At noon, after the court session, someone from the manor sent a message to Gu Shaoyu at the palace gate, informing him that the old lady was ill and urging him to return home quickly.
When Gu Shaoyu returned to the manor, he did not go back to Qingpu Courtyard. Nanxing asked, "Grand Secretary, should we inform Madam?"
Gu Shaoyu: "No need. Don't disturb Madam."
The three brothers, Gu Boyu, Gu Zhongyu, and Gu Shaoyu, all arrived.
The old lady said with tears in her eyes, "You three brothers, make a decision on what to do with your uncle's family."
Gu Shaoyu was extremely busy and said, "Please explain the whole story clearly. What exactly happened?"
The old lady stammered, glossing over the fact that Uncle Zhi and Zhi Baicheng had almost ruined the two granddaughters of the second branch of the family, and only said that Chunling had seduced Uncle Zhi and wanted to become his concubine, and had also harmed Xia Hua in the process.
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhongyu immediately jumped up.
Although family scandals should not be aired in public, if he doesn't speak up, it will definitely affect his third brother's judgment on the matter.
The third brother might even be forced by his mother to find jobs for those people under the guise of filial piety. Wouldn't that be disgusting for the second wife's entire life?
“Mother, I know you side with my uncle, but have you ever thought about it? Huanhuan and Mianmian are both your own granddaughters. How can your great-uncle and great-uncle do such a despicable thing? How can I live with myself? You even want me to divorce you? Mother, you might as well give me a rope and I'll hang myself in front of you.”
He was a military officer, so he naturally spoke frankly. Although his daughter was not as precious as his son, she was still his own flesh and blood. She was already thirteen or fourteen years old, the perfect time to find a good marriage for her son and help him. But she was almost ruined by her own maternal great-uncle. No one could stand that.
He was already very patient by not killing his second uncle.
"What, you're still thinking of forcing my third brother to find them jobs and move out to avoid this shame?" Gu Zhongyu said bluntly. "Mother, if you really force my third brother to settle them down, then don't blame your son for being unfilial. Since you won't let us, the second branch of the family, live, I'll kill them all with one knife, and the entire Zhi family will disappear from this day forward!"
Gu Boyu said sternly, "Second brother, how dare you speak to Mother like that? Mother hasn't said anything yet, can't you wait a moment?"
Gu Shaoyu looked at Gu Zhongyu and Gu Boyu: "What exactly happened? Explain yourselves."
Gu Zhongyu recounted the whole story without regard for the consequences, his eyes red as he said, "Third brother, you judge this. Am I being unfilial? This is a great disgrace! How can Lu Shi and I stand idly by while our enemy is right in front of us?"
The old lady said, "Second son, your second uncle and cousin are definitely at fault, and they are very remorseful. They were deceived, otherwise why would they do such a thing? Besides, didn't they not do anything to Huanhuan and Mianmian?"
Gu Zhongyu jumped up suddenly, shouting angrily, "I, I want to divide the family property!"
Gu Boyu slapped him: "Second brother, sit down. What's all the noise about? Can't you see that third brother hasn't said anything yet? What's your hurry?"
After listening to Gu Zhongyu recount what had happened, Gu Shaoyu said to Gu Boyu, "Brother, bring your uncle's family here. I have something to say."
Gu Boyu quickly agreed, "Okay, I'll call someone... I'll go and call them myself."
Before long, the heads of the Zhi family arrived.
Gu Shaoyu still politely said, "Uncle, please sit down."
The group looked at the old lady with unease, but her expression was unreadable.
Gu Shaoyu said, "There are no outsiders here now, so let's put everything on the table."
Gu Zhongyu was asked to recount the events again.
After Uncle Zhi argued his case, Gu Zhongyu almost got into a fight with him.
In the end, everyone acknowledged the fact that Uncle Zhi and Zhi Baicheng had indeed made advances towards Gu Huanhuan and Gu Mianmian, and had also tainted the maid Yuyan's reputation.
After clarifying the matter, Gu Shaoyu, disregarding the old lady's expression, said to his uncles, "Uncles, you must leave the Marquis's mansion immediately and never set foot in it again!"
The uncles of the Zhi family were dumbfounded: "Then what about the jobs of your cousins?"
"Does your uncle think I would still find you jobs? The imperial court appoints people based on their moral character first. Your behavior is so bad that even if you were sent to jail, it wouldn't be a loss."
Several uncles exclaimed, "You hold such a high-ranking position, yet you not only fail to promote your own people, but you also suppress them! The old Marquis doted on you so much, and you still hurt your mother's feelings like this?"
“It is precisely because my father loved me so much when he was alive that I must prioritize taking care of my family. How could I possibly side with outsiders when you have bullied my brothers and nephews?”
After hearing this, his uncles cursed him for being heartless. They said that when the old Marquis was fighting in the army and didn't come home, it was the Zhi family that took care of the old lady, Gu Boyu, and Gu Zhongyu.
"You've tarnished my reputation and bullied me more than once or twice," Gu Shaoyu said calmly. "Don't you know why you came to the capital? Even without the matter at the Marquis's residence, I wouldn't have employed you!"
After Mo Yan reported it that day, Xie Zhaozhao immediately sent someone to Ouyang to investigate the reason why the Zhi family came to the capital. Now the messenger has sent back the news.
Gu Boyu and Gu Zhongyu both asked, "What happened? What did they do back in their hometown?"
The old lady was also kept in the dark and asked, "What happened?"
Gu Shaoyu didn't answer them, but looked at his uncles and said, "You should handle the local case properly. Whether you pay compensation or go to jail is up to the local government. I am only loyal to the imperial court, and I will not do anything that involves favoritism or bending the law for personal gain."
The three uncles of the Zhi family exchanged glances. Suddenly, the second uncle knelt down before Gu Shaoyu and cried, "It's all my fault, my third nephew. You must help your cousin. Baiju has loved reading since he was a child and is the hope of our Zhi family. I will go back and accept all the punishments. Please give him a chance and let him participate in the imperial examination."
“You don’t need to beg me. You’ve ruined his future.” Gu Shaoyu said again, “Please all of you leave the Marquis’s residence immediately. If you say anything more, you will be handed over to the Dali Temple.”
Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, the eldest uncle and aunt of the Zhi family cursed Gu Shaoyu for being heartless and the old lady for being ungrateful.
Gu Shaoyu waved his hand, and Nanxing and Beichen jumped out and slapped Uncle Zhi and Aunt Zhi across the face.
"He who insults an official of the imperial court shall be slapped!"
"This cabinet will issue an order to Ouyang County to thoroughly investigate the illegal and disorderly conduct of the Zhi family."
The old lady began to sob.
That day, the Zhi family left quietly with their tails between their legs, but before leaving, they went to the old lady's Ci'en Hospital, where the old lady gave Zhi Baiju a few silver notes.
Xie Xiangxiang was confined to her home, and her newly purchased head maids Chunling and Xia Hua were "sold off" again.
The Marquis's mansion did not buy any new maids from outside, but promoted the two second-class maids, Baoxiu and Baowen, to first-class maids.
Baoxiu and Baowen were promoted, but they felt no joy whatsoever.
The two were packing their things in the servants' quarters. The other maids, seeing their worried faces, said, "Sister Baoxiu, you should advise the young master's wife to try not to do certain things."
"The Grand Secretary is a first-rank official, and the Third Madam is a first-rank noblewoman. The Heir Apparent's wife always goes and offends such powerful people, dragging us servants down with her. She must be out of her mind."
Baoxiu tapped their heads: "Shut up, all of you. How can we servants talk about our masters?"
On that day, Baoxiu and Baowen were transferred to Xie Xiangxiang's side.
The next day at noon, the gatekeeper delivered a letter addressed to Xie Xiangxiang.
There was no name on the letter.
The content consists of only one line: No. 3, Tianhou Lane, Nancheng.
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