"...This, this is what the Marquis asked you to choose for the Madam?"
Hongye stared for a long time before raising her head to ask Gu Shiliu.
Gu Shiliu, puzzled, scratched the back of his head and said, "Yes, the Marquis said to find the most valuable headdress and jewelry in the storeroom and give it to the Madam."
The Marquis repeatedly emphasized that it should reflect his status, be valuable and grand, and preferably be made of pure gold.
He put a lot of thought into selecting these sets; they contained no jade or miscellaneous treasures, but were all crafted by time-honored brands.
Hongye glared at him and then fell silent.
Gu Shiliu understood that he had done something wrong, but he didn't know what he had done wrong.
Shen Changle laughed and said, "These pieces of jewelry are quite old, and they're not the most fashionable style right now. They look like something an older woman would wear."
Gu Shiliu let out an "Ah".
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "That's true, but I like it very much. Shen Chang Le, take it with you when you go back and have it fried. I'll wear it to the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet."
Hongye stared wide-eyed in surprise.
Gu Shiliu hesitated and said, "How about I go back to the storeroom and ask the Marquis for his opinion?"
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Isn't this exactly what the Marquis wanted you to find?"
Hongye understood and laughed, "I didn't expect the Marquis to be so cunning."
Cui Ming retorted, "What scheming? What the Marquis did was called..."
"What's your name?" Hongye pressed, her voice demanding.
"It's called...it's called..."
Cui Ming thought for a moment and said, "It's called 'Only Likes Expensive Things'."
Looking at the pile of golden-yellow jewelry, Qin Yuan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Gu Shiliu also smiled.
Hongye sighed, "When it comes to speaking eloquence, Cuiming is the best."
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "The best talker is still Sixteen."
Hongye fell silent.
When Shen Changle left, she made a special detour to Master Gu's study to discuss matters such as illustration.
Upon learning that Yu Yuyuantan's poetry collection was selling well, that Shuhaige's failure in the poetry contest had actually made the contest famous in the capital, and that Liuying's collection had been pre-ordered by many people, Sixth Master Gu was in high spirits and readily agreed to provide illustrations for the poetry collection by the talented woman from Jinling, and even brought out his own recent masterpiece.
"Here are a few more newly acquired poems. Please take them and record them on the poetry wall for me."
Shen Changle took a look and praised, "Sixth Master's poems are getting better and better."
It was just a casual compliment, but Sixth Master Gu took it seriously and asked, "What's so good about it?"
“Well, well,” Shen Changle was stumped and said, “Actually, I can’t quite put my finger on why it’s good, but it just feels better to read.”
Sixth Master Gu was not disappointed. He frowned and pondered for a while before saying, "In other words, it's even more harmonious."
“Yes, yes, yes,” Shen Changle quickly replied with a smile, “Sixth Master has been busy with something lately, and hasn’t submitted any manuscripts for quite some time. Those paintings by the Marquis…”
Sixth Master Gu said, "Aside from the lawsuit with the Xu family, I spend my days thinking about writing poetry and painting."
Shen Chang Le hadn't spoken yet.
Gu Shiliu walked over and said, "This servant can put your mind at ease, Sixth Master. Madam has already made arrangements. In a few days, the Xu family will return everything. Sixth Master, don't forget to go to the Prefectural Magistrate's office with the Magistrate at that time."
Master Gu exclaimed in astonishment, "How did Third Sister-in-law arrange all this? Didn't Third Brother tell me to handle it myself? I was already annoyed by this matter and wanted to ask Third Brother for advice, but he's been drinking with that ugly freak whenever he has free time these past few days."
Master Gu was fond of beautiful women, and he would get goosebumps whenever he saw Yelü Xianyong.
I still can't remember their name.
Gu Shiliu smiled and said, "I should have come to say this sooner, but the Xu family didn't react much a few days ago, and I was afraid that saying it would affect Sixth Master's lawsuit. Now that Sixth Master has already filed a lawsuit against the Xu family again, and things here are almost done, I dare to come and say this. I would also like to remind Sixth Master not to just focus on reconciling with the Xu family in private and forget to register with the Jingzhao Yin Prefecture."
Master Gu asked, "What have you done?"
Gu Shiliu smiled mysteriously.
“That night at the temple, the Xu family was quite frightened. Madam instructed me to act accordingly. I figured that Xu Tang was trapped in the palace playing football, and the Xu family’s sons were busy at the casino. Madam Xu, being a woman, was most respectful of ghosts and gods, so I used a little trick to scare them. Luckily, it had some effect.”
Shen Changle laughed and said, "I never thought the sixteenth brother could do this."
Master Gu was stunned for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table and said, "My third sister-in-law is really something..."
It's something I can't quite put my finger on.
Shen Changle chimed in, "Madam's strategic planning and wisdom are beyond our comprehension. Take this women's poetry collection, for example; she arranged everything perfectly. I heard that she wrote to her old friends, instructing them to establish a women's poetry society in Jinling, selecting many excellent poems, and also including a few new poems by the young master of Nantang. How could this collection not be a bestseller?"
Master Gu exclaimed in surprise, "So Third Sister-in-law has arranged everything in such detail!"
Shen Changle laughed and said, "That's right. Sixth Master only needs to think of ways to make it more elegant. Young ladies naturally love elegant things to show their difference. Now that there is the Liuying Society started by the women of Jinling, naturally everyone who can read will want to buy a copy."
Master Gu said happily, "I wonder if I could borrow these poems to take a look?"
Shen Changle took it out from his sleeve and handed it over, saying, "I was planning to go back and find someone to make a copy before sending it over, so that it would be convenient for Sixth Master to illustrate it."
Sixth Master Gu said, "I know you are reliable in handling matters. I just want to see how these women's poems compare to Third Sister-in-law's."
Read them one by one.
Sixth Master Gu sighed, “These women’s poems are rare, but compared to Third Sister-in-law, they lack a bit of liveliness and elegance. Some of them use elegant and refined words, but they are too ornate and craftsman-like, making them seem a bit petty.”
Shen Changle smiled and said, "After all, our lady is the daughter of the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and her family has a long tradition of learning."
Sixth Master Gu picked up a piece of paper and read it over and over again, praising, "Although this person's poems are not as good as Third Sister-in-law's, they are still outstanding."
Shen Changle looked closely and smiled, "So it's her. This Miss Dong is a close friend of Madam's through correspondence. She was the one who started the Firefly Society. I heard that she is very talented in the Suzhou area."
Sixth Master Gu said, "Third Sister-in-law's friends are naturally good too. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. I wonder which family this Miss Dong has booked?"
Shen Changle thought for a moment and said, "It seems that no marriage has been arranged yet."
Gu Shiliu smiled and said, "I know about this. I heard Hongye mention it. Miss Dong's family is not well-off and she is currently seeking a marriage partner. I heard that her father intends to marry her off to a wealthy merchant. Miss Dong is not very willing and wrote a letter to the madam to complain. That's why the madam came up with this idea. It's also to pave the way for Miss Dong to make a name for herself."
Shen Changle sighed, "Madam truly has the heart of a bodhisattva."
Upon hearing this, Master Gu looked at the paper again and again, his expression quite complicated.
Gu Shiliu said, "That's right. Madam said that if Miss Dong has a good reputation, someone might be willing to set aside social status and propose marriage to the Dong family. Miss Dong will also have more opportunities to choose a husband."
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