Choose a master and serve him, one's whole life is honored and respected.

  With a loud crash, the tightly closed small door was knocked open, and Gu Zi Xuan and the guard rushed in with shocked faces, but when they saw the woman standing in the snow-covered courtyard, they were stunned on the spot.

  Gu Yunxi turned her head, raising an eyebrow, "How did you get in?"

  Gu Zi Xuan came to his senses, he heard that the second sister was coming to bring food for Hu Ye, so he had been thinking of coming over to take a look. Who knew that as soon as he walked to the first gate, he heard the intense noise coming from the inner courtyard. He was startled and called out to the guards together, rushing in. He thought Gu Yun Xi would be mostly fierce and less lucky, but unexpectedly...

  "What was that noise just now?"

  Gu Yunxi's face was pale, "This hunting tiger has been starving for several days, and it's no wonder that it got excited when it saw the fresh meat just now." She said as she packed up the food box, preparing to leave.

  Gu Zi Xuan still couldn't believe it, his gaze fell on the hunting tiger in the cage, its massive body was lying sideways in the corner, seemingly having eaten its fill and now snoring loudly, its brown fur slowly rising and falling with its heavy breathing, a picture of tranquility.

  Gu Yunxue carried a lunch box and walked out, "Why haven't you left yet? This hunting tiger is a fierce bird after all, we must be careful."

  Gu Zi Xuan was taken aback, "Oh" he muttered as he followed Gu Yun Xi out, the guard mumbled something under his breath and looked suspiciously at the iron cage before closing the door.

  After the three people walked far away, the sleeping tiger suddenly turned over and its huge body crashed into the iron cage again. The tightly locked cage door creaked open in the cold wind with a "creak".

  The sister and brother walked back, Gu Zi Xuan looked at Gu Yun Xi's expressionless face and coldly snorted, "You're not very capable, why are you still here to feed the tiger? You should know that in the manor there are five hundred servants, it can be seen that you are not even as good as a single servant!"

  Gu Yunxi's face was pale, and her handkerchief had some faint bloodstains on it, which she got when feeding the tiger. At this moment, she seemed to have not heard Gu Zixuan's words, but instead kept putting the handkerchief to her nose, smelling something.

  "Hey! Didn't you hear what I said? What are you smelling again?"

  Gu Yunxi regained her composure and smiled faintly, "Nothing, I was just curious. This perfectly normal residence of the Prime Minister's family has an extra hunting tiger, and this hunting tiger is so precious to them that they even put spices in its food. Tell me, isn't it strange?"

  Gu Zi Xuan only felt that her second sister, who had been silent in the mansion for sixteen years, was actually not understood by her at all. At this moment, she heard the words and only hummed a sound, "What do you know? Do you know why Eldest Sister went to the palace today?"

  Gu Yunxiu raised an eyebrow, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Sister enters the palace many times every year, how would I know what she's after this time?"

  Gu Zi Xuan's eyes lit up, "I knew you didn't know, big sister is going to the palace today to receive a marriage proposal! I suppose you should know that big sister has had the destiny of a noble lady since childhood. Originally, several years ago, the nobles in the palace wanted to send sister to the crown prince's mansion, but two years ago, the country of Liang said they would give the crown prince a princess, so naturally, sister wouldn't become a concubine. The Liang princess has a noble status, and sister had no choice but to retreat and choose another royal family instead."

  Gu Yunxue's mouth curled up in a cold smile, "So, which prince is this tiger hunt for?"

  "Brilliant!" Gu Zixuan's eyes widened, "A year ago, King De won the war and returned to the court. He immediately became a prince from a duke, second only to the crown prince. Although his mother was just a concubine, King De is still young. In a few years, with a few more royal beads, he will definitely become a prominent nobleman above all others. Eldest sister's words about her destiny are sure to come true."

  Gu Yunxi's brow furrowed as she listened to Gu Zixuan's words, "Father is the leader of all officials, and sister is also the leader of Yan's virtuous women. Such a person marrying into the De King's household should be an honor for the De King, but why did Father prepare this hunting tiger? I see it as having a somewhat flattering meaning..."

  Gu Zi Xuan had never thought about this issue, and at this moment, he couldn't help but be asked, and he stuttered and didn't know how to answer.

  Gu Yunxi's gaze swept over the carved beams and painted buildings in front of her, and she said in a low voice, "I've heard that the Duke's power is great, and now he can sit on an equal footing with the Prime Minister's mansion. If the Crown Prince ascends to the throne one day, I'm afraid the Prime Minister's mansion will become a thorn in the eye of the new Emperor!"

  Gu Zi Xuan's eyes changed, he seemed to recall some words his father had said in the study, and immediately became somewhat tense. "Your meaning is——"

  In the icy snow, Gu Yunxi's eyes changed slightly, and a cold air surged in her eyes. "Since there is only one dead end with the new king, it's better to choose a master to serve!"

  Gu Zi Xuan's face changed greatly, although he was young, but after many years of being influenced by his father and the nobles, he had a general understanding of court affairs. At this moment, when Gu Yun Xi spoke so bluntly, his heart was greatly stirred.

  He stared at Gu Yunxi with bright eyes, feeling that the woman in front of him was really amazing. "You, you might be right, King De has been fighting in the north for many years, and it's said that he likes fierce birds like tigers and leopards. When my father returned to the mansion this morning, he had already instructed Gu Cheng that King De would come to the mansion to see the tiger in three days. These few days must be taken good care of the hunting tiger, I don't know what Gu Cheng said, but they actually assigned this task to you."

  Gu Yun Xie's walking footsteps suddenly stopped, "You said... three days later, the German king will come to the mansion to see the tiger?"

  Yes.

  Gu Yunxi's eyes narrowed slightly. De Wang Gong Sun Mo held the power of 300,000 troops in the northern border, and among the many princes of Yan State, he had the most military power. He was strict in governing his army and brave in battle. Although he was not the crown prince, he had a very heavy prestige in the imperial court. Since Gu Zhongzheng wanted to be a virtuous minister who chose a new master to serve, what about her?

  A dark gleam flashed in his eyes like ink, Gu Yunxi adjusted her collar and walked heavily towards the plum garden, "In that case, I need to take good care of Liehu."

  Gu Zi Xuan gazed at Gu Yun Xue's departing back, momentarily stunned. He felt that the faint figure of this young woman seemed to have a faint glow emanating from her, and at this moment, he was still unaware that this faint glow would one day shine brightly in the world, ultimately becoming so dazzling that it would be impossible for him to gaze directly at it!

  ——

  This day's Prime Minister's mansion was destined to be unquiet, as the night deepened, the vermilion-lacquered golden-inlaid main gate of the Prime Minister's mansion swung open, welcoming in the eldest young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion, Gu Yingxue, who had entered the palace that morning. Accompanying her was also the emperor's trusted eunuch, Fu Lai. The luxurious carriage and generous rewards were the honors brought back by this heaven-ordained noblewoman from the palace.

  Gu Yunxi finally saw the sister who had grown up surrounded by the halo of being a noble lady and the pampering of everyone when she went to the outer courtyard with the other palace maids to receive an imperial edict.

  Gu Yingxue, dressed in a pink cheongsam, stood amidst the snow-covered scene like a budding lotus flower, elegant, refined, and untouched by worldly desires. Her slender chin was slightly raised, exuding an air of nobility as she stood beside Gu Zhongzheng, surrounded by joyful festivities.

  A cold and clear gaze fell on her, Gu Yingxue only felt a chill in her heart, she raised her eyes to sweep the people below in the courtyard lightly, but found nothing.

  "His Excellency, young lady, imperial edict has arrived!"

  Gu Yunxi wore a light-colored dress, kneeling behind the low-ranking maid who was sweeping the hall. She lowered her eyes and listened as Fu Lai's sharp voice recited the honors and privileges that Gu Yingxue had enjoyed in this life.

  "By the decree of the Emperor, who has received the Mandate of Heaven, it is declared that Gu's daughter, with her virtues shining like snow, her heart as elegant as orchids, and her wisdom and intelligence renowned, has been chosen to be the noble wife of De Wang Gong Sun Mo, as his official consort. She is bestowed with a golden seal and an imperial edict, and their marriage will take place at the beginning of next summer. Let it be so decreed."

  "Gu Yingxue received the imperial edict and thanked His Majesty for his great kindness."

  A clear and elegant voice slowly fell, amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, Gu Yingxue stood up and took over the imperial edict from Fu Lai's hands.

  "Congratulations to Master Xiang, congratulations to Princess Wang——"

  "Congratulations to Master Xiang, congratulations to Princess Wang——"

  The sound of congratulations rose instantly, Gu Yunxi raised her head and saw Gu Yingxue standing upright with a composed expression, without the slightest shyness or joy that an ordinary daughter should have.

  Then her eyes seemed to have a moment of hesitation, but it was only for a moment. She finally lowered her head and looked at the imperial edict in her hand, and a smile finally appeared on her delicate face. In an instant, it was as if the hibiscus was blooming in the wind, and the prosperous world was filled with fragrance.

  Gu Yunxi's eyes flickered, regardless of whether this was a political marriage or not, at least it met the woman's heart's desire, because in many years after that, Gu Yunxi never saw such a smile on Gu Yingxue's face again.

  "Congratulations to Master Xiang, Duke De must have been overjoyed when he heard the news of this arranged marriage as soon as he returned from Xu City. The talented young man and beautiful woman are a match made in heaven, truly a wonderful story!"

  Fu Lai and Gu Zhongzheng chatted as they walked out of the mansion, while Gu Yingxue slightly tilted her head, the smile on her face had already been retracted, "Go down and reward them."

  The joy on her face was already impossible to conceal, she took out a money box from the small maid by her side and said loudly, "You all heard that, the eldest young lady's marriage is naturally a great joy in the mansion, each of you will be rewarded with a year's salary, and when the eldest young lady becomes the princess of De, it will be even more inseparable from you..."

  The joyful voices of the crowd filled the air, and Gu Yunxi slightly raised her head to scan the scene. She saw a figure that had already left the crowd far behind. Her gaze condensed, and she saw that the silhouette was slender and thin, standing out in the dark night like a bright light, no matter how dark the night was, it couldn't hide her radiance.

  Gu Yingxue's breath caught, and her hand, hidden in her sleeve, tightened slightly.

  ……

  Digression

  By the way, why is the heroine so calm about everything? The reason for this will be written later ~ Also, the elder sister finally came out, believe me, this sister is absolutely not a cannon fodder!

  I felt that I didn't describe this sister well enough before, so I made some minor adjustments. Does it feel more vivid now?