Finally passed the toll booth.
The convoy was driving on the official road, and everyone was observing the changes in the capital through the car windows.
Not to mention the vehicles and pedestrians coming and going on the road, the most obvious change is that there are many more houses on both sides of the official road.
One building after another, all open for business.
"How can there be so much business for them?"
"have no idea!"
Everyone was surprised.
A road under construction attracted everyone's attention.
Pei Meng asked his personal soldiers to ask the people on the construction site and learned that the road led to the Imperial College which was under construction.
"When will the Imperial College be repaired?"
"It's said that the teachers and students of the Imperial College will be able to move in next year. Currently, the construction site is hiring a large number of laborers and craftsmen, obviously to speed up the construction progress."
"We can't start construction in winter. If we want to move in next year, we have to speed up the process."
"I heard that the imperial court didn't contribute a single penny to the construction of the Imperial College."
Pei Meng nodded. "It all depends on fundraising. Speaking of fundraising skills, I admire the Queen from the bottom of my heart. She always has a way to convince the landlords to give her money."
Mr. Dou laughed heartily. "She's worthy of being the head of Sihai and Huanyu Trading Companies. In less than twenty years, she's built such a massive business empire. While her status has limited her obstacles, what's more important is her vision, her vision, and her courage to think and act."
Mr. Dou's words were full of admiration, and he did not hide it at all.
Pei Meng put away the newspaper and asked, "The Empress likes to use eunuchs. What do you think about this, sir?"
Mr. Dou stroked his beard, thought for a moment, and said, "Eunuchs are the imperial household slaves, easy to command and loyal. Those who can survive in the palace are all intelligent. This intelligence alone saves the Empress many things. Human hearts are complex, and greed is rampant. For the Empress, commanding eunuchs is obviously more convenient and simpler than using slaves."
Pei Meng nodded, "It seems that the Queen is also a person who is afraid of trouble."
"Haha... Master, you hit the nail on the head. In my opinion, the Empress is not afraid of trouble, but she hates unnecessary trouble. Selecting the right talents is a hard and troublesome task. Eunuchs can be used right away, so why not do it?"
“Maybe there’s something wrong with our definition of talent.”
"I'd like to hear more about it."
"The Empress spends a large amount of money every year to support the teachers and students of Shanhe Academy, letting them do whatever they want. This is actually a way to cultivate and select talents. The Baigong College in Xinmin County also has the same idea. However, the cost of this kind of training and screening is very high."
Mr. Dou nodded repeatedly. "Students from the Mountain and River Academy enter the imperial court, and students from the Hundred Crafts Academy enter the major commercial firms. Only servants and independent managers don't have specialized academies to train them."
"The Shaofu has taken on the responsibility of managing and training slaves, which are the eunuchs we are talking about." Pei Meng hit the nail on the head.
"Master, you have a good point. With this analysis, the Empress has secured all the talent needed at every level. Without sufficient financial resources and years of patience, there would be no achievements today. The Empress truly has the attitude to accomplish great things."
Pei Meng pinched his chin, "She's still missing an academy."
"What academy?"
"Academies train military commanders. If there were no wars, a mere twenty or thirty years would be enough for a dynasty's army to rot from the root. By then, there would be no generals left to command."
"Uncle, you are so bold!" Mr. Dou sighed.
Pei Meng's face was solemn, and he pointed outside the carriage, "It's all inspired by the changes here."
Dare to think and act?
hehe!
If it weren't for the restrictions of imperial power, everyone would dare to think and everyone would dare to do it!
Pei Meng laughed sarcastically.
The capital is several times more prosperous than I remember.
At first glance, the streets were full of people.
There were hawkers hawking their wares on every street, except in the Imperial City.
When they reached the intersection, Gu Ting and Pei Meng separated.
"Uncle, I'll take Xiao Man home to settle down first, and we'll get together another day!"
"Give my regards to the Queen!"
Gu Ting hesitated for a moment and didn't want to say more: "Goodbye!"
…
When Gu Ting returned to the Gu family with his family, there was bound to be chaos.
He talked about the father-son relationship with Mr. Gu, and Mr. Gu brought up the matter of conferring the title again.
"Tomorrow, bring your wife and children to the palace to pay your respects. When you see the Empress, ask her when the title of nobility for our Gu family will be confirmed."
Gu Ting frowned, "A knighthood?"
He didn't even think about it.
Master Gu frowned, "Our Gu family is the Empress's family. According to the rules, Your Majesty should grant us the title."
Gu Ting frowned and asked, "I'd like to hazard a guess. Father has already asked the Empress. Did the Empress refuse?"
Master Gu's face turned pale. "She didn't refuse, she just said it would be later. Go to the palace tomorrow and ask her, how late will it be before His Majesty will remember the Gu family's title? You and she are siblings, and you've had a good relationship since childhood. She will definitely be willing to talk to you."
Gu Ting understood everything. It turned out that his father had hit a wall with the Empress, so he was the one who put the blame on him.
He considered it for a moment and said, "There's no rush regarding the title."
"Bullshit! This is about the dignity of a family, how can we not be anxious? Do you know how many people in the capital are waiting to see our Gu family make a fool of themselves? We are relatives by marriage, the Queen's family, and the Queen is so favored, but we can't even get a title."
Mr. Gu slammed the table, very annoyed.
He pointed at Gu Ting and said, "As the eldest son, you've been away from home for all these years and have never taken on the responsibilities of being the eldest son. I finally came home and asked you to ask a question, but you kept making excuses. What's the point of giving birth to a son like you? Let me ask you, which is more important, the family's future or your own face?"
"My son is not someone who cares about face." Gu Ting had a stern face. He had been in the army for many years and was very imposing.
Mr. Gu was startled and restrained his attitude a little.
He coughed lightly and said, "Then tell me what you think. I am all ears."
Gu Ting rubbed his brows and said, "I just arrived in the capital, and this is my first time to pay my respects to the palace, and I can't wait to ask about the title. Isn't this a bit too embarrassing? Even if we are siblings, my sister is already the Empress. No matter how deep our feelings were in the past, I have to observe the rules of rank."
Master Gu snorted twice, "According to you, I can't ask about this matter? You don't care about the future of your family? You don't care about the future of your children?"
Gu Ting said coldly, "I have my own ideas. Don't worry, father."
"How dare you! I'm the boss of this household!"
"My father is not young anymore, he deserves to be taken care of."
"Raise a fart!"
Mr. Gu was furious.
A few years ago, several sons left Beijing one after another, leaving only the concubine's son Gu Hun at home.
Gu Hun was busy with his work at Wenqing Bookstore and was rarely home. His wife and children lived with him in Xinmin County so they could take care of his daily life.
As a result, Mr. Gu took over the power of the head of the family again and had the final say.
Gu Ting had just returned less than two hours ago, and he was trying to seize power. How could he accept this?
When his son was not back, Mr. Gu was looking forward to his return.
Now that his son has returned, he feels disgusted with his son's return and thinks it would be better for him to continue staying in the northwest.
Gu Ting and Mr. Gu couldn't reach an agreement, so naturally they didn't bother to waste time talking.
He stood up and said, "I still have to take my wife and children to pay my respects to my uncle and the Marquis' Mansion. I'll have a drink and chat with my father tonight."
Master Gu waved his arms, "Go, go, go! Hurry up! I told you to take some time, but you keep making excuses. What's the point of having you?"
Gu Ting snorted coldly and didn't bother with Master Gu.
Pei Man and the children had finished washing up, and they greeted Mrs. Xie and presented her with a gift.
When they were heading to his great uncle's house, Gu Ting asked quietly, "Did the madam give you any trouble?"
Pei Man replied in a low voice, "Madam has aged a lot, and she keeps asking about Gu Cheng and Gu Gong. She seems unaware that Gu Gong went to fight in the northwest."
Gu Ting said, "Gu Gong is a general under the Northwest Military Governor's Office. Even the master may not be fully aware of this matter. As far as I know, Gu Gong has not contacted his family for many years. Gu Cheng writes to him every year, but he has not received a single word from him."
"Then do you know Gu Gong's current situation?" Pei Man asked curiously.
Gu Ting frowned. "I don't know the details, but I heard he did a pretty good job and made some military achievements. As for other situations, I'm completely clueless."
Pei Man sighed, "When we were in the northwest, we were only a day or two's journey apart, but you and him never visited each other. Gu Gong must have a lot of complaints about you as his elder brother."
"The second brother, Gu Heng, also works in the Grand Marshal's Office and also has no contact with me." Gu Ting didn't care at all.
The brothers were not close to each other and had never been able to play together since they were young.
He doesn't care about the interaction between brothers, and I guess his brothers don't care about him either.
Even though Gu Jiu became the empress, the brothers did not try to please Gu Ting deliberately.
So, except for Gu Cheng who is a little gentle, all the sons of the Gu family have bad tempers.
No matter whether you are the Queen's biological brother or not, no matter whether you are her half-brother or not, I just don't care about you.
I earn my living on my own merits and owe no one anything. That's my attitude.
The Gu family are a bunch of freaks!
Everyone has a lot of resentment that has accumulated since childhood.
As long as the resentment remains, the brothers will not be able to sit down and talk properly and get along well.
As for where the resentment comes from, you have to ask the head of the family, Mr. Gu.
Gu Ting, along with his wife and children, was warmly welcomed by his great uncle and the Marquis' Mansion.
Compared to the chaotic scene in his own mansion, it really proves the saying: There is no harm without comparison!
Gu Ting has been accustomed to it since he was a child, and he just feels that his wife and children are being wronged.
He said to Pei Man, "Just bear with me for a few days. I'll find a way to move out."
He planned to follow the example of his fourth brother Gu Hun, find an excuse, find a mansion outside, and start shooting alone.
Pei Man advised him: "I have seen more complicated and embarrassing situations. You don't have to worry about me. I can handle everything right now."
The Pei family's situation is much more complicated than that of the Gu family, and there are more conflicts.
Pei Man said that she had seen more embarrassing scenes, which was true.
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