Chapter 47 Chapter 47 is the only authentic version...
After so many years, many things are difficult to verify.
Only——
"Qingmei, go to the Madam and ask for the account book."
Gu Zhizhuo gave an instruction with a smile, then turned to Zheng Qi and said, "Go on."
Zheng Qi was still thinking that the Madam would never hand over the account books so easily, so he quickly said, "Yes, Miss, Ji Huacheng was in the 22nd year of Taiyuan..."
Qingmei walked out of the door and headed straight for the main courtyard.
After reporting everything, Ji Shi met her expressionlessly and asked, "What's your daughter up to now?"
Qingmei smiled coquettishly: "Madam, my young lady asked you to take out all the account books. She knows you are busy, so you don't need to make a special trip. Just let me take them back."
A stern look appeared on Ji's face. Without waiting for Qingmei to finish her words, he picked up the teacup at hand and threw it at her. The teacup fell at her feet with a "bang", and hot water and broken porcelain splashed everywhere.
Qingmei casually brushed her sleeves, shaking off the tea stains on them.
No wonder the girl asked herself to do it. Qiongfang doesn't have her own good skills, and she will be in trouble if she is not careful.
She asked slowly, "Madam, where are the account books?"
Ji was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, with a "crackling" sound coming from his throat.
She said gloomily to Qingmei, "Go tell her that my marriage was granted by imperial decree, and the Ministry of Rites personally welcomed me in through the main gate of the Zhenguo Mansion! I'm listed in the family tree, and the Gu family married me in a formal ceremony!"
"I raised her since she was little. I am her mother."
Ji placed emphasis on the word "mother".
Her expression grew even colder, almost gritting her teeth. "If she doesn't want to be branded as unfilial, she shouldn't push her any further!"
Qingmei said politely, "My daughter just wanted to take a look at the household's account books. How could you be so unreasonable? It's unfilial. Could it be that my daughter can't bear to look at your account books?"
Bang!
Now even a little maid dares to act so arrogantly in front of him!
Ji slammed the table hard, her chest felt like a ball of fire, burning continuously and devouring her sanity.
"Okay, okay! Come on, get the carriage ready and tell Gu Zhizhuo to go back to the farm today, right now, and reflect on his actions." She stared at Qingmei and said, "I've been kind to her and indulged her, but she's taken advantage of my indulgence and has become even more disrespectful of me."
"The Great Qi Dynasty governs the country with filial piety. Gu Zhizhuo is disrespectful to her mother. As her mother, I have the right to discipline her!"
She was the legitimate wife of the Duke of Zhenguo. In terms of filial piety, Gu Zhizhuo had to bow to her.
When it comes to filial piety, I will always be able to surpass her!
She coldly threatened, "If Gu Zhizhuo doesn't go to the manor today, I'll go to the palace tomorrow morning! If they carry the reputation of being disobedient and unfilial, Gu Yican will never be able to inherit the title."
"The Qin family was just deprived of their hereditary succession because of their adultery!"
"Could it be that the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion also wants to follow in their footsteps?!"
She shouldn't have retreated from the beginning.
Gu Zhizhuo has no idea what it means to stop when enough is enough.
Ji pointed at Qingmei and shouted, "Go!"
"Yes." Qingmei said pretentiously, "You refused to hand over the account book and asked the young lady to go to the farm to reflect on her mistakes. I will tell the young lady everything I have said.
"I'll take my leave."
Qingmei didn't care about her dark face at all and walked away with brisk steps.
Ji sat on the armchair, breathing heavily without saying a word. Haggardness crept up on her cheeks, and she looked ten years older.
"Madam, please have some tea."
Ji suddenly looked up and saw that it was Nanny Wan. She closed her eyes again and breathed a sigh of relief silently.
Although she hadn't dreamed of her elder sister in the past few days, ever since the events of that year came back to her mind, it was like a vine with branches and vines, strangling her little by little and making it difficult for her to breathe.
Every moment, her heartstrings were tightening and she could hardly bear it.
Nanny Wan brought her some tea and soothed her softly, "That's right, Madam, why should you be afraid of her? As long as we are mother and daughter, you can beat her, scold her, and punish her as you please."
Yes, yes.
You don't have to be afraid of her!
Ji sipped the tea, a faint bitterness lingering in her mouth. Nanny Wan continued, "There's one more piece of great news I haven't told you. The Third Prince just sent someone to bring you a message."
Ji twitched the corner of his mouth: "What's the good news?"
Nanny Wan beamed with joy, wanting to cheer her up. She exaggerated, "The Emperor said that the engagement between the Third Prince and the eldest daughter is invalid. Now that the Third Prince is no longer bound by any engagement, he is trying to ask the Empress to let the cousin return. When the time comes, he will come to propose marriage in a grand manner."
Ji's brows relaxed, and she said with relief, "That's great! Our sister Ke finally saw the light after waiting for so long!"
"My cousin and the Third Prince are a match made in heaven," Nanny Wan said with a smile. "Good things are yet to come for you!"
"When my cousin becomes the Third Prince's consort..." she whispered, "and becomes the Crown Princess. It's still uncertain who will hold the title in this mansion in the future."
The stepson inherited the title, and the lady was only a stepmother after all. But the fourth young master was the lady's biological son. Once the fourth young master inherited the title, the lady would no longer have to look after anyone else.
Nanny Wan leaned over and her voice suddenly paused. She found that there were a few more white hairs on the lady's temples.
She quickly smiled and said, "Don't you agree?"
Yes. Ji nodded slowly.
She slowly finished the tea in her hand, put down the teacup, pressed the corner of her mouth with her handkerchief and said, "Go and see if Gu Zhizhuo has gone to the manor honestly."
Nanny Wan immediately sent someone to do it.
After a while, the maid came back and reported that the eldest girl did not go.
Nanny Wan sent her away three times in a row, and each time she replied: The eldest girl didn't go.
So, she simply sent someone to guard the Neiyi Gate, and they stayed there until dusk. When it was almost dark, Gu Zhizhuo still showed no sign of going out.
Nanny Wan hesitated for a moment before ordering, "Go and hurry up! The city gates will be closed any later. If the young lady can't get out, she'll have to sleep on the streets. Tell her this directly."
The maid received the instructions and passed by an old woman carrying a food box.
"Mammy, Mrs. Fang has brought the dinner over."
Mrs. Fang is a maid who does odd jobs in the kitchen.
Why let her come to deliver it? Nanny Wan frowned in dissatisfaction and ordered, "Serve the meal."
She went to invite Ji out, and when she reached the door, she heard gasps. She shouted, "What's wrong? It's rude..." Her voice stopped abruptly, and Nanny Wan walked quickly to the Eight Immortals Table with a pale face. She was not mistaken. What was brought out from the food box was either vegetables or tofu, without a trace of oil.
"Who told you to send these?"
Mother Fang put her hands down and replied, "The eldest lady said that Madam has been too hot-tempered lately, which is not good for her health. She should eat something light."
"The eldest lady personally prepared the menu for Madam."
Ji flicked his sleeves and turned away.
Not long after, another maid brought in a doctor. Standing respectfully, she said, "The eldest lady asked the doctor to check Madam's pulse. She also said, don't worry, Madam, she has thrown away all the rotten tree roots in the warehouse and will not use them for you."
"The young lady's filial piety towards you is truly touching." "Get out!"
Ji screamed.
She wants to enter the palace, and she wants to enter the palace now!
She stood up suddenly, turned around the room several times, and shouted: "Serve me to put on my makeup, I want to go to the palace."
"Now...it's dark."
"I want to go to the palace! Go to the palace!"
Ji's hysterical look startled Nanny Wan. While coaxing her, she called the maids in to help her wash and put on makeup and put on a complete set of imperial robes.
"Ma'am, you can't go now."
Even if you sit in a carriage and wait outside the palace gate, you will definitely be expelled by the Jinwu Guards in the middle of the night.
"Wait till daybreak, okay?"
"……good."
Ji sat motionless in front of the dressing table, staring out the window.
Sit from dusk till dawn.
When the first rays of dawn shone through the window, she immediately stood up and walked quickly out.
She walked very quickly. Nanny Wan asked the maid to follow her, thinking: First, wait outside the palace gate, then pass the sign. There should be a summons in the morning...
She had made all the plans in her mind, but as soon as she arrived at the ceremonial gate, the maid guarding the gate said respectfully: "The eldest lady said that you are not feeling well, so don't go out unless it's necessary. You are her mother, and she will be distressed if anything happens to you."
Ji: “…”
"Go away!"
Ji raised her hand to push, but several maids stood motionless, blocking the ceremonial gate with their big shoulders and waists.
Nanny Wan ordered the maids to push the people together, pointing at them and shouting, "You dare not even listen to the Madam's words? Believe it or not, I will beat you all to death! And then I will sell your entire family."
"Even after hearing this, you will still be beaten to death by the Madam." A woman muttered with a bit of disdain, and immediately put on a humble attitude.
Nanny Wan felt a chill in her heart.
As expected, the death of Bai Chang's family made the lady lose badly. The eldest girl took the opportunity to walk into the big net that the lady had woven for eight years, and tore the net into pieces.
The old woman smiled respectfully and refused to move from the ceremonial gate no matter how they pulled and pushed her.
She was not allowed to use the carriage.
The ceremonial gate wouldn't let her out.
This feeling, which was almost like being imprisoned, completely broke Ji Shi.
"Go to Duanfu Hall." Ji panted and shouted as she walked, "Let the internal stewards come over. I don't believe that Gu Zhizhuo has rounded them all up!"
Nanny Wan nodded repeatedly, told her not to be angry, and helped her go to Duanfu Hall first.
After passing through a door with hanging flowers, it was quiet inside. Only the housekeeper was sweeping the fallen leaves in the yard. Ji walked straight into the main room and walked towards the armchair placed at the top without looking around.
She stroked the crane pattern on the armrest of the armchair.
Back then, she married into the family with trepidation, until she sat on this throne and looked down at the servants' submissive gazes. At that moment, she finally became convinced that her choice was right.
The fact that she was able to come out of the countryside and ride in the bridal sedan in place of her elder sister meant that this honor and wealth were destined to belong to her.
Gu Zhizhuo can’t even think about pushing himself back!
Ji Shi, dressed in heavy makeup, sat at the head of the table, waiting from dawn until the hour of Si.
Only three or five people came. At first, Ji could comfort himself by saying that it was just the beginning of the day's work and they would probably come after they finished the work at hand.
However, as time passed, this luck disappeared.
Ji's heart sank. Shock, anger, uneasiness and other emotions were like huge rocks pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.
These days, she deliberately let go and ignored everything. She wanted to see the chaos in the mansion and let the lady dowager and the others see that it was she who was busy taking care of everything. Without her, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion would not have the good life it has today!
Unexpectedly, not only was the mansion not in chaos as she had expected, but even the internal stewards began to not take her seriously.
Ji slammed the coffee table fiercely and said, "Madame Zuo, Madame Liu, where are the people from Wulong?!"
"Go ahead."
These three people, like the Bai Chang family, are Ji's confidants and can be regarded as his right-hand men.
Nanny Zuo was in charge of personnel matters. She held the roster of everyone in the mansion and was responsible for the training of the maids.
Nanny Liu is the accountant of the inner courtyard, and she can mobilize up to 30,000 taels of silver for expenditures.
As for the Wulong family, she was in charge of all the shops in the capital.
But none of the three of them came today.
Ji Shi didn't believe that even they would be bewitched by Gu Zhizhuo's few words and betray him.
A nanny in her late forties hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and muttered, "Madam, their jobs have been taken away. The eldest daughter has been replaced by a new person."
This is impossible!
Adjusting personnel requires matching cards and matching account books. All the matching cards of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion are now in her hands, and she is the only one who has the account books of the mansion.
How could Gu Zhizhuo bypass her and replace the person without permission? This was not a maid or servant in Gu Zhizhuo's own yard that he could drive away just like that.
She doesn't believe it!
The maiden whose name was called evaded attention and said cautiously, "The eldest girl said that a pair of cards is useless. Just play another one."
As she spoke, she quietly wiped the sweat from her forehead, and her whole body fidgeted. She shouldn't have come. She hadn't expected so many people to not come. No wonder they all called her stupid.
If she wasn't stupid, why would she still be trying to please everyone at this time?
Ji's breathing suddenly stopped.
Cards, account books, keys... these are her confidence as the mistress of the house.
She thought that as long as she gritted her teeth and refused to give up the household expenses, she would be fine. But who could have imagined that Gu Zhizhuo would kick her away, step over her body, and trample her into the mud. Ji's body shook, and her vision went black.
Nanny Wan supported her from behind, hating Gu Zhizhuo in her heart.
When the Madam married her, she was only six years old. Even though the Madam had the intention of praising her to death, she still raised her well. If she had any gratitude in her heart, how could she hurt the Madam again and again like this?
"Mammy, bring my pair of cards and call them all over." Ji gritted her teeth. "I want to see if this pair of cards, passed down from the Madam and used by successive mistresses, still works!"
Nanny Wan hesitated for a moment and then hurried to do it.
A stick of incense.
Half an hour.
One hour...
No one came, and the maids could no longer sit. One of them said tentatively, "Madam, I have something to do. I'll take my leave now."
"Yes, yes. This servant too."
"Madam, I will leave first."
They stood up one after another and knelt before Ji, who stared at them without saying a word.
They felt a little scared and looked at each other, when they suddenly heard some noise outside, followed by chaotic footsteps.
It was as if the sound of nature had reached their hearts.
Someone looked out of the corner of their eye and saw that the first one to cross the threshold and enter Duanfu Hall was Li Mao's family, followed closely by Nanny Wang, Nanny Zhang, and other Nannies who held real power in the mansion.
Nanny Wan's tense face finally revealed a hint of a smile. She lowered her head and said, "Madam, look, they're all here. No matter how much the eldest girl struggles, she's still a young lady who's going to get married sooner or later. So what?"
The lady gave birth to the fourth young master, and was granted a title by imperial decree, so she will always have a place in this mansion.
Ji's mouth curled up, suppressing the uneasiness in his heart.
The internal stewards came in one after another, and soon almost all of them were present. Ji even saw a few unfamiliar faces inside, and he knew that these must be the ones who were recently promoted by Gu Zhizhuo.
"You're late."
Ji sat at the top and spoke condescendingly.
She spoke word by word, "Are you all so lazy now that I need to use my matching cards to hire you?"
"Madam." Li Maojia bowed and took out a black lacquered mahogany pair of cards with gold characters from his arms and presented it with both hands, "Your pair of cards."
What's the meaning?
Two little maids brought in a burning brazier from outside, one on the left and one on the right, and placed it in the middle of the main hall.
"Who told you to bring this in?"
Nanny Wan frowned and started to scold. Just as she finished her words, Li Maojia raised her hand and threw the pair of cards into the brazier.
The flames engulfed the pair of cards and burned into Ji's heart. She stood up suddenly, her red lips half open, her pearl hairpin swaying, and she was so shocked that she even forgot to breathe.
Li Maojia brushed the nonexistent dust off her hands and said respectfully, "Madam, the eldest daughter said that your pair of cards is old. You are the wife of a duke, how can we allow you to use old things? If this gets out, won't people think our daughter is unfilial?"
At this moment, Ji's expression completely changed.
She glanced down, and the housekeepers either avoided her gaze or looked up at her without hesitation like Li Mao's family, but they all took out their matching cards and threw them into the brazier one after another.
The flames burned brighter.
Li Maojia remained respectful and bowed, saying, "Madam, you know that there can only be one set of cards. All discarded cards must be burned and destroyed to prevent servants from secretly hoarding and misappropriating them."
"This is also the rule of the mansion."
Ji retreated repeatedly, her knees hitting the armchair behind her, and the floating breath blocked her voice in her throat.
At this moment, a girl in a crimson long dress walked in against the light. She lifted up her skirt and stepped over the high threshold calmly. Even the restrained steps at her waist did not shake unnecessarily with every move she made.
All the internal stewards lowered their heads and placed their hands in front of their stomachs.
Ji's eyes swept over all of this, and his anger kept surging, then turned into a self-deprecating sneer.
She thought her high position was stolen, while Gu Zhizhuo was the legitimate one.
As long as she appears, she can easily take away everything.
Ji thought of his elder sister.
She was only fourteen when she first met her eldest sister.
The eldest sister asked her mother to take her back from the countryside. She walked into the Ji family compound with a dusty face. The eldest sister ran out happily and held her hand.
That face, which was exactly the same as hers, had a dazzling brilliance that she did not have.
She had to work hard to get something that some people are born with.
The eldest sister is, and so is Gu Zhizhuo.
At that time, what she thought was: It would be great if I didn’t have an older sister.
If not...
"Mother."
Gu Zhizhuo's voice was neither loud nor soft. He walked straight to Ji Shi, knelt down, and said with a smile, "Why are you here? Well, you are old now. Just be a good old lady in the mansion. I will share these troubles with you from now on."
Ji stared at Gu Zhizhuo, her eyes bloodshot.
"Okay, okay." Ji Shi laughed in anger, "You are trying to undermine me."
"How can I? Mother is not feeling well, and I am worried and anxious. I don't know how I can fulfill my filial duty. Mother, you have been out for most of the day, so it's time for a nap."
Gu Zhizhuo spoke softly, her pearl-studded veil covering most of her face, leaving only her phoenix eyes exposed, gleaming with sharp intent.
I said that she was "disobedient and unfilial", and she used "filial piety" to suppress me in every sentence!
Ji grabbed the tea bowl and threw it at Gu Zhizhuo.
Here we go again! The habit of smashing things is not good. Qingmei stepped forward to block it, but Gu Zhizhuo had already pulled out the black whip from his waist. With a nimble flick of her wrist, the tea bowl was swept by the whip and suddenly changed direction in mid-air and smashed towards Ji.
Ji's face turned pale, and Nanny Wan leaned over to protect her. The tea bowl hit Nanny Wan's back, and she groaned in pain.
"Mammy!"
Ji cried out in shock, "Gu Zhizhuo, how dare you attack me!"
Her face no longer had the standard and flawless demeanor it once had; instead, there was a sharp distortion and hysteria.
Qingmei had seen Ji's condition when she was training in the East Factory. There were always people in her batch who became too nervous and became startled, but they disappeared soon after.
"Go out and kneel outside." Ji's voice was sharp and piercing. "Go!"
Gu Zhizhuo played with a long whip, not even looking up: "Mother, what are you talking about? How dare your daughter hit you. Alas, you are old, I am afraid you are having a nightmare."
Who is old?! Who would have nightmares just standing there?! She is only twenty-five, twenty-five is okay!
"Li Maojia, you say."
Gu Zhizhuo casually mentioned a name, and Li Maojia was overjoyed. She quickly said, "Madam, what are you talking about? The eldest daughter never fought with you. You must have been confused in your sleep. Even though you are stepmother, you can't just make random accusations like this. If this gets out, people will think the eldest daughter is unfilial. God knows, our eldest daughter is the most filial. Knowing that you are not feeling well, she took the initiative to help you. This is the best mother and daughter can do."
"Yes, yes. Madam, you didn't sleep well."
"I heard that the main hospital called a doctor yesterday. Our eldest daughter was very worried when she knew you were sick."
The internal managers kept talking to each other about how filial Gu Zhizhuo was. His behavior could be recorded in "Female Filial Piety" or a revised version of "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars".
If the tea bowl had not been still shattered on the ground, even Ji himself would have been confused for a moment, wondering if he was dreaming.
Okay. Very good.
Ji took a step forward and sneered.
"Then what are you going to do with me, you who are so filial?!"
"my daughter."
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