"Of course the problem is not with this bowl of white fungus soup."
Gu Jiu said loudly.
Huh
Princess Huyang was surprised.
She looked at Pei Shi, who was expressionless.
She asked Gu Jiu, "It's not because of the white fungus soup. What's the reason? Dalang's daughter-in-law, please don't be secretive and explain the matter clearly."
Gu Jiu looked at Princess Huyang with a half-smile, "Of course the problem is with people, isn't the princess very clear?"
"Stop talking nonsense. Dalang's daughter-in-law, I think you are trying to shirk responsibility and jump over the wall in a hurry."
Gu Jiu sneered.
She checked the kitchen and compared food again, just to delay time.
What she really wants to check are the people around Chen Min and the people around Princess Huyang.
The hard work paid off, and Deng Cunli finally found out.
As soon as Bai Zhong came in and whispered the report, she knew the acting was over.
She looked at Princess Huyang, "Does the princess really want me to tell the truth?"
Princess Huyang sneered, "What truth can you tell?"
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "I know that two years ago, someone paid tribute to the princess with a very rare flower called Bingling Flower.
As the name suggests, this flower will only bloom in late winter and early spring, and it is extremely beautiful.
Ignoring the beauty of Binglinghua, its rhizomes, leaves, and pollen are all poisonous. Eating a small amount by mistake will cause diarrhea and vomiting, and the symptoms are almost the same as eating a bad stomach.
The imperial physician who had never seen Binglinghua couldn't check whether it was poisoned at all, and only thought it really ruined his stomach. "
"You're talking nonsense." Princess Huyang angrily reprimanded.
Gu Jiu bowed slightly towards Mrs. Pei, "Concubine mother, daughter-in-law, I wonder if this conjecture can satisfy you?"
Pei frowned, "Daughter-in-law, are you wronging the princess for poisoning Minmin? It's really absurd. Minmin is the daughter of the princess, don't talk nonsense. Hurry up and apologize to the princess."
"Daughter-in-law obeys. Ah, I don't know about my kitchen errands, what does the concubine mother plan?"
Mrs. Pei snorted coldly, "We'll talk about it when Qin'er arrives."
Gu Jiu pursed her lips into a smile, and then apologized to Princess Huyang, "Princess, I am the one who spouted nonsense, and you have a lot of words, don't be as knowledgeable as I am."
The owner of Huyang County was furious, "Sister-in-law, take care of your daughter-in-law. It's really ridiculous that you dare to slander this princess."
Pei coughed lightly, "It's good to talk about the matter, Huyang, don't get too excited."
"How can I not be excited, my family Minmin will still be lying in bed and have to take medicine for several days. If there is a..."
"Ahem..."
Mrs. Pei coughed loudly and interrupted Princess Huyang forcefully.
Princess Huyang froze for a moment, "Sister-in-law, is your throat uncomfortable?"
Mrs. Pei felt overwhelmed, Huyang did more than succeed, and dared to ask her if her throat was comfortable, it really pissed her off.
She really shouldn't have high hopes for Huyang. It is simply the stupidest decision to leave things to Huyang.
The servants reported that the fourth lady had come.
"Call her in."
Xiao Qin'er entered the hall, first glanced at Gu Jiu, and then bowed to salute.
"Mother concubine called her daughter-in-law over, but do you have something to order?"
"Do you want to take care of the kitchen?"
Xiao Qin'er almost nodded. She wants to, of course she wants to, even in her dreams.
There is so much oil and water in the kitchen, how could she refuse.
But she could only refuse.
She smiled awkwardly, "Concubine Mother, isn't my sister-in-law taking care of the kitchen? Why do I let my daughter-in-law take care of it? It's not appropriate."
"Don't worry about whether it fits or not, you just need to tell my princess, can you take care of the kitchen?"
Xiao Qin'er lowered her head, feeling distressed.
Such a good opportunity was in front of her eyes, but she had no choice but to give up.
"Reporting to mother and concubine, my daughter-in-law may not be able to do it because of her limited ability."
Pei was surprised.
Princess Huyang was even more surprised. She pointed at Xiao Qin'er, "Daughter-in-law, are you out of your mind? You actually took the initiative to push the opportunity away?"
Xiao Qin'er forced a smile, but the smile was uglier than crying.
She didn't want to either, but she had something in Gu Jiu's hands.
Gu Jiu had been guarding against this day for a long time, and made preparations early.
It's really a thief and a thief.
Gu Jiu lowered her head and smiled, and then asked: "Mother and Concubine, since the fourth sibling is not competent, let the kitchen work be left to the daughter-in-law."
She didn't mention Chen Min's bad stomach, but every movement, look, and tone of her reminded Mrs. Pei that if you want to take away my power, I will expose you.
The big deal is to bring a lawsuit in front of the prince to see who has no face.
Pei's angina, clutching his heart, with a pained expression.
She waved her hand, "Stand back. You each do your part, and this princess doesn't want any bad things to happen again."
"My daughter-in-law obeys."
Gu Jiu and Xiao Qin'er left Chunhe Hall together.
"Sister-in-law, I have rejected the concubine mother according to your request. From now on, we will not owe each other." Xiao Qin'er was very upset, she was being tricked by Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu laughed and said, "Why do the fourth siblings see each other so much? We are sisters-in-law, so naturally we should come and go frequently."
Xiao Qin'er said without hesitation, "No! I'm afraid that my sister-in-law will betray me."
Gu Jiu smiled, "Okay, I won't force you. From now on, we won't mess with you. If you don't trouble me, I won't overthrow you. But I'd like to advise you, loan sharks don't last long. You can do it yourself."
Xiao Qin'er snorted coldly, "I don't need to worry about my affairs, goodbye."
She went back to the room angrily, and cried to Liu Yi.
"My sister-in-law is too deceitful. She threatened me with loan sharks and forbade me to meddle in the kitchen. It caused me to lose the oil and water in the kitchen in vain. From now on, the loan sharks can't be released wantonly. This matter can't just end like this. You think for me There is a way to teach her a lesson no matter what you say.”
Liu Yi was a little annoyed, "Then don't give us loan sharks in the future. My father entrusted me with a new errand. Once I finish it, I won't worry about running out of money."
Xiao Qin'er stopped crying immediately, "What's the matter?"
Liu Yi became happy, "Father asked me to go to the south of the Yangtze River to collect money. Do you think it is a good job? You know, in the past, it was the elder brother who took care of the money and food for the father. Now that the elder brother is locked up in Zongzheng Temple, I have Opportunity to get involved in this errand."
Xiao Qin'er was not happy, but was stunned, "You mean, you want to go to the south of the Yangtze River? How long will you go?"
"Say less than half a year, and I will definitely come back before the Chinese New Year at the latest."
Xiao Qin'er burst into tears, "You went to Jiangnan to enjoy the blessings and left me alone in the mansion, what should I do? I don't want to go."
Liu Yi frowned, "Don't mess around. Didn't you hear me just now? This is an errand that I snatched from my elder brother. If it wasn't for the elder brother who was in Zongzheng Temple, I wouldn't have my turn.
When I come back from Jiangnan, we won't worry about silver flowers. You should stop that usury now, lest my sister-in-law threaten you with it again. "
Xiao Qin'er wiped her tears, "The royal family members, you can't go out of Beijing without purpose. How could the father send you to the south of the Yangtze River? Don't lie to me."
Liu Yi snorted, "Who said that my son has no purpose to go out of Beijing, but I was ordered to do business.
You also know that the Ministry of Households has no money, so it has to find the Shaofu every year to fight the autumn breeze. However, Shaofu's income has been decreasing in recent years.
I heard that someone secretly sued, saying that someone in the south of the Yangtze River intercepted the tax money of the Shibo Department. The emperor's grandfather sent someone to investigate the matter thoroughly.
As for me, I was accompanied by an imperial envoy, and I learned a lot when I went out. The main thing is to bring back some money for the father. Otherwise, the house will almost be unable to uncover the pot. "
Xiao Qin'er bit her lip, "You will go out for a year. Then what should I do? Don't wait for you to come back with a concubine in your left hand and a beauty in your right hand."
"Look at you, you're jealous again. You're really jealous. You are the only one in my eyes, and I promise not to mess around outside. What beauty, how can I compare to you, I can't even take a look."
Xiao Qin'er was happy in her heart, but she pretended to be arrogant on her face, "Hmph, you know how to coax me. In short, you can go to Jiangnan, but you are not allowed to bring women back. If you bring women back, I, I I will never let you go."
Liu Yi squeezed Xiao Qin'er's cheek, "My good cousin, my good lady, you can rest assured. With you, other women will never be able to catch my eyes again."
He took the opportunity to suppress it, and the husband and wife quarreled at the head of the bed and quarreled at the end of the bed, and in a blink of an eye they became affectionate again.
…
In Chunhe Hall, Mrs. Pei is complaining that the master of Huyang County can't do things.
"I can't do a little thing well, and you still want my princess to help you, haha..."
A sneer, like a basin of cold water being poured on the head, chilled Princess Huyang's heart.
She said to Mrs. Pei: "I have already finished the matter, and I sacrificed my family Minmin. As for the failure of the matter, it is not my responsibility. It is clear that your daughter-in-law is too shrewd to fall for it. Sister-in-law is also true, You should act like a mother-in-law and crush Gu Jiu hard. I don't believe that she can turn the world upside down."
Mrs. Pei rubbed the center of her brows, "Squeeze, you know. Who have you crushed in these years? Princess Fuya, Princess Fuming, Princess Yangshi, which one did you suppress?"
The Huyang princess was exposed, and she was very ashamed.
"Sister-in-law, don't yell at me, I think you can't control Gu Jiu soon. Just wait and see, one day, she will definitely seize power and tell you to stand aside."
"She dares!"
Pei's face darkened.
Princess Huyang laughed, "She has Liu Zhao as her backing, so why not dare. Liu Zhao is the eldest son, the eldest son, he is very important."
"Even if he is the eldest son, he is still my son and he has to obey me."
"That's not necessarily the case. I don't think Liu Zhao will listen to you."
Mrs. Pei felt extremely upset when she was told that she had a sore foot, "Okay, you step back quickly. I'm really mad at you."
The master of Huyang County is not easy to dismiss.
"Sister-in-law, you haven't fulfilled what you promised me."
Mrs. Pei snorted coldly, "I'll go to the palace tomorrow to meet Concubine Mother, and ask Concubine Mother to make an order for you to change to the princess mansion. You will be satisfied now."
Princess Huyang was satisfied, "I knew my sister-in-law treated me the best. My princess's mansion has to be shot quickly. I feel heavy in my hand, it's not a good feeling."
Mrs. Pei sneered, "You are afraid that Concubine Chen's ghost will linger, so let's find you."
Princess Huyang's complexion changed slightly, and she was stern, "I'm afraid he's a dead ghost, what a joke. Sister-in-law, don't talk nonsense."
Mrs. Pei showed a mocking look, "If you are not afraid that Chen Consort's ghost will find you, why didn't you go back to the Princess's Mansion once after the accident? I heard that you passed by the door of the Princess's Mansion several times, but you didn't go in to see it. One glance."
Princess Huyang argued strongly, "I'm busy."
hehe!
busy
Busy raising a little boy.
…
Gu Jiu took the medicinal materials and visited Chen Min for the second time.
Chen Min's face was pale, and there was no blood in his small face.
She didn't dare to meet Gu Jiu's gaze, and became very silent.
"Is sister Min unwell?"
Gu Jiu took her hand and checked her pulse by the way.
Chen Min shook her head, "Cousin, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, you don't have to say sorry to me."
Chen Min still couldn't let go, "I didn't expect that my abdominal pain was due to eating the tea my mother gave me by mistake. My cousin was almost implicated."
"Sister Min, don't think too much, the matter is over. Take good care of your body and strive to get better soon."
Chen Min nodded, she looked at Gu Jiu, "Cousin-in-law, is my mother really going to marry the son of the Daihou's Mansion who is ten years younger than her?"
Gu Jiu frowned, "Who did you hear about this?"
Chen Min said with a gloomy expression: "It's spread all over the house, so it's hard not to know. My brother had a big fight with his mother because of this matter, and he moved back to Chen's house early this morning."
The Chen family was ransacked and beheaded, leaving only two brothers and sisters, Chen Lu and Chen Min.
Afterwards, King Ning came forward and took back the Chen family's house for the Chen Lu brothers and sisters, as well as two farms and two shops.
It's just that those properties that were confiscated will not come back.
Chen Lu had a quarrel with Huyang Princess, and instead of going back to the Princess's mansion, he went back to Chen's house.
Gu Jiu asked: "Your brother returned to the Chen residence, did he bring anyone with him?"
Chen Min nodded, "I brought four servants, four old servants, and four servant girls."
Gu Jiu asked again: "When your brother returns to Chen's residence, does he have money to eat?"
Now there is only a bare house left in the Chen Mansion, without even furniture.
Chen Lu ran back, where to sleep at night, not to mention the bed, he had to find a way to solve the bedding and quilt.
Chen Min bit her lip, nodded first, then shook her head.
"When my father was still there, he would give us a lot of pocket money every time. My brother and I saved some. This time my brother went back, and I gave him all the pocket money."
"May I ask, how much pocket money do you two brothers and sisters have? If it's inconvenient, just pretend I didn't ask."
"It's okay to tell my cousin, my brother and I have two thousand taels of pocket money together."
Gu Jiu breathed a sigh of relief, "There are two thousand taels, a little frugality is enough for a year's expenses. By the end of the year, the farm and shop will have income, and next year will be fine."
"My brother also said the same. He said that if his mother remarried, he would separate the family from her. From now on, he will support the Chen family alone. His Majesty has no restrictions on the way to fame and fame of the elder brother. The elder brother can study and take the imperial examination, and he can also study. Wu Congjun is always a way."
Gu Jiu sighed, "Your brother has ambition, it's amazing."
Chen Lu is still half a boy, fourteen or thirteen this year, at such a young age, he already knows how to support the family independently. As long as he is willing to persevere, he will definitely achieve something in ten or twenty years.
She asked Chen Lu, "What about you? What do you think?"
Chen Min looked sad, "My brother said that he couldn't afford my dowry, so he told me to follow my mother. And if I follow my mother, I can marry more decently."
Gu Jiu said: "Your brother's words are reasonable, he is really thinking of you."
Chen Min seemed about to cry, "Cousin, am I cowardly? If my mother wants to remarry, as a member of the Chen family, I should go back to the Chen family with my brother."
Gu Jiu took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears on Chen Min's cheeks, "You should think about it from another angle, if you go back with your brother, your brother's burden will be heavy. In order to buy you a dowry, he is so old, he has to You have to calculate for money. You can't bear it."
Chen Min wept silently and nodded frequently, "I was afraid of burdening my brother, so I didn't dare to speak. But if my mother really married Han Wulang, how should I deal with myself? I heard people say that Han Wulang is a libertine , only three or four years older than my elder brother. Do I still have to call him father?"
Speaking of sad, Chen Min cried more and more.
Gu Jiu changed into a handkerchief and wiped away Chen Min's tears.
"Did the Princess not say anything when your brother moved back to the Chen Mansion?"
Chen Min shook his head, "My mother didn't say anything, and she didn't send anyone to send money to my brother. I think my mother was counting on my brother to bump into walls everywhere. After knowing the hardships of life, she came back to plead guilty to her. But I know my brother's temper, Even if he hits the south wall, he won't turn back. I'm still worried that my mother will send someone to play tricks and deliberately create difficulties for my brother. "
Gu Jiu comforted: "Don't worry too much. When the prince knows the news that your brother has moved back to the Chen residence, he will definitely send someone to take care of him."
"I'm worried that my mother will use this matter to manipulate my brother."
"If the prince speaks, even the princess can only acquiesce in the fact that your brother has moved back to the Chen family."
"Really?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "My lord appreciates ambitious people."
In a word, Chen Min ignited hope.