Wei Changying left the three children at the Gu family and asked Su Yuli to help take care of them. He rushed to the Zhou Mansion with the guards and others - before he even reached the door, he could hear the excitement inside.
Although she was ready to deflect, she never expected that Gu Rouzhang would make the matter such a big deal. People watching the excitement outside Zhou's mansion were surrounded inside and outside, and even the carriage couldn't get in without the guards to clear the way.
With the current power of the Shen family, there is no problem in bullying the Zhou family, but considering the situation, you can't go too far. If you provoke public anger, it will not be worth the loss.
So Wei Changying thought about it and decided not to go in yet. He ordered someone: "Go in and find out what's going on? I just said that it's not convenient for Cousin Su to come out today, so she asked me to come and have a look on her behalf."
The servants went in for a while, then brought out a man who looked like a steward. He went to the car and saluted. The steward then said in fear: "Queen Unknown is here, but I am not welcome at a distance! I hope the Queen will forgive me!"
The servant who had been ordered by the Chief of Guard Ying to go in and find someone to inquire added on his behalf: "Queen, the second master of the Zhou family has just passed away. The old lady of the Zhou family has been overly grieved and is not doing well now. The mansion is in chaos now, and there is no one around. It was Mrs. Gu who was in charge, helping Mrs. Zhou, so no one came out to greet the queen. "
After the servant finished explaining, the steward of the Zhou family apologized again and again on behalf of his master.
"I also went to cousin Su's house today. I heard that there was something going on here, so I came to represent her." Wei Changying knew that Zhou Jianxian was the second master of the Zhou family that the servants said, and his heart skipped a beat - Zhou Jianxian would also die this time. Already? The feud between the Deng and Zhou families...
The key issue is Deng Wanwan’s reputation, which is hard to explain clearly.
But this is all for the future... Wei Changying was surprised to hear the comments from his servants and stewards. The commotion inside and outside the Zhou Mansion at this moment did not seem like Gu Rouzhang had caused trouble, but as if Gu Rouzhang had helped the Zhou family. He felt in his heart Doubtful, he said casually, "In that case, let's go in and talk first."
When they arrived inside, they saw the servants hurriedly decorating the mourning hall - it was said that Deng Wanwan was taken back to the Deng family by Deng Zongqi to handle the funeral affairs. Apparently, the Zhou Mansion did not give her Zhang Banxuansu in a grand manner. At this moment, we are almost starting from scratch... and there is no competent person to watch, so everything is in a mess.
In particular, many things were temporarily piled under the corridor, even blocking the way of Wei Zhangying and his party. The steward had to go out and find someone to move him away before he could leave. Wei Changying took a few casual glances, thinking that the vitality of the nobles after the fall of the imperial capital was really severely damaged.
If this had happened before, how could such a large mansion be in ruins because of the illness and death of an old man and a young man? Not only is the owner's family in decline, but also there are not enough manpower to dispatch if something happens. There were also too many casualties among the servants, and there were not a few shrewd old servants to support the scene.
At this time, when I walked into the main hall, I saw Gu Rouzhang, dressed in brocade clothes, casually comforting a crying woman.
The woman was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a beautiful but haggard appearance. She was crying loudly and sadly, and even Wei Changying didn't notice her arrival.
"Sister Wei." Gu Rouzhang noticed Wei Changying, came down a few steps to meet her, and asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"
"The Pei family sent someone to the Gu family, saying that since you are here, they want to ask cousin Su to come and keep an eye on you. But you also know that cousin Su is still wearing Uncle Su's filial piety, so it is not convenient for her to go out. I I happened to be there, so I volunteered to run the errand for her." Wei Changying said softly, looking at the woman, "Whose daughter is this? Is she the only one in the Zhou family who is in charge of the situation now? ?”
Gu Rouzhang pulled her to a corner, and did not allow the servants to come over, then said: "She is the second daughter of Zhou Jianxian's brother Zhou Muxian, the daughter of the Qian family in Xinghe. I have never seen her before. I don't know if I am really panicking or not. Too lazy to take care of the second room’s affairs.”
"Is there anyone waiting for Mrs. Zhou's family?" Wei Changying didn't recognize Mrs. Qian, so he continued to ask Gu Rouzhang.
"Yes, Mrs. Zhang, the third wife of the Zhou family, is guarding there. The old lady is dying now and cannot leave her for a moment." Gu Rouzhang said, "But the eldest lady has been crying all the way here, and I have been trying to persuade her for a long time, but she is still like this. Look! Sister Wei, you came just in time, otherwise, I would have wanted to leave!"
Seeing that there was no one around, Wei Changying lowered his voice and said, "The person who reported to Cousin Su said that you came to Zhou's family to cause trouble. Why are you helping now?"
"I wanted to come over and question them for Wanwan! But after entering the door, I saw the old lady of the Zhou family, and the real talk hadn't even been brought up yet!" Gu Rouzhang said angrily, "Zhou Jianxian reported the news that he was dead. Then the old lady of the Zhou family fainted in front of me... I couldn't even help her!"
Wei Changying shook his head and said: "I know you and Wanwan are good friends, but you are doing this in a confused way. It's not like there is no one in the Deng family, so what's the point of you rushing over like this? Fortunately, you came here by chance and haven't questioned me yet. . If you ask more about Zhou Jianxiancai’s death, the Zhou family will definitely be angry with you!”
Gu Rouzhang said disdainfully: "Am I afraid of them?"
"The Deng family and the Zhou family are already in a quarrel. Add the Pei family and the Gu family to the mix, and the imperial capital won't be so lively even during New Year's Day!" Wei Changying didn't really want to be angry with her. Besides, Gu Rouzhang-Gu Naizheng Is my sister-in-law someone who can change with just a scolding
So she said a few words casually and then asked, "Isn't it convenient for Mrs. Zhou's family to see outsiders now?"
Gu Rouzhang said: "I think that old lady doesn't seem to be very good at it anymore."
Wei Changying thought for a moment and said with a self-deprecating smile: "Then the two of us really hit the door to help the Zhou family."
She walked back with Gu Rouzhang. Mrs. Qian was still crying. She was reminded several times by the mother-in-law and maid next to her who pulled her sleeves and took away her clothes. Then she raised her head with tears in her eyes and saw Wei Changying, but she didn't recognize him. Gu Rouzhang introduced After that, Mrs. Qian hurriedly received the gift.
Wei Changying naturally told her not to be polite, explained the reason why she came here, expressed some condolences, and then asked her if she needed help.
Originally these were polite words, but Mrs. Qian didn't know whether she couldn't hear it or she really wanted someone to help her. She immediately said that she was young and ignorant. Now that the elder in the family was ill and her husband was away, she asked the queen to give her. Mrs. Gu could give her some advice on what to do
Gu Rouzhang is actually not very helpful in this regard. After all, she is not a person in charge at home, otherwise she would not have allowed her relatives to unanimously agree to give her only son to her natal sister-in-law to raise.
Before the servants started to decorate the mourning hall, the servant next to Gu Rouzhang mentioned that since Zhou Jianxian was dead, it was time to decorate the mourning hall, so Mrs. Qian hurriedly sent people to do it.
But Wei Changying was an expert. After being entrusted by Mrs. Qian, he summoned the nearby servants and asked them about it. They did nothing but decorate the mourning hall, so they arranged everything one by one.
In the past few years in Xiliang, she had already perfected the handling of everything in the backyard. She tidied up the messy Zhou Mansion just now. Mrs. Qian stopped crying when she saw this and thanked her profusely.
However, Wei Changying did not come here today to help the Zhou family, so he gave all the instructions he could, so he asked to pay his respects to the old lady of the Zhou family. Mrs. Qian said that the old lady was not in good health and it was not suitable to see foreigners now. She said goodbye - and then walked to the door. Mrs. Qian picked up her skirt and chased after her in person regardless of her manners: "Auntie, she is in a very bad situation now. Because of her second younger brother and sister, Miss Duanmuba is not willing to do anything for her now. My aunt heals me, and I beg the queen to make peace with our family!”
Wei Changying immediately felt confused: "I can't be sure about this. Although Xinmiao is the adopted daughter of my parents-in-law, Mrs. Qian, you also know that my parents-in-law have always doted on her and never used their status to overpower her. I don't dare to force her. Come on... Besides, Xin Miao's character is not one that will give in when forced."
Mrs. Qian wanted to beg again, so Wei Changying said: "In this case, I will send someone over to tell her that it would be best if she comes. If she doesn't come, I will ask Aunt Huang in front of me to come and show it to your old lady. … If you ask Xin Miao again, maybe she will give you this kind of face.”
"You are really kind-hearted..." Mrs. Qian knew that it would be futile to pester her any more, so she was worried and grateful and sent her to the car.
Wei Changying invited Gu Rouzhang to go back to the Gu Mansion together. Because it was getting late, Su Yuli was coaxing Shen Shuyan and others who wanted to go back to the home by themselves to stay. When they heard that they were back, she hurriedly took the children to welcome them. come out.
"How is the matter?" Su Yuli glanced at her cousin and sister-in-law. Seeing that they were calm and calm, looking as normal and not looking like they were in trouble, Su Yuli secretly breathed a sigh of relief and asked them while letting them in. " The Zhou family now?"
"Zhou Jianxian is dead. The old lady of the Zhou family is said to be too grieved, and she doesn't know how long she can survive. Duanmu Xinmiao is the same as before. She hates Zhou Jianxian for treating Wanwan badly and refuses to visit the doctor. Mrs. Qian asked Sister Wei to invite-" Gu Rouzhang After a few words of explanation, he put the matter down and waved to Shen Shuxie with a smile, "What is that in your hand? Show it to Aunt Gu..."
"You are so old and you are still like a child!" Su Yuli shook her head. Zhou Jianxian is also dead. This is not a small matter. Apart from other things, Zhou Jianxian was fine before but was beaten to the point of death by Deng Zongqi. Then he was bedridden, and it took only a few days for the person to die. It is impossible for the entire Zhou family to admit that it had nothing to do with Deng Zongqi's beating.
Deng Wanwan was accidentally beaten to death by Zhou Jianxian before. Even though Zhou Jianxian suspected that Deng Wanwan was unruly, he was wrong because there was no evidence. But now that Zhou Jianxian has died, the Zhou family has taken advantage of it. Originally, the Deng and Zhou families had become enemies because of Deng Wanwan, but now they don't know how to make trouble.
Good thing Gu Rouzhang, she still has time to tease Shen Shuxie!
However, Shen Shuxie was not a person who knew how to wink, and he had a good impression of Aunt Gu. He excitedly brought it to her to see: "They are lotus seeds. My nephew peeled them with his own hands... Aunt Gu, do you want to taste them?"
"Your Aunt Gu is busy now." Wei Changying frowned and touched his head, saying, "You can play with your Aunt Gu later."
Seeing this, Gu Jinzi exchanged glances with Shen Shuyan, and pulled Ji Yiren and others to leave together.
At this time, it was easier for the three of them to talk - naturally, Gu Rouzhang was asked to tell the details of her visit to Zhou's house first. (To be continued)