"Ma'am, the master is here."
Xie's expression was stunned for a moment, then he stood up and went out to greet him in person.
"Master is here!"
Mrs. Xie greeted Mr. Gu at the door.
Master Gu's face was gloomy, as if a storm was brewing.
Xie's heart skipped a beat, feeling uneasy,
Mr. Gu walked straight into the room, sat down on the main seat, with a serious expression, not arrogant.
His eyes fell on Xie Shi's face, which made Xie Shi more stressed.
Xie lowered her head, not daring to meet Master Gu's eyes.
what to do? How to explain Gu Zhen's matter so that the master will believe her
Mrs. Xie was very wronged, she was really innocent about Gu Zhen's matter. But would the master believe her
She summoned up her courage and looked towards Mr. Gu.
"master!"
Xie's voice was very weak, obviously worried, restless, contradictory, struggling, and a little innocent.
Master Gu didn't even move his eyebrows, "Madam isn't going to explain the matter of Zhen girl?"
"This incident is my fault."
Xie was straightforward, "I didn't expect my natal sister-in-law to be so courageous that she would plot against Zhen girl under our noses. If I knew she had this intention, I would definitely not invite her. Even if I invite her, she will send someone to die." Look at her deadly. Never let her have a chance."
Master Gu stared at Mrs. Xie, "That's all Madam wants to say?"
Mr. Gu's tone was calm, but Mrs. Xie heard anger from it.
Mrs. Xie didn't hesitate anymore, and hurriedly said: "Master, this concubine's negligence in management has allowed people to take advantage of the loopholes. This is my fault, please punish me.
But what my natal sister-in-law and Xie Erlang did, I really didn't know beforehand. It was the servant girl who found something wrong and reported it to me in time, so I knew that something happened to Zhen girl.
At that time, I severely scolded my natal sister-in-law and Xie Erlang. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to marry Zhen girl, but I told them to go, but there was no way.
Master, everything my concubine said is true, not a single lie. Lord, please believe me. "
Master Gu said with a straight face, "Is this the explanation you gave me?"
Xie was flustered, "Master, I really didn't lie to you. I really didn't know about this beforehand."
Master Gu sneered again and again, "It is true that you may not know in advance. But your natal sister-in-law and your elder brother, what kind of people are they, how can you not know
In the past, how did I tell you to stay away from them. Since you returned to the capital, you have been in contact with them again and again.
What happened to girl Zhen today was not an accident at all, it was a deliberate calculation.
Your elder brother Xie Mao is really deceiving people too much. He rides on the head of this official again and again to act wildly. Do you really think that this official has nothing to do with him
Since he dared to come here in the official's mansion, he plotted against the official's daughter. Then he shouldn't blame his relatives for denying him and wanting him to look good. "
Mr. Gu was furious, if he still had a trace of reason, he would have killed Xie's house long ago.
Mrs. Xie was frightened, "Master, there may be some misunderstanding about this matter. Big Brother is not the kind of person with shallow eyes, even if he really wanted to plan, he would not be able to focus on the concubine Zhen girl. This matter is more like that of my natal sister-in-law. And what Xie Erlang did. I ask the master to look into this matter."
Master Gu snorted coldly, and smiled mockingly, "Even if your elder brother didn't do it, so what? Who asked him to marry Mrs. Ma and give birth to Xie Ding.
One of these two is his original wife, and the other is his own son, and everything they do must be blamed on him. "
"Master, if you really want to tear yourself apart with your elder brother, what will girl Zhen do? How will you let her live the rest of her life? Can she still live well?"
Xie burst into tears.
While crying, she continued to say: "It's not that the concubine deliberately stopped the master, it was really forced by the situation.
When Miss Zhen's accident happened, Miss Six of Haixibo Mansion was nearby at that time, so she could see the whole process clearly.
It's just that Haixibo's mansion already knows the news of Zhen girl's accident. Ninety-eight out of ten, Miss Zhen's marriage will fail. "
Master Gu stared at Mrs. Xie, "What do you want to say?"
Mrs. Xie said cautiously: "Now there are only three ways for Miss Zhen to go. One is to delay for another two years, and after everyone forgets about this matter, I will say goodbye to her. Only in this way, Miss Zhen's youth will be destroyed. If it is delayed, I'm afraid I won't be able to say anything good about it.
Secondly, it is to marry Zhen girl far away, far away. However, the concubine is reluctant. The girl's family is far away, and there is no natal family around her. If something goes wrong, there is not even a supporter to help. If the husband's family is kind, life can go on. In case of encountering that kind and evil family, wouldn't Zhen girl be a sheep
The last solution is to let Zhen girl marry Xie Ding. The Xie family was wronged, and there was a master backing Zhen girl, Xie Ding and Xie's family would not dare to wrong Zhen girl. The only worry is that girl Zhen might not want to. "
Master Gu snorted coldly, "Do you want girl Zhen to marry Xie Ding?"
"It's not my concubine's thinking, but this is the best way to deal with it at present. Doesn't the master think the same way?"
Master Gu suddenly laughed, but there was a piercing chill in his eyes, "Mr. Xie, you have to understand that Xie Mao has plotted against me several times. It is impossible for me to be a family with him. You should remember this .
Please also tell Xie Mao what I mean, no matter how much you dare to think about my sons and daughters, I don't mind protecting the matchmaker for Miss Xie's family. "
Mr. Gu's words were so harsh that Mrs. Xie trembled all over.
"What about girl Zhen?"
"Wait until there is news from Haixibo Mansion about the marriage of Zhen girl."
"If Haixibo's mansion doesn't take a fancy to Zhen girl, according to the master's intention, wouldn't it delay Zhen girl's life."
Master Gu said with a straight face, "My daughter, I would rather let her be an old lady than marry into Xie's family."
Xie wanted to cry, "Does the master hate elder brother so much?"
"His wife and children dared to stir up trouble in this official's house. This official did not kill the mother and son, which is considered polite. From now on, Xie's family is not allowed to visit the house. My Gu family's children are not allowed to go to Xie's house." As a guest. As for you, you can decide for yourself."
Xie burst into tears.
She knew it would be like this.
What she was most worried about finally happened.
At this moment, Mrs. Xie hated Mrs. Ma and Xie Erlang to death. The thing that suffered a thousand knives hurt her so badly.
Xie cried and said: "Master, this concubine is really innocent."
Master Gu nodded, "I know you are not to blame for this incident. But who made Xie Mao your elder brother."
Xie's eyes were dim with tears, "Master, can't you and elder brother reconcile? Eldest brother is loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince. If His Highness Crown Prince ascends the throne and proclaims himself emperor in the future, Master will also get great benefits."
Master Gu smiled contemptuously, "It's not too late for you to say this again when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really ascends the throne."
Xie was stunned.
Master Gu frowned, "Today's banquet is attended by honorable families, Madam, didn't you understand?"
Mrs. Xie was at a loss, what did she understand
"Isn't today's banquet to celebrate the master's promotion?"
Master Gu laughed at himself, "Gao Sheng? Madame really thinks Gao Sheng is the governor of Jinzhou and governor of the capital?"
Xie was tongue-tied, she didn't understand official affairs.
After all, she has read few books and is good at inner house calculations, but lacks the overall situation.
The affairs in the officialdom can be described in one sentence, she is a woman, how can she understand these things. These are things that men worry about.
She is a woman who cares for her husband and children, and it is enough to take care of the inner house.
Her ability is enough for Mr. Gu when he is a magistrate.
But now in the capital, where the political environment is completely different from the local one, Xie's knowledge is far from enough.
Master Gu looked at Mrs. Xie, his eyes gradually became disappointed.
Sure enough, he couldn't expect too much from Mrs. Xie.
In the past, Master Gu felt that Mrs. Xie was gentle and caring, could flatter and serve others, and he was extremely satisfied.
Comparing the Xie family with the deceased Su family, Master Gu always felt that the Xie family was better than the Su family.
But after returning to the capital, in just a month or so, the reality slapped Mr. Gu in the face.
As his wife, Mrs. Xie is completely unqualified.
Master Gu sighed, when he was young, he was frivolous and greedy for beauty, and at that time he didn't understand the principle of marrying a wife and a virtuous person.
I always think that those girls from rich families are more than dignified, but too boring. It was too far from the beautiful wife he imagined.
After Mrs. Xie was righted, Mrs. Xie satisfied all Mr. Gu's imagination of a good wife.
In those few years, the relationship between the couple was really sweet.
But people can't stay in adolescence forever, and people's thoughts will change with age.
Mr. Gu, who has reached middle age, has lost the passionate ideals of youth and has become more and more realistic.
In the big dye vat of the capital, there is always a feeling of powerlessness.
In the yamen, every time you do something, you will encounter various obstacles.
In name, he is the parent official of the capital.
In fact, there are at least thirty or fifty mothers-in-law above him.
Every mother-in-law came to pick on him and find fault with him.
In the short time since Mr. Gu took office as the governor of the capital, he has already suffered a lot from splints.
At this time, he urgently needs to open up his contacts in the capital.
The banquet this time was nominally to celebrate his promotion, but it was actually to manage contacts.
Among them, the Hou Mansion made great efforts.
The Hou Mansion created opportunities for Mr. Gu to manage his personal connections. As his wife, Mrs. Xie naturally had to fulfill her responsibilities as a good wife.
However, looking at Mrs. Xie still with a dazed face, Mr. Gu was lying if he said that he was not disappointed.
Mrs. Xie was his successor who fought against all opinions and set himself upright.
How satisfied he was with Mrs. Xie in the past, how disappointed he is now.
Master Gu laughed at himself. I regret that when I was young and frivolous, I abandoned the principles passed down by my ancestors like a shoe. Now I have suffered the loss of not listening to the old man's words.
If at the beginning, he had followed everyone's advice and married a well-matched heir, and dared not say anything else, at least he would definitely be better than the Xie family in terms of managing the connections in the capital.
Master Gu waved his hand, "That's it."
He was tired and didn't bother to continue talking with Mrs. Xie.
Mrs. Xie pulled Master Gu's sleeve, "My lord, my concubine..."
Mrs. Xie looked at Mr. Gu eagerly, clearly hoping that he could stay in the Furong Courtyard at night.
Master Gu took Xie Shi's hand away, and said expressionlessly: "I am tired today, you should rest earlier. I hope you will really listen to what I said."
Xie watched helplessly as Master Gu left, sobbing silently.
Chunhe walked in from the outside, "Madam, the master has already left, don't cry, don't cry, you will damage your eyes."
After listening to Chunhe's persuasion, Xie gradually stopped crying.
She gritted her teeth, "Xie Ding and Ma Shi have caused me so much misery, this matter can't just be left alone."
"What is your wife going to do?"
Mrs. Xie snorted coldly, "Wait for news from Haixibo's Mansion first. Go to Hou's Mansion tomorrow and tell the eldest lady that the master has agreed to the marriage between Miss Zhen and Han Silang.
As long as Haixibo House nods, pick an auspicious day before the Chinese New Year to finalize their marriage. "
Chunhe looked surprised, and asked in a low voice: "Madam, after such a thing happened to the eldest girl, can she still marry into Haixibo Mansion?"
Mrs. Xie said: "It doesn't matter whether you can marry into the Haixibo Mansion, the important thing is that we have to show our attitude. All in all, you just do what I tell you."
Chun He nodded, "The servant girl knows. Besides, the accountant sent the account book for the expenses of the banquet. Do you want to have a look at it, Madam?"
Xie waved his hand, "I'm tired, just tell me how much money you spent in total."
Chun He opened the account book and said: "One thousand and eight hundred taels of expenses, plus the rewards for the maids and women, totaled 1,800 taels. Among them, 300 taels were borne by the public. The remaining 1,500 taels It will be borne by our second room."
"what?"
When Mrs. Xie heard this number, she almost jumped up.
"How did the accountant calculate the accounts, and why did they spend so much money? Have you checked it? Are the accounts correct?"
Chunhe lowered her head, feeling a little embarrassed, "The servants can't understand the account book handed over by the accountant, and can't check it. Moreover, all the documents are still at the accountant's side."
Mrs. Xie gritted her teeth, "It must be the big house who is plotting against our second room. Zhang's greedy woman, it's okay to control the power of the housekeeper, and she even wants to get a fortune from the banquet. She is so beautiful.
It's late today, tomorrow morning you bring the account book with me to the meeting hall, I want to ask Mrs. Zhang face to face, is she shameless? "
"Madam, why don't you look at the account book first and look for loopholes. You can know what's going on with the eldest wife tomorrow morning."
Chunhe suggested in a low voice.
Mrs. Xie nodded, what Chun He said made sense.
She took the account book from Chunhe, opened it, and immediately frowned.
How the accountant does the accounts is so messy that I can't even understand it.
"What's the matter with this ledger?"
Chunhe said in a low voice: "The servant asked the accountant, and they said that this is the bookkeeping method learned from the Hou's mansion. This is the bookkeeping method used by the big families in the capital. Madame, do you want to find a professional accountant?" Check the accounts."
"Where can I find a professional accountant to check the accounts at this time? This is the account book of the government, and it cannot be shown to the accountant outside."
"What the wife said is true. If you don't know, call the high-ranking officer here early in the morning. The servant girl remembers that the high-ranking officer has also kept accounts before."
Mrs. Xie frowned, "I'm afraid Gao Sanfu can't do it alone. I still need to ask Mr. Ma next to the master for help.
Mr. Ma is Mr. Qian and Liang, and settling accounts is his best job.
This time when he returned to Beijing, Master Ma's family also came to the capital, and lived in a small courtyard in the back alley of Gu's mansion.
Master Liu did not follow to the capital.
Today, Mr. Gu's official duties are mainly handled by Mr. Ma and Gu Yu.
Chunhe said: "Early tomorrow morning, the slaves will go to find someone to invite Master Ma into the mansion."
Mrs. Xie snorted coldly, "I want to see what Mrs. Zhang has to say then."
The night was long, and many people did not fall asleep.
Gu Yue kept tossing and turning, her heart fluttering.
She called out, and the girl Putao came in from the outside and asked, "What's the matter, girl?"
Gu Yue sat up from the bed, "Is big sister still crying?"
Putao shook her head, "The eldest girl has been crying for a whole day, and her voice is hoarse. The servant did not hear the crying of the eldest girl, and I think it will have stopped now."
Gu Yue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "Big sister has been crying for a whole day, I can hear her movement from here, and she almost killed me."
Putao wanted to say, the eldest girl cried all day, and it was not because of you, girl. But she didn't dare, she could only think about it secretly in her heart.
Gu Yue frowned, looking irritable.
This time, she doesn't like anything.
Putao persuaded: "Girl, you should go to bed early. I have to greet my wife tomorrow morning."
"I know, I'm so restless that I can't sleep."
She looked in the direction of Furong Courtyard, "Paoputao, did you say that mother and father have talked about the eldest sister's marriage?"
Putao hesitated for a moment, and then said: "I heard that the master only stayed in the Furong Courtyard for less than half an hour and then left."
Gu Yue was at a loss, "Really?"
Grape nods.
"Why didn't you tell me such an important matter?" Gu Yue was angry.
Putao said aggrievedly: "At that time, the girl was already lying on the bed, and the servant did not dare to disturb the girl."
Gu Yue snorted coldly, "Do you know what the master's expression was when he left the Furong Courtyard? What's the situation at the Furong Courtyard?"
"The servant does not know."
"If you ask three questions and don't know, what's the use of you?"