Aunt Sun was a little uneasy.
But Gu Jiu's next sentence dispelled her worries.
"I don't know where the list prepared by the aunt is? Can you show it to me."
"Yes, yes..."
Aunt Sun took out a folded piece of paper from her bosom, and spread it out, with densely packed names written on it.
"Madam, please take a look."
Gu Jiu took the list with a smile.
On the paper, the handwriting is beautiful, like the words written by a little girl.
She looked at Mrs. Sun, "Is this written by Mrs. Sun?"
Aunt Sun wanted to shake her head subconsciously, but when she came back to her senses, she nodded quickly, "It was written by a servant girl."
Gu Jiu smiled, lied and didn't make a draft. How did she hear that Mrs. Sun was illiterate, but her daughter Chunjuan could read and write.
But Gu Jiu didn't expose Aunt Sun.
She looked at the names on the list first.
Oh, it’s terrible, the names in front are all the big maids that Liu Zhao has to use, and the names of Shiqin, Shiqi and others are all on it.
Chunjuan wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate dissidents.
Gu Jiu put away the list, smiled and said to Aunt Sun: "Madam is indeed loyal. Don't worry, I will carefully consider your list."
When Aunt Sun heard this, she was very happy.
She enthusiastically suggested to Gu Jiu, "If Madam is inconvenient to do it, I can leave this matter to my servant. The servant promises to drive those little bastards out of the mansion, so as not to spoil the atmosphere in the courtyard."
Gu Jiu said with a smile: "I won't bother you about this matter. The little yellow men around my wife are worried that they have nothing to do, so let them exercise this time."
"Madam is very thoughtful. Then, the servant will leave first?"
"Xiaocui, send off my wife for Madam."
"Okay! Auntie, please go this way."
Xiao Cui supported Aunt Sun and sent her out.
Qingmei laughed, "Ma'am, Aunt Sun has a lot of selfishness."
Nanny Fang said: "According to this servant, this list was not made by Aunt Sun, but by that damn girl Chunjuan."
"Mother Fang's eyes are as bright as a torch." Gu Jiu smiled, lit a candle on the list, threw it into the brazier and burned it to ashes.
Qingmei was surprised, "This list, even if you don't use it, Madam can still use it as a reference."
Gu Jiu shook her head, "There's no need to refer to this list. My wife believes that the young master must have his own opinion on who to abolish. Have you packed everything?"
"Cleaned up."
"Let's go then."
Get on the carriage at the second gate, leave the palace, and go directly to Zongzheng Temple to the west.
When we arrived at Zongzheng Temple, the person who came out to greet him was not the familiar official from the previous two times, but a strange young official.
"The lower official has seen Mrs. Zhao."
Gu Jiu was surprised, she looked at the young official in front of her, "Do you know Mrs. Ben?"
The young official laughed, "I even drank my wife's wedding wine once."
Huh
Gu Jiu couldn't help but look at the other party carefully.
In his twenties, young, beardless, and well-looking. Looking at the shoes he wears, he should have a good background.
But in her memory, there was no such person.
The little official didn't show off, and said directly: "My surname is Chen, Chen Chongwei."
Gu Jiu suddenly realized, "It turned out to be Cousin Chen. How could Cousin Chen work here?"
The Chen family, the mother's family of the deceased Mrs. Gu, and the grandparent's family of Mr. Gu. The two families still have contacts, but only limited to Mr. Gu's generation.
In Gu Jiu's generation, there were very few contacts. Maybe the eldest brother Gu Ban is familiar with the Chen family after all.
But the people in the second room, except Mr. Gu, have never had any serious dealings with the Chen family.
She remembered that when she got married, Mr. Gu did invite the Chen family to a wedding.
Chen Chongwei said: "I have been in charge of the Young Mansion since two years ago. Half a month ago, I came to Zongzheng Temple under the order of the Inner Chancellor of the Young Mansion. Mrs. Chao came to see Young Master Zhao. This way please."
"Cousin Chen, please. How are you these days, my lord?"
Chen Chongwei led the way and said, "Except for not being able to leave the hospital, everything else is fine."
Gu Jiu asked again: "Has anyone been to Zongzheng Temple recently?"
Chen Chongwei said casually: "The thirteenth prince, people from the fifteenth prince's mansion have all been here. In addition, people from the palace have also been sent here."
Oh
Is the emperor planning to let people go
"It's here. Mrs. Zhao please come inside, and the lower officials will not go in."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Thank you, Cousin Chen."
"Madam Zhao is polite."
Deng Cunli stayed and talked with Chen Chongwei.
Gu Jiu led his servants into the courtyard.
The old locust tree was still bare when I came last time. This time, new shoots have grown.
Gu Jiu suddenly laughed.
"Madam? Madam is here!"
The servant washes the ink and exclaims with excitement on his face.
The door of the main room was opened from the inside, and the servant Lin Shuping came out.
"See madam."
"How is your son?"
"The son is waiting for his wife inside."
Gu Jiu stepped up and walked into the main room.
Liu Zhao sat on the ground and was writing vigorously before the case.
He didn't even raise his head, and asked directly: "Today is not the first day of junior high school, but you came, but something happened in the mansion?"
Gu Jiu sat on the floor, opposite Liu Zhao.
She glanced at what Liu Zhao wrote, and it seemed to be a policy theory.
She said: "It's rare for me to come here once, and you don't even take a look at it."
Liu Zhao smiled, the tenderness in his eyes seemed to overflow.
He stopped writing, and was finally willing to look up at Gu Jiu, "Are you jealous?"
Gu Jiu rolled his eyes at him directly, "I'm not a narrow-minded woman, I'm jealous all day long."
He also said that he was not careful.
hum!
In Liu Zhao's mind, Gu Jiu is the most careful woman.
He held Gu Jiu's hand, really missing him.
"Come here at this time, could it be that the mansion has no money?"
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "You really have a clever plan, the mansion is indeed out of money. The father and mother decided to cut expenses and lay off people. Every courtyard has to lay off 10% of the manpower. Let me come and ask you, Who can be removed and who cannot be moved?"
Liu Zhao suddenly became emotional and wanted to pull Gu Jiu into his arms.
However, as soon as his eyes changed, Gu Jiu knew what he was going to do.
"You can't mess around. When can you go out?"
Liu Zhao's fiery emotions were extinguished, he lowered his head and smiled, Gu Jiu still likes to spoil the scenery.
After laughing, he said: "We have to wait a little longer, but it should be soon."
"You haven't said yet, who are you going to abolish?"
There are sixty or seventy male and female servants around Liu Zhao, including the servants around Gu Jiu, there are nearly a hundred people in the East courtyard alone.
According to the requirement of abolishing 10% of the personnel, at least eight or nine people must be abolished.
How to draw up this list depends on Liu Zhao's intentions.
Liu Zhao asked with a smile: "It's rare to come here, are you so impatient to leave?"
He grabbed Gu Jiu's hand, and his strength suddenly increased.
Gu Jiu frowned, feeling some pain, "You scratched me."
Liu Zhao raised his hand and caressed Gu Jiu's cheek, the little villain really has a heart like a stone. After I go out, I will teach you a lesson.
He withdrew his strength and gently held Gu Jiu's hand, but it was not enough for Gu Jiu to break free.
The weather was fine, and the sun shone through, reflecting on the two of them.
The light was so strong that Gu Jiu felt that he could no longer see the person opposite him clearly.
I only felt a light touch on my lips, a familiar breath.
Just, a little out of breath.
By the time she was finally able to breathe, the sun was hidden behind thick clouds.
"Maybe it will rain."
Gu Jiu suddenly made a sound.
"I don't want you to get wet in the rain."
Gu Jiu's cheeks were blushing, a smelly man, so he couldn't take it lightly.
Liu Zhao laughed, "I'll give you a list, and you can lay off staff according to the list."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Don't worry, I will definitely get things done."
After a pause, she asked again: "The Shangsi Festival will be in a few days, can you come out?"
Liu Zhao raised his hand and scratched Gu Jiu's nose, "You and I are married, do you still want to take a spring bath by the Weishui River?"
Gu Jiu shook his head, "Shangsi Festival, the scenery outside is very good. I've been trapped in the palace for a few months, and I want to go out for a spring break. If you're not here, I'm afraid it's inconvenient."
Liu Zhao said: "I can't accompany you on Shangsi Festival this year, but I guarantee that I will accompany you to take a spring bath on Shangsi Festival next year."
Pooh!
I don't want to take a spring bath with you.
Liu Zhao wrote down the list and handed it to Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu took a look at the list, hey, the names of Chunjuan and Aunt Sun are all on it.
She looked at him, "Aunt Sun is your nanny, will dismissing her cause criticism?"
Liu Zhao said, "She must be dismissed."
Gu Jiu was suspicious.
Liu Zhao pinched Gu Jiu's cheeks, it was so tender.
Gu Jiu glared at him, could he be more gentle.
Liu Zhao held back his smile and said solemnly: "Aunt Sun is my son's nanny in name, but in fact she obeys the concubine mother. Take this opportunity and get rid of her."
"Since she obeys the concubine mother, why didn't you send her away a few years ago?"
"Because my son was not married at that time, it is reasonable to keep a nanny by my side. Instead of changing to a nanny who doesn't know her background, it's better to keep her."
Gu Jiu understood it in his heart.
Gu Jiu also saw the porter's wife on the list, two names that were often followed.
These people seem to be honest and responsible on weekdays, and they are also diligent in doing things.
Normally, none of these people should be axed.
However, Liu Zhao did the opposite and dismissed these people.
She was very curious and wanted to ask, but Liu Zhao said, "The more you know, the better. Get rid of them, and leave the rest to Qian Fu. He knows how to deal with it."
Weird, mysterious, and playing tricks.
Gu Jiu put away the list, "I will dismiss personnel according to the list."
Liu Zhao suddenly said: "This year, the Ministry of Household Affairs will clear up the outstanding debts. I estimate that the emperor's grandfather will not go out of the palace during the Shangsi Festival, and the palace will not make extensive preparations. If you want to go out for a spring break, you might as well make an appointment with the sisters of the Gu family."
Gu Jiu laughed, "You don't have to worry about me being bored in the mansion. Concubine Mother asked me to take care of the kitchen and cut the kitchen expenses. The Shangsi Festival is a busy time, so maybe I don't have time to go out of the mansion at all."
"The kitchen also needs to cut manpower?"
"Exactly."
Liu Zhao asked with a smile, "Do you have any clues?"
Gu Jiu leaned forward, her curvaceous body was very powerful.
Liu Zhao stared intently.
Gu Jiu raised her hands to cover his eyes, "Don't look around."
Liu Zhao laughed and bit Gu Jiu's hand, "I didn't look around."
Gu Jiu quickly withdrew her hand, stinking man.
She straightened her body, coughed twice, and asked solemnly, "What's your opinion?"
Liu Zhao chuckled a few times, and then said: "It's not a matter of high opinion. You can ask Qian Fu when you're doing something in the kitchen. He knows this best. He can give you advice."
Oh
She really ignored Qian Fu.
"I see. I will have a good talk with Qian Fu when I go back."
After a pause, Gu Jiu asked curiously, "Today I saw the third son and the third wife. I looked at them both, and they were very weak. Could it be that they all have heart problems?"
"Heart disease?"
Liu Zhao frowned and shook his head, "I've never heard of a heart disease. Although the third brother's body is not strong enough, he grew up without disease and disaster."
"But today, when I look at the third son, he is as weak as the third lady, panting for breath even when he speaks."
Liu Zhao couldn't figure it out, "Do you know what the imperial physician said?"
Gu Jiu shook her head, "I haven't had time to ask."
Liu Zhao looked at Gu Jiu, "I can be sure that my third brother has no serious illness. Although he is not strong enough to practice martial arts, he is healthy enough."
Gu Jiu frowned slightly, "Maybe I was wrong."
"You may not be mistaken. It is the bodies of the third siblings, since they entered the door, they have changed day by day."
"Are you worried that the third lady's disease will be contagious and will be transmitted to the third son?" Gu Jiu was surprised.
Liu Zhao shook his head, "If it is said that the illness of the third sibling is contagious, why are all the maids and mother-in-law around her okay? Why did the imperial physician never mention it?"
Huh
That's what went wrong.
Liu Zhao said solemnly: "Xiao Jiu, although my third brother and I are not brothers of the same mother, we have had a good relationship since we were young. Can you check for me, what's going on with my third brother's illness?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "I promise you. I'll find a chance some other day to visit the third sibling and check her up."
"Thank you!"
"you are welcome."
Gu Jiu generously accepted Liu Zhao's thanks.
Seeing that it was going to rain, Liu Zhao didn't keep Gu Jiu any longer.
The two bid farewell, and Gu Jiu left the small courtyard with her maid.
Chen Chongwei came up to meet her, "Madam Zhao is leaving?"
Gu Jiu nodded slightly, "Thank you, Cousin Chen, I will trouble you to take care of my young master in the future."
Chen Chongwei laughed, "Madam Zhao, don't worry, I will try my best to provide some convenience for Young Master Zhao when it comes to matters within my duties."
"Thank you so much."
Deng Cunli presented a purse containing large denomination banknotes.
Chen Chongwei didn't accept anything.
Gu Jiu advised: "Cousin Chen, please accept it. If you don't accept it, I won't dare to bother you next time."
"Well, what should I do?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Just treat it as me inviting Cousin Chen to drink tea."
"Okay. Then I'll be disrespectful."
…
Three days later, everyone gathered in Chunhe Hall.
Princess Pei sat on the main seat, her eyes swept over everyone's faces.
"The list of abolished personnel, have you made up your mind?"
No one spoke.
Mrs. Pei directly called Gu Jiu's name, "Daughter-in-law, have you decided to abolish anyone in the Eastern Court?"
Gu Jiu nodded slightly, "Report to my concubine, the list is ready."
Pei nodded, that's about the same.
She stared at Concubine Shen again, "Concubine Shen, what about you? In your yard, at least four people have to be abolished. Is the list ready?"
Concubine Shen pursed her lips, "If you dare to disobey the concubine's order, the list is here."
The maid took the list and handed it to Mrs. Pei.
Pei glanced at the names on the list, frowning slightly.
What a side concubine Shen, this is an opportunity to eliminate dissidents.
The people on the list are all the servants that Mrs. Pei placed next to Concubine Shen to serve her.
Mrs. Pei smiled coldly, put away the list, "That's very good. Let's lay off staff according to the list."
Concubine Shen lowered her head and smiled, and exchanged glances with Concubine Luo.
This time, Mrs. Pei suffered a great loss.
Is this considered to be stealing chickens without losing rice, or lifting a rock to shoot yourself in the foot.
Xiao Qin'er's list is actually too much.
She directly got rid of those enchanting maidservants around Gong Ziyi, so as not to be an eyesore.
Seeing the list drawn up by Xiao Qin'er, Mrs. Pei was a little annoyed.
This Xiao Qin'er is really intolerable. A few maids made her very angry.
The fourth child is also a waste. Xiao Qin'er said that he can abolish whoever he wants to abolish. Doesn't he have the slightest idea
The list after list made Mrs. Pei very angry.
It also shows that everyone has their own little abacus.
She asked Ouyang Fu.
Ouyang Fu quickly handed in the list, "Mother and concubine, please have a look."
Ouyang Fu is very resourceful, she did not simply and rudely cut off all the enchanting maids like Xiao Qin'er did.
On the contrary, she dismissed the disgusting, nosy, old woman who was always pointing fingers because of her seniority.
Among them was a mother-in-law who was arranged by the Pei family to judge the young master.
Mrs. Pei glanced at Ouyang Fu calmly, all of them were as cunning as ghosts.
Gu Jiu also handed in his list.
Her list is very intriguing.
None of those bewitching maidservants were cut off.
Pei couldn't help but look at Gu Jiu a few more times.
"Daughter-in-law, is this list your idea?"
－－－－－Off Topic－－－－－
In the past few days, I have felt strongly that my body has been hollowed out.