Chapter 161 Sisters Break Up
There was a dead silence in the dining room; even the air seemed to be stagnant.
Du Qingmei didn't expect Du Qingtang to suddenly attack, and looked stunned: "Presenting jade..."
"Don't call me that." Du Qingtang's face was expressionless, and his voice was calm, revealing an indescribable coldness and oppression. "Let me ask you, was it you who wanted me to find an official position for Guo Qian, or was it Guo Qian who instructed you to do so?"
Du Qingzhu wanted to ask, does this make any difference?
Husband and wife are one body. The fifth sister wanted to become an official's wife like crazy, and Guo Qian must be unwilling to have no chance of official career for the rest of his life just because his hand was disabled.
The two hit it off immediately and took the opportunity to bring up the matter during the New Year's Eve family dinner.
However, just as he opened his mouth and uttered a syllable, Du Qingju secretly pulled his sleeve.
Du Qingzhu turned her head, and Du Qingju shook her head silently, signaling her not to speak and not to add fuel to the fire.
Du Qingzhu snorted softly, lowered his head and grabbed Du Qingju's wide sleeves, wrapped them around his fingers again and again, having a lot of fun.
Forget it. Fifth Sister is so confused and so stubborn. She can't do anything about it, nor does she want to do anything about it, so as not to get herself angry to death.
Du Qingqin looked at the two sisters who were arguing with each other, and felt as if her heart was being grabbed, with a dull pain in her chest.
What she worried about...finally happened.
Why bother? Will it be too late to regret when the sisters turn against each other and it ends in embarrassment?
Guo Qian didn't expect that Du Qingtang would suddenly slam his chopsticks and give Du Qingmei the cold face.
As the beneficiary and Du Qingmei's husband, he had to stand up and express his position: "Xianyu, it's me..."
"Shut up, I didn't ask you." Du Qingtang's eyes were cold, and his voice was chilling. "You are not qualified to call me by my given name."
Guo Qian choked, his face turning pale and blue, which was even more exciting than opening a dyeing workshop.
He was about to argue when he suddenly met Du Qingtang's eyes. He felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet and instantly swept through his whole body. His face turned as pale as paper in an instant.
Thousands of words were stuck in his throat. Guo Qian couldn't suppress the fear he felt and didn't dare to say another word.
"Du Qingmei, I'm asking you a question." Du Qingtang tapped the table with his fingers and said in a commanding tone, "Answer my question."
Du Qingmei opened her mouth and uttered word by word from between her teeth: "It's...it's me."
Du Qingtang smiled, his eyes filled with disappointment. "I thought that after that day, you would be able to reflect on yourself and understand where you went wrong."
"It seems I am still too naive. I shouldn't have expected anything from you."
When she was in Qingyuan County, she asked Du Qingmei to divorce, but Du Qingmei refused.
When she was in Shaoqing Mansion, she asked Du Qingmei to divorce, but Du Qingmei refused.
After the argument in July, Du Qingmei still refused to divorce, and today she was asked to help Guo Qian find an official position.
It is said that things never happen more than three times. By now, Du Qingtang has reached the limit of his patience and no longer needs to endure it.
That day?
Which day?
The seven sisters exchanged glances, confused.
"Why was Liang Yixing's father, the former Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace, Liang Wangjin, sentenced to death by slicing? Besides aiding and abetting the tyrant, buying and selling official positions was also one of the charges."
"Even buying and selling official positions carries a heavy sentence. You asked me to find an official position for Guo Qian. Have you ever considered what those in the court would do to me if they found out I was abusing my power and using my official position for personal gain?"
"You've never thought about it, or you simply don't care." Du Qingtang's face was cold and his tone was sarcastic. "You only care about yourself, whether you can become an official's wife, whether you can be surrounded by people and admired by everyone."
"You knew full well that I was walking on thin ice in the court, and that countless people wanted to bring me down, yet you still made such an unreasonable request at the New Year's Eve family dinner."
"Du Qingmei, do you want to kill me?"
It was like a thunderclap that struck her head. Du Qingmei was completely stunned. She shook her head and denied it flatly: "I didn't do that. I never thought of harming you. It's just that I'm pregnant now, and Guo Qian doesn't even have a proper job..."
Du Qingtang interrupted Du Qingmei's ridiculous defense in a cold voice: "You are still making excuses for yourself and Guo Qian!"
"Guo Qian only has a problem with his right hand. He's not a useless person who's had his limbs chopped off and can't even eat a bite of food. As a man, if he doesn't take the initiative to shoulder the responsibility of supporting his family, does he still expect me to support him?"
"Am I Guo Qian's father or mother? Why should I care whether he has a proper job or not?"
"A proper job? What is a proper job? As long as there's money to be made and I can support my family, then that's a proper job!"
"My eldest brother-in-law and his family can do business and work hard to make a living, so why can't he? Is he born superior to others?"
"Guo Qian is just a juren. He's not the top scholar, nor a top-rank official, let alone an earl, marquis, duke, or prince. Looking across Daxia, there are plenty of juren. What does a juren with a crippled hand count for?"
Although his back was facing Du Qingtang, Guo Qian felt as if she was pointing at his nose and scolding him. His face flushed red and he was filled with shame and anger.
What's wrong with being a juren?
If he had not had his tendons cut by a villain, he would have long ago entered the court as an official and might even have been on equal footing with her.
He was a distinguished scholar, and wherever he went, people would respectfully address him as "Master Juren". How could he be compared to his illiterate brother-in-law?
If you don't want to help him get an official position, that's fine. Why make it sound so high-sounding?
Wouldn't it be a great help for her, Du Qingtang, if he became an official in the court?
Besides, he would not spread the news everywhere. As long as she greeted the officials in the Ministry of Personnel, no one would know that she had sought an official position for her brother-in-law.
In anger, the words of Cao Yuan's confidant flashed through his mind.
Gu Tai glanced at Guo Qian, who had his head lowered, his expression unclear. Only the veins on the back of his hands revealed his true emotions.
Gu Tai couldn't help but shook his head.
He had an affair with his cousin and had a child born out of wedlock, but he still expected his wife's sister to take such great risks to run errands for him and use her connections to owe him favors. He really thought that everyone except him was a fool.
Some people just don't know how to appreciate what they have.
At the main table, Du Qingtang stood up, his sleeves raised, and stood in front of the table with his hands behind his back, sternly shoving towards Du Qingmei: "Don't tell me you want me to find an official position for Guo Qian just because you're pregnant."
"When exactly did you come up with this idea? You know better than anyone else."
"Do you think I'll agree to your request for the sake of the child if you announce your pregnancy at the New Year's Eve family dinner? I can only tell you that you're dreaming."
"That piece of flesh in your belly is not my child. It is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for me."
"From the moment you chose Guo Qian and sacrificed me for him, you were sentenced to death in my eyes."
"From now on, you, Du Qingmei, are no longer my Du Qingtang's sister, and I am no longer your Du Qingmei's sister."
Du Qingmei was so embarrassed by what Du Qingtang said that she couldn't even raise her head.
As soon as she said this, she looked up suddenly, her eyes full of hurt and disbelief.
"You are a wife of the Guo family, the mother of Guo Wangfei, and the mother of the baby in your belly. But you are no longer a daughter of the Du family."
"From now on, whether you live a good life or a bad life, whether you are prosperous or miserable, it has nothing to do with me, Du Qingtang."
Du Qingmei's face turned pale as paper, and she shook her head in panic: "Xianyu! No, please don't do this!"
Du Qingtang turned a deaf ear to her plea, his heart as hard as iron, and remained unmoved by her pleas.
"I'll only say this once." Du Qingtang glanced at Du Qingqin and the others, his tone filled with warning, "Between me and Du Qingmei, you can only choose one."
"If I find out that any of you tried to plead for her or secretly interacted with her, you will move out of the Wen'an Marquis's mansion and go your separate ways from now on, with nothing to do with each other."
"I, Du Qingtang, was not born a good person. My blood is cold and my heart is black, so don't try to kidnap me and threaten me with the so-called family affection."
"That won't work. I won't buy it!"
After saying that, he walked out of the dining room.
The heavy door curtain was lifted, and a strong gust of cold wind rushed in, blowing on the face like a knife.
"Meng Fang, see you off."
Du Qingtang's voice gradually faded away, and when it hit Du Qingmei, it was more biting than the cold wind.
The door curtain was lifted again, and Meng Fang walked in, a gentle and respectful smile on his gaunt face. "Mr. Guo, Madam Guo, please follow me this way."
Guo Qian clenched his fists and smiled shamelessly: "Xianyu is just angry. When she calms down, my wife and I will go and apologize to her."
Meng Fang raised his eyebrows and said with a half-smile: "Master Guo, please don't embarrass me."
Guo Qian felt uncomfortable because of his laughter and became angry. "You are just a servant, do you know the consequences of offending guests?"
Meng Fang still had a bright smile on his face. "I am a servant of the Wen'an Marquis's mansion. I only follow Wen'an Marquis's orders. As for you...from now on, you are not allowed to set foot in Wen'an Marquis's mansion. How can you say you are a guest?"
Guo Qian was furious: "You!"
"That's enough!" Du Qingmei was shaking with anger. She couldn't tell whether it was because of Guo Qian's unreasonable behavior or Du Qingtang's ruthlessness. She was like a balloon that had been popped, her eyes dim and her face pale. "I'm tired. Let's go back."
Guo Qian gritted his teeth, snorted coldly, and walked away on the spot.
Du Qingmei subconsciously touched her lower abdomen and looked at her sisters.
Without exception, everyone avoided her gaze.
Du Qingmei smiled bitterly, her face turned even paler, and she lowered her head and walked out of the dining room.
A biting cold wind blew over, and Du Qingmei shivered, tears streaming down her face.
Looking at the dark night, Du Qingmei felt confused for the first time.
......
Three people left the dining room at once, and there were obviously more people left. There was a charcoal brazier burning, but there was an inexplicable sense of coldness and silence.
Du Qingqi's eyes were red, and she rubbed them, sobbing: "Xiao Wu is so confused, how could she bully Xianyu like this?"
Even the second sister, who has always been naive and innocent and never cares about other things, thinks so, which shows how excessive Du Qingmei is.
Du Qingzhu just wanted to sneer: "In her eyes and heart, there is only Guo Qian, and her dream of becoming an official's wife. How can she have room for us, her old sisters?"
Du Qinghua sighed, her expression indescribable. "Originally, I was really happy that she was pregnant. Even though Guo Qian is a disgusting, dirty man, and I don't know how Xiaowu could handle him, at least she has her own child. Whether it's a boy or a girl, she'll have someone to rely on in the future and won't be manipulated by that illegitimate child. But then she did this to me."
Du Qingshu was so angry that he slammed the table. "Why did you say it at the New Year's Eve family dinner? It really ruined the fun! I feel like I've eaten a mouthful of rotten leftover rice. I feel sick all over and nauseous!"
Du Qingqin glanced at the children on her right and sighed, "You guys go back first. I'll have dinner delivered to you later."
A wonderful New Year's Eve family dinner has turned into this. I guess no one is in the mood to stay here any longer. It's better for everyone to go their separate ways and eat their own food.
Ruan Ran was the first to respond, signaling to his nephew and niece with his eyes, and the group walked out one after another.
Du Qingqin wiped her face. Perhaps she had accumulated enough disappointment, so she was particularly calm at this moment and couldn't squeeze out a single tear.
"In fact, I mentioned to Xianyu in August that Guo Qian brought his family to Xiajing, most likely hoping that Xianyu would find him an official position."
"Xianyu made it very clear at the time that she would not agree, but I know she still held on to a glimmer of hope, thinking that Xiaowu would not do this for Guo Qian."
Du Qingzhu curled her lips, feeling distressed and angry: "It's obvious that Fifth Sister has disappointed her."
Du Qingju smoothed the wrinkles on her wide sleeves that Du Qingzhu had pulled out. Her brows were calm as she spoke softly, "Sisters, you may not know this, but I work in the Female Medical Bureau and interact with the imperial physicians every day. They occasionally mention some matters in the court."
"Don't underestimate Xianyu, as she is now in the emperor's favor and in the limelight. In fact, every step she takes is a tightrope walk."
"Everything she possesses today—including power and status—was given by His Majesty. His Majesty can give it to her, and he can also take it back."
"If she shows even the slightest sign of weakness or vulnerability, those officials in the court who are always talking about moral principles, ethics, and morality will be like hyenas, gnawing at her until not even a bone is left."
"Everyone says Xianyu is arrogant and domineering, and they speak disparagingly of her. Little do they know that only by doing so can she prevent herself from being bullied and remain invincible."
"Xianyu had such a difficult time, yet he was willing to fight against the entire court for us sisters."
"She was impeached twice, causing a huge uproar. The first time was for me, and the second time was for Seventh Sister."
"Xianyu values family ties the most, is also the most soft-hearted, and is the most protective of her shortcomings. It was because Fifth Sister disappointed her so deeply that she said those words of breaking off all ties."
Du Qinghua, who had the hottest temper among the nine sisters, immediately slammed the table and said harshly, "Let me be frank, if anyone is soft on Xiaowu and goes to Xianyu and says something nonsense, don't blame me for turning my back on you. By then, we won't even be sisters anymore!"
Du Qingmei didn't care about sisterhood at all. She used her unborn baby to threaten the youngest sister. If she could do it on the first day, she shouldn't blame them for doing it on the fifteenth.
Du Qingshu said bitterly, "It's all the fault of that troublemaker Guo Qian!"
"He's still an ungrateful person!" Du Qingqi gritted his teeth. "If Xianyu hadn't lent him his notes and practice questions, and answered every question he asked, he probably wouldn't have even passed the imperial examination. Now that he's a cripple, he's become so arrogant. I don't know where he gets his confidence from."
The eight sisters were obviously very angry. They slammed the table and hit the stools, cursing non-stop.
The five brothers-in-law standing by lowered their heads, not daring to breathe, for fear that their breathing would disturb these people and cause them to be angered for no reason.
Du Qingqin let her sisters vent their anger for a long time before she stopped them: "Alright, don't say anything more. From now on, no one should mention that couple in the mansion. Don't make Xianyu upset and make her unhappy."
"It's natural."
"That's it. If you can't hit me, then just roll away, to the horizon!"
"But..." Du Qingzhu held up her chin. "Xianyu said earlier that she thought Fifth Sister would reflect on herself after that day. When was that day? Did something happen between them that I don't know about?"
Du Qingju pondered for a moment and made a bold guess, "Fifth Sister has only been to the Wen'an Marquis's residence a handful of times. She's been trying to protect her pregnancy these past few months, and she's been using it as an excuse to teach students. She hasn't been here once, so it's most likely the day you just arrived from Baoding Prefecture."
Du Qingshu clapped his hands. "I suddenly remembered that day, I dozed off for a while and was woken up by Quan Ge'er. I went to the yard to get some fresh air and happened to see Xiaowu passing by the door. She lowered her head and wiped her face with her hands. I didn't think much of it and even greeted her."
Du Qinghua shook her head after hearing this. "We've tried to persuade her to divorce and return home, but she won't listen. From now on, I won't care about her life or death. No matter what happens to her, it's her own fault. She can't blame anyone else."
"That's right."
"Stop talking. The more you talk, the more upset I feel. Let's just go."
"Butler Meng, remember to have the kitchen heat up the dishes and send them to each courtyard. Also send a portion to Xianyu. Remember not to send her any wine."
The youngest child must be in a bad mood right now. Drinking to drown his sorrows will only make him more sorrowful and prone to headaches and stomachaches. It would be counterproductive.
Du Qingju sighed softly: "Forget it, I'll go make her some medicinal food. She's been very tired these days, so I'll go and make her some medicine to cool down her temper."
Du Qingzhu volunteered: "I'll help you!"
Meng Fang smiled and replied, "Don't worry, ladies. I'll ask the kitchen to make the arrangements right away."
The dragon gave birth to nine sons, each of them was different. Although there were some troublesome daughters of the Du family, most of them were considerate.
It is truly a blessing for the master to have these sisters.
......
Du Qingtang returned to the main courtyard in the cold wind and stood in the yard without moving for a long time.
To be honest, she rarely gets really angry, and in recent years she has never been angry at herself. She usually chooses to be angry at others. It can be said that she has a very stable and peaceful mentality.
But this time Du Qingtang was really angry. He was so angry that his chest hurt and his head was buzzing.
She shouldn't have had any expectations of Du Qingmei.
Du Qingtang raised his hand and rubbed his brows, then called Du Jiu and Du Shi over: "Keep an eye on the Fifth Miss and the Fifth Uncle."
After this incident, Du Qingtang was completely disappointed with Du Qingmei.
The human heart is unpredictable, and Guo Qian himself is worse than an animal.
If he wanted revenge, he would most likely instigate Du Qingmei to join him.
It would be best if there is none, but if there is... she doesn't mind sacrificing her own relatives for the sake of justice.
Du Qingmei's actions have crossed Du Qingtang's bottom line. After all, she loves herself more and cannot be without grudges, cannot repay evil with kindness, and will not be stupid enough to let them affect her career for the sake of a sister.
"yes."
Du Jiu and Du Shi took the order and left.
Du Qingtang went back to his room, changed into casual clothes, and went to the study to calculate data.
Since he had promised Princess Zhaoyang that he could build a means of transportation that could travel hundreds of miles a day next year, he had to fulfill his promise on time.
However, the transportation vehicle she envisioned could not be completed overnight. Even if it was built, it might not be successfully tested. A slight error could cause months of hard work to go to waste, and all previous efforts would be wasted. She needed to be extremely cautious.
The court started its holiday on New Year's Eve and ended on the 16th day of the first lunar month. However, in order to speed up the progress, Du Qingtang gave those researchers triple their salary and asked them to work overtime with her, striving to produce the product in April or May.
Du Qingtang held the charcoal pencil and wrote furiously under the lamp.
The table was covered with rice paper with various data written on it, so densely packed that it was dizzying to look at.
Du Qingju prepared the medicinal food and personally delivered it to the main courtyard. The housekeeper of the main courtyard told her that the youngest son was in the study, so she came and knocked on the door.
"Xianyu, can I come in?"
Du Qingtang had just finished calculating a number when he heard the voice and responded without even looking up: "Come in."
Du Qingju pushed the door open and walked forward. She glanced at the table full of complex and profound data and couldn't help but smack her lips: "Xianyu is really amazing."
Du Qingtang smelled a fragrance and looked up to see the food box in Du Qingju's hand. He raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Medicinal food?"
Du Qingju nodded and said, "I heard from Nanny Fang that you've only been sleeping for an hour or two lately. Even a strong body can't stand it. I was planning to make you some medicinal food tomorrow, but since I have some free time tonight, I made one for you."
"Thank you, Eighth Sister. I must try it." Du Qingtang put down the charcoal pencil and walked to the round table nearby. "Is this medicinal meal just for me, or is it available to other girls as well?"
Du Qingju chuckled: "Of course it's just for you."
Du Qingtang curled his lips, took out the soup bowl and put it on the table: "Eighth sister, do you want to eat with me?"
Du Qingju shook her head: "Seventh sister and I have eaten in the kitchen."
Du Qingtang groaned softly and lowered his head to eat the medicinal food.
Du Qingju propped up her chin and looked at her. Du Qingtang took a few bites and couldn't help but look up: "You put a lot of pressure on me."
"Okay, I won't read it anymore. You should eat it while it's hot." Du Qingju waved her hand and turned to look at the picture of the lady on the lampshade. After a moment, she went to the bookshelf, picked up a book at random, and sat under the lamp to read it.
Du Qingtang always ate quickly. After finishing a bowl of medicinal food, his stomach felt warm. This warmth quickly spread to his limbs and bones, making him feel incomparable comfort.
"Eighth sister, your medicinal food is getting better and better." Du Qingtang narrowed his eyes in satisfaction and said lazily, "The cook can also make medicinal food, but it's not as delicious as yours."
"As long as Xianyu likes it, I'll make it for you next time when I have time." Du Qingju put the soup bowl into the food box and gently reminded him, "Go to bed early and don't think too much. You still have to attend the palace banquet tomorrow night."
Du Qingtang nodded: "Eighth sister too."
Du Qingju put the book back, turned back and picked up the lunch box, and stroked Du Qingtang's hair with her other hand: "Xianyu has been wronged, Eighth Sister will always stand by you."
Du Qingtang shook his head, his expression calm, no longer furious. "As long as we live, we must look forward. I'm not one to dwell on the past. Now that things have happened, there's no need to waste my emotions on irrelevant people."
"In fact, as early as she informed us that she was pregnant, I had already vaguely anticipated it and was mentally prepared."
"I'm a little angry, but more disappointed."
Du Qingmei indulged herself in depravity and had no ambition to make progress, and she ruined her life which could have been brilliant with her own hands.
"Let's not talk about her anymore. Let her be. Anyway, what I said before was not just a momentary angry remark."
This time she will never forgive Du Qingmei.
Du Qingtang said to herself, then changed the subject: "Eighth sister, I've been overly tired recently, and my eyes and neck are a little uncomfortable. If you have time tomorrow, can you give me acupuncture?"
Du Qingju readily agreed and discussed with her, "How about tomorrow afternoon? I have to go to the Female Medical Bureau in the morning to assign some homework to the doctors. I'll also go to the Seventh Prince's residence to check the prince's wife's pulse."
"Okay." Du Qingtang agreed and casually asked, "How is the Seventh Prince's Consort now?"
Du Qingju visited the Seventh Prince's residence every two or three days, so she knew everything about the Seventh Prince's wife. "The Seventh Prince's wife's family sent over an old nanny who was good at taking care of the fetus. She was very skilled and disciplined all the concubines one by one."
"The Seventh Prince was worried about the Seventh Prince's wife being in trouble before, and those women complained to him, but he didn't dare say anything. The Seventh Prince's wife is pregnant and a safe delivery is not a problem."
Du Qingtang nodded to indicate that she understood. After Du Qingju left with the lunch box, she sat back at the desk and continued to write furiously and calculate data. She only washed up and went to bed near midnight.
-
The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month is New Year’s Eve.
After getting up in the morning, Emperor Qingyuan held a ceremony to close his pen and had breakfast directly in the imperial study.
Just as he put down his chopsticks, the secret guard came to report: "Last night at the Wen Anbo Mansion..."
Emperor Qingyuan was not surprised to learn that Du Aiqing and her fifth sister had completely broken off relations and parted ways.
Du Aiqing had previously been tolerant of Du Qingmei out of sisterly love and did not want to be too harsh.
The reason for breaking with them now is to protect oneself, to cut off the tail to survive, and to sacrifice the rook to save the king.
It goes without saying which is more important: a sister who is unable to support herself or a future career.
"Lord Du is a man of many talents, but he's too sentimental." Emperor Qingyuan wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and muttered to himself, "But having a weak spot isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Knowing weaknesses will allow for easier control.
"Go to Yufu Palace."
August 15th is the memorial day for the mother and daughter.
It happened that Hubei was hit by a sudden flood, and he had no time to go to Yufu Palace to perform the ceremony of worship.
Today is New Year's Eve, and he doesn't want to go anywhere. He just wants to stay in Yufu Palace with his wife and children.
The dragon sedan stopped at the gate of Yufu Palace. Emperor Qingyuan climbed the stairs and pushed open the heavy palace door with his own hands.
Ever since the Liulifang came into being, the doors and windows of all the palaces in the imperial palace have been replaced with glass, except for the Yufu Palace.
This place maintains the same appearance as when Emperor Qingyuan was still a prince. Twenty-two years have passed, and even the furnishings and positions in the hall have not changed.
The palace door burst open and Emperor Qingyuan saw a figure.
She was wearing an indigo dress and had her hair in a double bun, standing in front of the portrait with her back to him.
Emperor Qingyuan's eyes were dazed for a moment, and he murmured: "Qingyu..."
The woman turned around when she heard the voice. Her eyes were heroic and had a fierce beauty. She bowed to him and said, "Father."
It’s Zhaoyang.
It is not pure jade.
His Qingyu had left him twenty-four years ago.
Under the portrait, Princess Zhaoyang asked with a smile, "I brought you the wine that your mother loved most when she was alive. Would your Majesty like to try it?"
"good."
Emperor Qingyuan stepped forward, lifted the corner of his robe, and knelt casually on the cushion, sitting opposite Princess Zhaoyang.
Princess Zhaoyang poured two glasses of wine, one for each father and daughter.
Emperor Qingyuan took off the jade ring, carefully put it into the secret pocket of his wide sleeve, picked up the wine glass and drank it all.
When Lingxi wine enters the throat, the aroma is mellow and long-lasting. It is not as spicy as strong liquor, but it makes people feel sour in their nose and eyes.
Emperor Qingyuan covered his face with his hands, lowered his head and remained silent.
Princess Zhaoyang raised her head to drink, a hint of sarcasm flashing across her eyes.
......
On the other hand, Guo Qian returned to the Guo residence from the Wen'an Earl's Mansion. For the first time, he did not treat Du Qingmei well. Regardless of her pregnancy, he stayed in the study that night.
He hated Du Qingtang's ruthlessness and was worried that he would never have a career in politics. He tossed and turned and couldn't sleep all night.
The first ray of sunlight in the early morning came in through the window. Guo Qian sat up with a somersault and suddenly made up his mind.
He dressed in front of the mirror, washed and had his meal, then quietly left Guo's house and headed straight for the east of the city.
Guo Qian knocked on the door of Duke Cheng'en's mansion and successfully met the prime minister of the time, Cao Yuan.
In the study, Guo Qian prostrated himself, kowtowed to the ground with his head on his shoulders, and said in an extremely humble manner: "I wonder if the promise you made to me before is still valid?"
Cao Yuan twirled his beard, his face enigmatic. "You once said you had no leverage over Du Qingtang."
Guo Qian's eyes were sinister and filled with murderous intent: "If there is no evidence, then create one."
He had misjudged it before. Du Qingtang had always been arrogant, so how could he take his brother-in-law who had a disease in his right hand seriously?
Du Qingtang humiliated him in front of so many people. She was unkind first, so don't blame him for being unjust!
Cao Yuan was stunned for a moment, then slowly smiled.
......
The New Year's Eve palace banquet in the 21st year of the Qingyuan reign was just like in previous years. The princes and princesses competed to show off, and the nobles and officials toasted each other and talked and laughed.
There were not too many waves and ups and downs, it just passed peacefully.
It was already midnight when Du Qingtang returned to Wen'an Earl's Mansion.
The maid prepared hot water and washed off the smell of alcohol after Du Qingtang took a bath. She put on her underwear and walked towards the bed while wiping her wet hair.
As soon as I sat down, I suddenly felt something strange under the quilt.
When I opened it, I saw several red envelopes.
The bright red color stands out against the dark bed.
Du Qingtang put the handkerchief aside, picked up the red envelope and counted them.
There are nine in total, including eight sisters and Ruan Ran, the younger sister.
Du Qingtang curled his lips imperceptibly and put the New Year's money into the secret compartment, together with the New Year's money from previous years.
The sound of firecrackers outside was deafening and the place was noisy and lively.
The night was long, and the 22nd year of Qingyuan arrived as expected.
-
After the new year, while the annual leave was still going on, Du Qingtang spent almost the entire day in the research institute, developing and manufacturing transportation vehicles with the researchers.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the scholar invited by Du Qingtang for the girls and boys officially entered the mansion.
The candidate was named Qu Qingfeng, from Xiajing.
He became famous at a young age and was extremely talented, but because of the jealousy of his classmates, they put drugs in his food on the eve of the imperial examination. Not only did he miss the exam, but he also ruined his health. From then on, he coughed three times every time he took a step. He failed to pass the imperial examination and had no chance of a career in officialdom.
Du Qingtang carefully selected among the candidates before deciding on Qu Qingfeng and personally went to his house to invite him.
Qu Qingfeng was a man of great generosity. He did not look down on Du Qingtang because she was a woman. Instead, he was flattered. "It is my great honor to be valued by Lord Du. However, I am ill and I am afraid I am unable to do anything..."
"That's all right. Mr. Qu is a man of great talent. It's a great honor for the younger generation of the Du family to have you as our mentor." Du Qingtang said calmly, "You only need to teach for two hours a day, and the monthly salary will be one hundred taels. How about that?"
Qu Qingfeng was deeply moved.
It is false to say that money is something outside of one's body and that scholars should regard money as dirt.
Money is not everything, but without money, nothing is possible.
This was his life, but his descendants all aspired to pass the imperial examinations and become officials.
Studying requires money, and the Qu family was originally a poor family, and now they can only ensure that they have enough food and clothing.
The monthly salary is one hundred taels, which means one thousand two hundred taels a year.
Even if you only teach for one or two years, it is enough to leave a considerable wealth for future generations.
On the first day in the mansion, Qu Qingfeng first asked about the progress of the studies of the young masters and young ladies in the Wen'an Marquis's mansion.
When they learned that one of them had already achieved the title of scholar, two had achieved the title of student, and the young ladies had even finished reading the Four Books, they were amazed.
After the two-hour class, Qu Qingfeng returned home and said to his wife, "They are truly worthy of being Wen Anbo's relatives. They have all achieved so much at such a young age!"
"Madam, I plan to start educating my grandchildren from now on. I don't expect them to be as smart as the young masters and young ladies of the Du family, nor do I expect them to get the sixth highest score in the imperial examination like Wen Anbo, but at least they should be well-educated, polite, and refined."
Grandchildren under four years old: "???"
......
On the eleventh day of the first lunar month, Xia Sheng Newspaper Office published Xia Sheng Daily as usual.
As in the past fifteen issues, the newspaper printed a portrait of a wanted criminal in the newspaper and wrote, "Once you find the whereabouts of this wanted criminal, please report it to the authorities immediately and you will receive five taels of silver."
The prefect, Lord Zhu, also asked the yamen runners to buy a newspaper so that he could read it in his spare time.
As soon as I opened the newspaper, the first thing I saw was the portrait of the wanted criminal.
The wanted criminal has a pointed face, three white eyes and a hooked nose. One can tell at first glance that he is a sinister and vicious person.
Zhu Da Ren looked at him, feeling an inexplicable chill down his spine. He rubbed his arms through his official robes, muttering, "Since he's a wanted criminal, how can he be caught so easily? The court has printed his portraits everywhere, and they've all gone into hiding, making him harder to catch than before. He keeps coming up with bad ideas all day long..."
Before he could finish his words, he heard the yamen runners' voices outside shouting, "Sir! Sir!"
Master Zhu was startled, his hands shaking, and he almost tore the newspaper in half. He glared at the yamen runner angrily: "How can you be so rude and shouty?"
The yamen runner didn't care about decorum at all. He pointed outside excitedly and said, "Sir, someone just came to report that they encountered the wanted criminal listed in the newspaper yesterday!"
"Ah?" Master Zhu was stunned and scratched his ears in disbelief. "What did you say?"
The bailiff resisted the urge to roll his eyes and repeated it again.
"Bang!"
Master Zhu stood up suddenly, not even bothering to help the overturned armchair, and waved his hand: "What are you waiting for? Send someone to catch him!"
"yes!"
The bailiff left quickly and brought a man back to the government office in less than half an hour.
Lord Zhu took the newspaper and compared it with the man.
With his pointed chin, white eyes and hooked nose, he looked like a vicious criminal who had taken many lives.
"Is it him?"
"It's definitely him."
"Come here, put him in jail and execute him on a later date!"
"yes!"
Master Zhu paced back and forth in the lobby, holding the newspaper in one hand and his other hand on his waist, muttering to himself, "I can't believe this newspaper can actually help catch a wanted criminal!"
A passing yamen runner couldn't help but complain: "Sir, you said this was a bad idea earlier."
Lord Zhu choked and kicked the yamen runner on the butt: "How disrespectful! When did I ever say that? I clearly meant that this newspaper is extremely useful!"
Yamen runner: “…”
Haha, man.
......
At the same time, in the Food Fragrance Pavilion, several officials were also reading newspapers.
Rather than catching wanted criminals, they care more about whose names are written on this issue's Honor Roll and Warning Roll.
"Sure enough, the first on the honor roll is Scholar Shi."
"He was ordered to control the floods, build riverbanks, and assist local authorities with post-disaster reconstruction. He only returned to Beijing two days ago, so he must have been instrumental in this."
"Tsk, it's Wen Anbo again."
"I merely advised His Majesty to use cement to build the riverbank. I have neither contributed anything nor done anything hard. Why should I be ranked second?"
"Wen Anbo is truly the most treacherous and treacherous person in Daxia!"
Since Wen Anbo entered the court as an official, he was able to escape death even if he committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. After he was released from prison, he continued to rank fourth. Three years later, he was promoted to the second rank and was granted the title of earl. He was truly unrivaled.
To be disrespectful, Your Majesty has lost his mind. For a woman like Wen Anbo, he has thrown all principles and rules to the wind.
"Master Fang is wrong. Cement was invented by Wen Anbo. If it can truly prevent floods, it will be a great deed that will benefit the people and people for generations to come. Therefore, Wen Anbo deserves the title of second best."
"Hahahahahahaha, Lord Meng, who's number one on the warning list, actually made the list because he stole a sesame seed bun while on duty!"
"Tsk, another corrupt official who abused his power and caused a false case."
"But let me be frank. The Du family's daughters are all unconventional, but they're all quite capable. The food in the Food Fragrance Pavilion is truly exceptional, and the snacks are just as amazing. In my forty-plus years of life, this is the first time I've truly experienced the true meaning of a satisfying appetite."
"I prefer spicy hotpot to snacks, it's just easier... mmm!"
Everyone looked at each other, and everything was said without words.
There was silence in the private room for a moment, and then everyone burst into laughter.
......
In the Female Doctor's Department, Du Qingju had just finished teaching and was sorting out medicinal materials, planning to go to the Seventh Prince's Mansion later.
Liang Chuxia rushed in with a newspaper, grinning from ear to ear: "Master! Master, we're on the honor roll!"
Du Qingju turned around and saw that all the imperial doctors and medical assistants who had gone to Hubei in August were on the list.
After the flood ended, small-scale epidemics broke out in several places in Hubei.
Fortunately, the disease was discovered in time, and with Du Qingju's plague prescription, with the unremitting efforts of everyone in the Imperial Hospital, the plague was quickly brought under effective control and the patients recovered quickly.
"That's great." Du Qingju raised the corner of her mouth and stroked her little apprentice's hair. "Be careful not to be arrogant or impatient, keep up the good work, and strive to reach a higher level soon."
Although I am in last place, it is already a great honor.
Liang Chuxia nodded vigorously: "I will!"
After saying that, he suddenly sighed deeply and slumped over the long table with a sad face.
Du Qingju sorted the herbs and classified them: "What's wrong? Did you encounter any troubles?"
Liang Chuxia wrinkled her nose and muttered, "After returning from Hubei, the neighbors all knew that I was working at the Women's Medical Bureau and that I was your apprentice. Many people asked matchmakers to come to my house to propose marriage, and I sent two away this morning. It was really a headache."
Du Qingju turned around and glanced at her, then continued working: "So? How are you going to deal with this?"
Liang Chuxia scratched her head in distress. "I don't know, but Master, I've witnessed with my own eyes what kind of life my mother led in the Liang family. I'm afraid of repeating the same mistakes. I'm afraid my husband won't be a good man, that my mother-in-law and father-in-law are bad, and that I'll give birth to a bunch of ungrateful people."
Although Liang Chuxia was her apprentice, Du Qingju did not intend to interfere too much. She only said: "Whether you get married in the future or not, you must remember——"
“Love yourself first, then love others.”
“Don’t give all your heart to a man, and don’t place all your hopes on a man.”
Du Qingmei is a typical example.
She was almost crazy about wanting to become an official's wife, and placed all her hopes on Guo Qian, thus losing herself and causing the sisters to drift apart.
"When a woman has money and power, it's like she has everything."
Liang Chuxia tilted her head and said somewhat depressedly: "Rich and powerful? But not everyone can have power."
Looking around the world, how many women are there like Uncle Nine?
Du Qingju laughed and explained, "There are many kinds of power. It can be the power of a housekeeper in the backyard, or it can be the power enjoyed in the court or the female doctor's bureau. It all depends on how you choose."
Liang Chuxia held her face in her hands, thinking.
......
On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the day before the Lantern Festival, the eldest princess's great-grandson held a birthday party.
The eldest princess was the legitimate daughter of the late emperor's empress. She became a widow in middle age and has lived in seclusion ever since, keeping a very low profile in the capital.
Because he was her first great-grandson, the eldest princess changed her previous style and sent out invitations widely in the capital.
The eldest princess was of noble status and highly respected. All the princes and officials who received the invitation brought their families to attend the first birthday party of this little prince who was destined to be loved by everyone.
As a new upstart in the court, Du Qingtang was naturally also among the invited guests.
At noon that day, the guests gathered in the main courtyard to watch the little birthday boy's one-year-old birthday ceremony.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the chubby baby with red lips and white teeth used all four limbs to crawl among the objects.
He grabbed the seal in his left hand and the book in his right hand, then sat down on the blanket with a toothless smile.
Upon seeing this, the guests began to say auspicious words.
Du Qingtang watched the excitement for a while and was dragged away by Princess Zhaoyang who came to attend the first birthday party.
"It's nothing special. Xianyu, let's go have some tea and some cakes. The cakes at the Grand Princess's residence are truly amazing."
Du Qingtang always liked quietness, so he went along with it and left the table with Princess Zhaoyang.
The two men came to a pavilion, ordered people to hang curtains on all sides, prepared tea and cakes, and sat opposite each other in it.
Princess Zhaoyang picked up a piece of cake and chewed it carefully. "Since New Year's Eve, all kinds of affairs in the palace and government have been piling up. It wasn't until yesterday that they finally calmed down. I'm exhausted."
Du Qingtang studied Princess Zhaoyang's face. She had indeed lost some weight. "A woman should eat more mutton and beef. I'll have my nephew send some over from Shaoqing Prefecture. We can stew, stir-fry, grill, or hot pot."
"But I prefer to cook it in a hotpot. During the years we lived in Shaoqing Prefecture, my seventh and eighth sisters and I would always eat hotpot every winter."
Princess Zhaoyang knew that Lord Du was usually taciturn unless necessary, so she felt comforted after hearing what she said and responded with a smile.
The two were chatting casually when two male voices suddenly came from outside the pavilion.
"Just now I saw Wen Anbo and Princess Zhaoyang leave the table together. Birds of a feather flock together. Yet, Your Majesty treats them both so well, showering them with countless honors. How despicable!"
"It's understandable that Earl Wen An has made contributions to Daxia, after all. But Princess Zhaoyang has never made any contribution to Daxia, yet she relies on your majesty's favor to act arrogantly and keep concubines. This is truly despicable."
"If you ask me, Earl Wen An shouldn't have allowed Princess Zhaoyang to return to the court."
"Brother Zhang is absolutely right. Rather than being disgraced in Xiajing and bringing shame to the imperial family, it would be better to die in Daqi. At least it would be a glorious death."
There was complete silence in the pavilion.
Princess Zhaoyang lowered her eyes, gently swirled her teacup, and spoke calmly, "Listen, Master Du! These people, who I nurtured with my own flesh and blood, are living a life of luxury in Daxia, yet they all regard me as a disgrace and wish I would die in Daqi."
"They don't want me to come back."
"They don't want me to be alive."
Princess Zhaoyang put down her teacup and stood up gracefully. "No matter how down and out I am, I am still the princess of Daxia. My dignity and honor cannot be violated."
Aunt Yuanshuang lifted the curtain, Princess Zhaoyang walked out of the pavilion, and Du Qingtang followed closely behind.
Not far away, three men were talking to each other when they suddenly heard a sound of footsteps.
I looked in the direction of the sound and was stunned.
The two women standing under the pavilion, one with eyes as cold as the moon, as cold as ice, and the other with eyebrows and eyes as heroic as a knife, were surprisingly the protagonist they had just discussed -
Earl Wen'an and Princess Zhaoyang.
The three sons of officials changed their expressions instantly, their legs trembled, and they fell to their knees on the ground.
"Your Highness, please spare my life! Your Highness, please forgive me!"
"Mr. Wen Anbo, please forgive me!"
Princess Zhaoyang raised her hand, and a palace maid came forward, blocked their mouths, and pushed them to the ground.
Princess Zhaoyang looked down at them with a half-smile, "Today the sky is clear and the breeze is gentle. Unfortunately, a few unlucky things have disturbed my eyes, ruined my mood, and made me very unhappy."
"In that case—"
Princess Zhaoyang pursed her lips and smiled softly, she was truly beautiful and unparalleled, and pointed at the three people with her slender fingertips.
"Give each of them fifty slaps, and then break their legs for me, and throw them out of the Grand Princess's mansion, so they won't be an eyesore to me."
"By the way, today is my cousin's first birthday party. No noise is allowed, and we must not disturb the guests. I can only ask the three of you to be quiet."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a burst of applause.
The palace maids were extremely quick and in just a few moments they had slapped the three men fifty times, causing their mouths to crack and bleed profusely.
They wanted to scream, to roar, to beg for mercy, but their mouths were blocked and they were pinned to the ground, unable to move. They could only lie there and take the beating. Their cheeks were numb from the pain, and saliva and blood were all over the floor.
But this is just the beginning.
After fifty slaps, the palace maid retreated behind Princess Zhaoyang and Du Qingtang.
Yuan Shuang stepped forward, her face still gentle and kind, with a smile on her lips.
She leaned over and quickly crippled the three men's right legs.
“Crack—”
Accompanied by three crisp sounds, the three people twitched all over in severe pain, their vision went black, and roars escaped from their throats, but were blocked by the towels and turned into groans like trapped animals.
Aunt Yuan Shuang stood up straight and whispered softly, "Send them out through the back door and deliver them to the houses of the various families."
"Remember to tell their families that your son's words and actions were inappropriate and offended His Highness and Lord Du. His Highness was kind enough to teach him a lesson on your behalf. Please don't take it personally."
Three palace maids stepped forward, picked up the official's son who was like a pile of mud, and left with steady steps.
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