Prince Ning's Mansion.
The garden pavilion is surrounded by a screen to block the howling wind.
Inside the screen, there was the sound of a piano.
The sound of the piano is melodious, revealing a little bit of laziness.
The maidservants and servants waited on the side, and did not dare to approach without orders.
Liu Zhao played the piano alone, with a relaxed expression.
The ups and downs outside can't affect his mood playing the piano.
The sound of the qin gradually became passionate, faintly revealing the ambition of the person playing the qin.
The guard Zhao San walked towards the gazebo, and when he heard the sound of the piano, he couldn't help but lighten his steps.
He didn't disturb Liu Zhao, but waited respectfully outside the gazebo, waiting to be summoned.
"Has Zhao San come?" Liu Zhao's cold voice came from inside the screen. Accompanied by the sound of the piano, in winter, it is like ice, which makes people shiver subconsciously.
The guard Zhao San bowed and said, "This subordinate is here."
"come in."
"As ordered."
Zhao San stepped up, walked up the steps, removed the screen and walked into the gazebo.
The gazebo is as warm as spring.
Zhao San looked down and saw the brazier in the corner.
Liu Zhao continued to play the piano, the sound of the piano was low, as if he was pitying for someone.
Liu Zhao mixed several pieces together and played for nearly half an hour before stopping.
As soon as the sound of the piano stopped, the maid came in from outside the screen, carrying hot water, and wiped Liu Zhao's fingers.
Wipe every finger carefully. After wiping, massage and relax.
After enjoying it for a while, Liu Zhao waved his hand, and the maidservants silently exited the gazebo.
He picked up the hot tea, took a sip, and asked, "What's the matter?"
Zhao San bowed and said, "Qingping Racecourse sent another batch of horses to Beijing."
"That's all?"
Liu Zhao raised his lower eyelids, his eyes were indifferent.
Zhao San hurriedly said again: "Things are indeed developing according to the son's plan. Lord Gu was imprisoned last night. This morning, Marquis Pingnan went to the palace to intercede for Lord Gu. However, His Majesty did not give Marquis Pingnan Opportunity. At this time, Ping Nanhou should have asked someone to ask Li Shizhong to talk."
Liu Zhao remained expressionless and kept silent.
Zhao San pondered for a moment, then said cautiously: "My lord, Mr. Gu is the father of Miss Gu. If Mr. Gu is killed this time, Miss Gu's future will be in jeopardy. She will definitely not be able to marry a good man by then."
"Are you worried about her?"
Liu Zhao asked indifferently.
Zhao San thought about it and said: "After all, she saved the young master."
The corner of Liu Zhao's mouth raised slightly, "You're right, she saved me after all."
The servant Lin Shuping walked into the gazebo and bowed to salute, "My lord, the princess is here to invite you."
Liu Zhao's brows and eyes moved slightly, and he asked calmly, "Why does the concubine mother want to see my son?"
"I don't know." After a pause, Lin Shuping guessed, "Maybe it's for the son's marriage."
Liu Zhao rarely frowned.
As it was about Liu Zhao's marriage, Zhao San didn't dare to speak.
Liu Zhao was silent for a moment, and said to Zhao San: "Go to the study and wait. My son will go to meet the mother and concubine first."
"The subordinate obeys."
Liu Zhao stood up, and the servant girls silently walked into the gazebo, and put on the cloak for him to ensure that he would not be attacked by the cold wind.
Liu Zhao went to Chunhe Hall where Princess Ning lived.
Walking into the main room, I saw Princess Ning Pei was chatting and joking with two side concubines and several beauties.
Liu Zhao's younger sisters also accompanied Princess Ning to make fun of her.
He walked forward with a blank face, bowed and bowed, "My son pays his respects to the concubine mother and concubine mother. How is the concubine mother these few days?"
Concubine Ning originally had a smiling face, but from the moment she saw Liu Zhao, her smile gradually subsided and her eyes became serious.
She looked at Liu Zhao indifferently, "Come here, sit down. You are grown up now, it is not easy to see you."
Liu Zhao sat down on the lower head of Concubine Ning Pei with a blank face.
The side concubine and the beauties got up one after another, "The empress has something to talk to the eldest son, I will take my leave first."
Liu Zhao's younger sisters also left.
Concubine Ning Pei waved her hand, "Go ahead."
As everyone left, the main room was more than half empty in a blink of an eye.
The maid brought a cup of health-preserving tea and put it in the hands of Princess Ning Pei.
Concubine Ning Pei took a sip of the health-preserving tea, but did not speak.
Liu Zhao was very patient, but also did not speak.
Concubine Pei of Ning frowned when she saw that Liu Zhao was silent after drinking tea.
"Do you have nothing to say to this princess?"
Liu Zhao bowed slightly, "Didn't the mother concubine call her son to come over, didn't she have some orders? The son just listened."
Princess Ning Pei frowned, obviously dissatisfied. She suppressed the anger in her heart, and said calmly: "You are not young anymore, and you should hurry up on the marriage. Your younger brother has already started talking about marriage. How long are you going to delay?"
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows and laughed, "I'm tired of worrying about me. My son's marriage will be resolved when the time comes. Don't worry about it."
"You are my son, how can you not be in a hurry. I think that girl Pei Yun is very good. She has been thinking about you since she was a child. You are just a good pair."
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows, "Is this the meaning of the concubine mother, or the meaning of the king father."
Concubine Ning Pei suppressed her anger, "Is there a difference?"
Liu Zhao bowed slightly and said directly, "Pei Yun is not suitable."
Lu Hou himself holds a heavy army and holds a high position. As the saying goes, a big tree attracts wind, and marrying Pei Yun will definitely attract the attention of people from all walks of life.
Liu Zhao now needs to keep a low profile and reduce his presence as much as possible. Marrying an unremarkable wife is more suitable for his current status.
Concubine Ning Pei was dissatisfied, "Pei Yun is not good enough for you. Or, you are dissatisfied with this princess, so you don't want to marry a daughter of the Pei family?"
"Mother and concubine misunderstood, the son definitely did not mean to look down on the daughter of the Pei family. It is simply because Pei Yun is not suitable for the son, there is no other meaning."
Liu Zhao's tone was cold, and he said calmly.
Concubine Ning Pei snorted coldly, "Don't care how many reasons you have, your marriage must be resolved within a year. Don't forget, you are already twenty, and the clan children who are as old as you have three or five children. Also It's you, who has been procrastinating on not getting married, what's the point of getting married."
Liu Zhao was unmoved, but he still said: "I understand what the concubine mother means, my son will settle the marriage as soon as possible, so you don't need to worry about it."
"You, you are simply nonsense. Marriage matters, parents' order and matchmaker's words, what does it mean that I don't need to worry about this princess. The bigger the princess looks at you, the more shameful it is."
Concubine Ning Pei was so angry that her heart ached.
Liu Zhao smiled, "Mother, concubine, don't forget that your son is a clan. The Young Mansion will worry about your son's marriage. When he enters the palace in the first month, the son will meet with the Young Mansion Commander and ask him if he has a suitable marriage plan." Girl, when the time comes, the son will choose one directly, will the mother and concubine be satisfied?"
"In the end, you just don't want to marry a girl from the Pei family."
Liu Zhao did not deny it, "Yes, a son cannot marry a girl from the Pei family. If the mother and concubine insist on becoming in-laws with the Pei family, it is better to ask the father and Luhou first. I am afraid that the two of them have no intention of being in-laws." .”
Concubine Ning Pei frowned, "What's wrong with the Pei family that you all dislike it so much?"
Liu Zhao smiled softly, "Mother and concubine misunderstood. It's not that the Pei family is bad, but that the Pei family is too good. So good that my son dare not marry."
Concubine Ning's face changed drastically, her lips opened and closed, and finally there was only a sigh, "You...you can do it yourself. The marriage should be settled as soon as possible, otherwise when His Majesty thinks about it, he will propose marriage to you directly, and you will not be allowed to go back on your word at that time."
"Thank you for reminding me, concubine mother, my son knows the importance. If concubine mother has nothing else to do, son will leave now."
Concubine Ning Pei waved her hand, "Go, go. Now that I want to see you, I have to find a chance."
Liu Zhao bowed and left Chunhe Hall.
He went straight back to the study, where Zhao San was waiting.
"Young master!"
Liu Zhao waved his hand, signaling Zhao San not to speak.
He stood by the window, looked at the dead branches outside the window, and asked after a long time: "Master Gu was sent to prison?"
"Exactly."
Liu Zhao smiled contemptuously, "The Empress is becoming less and less particular now."
Zhao San echoed: "After all, the queen's time is short, she has to hurry up and remove all obstacles for His Highness the crown prince."
"It's a pity that she was wasting her thoughts in vain. His Highness the Crown Prince's mud can't support the wall, and the officials in the Eastern Palace are all wicked, selfish, and ignorant."
Liu Zhao was not polite at all, criticizing the East Palace as worthless.
Zhao San asked cautiously: "What do you plan to do, Master?"
Liu Zhao smiled softly, "That Miss Gu must be very anxious."
"The subordinates don't know."
Liu Zhao made a prompt decision, "Send her a letter, and I want to ask her to have an interview."
Huh
Zhao San looked like he couldn't react.
I don't understand, I don't understand at all.
"Why does the young master want to see Miss Gu?"
Liu Zhao said willfully: "Because I want to see her, I want to see her. The time is about tomorrow afternoon. I hope she won't disappoint me."
Zhao San didn't ask any more questions, and bowed to accept the order, "This subordinate obeys the order. This subordinate will make arrangements now."
…
Gu Mansion, Zhilan Courtyard.
Gu Jiu came to the study room, ready to practice calligraphy and meditate.
If you are not calm, you cannot think calmly.
When she opened the copybook, a letter fell down.
This is an unsigned letter.
Gu Jiu frowned, first she smelled the smell to make sure there was no poison, then she tried to open the envelope.
This is an invitation letter, inviting her to meet at the Taoist temple in the city tomorrow afternoon.
Signature: Gongzizhao.
It turned out to be the son's edict
How could it be possible that Young Master Zhao would take the initiative to meet her.
It's inconceivable how Gongzizhao would know such a small person as her.
Gu Jiu was in a daze, and had a feeling that she might have overlooked some important clue.
She re-read the letter several times, it should not be fake.
Who would make such a joke
"Ome, Ome..."
Gu Jiu shouted towards the outside of the study.
Qing Mei walked in when she heard the movement.
"Young lady called your servant, but do you have something to order?"
Gu Jiu asked directly: "Has anyone entered the study today?"
"No. Why don't you ask the servants, maybe the little maids came in to clean up when the girl was away."
Gu Jiu hurriedly said: "You go and ask, ask clearly. Ask them if they have seen anyone coming in, and then ask if they have seen an unsigned letter in the study."
"Girl, is something wrong?"
Qing Mei looked at Gu Jiu worriedly.
Gu Jiu said: "It's not a big deal, don't worry. You should ask first."
"The servant obeys."
Qingmei walked out of the study, and asked the little maids one by one.
I asked around, but didn't come up with anything.
Qingmei told Gu Jiu anxiously, "Reporting to the girl, the little maids all said that no one has entered or left the study during this period."
Gu Jiu frowned, this letter came too strangely.
It seemed as if it fell from the sky and landed on her desk.
That young master's edict is such a powerful method. Entering Gu's mansion is like entering and leaving no one's land.
Gu Jiu pursed her lips, feeling depressed.
At this time, Xiao Cui hurried back from the outside.
"Girl, girl..."
"Don't run around, be careful not to bump into the girl." Qingmei glared at Xiaocui.
Embarrassed, Xiaocui hurriedly slowed down and walked into the study in a polite manner, "Miss Qi, there is an important matter that I want to report."
"But there's new news from the Hou Mansion?" Gu Jiu asked hastily.
Xiao Cui shook her head, "It's not the master's business, it's Mrs. Wu who guards the back door. She suddenly grabbed the servant and gave the servant a key. The servant didn't react at that time. Afterwards, the servant secretly went to the back door and tried the key. A key, yes, can open the back door. Really, the servant did not lie."
Xiaocui quickly took out the key and put it on the desk, "This is the key to the back door. With this key, the girl can leave the house secretly without worrying about being discovered."
Gu Jiu looked at the key and took a deep breath.
This young master Zhao has such powerful means that he even considered her going out.
Did Young Master Chao set up an eyeliner in Gu's mansion, or did he bribe the gatekeeper of Gu's mansion in such a short period of time.
No matter what the situation is, it is not too good for Gu Jiu.
Obviously, Gu Fu, Mr. Gu, has been targeted from the very beginning.
Gu Jiu rubbed between her brows, it seems that the meeting tomorrow afternoon is inevitable.
Qingmei was still asking Xiaocui, "Are you sure this one can open the back door?"
Xiaocui nodded repeatedly.
Qingmei asked, "Are you sure it was delivered to you by Mrs. Wu who guards the back door?"
Xiaocui said: "It's absolutely true, Mrs. Wu handed it to me. Sister Qingmei, if you don't believe me, let's go to the back door and try this key."
Qing Mei bit her lip, "Okay, I'll go with you to the back door to try this key."
Then, Qing Mei asked Gu Jiu for instructions.
Gu Jiu's face sank like water, and he said, "Go ahead. Try it out. But that key must be real."
"Why is the girl so sure?"
Gu Jiu laughed at himself, "Because this girl is leaving the house tomorrow."
"what?"
Ome doesn't know why.
Gu Jiu waved his hand, "You guys go and do your work first, we'll talk about it later."
Gu Jiu's own thoughts are chaotic.
She always felt that she had overlooked some important clue, but she couldn't remember it.
The thing she couldn't understand the most was why did Gong Zizhao take the initiative to meet her
She is just a little-known boudoir girl, and she is not a pearl in the capital, everyone knows it. How could Gong Zizhao think of meeting her
It's impossible for two people to know each other before.
Qingmei went to the back door to try the key herself, and sure enough, the back door could be opened.
She couldn't understand at all how Mrs. Wu would take the initiative to give the key.
At the beginning, she didn't spend any money to bribe Mrs. Wu, but when she gave up, Mrs. Wu took the initiative to give the key instead.
What the hell kind of operation is this.
Qingmei was very worried, she murmured to Gu Jiu, "Madam Wu is not trying to harm the girl, is it? Could it be that other people bribed Madam Wu, and then went to the wife to sue when the girl sneaked out of the house?"
It was true that other people bribed Mrs. Wu, but it was not for the purpose of suing, but for the convenience of Gu Jiu leaving the house.
Gu Jiu couldn't say that.
She said to Qingmei: "You don't need to think too much about this matter, Mrs. Wu has no malicious intentions. You put away the keys, and you can go out with me tomorrow afternoon. In addition, let Li Chuan inform Er Zhuang to prepare the ox cart. "
"My servant knows. This servant is going to see Li Chuan now."
Qingmei walked to the door, turned around again, and reconfirmed, "Girl, is this really all right?"
"Don't worry, it doesn't matter."
Gu Jiu has been waiting for news from the Hou Mansion.
However, the old Hou Ye worked hard for a day, but no good news came.
Things are deadlocked.
Old Master Hou made it clear that if the matter continues to be deadlocked, it will be extremely detrimental to Mr. Gu.
What I am most afraid of is that Mr. Gu will be imprisoned in a panic, but His Majesty has completely forgotten about him.
When His Majesty thinks about it one day, maybe a year, two years, or even three to five years have passed.
At that time, Mr. Gu will be completely ruined.
This oblivion is even more terrifying than exile.
In exile, he is well aware of his situation. With the help of the Marquis Mansion, life in exile may not be difficult. And maybe, one day, he will be pardoned and revived.
In exile, anything is possible.
To be forgotten is the real tragedy.
He was in panic all day long, with a sharp sword hanging above his head all the time, and he didn't know when the sword would fall.
In this kind of day, those who are not strong-minded enough will be driven crazy if they are locked in the imperial prison all day without seeing the light of day.
Old Hou Ye's meaning is very clear, this matter cannot continue to be deadlocked, no matter the outcome is good or bad, it must be resolved as soon as possible.
Gu Jiu deeply agrees with this.
However, the negotiation between the old Hou Ye and the empress was not smooth.
The empress made it clear about the carriages and horses, and refused to give the old Hou Ye any face.
Now Gu Jiu can only count on the meeting with Gong Zizhao tomorrow.