The drizzle continued to fall endlessly.
Zhou Miao stood under the eaves, his mood just like the weather, very irritable.
Jiang Shuyi actually gave birth to a ghost baby?
It's unbelievable.
But he knew it had to be true.
He looked back at the palace behind him and sneered.
Forget it, since it's a ghost fetus, it's useless.
The emperor would not favor a woman who had given birth to a ghost baby.
Jiang Shuyi's favor continues to this day.
Zhou Miao laughed at himself, thinking that he had put so much thought into it, but in the end it was all in vain.
Concubine Li De was lucky enough to give birth to a boy, a healthy little prince.
It is estimated that Concubine Li De will regain favor soon!
…
Gu Jiu was also surprised to hear that Jiang Shuyi had a premature birth and a difficult labor, and in the end the baby could not be saved.
"The road ahead is difficult."
She sighed.
The emperor is old, and just because he can make Jiang Shuyi pregnant once doesn’t mean she can get pregnant a second time.
Without her child, Jiang Shuyi's future path will indeed be difficult.
After she sighed, she didn't think about it any further.
She is about to give birth and has not been going out recently. She is very emotional and a little nervous.
He walked around the yard, holding his waist.
After the rain, the weather became cool and comfortable.
It is better to give birth in this season than in midsummer or midwinter.
"Madam, Sister Shiqi requests an audience."
"Did you say anything?"
The little maid shook her head, "Sister Shiqi only said she had something important to report."
Gu Jiu said casually: "Ask her in."
After a while, Shiqi was invited to the small study.
Without saying a word, she knelt down and said, "Please, Madam, save Sister Shiqin."
Gu Jiu was a little confused, "What happened to Shiqin? Didn't she go home to prepare for her wedding?"
"No! She was driven out of the palace by the young master and disliked by her family, and she is depressed and sick. She is very ill, and her family refuses to see a doctor or give her medicine. She is dying! Wuwu... Madam, please save her."
As Shiqi spoke, he began to cry.
Gu Jiu was a little surprised. "You said she was kicked out of the palace by the young master, not returned home to prepare for marriage?"
Shiqi nodded repeatedly, "I dare not lie to you, Madam. The Master has issued a gag order, forbidding us to reveal a single word to you. If it weren't for Sister Shiqin being so ill and dying, I wouldn't have dared risk my life to see you. Now, only you can save her. Please, Madam, have mercy and save her."
Shiqi couldn't stop crying.
It is obvious that she and Shiqin have real feelings for each other.
"You stand up and talk first."
Shiqi knelt there motionless.
Qingmei stepped forward and said, "If you want Madam to save people, then listen to Madam. Otherwise, if you anger Madam, she can kick you out."
Shiqi was scared and quickly got up from the ground, crying and wiping her tears.
Gu Jiu asked her, "She is the eldest maidservant beside the young master, very respectable. The young master would not cruelly drive her out unless she committed an unforgivable crime. Tell me, what did she do wrong?"
Shiqi hesitated to speak, unable to tell the truth.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "You want me to save people without telling you what happened. Then please go back. As for Shiqin, let her fend for herself."
"I will tell you, I will tell you. But the Master has issued a gag order, and I am afraid that if I tell you, the Master will not tolerate me."
"At this point, do you think the young master can still tolerate you?"
Shiqi's face was pale, all the blood gone.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm here. As long as you do your job honestly, the young master won't kick you out."
"Thank you, Madam. Sister Shiqin is old, and her family is urging her to get married. When she saw the maidservant beside the Second Madam being promoted to a concubine, she became obsessed and had inappropriate thoughts, which violated the taboo of the young master. In a rage, the young master drove her out."
After Shiqi finished speaking, he felt completely exhausted, his clothes soaked with sweat.
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows. He didn't expect that Shi Qin would have the courage to seduce Liu Zhao.
Liu Zhao remained calm in the face of such a temptation, which is very good and deserves praise.
She asked, “When did this happen?”
"It was the day before Sister Shiqin was driven away."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Did the Master personally instruct you that if anyone asks about Shiqin, you should tell them that she is back home to prepare for her wedding?"
Shiqi shook her head, "It was Eunuch Lin who was ordered to issue the gag order."
I see.
Gu Jiu asked again: "Where did it happen? The study? The bedroom?"
"Yes, in the bathroom."
Gu Jiute was disgusted.
Shiqin is good at choosing places.
She remembered the time when Shiqin was driven away, the weather was very hot.
Liu Zhao would come home covered in sweat every day. To avoid disturbing her, he would first take a bath in the Wenshuyuan before coming to her room.
Liu Zhao kept it a secret.
If Shiqin had not been seriously ill and Shiqi had not had a deep sisterly love, she would have continued to be kept in the dark.
Gu Jiu asked, "What disease did Shiqin have?"
"Her family refused to call a doctor for her, and I don't know what's wrong with her. I went to see her, and she's lost a lot of weight and is coughing up blood. I'm afraid she's dying."
After saying this, Shiqi started crying again, as if they were in the same boat.
Gu Jiu gave Qingmei a wink.
Qingmei took out a handkerchief and advised, "Sister Shiqi, please stop crying and wipe your tears first. Madam didn't say she wouldn't save people, so don't worry."
Shiqi looked at Gu Jiu expectantly.
Gu Jiu said, "After all, it's a human life. We can't just watch someone die. Nanny Fang, take some money and hire a doctor to come to Shiqin's house to see her. Treat her as needed."
Nanny Fang hesitated, "After all, Shiqin wants to climb into bed."
"It's wrong to want to climb into bed, but it's not a capital offense. Go ahead."
It is not easy to train a maidservant to serve the eldest son of the royal family.
To die easily is a waste of nature's gift.
Just as she and Nanny Fang said, Shiqin's climbing into bed was abominable, but not a capital crime.
Such a capable maid, as long as she is willing to give up her thoughts on men, will be a capable person.
Gu Jiu thought that Shiqin was worth saving.
If she is rescued but still obsessed with men, then she will be left to fend for herself.
Shiqi burst into tears of joy, "Thank you, madam, thank you, madam. I kowtow to you on behalf of Sister Shiqin."
Shiqi knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times, bang bang bang, until his skin was broken.
Gu Jiu said, "Get up. If you really want to thank me, when Shiqin gets better, ask her to come and kowtow to me."
"Thank you, ma'am, for letting bygones be bygones."
Shiqi got up from the ground, her whole face covered with tears. It didn't look good, but it was sincere enough.
Gu Jiu said, "You maids serve the young master and are well versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You are more capable than the daughters of ordinary officials. Now that you are getting older, have you ever thought about your future?"
"As for your thoughts on becoming the young master's concubine, I remind you to give up. As long as I am in the palace, there will be no other woman by the young master's side."
This was the first time that Gu Jiu expressed his stance in public, stating that he would never allow Liu Zhao to take a concubine.
So what if he’s the emperor’s grandson?
Even the emperor's grandson has to be kept in check by her.
If he dares to take a concubine, she will kill him.
Shiqi seemed to be frightened by her words.
Obviously, he didn't expect that Gu Jiu could talk about jealousy so confidently.
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Why, you all want to warm the young master's bed?"
"No, no. I had such thoughts when I was young, but I have given up on them in recent years."
"You are quite honest. Tell me, what are your thoughts on your future?"
Shiqi said with a sad face: "I don't know either. Maybe I can marry a servant, or ask Eunuch Lin to find a marriage for me outside."
"Do you want to get married?"
Shiqi nodded, "When you get older, you'll have to get married eventually."
Gu Jiu laughed, "There is another way, work for me, you can choose any of my managers, shopkeepers, guards, or bachelors.
"Whichever one you choose, as long as the man doesn't refuse, I will buy you a dowry and ensure you marry off with honor. Even if you have your eye on a military commander or a wealthy businessman, I can satisfy you."
Shiqi opened his mouth wide, looking terrified.
She had never expected that there was such a thing.
Gu Jiu continued, "You can tell your sisters what I'm saying. As long as you're willing to work for me, I'll arrange a marriage for you. Your dowry will not be less than one thousand taels."
Shiqi was speechless, "Where is the master?"
"You don't have to worry about the young master. If you were men, it would be difficult for him to release the people. But you are girls, and he wouldn't dare to refuse if I ask him to release them."
Gu Jiu is so confident.
Shiqi was shocked and confused. There was too much information to digest.
"Madam, what do you want me to do? I only know how to serve you and I can't do anything else."
Gu Jiu laughed. "As the top maidservant of the eldest son of the royal family, you underestimate yourself. Can you write and calculate?"
Shiqi nodded repeatedly.
"Can you teach people?"
Shiqi nodded again.
“Will you manage people?”
Shiqi nodded again.
What the lady asked were things they did on a daily basis.
"Can you manage two hundred people? Don't worry, they are all women."
Two hundred people?
Shiqi was startled and said, "Your servant can give it a try."
"Two thousand people? Can you manage it?"
Shiqi was frightened. "Two, two thousand people? I need to discuss this with all the sisters first."
"Yes, you are quite confident. Your abilities are not only enough to serve others, but also very useful in my eyes. It is not easy to train a maid like you, you know?"
Shiqi blushed, feeling ashamed and embarrassed, "I am not as good as you say, Madam."
"Whether it's good or not, you don't have the final say. Okay, go back and focus on your work, and don't let your mind wander. When you've made up your mind, come to me and I'll arrange it for you. If you've considered marriage, I can also arrange it for you."
Shiqi wiped his face and said, "Thank you, ma'am, thank you!"
Her tears came again.
She thought her life would be to get married, have children, and spend her days dealing with the daily necessities of life, becoming a shrew. However, she never imagined there was another path ahead: she could become a manager, managing hundreds or thousands of people.
This, this is something I could never have imagined in my dreams.
Compared to serving the young master but not seeing a future in the future, Shiqi's heart gradually tilted towards being a manager who manages people.
It must be very impressive to be in charge of hundreds or thousands of people.
Shiqi left with a smile.
Gu Jiu rubbed his brows. "The maids in this courtyard are getting older and more thoughtful. It's time to consider their marriage. Qingmei, Qingzhu, have you ever thought about marrying someone? Is there anyone you like?"
"You were clearly talking about Shiqi and the others, why did Madam mention us servants?" Qingzhu hesitated.
Qingmei said, "I don't want to get married yet. I want to stay with you, Madam, and take care of the little boy for you."
Gu Jiu pinched her cheek and said, "It's a pity for such a young girl to be a nanny. Get married, get married. After you get married, have a baby quickly so that she can be a companion to the young master and take the imperial examination in the future."
"Madam, please don't tease me."
Gu Jiu laughed, "I'm not kidding. You're all grown up, don't you believe your family members haven't urged you?"
Qingzhu pinched a corner and asked, "Madam, are you really going to chase us away?"
"Who kicked you out? How heartless! Isn't this for your own good? Do you really want to be an old maid forever?"
"But once we get married, who will serve the wife?"
"Haven't you trained so many little girls? And after you get married, you can continue to serve me and manage my affairs. You can work during the day and go home to rest at night. You don't have to stay by my side for twelve hours a day."
Qingzhu thought for a moment and said, "But I don't have a partner."
Gu Jiu laughed, "My Qingzhu wants to get married."
"Madam, you are teasing me again." Qingzhu's cheeks were red, as red as blood.
Gu Ji pursed his lips and smiled, knowing that she was thin-skinned, so he stopped joking.
She ordered, "From today on, let the maids take turns doing the work during the day. You can take some time to go out and look around. If you see anyone you like, remember to tell me."
Qingzhu said nothing, but from her expression, it was clear that she was interested.
Qingmei said: "I don't want to get married yet. I want to serve Madam forever."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I can't delay your whole life."
"The servant doesn't care."
"But I do care. And I've already told you that after you get married, you have to continue to serve me. If you think you won't have to serve me after you get married, you're just dreaming."
"This servant is willing to serve Madam forever."
"Then find a good partner and marry yourself first."
"I will search slowly."
This topic comes to an end for now.
In the evening, Liu Zhao came back and learned that Shiqi had gone to see Gu Jiu. He was furious and wanted to kick Shiqi out.
Qingmei arrived in time and stopped them.
"Sir, Madam wants you to come over and talk to her about something important."
Liu Zhao suppressed his anger and went to the upper room.
Gu Jiu got straight to the point, "I want this maid, Shiqi. You are not allowed to kick her out."
Liu Zhao: "..." What happened when he was away?
"Did Shiqi whisper something in your ear, asking you to keep her? This maid looks honest on weekdays, but I didn't expect she's full of schemes."
"Mr. Liu, please don't underestimate me, okay? Do you think I'm being blinded by the maids around you? Those maids around you can all read and write, calculate, and teach people. It would be a waste to drive away such good talents. I plan to take them all in and put them in the most suitable positions, not to serve you."
This time it was Liu Zhao's turn to be confused.
"Are you really going to use them?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Do you know how difficult it is to find a female manager who can do both writing and math these days? Er Zhuang has been looking for someone outside for three or four years, but there's not a single one that meets his eye. My cotton mill has so many female workers, and I need people like Shi Qin who have seen the world and can do both writing and math to manage them."
Liu Zhao suddenly realized, "Is it possible that you can use anyone who falls into your hands?"
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, very proudly, "I have a pair of eyes that can discover gold."
"Then look at me, where am I shining?"
"You were born with golden light, I don't need to see it."
"Look, where am I shining?"
Gu Jiu was pestered by him and said, "Okay, okay, your whole body is shining with gold."
"You are just trying to fool me. I want to hear the truth." Liu Zhao was shameless and insisted on forcing Gu Jiu to tell the truth.
Gu Jiu reached out and poked him on the forehead, "Do you really want to hear the truth?"
Liu Zhao nodded, very sincerely.
Gu Jiu smiled and said seriously, "I think you have the potential to be a traitor."
"Traitor?"
Gu Jiu nodded heavily, "Yes, you are a traitor. You can't be a loyal minister."
Liu Zhao pinched his chin and thought carefully, "You really have a unique vision. Being a treacherous minister is indeed a way."
Gu Jiu widened his eyes: Is this possible?
She was fooling him, okay?
However, Liu Zhao took it seriously.
What is the ultimate goal of a treacherous official? Of course, to rebel and become emperor.
Liu Zhao thought this path was very suitable for him.
Gu Jiu waved his hands, "Don't mess around!"
Liu Zhao laughed, "This young master never does anything reckless."
"Your expression just now scared me to death."
Liu Zhao asked, "Are you really scared?"
"It's not that scary, it's just that I rarely see you with that expression."
Liu Zhao's expression darkened. "If one day, I do something particularly bad, will you hate it?"
"What bad thing?"
"The worst thing in the world."
"I don't understand! Why don't you just tell me what you want to do."
Liu Zhao looked at her deeply, then laughed, "I was just joking with you, don't take it seriously."
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