Prince Ning's Mansion.
Liu Zhaoduan sat in the study, drawing with a brush.
The guard Zhao San walked in, bowed and said, "My lord, the East Palace is already in trouble."
Liu Zhao put the finishing touch on it, and said with a cold face: "The trouble is not enough. I will personally add firewood to the East Palace, so that they can make the trouble even worse."
"Please tell me, my lord!"
Liu Zhao played with his thumb, admired his painting, and said, "Send someone to Prince Zhan Shixu's hometown to light a fire.
Then send someone to Xie Mao's hometown, and give him a bottom line, making them all nervous.
As for the East Palace, nothing is more useful than a fire in the backyard. The crown prince and the prince's side concubine are at odds with each other. If I don't make good use of it, it will be too wasteful. "
"My son is wise."
Lin Shuping, the servant, said with a smile: "However, I'm worried that King Zhao and King Yan will conspire to gain benefits behind the scenes, and take advantage of the opportunity. This matter must be guarded against."
Liu Zhao's face was cold, and he said: "The residence of Prince Zhao and the residence of Prince Yan are already in dire straits. My son might as well sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. Let the two princes and uncles fight first, so that I can reap the benefits of the fisherman. "
Lin Shuping, the servant, said: "I thought I could attack Concubine Xue Gui and Concubine Xian."
Liu Zhao nodded and said to Lin Shuping, "I will leave this matter to you, my lord."
"Obey!"
The guard Zhao San said again: "The wedding date between the Fourth Young Master and Miss Xiao has been set, it will be in July this year. Shouldn't the wedding date between the young master and Miss Gu be fixed soon?"
Lin Shuping, the servant, also said: "My son is the elder, so we should get married before the fourth son."
Liu Zhao was silent.
Guard Zhao San ventured to guess, "Master, are you worried about Miss Gu?"
Liu Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly, "We don't need to fix the wedding date yet."
The servant Lin Shuping hurriedly said: "Isn't the young master's wedding date later than the fourth young master's? What should we do?"
Guard Zhao San also disagreed.
Liu Zhao is the elder, so he should have married earlier than the fourth son.
Liu Zhao said: "No problem! A mere wedding date, even a few days at night, can't help me."
Internal servant Lin Shuping and guard Zhao San frowned, they exchanged a look, they both knew Liu Zhao's temper, so they didn't try to persuade him any more.
The two exited the study, and the servant Lin Shuping asked the guard Zhao San, "Do you know why the young master is not in a hurry to set the wedding date?"
The guard Zhao San tried to guess: "Perhaps because of Miss Gu's consideration. If the wedding date is too close, Miss Gu's dowry will not be prepared in time. Unlike Miss Xiao, who started preparing the dowry a few years ago, and can marry at any time."
The servant Lin Shuping frowned, "Why did you choose Miss Gu as his wife? It seems that Miss Gu is not favored at home, otherwise the dowry will not be ready until now. I am very worried in my heart. The palace, can you beat Miss Xiao, can you beat the concubine? Don't let the young master hold you back."
"Miss Gu is very nice, but it's not convenient for her to have a stepmother who is supported by her concubine."
The guard Zhao San defended Gu Jiu in a low voice.
Lin Shuping snorted coldly, "Tomorrow, our family has to find a chance to meet Miss Gu."
The guard Zhao San frowned slightly, and reminded the other party, "Don't act recklessly. Miss Gu is the wife chosen by the young master himself. If you act recklessly, you will anger the young master, so be careful and walk away."
Lin Shuping smiled, "Of course our family won't mess around. You must have a reason for your son's choice of Miss Gu. I just weighed you how much Miss Gu weighs for you before the big wedding."
…
Gu Fu!
After resting for a few days, Mrs. Xie finally regained her vigor.
It's February and the weather is getting warmer. Mrs. Xie also intends to find an opportunity to talk to Mrs. Zhang about the housekeeper.
It happened that Gu Yue came to find him.
"Mother, please make the decision for your daughter."
"what happened again?"
Gu Yue cried aggrievedly, "Originally, a daughter shouldn't bother her mother about such a trivial matter. But the more she thinks about it, the more she feels aggrieved. Not only is her daughter being abused, but even her mother is being humiliated. The daughter must speak out about this matter. "
Xie frowned slightly, "Tell me about the matter first."
Gu Yue wiped away her tears and said: "The gold thread used on the wedding gown, my aunt prepared four taels for my daughter, but I prepared eight taels for my second sister.
They are both from the second wife, so why is the gold thread used in her and I's wedding dresses twice as different? What is the meaning of the eldest aunt, is she looking down on her daughter, or looking down on her mother
Is it because the mother is the second wife to fill in the house, and even the daughter is belittled? "
"Nonsense!"
Mrs. Xie was furious, and turned her head to ask Chunhe, "Chunhe, what's going on? Why haven't you reported the matter of the gold thread?"
Chun He secretly glanced at Gu Yue, he was really troublesome.
She bowed and said: "Qi Madam, this servant only found out about this matter early this morning, and was about to report to Madam when the third girl came."
Xie gritted her teeth, "The big house is too bullying, this matter can't just be left alone. Where is the big lady?"
Chunhe said cautiously: "It should be in the meeting hall."
Xie snorted coldly, "Follow me to the meeting hall."
Mrs. Xie came to the meeting hall aggressively.
The meeting hall is busy with people coming and going.
Gu Jiu, Gu Zhen and the others all followed the example of the eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, as a housekeeper.
Seeing Mrs. Xie come in, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her.
The eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, saw that Mr. Xie's arrival was not friendly, and waved her hand, telling the women in charge to leave first.
"Why are the brothers and sisters here?"
Mrs. Xie snorted twice, looked around, "I didn't come at the right time, you are busy."
After finishing speaking, Mrs. Xie sat down on the chair, sneered, and stared at Mrs. Zhang.
Picking up the teacup, Mrs. Zhang covered the sneer from the corner of her mouth, "Since my brother and sister know that we are busy, but they come here at this time, there must be something to do."
Xie raised her eyebrows, "Of course there is something to do."
At this time, Gu Yue also rushed over, quietly walked into the meeting hall, and sat in his seat, thinking that no one was aware of it.
As everyone knows, everyone in the room noticed her, and guessed that the reason why Mrs. Xie came here at this time must have something to do with Gu Yue.
Gu Zhen looked at Gu Jiu, and asked Gu Jiu with her eyes, do you know why Mrs. Xie came here
Gu Jiu shook her head slightly, she didn't have a clue.
It was fine before, but today she suddenly got into trouble, and I don't know who offended her again.
She couldn't be the one who offended Mrs. Xie, right
It really is!
It's just that Gu Jiu didn't know it himself.
After that, Gu Zhen looked at Gu Shan again, wanting to ask Gu Shan if she knew the inside story.
Gu Shan shook her head slightly, she was confused by Monk Zhang Er, and she was completely bewildered.
The eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, asked, "I don't know what's the matter with my younger siblings?"
Mrs. Xie smiled, "The first thing is, I want to discuss housekeeping with my sister-in-law. Our two families are not separated. This mansion is shared by the first room and the second room. You and I should be the housekeepers together. I am wrong. ?”
Mrs. Zhang had a half-smile, "Of course you're right."
"Then should I also housekeeper together?" Mrs. Xie was aggressive.
Mrs. Zhang smiled softly, nodded and said, "Siblings and sisters should naturally housekeeper with me."
Xie suddenly showed a victorious smile.
Unexpectedly, Mrs. Zhang said again: "As the head wife, I should have the final say in this family. If my younger siblings don't mind helping me, I don't mind letting my younger siblings take care of the internal affairs."
Xie's smile froze on his face, "What do you mean, sister-in-law?"
The eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, smiled, "My brother and sister's plan can be hidden from others but not from me. The younger brother and sister want to be a housekeeper, but they just want to find an opportunity to take over various properties that the government has purchased outside.
I don't hide it from my younger siblings. Over the years, I have indeed used my public money to buy a lot of shops and farms, and I have also participated in two businesses. TOEFL, the income has been pretty good these years.
However, my ugly words are up front. Brothers and sisters can help with the housekeeping, such as helping with the kitchen, sewing room and so on.
Brothers and sisters should not try to intervene in the property outside. Before the separation, these industries must be taken care of by our big house. "
"Why?"
Mrs. Xie refused, "We also have a share of the property outside. As the second wife, why can't I intervene."
Zhang's smile was half a smile, without showing any affection, she said bluntly, "Because I don't trust my siblings."
"You... sister-in-law, don't go too far. Could it be that sister-in-law made false accounts in private and embezzled the public's money, afraid that I will find out?"
Mrs. Zhang sneered, "Siblings don't say that again, otherwise my master will be very hot-tempered, and it won't be beautiful when our two families fight."
Xie was tongue-tied, "Is sister-in-law threatening me?"
Mrs. Zhang laughed mockingly, "I'm just reminding my brothers and sisters to be careful not to speak out. You dare to accuse me of being greedy for Mr. Mo's money without evidence, do you really think I dare not do anything to you
Let me tell you, just based on your unwarranted accusation, as the head wife, the eldest daughter-in-law, and the future old lord of the Gu family, I am qualified to lock you up in the ancestral hall and let you reflect on yourself. "
Xie's face was serious, "How dare you!"
Mrs. Zhang snorted, and looked contemptuously, "Your brother and sister can try it, I dare not. Believe it or not, I will lock you up in the ancestral hall to reflect, and the second brother dare not say a word."
Xie's complexion changed, and he was speechless, unable to utter a word.
Mrs. Zhang picked up the teacup and took a sip, "Siblings have time to read more and review the rules in the mansion. The order of the elders and the younger should not be messed up. It's like Yue girl yelling at Xiaojiu, according to the rules, but you have to fight It's a board. It doesn't matter how old or young it is, how decent it is."
Gu Yue's complexion changed, and she hurriedly lowered her head to lower her sense of presence.
Mrs. Xie laughed angrily, "Listening to my sister-in-law's words today, I have learned a lot. My sister-in-law won't let me manage the property outside the house, I admit it. I should take a look at the account books."
Mrs. Zhang smiled slightly, shook her head and said, "Early before Chinese New Year, the account book was given to my second brother for review. He read it and said it was very good, but didn't say much else. If you have any questions about the account book, ask your second brother. I will not answer."
Xie stared, "Why didn't I know about this?"
Mrs. Zhang said: "Then you have to ask your second brother, why he didn't tell you, I don't understand."
Xie's face turned ashen.
After a moment of silence, she was also very straightforward, and she could be said to be flexible, "My sister-in-law said before that she is going to let me take care of the kitchen and the sewing room?"
Mrs. Zhang nodded, "Could it be that the siblings are unwilling?"
Mrs. Xie raised her eyebrows and smiled, "How dare you not. My sister-in-law handed over the kitchen and sewing room to me, and I am naturally duty-bound. But speaking of the sewing room, there is something that I want to talk to my sister-in-law about."
"Sisters, please tell me."
Mrs. Xie took a sip of tea, moistened her throat, and said, "As for the wedding dresses of the second girl and the third girl, I heard that the elder sister-in-law prepared eight taels of gold thread for the second girl, but only four taels of gold thread for the third girl." , why
Both children are the descendants of our second wife, why should they be treated differently? Could it be that my sister-in-law looks down on me and thinks that my child will be inferior to the second girl? "
Mrs. Zhang smiled softly, "Why do you treat them differently? Why do brothers and sisters ask questions knowingly.
Girl Yue married Hai Xibo's second son, so her status is naturally noble, but she is far inferior to King Ning's eldest son.
The second girl was appointed by the emperor himself, and she will marry the emperor's grandson in the future. Can her wedding dress be less than eight taels of gold thread? Of course not.
If Yueer of your family can also marry the grandson of the emperor, or marry the eldest son of the Earl's Mansion, I will also prepare eight taels of gold thread for her.
What kind of wedding dress you have to prepare when you marry someone of what status.
If they prepare a wedding dress that does not match their identities, do the younger siblings deliberately want to overwhelm the young mistress of the Haixibo Mansion and make revenge on Yue'er? "
"That should at least be the same as the golden thread of the wedding dress of the young mistress of Haixibo Mansion."
Gu Yue said suddenly.
Mrs. Zhang glanced at Gu Yue, "The elders are talking, Yue'er, as a junior, you shouldn't interrupt at will. Have you forgotten the rules taught by the nanny?"
Gu Yue blushed, and looked at Xie Shi weakly.
Mrs. Xie snorted coldly, "Sister-in-law is very eloquent, everything that comes to your mouth is reasonable."
Mrs. Zhang smiled softly and said: "My brother and sister misunderstood, it's not because I'm eloquent, but because everyone knows where the truth is.
For example, the dowry of two children, why does Xiaojiu have a dowry of 40,000 taels, while Yueer only has a dowry of 20,000 taels
Isn't it because one married the emperor's grandson, and the other married only the second son of the Earl's Mansion.
In the girl's family, when I was in my mother's family, everyone was sisters, affectionate and affectionate, regardless of superiority or inferiority.
But after being betrothed to someone, the superior and inferior will be judged. It's ruthless, but it's also impossible. Brothers and sisters should have a deep understanding of this. "
As soon as Mrs. Zhang said these words, the expressions of the girls were a little dignified.
Identity, status, marriage, how ruthless it is, everyone has already felt it.
It's just that in the past, no one said it so directly.
Gu Yue was not reconciled, and looked at Mrs. Xie eagerly.
Mrs. Xie stared at Mrs. Zhang, and asked, "According to what my sister-in-law means, my Yue'er can only have four taels of gold thread embroidered wedding dress?"
"There are a lot of four taels of gold threads. Brothers and sisters, don't be disgusted."
Xie snorted coldly, "If I want to add two taels of gold thread, what should I do?"
Mrs. Zhang raised her eyebrows and smiled, and said: "If my younger siblings are willing to pay for their own money, I will naturally not interfere. But Gongzhong can only offer four taels of gold thread for Yue'er. Please understand this matter."
It's really deceiving.
Of course Mrs. Xie refused to forgive Mrs. Zhang, she just felt depressed.
There are unnatural rules in place, and she can't do anything about it.
At this time, the Xie family wanted to separate the family like never before.
After the family is divided, she can be the master of the house and use as much gold thread as she wants.
No rules, just roll aside.
Gu Yue eagerly hoped that Mrs. Xie could add a few taels of gold thread for her, but after waiting for a long time, she still did not get Mr. Xie's promise.
There are not many gold threads in two taels, and it is not worth much if you add wages. But her mother refused to give her even this bit of gold thread.
Gu Yue was extremely disappointed in her heart.
"Do you have anything else to do?"
Zhang asked.
Mrs. Xie smiled, "Since you want to be a housekeeper, you must first check the books. I plan to stay in the meeting hall and check the books of the kitchen and sewing room for the past few years."
Mrs. Zhang was very straightforward, and immediately ordered the servants, "Go, send someone to the account room, and move all the account books from the kitchen and sewing room for the past five years."
Then, Mrs. Zhang asked Mrs. Xie, "Sister and sister, do you want me to arrange a Mr. Accountant for you?"
Mrs. Xie flatly refused, "No, I have someone here who can settle accounts."
"That's good."
Mrs. Zhang smiled, "Girls, I'm so busy today, you should leave."
Gu Jiu and the others got up, took their leave and left.
Gu Yue caught up with Gu Jiu, "Second Sister, I have something to tell you."
"What does the third sister want to say?"
Gu Jiu looked back at Gu Yue.
Gu Yue rushed forward, stood in front of Gu Jiu, and said, "Just because the person you married is the emperor's grandson, you suppress me everywhere. I'm not convinced."
Gu Jiu looked at the sky and smiled.
"Third sister, if you are not convinced, go and talk to your wife. It's useless for you to tell me. As the so-called marriage matters, parents' order and matchmaker's words, this is not something we can decide."
Gu Yue's face suddenly turned red, "What do you mean by that? Are you laughing at me?"
Gu Yue's marriage was brought about by her desperately. If she really wants to talk about it, it can't be said that her parents ordered her to talk about it.
Therefore, when someone else said this, Gu Yue couldn't help thinking about it.
Always thought that others were mocking her.
Gu Jiu said solemnly: "Third Sister is too worried. I'm just discussing the matter as it stands, and I don't mean to be sarcastic. I still have things to do, so I won't chat with Third Sister. Let me go."
"Stop, stop..."
Gu Jiu didn't pay attention to her, and left directly.