Chapter 233: Execution

Gu Yu couldn't help but mutter when he heard this: "Why are one or two of them getting married?"

Wang Qinghuai laughed and said jokingly, "You are not young anymore, do you want me to be a matchmaker for you?"

"No, no!" Gu Yu blushed and fled.

After leaving Fuguifang and looking at the noisy streets, he suddenly felt lonely.

Other people's marriages were all helped and cared for by their elders, but what about him? Although he had the title of the nephew of the Queen, he had no mother or father to love him.

Gu Yu thought of the bad things at home. Song Mo entered the palace. He stood on the bustling street, not knowing where to go.

The two personal guards exchanged glances. One of them stepped forward with a flattering smile and called out "Master" in a low voice, saying, "Where do you think we should go?"

Gu Yu came back to his senses and regained his slightly domineering arrogance, but hesitantly said: "Let's go to the palace?" After the words fell, as if he had an idea, he said in a low voice: "Let's go to the palace. I want to go see the Empress."

Every time the emperor had an attack, it was always my aunt who took care of him alone. The concubines were very attentive to the emperor at first, but later they found that the emperor remembered nothing after waking up, and if they were not careful they might anger him. Fearing for their lives, they began to pretend to be deaf and dumb. My aunt was also worried that it would be like the Dragon Boat Festival a few years ago, when several princes and princesses were scared to death when they saw the emperor having an attack, so she had to hold on alone.

At this time, my aunt must need someone to comfort her, right?

Unfortunately, the Prince of Liao is in Liaodong, and Princess Jingyi is a tactless person, so she can't rely on her own children.

After this happened, my aunt called Tianci brother into the palace, which shows that she admires him very much. Although this is a tough job for Tianci brother, it is also a rare opportunity. With Tianci brother's intelligence, he will definitely seize this opportunity.

I just wonder if the prince has noticed that the emperor is ill?

The image of the prince's frail appearance emerged in Gu Yu's mind, and he felt confused.

The prince seemed like a passerby, always without much presence. Unlike the Liao prince, who was handsome, upright, open-minded, decisive, and made people like him at first sight. He was good at flying eagles, riding horses, riding and archery, and was comparable to Tianci Ge. It was a pity that he asked to go to the fiefdom early, otherwise Kyoto would not be so lonely.

He sighed and staggered into Dongzhimen.

※※※※※

Dou Zhao was surprised to hear that the family invited Quanfuren and the hairdresser to a banquet. He asked, "What day is today?"

Su Lan said bluntly: "What day of the year? Today is the 18th!"

Dou Zhao was shocked: "How come time goes by so fast?"

Ganlu, who came in holding a pair of red vases, smiled and said, "That's right. I haven't packed up my things yet. The day for the young lady to get married is coming soon." She added, "I shouldn't have taken those dowry things out of the boxes. They have just been put into the warehouse and now they have to be packed again."

As they were talking, my aunt and sixth aunt came in hand in hand, followed by their little tail Zhao Zhangru.

Upon hearing this, the aunt asked Ganlu, "How much more stuff do you have to pack? I'll ask Aunt Peng to help you!"

Gan Lu didn't dare to use her aunt's personal maid, so she said hurriedly, "I'll finish it right away." But she was afraid that her aunt wouldn't believe her, so she said with a smile, "I just want to show off my achievements in front of the young lady, don't I?"

Everyone laughed.

Dou Zhao went forward to greet his aunt, sixth aunt, and Zhao Zhangru, and they all sat down in the banquet room to drink tea. Dou Zhao asked, "Why are you here, sixth aunt?"

Han has been in the family for almost three years. Two days ago, she was diagnosed with pregnancy. Ji was very nervous and has been taking care of Han at home these days.

"Didn't you invite Quanfu and the hairdresser today?" Ji said with a smile, "Your father sent me a letter asking me to come and sit with Madam Zhao."

Perhaps the issue of sisters' remarriage touched Dou Shiying's bottom line. Dou Zhao discovered that from the matchmaker to the married woman, all of them were his own friends and their wives. Not only did he not let people from Huaishu Hutong interfere, but he also seemed to be on guard against people from Huaishu Hutong. They were all people who were not very familiar with Huaishu Hutong.

Dou Zhao had been restless these days and hadn't paid any attention to the wedding. When she heard that the lucky woman was Mrs. Zhao, she was very unfamiliar with her. She smiled and asked, "Which Mrs. Zhao?"

The aunt smiled and said, "She is the wife of Master Zhao Peijie, the Junior Secretary of the Ministry of State Affairs." As if she was afraid that Dou Zhao might be shy and afraid, she immediately explained, "I have met her before. She is very kind and straightforward. She is a capable person."

Dou Zhao frowned slightly.

What a coincidence?

She wanted to ask more questions, but a maid came in and said, "Sixth Madam, Uncle Madam, and Madam Zhao are here."

Everyone dropped the topic. Sixth aunt and aunt went to the flower hall, while Zhao Zhangru stayed to have lunch with Dou Zhao.

While the maid was setting aside her chopsticks, she quietly asked Dou Zhao, "Do you want to go and see what Mrs. Zhao looks like?"

He is in his early twenties, but still acts like a child.

Facing his naive cousin, Dou Zhao didn't know whether he should envy her or worry about her!

She joked with Zhao Zhangru: "Be careful or your aunt will catch you red-handed."

Zhao Zhangru was immediately disappointed and asked her, "Can we not go to Xiangshan to see the red leaves?"

Dou Zhao looked at Zhao Zhangru, who was full of disappointment, and said, "Go! Why not? Let's talk to my aunt later and go to Xiangshan to see the red leaves tomorrow."

Zhao Zhangru's eyes lit up.

Dou Zhao pursed his lips and smiled.

It would be nice to go to Xiangshan to see the red leaves and put all these worries aside, so as to avoid being stuck at home every day with random thoughts.

After a trip to Xiangshan with Zhao Zhangru, my mood really improved a lot. When I went back home at night, I fell asleep immediately. When I opened my eyes again, the sun was already high in the sky.

Su Xin came in to help her wash and comb her hair, and said, "Chief Executive Gao has sent people to ask twice if you have woken up."

Dou Zhao hurriedly said, "Please invite him in."

Su Xin left immediately.

Dou Zhao hurriedly drank a cup of hot tea and went to the living room.

Gao Sheng smiled bitterly and said, "The shopkeeper Zhang came to see me in person yesterday and invited me to have a drink at Zuixianlou. He also promised to give me three thousand taels of silver after the matter was completed. He thought I was deliberately making things difficult for him!"

Dou Zhao couldn't help but laugh and said, "So what do you say?"

"Of course I said what the young lady told me to do." Gao Sheng has always been proud of his loyalty, and he felt a little uneasy about making things difficult for Zhang Zhiqi. "Storekeeper Zhang asked me if I could take out 10,000 taels of silver before the New Year, or 8,000 taels of silver would be fine. I had no choice but to insist that I would know after the New Year's Eve. Storekeeper Zhang left disappointed."

Dou Zhao nodded.

It all depends on what Zhang Zhiqi will do next.

Gao Sheng hesitated for a moment, then blushed and said, "My boss told you not to lend money at interest. If you need money, just come to me and settle the account."

Probably because he felt that Dou Zhao had given him instructions in private, he turned around and told Dou Shiying about it, feeling a little embarrassed.

Dou Zhao smiled and said, "How much private money does Dad have? If he gives it to me, what will he use it for?"

Gao Sheng thought that Dou Zhao's first offer was 30,000 taels of silver, which was no less than Dou Shiying's, so he dared not say anything.

Dou Zhao respected Gao Sheng's loyalty to his father, and smiled as he stood up and saw him off.

After that, Zhang Zhiqi came to see Gao Sheng twice in a row. Seeing Gao Sheng's earnest words and asking about Gao Sheng's character, he knew that Gao Sheng was not trying to make things difficult for him, so he became calm and made an appointment with Gao Sheng to meet again after the Spring Festival. Gao Sheng breathed a sigh of relief and agreed without hesitation.

Dou Zhao ordered Chen Qushui to keep an eye on Zhang Zhiqi's whereabouts.

As she expected, Zhang Zhiqi began to have extensive contacts with officials who were not of high rank but were close ministers to the emperor or the crown prince.

Dou Zhao's mood suddenly became heavy.

She had a long talk with her father, hoping that he would withdraw his shares from Jih Sun Bank.

His father disagreed: "A man cannot stand without trust. Since I have promised, I cannot break my promise." Seeing that Dou Zhao's expression was unprecedentedly solemn and serious, he felt uneasy again, and said with a guilty conscience, "How about, wait until you get married, and then send Gao Xing to split the shares back."

Wouldn't that mean a falling out with Zhang Zhiqi?

Dou Zhao said unhappily, "What if Zhang Zhiqi says he has no money?"

Dou Shiying said nonchalantly: "If there is a loss, then there is a loss! How can there be no loss in business?"

Dou Zhao was furious.

This is not a question of whether it is a loss or not, but a question of whether or not one will be seen as a sympathizer of the King of Liao.

In the previous life, it was because Song Mo shot the prince to death without hesitation that Prince Liao was able to force the emperor to abdicate smoothly.

In this life, she had finally saved Song Mo from being used as an executioner by Prince Liao. When Prince Liao started the rebellion, who could be like Song Mo, willing to bear the crime of murdering his master and shoot the prince to death, even at the cost of being infamous for eternity?

How can the emperor surrender obediently if the prince is not dead?

But in the previous life, King Liao did ascend the throne.

It would be better for them to stay away from Liaowang and live a peaceful and stable life. Why bother wading through such muddy water?

After King Liao ascended the throne, in order to stabilize the overall situation, King Liao still used those ministers who had not participated in the rebellion as long as they did not commit suicide by hitting their heads against the pillar like Liang Jifang.

"Since Daddy is not going to take back the 50,000 taels of silver, why did he give me the deed?" Dou Zhao forced Dou Shiying to express his opinion. "Does Daddy want me to bear this empty name? I don't care. You promised me the capital of Risheng Silver House, and this capital is mine. I want to withdraw my shares now! Risheng Silver House will never get a penny from me!"

Dou Zhao lost her mother at a young age and grew up in the countryside of Zhending. She was sensible and considerate. Dou Shiying felt that he owed this daughter a lot and felt guilty in front of Dou Zhao. At this time, Dou Zhao's eyes were wide open and her face seemed to be covered with frost, which immediately made Dou Shiying sweat on his forehead. He said, "How about I give you another 50,000 taels of silver?"

"Do I need that fifty thousand taels of silver?" Dou Zhao stared at his father. "I just don't like the way you are so nonchalant. Anyone can take advantage of you. The Guo Yan family is a big landlord in Shanxi. They have thousands of acres of fertile land. Why do you have to take out fifty thousand taels of silver by yourself? He and Lord Zhao and Lord Chen will join in..."

"No, no!" Dou Shiying was naturally moved by his daughter's wholehearted protection of him, and hurriedly said, "I wanted to give you more silver, so I took the initiative to offer 50,000 taels of silver..."

Dou Zhao's heart was moved, but he said, "Is fifty thousand taels of silver a small amount? Even if you took the initiative to propose it, if Guo Yan really cares about you, she shouldn't let you take the responsibilities alone? Who can guarantee that Risheng Bank will make money? It's useless for you to say anything this time. I am determined to withdraw my shares! If you don't go and tell Zhang the shopkeeper, I will let Gao Sheng do it!"

Dou Shiying was extremely worried.