Chapter 3484: Gu Zhong 9
But Gu Ji could roughly guess from his expression that the message was probably meant for Zhou Man. He didn't ask what it was, as he wouldn't get any information anyway. He just smiled and said, "Give my regards to Master. I'll go and pay my respects to Master when I have time."
Gu Cai agreed and then respectfully saw him off.
Gu Cai ran back and reported everything to Gu Zhong, and said worriedly: "Godfather, have I done something bad?"
Gu Zhong was very calm, "It's nothing bad. He is your senior brother. It's okay for him to ask you a few more questions. You should tell him the truth."
"This matter has already been brought before His Majesty. There's no need to publicize it, but there's no need to hide it either." Gu Zhong glanced at Gu Cai and said seriously, "He's your senior brother. Why are you hiding from him?"
Gu Cai lowered his head and muttered, "Senior Brother... he distanced himself from my godfather as soon as he fell into trouble. I don't like him..."
He paused and whispered, "I'm a little scared of him."
At the beginning, he was not afraid of Gu Ji. The two brothers had a good relationship before. He was much younger than Gu Ji. When he was adopted by Gu Zhong, Gu Ji was already able to work alone in the palace.
At that time, Gu Zhong had to serve the late emperor, and he, a young eunuch, followed Gu Ji to learn and was taken care of by his senior brother.
Later, Gu Ji went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and was able to work on his own. Only then did Gu Cai go to serve and learn from Gu Zhong.
Last time, even a foreign minister like Lord Zhou risked his life to save his godfather, but his senior brother was the first to get away with it. At that time, Gu Cai felt scared and chilled to the bone.
Gu Zhong, however, was quite open-minded. He smiled and said, "If a man does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth. This is the norm in the palace. What's there to be afraid of?"
"Although he didn't help me, he didn't take advantage of my misfortune to harm me," Gu Zhong said with a smile, "So as long as he still calls you Junior Brother, then he is your Senior Brother."
He said, "Are you stupid? In the future, my father and I will go out, but life outside is better than living in the palace."
"If we have no one to rely on, we won't be able to keep our wealth," Gu Zhong said. "So, with this person in the palace, you don't want to continue to maintain your relationship with him, but avoid him. Aren't you stupid?"
Gu Cai was stunned. "Then, should I still treat my brother the same as before?"
Gu Zhong stared at him for a long moment, then shook his head and laughed, "Some feelings you have to keep in mind, while others you just need to keep on the surface. You're still too young. Since you can't learn, then let's just do it the same as before. Just remember, don't tell him anything about our father-son relationship."
Gu Cai responded with a confused look on his face, "Oh."
Gu Zhong didn't expect him to understand immediately, as being a little stupid has its advantages.
Because of Gu Zhong's teachings, Gu Cai was much more natural when he saw Gu Ji again. Although they were not as close as before, it was better than hiding from people during this period.
To be honest, Gu Ji felt relieved.
He knew it must have been his master's instruction, but it was better for them to reconcile than to have a falling out.
Zhou Man was unaware of their undercurrents. The next day, while handling government affairs, she was still busy until noon when the palace started serving meals. She gave her share to Doctor Lu and the others, and then happily went to Chongwen Hall for the meal.
Although it is a long way to go, eating delicious food always makes people happy.
There was no meat, but Gu Zhong was very attentive and paid for the kitchen to prepare delicious vegetarian dishes. Some of the vegetarian dishes tasted even better than meat.
Zhou Man ate with gusto. After he had eaten and drunk his fill, he asked directly, "Just tell me, is there anything I can help you with?"
Gu Zhong was touched. "Lord Zhou is so straightforward. I won't hide it from you. The late emperor was so kind that he allowed me to leave the palace. However, Your Majesty had just ascended the throne, and the affairs of Taiji Hall had not yet been fully handed over. In addition, Your Majesty's grace was so great that I have remained in the palace."
"But I'm old after all, and I went to the Dali Temple earlier, so I'm not feeling well," Gu Zhong sighed. "Although I can't refuse your majesty's grace, I'm also afraid that my poor health will ruin your majesty's plans..."
Zhou Man understood, "You want me to plead with His Majesty to let you leave the palace."
Gu Zhong said, "Actually, asking the Empress Dowager for help would be the quickest. However, I failed to take good care of the late emperor when he was alive, and now I am too embarrassed to see the Empress Dowager."
Zhou Man thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll ask for you and His Majesty."
Zhou Man could see the emperor almost every day during the small court meetings.
She was always the first to leave after every morning meeting, her legs and feet were very nimble, but today she stood up from her seat very slowly, and even stood with her hands clasped together, waiting for everyone else to leave before she started to move.
The new emperor twisted his neck and was about to go out for a walk to rest his brain. When he looked up and saw Zhou Man, who had just dawdled to the palace gate, he called out to her, "Zhou Man, what can I do for you?"
Eunuch Wu, who was about to remind the new emperor, stepped aside. Zhou Man immediately turned back with a smile on his face, "Your Majesty, let me accompany you for a walk in the garden."
The new emperor glanced at her and stood up.
It was too far to go to the Imperial Garden. There were quite a few memorials to be submitted today, and the new emperor did not intend to waste too much time walking, so he took Zhou Man to the front of the study, where there was a small garden.
The new emperor walked half a step ahead of Zhou Man, instructing her as he walked, "Zhou Man, you are now a third-rank official. If you have anything to say, you don't have to discuss it in private. Just raise it directly at court. I am no longer the crown prince, but the emperor."
Zhou Man said, "But this is a private matter, not official business. It's not appropriate to bring it up at a small court meeting, right?"
The new emperor paused and asked, "Do you have any personal matters to discuss with me?"
Could Zhou Man have any private matters?
Her resignation and leave are all considered official business.
Zhou Man looked around and whispered, "I'm here to ask for mercy on behalf of Master Gu."
The new emperor frowned, "What grace do you ask for?"
"Leave the palace," Zhou Man said, "Didn't the late emperor mention that Master Gu should leave the palace?"
The new emperor was displeased, "I haven't treated him unfairly. Why is it that he doesn't want to stay and serve me?"
Zhou Man said bluntly, "If Master Gu were ten years younger, he would definitely be willing, but he is already old now and no longer has the desire to fight for power and profit."
She sighed and said, "The work is too tiring. If I were not still young and blessed by the late emperor and Your Majesty, I would have resigned and traveled."
Now the temptation of the official position is no longer strong for her. There are only two reasons why she persists. One is the future development of the Imperial Medical Bureau; the other is to repay the late emperor and the new emperor.
The new emperor frowned at her and said, "You are so young, why do you act so old?"
Zhou Man said, "Yes, this is my fault. I've been so busy lately and I'm really exhausted. Look, even I, young and strong, have thought about retiring, let alone Master Gu."
She said directly, "Master Gu used to have the late emperor in the palace to care for him, but now that the late emperor has passed away, he doesn't have much to worry about in the palace anymore. Wouldn't it be better for him to take his son out to live his own life and see the beautiful scenery of Dajin? Why must he stay in the palace?"
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