As the sun rose in the east, everyone in the Jinyi Hou Mansion was summoned outside the main hall of the Hou Mansion early in the morning. Although the courtyard was still spacious, it was a bit crowded with more than two hundred people standing in the courtyard.
From Han Shou, the general manager of the Hou Mansion, to the old servants transporting the dung trucks, they were all lined up neatly and standing in the courtyard. Even the guards in the Hou Mansion also gathered.
Gu Qinghan was notified by Manager Han early in the morning that the Madam was going to summon everyone in the mansion to the courtyard. She was a little nervous and didn't know what the Madam wanted.
This kind of gathering of everyone in the mansion has not been seen for many years. Although the old lady has been in control of the affairs of the Hou Mansion, she has not really stepped forward to manage the housework for at least ten years. Many new servants in the Hou Mansion, Although they knew that there was a concubine in the Hou Mansion, many people had never even seen the concubine.
Everyone in the house was suddenly called together this early in the morning. Gu Qinghan felt that something was weird. She had been very sensitive recently and felt a little nervous when there was any disturbance. Now that the Madam summoned everyone, she felt even more panicked. She always felt that The matter may have something to do with yourself.
After freshening up and dressing up, I came to the main hall and saw that the servants had gathered in the courtyard, whispering and talking. When Gu Qinghan appeared, everyone immediately fell silent.
Gu Qinghan has managed the Hou Mansion for many years. Although he is very generous to his servants, he has maintained his majesty over the years without anger, making everyone respect and fear him.
Gu Qinghan frowned slightly, entered the main hall, and glanced at the main seat. There was no one there, and he was a little confused. At this time, Han Shou had already come forward and whispered: "Is the third lady feeling well?"
During these days, Gu Qinghan used the excuse of being unwell to hand over all the chores in the house to Han Shou, and stayed in the hospital without leaving the house. Han Shou only thought that Gu Qinghan was really unwell, so he asked with concern.
Gu Qinghan forced a smile and said: "It's nothing serious." Then he asked: "Isn't the madam here yet? Do you want... I go over and invite her over?"
Han Shou said: "Third Madam, the Marquis asked me to inform everyone in the morning to gather in the courtyard. He said that Madam Tai has something to say, so...!"
"Ning'er?" Gu Qinghan frowned and said, "Where are the others?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from behind: "Sanniang, are you looking for me? I'm here." Gu Qinghan turned around and saw Qining, dressed in brocade clothes and jade belt, walking over quickly.
Compared with usual days, Qi Ning was dressed very elegantly today, and she looked refreshed and in good spirits.
Qining saw that Gu Qinghan was wearing a light purple thin skirt with a red belt around her waist. She had a voluptuous and graceful figure. Today, Gu Qinghan put on a little makeup, making her look even more charming and charming.
"Mrs. Tai, do you have any instructions?" Gu Qinghan came closer to Jian Qining and asked softly.
Qi Ning smiled slightly, walked to the front door, put his hands behind his back, glanced at everyone in the courtyard, his expression suddenly became solemn, and said: "I want you to gather together, there are a few things to say. First of all, I want to tell everyone, Mrs. I had a sudden stroke last night, and now I’m...!"
Everyone was stunned, and Gu Qinghan was also stunned, but immediately said anxiously: "Madam... Madam has had a stroke?"
Qi Ning nodded slightly and said: "Sanniang, don't be anxious. There is nothing important at the moment. It's just that the madam asked me to do a few things well. I called everyone here today just for these things." Coughing After a voice, he continued: "Is everyone here?" When asking, he looked at Han Shou.
Everyone looked around to see who else had not arrived, but Han Shou had already said respectfully: "Master Marquis, there should be 246 people in the Marquis's mansion. The old slave just counted the number of people. There are still 242 people left, including the Marquis and the third lady, and there are two or four people missing."
"I know there is a reason for Qi Feng. He doesn't need to come, and naturally the wife can't come either. Besides the wife and Qi Feng, who are the other two?" Qi Ning asked.
Han Shou said: "It's Tielong and Zhao Mu who are feeding the horses in the stable!"
"In the stable?" Qining asked, "Why don't they come?"
Han Shou came close to Qining's ear and lowered his voice: "Master Hou, I asked someone to greet them, but the two people were nowhere to be seen. I searched everywhere in the stable, but there was no trace of those two people."
Qi Ning nodded slightly, but his heart felt bright at this time.
One of the reasons why he summoned everyone was to find out who was missing. The Ox-headed Horse Face was destroyed by Qi Ning last night and has completely disappeared from this world. However, these two people have been lurking in the Hou Mansion. Qi Ning wants to do something. Knowing exactly what identities these two people had hiding in the Hou Mansion, listening to Han Shou's words, he was sure that the two stable grooms were the bull-headed horse-faced ones.
At this time, I finally understood that when Gu Qinghan said that when he met Niutou Mamian, the two people had a very strong smell, but he couldn't remember what it was. Now it seems that it should be the smell in the stable.
Those two people stayed in the stables all year round and were responsible for feeding the horses. It would be a ghost if they didn't have that smell on their bodies.
From this point of view, the bull-headed and horse-faced man has been staying in the Hou Mansion disguised as a groom for many years. If these two people are indeed related to the Daguangming Temple, then the Jinyi Qi family may have always been involved with the Daguangming Temple.
"Ning'er...!" Qi Ning was thoughtful. Everyone looked at Qi Ning. Seeing that Qi Ning was silent, Gu Qinghan reminded him in a low voice.
Qi Ning came back to his senses and said: "Go back and search carefully." He thought that if someone could really find the bull-headed horse face with no bones left, it would really be a ghost. He put his hands behind his back and said loudly: "A few things that the madam told me , I tell you now, everyone must remember this. The first thing is that from now on, no one is allowed to get even half a step closer to the Buddhist hall...!"
Many people were a little confused, thinking that this was the rule of the Hou Mansion, so why did the Marquis need to mention it
"The Madam mentioned it to me last night." Qining said slowly: "I am young and have just inherited the title. The Madam is worried that I will do stupid things, so I usually let some people keep an eye on me to prevent me from making mistakes. I know those few people will occasionally go to the Buddhist hall secretly to report my whereabouts to Mrs. Taifu...!"
Gu Qinghan's delicate body trembled, and many of the servants' expressions changed slightly.
"Fortunately, Madam Tai now knows that I am doing things well, so no one needs to remind me anymore." Qi Ning smiled and said, "So the people who secretly reported my whereabouts to Madam Tai can now come forward. Don't worry, I will I won’t embarrass you, but if anyone dares to deceive me, I will be really unhappy.”
The crowd was excited for a while, then fell silent.
Qi Ning glanced at it and asked: "No one stood up?" He glanced at Han Shou from the corner of his eyes, and saw Han Shou's eyes twitching. Qi Ning understood something in his heart, and suddenly saw Han Shou. Turning around, Qi Ning raised his hand and put it on Han Shou's shoulder before he could speak. Han Shou was startled, but Qi Ning smiled and said: "If you don't take the initiative to stand up, I will ask Manager Han to call your name. "
Han Shou was in a daze for a moment, and then he saw someone walking out of the crowd, and he knelt down on the ground: "Master Hou, I... I just did what the madam wanted, and I have no... no second thoughts towards Mr. Hou!" "
As soon as he stood up, four or five people followed him, including men and women, all kneeling on the ground.
Qi Ning sighed and said: "You don't have to worry, it's the Madam's order, so I can't blame you. But after I found out about this, I told the Madam that this servant who secretly spied on my master was the following culprit, Even if it is the Madam's order, it is a violation of the rules." He said to Han Shou, "Manager Han, later on, give each of them a settling-in allowance and let them leave the Hou Mansion. Don't embarrass them."
Han Shou hurriedly said: "Old slave... I obey my orders!"
"Remember, I am the master of the Jinyihou Mansion. Each of you is a member of the Jinyihou Mansion. If anyone bullies you without asking any questions, I will naturally help you." Qi Ning looked at him. Sharp, cold voice: "But if anyone eats my rice, eating my rice, but plots my ideas behind my back, I really can't be polite. You must remember this. Do you hear me clearly?"
Everyone said in unison: "Listen clearly."
Qi Ning nodded with great satisfaction: "My wife has suffered a stroke and needs to take a good rest from now on. If anyone turns a deaf ear to my words and approaches the Buddhist hall, once they are discovered, it will not be as simple as being expelled from the Hou Mansion. You will also Remember, if you find someone approaching the Buddhist hall, just report him and you will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver!"
Gu Qinghan was so shrewd that she had noticed something was wrong at this time, and she also knew that Qining's move was really powerful. Under the heavy reward, everyone in the Hou Mansion was as if they were spies, and no one dared to approach the Buddhist hall again. Half step.
But Qining doesn't let anyone get close to the Buddhist temple, so things are certainly not simple.
"The second thing is to be the steward of the house in the future." Qi Ning coughed and continued: "The third lady has been running the Hou Mansion in an orderly manner for many years, and the Tai Madam highly praised it. From now on, all the affairs of the Hou Mansion will be managed. The third lady is still in charge. If the third lady says east, don’t go west. If the third lady says north, don’t go south. If anyone makes the third lady unhappy, don’t blame me for being rude."
Gu Qinghan glanced sideways at Qi Ning and bit her lip lightly, but Qi Ning had already turned her head and said with a smile: "Sanniang, I will trouble you more in the future regarding matters in the house, so I would like to thank you first. "Saluting to Gu Qinghan, Gu Qinghan frowned and finally nodded lightly.
"There is one last thing that is closely related to you." Qi Ning said with a smile: "Starting from this year, at the end of each year, the Hou Mansion will select five outstanding servants from among you. If you are hardworking and willing to work, Moreover, those who are loyal to the Marquis Mansion or even make meritorious deeds may be selected, and the selected outstanding servants will each receive a reward of one hundred taels of silver. Who will be rewarded depends on your ability."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone looked happy, and many people showed expressions of eagerness to try.