Gu Jiu wanted to copy scriptures for his deceased mother, so he closed the door and refused visitors.
Gu Zhen and Gu Lin came twice in a row, but were turned away both times.
"Please forgive the eldest and fifth girls. My daughter said that she wants to concentrate on copying scriptures now. When she returns from Tianmen Temple at the end of the month, I will invite the eldest and fifth girls to come for tea."
Qingmei bowed slightly and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Gu Lin frowned, "Second sister has just recovered, and she's busy copying scriptures. What's going on?"
"Thank you for your concern, Fifth Miss. My daughter is taking the medicine prescribed by Doctor Chen and is doing well."
Gu Lin added, "Second sister should also take good care of herself. Please let me in and talk to her in person."
Qingmei stood at the door and said, "My daughter appreciates Fifth Miss's kindness. However, my daughter is not in a position to see guests. Please go back, Fifth Miss."
Gu Lin was dissatisfied, but there was nothing she could do about Qingmei.
Gu Zhen asked, "I heard that my second sister will go to Tianmen Temple with my third brother on the fifteenth of this month and burn the scriptures she copied by hand in front of the Buddha for my wife."
Qingmei bowed and nodded, "Exactly."
"Second sister is very filial. I wonder how we can help."
Qingmei said, "My daughter appreciates your kindness, Miss."
Gu Zhen smiled and said, "It seems that I won't be able to see Second Sister today. Well, Second Sister needs to concentrate on copying scriptures, so we can't disturb her. Fifth Sister, let's go. I'll come visit Second Sister another day."
Gu Lin hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "I'll listen to you, big sister."
The two left together, and after reaching the garden, they separated again.
Gu Zhen went to see Gu Shan.
Gu Lin went to see her biological mother, Aunt Bai.
"Aunt, my second sister won't see me."
"Did you say something wrong before and upset your second sister?"
Aunt Bai is gentle and kind, and it is easy for people to like her.
Gu Lin shook her head. "My daughter never said anything wrong. I don't know why my second sister refused to see me."
Aunt Bai frowned and thought deeply, "Perhaps it's just like what Qingmei, the maid, said. The second young lady is busy copying scriptures and needs to be single-minded to show her sincerity, so she can't be disturbed."
is that so?
Aunt Bai held Gu Lin's hand and said, "Go and do your needlework. I'll go see the lady."
Gu Lin was puzzled.
Aunt Bai added, "We have to prepare a table of wine and food to serve wine to the master in the evening."
"Will father come over tonight?"
Gu Lin looked surprised.
Aunt Bai smiled and said, "Madam is concerned about the second young lady's situation. I'm going to chat with her for a while to relieve her worries. If Madam is happy, Master will come over."
Gu Lin seemed to understand but not quite.
Aunt Bai didn't explain, she just stood up and left the courtyard with her maid.
…
Zhilan Courtyard.
Gu Jiu had already changed into a maid's clothes and was ready to go out.
She asked Qingmei, "Have they all been sent away?"
Qingmei nodded, "They've been sent away. Do you really have to go out, young lady?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Don't worry. With my brother and cousin Su here, nothing will happen. Qingzhu, you can stay in the house for me. Is there any problem?"
Qingzhu had already changed into Gu Jiu's clothes and looked very uneasy.
As soon as Gu Jiu leaves, she will pretend to be Gu Jiu and lie on the bed.
"Girl, is this really okay? What if someone finds out?"
Gu Jiu comforted her, "Don't be afraid. Just do as I tell you, and no one will find out. Qingmei and I will be out for a while, and we will definitely be back within two hours."
Qingzhu nodded nervously, "Miss, you must come back soon!"
Gu Jiu followed Qingmei and quietly left Zhilan Courtyard.
He chose a remote and deserted path and left the governor's mansion through the back door.
There was an ox cart parked at the door.
Gu Jiu got on the ox cart directly.
Gu Ting and Su Zheng were already waiting in the car.
"Sister, you're finally here. I was just worried that you might be in trouble and unable to leave the house."
Gu Jiu said, "My eldest sister and fifth sister came to visit me. It took me some time to get rid of them. Let's set off now."
Gu Ting nodded.
Li Chuan waved his whip, "Go!"
"Moo"
The old ox cried out to the sky, started running, and pulled the ox cart towards the south of the city.
The ox cart is very stable, but it is slow.
There's nothing we can do about it.
Five years ago, the Qingping Horse Farm, located in the northwest of the imperial court, was poisoned at its water source by the coalition forces of Xiliang and Beirong.
All 100,000 high-quality horses in the racecourse were killed or injured overnight.
Since then, there has been a serious shortage of horses in the Great Zhou Dynasty, from the imperial court to the people.
More than a hundred officials from the Imperial Household Department, which was in charge of the Qingping Horse Farm, were either beheaded or exiled.
Due to the accident at Qingping Horse Farm, the cavalry suffered heavy losses, and the Great Zhou army had to switch from offense to defense and enter a passive defensive state.
In order to remedy the situation, the imperial court introduced a series of policies, collectively known as horse policies.
The two most critical horse policies are:
First, private horse trading was prohibited. All horse sales had to go through the imperial horse market. Violators would be shackled for ten days and exiled a thousand miles.
Second, the number of horses that could be owned by wealthy nobles and officials was limited. If the number exceeded, the excess horses had to be sold to the imperial court.
Therefore, the huge governor's mansion only had four horses, which were only used for the travel of Lord Gu and Mrs. Xie.
If Gu Jiu wanted to go out, he could only choose an ox cart.
Except for its slow speed, the ox cart is good in every way.
Gu Ting and Su Zheng sat on the bicycle frame, dressed very low-key.
Gu Jiu sat in the carriage and changed into men's clothes with Qingmei's help.
Gu Jiu lifted the carriage curtain, poked his head out, and asked, "How is it?"
Gu Ting looked at Gu Jiu dressed in men's clothes and was stunned for a moment, "I didn't expect my sister to look so heroic in men's clothes."
"Really?" Gu Ji was worried that she was too small to wear men's clothing.
Gu Ting nodded repeatedly.
Su Zheng also said, "This outfit is surprisingly suitable for my cousin."
Gu Jiu felt relieved. She was wearing clothes that Gu Ting had bought a few years ago. They were the right size, but they looked a bit rich and not low-key enough.
She said, "As long as it fits. Have we reached the pharmacy yet?"
"We're almost there, sit tight, sister."
Gu Ting nodded and returned to the carriage to sit down.
After a cup of tea, the carriage stopped in front of Xu's pharmacy.
Gu Jiu jumped out of the carriage, scaring Qingmei so much that she almost screamed.
Gu Jiu acted like a rich young man and walked into the drugstore with Gu Ting and Su Zheng, the two servants who were there to support him.
The shopkeeper greeted him personally upon seeing him, "Sir, are you here for a consultation or to get some medicine?"
Gu Jiu looked around, deliberately lowered his voice, pretending to be a man, and said, "See a doctor."
The shopkeeper said, "The doctor who is seeing patients today is Wang..."
"I'm looking for Doctor Xu." Gu Jiu decisively interrupted the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Doctor Xu is not seeing patients today."
Gu Jiu took out the prescription and showed it to the shopkeeper. The prescription had Doctor Xu's signature and seal on it.
The shopkeeper wanted to take a closer look, but Gu Jiu withdrew his hand and put the prescription away.
"I've always been treated by Dr. Xu, and I don't want to change to another doctor. Please be flexible, boss."
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, then, noticing Gu Jiu's rich attire, nodded and said, "Sir, please wait a moment. I'll go get Doctor Xu."
Gu Ting secretly gave a thumbs up and whispered, "Sister, you are amazing."
Gu Jiu coughed lightly and said, "Brother, don't talk nonsense."
Gu Ting nodded, "I understand."
Soon, Dr. Xu came out from the backyard.
"Who wants to see me?"
"It's me!" Gu Ting looked the other person up and down, his eyes as if he was evaluating a commodity, somewhat nonchalantly.
"You are..." Doctor Xu was unhappy. Whose son is this? He doesn't know any etiquette. How can you look at people like this?
Gu Jiu took a step forward, a smile on his face, his words sharp as a knife, "Doctor Xu, you are a noble man who forgets things easily. I almost lost my life in your hands some time ago. Have you forgotten so quickly?"
Doctor Xu suddenly realized and recognized Gu Jiu, "You are Gu..."
"Doctor Xu, please be careful with your words. There are so many people coming and going here, this is not the place to talk." Gu Jiu looked at the other person with a smile.
Doctor Xu felt inexplicably guilty, his eyes wandered, and he said nervously, "Please go to the backyard to talk."
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