Chen Zhizhou naturally believed what Gu Qing said, but——
She shouldn't have to bear such a big thing.
"Qing'er, how are you going to make it up to your husband today? You listened to the noise in the room for half the night last night. You have such a cruel heart that you ignored your husband..." Chen Zhizhou leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"You deserve to be beaten. Why should I compensate you? How can that be justified?" Gu Qing sneered, and with a backhanded push, she slipped out of his arms.
From that day on, Old Madam Chen treated Gu Qing even better, making others envious.
"Qing'er, look, these are the rouge and powder your aunt bought from outside. How can an old woman like me use these things? Take them back. Also, those bracelets..." Old Lady Chen ordered the maid to bring in a thick pile of things in her arms and put them on the table in front of Gu Qing.
Seeing her grandmother's behavior, Gu Qing's eyes widened in surprise. She took a deep breath and whispered, "Since these were bought by my aunt to honor my grandmother, how could I take them for myself? I have everything I need, so why not keep them for yourself?"
Old Madam Chen frowned, and the words she wanted to say came to her lips but she had to stop herself, "But this is——"
Seeing Gu Qing's insistence, the old lady really didn't know what to say. Before leaving, she took her hand and said to her earnestly, "It's normal for a grown man to have three wives and four concubines. As the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, you come from a famous family. There are some truths that you should understand."
This was indeed very uncomfortable and awkward for Chad to hear. However, after a brief pause, the old lady continued, "Although our Chen family is not a family of scholars, we don't let just anyone in. You can rest assured about this. As long as I am alive, no woman from the brothels outside will be able to enter our Chen family."
"Qing'er feels very grateful that grandma has stood up for justice for her..." Gu Qing nodded and smiled, took Madam Chen's hand and sent her out.
Old Madam Chen stepped out of the door with one leg, and as if she had thought of something, she turned back and glanced in her direction: "You are a little too indulgent in disciplining Zhou'er. After all, you are his legal wife, married with the three letters and six ceremonies. If there is anything, just deal with him."
Gu Qing raised her eyebrows slightly, and her smile widened. She glanced at Cui Ru beside her with a smile, then lowered her eyes to look at the old lady in front of her, and smiled knowingly: "Qing'er has remembered everything that Grandma said."
The old lady also told her to prepare for the poetry competition in the next few days, and if there was anything she could do for her, she could just let her know.
The servants and maids in the mansion were at her disposal.
Now, Gu Qing finally understood what Chen Zhizhou said about the old lady: a person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
She is a kind-hearted lady. Even if what she says is sometimes unpleasant to the ear, Gu Qing never takes it to heart.
Gu Qing understood that the old lady had come from hard times, had never been to any school, and had no idea about the ways of the world. Her seemingly pedantic ideas and style were the result of her experience in managing the entire Chen family over the years.
How could she possibly be so petty with her grandmother?
Time flies, and the day of the song gathering is almost here.
Cui Ru heard the news from outside, saying that everyone in the capital knew that Gu Qing was going to hold a poetry competition at Chen's house. The daughters of famous families had been preparing for it in private for a long time. Everyone was quite dissatisfied with the emperor's praise of her as the most talented woman in the capital at the palace banquet that day.
They all wanted to outshine her today.
It was a beautiful day, and Gu Qing was arranging the back garden. She had almost finished preparing for the poetry gathering.
Now all that was left was a little finishing work.
She was busy when she heard the servant outside announce, "The Third Prince has arrived—"
A man in a python robe and a green shirt walked towards them quickly with a smile on his face, followed by Chen Zhizhou and several of the Third Prince's personal servants.
Li Xiangji looked around as he walked. Seeing that the Chen family was no different from usual, he couldn't help but frown in confusion: "Isn't the song and poetry meeting supposed to start tomorrow? This-"
Gu Qing hurriedly put down the work in her hands, bowed slightly, and explained to the Third Prince with a smile: "Your Highness, tomorrow is indeed the poetry meeting."
"But what difficulties has the Chen family encountered these days? Why is this poetry gathering so simple? You know, my mother also attaches great importance to the poetry gathering this time..." After Li Xiangji finished speaking, he glanced and his eyes gradually fell on the gurgling stream under the pavilion.
Cuiru and a few maids were placing cups on the stream, testing the speed of the water...
Chen Zhizhou's eyes were filled with smiles, and his gaze was fixed on the person in front of him. "Madam, even His Highness said that your poems were sloppy."
"Your Highness, this poetry gathering is originally a refined hobby for scholars, just for the pleasure of writing poetry. If it is filled with extravagance and decadence, wouldn't it lose its elegance? What's more--" Before Gu Qing could finish his words, the third prince in front of him had already walked quickly into the pavilion.
The Third Prince leaned forward slightly and picked up the cup that Shui Liu had handed him. "Winding the wine cup by the winding stream is indeed a very elegant pleasure."
"Come and see tomorrow to see what your poetry competition can bring." The third prince said with a joking smile, and turned his gaze in the direction of Gu Qing and Chen Zhizhou.
Chen Zhizhou led the third prince towards the study. Gu Qing, who was standing behind, hurriedly led a group of servants to pay their respects and see the third prince off.
Cui Ru stood aside, her face sullen. She hung her head and muttered, "Look, even the Third Prince says our poetry festival is too simple. When those people arrive tomorrow, they'll definitely accuse you, Madam Third Young Master, of being stingy."
"Have the notices been posted? How many people have come? How many people have refused?" Gu Qing didn't care at all as Cui Ru kept muttering.
Cui Ru sighed helplessly, "To answer the young lady, basically no one has refused the invitation. They have all accepted the invitation and will come to participate in the song and poetry meeting you are hosting tomorrow."
very good.
The first one who is most suitable for surgery is definitely the Gu family.
I'm afraid that Concubine Liu will be so happy that she won't be able to sleep tonight. I heard from the people in the Gu family that Concubine Liu has been busy looking for a capable doctor for Gu Miao these days, and has also sent people to find the purple-gold wolf hair brush, just to surpass Gu Qingming.
For the noble ladies of the capital, tomorrow is undoubtedly a good time to show off.
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