Chapter 73 Chapter 73 is the only authentic version...
Nanny Sun stood there for a long time, until she confirmed that Ji Nan Ke was gone, then she hurried back to the courtyard of the second house with the bamboo basket.
"Madam." Nanny Sun smiled her usual smile, lifted the curtain and walked in. "This is a gift from the Madam."
She placed a basket of white jade fruit on the Eight Immortals table, along with a delicate little box. She then said cheerfully, "The Madam loves our daughter the most. She waited until the eldest daughter and the others left before sending me to get it."
They had already left Ronghe Hall when a maid chased after them and asked Madam Sun to come over.
"Grandma just forgot." Gu Zhiwei took the box, which was half filled with pearl flowers and several bracelets, some made of agate, some jade, and some inlaid with diamonds.
To the lady, these things were just little toys to amuse the sisters, so there was no need to keep them away from the sisters.
Nanny Sun just likes to think too much.
"Cousin, you choose first."
Gu Zhiwei pushed the box toward Xu Ying'er. Xu Ying'er was about to say no, but then she remembered her cousin's words about being like Weiwei in this mansion and not being so cautious. If it were Weiwei, she wouldn't refuse, right? Xu Ying'er moved her lips and said, "Okay."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw joy and happiness on her cousin's face.
It was as if a breeze blew through Xu Ying'er's heart, and her tense back relaxed, and her relaxed brows and eyes became more radiant and beautiful.
Xu Ying'er picked out a red coral one, and Gu Zhiwei picked up a crabapple flower made of agate, on which a colorful butterfly was resting, its wings looking particularly graceful as if it was about to spread out its wings and fly.
This was the most exquisite of all the pearl flowers. She picked it up and held it against Xu Ying'er's hair. Then she turned to look at Xu and said with a smile, "Mother, look, isn't it beautiful?"
Xu was a little stunned, then smiled and said, "It looks good. Ying'er should wear something more colorful."
"Mom, have you noticed that cousin Ying'er looks so much like you..."
Bang!
A slight sound interrupted everyone's attention. The fruit plate in Nanny Sun's hand slipped down, and the white jade fruits on it rolled all over the floor.
"It was my carelessness."
Nanny Sun hurriedly bent down to clean up, and her fingertip was accidentally pierced by a piece of broken porcelain, and a few drops of blood oozed out.
Her eyes were wandering, as if she was in an ice cave, feeling cold.
I can't wait any longer, Xu Ying'er is getting better day by day.
In the past, she was timid and cowardly, hiding the beauty and grace between her eyebrows and eyes, but after living in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion for a long time, her every move and gesture now has a bit more calmness and grace.
If we wait any longer, we will definitely be discovered.
Her heart was pounding. She had stolen the child in a moment of thought. Who would have thought that even after thirteen years, she still couldn't rest in peace.
"Madame Sun, your hand is injured. Go bandage it quickly."
Nanny Sun came back to her senses and smiled nonchalantly: "It was pricked, it's okay, I will fix it quickly."
Nanny Sun picked up a few large pieces of porcelain and called the maid to come and clean up.
When she came back, she brought another plate of white jade fruit. The two girls picked out their pearl flowers. Xu re-combed Xu Ying'er's hair and thought, "I still need to thin out the bangs."
Nanny Sun tightened her grip on the fruit plate, feigning composure as she placed it on the eight-immortals table. She smiled and said, "Second Madam, this afternoon, my uncle sent a letter saying that the Gong family had already paid the betrothal gift."
Xu Ying'er's palms were cold, and her heart felt like it was being pressed by a huge rock.
She had met Mr. Gong just over three months ago.
At that time, the old lady of the Gong family was celebrating her birthday, and her mother took her to celebrate. They brought valuable gifts, hoping to follow the old lady's lead in getting a good job for her younger brother.
While she was sitting in the garden, a woman ran out in terror, crying and shouting for help.
The woman's body was covered in blood, her face was bruised and swollen, and her arms were twisted unnaturally. Xu Ying'er was terrified. Seeing that she was about the same age as herself, she couldn't help but go over and give her a handkerchief to help her wipe the blood from her mouth.
The woman first looked at Xu Ying'er motionlessly, then mouthed: Go away.
Without waiting for Xu Ying'er to leave, Admiral Gong rushed into the inner courtyard, which was crowded with guests, and personally dragged the girl away. During the struggle, the woman's sleeve was pulled up, and Xu Ying'er saw bloodstains on her arms, some of which were new and some were old.
She kept calling for help, but no one saved her.
Before leaving, Admiral Gong glanced at Xu Ying'er, and his sinister gaze made Xu Ying'er shudder.
Later, Xu Ying'er heard some women around her say with pity that the woman was Mr. Gong's second wife.
Later, I heard that the woman had died. My mother told me happily that Admiral Gong had taken a fancy to me. Mr. Gong was a powerful figure and it was my fortune that he had taken a fancy to me. For the sake of my brother's future, I should happily marry him and serve him well.
But she didn't want to!
Xu Ying'er still remembered that she told her mother what she saw at the Gong Mansion that day. She thought her mother would at least reconsider it, but in the end, her mother didn't care at all.
My mother said that she lived just for my younger brother.
Otherwise why would we raise her so big?
They said she only cared about herself and ignored her brother, that she was heartless and had no gratitude at all, and that raising her was worse than raising a dog.
Since she was a child, Xu Ying'er knew that she was not as important as her younger brother in her parents' hearts. Even her name "Ying'er" was given to her because her mother did not give birth to a son in her first pregnancy.
But, isn't even her life as important as finding a job for her brother?
Xu Ying'er couldn't figure it out, so she did the boldest thing in her life - she sneaked out of the house and knocked on the door of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
If I had to let her go back...
Xu Ying'er shuddered. She remembered the look Admiral Gong gave her that day, and the amused smile on his face, as if to him, she was just a weak prey that could be easily stripped of its bones.
Her fingertips were tensed tightly, as if a ruthless hand was strangling her throat, making it difficult to breathe.
"Cousin, don't be afraid."
Gu Zhiwei grabbed her cold hand and said, "Big sister said no one can take you away. My big sister is really powerful!"
After finishing her words, Gu Zhiwei said angrily, "Madam Sun, stop saying these things. Who their family chooses is none of our business. If they are worried that there will be no one to marry, then just let their precious son marry. Anyway, I heard that people with the surname Gong don't mind eating any meat or anything."
Gu Zhiwei didn't quite understand what "no matter what kind of meat or fish" meant. It was her grandma's brother who said that, and it was definitely not a good thing anyway. She just said it casually at this moment.
"Gu Zhiwei."
Xu shouted.
Gu Zhiwei quickly stood up, lowered her eyes, and placed her hands in front of her. Her movements were quick and skillful. She said sweetly, "My daughter knows she was wrong."
"You are becoming more and more outrageous! At such a young age..." and yet you are saying such obscene words.
Xu said coldly, "And you, Madam Sun, you're always nagging about the Xu family. Otherwise, I'd rather send you back to my eldest sister-in-law."
Nanny Sun said with an embarrassed look on her face, "That's not what I meant. I was just wondering, if Admiral Gong really did make the betrothal, would there be a disturbance that would spread to the Duke's Mansion? With the Second Master gone, our Second Branch would be left without anyone to turn to."
"Second Madam," a maidservant announced from outside, "Miss Qiongfang is here."
Xu's eyes flashed coldly as she angrily asked, "How does the mansion treat our second branch? Do you really not understand, or have you lost your conscience?!"
Nanny Sun knelt down in panic: "Your servant, your servant has spoken out of turn."
Xu didn't look at her, nor did she call out.
These days, when Xu looked at Xu Ying'er, it was as if she was seeing her former self.
Once upon a time, I was almost sent away to be a concubine because of a wool business.
She even thought about asking the Madam to let the Xu family adopt Ying'er. The Xu family was greedy for profit, so as long as they offered enough benefits, they would definitely agree.
Xu calmed herself down and said in a softer tone, "Let Qiongfang in."
After a while, Qiongfang walked in with a smile on her face. Without looking away, she said that Gu Zhizhuo wanted to ask Xu for a favor: "Our young lady is very jealous of the new brocade you made. Let me ask you."
Xu went into the house to get it for her. Qiongfang followed her in and quietly told her about Nanny Sun burning Xu Ying'er. She also said, "Miss Ying'er promised not to tell anyone."
In other words, Xu Ying'er had promised not to complain, so no matter how Xu dealt with her, she would try her best not to embarrass Xu Ying'er.
When Qiongfang returned to Lingxiaoyuan, she brought the necklace given by Xu.
"The girl is still in the study."
Qingmei made a gesture to keep quiet.
Qiongfang nodded and quietly opened the door of the study.
Gu Zhizhuo sat on the ground, holding a small compass in his hand. There were a lot of counting sticks and a large Bagua diagram on the ground.
She sat in front of the Bagua diagram, tapping the abacus sticks scattered around with her fingers, muttering something that Qiongfang could not understand at all.
Qiongfang: You are so amazing! !
Qiongfang waited quietly. After Gu Zhizhuo put away the abacus sticks, she said, "I have already told the Second Madam."
Gu Zhizhuo nodded.
She scalded her master, but instead of admitting her mistake, she begged her master not to tell anyone about it. In order to avoid punishment, she even secretly used incense ash to smear Ying'er's wound. Nanny Sun's behavior was really too bad.
If she hadn't seen it today, the wound on Xu Ying'er's shoulder would have festered within two or three days, leaving a scar.
Nanny Sun was the nanny who came with Second Aunt's dowry, so it was not convenient for her to question directly. Therefore, Gu Zhizhuo did not ask Qiongfang to quietly pass on the message until he left.
"When this servant went in, the Second Madam seemed to be scolding Madam Sun, and the Second Miss seemed to be scolded as well."
Gu Zhizhuo nodded. Her second aunt was in charge of the servants, and she, a niece from the next room, didn't need to interfere.
She fiddled with the counting sticks and told another fortune.
Good luck.
"Perfect."
Gu Zhizhuo was satisfied.
She put the counting sticks and compass back into her sleeve pocket, put away the Bagua map, and went to look at the apprenticeship gifts she had prepared early, waiting to meet her master tomorrow.
In her previous life, when the young master was dying, the abbot of Taiqing Temple helped invite the Taoist Wuweizi, whose golden needles helped the young master survive. From that moment on, she decided to learn medicine from her master.
After the young master died, she followed her master for a year, traveling around. Later, when she decided to return to the capital, her master sighed for a long time, but finally did not stop her.
"Idiot."
The master always said this to her and would stroke her head.
Gu Zhizhuo tossed and turned, feeling a sense of uneasiness as if he was homesick.
She didn't sleep well the whole night. As soon as the sun rose, she had breakfast, took the gift of becoming a disciple, and went out happily.
Xie Yingchen's carriage was already waiting at the ceremonial gate.
Gu Zhizhuo didn't need any pedals. She stepped on the carriage's handle and jumped up easily.
Qin Chen and Qingmei followed on horseback.
Along the way, Gu Zhizhuo was a little absent-minded, especially when he was about to arrive at Taiqing Temple, he felt a little uneasy, and from time to time he lifted the curtain to look out.
Xie Yingchen peeled a mint candy and handed it to her lips. Gu Zhizhuo bit it without thinking, and her plump lips brushed against his fingertips.
This mint candy was made by her herself. When she put it in her mouth, a cool feeling rushed to her forehead.
"Young Master." Gu Zhizhuo held his chin with his right hand and said with a bitter face, "If I tell you that Master still doesn't recognize me, would you believe it?"
Forehead?
Xie Yingchen's eyes were indulgent, his thin lips raised in a slight arc: "Master, he must have calculated with his fingers that there is an extra disciple."
Gu Zhizhuo blinked his big, lacquer-like eyes, chuckled softly, and smiled so hard that his eyebrows curved. He leaned casually on his arm.
Yes!
The master is an expert at fortune-telling. He is so powerful that he must have predicted that she was coming.
Thinking of this, Gu Zhizhuo felt relieved.
However, it was a waste of time. When they arrived at Taiqing Temple, they learned that the master had not come.
Gu Zhizhuo: “…”
"I haven't seen him either." Qingping had even changed into a clean Taoist robe in order to see his master today. "Master's little Taoist boy brought a message saying that Master needs to go take a look and won't be coming over for the time being."
As for what they were looking at, Qingping didn't know, and the little boy couldn't explain it clearly either.
All right.
Gu Zhizhuo hung his head, even though her divination was clearly a good omen.
Is she so unfamiliar with the hexagrams now that she can't even predict good or bad luck?
Gu Zhizhuo was very shocked.
It's so hard! Not seeing my master is like being guilty of something and not being judged. Well, that's not true. Besides having the wrong master, she hasn't committed any other sins in this life, right?
I went down the mountain with all sorts of thoughts in my mind, and it was almost noon when I got back to the capital in a carriage.
Gu Zhizhuo leaned his hand against the car window, looking at the busy streets of Beijing, and said with a sudden thought: "Sir, how about we go to the theater?"
"They say the new Qingyi at the Xiang Opera House is quite charming and graceful, and has captivated Princess Zhaoyang, the eldest princess, so much so that she's openly competing with Admiral Gong for her."
Xie Yingchen's eyes darkened, and he asked calmly, "Who said that?"
"It seems to be Zheng Si." Last time, after leaving the Prince of Jin's Mansion, Zheng Si invited them to see a play. "Zheng Si also said that there was a betting game in the capital, betting on who would get the beauty. Zheng Si asked Gu Cancan to place the bet, but Gu Cancan hit him and he ran away with his hands in his hands."
Gu Zhizhuo spoke cheerfully, and Xie Yingchen smiled silently, gently lifting the loose hair on her cheek.
"Then go."
Xie Yingchen lifted the curtain and gave an order, and the carriage turned directly to the Xiang Opera House.
After they stopped at the door, a waiter immediately came out to greet them and led them to a private room on the second floor.
Xie Yingchen ordered some snacks and tea and handed her a play script.
Gu Zhizhuo flipped through it casually.
The play that was about to begin was one she had never seen before, and she felt even more excited.
After a while, the tea and snacks arrived, and Xie Yingchen raised his hand to pour her tea.
The business of Xiangxi Theater is quite good. The hall on the first floor is full of people and it is very noisy.
Some people come here specifically to see Qingyi.
But most of them are just simple spectators.
Gu Zhizhuo listened incoherently to the loud conversations below, talking about the court, private matters, and right and wrong. When he thought that this was actually a stronghold of the East Factory, Gu Zhizhuo felt sick.
No wonder they set up a base in the theater. She had only been sitting there for a while, and she even knew that the brother-in-law of the Minister of War had stolen his concubine.
A loud gong sound came from the direction of the stage, indicating that the show was about to begin.
Gu Zhizhuo was looking down at the stage with great interest when he suddenly heard the loud voice of a waiter.
"Master Song, please come in!"
Huh?
He was the Prime Minister of Song Dynasty.
He came with Xie Jing and followed the waiter's instructions to go upstairs.
Gu Zhizhuo stared at Prime Minister Song's face for a long time, frowned deeply, and raised his hand to make a few gestures.
She made a silent gesture to Xie Yingchen and leaned back to avoid being noticed. Soon, Prime Minister Song and his men passed through the box and headed to the back.
"Young Master."
Gu Zhizhuo sat upright and spoke slowly and solemnly, "Prime Minister Song is in danger of a bloody disaster."
"It's a death knell, and it's happening now."
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