In Shou'an Hall.
As soon as Chen Matchmaker spoke a few words, the steward hurriedly came in to reply with an anxious look, saying that the chief historian of Prince Rui's Mansion invited the uncle to come over and speak.
Everyone in the Gu family was surprised and happy when they heard this. The chief historian came to invite him personally. This was a great honor, but I don’t know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Gu Shilang saluted the two elders and went forward with an uneasy mood.
Just after Gu Shilang left, someone from the porter came to send a message. The old King Qi missed his daughter and son-in-law, and invited them to come back to the palace to have a banquet.
At this time, Mr. Gu couldn't sit still. Could it be that the second son's official position was secured? He hurriedly ordered the second wife and his wife to go back to the room to change clothes, and hurried to the palace.
In just a short time, most of the people in the room left. Matchmaker Chen smiled meaningfully, said a few good words, and excused herself, saying she would not come again until after the Lantern Festival.
Wei was not happy, and immediately refused sternly, saying that she did not need to come again, and there was no way the Gu family would agree to this marriage.
Matchmaker Chen was not angry either. She smiled with a face full of powder, said a blessing to the person in front of her, twisted her waist and left.
When the news reached Qingguan's ears, she had just returned from a walk in the yard.
Chunni carried the basin to clean Qingguan's hands. After Qingguan washed his hands, he looked at the lunch on the table and had no appetite at all.
Prince Rui's Mansion, Old Prince Qi's Mansion must have called people over at this time to put pressure on the two masters of the Gu Mansion. If there is no accident, there will be no peace in the mansion when they come back tonight.
Qingwan sighed softly and silently picked up the chopsticks.
The sky gradually became gloomy, and before dusk, it was already dark.
Just after the Xu hour, it started to rain.
In the dark night, Gu's carriage drove out from the gate of the palace. Gu Songtao was leaning on the brocade cushion, his face a little stiff. After a while, he sat up and said, "Huayang, what do you mean by your father-in-law?"
Hua Yang felt no shame. This man is really good at pretending to be stupid. His father clearly said what he said clearly, but now he asked her again.
Hua Yang smiled and said: "My father said that it is our Gu family's blessing that the Gao family can take a fancy to the second lady. As long as this marriage is successful, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry will be guaranteed."
"What if it doesn't work?" Gu Songtao asked unwillingly.
Huayang glanced at his man and smiled deeply: "If it doesn't work out, it's hard to say."
Gu Songtao felt a chill in his heart and relaxed with a breath. If he fails, he will find another way to obtain his official position and offend his father-in-law's family.
He lowered his head feebly and sighed: "Second girl is the daughter of the eldest family after all. If the eldest brother and sister-in-law don't agree, we can't talk to each other."
After hearing this, Hua Yang, who was well aware of the ins and outs of the matter, deliberately took retreat as an advantage: "That's exactly what I said. After all, she is not my daughter. If it doesn't work, let someone else take the position of minister. After all, we are uncles. Auntie, you can't just push someone into the hot bed."
When Gu Songtao heard that the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry was about to be replaced, he immediately said anxiously: "How can we do it? This father-in-law has finally found a way, how can I let him down?"
Hua Yang knew the man's virtue well, but he didn't criticize it. He held his chin and said quietly: "Hey, what a dilemma."
Gu Songtao moved his buttocks, squeezed to Hua Yang's side, blew into her ear, and said, "In my opinion, those gossipy things in the public may not be credible. This family member of the Gaofu family seems to be pretty good. At least we’re the ones who have the upper hand.”
Seeing that he had changed his tone, Hua Yang felt contempt in his heart, but smiled on his face and said, "Well, if I could be a few years younger, maybe this would be possible."
Gu Songtao said shamelessly: "It's not a big deal if a man gets older and loves others. Talk to my sister-in-law later."
"What's the use of sister-in-law? The second girl has always been raised by the madam and her son. Her marriage requires the madam's approval. It's better for you to talk about this matter yourself. I'm afraid, otherwise I won't get any benefits. You are making irresponsible remarks again." Hua Yang deliberately pushed the man away.
Gu Songtao knew that she was talking about Liu Yatou, so he insisted: "Whoever dares to bite your tongue will be the first to be spared."
Hua Yang sneered secretly, this man is really hypocritical.
In Mr. Gu's study, the fragrance of ink fills the air.
Gu Shilang drank the warm tea in one breath, cleared his throat and said: "Father, that's what happened. Although King Rui didn't say it explicitly, he expressed the hope that the two houses could get married. Look at this, how will it happen? good?"
Mr. Gu fell down in the Grand Master's chair and sighed: "This matter is really difficult to handle."
Minister Gu nodded in agreement.
If he accepts this marriage, it's okay to accept others. The key point is that Gao Xiaofeng is too old. In addition, with the mention of his wife, the reputation of the Gu family may not be good.
If you don't do it and offend King Rui, your career may not be safe. It's really a dilemma.
"Father, why don't you let your second brother go to Prince Qi's Mansion to see if there is any other way to go?"
Mr. Gu stroked his forehead and sighed repeatedly: "After you left, your brother was called over by the old Qi Prince's Mansion, and he came back before you. The old Qi Prince's Mansion also meant the same thing. The other party said that as long as this marriage is completed, the work will be done. The old King of Qi will personally help your brother move around. "
Gu Shilang had never thought that things would turn out like this, and he was stunned at the moment.
After all, Mr. Gu is a person who has experienced things. He quickly said: "This marriage is a bit strange. It seems that things are not simple."
Gu Shilang came back to his senses and thought about it carefully. He was dripping with cold sweat and couldn't help but feel a dull pain in his temples.
Master Gu took a panoramic view of his son's expression and thought: "I won't do anything about this in advance. I'll secretly send someone to inquire about Gao Xiaofeng's details. We'll talk about it after the Lantern Festival."
"Yes, father."
Mr. Gu sighed: "If you don't choose to stay in college, you will become enemies if you stay here and stay. The two girls are sixteen this year, so they should have known each other for a long time. You two should also make plans for the child."
Gu Shilang's heart skipped a beat when he heard the hidden meaning in his father's words, and he started to sweat even more.
"Miss, uncle, and the second master stayed in the master's study for half a cup of tea. Now they have returned to the courtyard. There is no movement at all in each courtyard."
Yueniang walked in with a cold air, her face and body were covered with rainwater.
Seeing this, Qingguan put the hand stove in her arms into her hand distressedly, "Yue Niang, change your wet clothes quickly. Be careful of catching a cold."
"Miss, I'm fine."
Qingguan's eyes widened, and Chunni said cleverly: "I'll make a bowl of hot ginger soup for Yueniang."
Yueniang and Chunni all left, and the room became quiet.
Qingguan walked to the window, listening to the sound of raindrops outside, and her mind moved slightly.
The expected fuss didn't happen, and the men in the Gu family pretended to be fine and went to rest. What does this kind of calmness mean? You don’t need to think too deeply to know that there must be nothing good going on. Maybe there is something secretly planned.
A chill flashed in Qingguan's eyes.
Judging from the profit-seeking past of the Gu family, the second sister is doomed, and the only glimmer of hope is Mrs. Wei. Just a housewife, how much ability can she resist...
Qingguan sighed quietly.
Yueniang changed her clothes and came in. She saw the young lady standing with her back facing the window, her body was thin, and she was enveloped in a faint halo by the window. Time seemed to have stopped.
Yueniang's eyes became hot.
She seemed to see again the young lady standing deep in the bamboo forest six years ago, her back blending into the night and exuding infinite loneliness.
"Miss, it's late at night, and I have to get up early tomorrow." Yueniang stepped forward gently and put her arms around Qing Guan's shoulders.
Qingguan leaned his head on her shoulder and smiled, "Yue Niang, men in this world want to be successful and famous, but why are they sacrificed by women?"
Yueniang sighed: "Miss, that's because we women live hard, tired lives, and can't help ourselves. We obey our father at home, our husbands when we go out, and our sons when our husbands die. We have never been able to follow our own hearts for a moment. ”
Qingwan's pair of starry eyes were deep and distant, and she had not spoken for a long time.
Just as Qingwan expected.
The men in the Gu family pretended to be nothing, and when they were supposed to go out and socialize, they were hanging out with their aunts and grandmothers, and they were supposed to serve the princess. Everything was as calm as a summer lake, without any ripples.
Qingguan looked at his wife and Qingzhi who were kept in the dark, and felt more and more that the Gu family was disgusting.
If the enemy does not move, I will not move.
She calmly watched the changes in the situation.
The Lantern Festival has arrived as promised. According to the rules in the south, on this day, female relatives must go to the temple to offer incense and pray for a smooth year.
In the past few years, my wife always eats fast and prays for Buddha every first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, so even when she goes to Beijing, she still acts according to the rules of the south.
Qingguan never followed him because of his stupidity. So when she was called to burn incense that day, she was stunned for a few times.
On this day, the female family members of the Jiang family got up early. At dawn, more than a dozen carriages filed out and drove towards Yanshan.
"The most popular place in Beijing has always been the Yangu Temple on Yanshan Mountain. I heard that the Bodhisattva here will receive whatever he asks for, and it is very effective. When I was six years old, I went to Beijing with my grandmother to celebrate the New Year. I have been there once. Over the years, Never went there again.”
Qingguan listened to her second sister's chatter and lowered her head, hiding the disdain in her eyes.
She lived an extra life and even saw Po Meng on the Huangquan Road, so she would not believe the stories of these gods and Buddhas.
What's more, the rise and fall of a family cannot be determined by burning a few sticks of incense or worshiping in front of the Buddha. When a building is about to collapse, even gods and Buddhas cannot save it.
Qingzhi talked for a long time, but saw that Liu Mei didn't respond at all. When she was about to ask a question, she caught a glimpse of green in her eyes, thinking that she didn't sleep well last night, so she thoughtfully covered her with a blanket and stopped talking.
"If you really want to be so spiritual, the second sister needs to pay her respects well today and ask the Buddha to grant the second sister a good marriage." Qingguan suddenly spoke up.
Qingzhi's body trembled, and anger burst out from her eyes.
The Gao family was so shameless that they dared to let Ice Man come to their door again. It was clear that the grandmother had already said her words to death, but they still refused to do so. Qingguan stared at her for a long time and said without concealing anything: "Second sister, don't worry, I will definitely protect you."