If you want to pay, how much should you pay?
If the Chen family takes too much money, they will be criticized.
"I have a good idea!" A smile gradually appeared on Gu Qing's face, and her eyes were shining.
When we went to a banquet today, Du Qing and the other noble ladies were all showing off their gold and silver jewelry...
If another banquet is held, as long as it is an excuse from the Chen family, given the character of Gu Miao and Du Qing, they will definitely be unable to sit still.
"At the Meng family's homecoming banquet today, those noble ladies in the capital have all been in the spotlight. If we hold a banquet in a few days, no matter what the excuse is, we can invite Your Highness to come here and take charge. As long as everyone is here, we don't have to worry about the disaster relief money." Gu Qing said, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but rise.
Chen Zhizhou originally only wanted to take on this matter. What should the Chen family do...
However, he was far inferior to Gu Qing, a little girl with a simple temperament.
He didn't understand the comparisons between women.
Hearing Gu Qing mention that the dress Du Qing was wearing today cost over a hundred taels of gold, he couldn't help but frown: "I don't see anything special about that gold-studded dress on her."
"Tsk, but this time I have to use a little trick--" After a pause, Gu Qing thought of a dirty trick.
Since there were so many eyes staring at her outside, and each of them wanted to pull her down and surpass her, Gu Qing decided to take the initiative to give them a "chance" this time.
Within three days, the news that the wife of the third young master of the Chen family was going to hold a Qushui Liushang singing and poetry gathering spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.
At the palace night banquet that day, the emperor said with all his might that Gu Qing was the most talented woman in the capital!
Those who were outshined by Gu Qingyan at the palace banquet and lost their glory, and those who lost face at the Meng family that day, all held a grudge against Gu Qingyan!
The rumors are even more outrageous...
"You might not know this, but Gu Qing specially asked someone to get her a few purple-gold wolf-hair brushes. They're said to be incredibly bright, and each brush is worth a fortune. She's incredibly shrewd, and this time she must have deliberately found an excuse to show off her purple-gold wolf-hair brushes to us."
"That's nothing. Didn't the Empress give her a few pieces of cloth as a reward at the palace banquet that day? I heard she had someone make ready-made clothes the next day. Tsk tsk..."
…
The noble ladies in the capital went out in droves to buy things and to find embroiderers with excellent needlework skills.
The news that Gu Qing was going to hold a poetry competition had already reached the palace.
After all, the Third Prince will definitely be present this time...
Gu Qing was still worried, fearing that if she made such a big fuss during this national crisis, it would cause displeasure in the palace.
Who would have thought——
Chen Zhizhou came back and told her that the Queen Mother attached great importance to this matter and even ordered someone to send a few months of tutoring from the palace.
"The Empress said that since the Third Young Master's wife is willing to lead our noble ladies in the capital to learn good things, it is also serving the court. I hope the Third Young Master's wife will not disappoint the Empress's high hopes. In the future, let them see from all over the northern border that our women in the capital are good at singing and dancing." The eunuch in charge from the palace said with a smile.
Gu Qing half-knelt to receive the Empress's decree. She smiled gently, invited the old eunuch into the room for tea, and invited him to take the seat of honor: "Eunuch, this is the Rain-Previous Longjing tea given by His Majesty. I'm sorry to bother you."
She glanced sideways at Cuiru who was standing stiffly beside her, and cleared her throat.
Cuiru walked forward quickly to serve tea and stuffed the bag of clam pearls into the old eunuch's hands.
The old eunuch frowned and glanced at it, then touched the gold-thread bag with one hand and rubbed it...
A smile immediately broke out on his face.
"A precious pearl is suitable for a noble man. It was given to me by the Empress. It's a pity that I don't like wearing jewelry. It's just lying there at home. I heard that my father-in-law likes to eat some clam pearl powder when he is free." Gu Qing only said half of his words and smiled faintly at the old eunuch in front of him.
What she said were just empty compliments.
The current situation in the court is complicated. Whether it is the Chen family or the Gu family, their food and drink expenses are all paid by the official salary given by the court.
If she gave the old eunuch some silver today, he might not accept it because he was a shrewd man.
This small bag of oyster pearls are all picked from Southeast Asia. Each one is round and plump and very valuable.
It is also convenient to sell it for money in the future.
"Everyone says that the eldest daughter of the Gu family is born extraordinary, good at singing and dancing, and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. However, few people know that you, the Third Young Master's wife, are also born with a very clever mind. We really admire you very much. No wonder the Queen values you so much!" The old eunuch waved the dustpan in his hand lightly while speaking.
After finally dealing with the old eunuch, Gu Qing stood outside the gate of the mansion and watched him get into the sedan chair. He breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
Chen's mother and the old lady had just returned from shopping. On the way, they heard that someone was coming from the palace, so they rushed home in a hurry. However, they were still a step too late.
"Qing'er, how is it? I just heard that someone came from the palace--" Mother Chen looked around while speaking.
Old Madam Chen rubbed her hands awkwardly. She had already felt uneasy just dealing with the Meng family's homecoming banquet. Now that someone had arrived at the palace, how should she, as the mistress, respond...
Gu Qing walked forward with a smile, and she also told the two maids beside her to quickly go over and carry the things, "It's okay, mother, it's just that the Queen heard that our mansion is going to hold a poetry meeting, so she sent a few musicians here specially."
Upon hearing that the old eunuch had passed away, Chen's mother and the old lady both breathed a sigh of relief.
"It is a blessing for our Chen family to have such a good daughter-in-law like Qing'er. It really saves me a lot of worry!" Mrs. Chen took Gu Qing's hand and said with a smile that couldn't stop.
Gu Qing's face flushed with embarrassment...
She subconsciously raised her eyes to glance at the sky above. The heaven, earth, sun and moon were all witnesses to her. What she did today was no more than what she had done to betray the Chen family's kindness.
"Grandma, you must be exhausted. I have already asked someone to prepare the cold tea." Gu Qing said hurriedly after coming back to his senses.
Madam Chen nodded, raised her sleeves, and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "I bought these for you. After all, we are having a banquet at our Chen family. I feel that we should have the proper respect. We must not let others look down on our Chen family."
"Grandma, what are you talking about? The Chen family has made many contributions. Even though we live in a thatched hut today, no one in this capital can say a disrespectful word about our Chen family." Gu Qing said jokingly and took a step forward, taking the initiative to support the old lady's arm.
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