Chapter 57 Chapter 57 is the only authentic version...

There was a heart-wrenching fight in front of the restaurant, with shouts ringing out.

Gu Zhizhuo tilted his head and looked, then recognized that the one being beaten was Qin Luo.

Boring.

"Sir, let's go."

"Miss Gu, save me..."

"Help me, help me call my brother! My brother has money, so stop fighting."

When passing by the door, Qin Luo saw her, holding her head and shouting for help, but Gu Zhizhuo pretended not to hear, pulled Xie Yingchen's sleeve, and walked around as if nothing had happened.

Xie Yingchen obediently let her pull him along. Seeing her curiosity, he said, "Qin Luo stayed at the Cangxiang Pavilion and refused to pay, so he ran away secretly."

How come you know everything? Gu Zhizhuo looked at him.

"Qin Chen said so."

No wonder! Qin Chen said everything. She was very excited: "What happened next?"

"The Cangxiang Pavilion went to the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion to ask for money. The Jing'an Marquis's Mansion couldn't give it, so Qin Su detained Qin Luo in the mansion and didn't allow him to leave, hoping to deny the debt."

Gu Zhizhuo knew this! The Jing'an Marquis's Mansion had completely exhausted its resources for the recent third-day-birth banquet. In the previous life, the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion was still prosperous thanks to his aunt's dowry. Now, it's probably struggling to make ends meet.

Qin Su had to raise all of Jing'an's illegitimate sons and daughters. Just thinking about it made him happy. He loved his younger brothers dearly anyway. They were all "sons" after all.

So, Qin Luo couldn't stay and sneaked out, and was caught by the people from Cangxiang Pavilion?

Serves you right.

"Sir, lanterns!"

Gu Zhizhuo raised his finger and pointed to a shop selling lanterns not far away, putting everything behind him behind him.

There were five or six lanterns hanging in front of the lantern shop. In the bright candlelight, even the most ordinary rabbit lanterns looked as shiny as if they were made of glass.

"Dad promised me before he went to Xinjiang that he would buy me a lantern when he came back."

"He also said that when he comes back, he will take me to fly a Kongming lantern."

"Afterwards, he never came back."

Her eyes darkened for a moment: "You rascal, Daddy never keeps his word!"

"I'll buy it for you."

Xie Yingchen pulled her through his sleeve and walked into the lantern shop. When they came out, Gu Zhizhuo was holding a revolving lantern. When the wind blew, the revolving lantern spun around, and the fish and birds on it seemed to come alive, very lively.

The lantern swayed gently in her hand, and the long tassels swayed in the wind.

Gu Zhizhuo would poke the revolving lantern from time to time and hold it high up to show him.

It's so easy to satisfy.

Xie Yingchen's eyes were gentle and tender, and there was a mysterious feeling in his heart telling him: she had lost everything before, so now, just having a little more could make her happy.

"elder sister."

A little girl called her happily.

Gu Zhizhuo turned around and looked at the wonton stall on the side of the road.

"It's you!"

The little girl came skipping over, beaming happily. "Sister, you're right. We closed the stall half an hour early that day, so we didn't get wet at all. This is for you."

The little girl placed two peanuts in her palm and looked at her expectantly.

She had been holding the peanuts in her hands for a long time, the shells slightly damp, and she was reluctant to eat them. Gu Zhizhuo took them with a smile, took out a few mints from his pouch, and stuffed them into her pockets.

"I'll treat you to some too."

The little girl smiled sweetly.

"Sir, let's eat wontons. It's my treat!"

Gu Zhizhuo pulled him to the wonton stall and sat down. He carefully placed the lantern on the wooden table and ordered four bowls of wontons, including one for Chongjiu and one for Qingmei.

"A large portion!"

Before I could even eat the wontons, Huai Jingzhi came over.

He looked at his own young master in gorgeous clothes, sitting on a wooden bench in the street with Miss Gu waiting for the wontons to be cooked. He was speechless.

He stepped forward and whispered, "Sir, the Emperor summons you to the palace."

Xie Yingchen coughed twice and said, "Tell him I'm very sick and can't enter the palace."

Gu Zhizhuo chuckled: "Huai Jingzhi, do you want to eat wontons?"

Huai Jingzhi: “…”

"Please sit down. It won't be long. My daughter Gu is treating us." Xie Yingchen said, "Grandma, please give me another bowl. A large portion!"

The corner of Huai Jingzhi's eye twitched: Even if you said it so openly that it was "yours", Miss Gu would not understand!

“Wontons are coming!”

The old lady and her granddaughter brought over bowls of steaming wontons.

Huai Jingzhi sat on the long bench and turned around to see Miss Gu skillfully handing the young master a spoon and only putting some chopped green onions in her own bowl. Did she even know that the young master didn't like chopped green onions?

These days, the emperor began to suspect that he was being tricked by the young master. After repeated suppression and testing, he had at least three open and covert confrontations with the young master in just a few days. The young master took the opportunity to force him to agree to withdraw the Jinyiwei from the mansion, and he was finally able to move in and out freely.

Huai Jingzhi was secretly worried that if the young master moved too fast, it would arouse the king's suspicion and lead to a murderous move.

Back then, the former crown prince was at the height of his power, yet he still perished in a conspiracy! If the young master had not acted decisively and taken the initiative to go to Liang as a hostage, he would have likely died.

Now, that person has been sitting on the throne for six years.

The young master's wings are not yet fully grown.

If the young master pushes too hard, there is a possibility of a bloody frame-up and the young master, the scourge, will be completely eliminated.

Huai Jingzhi looked at the steaming wontons and found it difficult to swallow.

"Huai Jingzhi." Gu Zhizhuo called out, "Did you notice?"

What?

Gu Zhizhuo held his chin with one hand and said, "You look at least ten years older when you look so worried."

"Eat wontons." Xie Yingchen knocked on the edge of the bowl. "The sky won't fall. If it does, I still have you. Is being an aide really that easy?"

There was a hint of arrogance between his eyebrows and eyes. In Huai Jingzhi's memory, this only appeared before he was fourteen years old.

Sir, do you think you can hold up the sky if it falls?

Huai Jingzhi tightened his shoulders, feeling a sense of mission.

These days, once the huge stone weighing on his heart was removed, he felt clear-headed. As a qualified aide, what he should do is to ensure that the young master has no worries.

He couldn't help but think, what would happen if he pushed that person into a corner and framed him?

Simple.

Force the emperor to abdicate!

Once this idea appeared in his mind, he couldn't stop it. In just a short moment, he even thought about what preparations he should make before forcing the emperor to abdicate.

He picked up the bowl and ate the whole bowl of wontons in one gulp, then hurriedly took his leave and went back to deal with the eunuch who came to summon him.

"He's really busy."

In his previous life, he was a hard-working and worried person. Less than three years after the young master's death, his temples had turned white.

"Give me your hand."

Xie Yingchen's voice is deeply alluring.

He placed a purse in her palm. When Gu Zhizhuo opened it, there was a piece of silk paper inside.

On the silk paper, the resumes and temperaments of the officials in the city of Auer were written in great detail.

"It will take at least half a month to come back. You have never been far away before, have you?"

No. At least not in this life.

"Take Chongjiu with you."

Gu Zhizhuo agreed and smiled at Chongjiu: "Thank you for your hard work."

"Sir, have some peanuts."

She gave a peanut to Xie Yingchen and looked at the silk paper.

Click.

Xie Yingchen pinched the peanut shell gently, and two peanuts lay inside. Xie Yingchen picked up one and fed it to her lips.

Gu Zhizhuo was looking down at the silk paper with his brows tightly furrowed. Without thinking, he opened his mouth to take it, leaving a faint body temperature on his fingertips.

The peanuts were fragrant and crispy. After finishing one and reading the silk paper, Gu Zhizhuo was filled with confusion. Why would the emperor think that a newly appointed student could understand military affairs without any guidance?

“Is it like this in every city?”

"Every city is like this!" Xie Yingchen nodded. "So, Western Xinjiang is not peaceful right now."

If Mr. Gu Sanye doesn't arrange enough staff for her, then he will do it.

For the time being, I only gave it to Chongjiu, thinking that he would not interfere too much and make Mr. Gu unhappy.

Gu Zhizhuo put the silk paper away and said solemnly, "I will be careful."

After eating the wontons, they walked around for a while. When they came, they agreed to send Xie Yingchen back, but after going around in circles unknowingly, it turned out that Xie Yingchen was the one sending her back.

Qin Chen was already waiting in front of the mansion in his carriage.

Holding the revolving lantern and bringing Chongjiu with him, Gu Zhizhuo waved goodbye to him, and there was no trace of the gloomy and decadent look on his face as he had at the Meridian Gate.

As soon as he entered the mansion, Gu Zhizhuo called the chief steward, Chen Jin, and asked him to arrange accommodation for Chongjiu. He also casually asked, "Have your third uncle and aunt returned?"

The chief steward glanced at Chongjiu, and Gu Zhizhuo said, "Go ahead, it's okay."

"Yes. The Third Master and the Eldest Aunt went to the Qianji Camp outside the city. The Third Master said they might not be back today."

Qianjiying was a personal guard battalion specially authorized by Emperor Taizu to be established by the Zhenguogong Mansion. Gu Yican did not bring Qianjiying with him to suppress the bandits this time. Now these 3,000 people are stationed in a camp outside the capital.

It would take at least three hours to go back and forth, so I really couldn't come back today.

Chen Jin asked again: "Miss, do you want to bring the Ji family to the capital again?"

Ji was demoted to a concubine by the imperial edict, and all the embezzlement and deficit were exposed. Is it necessary to bring Ji's family here?

"bring."

Compromise is only for expediency. This anger has been weighing on her mind for two lifetimes, and she can't swallow it without making a huge fuss.

Chen Jin didn't ask why, but bowed and responded. He was just about to say that the people he had sent were on their way when a familiar old woman hurried over. Seeing Gu Zhizhuo, her eyes were filled with joy and delight: "Miss, you're back. How wonderful!"

She wiped the sweat from her forehead and ran out of breath.

Gu Zhizhuo frowned slightly: "What happened?"

"The fourth young master and the second young lady are fighting."

When she heard the name of the Fourth Young Master, Gu Zhizhuo was filled with an unconcealable irritation. Fearing that Gu Zhiwei would suffer, she said to Chongjiu, "Go with Steward Chen to rest first. We'll decide on the departure time tomorrow."

After saying that, he hurriedly followed the old woman away.

Gu Zhizhuo walked quickly and passed through the inner ceremonial gate. She said, "Go on."

"Yes." The old woman took small steps, following closely behind Gu Zhizhuo, and said, "When the Second Miss and the cousin from the Xu family passed by the garden, it happened that Concubine Ji was sent back. The Second Miss didn't know what happened, so she asked a few questions. Nanny Zhu told her, but who would have thought that the Fourth Young Master would hear it. The Fourth Young Master said that Concubine Ji was not a concubine and told them not to say anything nonsense."

"The Second Young Lady ignored him and left to have dinner with the Madam. When she was about to leave after dinner, the Fourth Young Master was still waiting there. He started a quarrel with the Second Young Lady and almost pushed her into the pond."

Gu Zhizhuo's heart tightened: "And then?"

All the members of the Gu family died in the previous life, and her sisters are all still in danger of death, so she worries about any danger.

"Xu's cousin blocked it and fell into the pond."

The old woman used a more tactful way of saying it, but in fact she asked Gu Yan to be pushed away.

Gu Zhizhuo's steps became faster. She hurried along the corridor and soon arrived at the garden.

Many maids and old women gathered around the pond in the garden, and even the second wife, Mrs. Xu, rushed over after hearing the news.

The maids had already fished Xu Ying'er out of the pond. She was leaning against a maid, her whole body wet, coughing and panting, her clothes pulled to reveal half of her shoulder, and her pink birthmark was faintly visible.

"Ying'er!"

Xu walked over quickly with a cloak in her hand and was about to wrap Xu Ying'er up when she suddenly stopped.

She stared straight at Xu Ying'er's exposed shoulders and was stunned for a moment.

"Mom, give it to me!"

Gu Zhiwei grabbed the cloak and put it on Xu Ying'er, then continued, "Where's the doctor? Has the doctor come?"

"Go and urge them again."

"Go make a pot of ginger soup. And..."

The well-organized voice of giving orders stopped the moment she saw Gu Zhizhuo, and all the fear that had been forced to be suppressed came back. She pursed her lips and called out, "Big sister." When her cousin fell into the water, she was so scared that she almost wanted to jump in after her.

"Do as the second young lady says." Gu Zhizhuo handed the lantern to Qingmei and went to see Xu Ying'er.

After feeling her pulse, she let Xu Ying'er lean on her body and pressed her lower abdomen and several acupoints from chest to throat with her fingers with familiar movements. Xu Ying'er vomited water and recovered immediately.

"It's okay."

"Send the cousin home first and change her clothes."

Gu Zhizhuo asked a servant to carry Xu Ying'er, who now lived with Gu Zhiwei.

"Who told you to leave?"

The boy rushed over screaming and yelled at Gu Zhizhuo, "Gu Zhizhuo, they were the ones who spoke ill of my mother first."

Gu Yan, not even six years old, stood in front of Gu Zhizhuo with his hands on his hips, angrily accusing him, "They said my mother was a concubine!"

He had a very good-looking face, with red lips and white teeth, but when he was hysterical, his face looked a little distorted.

He stared at Gu Zhizhuo, wanting her to make the decision for him. He wanted her to say that he was not wrong and that they deserved it for talking nonsense.

"We didn't." Any well-educated girl wouldn't talk about others behind their backs, let alone their elders. Gu Zhiwei pouted and said, "I just asked Aunt Zhu."

"You do!" Gu Yan said angrily, "My mother is not a concubine, she is the wife of a duke..."

Gu Zhizhuo interrupted him clearly: "She is my concubine."

"no!"

Gu Yan pinched his throat and yelled, his voice so sharp that it hurt people's ears.

Gu Zhizhuo lifted his collar and asked, "Were you the one who pushed Ying'er down?"

“I pushed it.”

Gu Yan felt aggrieved.

They all said that his mother had been demoted to a concubine and he was not allowed to see her.

If his mother became a concubine, wouldn't he become a bastard in the future? Waves of panic kept surging in his heart. He just wanted someone to tell him that this was a lie, a coaxing.

He was extremely scared.

"Gu Zhizhuo, you two ganged up on me to bully me!" Gu Yan kicked her, her face flushing red. "Gu Zhizhuo, you're my sister, why are you helping outsiders bully me?!"

No repentance.

Gu Zhizhuo's face grew colder, and he grabbed his collar and dragged him towards the pond.

"Miss." Rui Huang and Gu Yan's wet nurse came over in a hurry, "Please don't do anything rash..."

"Gu Zhizhuo, let me go..."

Gu Zhizhuo let go of his hand and kicked Gu Yan without waiting for him to make any more noise.

thump!

Gu Yan's face revealed an expression of fear that was difficult to conceal.

Until the moment before, he thought Gu Zhizhuo was deliberately trying to scare him, but then, fear and the pond water came together and drowned him in an instant.

Everyone was shocked. No one expected that the girl would actually kick.

After a moment's silence, Xu immediately ordered, "Save the Fourth Young Master. What are you all standing there for?"

One after another, the old women who knew Si Shui jumped into the pond, causing a chaos of people and horses.

Gu Zhizhuo only took a glance and saw that the water in the pond was not deep, and with so many skilled water women around, no one would drown.

He deserves a lesson for pushing others into trouble whenever he disagrees with them.

"Second Aunt, please accompany Weiwei and the others first. I'll be there soon."

Gu Zhizhuo called the housemaid over and said, "Pass on my message. The emperor has issued an order to revoke the title of Duke Ji's wife. From now on, Ji is a concubine."

As soon as Ji was sent back, there were rumors in the mansion that she had been demoted to a concubine. Now that Gu Zhizhuo admitted it himself, everyone was shocked, even Xu, whose dignified face showed a hint of surprise.

Xu didn't ask any more questions and left first.

Gu Zhizhuo followed up, "Go and clean up the main courtyard. No family or mansion would have a concubine living in the main courtyard. Arrange a small courtyard for Ji Shi and don't let her leave unless necessary. As for Gu Yan..."

Gu Yan didn't choke on the water, but he was very scared and curled up in his wet nurse's arms.

"Send it to the front yard."

"yes."

The maids and old women all agreed.

After giving her instructions, she left without looking back.

Gu Yan behind him suddenly screamed, crying and making a fuss.

Gu Zhiwei lived not far from Chaoyun Courtyard. When Gu Zhizhuo arrived, the doctor had just arrived and the house was bustling with activity. She called Gu Zhiwei out and said, "I'm going on a long journey in a couple of days. Come to my place after lunch tomorrow and I'll take you to meet the matrons in charge. While I'm away, you and Nannan can help out. I'll leave the whole house to you."

"ah!"

Gu Zhiwei waved her hands repeatedly: "Big sister, I don't know how to do it."

"If you don't know, just ask grandma." Gu Zhizhuo touched the top of her head. "It's okay if something goes wrong. After all, we are in our own house. It's no big deal."

"I have to go to the border. You can't let me go in peace, right?"

Third uncle is right.

The Gu family cannot rely on her alone.

Her sisters are also very capable!

Eleven-year-old Gu Zhiwei suddenly felt that she had been entrusted with an important task, and her face suddenly became serious: "Yes, big sister!"

"Go in and see your cousin first."

Gu Zhizhuo had just felt the patient's pulse, so he wasn't worried. The doctor's words were similar, suggesting he'd just had a fright, and he prescribed a tranquilizing decoction. Gu Zhizhuo didn't stay long and returned to his own courtyard.

As soon as I sat on the beauty couch and leaned against the big pillow, I felt tired.

When I woke up, it was already three o'clock in the morning.

Qiongfang was the most considerate person on duty at night. She had already prepared a variety of midnight snacks. After eating the snacks and washing up simply, Gu Zhizhuo fell asleep again.

I slept almost until noon and woke up completely.

After Gu Zhizhuo brought Gu Zhiwei and Gu Zhinan to meet the internal stewards and explained some important matters one by one, Gu Baibai and Gu Liaoliao returned from the military camp. She rushed to the front yard without stopping.

As she stepped into the courtyard, Zheng Qi also came over, only one step slower than her.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing that he was the one running errands himself, Gu Zhizhuo stopped and asked.

"Miss." Zheng Qi hesitated for a moment and then reported, "The Third Prince has arrived and specifically requested to see the Third Master."

"The Third Prince?"

Qiongfang whispered, "Miss Ji came back around three o'clock last night."

It turned out that he came for Ji Nan Ke, fearing that the Gu family would treat his sweetheart unfairly.

Gu Zhizhuo sneered repeatedly: "I'll go, you go and tell Third Uncle not to come."

After she finished speaking, she turned a corner and went straight to the main hall.

The Third Prince, Xie Jing, was wearing a royal robe and stood with his back to the door, his hands clasped behind his back. Anger emanated from his entire body. As if hearing something, he turned around and said majestically, "Third Master Gu..."

The moment they saw Gu Zhizhuo, all the voices disappeared.

The arrogance on his face instantly collapsed, and his voice weakened. He pointed at her hesitantly: "You, you, you, why is it you!?"