All the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat, and the old lady looked at her with venom in her eyes.
Xie Zhaozhao did not avoid her gaze, meeting her eyes directly, sparks flying.
The old lady gave up, waving her hand dejectedly: "Divide it up, divide it up, do as the eldest son says."
Xie Zhaozhao returned to Qingpu Courtyard and instructed Aunt Cui, Yuan Yuanman, and all the servants in the mansion to quickly pack their things and move.
Gu Shaoyu then summoned Gu Yongnian, the clan head from the capital, and the three brothers, along with the old lady, signed a family division agreement.
With Gu Chengyan and Gu Zheng absent, Gu Boyu made all the decisions. He was very fair in the division of property, and the division of the family property went very smoothly.
The old lady kept sobbing and cursing under her breath. Gu Boyu said, "Mother, it's only a matter of time before the family is divided. If you insist on making trouble, the bond between brothers and mother and son may also be destroyed."
Annoyed, he had someone send her back to Ci'en Nursery.
After signing the contract and pressing his fingerprint, Gu Boyu gave Gu Shaoyu all his fields and shops, but Gu Shaoyu didn't want any of the other homesteads, houses, or cash.
Gu Zhongyu also received his share. He originally did not want to separate the family, but Gu Boyu said that all good things must come to an end. Even if the family separated, they would still be brothers and visit each other when they had time.
Gu Boyu gave another large mansion under the name of the Earl's Mansion to Gu Zhongyu as his residence. It was not as large as the Earl's Mansion, but it was still a three-courtyard house.
Gu Shaoyu didn't want the house, and before moving, he didn't say where he was going to move to.
Even Gu Boyu thought he would stay for at least another month or two to choose and purchase a new courtyard.
However, Xie Zhaozhao and Gu Shaoyu moved extremely quickly.
Xie Zhaozhao mobilized all the soldiers from the estate, as well as the Xie family, Zhang family, Liu family, Prince Jing's mansion, Duke of Ying's mansion, and so on, to help with the move.
Even the three most notorious scoundrels in the capital were riding in carriages, as if they were celebrating the New Year, coming and going from Qingpu Courtyard.
The people of the Earl's mansion were dumbfounded.
The relocation of Grand Secretary Gu's residence was arguably the fastest and most bustling move in the entire capital.
In just one day, her entire lavish dowry, stretching for miles, was moved out of the Earl's mansion.
Gu Shaoyu moved all his personal belongings, including his study supplies, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, as well as all the odds and ends from Qingpu Courtyard.
Especially everything in that swimming pool.
Even the jade on the floor was pried off and dismantled by Nanxing, Moyan, and Guanyan, and taken away by Aunt Cui.
The move was completed in the blink of an eye!
The entire capital was once again in shock.
Has Grand Secretary Gu separated from the Earl's Mansion?
The northern half of Moon Lake Garden was actually bestowed by His Majesty to Grand Secretary Gu as his residence.
No wonder so many craftsmen have been building high walls outside Moon Lake Garden for the past two weeks! Now, you can't see anything inside!
By the time everyone in the Earl's Mansion reacted, a plaque had already been hung at the entrance of Gu Shaoyu and Xie Zhaozhao's new residence.
"Qingpu Garden".
It was neither the name of the Gu family mansion nor related to any official title; rather, it was the name of his original courtyard, which was said to have been given to him by his mentor.
The men in the Earl's mansion were caught off guard, and the women were even more bewildered.
Xie Xiangxiang and Granny Wei stood at the second gate, watching the people of Qingpu Courtyard, whether masters or servants, leave with extremely happy expressions.
Xie Zhaozhao broke free from the cage, but she still had to endure the torment here.
Xie Xiangxiang was filled with hatred at this moment; she couldn't feel jealousy anymore.
People are habitually jealous of those who are of similar status or level. When the gap between the two is too large, jealousy loses its meaning.
Just like a beggar on the street, he wouldn't be jealous of royalty, only fear and admiration. But if the beggar next door got an extra coin today, he would be so jealous that his eyes would turn red, and he would wish to get rid of him as soon as possible.
Xie Xiangxiang's current thoughts are probably: she and Xie Zhaozhao are both legitimate daughters of the Xie family, and apart from not having the same mother, they are the same in every other way.
However, even with her rebirth, her confidence, and her unwillingness to accept defeat, she still seemed unable to surpass him.
Especially after being defiled by bandits, she felt that she couldn't even compare to Xie Zhaozhao's skirt!
I hate it!
Guan Yingying watched Xie Zhaozhao move from a distance, feeling a series of resentments in her heart.
Marriage is a city, the Earl's Mansion is a prison, and Gu Chengyan is a pit.
She entered the Marquis's Mansion (Earl's Mansion) and followed Gu Chengyan. Originally soaring in the sky, her wings were broken, she fell into the mud, and was imprisoned in a cage.
And it must be admitted that Xie Zhaozhao married the right person. Such a rigid, outdated, and shallow woman easily broke free from her shackles!
She watched as Gu Shaoyu carried Xie Zhaozhao out of the courtyard, and her eyes immediately turned red. Ugh!
Such a feudal woman, who strictly adhered to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, was merely moving from one prison to another even if she moved.
Yes, that must be it. Xie Zhaozhao will spend her whole life confined to the inner quarters, dependent on men, and unable to appreciate the scenery from the mountaintop.
Bah! A feudal parasite, a pitiful housewife.
Thinking about it this way, her face became much more relaxed and cheerful than Xie Xiangxiang's.
The Qingpu family moved house with overwhelming force, which also affected the second branch of the family. Many people from the second branch went to Madam Lu's room and said, "Madam, shall we move too?"
Lady Lu was filled with resentment. She had been in charge of the household affairs in the Earl's mansion, and now she was gone just like that? And what about Lady Tu, whom she had fought against her all her life? She was dead just like that?
However, seeing the old lady every day at the Earl's mansion made her feel that she would be unable to resist slapping the old hag.
Her two daughters ultimately fell into the hands of bandits. These days, she feels physical pain, but even more pain in her heart.
She recalled that night again and again, how Xie Zhaozhao resisted fiercely and finally rushed out alone with her maid, preferring to jump off a cliff rather than suffer humiliation.
She was blinded by greed, colluding with the old lady and Madam Tu to prevent Xie Zhaozhao from rushing out, ultimately ruining her two daughters. If only time could turn back…
"Let's move. We'd rather starve to death outside than return to the Earl's mansion."
The second wife originally wanted Lu to recuperate before moving, but now that they saw the third wife leave so decisively, the second wife also decided to move out immediately.
In no time, the Earl's mansion was deserted.
In April, the Earl's Mansion had a sense of decay, with thick frost and snow on the bluestone steps and the former prosperity now just smoke.
With the departure of the second and third branches of the family, not only was the noise gone, but the vitality was also lost, and the entire mansion became visibly desolate.
After his second and third brothers moved out, Gu Boyu went to the Xie residence.
He first went to pay his respects to Madam Xie, greeted her, and said that he had some matters to discuss with Madam Xu.
Madam Xie knew that they must be talking about Xie Xiangxiang.
"Young Madam Gu has already been expelled from the Xie family. If you wish to discuss her affairs, there is no need to do so here at the Xie family residence." Old Madam Xie's attitude was clear: "Her life or death is none of the Xie family's business."
Gu Boyu nodded and said, "I will go outside with Madam Xie to talk."
He brought along the old nanny from his own courtyard and asked her to inform Madam Xu to go to the teahouse outside.
Madam Xu went to the teahouse as agreed, only bringing Duo'er with her. She was very uneasy: "In-law, is there something wrong with Xiangxiang again?"
"No! My dear in-law, that unfilial son is heartless and depraved, unworthy of being human. He has already been castrated. I want to tell you, my dear in-law, that you should take the young mistress back with you."
Gu Boyu got straight to the point, "Take all the dowry with you. The Earl's mansion will not leave you a single penny. I will make sure my unfilial son writes the divorce papers."
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