"Sixth Brother, I heard that you brought Gu Yue back home?"
Lord Gu called Gu Yan.
Gu Cheng stood under the eaves and bowed slightly, "My son did bring my third sister back."
"Where is she? Why doesn't she come to pay her respects?"
"My third sister is not feeling well and has gone to bed after a long day. Father wants to see her, so why not wait a few days?"
Master Gu didn't care. "It's good that she's back. We have to hurry up and find her a husband and send her away as soon as possible."
Gu Cheng didn't object this time. "Father is right. We should find her a husband and send her away as soon as possible."
If she had found a marriage partner early and sent Gu Yue away, those disgusting things wouldn't have happened.
Because the Hu family was in charge of the mansion, it was easy for Gu Cheng to hide the news about Gu Yue.
The Xie family kept it a secret.
He was hoping that Gu Jiu would come over as soon as possible after receiving the letter.
Gu Jiu returned to the Gu Mansion early the next morning.
Her return surprised Lord Gu.
"But what happened?"
Lord Gu was terrified, thinking that his family was about to enter mourning, and he hoped that nothing would happen at this time, which would affect his reinstatement.
Gu Jiu looked towards Lord Gu and said, "Yes, there is something going on. Father's reinstatement needs to be put on hold. Let's talk about it next spring."
“Why wait until next spring?”
Lord Gu felt very disappointed.
Did Gu Jiu come back so rarely just to tell her this?
Gu Jiu said calmly, "The treasury is empty, and the government won't expand within six months. Especially for positions above the fourth rank. If father wants to be reinstated, he must be patient and wait for the opportunity."
"Is it just because the treasury is empty?" Lord Gu always felt that this reason was a bit far-fetched.
Gu Jiu spoke nonsense in a serious tone, "Father should know a little bit about His Majesty's temper. His Majesty is even more stingy with money than the late emperor. Furthermore, the increase in expenses due to the addition of new people to the palace has made His Majesty even more cautious about the national treasury. The government offices will not recruit new staff casually."
If you don't believe me, please take some time to go to the Ministry of Personnel someday and see how many people are waiting for vacancies. There are more than double the number of previous years."
Lord Gu was devastated. "How could this be? Has the court become so difficult?"
Gu Jiu said solemnly, "Both Beirong and Xiliang are restless, and border conflicts are becoming more frequent. Military spending will increase next year, and everyone will have to tighten their belts. In short, father, don't rush the reinstatement. If you are too impatient, you may not be able to wait for the real vacancy. If father doesn't care about the nominal position or the real vacancy, then it doesn't matter."
"How can a father not care about the real vacancies?"
Lord Gu thought Gu Jiu was joking. He was young and strong, and it was the time to strive for a career in the government. Of course, he wanted a real position, just like the Minister of Revenue in the past.
He felt that he was doing a good job in his position as Minister of Revenue.
But now, his own daughter told him that the situation would not be good for the next six months, which was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head in the coldest days of winter, chilling him to the bone.
Master Gu looked disheartened. "Thank you for all the trouble you've made. Well, I won't greet you. Please do as you please."
Lord Gu shook his head and walked unsteadily, preparing to go to the backyard to find his concubine to drink and soothe his wounded heart.
After getting rid of Lord Gu, everything will be easier to do next.
Gu Cheng said, "Second sister is really amazing. She managed to scare father with just a few words."
Gu Jiu said, "I'm not trying to scare you, father. What I said is true. Next year, the border troops' expenses must be sent accurately, and the military equipment must be replaced. The court's other expenses will have to be cut."
Gu Cheng sighed, "I didn't expect the court to be so difficult. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's take care of Third Sister's affairs first."
"Sixth brother, lead the way. Tell me more about Third Sister. You only mentioned it briefly in your letter, and I've been guessing all night."
"The incident was too horrific, and I dared not write it down truthfully in a letter. I have the confessions of those servants. Second sister, would you like to take a look first?"
"Okay!"
Gu Cheng first took Gu Jiu to read the confession.
When he received the letter before, Gu Jiu wondered if Gu Yue was having an affair with some man.
Now that she had read the confession, she realized that she had thought Gu Yue was too simple and innocent.
She wasn't just hooking up with men; she was clearly selling them. She was what's called a high-class socialite.
"Go and bring Grape, the maid."
Gu Jiu was in no hurry to see Gu Yue. She wanted to see her maid Grape first.
As Grape is Gu Yue's trusted maid, nothing can be hidden from her.
But Grape's confession was obviously not entirely true.
None of the men who were introduced to Gu Yue told the truth.
There is no explanation as to how Gu Yue took this path, whether it was a whim or due to stimulation.
Obviously there is a problem.
The grapes were taken to the wing.
"Kneel down!" Gu Yan hated the maid Grape very much.
He always felt that it was this maid who led Gu Yue astray.
Grape knelt on the ground obediently.
Gu Jiu coughed lightly, "Are you surprised to see me, Madam?"
Grape shuddered and said nothing.
Gu Jiu smiled softly. "How serious is the crime your aunt committed? Do you need me to tell you? Her behavior has ruined her and her family's reputation, and cast a shadow on the Gu family in the capital.
According to the rules, she must die. As her personal maid, you too will be cut into pieces. The Gu Mansion doesn't have anyone skilled in this art, but don't be too happy, as the Wang Mansion has plenty of similar talents.
Even if the palace doesn't have them, the Jinwu Guards and the Ministry of Punishment are full of them. Just ask any one of them to come to the Gu Mansion and they'll make you regret living."
After a pause, Gu Jiu continued, "Don't worry about soiling the Gu Mansion. At most, when I leave, I can take you away and hand you over to the Jinwu Guards for disposal. Do you want to see the methods of the Jinwu Guards?"
Grape trembled all over, "It's none of my business. I was just following orders. It really is none of my business. Madam, please understand."
Gu Jiu sneered, "You are no longer a virgin. When did you lose your virginity? I remember the last time I saw you, you were still in the palace with your aunt. At that time, you were still a virgin. Tell me, what happened?"
The maid Grape looked terrified and couldn't believe it.
Gu Jiu sneered, "I wonder how I knew you were already a virgin? If you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself. My patience is limited, I'll give you a cup of tea. If you don't confess after that time, I will have no choice but to throw you into the Imperial Prison and ask the Jinwu Guards to entertain you."
The maid Grape gritted her teeth and trembled, "If I confess, Madam, can you spare my life?"
"It depends on how much you confess."
"Slave, slave..."
"Don't be nervous, speak slowly." Gu Jiu was no longer in a hurry.
Grape suddenly burst into tears, "I am truly innocent. Everything was decided by my aunt and Master Xie. I have been following their orders from the beginning to the end."
Master Xie?
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and glanced at Gu Yan.
Gu Cheng opened the door to the wing room and said to the servant guarding outside, "Step back ten steps! If you dare to eavesdrop, I will kill you."
Then close the door of the compartment again.
Gu Jiu asked, "Who are you referring to when you say Young Master Xie?"
"Of course it's Master Xie Shi." Grape wiped her tears.
Gu Jiu sneered, "Xie Shi stabbed your aunt and indirectly caused her to be expelled from the palace. Why would your aunt accept him and collude with him?"
"My aunt needs someone to run errands for her, and she also needs someone to comfort her. That Young Master Xie has been practicing martial arts for many years and has a strong body..." Grape's voice became smaller and smaller.
Gu Jiu smiled knowingly, her eyes full of sarcasm. "You and Xie Shi went to bed, right? Let me guess. At first, your aunt may have forced you to serve Xie Shi, but later you did it voluntarily. Right?"
Grape's face turned pale and she was speechless.
Looking at her like this, there was nothing Gu Jiu didn't understand.
Gu Jiu asked, "When did your aunt and Xie Shi become romantically involved? Was it when they were at the Haixi Marquis's residence, or did they start having sex after they left?"
"How is this possible?" Gu Yan was completely stunned when he heard about Haixi Marquis' Mansion.
Zhao Erlang of Haixibo Mansion was Gu Yue's first marriage. No matter how bold Gu Yue was, she shouldn't have had a relationship with Xie Shi at that time.
But Grape's confession overturned the only fantasy Gu Yan had about Gu Yue.
Grape lowered her head and said, "When she was at the Haixi Marquis's Mansion, my aunt had been in contact with Master Xie Shi. Zhao Erlang had a bad temper and was always beating people up. My aunt couldn't stand it, so she..."
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "So, it was Xie Shi who helped Gu Yue enter the palace."
"Exactly."
"Isn't Xie Shi afraid that the truth will be revealed and he will be implicated?"
Grape gritted her teeth and dared not speak.
Gu Jiu frowned and stared at her.
The more I looked, the more I realized something was wrong.
Gu Jiu's face darkened instantly, and he demanded sternly, "Whose child is that born to Gu Yue? Is it the King of Chu's or Xie Shi's? Tell me the truth."
Upon hearing this, Gu Cheng's face turned pale. "This, this, this can't be possible."
Gu Jiu snorted coldly, "Gu Yue dared to hook up with Xie Shi when she was in Haixibo's mansion. What else would she not dare to do? Her entry into the palace depends on the child in her belly. I'm afraid there's something wrong with the child's origin. Otherwise, why would Xie Shi spare no effort to help Gu Yue?"
Gu Yan was horrified. To disrupt the royal bloodline would be punishable by death.
He jumped up and punched Putao on the head. "Slut, why don't you tell me now? Whose child is that? You want to die? I'll grant your wish."
"Sixth brother, calm down. It's not worth getting angry with a maid."
Gu Cheng was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently.
Fortunately, he drove everyone out, and only he and Gu Jiu knew about this matter, so there was no need to worry about it being spread.
Gu Cheng covered his head, "How could she do this? How dare she do this? Doesn't she know that this is fatal?"
"Gu Yue has loved taking risks since she was little, and it's only gotten worse as she's grown up. There's nothing surprising about that."
Gu Jiu was very calm.
After experiencing the initial anger, she can now look at anything that happens to Gu Yue calmly.
She looked at Grapes and asked, "Tell me, whose child is that?"
Grape was shaking all over, and his teeth were chattering and making a crunching sound.
"That child should be, should be the prince's."
"Should?" Gu Jiu frowned. "So, you and your aunt are not sure whose child it is? That child could also be Xie Shi's?"
"Yes, yes." Grape said with a terrified look on her face, "Before my aunt became pregnant, she had contact with Young Master Xie and the King of Chu."
"Shameless!" Gu Yan slammed his fist on the table. He was almost angry to death.
I originally thought that all I had to do was marry Gu Yue off.
Now it seems that the problem is far more serious than he imagined. It is no longer something that can be solved by marrying away.
Gu Yan was very glad that he invited Gu Jiu instead of telling Lord Gu.
Given Lord Gu's temper, I'm afraid the situation will get out of control. There will definitely be some gossip circulating.
He looked at Gu Jiu and asked, "Second sister, what should we do now?"
"Don't be impatient, Sixth Brother. We haven't finished asking the questions yet."
Gu Jiu stared at Grape. "How did your great-aunt, who was imprisoned at the farm, come up with the idea of asking Xie Shi to be her madam and introduce her to the young men from wealthy families who came to Beijing?"
Grape's teeth were still chattering as he said tremblingly, "My aunt lived in the farm for half a year and spent a lot of money to bribe everyone in the farm.
The aunt needed help and advice, so she secretly contacted Master Xie. Master Xie suggested that the aunt should buy a new farm nearby, which would not only generate money but also provide her with a place to live.
Then, the aunt took out the last bit of money she had and asked the sixth young master to help her buy a farm and a shop.
My aunt was used to a luxurious life, and the hardship of life on the farm had long been unbearable. Unfortunately, Master Xie didn't have much money either.
The two of them then used their former status as consorts of the royal family to entertain the young men from other places who came to Beijing. The aunt not only gained money but also solved her loneliness, and she became unstoppable.
"Bitch!" Gu Yan roared.
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