The weather in February is warm and cold.
Yesterday was still sunny, but today it is cloudy and rainy.
I had to turn out the winter clothes that were put in the cage, put on the cloak, and wrap the whole person tightly.
"Madam be careful."
Qingmei waited for Gu Jiu to go out.
She was very worried that Gu Jiu would catch a cold when the weather was cold.
Gu Jiu said to her: "Don't worry about me. It's getting late, go to Chunhe Hall to greet the princess first."
She took her maid and mother-in-law and walked to Chunhe Hall.
Walking on the corridor, looking towards the garden.
Although it is early spring, the branches have turned green.
Even if the cold wind blows, it cannot stop the recovery of everything.
She breathed a sigh of relief and touched her hand again, her palm was cold.
If Liu Zhao was here, two people sharing a bed at night would definitely be very warm.
After thinking wildly, I finally arrived at Chunhetang.
Everyone is here.
Gu Jiu greeted everyone.
While talking, Xiao Huangmen sang and shouted, and Princess Pei arrived.
Everyone stood up according to their identities, and when Mrs. Pei arrived, they bowed to pay their respects.
"Greetings to the empress (mother concubine), may the empress (mother concubine) have a happy life and a healthy life."
"Free gift."
Wearing dark red dark clothes, Mrs. Pei leaned on the couch, flicked his sleeves, and sat down.
Everyone returned to their seats and sat down.
First, Ouyang Fu and Xiao Qin'er reported to the internal affairs.
Gu Jiu listened carefully, it was all trivial things, nothing worth paying attention to.
However, Xiao Qin'er suddenly mentioned that the household department should clear up the outstanding debts, which aroused Gu Jiu's attention.
She only heard her say: "Concubine Mu, the household department will clear up the debts, shouldn't we make preparations earlier?"
Mrs. Pei snorted coldly, with disdainful eyes, "What are you going to do? Does the Ministry of Households dare to come to ask for money? Even if you give them ten guts, they won't dare."
"My daughter-in-law is relieved to hear what mother and concubine said." Xiao Qin'er secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Jiu took the opportunity to say: "Of course the Ministry of Household Affairs doesn't have the guts to come to ask for money, but I heard that the Jinwu Guard and the Prisoner of the Shaofu have participated in the settlement of the debts. Dare I ask my concubine, does the Prisoner of the Shaofu have the courage to come to the door? Do Jin Wuwei have the courage to come to the door?"
Pei's expression was dissatisfied, "Daughter-in-law, what do you want to say?"
Gu Jiu said with a serious expression: "My daughter-in-law is worried that the household department will not receive the money, so she will complain to His Majesty. His Majesty is furious and directly dispatches the Jinwu Guards. At that time, will the prince be blamed? The prince is imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple, what should we do?"
Concubine Shen and Concubine Luo nodded secretly when they heard this, they both thought that Gu Jiu's worry was very reasonable.
Concubine Shen took the lead and said: "Your Majesty, Da Furen's worries are not unreasonable. I have heard a lot about what happened outside recently. The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Office of the Office are like wolves and tigers. Looking at the situation, this time It must be true."
Pei's eyes swept from left to right, "You mean that our palace will take the initiative to pay back the debt? Do you know how much the palace owes the Ministry of Households in total?"
Concubine Shen shook her head slightly, "I don't know about myself."
Pei's face was stern, and he said angrily: "Of course you don't know, that's why you think things are so simple. These years, the government has spent a lot of money, and has borrowed several sums of money from the household department. The total amount is more than 300,000 yuan. Two, nearly 400,000 yuan. Such a large amount of debt, even if you turn the account house upside down, you can't pay it back."
Gu Jiu said loudly: "Then pay back part of it first. How much money is in the mansion, how much money is paid first, at least first to silence everyone. Afterwards, the father took the opportunity to go to the palace to complain, and only said that he had done his best. The money from the mansion Take them all out. In this way, His Majesty will not be too harsh."
Pei smiled sarcastically, "Boss, daughter-in-law, you are still too naive. Do you think that His Majesty will forgive the debts owed by the palace if the prince complains in the palace? It's really a dream."
"According to the wishes of the concubine, wouldn't it be more serious if you don't pay back a penny. Who can bear His Majesty's wrath?"
Gu Jiu's eyes didn't dodge at all, she stared straight at Pei Shi.
Pei was annoyed, "Has this princess ever said that she would not pay back the money? Presumptuous!"
Gu Jiu lowered her head and smiled, "Daughter-in-law doesn't dare to be presumptuous. Daughter-in-law just reminded mother and concubine that the matter has come to an end, and it's useless to run away. Let's first think about how to deal with people who come to collect debts."
"Who dares to come to collect debts?" Pei asked angrily.
Xiao Qin'er sneered at Gu Jiu, and then said loudly: "Return to my concubine, my daughter-in-law knows who dares to come to collect debts. It is Mr. Yin Gu of the capital, the father of my sister-in-law. No wonder my sister-in-law spared no effort to persuade my concubine to make preparations early. It's for the sake of Mr. Gu."
Gu Jiu turned back, "Fourth younger siblings are brainless, don't they understand human speech? Which one of my words is for the sake of Mr. Gu? Obviously, every sentence is for the sake of the palace."
Xiao Qin'er snorted, "It's clearly for the sake of the palace, but in fact it's not for Mr. Gu. Don't you just want Mr. Gu to complete the task smoothly so that you can report to the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Gu Jiu sneered coldly, "Master Gu successfully completed the task, what's wrong with it? It's only natural for the palace to pay back the debts.
As long as the money is paid back, the prince will have the confidence to not be scolded by His Majesty when he comes before His Majesty.
Don't you have to listen to your fourth sibling and not pay back a penny, and when the Jinwu Guard and Shaofu Prisoner come to the door, the fourth younger sibling and fourth younger brother will fight together? "
Xiao Qin'er panicked, "Don't scare people with the Jinwu Guard. You obviously have selfish intentions, but you act like you are always thinking of the palace. You dare to do it, why don't you let me say it?"
Gu Jiu laughed mockingly, "Of course the fourth sibling can say it, but I hope you don't mislead the mother and concubine and harm the palace. Don't wait for the Jin Wuwei to come to the door, you hide faster than anyone else, just like last time."
"You're talking nonsense." Xiao Qin'er became anxious, "Mother Concubine, last time it wasn't that the daughter-in-law didn't do her best, but it was too late when the daughter-in-law got the news. That's why I didn't come in a hurry to do my filial piety in front of the mother concubine."
The last time the two of them talked about was the time when the crown prince was poisoned, King Ning was trapped in the palace, and the Jinwu guards captured the servant Huangmen of the Bixi Pavilion.
That time, it was Gu Jiu who was by Pei's side, watching the Jin Wuwei arrest people.
The rest of the palace, all hid and did not come out.
Not to mention the female relatives, even the men have not seen one.
Pei's face was displeased, "Okay, don't talk about it. The household department will clear up the outstanding debts, and this princess will seriously consider this matter. Whether you want to pay back the money, and how much, you don't need to worry about.
Boss daughter-in-law, since your father is responsible for the debts of the palace, you send someone to talk to him and ask him to drag the household department over there. Afterwards, his benefits are indispensable. "
Gu Jiu was not happy, "Mother and concubine are really embarrassing for the daughter-in-law. It is a matter of the court, how dare the daughter-in-law intervene. As for when the father will come to the door, he has his own considerations."
Pei was dissatisfied, "Is it so difficult for my concubine to ask you to do something? Isn't it just a word of mouth, my concubine doesn't believe it, it can harm Mrs. Gu."
"Whether it will harm Mrs. Gu, my daughter-in-law doesn't know. It's just that the mother concubine refuses to give her daughter-in-law an exact date and amount. It's really difficult for the daughter-in-law. Please forgive me."
Mrs. Pei narrowed her eyes, "Qin'er said that you have selfish intentions, but my princess didn't believe it before. Now it seems that you really have selfish intentions. Why don't you just say that you are collecting debts for Mr. Gu."
Gu Jiu smiled, "Who in the world is selfless? The palace is backed by a big tree to enjoy the shade, and Gu's small arms and legs can't bear His Majesty's anger.
The daughter-in-law is caught in the middle, neither on the left nor on the right, and my husband is not around, if I have no selfish intentions, I am afraid that I will be swallowed up by someone long ago.
My concubine is not ignorant of my difficulties. Why did the concubine turn a blind eye. "
"Are you resentful?"
Gu Jiu shook her head, "Daughter-in-law doesn't dare to resent. Even if there is resentment, it's for Young Master.
Has the mother and concubine ever been to Zongzheng Temple, a small square world, where the sun can't penetrate, that is the son's residence.
The grandson of the emperor, who was honored with gold and jade, was reduced to a prisoner, but no one sympathized with him.
Now, the mother concubine also asked me to bring a message to Mr. Gu, asking Mr. Gu to drag the household department. In case the higher authorities pursue the responsibility afterwards, will the concubine mother also plan to push me to take the blame
I don't want to be that sinner, I don't want to offend my natal family, and I don't want to offend the palace, this is my difficulty.
Therefore, I don't want to bring words to Mr. Gu unless the concubine mother is willing to give the exact date and number. "
Gu Jiu's words were neither humble nor overbearing, but it was hard for Pei to criticize her too much for a while.
After all, Gu Jiu even moved Liu Zhao out.
Pei said with a straight face, "Since you don't want to talk, let's leave it at that. As for paying back the money, you don't need to worry about it."
Gu Jiu smiled, "I listen to my concubine mother. If my concubine has no other orders, my daughter-in-law will leave first."
Gu Jiu got up and left Chunhe Hall first.
She said to Deng Cunli: "Go and ask the prince for me, when will he pay back the money, and how much do you plan to pay back?"
Deng Cunli's heart tightened, "If the prince says he has no money and doesn't plan to pay back, what should we do?"
Gu Jiu smiled coldly, "Then you can ask him for me, is he going to kill Liu Zhao? If you want Liu Zhao to die, you don't have to pay back a penny, so I can pack the dowry as soon as possible and leave the palace. Liu Zhao’s son, then hurry up and get the money out, and settle the matter early. If it’s delayed, it’s not like the Ministry of Households sent people to the door to press for the account.”
Gu Jiu stared at Deng Cunli, "Just follow my words and tell the prince without changing a word."
Deng Cunli hesitated for a moment, "This old slave takes orders."
Gu Jiu looked back at Chunhetang.
When borrowing money, the attitude is better than anyone else, and when repaying the money, everyone is an uncle.
From ancient times to the present, it has always been such a face.
You need to be cautious when borrowing money, and there are risks in debt collection.
Deng Cunli bit the bullet and came to Bixi Pavilion, begging to see King Ning.
After waiting for a stick of incense, he was invited into the hall.
King Ning first sized up Deng Cunli, "The eldest daughter-in-law knows how to pick someone, but she picked you."
"The old slave has seen the prince."
"I thought you died in the palace, but I didn't expect you to be alive." King Ning laughed.
Deng Cunli bowed his head in silence.
After King Ning laughed, he asked, "Tell me, what did the eldest daughter-in-law ask you to do?"
"The Da Furen asked the old servant to ask for her, the household department will clear up the outstanding debts, when and how much will the prince plan to pay back?"
King Ning snorted coldly, and his expression turned cold all of a sudden, "This king has no money to pay off the debt. You ask the eldest daughter-in-law to tell Gu Zhili, and if you have the courage, come to collect the debt. This king is waiting for him."
Deng Cunli said again: "The eldest lady asked the old slave to ask, does the prince want the eldest son to die? If he really wants the eldest son to die, the prince will not pay back a penny. The eldest lady will pack the dowry as soon as possible and leave the palace. If The prince is still thinking about the eldest son, so I ask the prince to pay back some of it."
King Ning choked, hummed twice, and said angrily: "Did the eldest daughter-in-law eat the courage of a bear? How dare you say such a thing. She is not afraid that this king will kill you, an old bastard, in a fit of anger." .”
Deng Cunli bowed and said: "This old slave has lived for forty or fifty years, which is enough. If the prince really wants to kill this old slave, this old slave will never complain."
King Ning laughed, "You old slave is just as smelly and hard as you were back then. No wonder you can't get along in the palace. What kind of eyes does the eldest daughter-in-law have? She actually chooses you to serve by her side."
"Madam, I will repay you for your kindness." Deng Cunli said calmly.
King Ning smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't kill you. I didn't kill you back then, and I won't kill you now.
You go back and tell the eldest daughter-in-law that the king will not let Liu Zhao die, so she doesn't need to rush to pack the dowry and leave the palace.
The eldest daughter-in-law is really outrageous. The man is still locked up in Zongzheng Temple, not wanting to take care of him, but thinking about packing the dowry and running away. It's just ridiculous. "
Deng Cunli lowered his head, pretending he didn't hear King Ning complaining about Gu Jiu.
He said: "Madam wants to know when the prince will pay back the money and how much he plans to pay back. Please tell the truth."
"How much do you think the king can pay back? This king is also a poor man now, so he can only be a seller to pay off the debts of the household department. If you put it together, it's amazing to have 40,000 to 50,000."
Speaking of money, King Ning suddenly felt a toothache.
Money is really nothing.
He is a majestic prince, but he has no money to spend.
Thinking about it is also sad.
Deng Cunli bowed and said: "Old slave knows, this old slave will truthfully report to Da Furen."
King Ning waved his hand, feeling disgusted, "Hurry up, I don't like to see your face."
Deng Cunli bowed and said goodbye, went back to the upper room in the east courtyard, met Gu Jiu, and reported the matter one by one.
Gu Jiu was in a bad mood when he learned that the prince could scrape together four or five thousand taels, so let it be.
All of this was basically in her expectation.
"If you have 40,000 to 50,000 taels, you can do business. But compared with the debt of three hundred thousand taels, this amount of money is not enough. I hope His Majesty will not rush you too hard."
Mrs. Pei still wants to delay, for ten days and a half months, one or two months, and pay back the money when it can no longer be delayed. Maybe people who borrow money have similar ideas.
She knew that this time the household department was clearing up the debts, no matter what, she had to spit out a little bit before she could make a deal with His Majesty.
But she didn't want to take out the money so simply.
When Gu Zhili came to collect debts, she just obediently gave the money, which would be so embarrassing.
A dignified concubine does not follow the set of the Ministry of household affairs.
As a result, after noon, she got the news that the prince ordered the accountant to prepare money and return it to the household department.
Pei Shi was anxious and angry, and hurried to Bixi Pavilion.
"My lord, I heard that you asked the accountant to prepare money to pay back the debt owed by the account department. Why is this? Is it possible that you are still afraid of the guy surnamed Gu?"
King Ning leaned casually on the couch, "I am not afraid of anyone. I am worried that the old man will take his anger on Zhao'er. You will not forget that Zhao'er is still locked up in Zongzheng Temple."
Mrs. Pei sat down angrily, "How can I not remember. But what does paying back the money have to do with Zhao'er? Besides, I didn't say no to paying back, but I will pay back later. The Wangfu family has a big business and a large population. It all costs money. You gave all the money to the household department, do you want the whole house to drink the northwest wind?"
King Ning said lightly: "Isn't there still the king's Juelu? Don't worry, you can't drink the northwest wind."
Pei was annoyed, "Who on earth slandered after the prince? Was it Chen Liangyuan?"
"Don't talk nonsense. You underestimate this king too much. Is this king someone who can be easily manipulated by women?"
King Ning looked displeased, annoyed that Mrs. Pei underestimated him.
Pei asked: "Who is that? Someone must have slandered after the prince, so the prince will change his mind."
King Ning denied it categorically, "No one slandered, but this king suddenly thought of Zhao'er, so he made this decision."
Pei's face was suspicious, she didn't believe a word of this.
She rolled her eyes and didn't bother with King Ning, "I'll go to the cashier to see."
After finishing speaking, he left the Tourmaline Pavilion.
The confidant, Nanny Qin, understood. As early as when Mrs. Pei was arguing with King Ning, she went to the little maid in the Bixi Pavilion to inquire about the news.
"Before the princess, who came to the Tourmaline Pavilion?"
The little maid recalled: "Deng's attendant from the East courtyard came here this morning."
"Deng Cunli?"
"Exactly."
Mother Qin got the news and hurriedly reported it to Mrs. Pei.
When Mrs. Pei heard this, "Hmph! This princess knew that Gu Jiu was restless, so she dared to send someone to follow the prince to slander her. Mother Qin, you go to the east courtyard and ask Gu Jiu to copy the house rules of the palace a hundred times."
Qin Nanny ordered, "Your maidservant will go now."
Pei added: "Tell her, when you finish copying, when can you take a step out of the East Courtyard. The handwriting must be neat and neat, and no one can replace it. Otherwise, this princess will never let her take a step out of the East Courtyard for the rest of her life."