Gu Boyu left Gu Zheng a package containing several letters and some silver.
Five of the letters were to Concubine Wang and Gu Chengyan's four concubines, granting them their freedom after their deaths.
Moreover, he left each of his concubines one hundred strings of cash.
The letter was specifically addressed to Aunt Zhao, Gu Zheng's biological mother. Inside was a document recommending her to the clan as their principal wife, along with a short letter.
“Zhao, I originally intended to set you free, but since Zheng’er will inherit the title of Earl, you should stay with your son until the end of your life.”
Aunt Zhao could cry herself to death in front of the ruins!
During his lifetime, he indulged in drinking, gambling, and whoring, neglecting all family affairs. Madam Tu subjected her concubines to all sorts of humiliation, especially Concubine Zhao.
Because she gave birth to a son who would inherit a share of the family property, Madam Tu treated Aunt Zhao with far more mistreatment than the other concubines.
Gu Boyu never made any decisions for her. He had briefly doted on her when she was in the prime of her life, but afterwards he abandoned her in the inner quarters and she was never seen again for years.
The Earl would give him some money when he had it, and occasionally some small trinkets, but he spent most of his time hanging out in gambling dens.
Aunt Zhao had resented and hated the situation. Back then, she prayed to God every day, begging to leave the Earl's mansion.
But now she no longer hates him and wants to live a good life with him and take good care of him, but he left so tragically.
Not even a pinch of ashes was left for everyone to mourn.
Aunt Zhao cried, "Why did you have to become good? And why did you die such a tragic death? You're such a heartless person..."
Gu Zheng, as a son of a concubine, originally lived a quiet life in a remote corner, watching his elder brother shine brightly, but suddenly he was granted a title and is now a marquis.
He was flustered and heartbroken, holding the letter, and burst into tears.
“My son, don’t blame your father for being heartless and abandoning you. Gu Chengyan must die, otherwise, he will drag you down for the rest of your life.”
After I die, you must strive to uphold the family's honor, consult with your second and third uncles on all matters, and not listen to your grandmother's interference.
Now that you have inherited the title, you must take care of your grandmother until she is old and not let her trouble your second or third uncles.
Your grandmother is mentally confused and won't live for many more years. Just arrange for maids and servants to take care of her.
Although Gu Yuebai is young, his character is wicked and he is unlikely to be taught to be a good person. Send him to the estate. Once he comes of age, immediately expel him from the family and sever all ties with him. Do not be soft-hearted...
If the Crown Prince or the Wei family takes their anger out on the Earl's Mansion because of Consort Yue's affair, you should first consult your third uncle on how to handle the situation. If you cannot escape this calamity, then tell the court that your third uncle is not a relative of our Gu family, but merely an abandoned child picked up by your grandfather.
"Zheng'er, remember, even if the Wei clan kills you, you must protect your third uncle. Only by protecting him can you preserve the Gu family bloodline. Remember this!"
...
The fire at the Earl's mansion took the life of the Earl, caused the collapse of the main house, and fulfilled Gu Boyu's wish that death would absolve him of his debts.
This accident was a major disaster for the Crown Prince.
Aunt Yue has disappeared, Gu Chengyan has turned to ashes, and his panacea has lost its source.
Looking at the dwindling supply of the Panacea, the Crown Prince, his face grim, summoned Shi Xiu: "Go and find out where Tu Qianyue has gone."
Shi Xiu was also anxious; he couldn't live without Aunt Yue's longevity tea.
I feel like I'm dying if I don't drink that tea for three days.
Shi Xiu asked cautiously, "What if—I mean, what if—Aunt Yue is already gone? What then?"
"Then confiscate the property and exterminate the entire family."
"But this will damage His Highness's reputation!"
"Take Gu Chengyan for example. During the natural disaster in Zhongzhou, he hoarded the rice that was originally intended for the laborers, inflated prices, and made a fortune off the national crisis."
"Did he really do it?"
"Isn't there a group of people openly selling overpriced grain? They say the mastermind behind it is Gu Chengyan."
"Should we take Grand Secretary Gu with us...?" Shi Xiu made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Of course. The most urgent task is to find Tu Qianyue. If she is already dead, then find Wei Shixun, gather evidence of Gu Chengyan profiting from the national crisis, and destroy the Bo family."
The Crown Prince said viciously, "If I'm not having a good time, the people of the Earl's Mansion won't be either. Their property will be confiscated and their entire family destroyed. Gu Shaoyu won't escape either. And the Xie Mansion won't escape either."
Shi Xiu personally led a group of people to the Earl's residence to offer condolences, making it seem like a formality.
After such a disaster occurred at the Earl's Mansion, Gu Shaoyu and his wife, Gu Zhongyu and his wife, Earl Gu Zheng, and the old lady and all the other masters thoroughly investigated the cause of the fire. In order to protect himself, Steward Zhang told the masters everything he knew.
Consort Yue was having an affair with the Crown Prince (that's what Steward Zhang saw), and refused to return to the mansion. The Earl had no choice but to use the child to block the Crown Prince's mansion.
The crown prince was furious and sent men to beat the Earl.
The censor impeached the Crown Prince, who then released Consort Yue. Upon her release, the Crown Prince forced the Earl to swear that he would send Consort Yue back to him in a timely manner in the future.
Unable to bear such humiliation, the Earl ordered his men to beat Aunt Yue to death and then prepared a large amount of tung oil.
"This servant had no idea that the Lord wanted tung oil because he wanted to die with the young master. This servant was just doing his duty and purchasing it according to his master's request."
The steward, with tears streaming down his face, said, "My lord wanted to put the tung oil in his study, and I tried to stop him repeatedly, but to no avail..."
In short, the Earl's death was forced upon him by the Crown Prince.
Shi Xiu brought people to offer condolences, and Steward Zhang glared at him resentfully: "What are you doing here, Eunuch Shi? My master has already passed away."
Shi Xiu didn't care at all; what did it matter to him if an earl died?
"Our lord is gone, and we are saddened as well. However, Aunt Yue is a technician in the Crown Prince's residence. We need to know when she will be on duty."
"When did she become a technician in the Crown Prince's residence? Eunuch Shi keeps referring to Consort Yue, do you even know she's a woman from the inner quarters? What do you think of the Earl's family's reputation?"
Steward Zhang would rather fight Shi Xiu to the death than let the people of the Earl's Mansion think he was a traitor!
Shi Xiu had never been treated like this before, and immediately said to him, "I won't stoop to your level, but if you dare to spout nonsense again, don't blame me for killing you on the spot!"
Butler Zhang was also enraged: "What right do you have to beat me to death? Am I your servant? My master was driven to his death by you, and you still have the nerve to come here?"
Such a big incident has occurred at the Earl's mansion, and there have been many onlookers outside the gate. At this moment, they heard Steward Zhang shout in grief and indignation, "What happened? The old master was forced to death by the Crown Prince?"
When Shi Xiu saw everyone crowding forward, he immediately put on a smiling face: "Look at you, why are you getting so worked up? We're just here to offer our condolences."
He walked inside on his own, giving his men a meaningful look, and told them to quickly search the mansion for Consort Yue.
The Crown Prince couldn't wait any longer, and neither could he. When his cravings kicked in, he felt like he was dying, and he wouldn't recognize his own family, let alone a small Earl's mansion!
Butler Zhang blocked the door, resolutely refusing to let them in.
The argument at the door attracted Gu Shaoyu.
"What's going on?" He looked at Shi Xiu with a somewhat indifferent expression. "If you want to offer condolences, go in and burn some incense. Otherwise, leave. The manor has no interest in entertaining you."
Shi Xiu immediately bowed and said, "Your Excellency, I have come to offer my condolences on the orders of the Crown Prince."
"Your Excellency, don't listen to his nonsense. As soon as he arrived, he started asking around about where Aunt Yue was."
Steward Zhang angrily said, "He drove the Earl to his death and then openly came to demand his return. This is outrageous!"
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