After noon, Gu Jiu was invited to Baiyun Temple in the city.
Baiyun Temple is just an unknown small Taoist temple in the city, and it is not very popular.
"Greetings, Taoist Priest!"
Gu Jiu bowed to the Taoist temple master, Taoist Xuanqing, when he saw him.
Taoist Xuanqing had a kind face and said, "Wulian Tianzun, benefactor, please follow me."
Taoist Xuanqing led the way in front, and Gu Jiu followed behind.
The Taoist temple has a quiet environment and few people. It is indeed a good place to talk about things.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Gongzi Zhao decided to hold the meeting at Baiyun Temple.
After passing through the main hall, Taoist Xuanqing stopped and pointed to the back garden. He said to Gu Jiu, "Please go there on your own. The person you want to see is just ahead."
After saying this, Taoist Xuanqing turned and left.
Gu Jiu took a deep breath and took a step forward.
Qingmei suddenly grabbed Gu Jiu's sleeve and said, "Miss, nothing will happen, right?"
Wang Yi immediately said, "Don't worry, Sister Qingmei, I'll protect you, everything will be fine."
Gu Jiu also laughed and pinched Qingmei's cheek, "You heard it, Wang Yi is here to protect me, nothing will happen."
Qingmei's expression relaxed a little. She let go of Gu Jiu, still feeling a little embarrassed.
Gu Jiu comforted her and told her not to worry. Then he walked straight towards the back garden of the Taoist temple.
From the outside, the Taoist temple should be very small.
After passing through the corridor and entering the moon-shaped gate, I found that it was not small at all, but a different world.
The back garden is beautifully decorated with small bridges, flowing water, rockery and pavilions, presenting a Jiangnan scenery.
The sound of a piano came from the pavilion.
Gu Jiu stopped for a moment to appreciate the sound of the piano.
"Miss Gu is here, why don't you come up?"
A cold male voice came from the direction of the pavilion.
Gu Jiu was stunned for a moment. Why did this voice sound familiar?
Gu Jiu thought he had misheard and didn't think much about it.
She walked towards the pavilion.
The pavilion was surrounded by a screen, and Gu Jiu saw seven or eight guards in tight uniforms outside the pavilion.
An eunuch came forward to greet Gu Jiu, "Miss Gu, the young master has been waiting for a long time, please come in."
Gu Jiu hummed, "Thank you, eunuch."
Lin Shuping laughed and said, "I am not worthy of being called a father-in-law. Please come in, Miss Gu."
Gu Jiu walked up the stairs, the music of the piano did not stop.
Eunuch Lin Shuping stopped Qingmei and the others, "The young master likes quietness, so only Miss Gu can go alone. Why don't you all wait here with me?"
Qingmei was anxious, "Girl?"
Gu Jiu turned around and waved his hand, "Don't worry about me."
If Gongzi Zhao wanted to play tricks, there would be no need to go through so much trouble.
Gu Jiu turned a corner and entered the pavilion from the leeward side.
"It's you!"
When Gu Jiu saw the man sitting upright on the chair, he was stunned for a moment.
Liu Zhao stopped playing the zither and made a gesture of invitation, "Miss Gu, please sit down."
Gu Jiu suddenly understood. She finally understood why Gongzi Zhao had specifically thanked her and asked to meet her.
It turns out that Gongzi Zhao is the Gongzi Liu whom I met in the northwest.
She thought she was a nobody, but she didn't know that she had already made a name for herself here with Gongzi Zhao as early as when she was in the northwest.
It’s a small world.
Seeing Gu Jiu in a daze, Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows slightly, "Miss Gu seems surprised to see me."
Gu Jiu nodded, "I'm really surprised."
After saying that, she sat down opposite Liu Zhao.
A maid came in, poured tea and water, took away the guqin, and then quietly left the pavilion.
Liu Zhao smiled faintly, "I thought you had already guessed my identity, which is why you were trying to avoid me."
Gu Jiu laughed at himself, "I only guessed one thing, but not the other. I only thought you were a royal relative, but I never imagined you were Gongzi Zhao, the eldest son of Prince Ning and the nephew of Marquis Lu. But after your identity was revealed, all my questions were explained."
Liu Zhao nodded and said, "Have tea!"
Gu Jiu readily followed suit, picked up the teacup and took a sip.
The tea is good tea. Judging from the taste, it should be this year's winter tea.
Putting down the teacup, Gu Jiu asked straight to the point, "What do you want in exchange for letting my father go?"
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Gu Jiu with a smile.
Gu Jiu's expression was calm as he continued, "You chose to report the case to the prefectural yamen in the capital because you saw that my father was a new official and was not familiar with the situation.
After that, the case got out of control under your manipulation. From the Xue family to the Eastern Palace, my father became a puppet in your hands, powerless to resist and could only act according to your will.
"Sir, my father has completed his mission and helped you hit the target of the Eastern Palace with a heavy arrow. Now, shouldn't you get my father out of the imperial prison?"
Liu Zhao's face was expressionless, and his tone was cold as he said, "Miss Gu is indeed a woman of refined character. Then tell me why I had to go to the government office to report the case in person."
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow and smiled, his smile a little cold. "Of course it's to put pressure on my father. He's a newly appointed official, and since you reported the case yourself, how dare I just brush it off? Naturally, I have to treat it with special attention. This is exactly what you want."
Liu Zhao lowered his head and smiled, "Am I so sinister in Miss Gu's eyes?"
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and said, "I think you should know best whether you are so insidious or not."
Liu Zhao shook his head and drank from his teacup. He neither said he would release Lord Gu nor refused Gu Jiu.
The air became quiet.
Gu Jiu was a little flustered. Could it be that the young master summoned her not for negotiation?
She lowered her head and carefully considered and analyzed Liu Zhao's every move after they met, hoping to find clues from his expression.
"Miss Gu seems very nervous?"
Liu Zhao finally spoke, but he talked about some irrelevant topics in Gu Jiu's opinion.
Gu Jiu raised his head and faced Liu Zhao. "Sir, why did you ask to see me?"
Liu Zhao smiled.
Gu Jiu knew Liu Zhao was good-looking, but she hadn't expected him to look so good when he smiled. It had a touch of warmth and kindness. It was like two completely different styles from his cold and aloof self.
Liu Zhao said, "It's really rare that Miss Gu finally asked the most important question today."
Gu Jiu's face suddenly turned red.
Liu Zhao, however, had a blank expression on his face. "Miss Gu, please ask me to say hello to Mr. Gu when you return home."
Gu Jiu was confused. What did this have to do with Old Man Gu?
Then Liu Zhao gave her the answer.
"By the way, please help me ask, when should I hand over the things? I have limited patience and don't like to wait for people."
Gu Jiu's expression kept changing, and he looked shocked and confused.
"Sir, do you know my old man?"
Liu Zhao nodded slightly and said indifferently, "We've met a few times and spoken twice. Miss Gu, please make sure to do this. Otherwise, I will have to come to your house in person and talk to Mr. Gu."
There was a threat hidden in Liu Zhao's words.
Gu Jiu was not angry, he just felt cold all over.
What on earth did Mr. Gu hide that made Liu Zhao so concerned?
Moreover, Liu Zhao just threatened that he would go to talk to Mr. Gu in person.
Gu Jiu could tell from these words that Liu Zhao's visit was a disaster for the Gu family and definitely not a good thing.
I'm afraid that as soon as he arrives, everyone in the capital will get wind of his arrival, and then the Gu family will become the target of public criticism.
In the freezing winter, Gu Jiu broke out in a cold sweat.
She didn't know what Mr. Gu had hidden. It was precisely because she didn't know that she felt fear.
Gu Jiu licked his lips subconsciously.
Bitter taste in mouth and chapped lips.
She picked up the teacup and gulped it down. Only when she met Liu Zhao's gaze did Gu Jiu calm down.
She secretly took a deep breath and reminded herself not to let the other party see through her true intentions.
Gu Jiu calmed down and faced Liu Zhao. "I will convey your words, sir. But I still want to ask, what will it take for you to let my father go?"
"Are you sure that I can rescue Master Gu?"
Gu Jiu nodded heavily. "This case has been under the control of the young master from the very beginning. I think even my father's imprisonment was part of the young master's plan. I will persuade the old man to hand over the things. Then shouldn't the young master also show some sincerity?"
Liu Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Gu Jiu with cold eyes.
Being stared at by Liu Zhao, Gu Jiu felt as if he was in an ice cave, shivering with cold all over.
Liu Zhao said, "There will be a palace banquet on the first day of the first lunar month. I hope Miss Gu can perform well and not disappoint everyone."
Gu Jiu was stunned. "Palace banquet? How can I attend a palace banquet? I am not qualified to attend."
Liu Zhao said coldly, "When the time comes, you will be eligible to attend the palace banquet."
Gu Jiu stared at Liu Zhao suspiciously, unable to guess what he was up to.
"what do you want to do?"
"I don't need you to do anything special. You just need to perform well and fulfill your duties."
Gu Jiu frowned, "Am I sure I can attend the palace banquet?"
Liu Zhao nodded, "Of course!"
Gu Jiu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
If she could attend the palace banquet, would it mean that Lord Gu would be released soon and reinstated? Only then would she be eligible to attend the palace banquet.
She lowered her head and bit her lip.
But she couldn't see through Liu Zhao's purpose.
What was the purpose of telling her to behave well at the palace banquet?
Liu Zhao obviously knew what Gu Jiu was struggling with.
He said to Gu Jiu, "I advise you not to overthink it. It's just an ordinary palace banquet, there's no need to make it so complicated."
Gu Jiu didn't believe what he said.
If it was just an ordinary palace banquet, why did they specifically tell her to behave well? It was too weird.
Gu Jiu did not hesitate to speculate Liu Zhao with the greatest malice, this man would definitely not do anything meaningless.
Then Liu Zhao obviously didn't want to talk any further. He picked up his teacup and ordered them to leave. "Miss Gu, it's getting late. You should go back. As a girl, you should not stay outside for too long."
Gu Jiu gritted his teeth and smiled again. "Last time in the northwest, you asked Zhao San to give me some silver notes, which solved my urgent need. I am very grateful."
Liu Zhao said indifferently, "That's what you deserve."
Gu Jiu nodded with a smile, "Take care, young master. I'll take my leave first. I hope to see my father return home safely as soon as possible."
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows and smiled, without commenting.
Gu Jiu knew that the key to ensuring Lord Gu's safe return home lay with Old Man Gu.
Gu Jiu stood up and said goodbye, leaving the pavilion.
She walked down the stairs and saw the guard Zhao San.
Zhao San was very happy to see Gu Jiu and grinned, "Miss Gu, how are you doing recently? How did your conversation with my young master go?"
Gu Jiu smiled at Zhao San and said, "Thank you for your concern, Guard Zhao. Thank you for this meeting, Guard Zhao."
Zhao San quickly waved his hands, "Miss Gu, you don't have to thank me. It's the young master who wants to see you, it has nothing to do with me."
“Ahem…”
Two coughs were heard from inside the pavilion.
Zhao San's expression changed. "Miss Gu, go back first. I won't talk to you anymore."
Gu Ji pursed his lips and smiled, then looked back at the pavilion, but of course he saw nothing.
However, she could make a bold guess that Liu Zhao obviously did not like Zhao San exposing him in front of outsiders.
Gu Jiu didn't know that the corners of her mouth were raised and she looked in a good mood.
When Qingmei and the others saw Gu Jiu coming out of the pavilion, they hurried to meet him.
"Girl, are you okay?"
Gu Jiu shook his head, "It's okay, let's go back."
"I just saw Zhao San. Could it be that Gongzi Zhao is the Master Liu from the northwest?"
Qingmei lowered her voice and looked incredulous.
Gu Jiu nodded slightly, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Qingmei was worried.
I never expected that the Master Liu I met at Tianmen Temple in the northwest would be the eldest son of Prince Ning, Master Zhao.
Qingmei didn't dare to think too deeply about this matter.
It seems that if you think deeply, you will discover the incredible truth.
That truth is so horrible.
When they walked out of the Taoist temple, Qingmei's face was still pale, which attracted Erzhuang's concern.
Qingmei shook her head at him and said, "Hurry up and send the girl back home."
Er Zhuang nodded, but couldn't help asking, "Miss, do you want to go to Shili Hutong to take a look? The shop is doing very well. I've already started looking for people to run the business you mentioned. We'll be able to start it after the New Year."
Gu Jiu got on the ox cart and said calmly, "Next time I have a chance, I will go to Shili Hutong. I won't go today. I have to hurry back home."
"I understand. I will take the girl back home right away."
Erzhuang drove the ox cart and sent Gu Jiu to the back door of Gu Mansion.
The back door leads to an alley, which is quiet and deserted.
Gu Jiu got out of the car and opened the back door to enter the Gu Mansion.
Xiao Cui had been guarding the back door, and she was relieved when she saw Gu Jiu coming back.
"Girl, you're finally back."
Gu Jiu hummed, "Any news?"
Xiao Cui shook her head. "Everyone in the mansion is worried now. What if the master doesn't come back?"
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and said in a resounding voice, "Don't worry, the master will definitely return safely. Where is the old man now?"
Xiao Cui was stunned for a moment, very surprised that Gu Jiu would ask about Mr. Gu's situation.
She said, "Since I haven't heard any noise coming from the concubines, the old man must be drinking in his room."
Gu Jiu nodded, and instead of returning to the backyard, he went straight to the outer courtyard to meet Old Man Gu.
As soon as I arrived at the gate of the courtyard, I heard Mr. Gu singing a song, accompanied by the laughter of the maids.
Gu Jiu frowned, a little disgusted.
Qingmei said, "Miss, it's so smoky in there, you'd better not go in. Otherwise it will pollute your eyes."
Gu Jiu shook his head. "It's okay. I haven't paid my respects to the old man since returning to the capital, so this is a good opportunity. Tell the gatekeeper to inform the old man that I'm here. Tell all your maids to get out."
Although Qingmei didn't want to let Gu Jiu in, lest he see the unbearable scene, but Gu Jiu was determined and she had no choice but to knock on the door and ask the gatekeeper to inform him.
The gatekeeper spat out the melon seed shells and glanced at Gu Jiu.
"It's really rare today, why is the second girl here?"
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, but said nothing.
Qingmei quickly handed over her purse and said, "Please inform Auntie that my daughter is very filial and has come to pay her respects to the old man."
The old woman took the purse and her expression finally looked better.
You know, she stayed here for a year or two and might not even receive a purse. Therefore, the purse sent by Qingmei was very rare.
"Wait, Miss, I'll go and inform you. I'll clean up the place and get those bastards out."
"Thank you, Auntie."
Qingmei thanked him.
The old woman went in.
After a while, the shouting of maids, the scolding of the old woman, and the roar of Mr. Gu were heard from the room.
It was a mess. You could imagine what was going on inside without even seeing it with your own eyes.
Soon, several disheveled maids ran out of the house.
When they saw Gu Jiu, they were not embarrassed, but smiled at him openly.
Someone else greeted Gu Jiu, "Second Miss is here, what are you standing there for? Go in quickly, the old man is inside."
"Pooh!"
Xiao Cui felt disgusted and spat at several maids.
The maids were not happy. "You bitch, you bully us too. I'll tear your face off."
After saying that, he grabbed Xiao Cui's face.
"What are you still standing there for?"
Gu Jiu frowned and gave an order. Wang Yi rushed forward, picked up the maids and threw them to the ground.
"Ouch, ouch...someone's been beaten to death..."
The gatekeeper, Fang Pozi, heard the noise and ran out. She saw several maids crying and wailing, with their hands on their hips, "Crying, crying, crying, mourning!"
Then, with a smile on her face, she said to Gu Jiu, "It's all cleaned up inside. Second Miss, hurry in. The old man is waiting. I'll take care of this. These bastards don't know the rules and are all itching for trouble. Just give them a beating."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Thank you, Auntie."
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