"Madam, Eunuch Zhou requests an audience."
Gu Jiu sneered, "How dare he come to see me? He took my money but didn't do anything. I won't see him."
"Eunuch Zhou said that he has already investigated the matter thoroughly. He came to see Madam specially."
Gu Jiu was surprised. "After so many years, has he finally found out the truth?"
"That's what he said."
"It's really hard for him to come all this way. Please ask him to come in."
"As you command."
Zhou Miao was invited into the small flower hall.
The hall is warm with floor heating.
Facing the garden is a whole wall of glazed windows, through which you can clearly see the plum blossoms in full bloom in the garden, the scenery is breathtaking.
"Madam, this place is really nice! You can enjoy the flowers and drink tea without any delay."
Gu Jiu laughed, "After making money, we should enjoy it. Eunuch Zhou, I hope you are well."
"Thanks to my wife, our family has been doing well these past few years."
"It can be seen that Eunuch Zhou has become a little fatter than in his early years."
"A happy heart makes you fat, a happy heart makes you fat! Hahahaha..."
Zhou Miao laughed out loud.
After laughing, he lowered his voice and asked, "Is His Highness not here?"
"His Highness is a man who can't sit still. He's gone out. Eunuch Zhou, what does he want to see my Highness about?"
"My family has no dealings with His Highness. Madam has misunderstood."
Gu Jiu invited Zhou Miao to have tea.
"Eunuch Zhou sent a message saying that you have found out about that incident from earlier years?"
Gu Jiu was a little suspicious, suspecting that Zhou Miao was fooling her.
Zhou Miao took a sip of tea and said, "If we don't find any clues, we won't have the face to see the madam."
Gu Jiu raised her eyebrows and smiled, "This lady will listen carefully to the next words."
Zhou Miao glanced around, his eyes sweeping over several maids.
Gu Jiu waved his hand and all the maids retreated.
"Can you tell me now, Eunuch Zhou?"
Zhou Miaoyou dipped his finger in tea, wrote a name on the table, and then wiped it off with his sleeve.
Gu Jiu frowned, "This person..."
"Just what the lady thought."
Gu Jiu frowned, "Are you sure it's this person?"
Zhou Miao said, "If Madam doesn't believe it, you can send someone to investigate this person's background. The only thing we can say is that this person was the one who tipped off Concubine Wang and encouraged her to frame His Highness."
Gu Jiu didn't say much, "This lady will investigate this matter herself. After years of hard work, my father-in-law finally got the result."
Zhou Miao laughed heartily, "We will do our best to help Madam."
Gu Jiu smiled knowingly and clapped his hands.
Soon the maid Aqing came in with a wooden box and placed it on the table.
Gu Jiu pushed the wooden box forward and in front of Zhou Miao. "This is my reward for your hard work, Eunuch Zhou. Please keep an eye on this person for me and see who else he is in contact with."
Zhou Miao smiled so hard that her teeth were visible. "Don't worry, Madam. We have already made arrangements. Just wait for the news."
"Thank you, Eunuch Zhou."
"You're welcome, ma'am!"
Zhou Miao took the money and left satisfied.
Gu Jiu ordered his servants, "When His Highness returns, ask him to come see me."
"As you command!"
…
It was already evening when Liu Zhao returned to Xiaozhu.
He was covered in sweat and was afraid of stinking Gu Jiu, so he washed himself clean and changed into comfortable home clothes before coming to the small flower hall.
Gu Jiu took a short nap and felt pretty good.
She pulled Liu Zhao's collar and sniffed, "It's just been washed. It smells really good."
"Why did you call me here?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Do you remember that New Year's Eve palace banquet where you killed Concubine Wang with a single sword?"
"Of course I remember. Because of this, my father imprisoned me in Zongzheng Temple for more than half a year."
"There's a lot of resentment!"
This incident was just a prelude. Ever since Liu Zhao killed Concubine Wang at the palace banquet, his temper has become worse and worse, and his relationship with Emperor Wende has become increasingly worse.
A few years passed, and it was not until this year when Liu Zhao achieved two great achievements in succession that his relationship with Emperor Wende showed signs of easing.
Gu Jiu said, "Privately, I've been having people investigate this matter. You all know Concubine Wang's background, and the reasons she used to frame you are somewhat convincing. However, there has been no news of the person who sent her the message and instigated her to frame you. Until today, we finally made some progress."
"You mean you found out who's behind Concubine Wang?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "Do you have any impression of Aunt Jia?"
"Madam Jia?" Liu Zhao frowned and searched for this person in his memory.
Gu Jiu reminded him, "Madam Jia from the Cining Palace."
Liu Zhao frowned, "Ci Ning Palace? Are you sure?"
"It's basically certain. As to whether Aunt Jia acted on her own initiative or was instructed by someone else, it's still uncertain."
"That's unlikely!"
Liu Zhao's face was serious. "The elderly people around the Queen Mother are basically all from the Xiao family. This Nanny Jia is, unsurprisingly, also from the Xiao family. I can't think of any reason why the Queen Mother would frame me. There's no reason for her to do so. Nanny Jia, as a child of the Xiao family, also has no reason to do this."
"It's true that the Queen Mother has no reason to frame you. But Aunt Jia may not be so sure. You also said that she is a daughter of the Xiao family. Don't forget that the Fourth Prince married a daughter of the Xiao family."
Liu Zhao shook his head. "As an elder close to the Empress Dowager, Jia Ma is supported by the Xiao family. It's impossible for her to do what the Xiao family tells her to do. And don't forget, this happened at the palace banquet in the third year of Wende. No matter how anxious the Xiao family was, they wouldn't have taken action in the third year of Wende. If they framed me, the fourth son wouldn't have been able to ascend to the throne. The Xiao family father and son are not that stupid."
Gu Jiu nodded, what Liu Zhao said made sense.
The Xiao family doesn't need to be so anxious.
There was no reason for Empress Dowager Xiao to use such means to frame her own grandson.
Gu Jiu said, "There are many questions about this matter. However, it is almost certain that Nanny Jia was the one who passed the information to Concubine Wang and instigated Concubine Wang to frame you. I have ordered people to investigate Nanny Jia's identity and background, and I hope to gain some results."
"Do you suspect that there's something wrong with Aunt Jia?"
"Of course she has problems."
"If there is something wrong with her, then she has served the Queen Mother for so many years, why is the Queen Mother..."
Liu Zhao stopped talking before he finished speaking.
It’s not that Empress Dowager Xiao hasn’t gotten into trouble before.
During the time of the previous emperor, Empress Dowager Xiao was poisoned.
When the kidnapper was found to be the culprit, a group of people were purged in the palace.
A few years ago, Empress Xiao had an accident due to an allergic reaction to food. Fortunately, she ate less and was able to survive.
That time, a concubine in the harem took the blame. The case was left unresolved.
If all these things are actually related to Grandma Jia...
Liu Zhao said with a serious expression, "I will ask Qian Fu to investigate this Aunt Jia."
Although Aunt Jia was an old lady beside Empress Dowager Xiao, in fact, she was just an insignificant figure in the Cining Palace.
No one would pay special attention to such a small person.
If it was really Nanny Jia who was plotting against Liu Zhao back then, I can’t imagine how deep the water was.
Liu Zhao warned Gu Jiu, "Your health has not recovered yet, so don't worry about this matter. I will take care of everything."
Gu Jiu nodded in agreement, "You ask Qian Fu to start investigating Aunt Jia's background. If there is something wrong with Aunt Jia, the source may be in the Xiao family."
"Are you still suspicious of the Xiao family?"
"I doubt everyone."
Liu Zhao smiled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll have Qian Fu focus on investigating Nanny Jia's background. This will take some time, and I'll let you know the results."
…
The atmosphere of the New Year is getting stronger and stronger.
The streets are decorated with lights and colorful lights everywhere.
The troubled seven years of Emperor Wende's reign were finally coming to an end.
Everyone hopes for good weather and a good harvest in the coming year.
Every household is busy preparing for the New Year.
The Xinmin County market was packed with people.
At first glance, there were people everywhere.
I don't know where these people came from.
It's Chinese New Year, and many people from other places have returned to their hometowns to celebrate. Logically, there should be fewer people.
But looking at the crowded market, there is no sense of population decrease at all.
Xiaozhu also hung up red lanterns.
Before the Chinese New Year, Yu Ge'er and his younger brother started setting off firecrackers.
Liu Zhao complained to Gu Jiu, "That brat only managed to gain the emperor's approval to become Renqiu's disciple by slandering me. He's truly an unfilial son."
Gu Jiu laughed, "Brother Yu has a quick mind."
"How can you call that quick wit to get the opportunity to become my disciple by slandering me? This is just cheating me."
Gu Jiu laughed and said, "You always say that children are a debt. Isn't it natural for him to cheat you?"
Liu Zhao looked upset and speechless.
He accused Gu Jiu, "You can't be so partial. You can't always speak for that brat. I'm the one who got hurt in this matter."
Gu Jiu laughed, "He is my son, of course I am partial to him."
"I'm your man!"
"A son is more important than a man."
"If you say that, aren't you afraid that this Highness will be jealous?"
"Look at you, you're jealous of your son and afraid of being laughed at."
"You don't care about me, and I'm afraid of being laughed at?"
Liu Zhao felt very aggrieved.
Gu Jiu burst into laughter and said after laughing: "I will give Yu Ge'er a good beating. Are you happy?"
"Keep your word."
Gu Jiu punished Yu Ge'er to copy books.
Copying books during the New Year, Yu Ge'er looked as if he had lost all hope in life.
"Daddy actually knows how to complain!" He is really stingy.
Liu Zhao flicked Yu Ge'er's forehead and said, "Your mother has the final say in the family. Since your mother punished you to copy books, it proves that you did something wrong. If you know your mistakes, you must correct them. In the future, you are not allowed to slander my reputation outside, let alone say that I am uneducated. Otherwise, your mother will continue to punish you."
Yu Ge'er has a headache on his forehead and looks pitiful.
Adults are still complaining, which is clearly bullying the children.
He would go to his mother to complain the next day.
Yu Ge'er picked up the pen and wrote quickly.
The book was not finished yet, and it was time for the New Year's Eve palace banquet.
Yu Ge'er and Heng Ge'er dressed up and followed their father and mother into the palace to pay New Year's greetings and attend the palace banquet.
Before going out, the two brothers each ate two bowls of rice to fill their stomachs.
"The food at the palace banquet is always the most unpalatable. You two brothers should eat more. When you get to the palace banquet, just take a few bites. You don't have to actually eat it."
"Mother eats too."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Mom has already eaten half a bowl. When you finish, we will go out."
"Aren't my brother and sister going?"
"My younger brother and sister are too young, and the weather is cold, so I won't take them to the palace."
After a pause, Gu Jiu reminded them, "When you get to the palace, you must follow the rules and not fight or cause trouble. If someone starts a fight, you two brothers must not be cowardly and must fight back directly. Afterwards, your father and mother will support you."
"My son knows."
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