As Scholar Gu had inferred, Scholar Gu had no intention of mending ties with the Gu family, nor did he care to look after the younger generation of the Gu clan.
Therefore, when the news from Qianzhong Circuit reached the capital, the Scholar's Manor did not intervene. Consequently, the news had spread throughout the capital in less than half a day.
"Miss, are you alright?" A maidservant, dressed in a jade-green padded jacket, looked worriedly at the silent Fifth Miss Gu. The gossip outside was quite malicious; some even claimed that Miss had long lost her chastity and could no longer find a husband in Nanling Prefecture, which was why she had to come to the capital to find some unsuspecting fool.
Little did they know that even though Young Master Qiu was a thousand miles away in Qianzhong Circuit, he had sent people to Nanling Prefecture to investigate. Upon learning the truth, he had immediately called off the engagement with Miss.
Gu Xiao's senses returned. She looked at the worried maidservant and smiled gently, "It's nothing. You may go, Nanny."
A woman in her forties, standing nearby, immediately stepped forward, took a purse from her怀, and handed it to the maidservant. After escorting the maidservant to the courtyard gate, she turned and strode back into the house. "Miss should rest. You two guard the outside and do not let anyone disturb Miss."
Striding into the room, she did not see Gu Xiao, who had been sitting on a chair moments before. Nanny Ping headed straight for the inner chambers.
"Nanny, why would Second Uncle treat me like this?" Sitting on an embroidered stool before the dressing table, Gu Xiao no longer needed to maintain her usual gentle and elegant demeanor. For the first time, her beautiful face revealed resentment towards Scholar Gu.
How important was a young lady's reputation? It was almost like her life. Gu Xiao truly couldn't understand how Scholar Gu could treat Zhan Feiyu, a country girl with no relation to him, so favorably, sending a carriage full of goods to Qianzhong Circuit every month.
Yet, towards his own niece, who shared the Gu bloodline, he was so heartless and cruel, allowing outsiders to ruin her reputation.
Nanny Ping didn't know how to respond. Ever since Gu Xiao moved into the Scholar's Manor, Nanny Ping had only seen Scholar Gu once when she accompanied Gu Xiao to the front courtyard. After that, Scholar Gu was busy with official duties, and Nanny Ping hadn't seen him for a month.
However, from the distant attitude of the manor servants, it was evident that Scholar Gu was indifferent to his own niece. Nanny Ping dared not speak her mind, but it was fortunate that Miss was a girl. If it were a male descendant of the Gu family visiting, he would likely have been driven out of the Scholar's Manor to fend for himself by now.
"Those people outside are jealous of Miss's family background and talent, so they naturally want to destroy Miss's reputation at all costs," Nanny Ping said gently, trying to appease her. She walked to the side, washed her hands, and then came over to remove the pearl hairpins from Gu Xiao's hair. "Young Master Qiu is merely a commoner; how could he be worthy of Miss? What's being spread outside is all nonsense, and those ladies will not believe it."
Gu Xiao did not speak further. In truth, she herself had been confused from the start. She was staying well within the Scholar's Manor, hardly venturing out, so how did the news of her potential engagement to Young Master Qiu of Qianzhong Circuit suddenly come out?
Within two or three days, the news became even more outrageous, with talk of an auspicious date for the engagement. There were also rumors that Madam Qiu intended to use a phoenix coronet with kingfisher feather inlay from the previous dynasty as a betrothal gift.
The Qiu family of Qianzhong Circuit and the Gu clan of Nanling were considered a suitable match. Out of curiosity, Gu Xiao had asked Nanny Ping to investigate. Who would have thought that Young Master Qiu, besides having a good background, was now a commoner? How could such a mediocre man be worthy of her?
"The words of many can melt metal, and accumulated slander can break bones. Nanny, whether it's true or not, my reputation is ruined. I fear my family will be disappointed in me." Gu Xiao lowered her eyes and gave a bleak smile.
For years, her family had spared no expense in cultivating her. From food and clothing to living and traveling, everything was exquisite. Since the age of five, she had been tutored, excelling in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Yet, a mere dandy like Young Master Qiu was enough to ruin her reputation, sever her chance for a politically advantageous marriage, and make the major noble families of the capital aware of her uncle's cold indifference towards his niece. Gu Xiao didn't need to think to know that her marriage prospects were now bleak. Forget about families of equal standing; even families of a lower tier than the Gu clan would likely not consider her.
Nanny Ping didn't know how to comfort her. Before coming to the capital, she had only thought about how doting Scholar Gu was on a country girl, hearing that the Scholar's Manor's storerooms were being emptied.
Although Zhan Feiyu was not in the capital, Scholar Gu had chosen the best courtyard in the back, having it renovated from top to bottom. The furnishings inside were all exquisite, rare treasures that money couldn't buy. It was said that anything a young lady could use had been moved from the storerooms to the new courtyard by Scholar Gu.
The clan members all believed that Scholar Gu, being childless, was so invested in this young girl. Miss was Scholar Gu's own niece. If she were to receive his favor, then Zhan Feiyu, a distant country girl, would have to step aside.
But the reality was that Scholar Gu not only did not care for his own niece but even allowed the rumors outside to ruin her reputation.
"Miss, the clan has already sent people to suppress the news. The rumors will dissipate in a few days." Nanny Ping helped Gu Xiao lie down. Seeing Gu Xiao, who had closed her eyes but showed no sign of sleep, she felt both heartache and helplessness. This was the capital, not Nanling Prefecture. Without Scholar Gu's intervention, it was too difficult for them to achieve anything.
Nanny Ping's words did not reassure Gu Xiao. She knew clearly that reputation was one thing, but the key was her uncle's attitude, which determined everything. Her family had sent her to the capital to test the waters, and this time, she feared they would be truly disappointed.