when Yue'er appeared. She was so happy, it seemed that something big had happened. "Is there something good happening? Tell me so that I can be happy too." Gu Yuanyuan calmed Xiao Yue'er.

"Master, this is not a good thing." Yue'er was very anxious.

"What happened? Talk slowly. If there's a problem, you need to solve it, not explain it."

"Master, what are you talking about? Yue'er doesn't quite understand."

"Then just tell me, what bad thing happened?"

"Master, your three-year period to activate the space has expired."

"It's been so fast," Gu Yuanyuan couldn't help but sigh. It had been more than three years since she came here, and she was already sixteen years old. "What's wrong with three years?" Gu Yuanyuan didn't forget to ask.

"Master, the three-year period is up. From now on, you'll have to spend money to buy some things. It's not like you can get everything you want."

"What do you mean?" Gu Yuanyuan asked in confusion.