Gu Jiu knocked on the table repeatedly.
She is also very conflicted now. On the one hand, she hopes that the Jinwu Guards can find out the truth and catch Fang Shaojian.
On the other hand, she hoped that the Jinwu Guards would not find out anything and she would be safe.
Gu Jiu felt unable to sleep or eat just thinking about someone manipulating the case.
She was certain that the person manipulating the case was definitely not Fang Shaojian.
Fang Shaojian is currently unable to protect himself and does not have that much power.
The most likely possibility is someone in the harem, or the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace.
No matter who they are, no one is a good person.
Gu Jiu sighed secretly. The decision to kill Xie Mao was indeed not rational enough and would cause endless troubles.
But under the circumstances at that time, killing Xie Mao seemed to be the best solution.
Gu Jiu pursed his lips, thinking of a solution.
The porter killer is a hidden danger. He is the Crown Princess's man. The Crown Princess probably already knows that it was her, not Fang Shaojian, who killed Xie Mao.
If she were the Crown Princess, how would she use this as leverage?
Shout the truth?
Obviously not.
The Crown Princess will not do anything that is not beneficial.
Shouting out the truth and framing other princes would do no good to the Eastern Palace.
However, will the Crown Princess let her go?
Gu Jiu slowly shook her head. Definitely not. If she were the Crown Princess, she would also make good use of this matter.
How to use it?
Gu Jiu laughed.
Of course, she took advantage of her identity as the emperor's grandson's wife.
Gu Jiu sighed inwardly, thinking that once she married Liu Zhao, trouble would come knocking on her door.
"What are you thinking about, girl?" Qingmei asked worriedly.
Gu Jiu laughed at himself, "I really hope the Jinwu Guards can find out the truth."
At this moment, Gu Jiu really thought so.
Let the Jinwu Guards arrest Fang Shaojian and put an end to this.
However, this was all wishful thinking on her part.
She, Shaojian Fang, and the Crown Princess all didn't want the Jinwu Guards to uncover the truth.
Obviously, there are people of the Crown Princess among the Jinwu Guards, cooperating with the Crown Princess's plan.
From this perspective, the Crown Princess is much more powerful than the Crown Prince.
This is an amazing woman!
Now that the Crown Princess has the help of Fang Shaojian, her situation becomes even more powerful.
You have to be careful when dealing with the Crown Princess in the future.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Just kill Xie Mao." Although there would be endless troubles, she was never one to be afraid of trouble.
No matter who it is, if they dare to lay a hand on her, she will fight back.
The real game has not yet begun, so she must be careful to hide herself and secretly accumulate strength.
One day, she will personally go out and fight those big guys.
Gu Jiu stood up and walked to the window.
The storm is coming.
…
Early in the morning, Mrs. Xie brought several of her biological children to the Xie Mansion.
White lanterns were hung at the gate of Xie's mansion, and the whole mansion was filled with gloom and sorrow.
Xie Mao's death was a huge blow to the Xie family. The Xie family had lost its backbone.
From now on, the Xie family will go downhill and begin to fall.
Even Mr. Xie’s business might not be able to continue.
In the past, others gave some respect to Mr. Xie Er for the sake of Xie Mao, allowing him to dominate the business world.
Now that Xie Mao is dead, it is natural for them to kick the shit out of him and take the opportunity to take over Second Master Xie's business.
Xie first went to the mourning hall to pay tribute to Xie Mao and lit a stick of incense.
She felt desolate. Her eldest brother was dead. What would happen to the living people like them? What would happen to the Xie family?
When Mrs. Xie saw Mrs. Xie, Ma burst into tears.
"Master, look who's here to see you. It's your sister. She's finally here to see you. She didn't even come to see you until you were dying. What sin have you committed?"
Gu Yue had a blank expression on her face, while Gu Shan felt indignant.
Gu Yan was relatively calm.
Gu Gong was filled with rage. If it weren't for the wrong occasion, he would have jumped up and cursed.
Mrs. Xie's expression was stiff. She had long expected that Mrs. Ma would not look at her in a good light, but she did not expect that she would be embarrassed while she was still in the mourning hall.
Mrs. Xie took a deep breath and said in a tone as sorrowful as possible, "Sister-in-law, I'm so sad. Big brother is gone, but you and your nephews and nieces must go on with your life."
Ma grabbed Xie's hand and cried, "Sister, your eldest brother is gone, leaving us orphans and widows. What are we going to do? Can you help us? The whole family is counting on you now."
Xie struggled and used a lot of strength, and with the help of Gu Shan, she finally broke free from Ma's hand.
Xie said, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. Let's focus on brother's funeral first. We can talk about anything else after the funeral is over."
"Sister, you can't just ignore us. Even if you look down on me, you still have to take care of your nephews and nieces."
"That's enough! Stop embarrassing yourself."
With a scolding, Ma suddenly stopped crying.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the person who scolded Ma was actually Xie Shi, the eldest son of Ma and Xie Mao.
Xie Shi was already a grown man. Xie Mao's death made him grow up overnight and shoulder the burden of being the eldest son in the family.
With a stern face, he said to Ma, "Mother, please don't cry about our family's difficulties to everyone you meet. It's a favor for relatives to help, but you shouldn't force them to help if they don't. At least give your sons some face and don't let people look down on us, the Xie family. This is not twenty years ago, and we are not a bankrupt family anymore."
Ma wanted to cry but couldn't.
It can be seen that she seems a little scared of Xie Shi.
When Xie Shi spoke with a stern face, he was indeed a little scary.
Ma said weakly, "Isn't this what I'm doing for you?"
Xie Shi snorted coldly, "Thank you, mother. But I don't need you to make plans for me."
Ma was very embarrassed, but did not dare to refute.
She muttered quietly, "At worst, I'll just say less in the future."
Xie Shi stood up and walked towards Xie.
"Aunt, I hope I didn't scare you just now. It was my mother's fault. Please forgive me."
Xie breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry for you. Your father passed away so suddenly, and now the family depends entirely on you. If you have any difficulties, please tell me. I will definitely help if I can."
Ma became excited. "There are difficulties, many difficulties. Sister, you said this, you can't go back on your word."
Xie Shi frowned and looked back at Ma, "Mother, could you please be less talkative, please?"
Ma was like a deflated ball and stopped talking immediately.
Xie Shi said solemnly to Mrs. Xie, "Thank you very much, aunt. I can still handle it for now."
"Don't work too hard. You are still young, don't force yourself." Xie advised.
Xie Shi bowed slightly and said, "I will listen to my aunt. I will tell you when I can't hold on any longer."
"Good boy."
Xie felt very relieved that the Xie family finally had a successor.
The Xie family's housekeeper hurriedly ran into the mourning hall from outside.
"Hurry, hurry, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived with the officials from the Eastern Palace. Young Master, please follow me out to greet him."
Xie Shi was excited and nervous. He said to Xie, "Aunt, please keep an eye on things here. I'll be right back."
"Go quickly."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came to pay tribute to Xie Mao, and everyone in the Xie family was alarmed.
Because Xie Mao passed away, Mr. Xie and Mrs. Xie, who had been bedridden, forced themselves to get up.
No one knew where Second Master Xie came out from.
Ma was panicking and kept shouting, "The Crown Prince is here, what should I do? Sister, you are knowledgeable and experienced, please teach me what I should do."
Xie really looked down on Ma.
She scolded softly, "Don't scream. The Crown Prince will be here soon. Don't say anything, just cry. Remember, cry quietly and don't disturb the Crown Prince."
She pointed at her other nephews and nieces and said, "Remember this, you all must cry well. The important task of speaking to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will be given to Xie Shi. That child is great and very responsible. Big sister-in-law is very lucky."
Ma sobbed, "Are you mocking me, sister? Your eldest brother left us alone so early. How are we, an orphan and a widow, going to survive?"
Ma was so excited that she started to cry again.
Xie quickly covered her mouth and said, "Sister-in-law, please stop crying. If the prince sees you, he might get disgusted."
Ma nodded and sobbed softly, "I've kept your words in mind. I, I can't ruin Dalang's good fortune. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is willing to visit us, an orphan and a widow, which shows that he is a man who cherishes old times."
Xie nodded, and Ma's mind finally came to her senses.
Xie Shi led His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and officials from the Eastern Palace to the mourning hall.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has lost a lot of weight and no longer has the plump image he used to have.
There was a worry on his face as he walked into the mourning hall and personally lit a stick of incense for Xie Mao.
The officials of the Eastern Palace also lit a stick of incense.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince looked around the mourning hall. Seeing Mr. and Mrs. Xie dragging their sick bodies to the mourning hall, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince quickly stepped forward.
"Two elders, I am so ashamed of you."
Old Mrs. Xie was in tears and kept wiping them away.
Mr. Xie was also in tears, but at least he could still speak.
"It is an honor for us to have His Highness come to our humble home. My son is unfortunate and cannot continue to share His Highness's worries."
"Don't say that, old man. If I hadn't ordered Lord Xie to handle the case, he wouldn't have encountered the thieves, and the accident wouldn't have happened."
Mr. Xie burst into tears.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince offered a few more words of comfort, then asked, "How are your family, my dear Lord Xie? If you have any difficulties, please let me know."
Xie Shi stepped forward and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. After my father's funeral is over, I will stay at home to study and observe mourning for him."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince looked at Xie Shi approvingly, "You are quite good. Your father is gone, and now the family depends on you to support it. Do you have any plans for the future? How about I reserve a position for you in the Eastern Palace? Once your three-year mourning period is over, you can go there to serve."
Ma and others were overjoyed.
Only Xie Shi had an indifferent expression. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I would like to join the army."
"Oh!" His Royal Highness was surprised. He then added, "A man with ambition should fight on the battlefield. If you want to join the army, I can lend you a hand. The Emperor's eldest grandson is currently training in the Beijing Camp. When your mourning period is over, I can arrange for you to join the army in the Beijing Camp and become his right-hand man. What do you think?"
Xie Shi was waiting for these words. He bowed and said, "I, Your Highness, would like to express my gratitude for your generosity."
"Get up quickly."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince only stayed in Xie's house for the time of an incense stick.
He told Xie Shi to study hard and to seek help from Donggong if he had any difficulties.
When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince left, all the officials of the Eastern Palace also left.
The Crown Prince's Secretary Xu secretly suggested Xie Shi.
"Mourning is important, but so is your future. Since you've chosen to join the army, I don't think you need to observe three years of mourning. Strike while the iron is hot. Do you understand this principle?"
Xie Shi bowed slightly, "Thank you, Lord Xu, for your advice. Common people, pressed for livelihood, have always only observed mourning for three to six months."
The Prince's Secretary nodded secretly. He was a smart boy and had a lot of ideas.
He said to Xie Shi, "The dead cannot be resurrected, and the living must continue to live. The future of the Xie family depends on you."
"I see."
After seeing off His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and his entourage, Xie Shi returned to the mourning hall.
Xie asked first, "Are you okay?"
Xie Shi shook his head. "Thank you for your concern, aunt. I'm fine."
Ma asked again, "What did Lord Xu say to you?"
Xie Shi was silent for a moment before he said, "Nothing."
Xie Shi asked someone to send Mr. Xie and Mrs. Xie back to their room to rest.
Mr. Xie patted Xie Shi on the shoulder and said, "This family's future depends entirely on you."
Xie Shi bowed and said, "Grandfather, don't worry. I will support this family."
"Well done, you are worthy of being a descendant of the Xie family."
Second Master Xie's eyes rolled around and he muttered, "Now that my eldest brother is gone, do we need to divide the family business?"
"Bullshit! I'm still alive, and if you dare to divide the family property, I'll break your legs." Old Master Xie was furious.
Xie Shi said, "Second Uncle is right. Grandfather, let's divide the family. Let's discuss the matter while Aunt is here."
Mr. Xie couldn't believe it. "Da Lang, you are confused. I won't allow you to split up the family. As long as I am alive, this family cannot be divided."
Xie Shi said expressionlessly, "Father is gone, so now is the right time to divide the family. Otherwise, no matter how we divide it, people will say that my second uncle bullied an orphan and a widow, or that our eldest branch took advantage of the sympathy of the clan members to gain benefits during the division. Only if my grandfather takes the lead in the division can we silence the gossips and convince my second uncle's family and our eldest branch."
Mr. Xie hesitated.
Second Master Xie thought to himself, "Scholars are the best at speaking. Look how well they speak."
Ma jumped up anxiously, "We can't split up the family. Dalang, are you confused? If we split up the family, how will we, an orphan and a widow, survive?"
Xie Shi's face was stern. "Does mother not trust her son? Or does she think her son can't support you?"
Ma was speechless. Xie Shi's look was too terrifying. As an elder, she didn't dare to speak under Xie Shi's gaze.
Ma opened her mouth and asked quietly, "Do you really want to split up the family?"
Ma's expression looked like she was about to cry.
How can we live after the family is divided?
Xie Shi nodded and said affirmatively, "Let's divide the family now so that there will be fewer disputes in the future. However, the formal division must wait until the funeral is over. Today is just a preliminary discussion. Please also ask my aunt to be a witness."
Mrs. Xie frowned. "It's inappropriate to divide the family now. How can your eldest wife, with her orphans and widows, survive? How can the second wife's business continue without the eldest wife's support?"
Master Xie Er hurriedly said, "Don't worry, sister, business will continue as it should."
Xie sneered, "Just don't regret it in the future, Second Brother."
Master Xie said, "I promise I won't regret it."
Mrs. Xie looked at Mr. Xie II as if he were a fool.
On the surface, the Xie family's second branch's eagerness to distance itself from the first branch seemed wise. However, it was actually foolish.
Look at Xie Shi. As soon as Second Master Xie proposed to divide the family, he went along with it. It was obvious that he wanted to get rid of the burden of the second house and start anew with a light heart.
The future of the Xie family rests entirely on the eldest wife. Second Master Xie couldn't see through this. Did he really think he could do whatever he wanted with just a few bucks? Just wait and see; sooner or later, he'll regret it.
Xie Laoye sighed, "You all want to split the family. If I continue to stop you, you will hate me. Well, let's split it. After the division, I will live with the second wife."
Master Xie said, "This is as it should be. I am the only son left by my parents, and it is my duty to provide for you in your old age."
The separation of the second and first branches of the Xie family was settled.
Taking advantage of the fact that there were no relatives or friends visiting, the two families discussed how to divide the property in the mourning hall.
Xie was extremely angry at the ridiculous scene, but she could do nothing about it. After all, she was a married woman and could not take charge of the Xie family's affairs.
Gu Cheng frowned, thinking that the Xie family was indeed a nouveau riche and was too unrefined.
Even if you want to divide the family, you should not discuss the matter in the mourning hall in front of the deceased.
He made up his mind to keep his distance from the Xie family as much as possible in the future, and the two families would not have any contact except during festivals.
…
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had just returned to the Eastern Palace when the eunuch came to report that the Emperor wanted to see him.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince shuddered subconsciously, "Father, the Emperor summoned me. Did he say anything?"
"Your Highness, all the princes are in Xingqing Palace at this moment. The Emperor is furious."
When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince heard that the Emperor was angry, he did not dare to delay and hurried out of the East Palace and headed for Xingqing Palace.
As soon as he entered the palace, he heard the emperor's roar, which frightened the prince so much that he wanted to back out.
"Your Highness, please come in. All the princes and kings are here, except for Your Highness."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince gritted his teeth and walked into the hall.
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