As soon as Gu Jiu returned to Zhilan Courtyard, Xiao Cui came to report.
"Young lady, you've returned just in time. Madam sent someone to invite you to Furong Courtyard to talk, but this servant stopped them from entering. Young lady, please go to Furong Courtyard quickly. If Madam finds out that you've sneaked out of the house, it will be all over."
Gu Jiu changed out of her maid's clothes and put on her own cotton robe, which was navy blue and set off her fair skin.
She asked, “When did it happen?”
"It's been a cup of tea."
Qingmei put the cloak on Gu Jiu and brought out a small brass hand warmer. "It's cold outside, be careful not to get cold, girl."
Gu Jiu said, "I don't like to use hand warmers. Bring me the hand warmers."
The hand warmer looks like a small pillow, hollowed out in the middle, with thick cotton stuffed inside. Put your hands inside and you'll feel warm.
When you are tired, you can also use it as a small pillow.
The winter in the capital was too cold this year. Gu Jiu thought of the hand warmers that were popular in later generations, drew a blueprint, and asked Qingmei and the others to make a few.
Putting on hand warmers, Gu Jiu took the maid and Nanny Fang to Furong Courtyard.
Furong Courtyard was very quiet and everyone was hiding in their rooms to keep warm.
Ever since Chunhe became the master's concubine, Chuncao has been by Xie's side.
Chuncao looks ordinary, but she is careful and thoughtful in her work.
When she learned that Gu Jiu had arrived, she personally lifted the thick door curtain and said, "Second Miss is here. Madam has been waiting for you for a while."
"Thank you for your hard work, Sister Chuncao. How is Madam in a good mood today?"
Chuncao lowered her voice and said, "Madam is not in a good mood today."
Gu Jiu understood, "Thank you, Sister Chuncao."
Qingmei immediately stuffed a purse into Chuncao's hand.
Chuncao put away the purse and welcomed Gu Jiu and his servant into the upper room.
Gu Shan was also there, talking to Xie.
When she saw Gu Jiu coming in, she stopped talking and greeted Gu Jiu.
"Hello, second sister."
"You're welcome, Fourth Sister."
"What's that in my second sister's hand? It looks very unique."
Gu Jiu took off the hand warmer and handed it to Gu Shan, "Fourth sister, do you want to try it? It's very warm."
Gu Shan took the hand warmer and put her hands in it. It was indeed warm.
Gu Shan smiled and said, "This thing is really good, and it's not complicated. With this thing when I go out, my hands won't be afraid of the cold."
Gu Jiu said, "I came up with this thing just to keep out the cold."
Gu Shan took the hand warmer and looked at it carefully. The stitches were so fine that it must be made of green plums.
She asked, "Second sister, what's the name of this? Have you chosen a name?"
Gu Jiu said: "I named it Hand Warmer."
"Hand Warmer, this name is really appropriate. Mother, look at this hand warmer, it's really useful."
Xie glanced at Gu Jiu and said, "The wedding is almost here, and the second girl still has the energy to make these little things. Is she very free?"
Gu Jiu smiled slightly, "Greetings to Madam. I haven't been idle lately, but rather very busy. But no matter how busy I am, I can't let myself get cold. I suddenly had an idea and thought of making a hand-warming needlework, and then I came up with this hand warmer. If Madam doesn't mind, I'll have the maids make a few more and send one to Madam when I get back."
Mrs. Xie disagreed. "I see this hand warmer is not difficult to make. Any needlework maid can make it better than this."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Madam, you are right. Since Madam dislikes my needlework in the yard, I will not show off and give Madam a hand warmer, so as not to bother Madam."
Xie was annoyed. Gu Jiu was really bold to say that.
She despised it, but Gu Jiu dared not to send her off. Was Gu Jiu too straightforward, or was he deliberately trying to irritate her?
Gu Shan hurriedly returned the hand warmer to Gu Jiu, "Second sister is very clever. This hand warmer is very useful. When I get home, I will ask the maid to make one for me and stuff it with lots of cotton."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "The more cotton, the warmer it is."
Xie snorted coldly and asked with a stern face, "I sent someone to call you, why did you take so long to come? Do you really think that just because you marry into the palace, you don't have to abide by the rules?"
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "Madam, you know I've been weak since I was young, especially in winter. I'll get sick if I don't pay attention. Every time I go out, it's like going to war. It always takes a long time. I'm a little late today, please forgive me."
Xie held the cup lid and fiddled with the tea leaves floating on the water.
She glanced at Gu Jiu with a half-smile, "From the court to the people, everyone talks about filial piety. I wonder if the second young lady has ever understood filial piety?"
Gu Jiu's face was calm as he said, "I naturally understand filial piety. Every year on my mother's death anniversary, I never forget it. I also remember my father's birthday and prepare a gift carefully every year. Even my wife's birthday, I never miss it and always give her a gift on time."
Xie raised her eyebrows and smiled, her eyes scornful. "A living person is always inferior to a dead person."
Hearing this, Gu Jiu laughed, "Of course the living can't compare to the dead. It's just that some people insist on competing with the dead, showing off themselves everywhere, but always wanting to be frustrated. If you ask me, they're just asking for trouble."
Xie paused, and the veins on the hand holding the teacup bulged.
The muscles on her face twitched uncontrollably a few times, and her bloodshot eyes glared at Gu Jiu fiercely.
She took two deep breaths and finally calmed down the anger in her heart.
"I heard that the second master of the Su family has arrived in the capital. Is he here to marry you?"
Xie suppressed her anger and asked about the Su family.
Gu Jiu was a little surprised. He really didn't expect that Xie could actually hold back her anger.
It seems that the double stimulation from Aunt Tan and Chunhe has helped Xie make a lot of progress.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Madam is always well-informed. My second uncle just arrived in the capital two days ago."
Xie looked at me with disdain. "Some people don't know the rules and don't know how to visit and greet others. But I can't help but care about them."
Gu Jiu lowered his head and smiled. Xie was making a veiled attack on someone else, and there was something else behind her words.
She said to Mrs. Xie, "My second uncle went to the capital, firstly to send me off for marriage, and secondly because he was worried about my cousin Su. Speaking of etiquette, the Su family is a family of scholars, so the rules are naturally correct.
"Father goes out early and comes back late, so it's most appropriate for Second Uncle to go to the government office to greet him. Furthermore, Second Uncle also asked Father to greet Madam on his behalf. Doesn't Madam know about this?"
Seeing that Mrs. Xie didn't say anything, Gu Jiu said, "I remember that my father has been staying at Aunt Chun's place for the past two days. He didn't see the Madam, so he forgot to mention this matter. I didn't expect that the Madam would misunderstand that the Su family is unruly. This is really wrong."
Xie's face darkened.
Gu Jiu brought up all sorts of issues that were irrelevant to her, which was clearly a stab in her heart.
Xie raised an eyebrow and said, "I heard that since the Su family fell into decline, their lives have become increasingly difficult. All their former servants were sold off, leaving only a few loyal servants to serve them.
It is rare for Master Su Er to come to the capital. Logically, even if it is not convenient for him to come in person, he should at least send a servant to tell us that he has arrived in the capital.
Could it be that the Second Master of the Su Family didn't bring any servants with him? Or is it because he is short of money and can't afford a gift, so he doesn't even care about the rules?
Gu Jiu lowered his head and smiled sarcastically.
Now, the Xie family can only seek a little sense of superiority from the Su family.
Gu Jiu looked up and said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Madam. My second uncle has servants with him and enough money to spend. The reason he didn't send anyone to inform you is because he thought it was unnecessary. My second uncle is a scholar and doesn't look down on nouveau riche. I hope Madam will forgive me."
"What did you say? Outrageous!"
"Madam, are you saying that I am presumptuous? Or is it that my second uncle is presumptuous?"
Gu Jiu looked at Xie sincerely.
Xie couldn't hold it in any longer and her face turned pale.
She pointed at Gu Jiu and said angrily, "The Su family is too bullying. The Gu family does not welcome them, uncle and nephew, to visit us."
Gu Jiu's face darkened. "The Su family is here as a guest, and there is no need for you to welcome them, Madam. Although my mother has passed away, my brother and I are still alive and well. Madam, please put yourself in the right place. You can find fault with anyone, but you have no right to find fault with the Su family. You are even less qualified to say that you do not welcome the Su family to your home."
A step-wife is a step-wife. She is slapping the face of the original wife's family. Do they really think the Xie family is so powerful?
The Su family had indeed fallen on hard times, but they hadn't fallen to the point of being slapped in the face by the Xie family. Did they really think that her siblings, Gu Jiu and Gu Ting, were dead?
Xie said firmly, "I am the head lady of the second branch of the Gu family. I can say that someone is not welcome to visit. Do I need any qualifications?"
Gu Jiu laughed sarcastically, "I welcome the Su family to visit, and my father also welcomes the Su family to visit. Could it be that the two of us, me and my father, combined, are not as good as my wife alone?
Also, the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month is my wedding day, not Gu Yue's or Gu Shan's. Please clarify the situation, Madam."
Mrs. Xie angrily said, "So what if you're getting married? I'm the mistress of the house, your elder. I said no one is welcome to come to my house, and you insist on going against me, right?"
Gu Jiu lowered her head and smiled contemptuously, "No matter how much I try to persuade you, Madam, you won't listen and insist on showing off your so-called authority. Well, as the eldest lady of Prince Ning's Mansion, I will now tell you that on the 16th day of the twelfth lunar month, the uncle and nephew of the Su family will come to visit, and everyone in the Gu Mansion will warmly welcome them. Do you understand, Madam?"
Xie laughed sarcastically, "Second girl, are you out of your mind? You are not the eldest lady of the Wang Mansion yet. You are only the second daughter of the Gu Mansion. Understand your status and position before you talk to me."
Gu Jiu smiled, "Madam is right. I am indeed only the second daughter of the Gu family. But so what? Madam, can you stop the Su family from coming to your house? Can you stop me? You said that you don't welcome the Su family to your house, but who would listen to you?"
Xie's expression changed repeatedly. She pointed at Gu Jiu and said angrily, "Is this what you call filial piety?"
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "Madam, are you going to sue me for being unfilial?"
"I……"
After Xie blurted out one word, she couldn't say the rest.
She couldn't sue Gu Jiu unless she wanted to destroy the Gu family and Mr. Gu's career.
The girl whom the emperor personally arranged to marry turned out to be a disobedient and unfilial person. Whether it was true or not, it was a slap in the emperor's face, a loud slap.
Even if Gu Jiu doesn't have a good ending, the entire Gu family won't have a good ending either.
The emperor has a strange temper, is stingy, and holds grudges.
Anyone who dares not to give the emperor face will be humiliated by the emperor.
Anyone who dares to offend the emperor will be punished by having his entire family die miserably.
No matter how stupid Xie was, she would not dare to point to the imperial edict granting the marriage and say that the emperor was wrong.
The imperial decree granting the marriage clearly stated: Gu Jiu is humble and filial.
If Xie dares to accuse Gu Jiu of being unfilial, isn't that just nonsense about the imperial edict?
This is a fatal matter.
"Mother, my second sister is getting married soon and is very busy. Please let her go back to her room."
Gu Shan spoke up at the right time to smooth things over.
Xie twisted her handkerchief, a thousand thoughts flashing through her mind.
How could Gu Jiu have deserved to be betrothed to the emperor's grandson?
If not for this, how could Gu Jiu have the courage to challenge her? And why should she bear Gu Jiu's wrath? She would have torn Gu Jiu's sharp mouth to pieces long ago.
Even when Su was alive, she had never suffered such humiliation.
Although she came from a poor family, she was loved and cared for by her father and brothers since she was a child, and had never suffered from hardship or poverty.
When she was old enough, she married Master Gu. Within a few years, she had outlasted Su Shi and then successfully made him her legal wife.
They lived smoothly for more than ten years, had two sons and one daughter, and lived in harmony with each other.
In the end, it was all because of Gu Jiu. It was this damn girl who caused her first quarrel and discord with the master, and also allowed that bitch Aunt Bai to take advantage of the opportunity and get pregnant.
But God has eyes, Aunt Bai's son died, haha...
But why is God so blind and unwilling to punish Gu Jiu severely?
Just because Gu Jiu doesn't respect her elders and has no filial piety, she is not worthy of marrying the emperor's grandson and does not deserve to be rich and powerful.
Xie's heart was roaring, wondering why all this was happening.
"If you have nothing else, Madam, I'll take my leave."
Mrs. Xie was slow to speak, so Gu Jiu stood up and said goodbye.
Hearing Gu Jiu's voice, Xie finally came back to her senses.
Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with cruelty and fatigue, but she never spoke.
Gu Jiu lowered his eyes, smiled, and turned to leave.
Xie picked up the teacup and was about to smash it to the ground.
As a result, his hand was raised in the air and then stopped.
She is not angry.
She wouldn't be angry for Gu Jiu.
Gu Shan was nervous, but when she saw Xie take back the teacup, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Jiu braved the cold wind and walked through the garden, preparing to return to Zhilan Courtyard.
Mr. Gu came towards him.
Several maids were nervous, "Why did the old man go out in the middle of winter?"
You have to know that this winter, Mr. Gu never left the yard. He spent the whole day drinking and playing with his concubines, which was extremely ridiculous.
Gu Jiu waved his hand, "Don't be nervous. He's just an old man, not a monster."
Gu Jiu went up to him and bowed, "Granddaughter greets grandfather. I pay my respects to you."
"Oh, it's Xiaojiu."
Old Master Gu's eyes were cloudy, and he looked like he was drunk.
"I heard that you are getting married soon, and to the emperor's grandson."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Exactly. It's cold, why did Grandpa go out?"
Old Master Gu glared at him and said, "Can't this old man go out? You little girl, you are so nosy even though you are young. Here, take it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Gu threw something over.
Fortunately, Wang Yi was quick-witted and caught it.
It's an envelope, and there's something inside the envelope.
Old Master Gu's steps were shaky. "Just accept what I give you. When you get married, I won't come out again."
After saying that, Mr. Gu staggered away.
"Miss, it's a banknote."
Wang Yi was very nervous and quickly handed the envelope to Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu counted carefully and found that there were five thousand taels of silver notes in the envelope.
She was surprised. This was the makeup that Mr. Gu gave her!
She turned around and shouted at Mr. Gu's back, "Thank you, Grandpa."
After saying this, he bowed deeply.
Old Master Gu shouted angrily, "Stop nagging! You little girl, you're just annoying."
Gu Jiu laughed.
All the way back to Zhilan Courtyard, Gu Jiu instructed Qingmei, "Send the hand warmers you made earlier to the old lady in the Marquis' Mansion. Don't forget to send them to the old lady in the Marquis' Mansion."
Qingmei smiled and said, "Don't worry, young lady, I won't forget it."
Qingmei and Xiaocui went out together to deliver a gift to Gu Jiu.
The gifts were given to Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, and the sisters, but not to Mrs. Xie.
Just like what Gu Jiu said in front of Xie before, since Xie despised it, then of course she would not give her a mere hand warmer to avoid being an eyesore.
When Xie learned of this, she realized that Gu Jiu had actually ignored her, not even giving her a hand warmer. Her suppressed anger was now rising rapidly. This time, she couldn't suppress it no matter what.
Xie smashed a teacup on the spot.
"How can this be possible!"
Chuncao whispered, "How about I remind the second young lady not to forget Furong Courtyard."
"Remind her of what? Do you really think she forgot? She clearly did it on purpose."
Xie angrily scolded Chuncao and forbade her to go to Gu Jiu to avoid embarrassment.
After Qingmei and Xiaocui sent gifts to the female members of the family, they went to the marquis's mansion next door to deliver gifts.
It’s a small hand warmer, not worth much, but it’s a token of Gu Jiu’s thoughtfulness.
Old Madam Wei received the gift and immediately tried it out. "It's really warm and convenient. Xiaojiu is such a clever kid, she was able to come up with this little heating gadget."
Qingmei said, "My daughter was worried that the old lady's hands would get cold when she went out, so she specially asked me to bring you the warmest one."
Old Madam Wei said cheerfully, "She's thoughtful. Go back and tell Xiaojiu to prepare for her wedding with peace of mind."
"As you command."
In addition to giving gifts to the old lady Wei, he also gave hand warmers to the three ladies in the Marquis' Mansion.
Madam Wei, holding the hand warmer, smiled and said, "Xiaojiu is so smart! It's quite convenient to wear this thing when going out. But the stitching is rough, and the outer layer shouldn't be made of cotton. I'll have the maid make a better one based on this pattern, embroider it with flowers, and send it to the old lady."
Old Madam Wei smiled and said, "Make more and give one to each of the children at home. Don't forget to give it to your relatives, this thing is very innovative."
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