"Madam, the young masters of the Xie and Su families are here to pay their respects to you. They are outside the door."
"Please invite them in."
Xie was cheerful and seemed very happy.
The maid bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left.
Soon, two young men walked in.
I saw the young man on the left, dressed in gorgeous clothes, looking very elegant and dashing, with a spring-like smile on his face, but it looked a little greasy.
This person is none other than Xie Xian, the son of the Xie family.
The man on the right, wearing a washed-out long gown, has a thin figure, an upright posture, a clean temperament, and faces everyone's gaze calmly.
No need to guess, this person is Su Zheng, the young master of the Su family.
Xie Xian said: "Greetings, aunt!"
Su Zheng said: "Greetings, Madam!"
Xie smiled so much that her eyes narrowed. "Okay, okay, please take a seat and serve tea."
I've heard for a long time that the Su family is in decline, getting worse every year.
Seeing it with my own eyes today, Xie seemed to have drunk a bowl of iced sour plum soup in the hottest days of summer. She felt refreshed and in a very good mood.
The more destitute the Su family is, the better, as this will only highlight her good fortune. She is the nemesis of the Su family.
"Sanlang, Erya, come and meet the young master of the Su family. You can't become estranged from your cousin just because you live far away."
Xie smiled and looked kind.
Gu Jiu knew exactly what was hidden in his mind.
It's nothing more than wanting to attack her and Gu Ting.
Look, your uncle's family is in such a bad state, what can you two siblings rely on?
By the way, I can also highlight the wealth of the Xie family and save Su Zheng's face.
"Meet cousin Su, thank you cousin."
Gu Jiu stood up, looking very graceful. He just looked sick and weak.
Su Zheng's eyes were calm, and he glanced at Gu Jiu twice more. "Cousin, you're welcome! Are you feeling unwell?"
Gu Jiu smiled faintly, "Thank you for your concern, cousin. I feel much better after taking the medicine."
"That's good!" Su Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Xian squinted his eyes, glanced at Gu Jiu and his sister, and then said in a loud voice: "Father asked me to say hello to my aunt. Is my aunt well?"
Mrs. Xie smiled and said, "Your father is thoughtful. I am in good health. Yue'er, Shan'er, this is your cousin Xie Xian."
Gu Yue raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Thank you, cousin, for visiting us for the first time. Do you have any gift?"
"How can you talk like that, kid?"
Although Xie scolded, there was a smile in her eyes. Family members didn't need to be so reserved and could joke around freely.
Xie Xian smiled and said, "Of course I brought a gift."
Gu Yue became happy and said, "Hello, cousin!"
Gu Shan followed Gu Yue politely, greeted Xie Xian, and bowed slightly to Su Zheng.
Su Zheng returned the greeting.
Xie Xian was very good at chatting, and with just a few words he made Mrs. Xie laugh out loud, and the atmosphere in the room became lively.
This immediately highlighted the awkwardness of Gu Jiu, Gu Ting, and Su Zheng. The three of them were outsiders, superfluous.
Gu Jiu and Su Zheng were relatively calm.
Gu Ting, however, seemed very uncomfortable and found an opportunity to interrupt, "Madam, I will take cousin Su down to settle him down."
Mrs. Xie said calmly, "It's time to settle down. Sanlang, take Young Master Su downstairs. Don't neglect the guests."
Su Zheng stood up and said, "Thank you, Madam. I'll come and pay my respects to you another day."
"Master Su, you're welcome." Xie smiled.
Gu Ting couldn't wait to leave the upper room.
Gu Jiu also took the opportunity to say goodbye.
Mrs. Xie didn't keep her, but only gave her two words of advice, "Second girl, don't go out next time until you recover from your illness. If your illness gets worse, the master will blame me for not taking good care of you."
"Thank you for your concern, ma'am. I will take good care of myself and live up to your kindness."
Mrs. Xie waved her hand and said, "Go down! If you need anything, just send someone over to tell me."
"I listen to my wife."
Gu Jiu led the maids out of the upper room.
Passing the garden, Gu Jiu suddenly stopped.
She turned around and looked at Jiang Yan, "What's your name?"
"Your servant Jiang Yan greets the young lady."
Gu Jiu nodded, "From now on I'll call you Yan Zi. Xiao Cui, take Yan Zi back to Zhilan Courtyard to settle down. Qingmei and Qingzhu will come with me for a walk."
"The sun is so strong, are you okay, girl?" Qingmei asked with concern.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "It's okay. I haven't been out for a long time. I'm in a good mood today, so why don't you come with me for some fun?"
"yes!"
Gu Jiu took Qingmei and Qingzhu through the garden and sat down in the pavilion in the courtyard.
Qingmei and Qingzhu thought that Gu Jiu was tired and sat down to rest.
But he didn't know that Gu Jiu came here specifically to wait for someone.
It’s not a festival, but the Xie family father and son suddenly came to visit. There must be something going on.
Gu Jiu felt vaguely uneasy.
The maids around her could not find out any news outside the inner courtyard.
As for my brother Gu Ting, except for Li Chuan who is quite smart, it’s better not to mention the other servants.
After much deliberation, Gu Jiu decided to join forces with his cousin Su.
After just one meeting, she knew that Cousin Su was very insightful.
He could understand her implication without her having to say many things explicitly.
Given the conflict between the Su family and the Xie family, I think cousin Su would also like to know why the Xie father and son suddenly came to his house.
However, if I want Cousin Su to help me find out the news, I must first create an opportunity for Cousin Su to get close to the father and son of the Xie family.
Not long after Gu Jiu sat down, a young man walked into the courtyard.
Gu Jiu stood up and said, "Hello, Fourth Brother."
The fourth brother that Gu Jiu mentioned is named Gu Yu, and he is an elder brother from the same clan.
Lord Gu was exiled to Jinzhou to serve as the governor, so it was natural for him to promote the children of his own clan.
Gu Yu is a relatively promising member of the clan and is also very motivated.
When Lord Gu took office, he brought him with him to train him.
Gu Yu looked at Gu Jiu with some surprise, "It turned out to be my second sister. Is my second sister feeling better now?"
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "Thank you for your concern, fourth brother. I'm much better now."
"Second sister, take good care of yourself. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
Gu Jiu said, "There's something I want to ask Fourth Brother for help."
Gu Yu's face was calm. "Second sister, please speak. I will definitely help if I can."
Gu Jiu's eyebrows curved and he smiled, "Thank you, Fourth Brother. My cousin from the Su family came to visit us, but he hasn't settled down yet. Could you please place my cousin from the Su family in the courtyard next to the Xie family's father and son?"
"That's all?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "Please trouble Fourth Brother."
Gu Yu said, "I'll take care of this little thing. Second sister's health is very important. The sun is strong, so go back first."
"Thank you for your concern, Fourth Brother. I'll be back soon."
Gu Yu looked at Gu Jiu meaningfully, then left.
After the people had gone far away, Qingmei asked, "Miss, did you come here specifically to wait for Master Gu Yu?"
Gu Jiu smiled and didn't say yes or no.
"Let's go! Follow me to see the Third Young Master."
"Girl, aren't you going back?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "My cousin must still be with my brother. I'll go over and talk to him."
After saying that, Gu Jiu lifted her skirt, walked down the pavilion, and headed towards the courtyard where Gu Ting lived.
…
"Brother, cousin Su, what are you talking about? I heard your brother's loud voice at the gate."
Gu Jiu walked into the room with a smile on her face.
"Sister, why are you here? The sun is so strong, can you handle it?"
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "Brother, don't worry about me. I neglected cousin Su in the upper room before, please forgive me, cousin Su."
Su Zheng said, "You're too polite, cousin Xiaojiu."
Gu Jiu sat down on the chair.
Qingmei brought her a cup of hot water.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I haven't asked my uncle and aunt how they are doing yet?"
Su Zheng said calmly, "Thank you for your concern, cousin. My family is doing well."
Gu Jiu looked sad. "A few years ago, my grandfather passed away. My brother and I were still young at that time. We had no choice but to go to pay our respects to him. It was really unfilial of us."
Su Zheng said calmly: "Cousin Xiaojiu, don't blame yourself. We all understand your difficulties.
It's a pity that our family situation isn't very good and we can't help our cousins. I hope you don't blame us."
Gu Jiu said sincerely, "Thank you, uncle and aunt, for your hard work over the years."
Su Zheng smiled and said, "It's not hard! But it's not easy for you, my cousins, to make a living under Madam Xie."
Gu Jiu nodded, "It's not easy for everyone."
After a pause, Gu Jiu asked the question he had been concerned about: "Did cousin come to Jinzhou on purpose this time?"
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