This summer is destined to be turbulent.
One month after Concubine Shu passed away, the Minister of the Imperial Household also fell ill.
The disease came on violently.
Gu Jiu was very worried and took the medicinal herbs to Jialing Mansion.
Within a few days, the Shaofu Household Manager fell ill and was unable to get out of bed. He lost a lot of weight and looked very old.
Gu Jiu was startled and hurried forward, "Grandfather, how are you?"
She hid her hands in her sleeves and calmly took the pulse of the Shaofu family commander.
The Shaofu's family official felt heavy in body, but his mind was clear.
He looked at Gu Jiu, "Xiao Jiu is here! I'm afraid I can't do it this time."
Gu Jiu's mood sank.
"I won't be able to help you anymore."
"Grandfather, please don't say that."
Gu Jiu's eyes were red.
The Shaofu Household Manager was not ill, but like the old Marquis, his life had come to an end.
When a person reaches the end of his life span, no measure will be of any help. Instead, it will only increase the burden on the elderly and make them suffer endless pain.
The best way is to let people die peacefully.
Gu Jiu turned his head and secretly wiped the corners of his eyes.
I feel really sad.
She thought she could turn things around.
In fact, it is just deceiving yourself.
The Shaofu Household Manager was optimistic, "I have lived to this age, and it is enough."
Gu Jiu nodded repeatedly, not daring to open his mouth for fear of crying.
"Once I'm gone, the position of Shaofu's Household Manager should be replaced. Xiaojiu, do you have a candidate in mind? While I still have time, tell me the name. I still have some respect in front of His Majesty. His Majesty will definitely give careful consideration to the candidate I recommend."
Gu Jiu held back tears and said, "I listen to our ancestors. I have no objection to anyone our ancestors approve of."
Unexpectedly, the Shaofu Household Manager shook his head.
"Xiao Jiu, I know you are someone who can accomplish great things. Although I don't know exactly what you are doing, I know that what you are doing is beneficial to the court, the people, and the country. Therefore, I will always support you with all my strength. However, if the person who succeeds me is not someone you personally choose, I am afraid that he will not be able to support you as much as I do. Without the support of the Shaofu, what will you do?"
The words of the Shaofu Household Order were full of worry.
Gu Jiu couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into tears at the head of the bed.
Mr. Gu, the Grand Master of the Household...
Those who cared about her left one after another.
She is very sad.
"Don't cry, Xiaojiu. Let's get this done while I still have time. I might be gone someday. Then I won't be able to help you even if I want to."
Gu Jiu wiped away her tears and said, "Grandpa, please stop talking. You don't have to worry about the affairs of the Shaofu. Just take good care of your health."
"How can I not worry about it?"
The Imperial Household Officer grabbed Gu Jiu's sleeve and said, "Please arrange a successor. This is my last wish. Please don't let me leave with regrets, okay?"
Gu Jiu hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily, "Okay!"
The Shaofu Household Officer looked relieved and let go of Gu Jiu's sleeve.
Gu Jiu held back tears and said, "To be honest with you, Old Ancestor, I don't have a suitable candidate. The people I'm interested in are not qualified to be in charge of the Shaofu."
"Oh! So that's the case. This makes things a bit difficult." The Shaofu Household Manager sighed.
He asked Gu Jiu, "Tell me first, who are your preferred candidates?"
Gu Jiu gave a bitter laugh. "The most suitable candidate in my mind is Deng Cunli, my eunuch. I don't know much about the imperial clan, but Huang Qubing is the only one who is barely suitable."
The Shaofu Housekeeper sighed, "Deng Cunli is obviously not capable."
The position of Shaofu Jialing is a formal official position and cannot be given to a eunuch. This is not the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"I know!"
Gu Jiu was a little annoyed.
All this happened too quickly and too suddenly, and she was completely unprepared to find someone to replace the Shaofu Household Manager.
In her opinion, the position of Shaofu Household Manager can last at least three to five years.
Who would have thought that once a person falls down, he may never stand up again.
The Shaofu Household Order comforted Gu Jiu, "Don't panic, Xiaojiu. Huang Qubing is too young and needs more experience. I will think of a few candidates for you. While I still have a few days to live, you should find a way to choose the most suitable person. I will risk my dignity to ask His Majesty for this job for you."
Gu Jiu burst into tears.
"Even at this time, the old ancestor is still worried about me. I can't repay this favor."
The Shaofu household official laughed.
"I'll give you a chance to repay this favor. After I'm gone, help me keep an eye on my worthless descendants and prevent them from causing trouble. Will you agree to this?"
Gu Jiu nodded heavily, "I promise."
The Shaofu family official smiled with relief, "That's good, that's good. I'll be relieved if you help keep an eye on them."
Gu Jiu wiped his eyes and said solemnly: "I won't let them do anything wrong."
"I believe you. I have a few candidates here, listen carefully..."
Gu Jiu chatted with the Shaofu Housekeeper for a long time.
It can be said that the Shaofu Household Order used all his strength and energy to talk to Gu Jiu.
As soon as Gu Jiu left, he fell asleep due to exhaustion.
…
Gu Jiu took a carriage back to Xiaozhu.
I feel very depressed.
Niuniu and Erge'er came over, but she didn't have the energy to play with them. She told the maid to take the children away.
Niu Niu and Ge'er were both a little sad.
Fortunately, a child’s temper goes away as quickly as it comes.
In the blink of an eye, they started playing again.
Were you sad just now?
It has long been forgotten.
Liu Zhao knew that Gu Jiu was sad, so he returned from the yamen early.
He first asked the maid, "How is the lady now?"
"Madam is still concerned. The imperial physician said that the head of the household is dying."
"Why so sudden?"
“When you get old, you can’t escape birth, aging, sickness, and death.”
Liu Zhao waved his hand and sent the maid away.
When he came to the small study, he saw Gu Jiu sitting by the window in a daze.
"Why don't you let the little maid fan us?"
Liu Zhao made a noise, picked up the cushion on the table and came to her side.
Gu Jiu looked at the osmanthus tree outside the window and said, "I'm in a bad mood and don't want anyone to be around."
"I'll accompany you." Liu Zhao took a palm-leaf fan and fanned Gu Jiu. "Do you want the wind to be a little lower? If it's cold, tell me."
Gu Jiu turned around and looked at him with a straight gaze, without saying a word, which scared Liu Zhao to death.
"Are you okay?" Liu Zhao asked cautiously.
Gu Jiu retracted his gaze and leaned on the windowsill, "I feel uncomfortable."
Liu Zhao hugged her and let her lean on his arms.
"I know you and the Lord of the Household have a deep bond, and you're upset when he's sick. But don't forget that you're not in good health either, and you can't dwell on your grief. When you're sad, the children get nervous. The last time you gave birth to twins, both Yu and Heng were terrified. Those two brats, seeing you locked up in your room and refusing to leave, thought you were going to have another baby. You really deserve a beating."
Gu Jiu was amused.
She asked curiously, "Forget about Heng'er, he's so young and doesn't understand. But how could Yu'er misunderstand that I was giving birth to a baby?"
"How should I know? Why don't you call those two brats over here and ask them yourself. Seriously, they can relate everything to having a baby. They can't even think straight. How could I have given birth to such a stupid son?"
"You are the stupid one." Gu Jiu refuted Liu Zhao on behalf of his two sons.
Liu Zhao surrendered, "Yes, yes, I am the dumbest. I am the dumbest in my family, I admit it."
Gu Jiu couldn't help laughing.
After laughing, he sighed again.
She leaned against Liu Zhao's arms and said, "The old man is dying. I didn't expect it to happen so soon. I thought he was in such good health and could have served as the head of the family for another three to five years. I didn't expect him to collapse so suddenly."
Liu Zhao asked, "What did the imperial physician say? Is it really incurable?"
Gu Jiu shook his head. "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the laws of nature. This isn't an illness, it's the end of his life. His time has come. No matter how good the medicine is, it can't save him."
Liu Zhao sighed with her, "Think more positively."
Gu Jiu secretly wiped his eyes and said, "The old ancestor is still thinking about me and helping me choose the successor to the Shaofu family order."
"Has anyone chosen yet?"
Gu Jiu nodded and said, "We have selected a circle among the royal family, and the most suitable candidate at the moment is Prince Consort Huang."
Liu Zhao was surprised. "Huang Fu Ma? Can he do it?"
Gu Jiu said, "He can't, but his son Huang Qubing can."
Liu Zhao immediately understood, "You are laying the foundation for Huang Qubing."
Gu Jiu nodded. "My choice is Huang Qubing, but because Huang Qubing is too young and has little experience, His Majesty will definitely not agree. It's different with Huang Fu Ma. He's old enough and has the experience, but he's never held a real position or done anything serious. Fortunately, our purpose in choosing him is to make him a stamp, not to expect him to do anything big. I just don't know if he's willing to do that."
Liu Zhao laughed. "Don't worry about Prince Consort Huang. There's someone who can absolutely control him. He'll have to accept being a seal even if he doesn't want to. When it's time for him to give up his position to Huang Qubing, he'll have to accept it even if he doesn't want to."
Gu Jiu guessed who this person was, "Are you talking about Princess Fuya?"
Liu Zhao nodded, "That's right. Prince Consort Huang is fearless, the only person he fears is Princess Fuya. If we want to convince Prince Consort Huang to serve as a seal and pave the way for Huang Qubing, we must first convince Princess Fuya. With Princess Fuya's help, all problems will be easily solved."
Gu Jiu said, "Princess Fuya shouldn't object to Huang Qubing being the Shaofu's Household Supervisor, and naturally she won't object to Huang Fu Ma being the Shaofu's Household Supervisor either."
Liu Zhao smiled and said, "Of course I won't object. Many people in the imperial clan are eyeing the position of Shaofu Household Supervisor. Princess Chaoyang caused all that trouble just to get her son the position of Shaofu Household Supervisor."
Let me tell you, the position of Shaofu Household Supervisor has always been a popular position among the imperial clan, coveted by everyone. If you hadn't cooperated with our ancestor, it's very likely that he would have been driven down during the reign of the previous emperor."
That's true.
When Gu Jiu first approached the Shaofu Household Manager, his position was already somewhat unstable.
Later, a series of collaborations, especially the opening of the Shaofu Money House, allowed the ancestor to sit firmly on the throne of the Shaofu Jialing for more than ten or twenty years.
Privately, many members of the royal family have complained.
If the ancestors do not abdicate and make way for the wise, the people below them will have no chance to take over.
An elderly man in his sixties still cares so much about power and status. This is a very bad example.
More people wanted to get close to Gu Jiu and let him know that they were also capable and fully capable of replacing the ancestor and taking on the position of Shaofu Household Order.
However, Gu Jiu is either too busy to do anything or stays at Xiaozhu like a homebody.
Those people want to perform, but they don't have the chance.
Some people have thought about starting with His Majesty.
However, the emperor only recognized money.
The ancestor did a great job. The Shaofu earns a lot of money every year, so there is no need to change people.
Replace him. Can he be as capable as our ancestor? Can he be sure to cooperate well with Gu Jiu?
Since it cannot be guaranteed, why change people?
The emperor's logic is so simple and direct.
As a result, our ancestor has been sitting firmly in the position of Shaofu Household Director until today.
The ancestor has fallen.
The royal family members were shocked, and those who aspired to the throne all took action.
Various relationships and activities.
The royal family always finds a way to get into the palace and ask the ladies in the palace to say a few good words to His Majesty.
Emperor Wende was feeling annoyed at the moment.
The old ancestor has passed away. The imperial physician said his condition is very poor. He is old and could pass away at any time.
What should Shaofu do?
Emperor Wende asked Chang En, "My uncle is in great danger this time. What should the Minister of the Household do? Who should I choose to replace him?"
Chang En didn't dare to speak casually about this issue.
He could only suggest, "Your Majesty, would you like to hear the Lord's opinion first? Perhaps the Lord has some ideas about who should take his place."
Emperor Wende nodded and said, "Go ask the imperial physician how many days the Lord of the Household has left."
This is a very profound statement.
There is a saying that any sick minister who is visited by the emperor will die soon.
This statement has no basis. However, in the palace, everything is auspicious.
Even if Emperor Wende didn't believe this, he still had to be careful. What if it was true? If he left, the Lord Housekeeper would die in the blink of an eye. Oh my, what a big trouble...
If the imperial physician says that the Lord of the Household can live for five days, then it would be appropriate to go to the Lord of the Household's Mansion on the third or fourth day.
If the housekeeper can live for seven or eight days, it would be inappropriate to let the third or fourth day pass.
Chang En secretly asked the imperial physician.
The imperial physician said that if he used the best and strongest medicine, he would be kept alive for about ten days at most.
If some mild medicine is used only to relieve the pain, then there are about five or six days left.
Chang En asked Emperor Wende, "Your Majesty, should we ask the imperial physician to give the housekeeper a strong and powerful medicine? That way, the housekeeper can hold on for another ten days or so."
Emperor Wende shook his head. "No need for harsh medicine. Let nature take its course. In three days, I will go to the Jialing Mansion to visit my uncle."
"I obey your command."
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