"Miss, someone came to the palace, saying that they came to announce the decree under the order of the empress. The eldest wife and the wife are greeting you in the front hall, and let you go quickly."
Xiao Cui hurried in from the outside, sweating profusely.
Gu Jiu put down the book in his hand, and asked, "Aren't the master and uncle in the mansion?"
"The two masters have gone out to be guests. Miss, have you forgotten that the Chen family still has a banquet tonight, and the master and the eldest master are invited."
The Chen family is Master Gu's maternal ancestral family, which is also the natal family of Gu Jiu's own grandmother.
Up to Gu Jiu's generation, the two families didn't have much contact. Gu Jiu didn't even recognize the Chen family's cousins.
However, Master Gu's generation has a good relationship with the cousins of the Chen family, and they will often see each other.
If the two families have any banquets, they will send each other a post.
Today, the Chen family's banquet collided with the Hou's residence's banquet.
Mr. Gu and Elder Master Gu Zhiming finished their lunch at the Hou Mansion, and then drove over in a carriage.
Both Mrs. Xie and Mrs. Zhang did not go.
Neither did the girls or the boys.
Anyway, Master Gu and the two brothers are still thinking about the relatives of the Chen family, and the two brothers go to the general banquet.
The rest of Gu's mansion will not go if they can.
Mr. Gu and the elder were not reluctant. The Chen family has no objection either.
Even Mr. Gu hasn't been a guest at his brother-in-law's house for more than ten years. Although both of them live in the capital, they are not far from each other.
The Chen family never said a word of gossip.
It is estimated that the Chen family wished that the old man would not come to the door, so as not to be drunk and crazy in front of the guests.
The two masters were not there, and there were people in the palace, so only the two wives came forward to say hello.
Gu Jiu changed her clothes, and rushed to the front hall with her maid.
She thought that there were only two wives to greet the people in the palace, but she didn't expect that the elder brother Gu Ban, the second brother Gu Jue, the elder brother Gu Teng, and the sixth brother Gu Teng all came to the front hall, and everyone greeted the people who came from the palace together. servant.
Gu Jiu took a deep breath, walked into the front hall, and greeted the servant first.
The servant is very strange, the first time I met him, he has a white face and no beard, he looks about forty years old, his surname is Xia, and he is called Mr. Xia.
"I've seen Eunuch Xia."
Eunuch Xia's eyes were like picking goods, picking and picking Gu Jiu from top to bottom.
"This is Miss Gu Er, she is so handsome."
"Elder-in-law's praise."
Gu Jiu said calmly.
Eunuch Xia said: "Our family obeys the order of the empress and empress, and Miss Gu Jiugu from the residence of the General of the Xuanzhen Army will enter the palace tomorrow."
"My daughter obeys the order." Gu Jiu bowed to receive the order.
Eunuch Xia chuckled, "Miss Gu, remember to bring some extra clothes, the empress may let you stay in the palace for a few days."
Gu Jiu was surprised, her heart thumped wildly, and she suddenly had a bad feeling.
She looked at Eunuch Xia, "The empress really wants to keep my ministers and daughters in the palace?"
Eunuch Xia was like a smiling Buddha, smiling before saying anything, "Miss Gu is ready, it's always right. Our family has to go to the next family to pass the decree, so I will leave first."
"Eunuch, go slowly."
Gu Ban got up, personally sent Eunuch Xia out of the Gu residence, and presented him with a big reward.
After a while, Gu Ban returned to the front hall.
Everyone is still there, no one left.
The eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang frowned, and looked at Gu Jiu worriedly, "What is the purpose of the Empress calling Xiao Jiu and the others into the palace?"
Mrs. Xie smiled but said, "Who knows. Second girl, go down and prepare first. Someone will send you to the gate of the palace early tomorrow morning. In the next few days, you will live in the palace, so be careful in everything, don't talk too much. Look more, don't cause trouble for the family."
Gu Jiu ignored Xie Shi.
Gu Ting yelled: "Sister, if you don't want to go, just call yourself sick."
Gu Jiu shook his head, "It's late! Eunuch Xia saw me and knew that I was in good health. If I claimed to be sick at this time, the palace would definitely be dissatisfied."
"Sanlang, don't come up with bad ideas, do you want to harm the whole family?"
Xie was extremely dissatisfied and scolded Gu Ting sharply.
Gu Ting snorted twice, "I'm worried about my second sister."
Mrs. Xie was furious, "Er Yatou alone is more important, or the life of the whole family?"
Gu Ting was tongue-tied.
Gu Jiu frowned, did Mrs. Xie eat gunpowder today
The eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, said: "Sisters and sisters, please be careful when speaking in front of the juniors. Xiao Jiu has already said that San Lang's method will not work, and she has to go to the palace on time tomorrow. You keep comparing the lives of Xiao Jiu with the lives of the whole family. Isn't it punishing?"
Mrs. Xie snorted coldly, "I discipline our second room's children, and it's not your turn to criticize, sister-in-law."
Zhang rolled her eyes.
Gu Jiu said: "Ma'am, don't worry about it. The third brother is just talking. There is no need for the wife to get so angry. After the first month is over, the third brother will go to the military camp with his uncle to experience. Get clean."
Gu Ting then said: "When I go to the barracks, I won't come back if there is nothing to do, and don't call me back if there is something to do. Unless my sister sends someone to call me."
Gu Jiu raised his forehead, brother, you are adding fuel to the fire! Didn't you see Xie's face turned blue
"Have you all turned against each other?"
Xie was very irritable.
Gu Jiu secretly kicked Gu Ting to let him go first.
Gu Ting stared at him, how could he be so disrespectful, leave his sister here and go first.
Gu Jiu stared at the sky speechlessly, brother, don't you know that you are holding back
That's all, that's all, let her go with her brother.
Gu Jiu said: "If my wife has nothing else to do, my brother and I will leave first."
Xie stared at Gu Jiu, "Second girl, do you think that being accused of marrying the prince means you don't have to pay attention to me? Let me tell you, no matter who you marry, I am your mother in name." .”
Gu Jiu looked at Mrs. Xie with a half-smile, "Madam is right, we are mother and daughter in name. So I ask Madam to show a magnanimous attitude as a aunt and don't be as knowledgeable as me. I will hurry back and prepare for tomorrow Prepare to enter the palace. Or is there a way for the wife to make the empress change her mind and exempt me from entering the palace?"
Xie was so blocked that he couldn't speak.
Mrs. Zhang gave Gu Jiu a wink, telling Gu Jiu to leave this place alone and leave quickly.
Gu Jiu smiled slightly, and was especially grateful to Mrs. Zhang. She and Gu Ting left the front hall first.
Mrs. Zhang said to her two sons again: "You all go down too. Then send someone to Chen's house to talk to your father."
"My son knows."
Gu Ban and Gu Jue left the front hall together.
Gu Cheng was still sitting on the chair, frowning all the time.
He didn't avoid Mrs. Zhang, and said directly: "Mother, the second sister has already given the marriage order to the son, so you should show the second sister some face."
"I give her face, who will give me face." Xie was very annoyed.
His biological son turned towards Gu Jiu, this was digging her heart.
Gu Cheng said: "Second sister is also from the Gu family. Even if she marries Gongzi Zhao, she is still the aunt of the Gu family and my younger sister. From now on, every year and festival, they will visit each other. Mother offended everyone. If the second sister With resentment accumulated in my head, I'm afraid it's not beautiful."
"I'm afraid she won't succeed. I don't believe it. She has the guts to do something to me? Unless she wants to bear the reputation of being unfilial and be spurned by the whole world."
Relying on her status as an elder, Mrs. Xie is somewhat confident.
Hearing this, Gu Cheng frowned tightly.
He looked at Mrs. Xie, "Second sister does not dare to touch my mother, but if she intends to deal with me, she has no scruples. If mother is not afraid of delaying her son's future, then you can continue to be willful and offend second sister to the bottom. Let her remember you forever."
Xie fell back in anger, pointed at Gu Teng, with a shocked expression, "You actually threatened your mother because of the second girl? Why did I give birth to such an unfilial son like you, and your elbow turned outward. Do you still have a conscience? "
Gu Cheng's face was pale and he was very embarrassed.
The eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, was very dissatisfied, and snapped: "Siblings, have you had enough trouble? Are you deliberately trying to push all the children out one by one, so that the children will be alienated from you?"
Xie was stunned.
Mrs. Zhang snorted coldly, "Look at you, how do you look like an elder. I think what Gu Teng said makes sense.
In the final analysis, Gu Jiu is also the second wife's girl, and if she is decent, it means that your second wife has gained respect.
If you keep picking, what good is there besides a headache
Everyone has been offended by you, and your children are all keeping a respectful distance from you. Is this the result you want? "
Xie's face turned blue, and he clenched his teeth.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Chunhe hurriedly brought some tea, "Madam calm down, first drink a sip of tea to calm down."
Xie picked up the teacup, unexpectedly, she directly smashed the teacup on the ground.
The tea splashed everywhere, causing Chun He to be splashed all over.
Mrs. Xie glanced over Mrs. Zhang, and Gu Teng snorted coldly, got up and left.
Gu Cheng frowned and called out, "Mother?"
Xie didn't look back, just pretending he didn't hear.
Gu Teng watched Xie Shi leave helplessly, and could only sigh helplessly.
Mrs. Zhang persuaded: "Liulang, don't be too disappointed. Too many things happened today, and your mother will still be angry. When she calms down, you can find a chance to talk to her. I believe she can still Listen to your words."
"Thank you, aunt. These days have caused a lot of trouble for my aunt. My aunt doesn't care about it. We are all grateful."
"It's all a family, don't be so polite."
…
Gu Jiu told Gu Ting a few words, telling Gu Ting not to provoke Xie Shi.
Gu Ting's mouth is stupid, how can he be Xie's opponent. With a few words of effort, Mrs. Xie will grasp it.
Gu Ting chuckled, "It's not because I have my sister around. If my sister is not around, I will avoid her."
Gu Jiu rolled his eyes at him, "Don't worry about the affairs of the inner house from now on. You are a man, and a man's ambition is everywhere. Leave the matter of the inner house to me. Anyway, I can't go out, so I'm arguing with my wife to pass the time."
Gu Ting laughed loudly, "I will listen to my sister."
The siblings parted ways at the second gate, and Gu Jiu returned to Zhilan Courtyard.
Qingmei and the maidservants were in a hurry.
"Girl, I have to enter the palace tomorrow morning, what should I do?"
With a calm expression, Gu Jiu pointed at a few maidservants, "I didn't panic, why are you panicking? It's not just going to the palace, it's not going up the mountain of swords and going down into the sea of fire."
"The imperial palace is more terrifying than going up the mountain of swords and down into the sea of flames." Qing Mei said.
Gu Jiu smiled and squeezed Qingmei's cheeks, "Okay, the sky is falling and there will be a tall man to support it. Even if the Empress Empress has any plans, she will not directly attack us girls who have already married the prince, understand Yet
We are married by His Majesty, which also represents His Majesty's face. The Empress is such a shrewd person, she will not directly hit His Majesty in the face. "
If you want to fight, you will fight secretly, and you will never fight openly.
The empress is going to fight to the death, planning for the next year, or even the next five years, for His Royal Highness.
Five years later, the empress can't do anything. We can only do our best to obey the destiny.
If the prince can survive the emperor, then the prince will succeed to the throne logically.
If the prince fails to survive the emperor in the end, it can only be said that fate is like this.
Gu Jiu thought, if the Empress wants to plan the future for His Royal Highness, she must make arrangements in the court, the military camp, and the royal clan.
How to arrange it, Gu Jiu didn't know the inside story, even the names of the officials, so naturally he didn't know.
But she can still see the basic general trend clearly.
The Empress called them into the palace at this time, maybe she used them as bargaining chips
Or, the empress wanted to choose a few of them as nails and bury them in each palace
Maybe there are other intentions, Gu Jiu couldn't figure it out for a while.
Qing Mei packed a big bag and came out, which contained Gu Jiu's toiletries, a change of clothes, and various emergency things.
Immediately afterwards, the eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, sent the eldest girl Shaoyao by her side.
"Sister Shaoyao, please sit down."
Gu Jiu frowned, and greeted Shao Yao to sit down and drink tea.
Shaoyao laughed and said: "Your maidservant will not sit down, and your maidservant has to hurry back to report to you. The maidservant is following my wife's order to come over and give money to the second young lady. Tomorrow the second young lady enters the palace and needs money for everything. The eldest lady will pay from the cashier's office." It took a thousand taels, and the servants brought them over."
Saying that, Shao Yao took out a wooden box, which contained a thousand taels of scattered silver bills, the smallest denomination was one tael, and the largest was one hundred taels.
Gu Jiu said gratefully: "Auntie still loves me the most. Please Sister Shaoyao thank Auntie for me. The last time I went to the palace to have a face-to-face meeting, it was also thanks to the money that Auntie prepared for me that made a big difference. gratitude."
Shaoyao smiled and said: "Second Miss, you are welcome. The medicinal recipes that Second Miss sent last time are very useful. After my wife used it, the pain is gone at that time every month, and her complexion is much better. Even the servants Waiting for people to also benefit, using that recipe, really support people."
Gu Jiu pursed her lips and smiled, "Auntie trusts me and is willing to use the prescription I gave, I should thank Auntie. If Sister Shaoyao is in trouble in the future, if I can help, Sister Shaoyao just come to me."
"It's better than anything else to get the second girl's words. This servant will leave now."
"Qingmei, send me sister Shaoyao."
Qingmei takes orders and sends Shaoyao out.
Shaoyao wants to make friends with Zhilanyuan, and treats Zhilanyuan with courtesy.
Thinking that the second girl will marry into the palace in the future, this is an extremely decent thing. There is no harm in making more friends.
Gu Jiu took the one thousand taels of silver note and sincerely thanked his aunt Zhang.
Mrs. Xie puts on the airs of an elder all day long, but never fulfills her duties as an elder.
Thinking that she will enter the palace tomorrow, and her net worth is only a few dozen taels, how will she be able to live in the palace.
Last time, this time, Xie never sent anyone to send money.
On the contrary, it was the eldest aunt in the next room who was always thinking about her, fearing that she would be inconvenient in the palace, so she prepared money for her early in the morning.
Of course, Gu Jiu never expected Xie to send someone to give her money.
She just despised Xie's style. Don't talk about comparing with others, just comparing with the eldest aunt Zhang Shi, Zhang Shi beat Xie Shi by more than a hundred blocks.
The Hou Mansion also sent people over to care about Gu Jiu.
The old lady Wei is very worried, it can be seen that the old lady Wei has a deep fear of the empress.
Gu Jiu guessed whether the old lady had suffered under the empress's hands.
"Thank you for the old lady's concern. I'm fine. I've made all the preparations for entering the palace tomorrow. Please thank the old lady for her kindness. I'll pay my respects to the old lady tomorrow."
Mammy Yu smiled and said, "Miss Xiaojiu is filial. Besides, this is the old lady's kindness. She was worried about your nervousness, so she specially asked her slave to bring it to you."
Nanny Yu took out two jade jades, which were small, but very delicate, and the jade was of high quality.
Such two small pieces of jade are worth a few hundred taels at least.
Gu Jiu quickly waved her hand, "Auntie has already paid me a thousand taels from the cashier, I can't ask for anything from the old lady. Please take it back with me."
"That can't be done. There is no reason to take back the things that the old lady gave. Besides, the elders don't dare to resign, so Miss Xiaojiu should accept it quickly. As long as you don't disappoint the old lady's wishes."
"What a shame."
Gu Jiu accepted the two pieces of jade, and made a note of this in her heart. Thinking that if there is an opportunity in the future, it is necessary to repay.