Aunt Zhang was brought back to her senses by Gu Jiangli's words.
She turned her head sharply and saw Gu Jiangli's smiling face, noble and beautiful, dressed in silk and satin, with jewelry on her head, elegant but not vulgar.
She was completely different from the young lady she had been in the Gu family mansion.
Becoming a concubine in the palace really makes a difference...
If even a Jieyu (a concubine of the third rank) is treated like this, then her own daughter, Jiang Ru, who is a Zhaoyi (another concubine of the third rank), should be living a much better life.
She immediately came to her senses, remembered the difference in their social status, and knelt down again.
"Greetings, Consort Jieyu. I have heard that Your Highness is pregnant. This is truly a blessing for the Gu family and for Da Jiang."
She started by saying some flattering things.
Now that Gu Jiangli is in a high position, he still has to maintain appearances.
Gu Jiangli shook her head and smiled, refusing to accept her flattery.
"I am just a concubine, you don't need to call me Your Highness, just call me Mistress."
Some of the people around covered their mouths and chuckled. It was Aunt Zhang's first time entering the palace, and she was still unfamiliar with many of the rules.
Aunt Zhang's face immediately showed some embarrassment.
Is Gu Jiangli deliberately trying to make things difficult for her by showing her so little respect?
She watched Gu Jiangli grow up. He was well-mannered, introverted, shy, and occasionally a bit stubborn. She knew very well what she had done to Gu Jiangli when he was young.
The reason she was summoned to the palace was simply to take care of Gu Jiangli, who was pregnant.
But she couldn't understand why, when she was at the Gu family, she had told Gu Jiangli's father many bad things about Gu Jiangli behind his back, but Gu Jiangli never knew about it.
On the surface, the two of them had a respectful relationship, but they weren't particularly close. So why would Gu Jiangli specifically ask her to enter the palace to take care of him?
Aunt Zhang thought it over and over, and then said:
"My lord, I was rather improper. Please forgive me."
Aunt Zhang looked somewhat unhappy. Sure enough, she still didn't like the person she didn't like from the beginning, no matter what.
She lowered her eyes, not wanting to look at Gu Jiangli at all.
But Gu Jiangli smiled and said:
“Aunt Zhang, there’s no need for such formalities. At home, you are my elder, and in the palace, it is still the same.”
Gu Jiangli stood up, picked out two glittering hairpins from the wooden tray carried by a palace maid, and handed them to Aunt Zhang.
“Aunt Zhang, I noticed you seemed to like these things quite a bit. Now that I’m pregnant, many of these valuable hairpins aren’t suitable for me. Why don’t you give them to me?”
Aunt Zhang seemed somewhat surprised.
But in just a moment, that surprise turned into delight.
Her eyes were fixed on the heavy gold hairpin in Gu Jiangli's hand, and her voice trembled as she said:
"Really...really?"
Gu Jiangli then inserted the hairpin in her hand into Aunt Zhang's hair bun and said:
"Of course, my mother is gone. In the Gu family, you are one of the few relatives I have left. If I don't treat you well, who else can I treat well?"
Upon hearing the word "mother" from Gu Jiangli, Aunt Zhang's expression suddenly turned strange.
This brief change in expression did not escape Gu Jiangli's notice.
She sneered inwardly.
This matter is definitely related to Aunt Zhang.
Aunt Zhang stammered, "Yes...yes...Mistress is truly surprising..."
Gu Jiangli helped Aunt Zhang up and said:
"My mother used witchcraft to harm my younger sister, but thankfully she didn't suffer too much. Now that my mother has passed away, my aunt shouldn't hate me because of what happened to my mother, right?"
"Of course not... How could that be? The things the mistress did should not involve you."
Gu Jiangli seemed particularly touched and relieved, and then took a jade bracelet from the wooden tray carried by the palace maid next to him and placed it in Aunt Zhang's hand.
“That’s wonderful, it’s great that Aunt Zhang thinks that way. This bracelet is of good quality, let’s give it to Aunt Zhang as well. There’s something in that plate that Aunt Zhang likes, please feel free to take it.”
Gu Jiangli's sincere demeanor didn't seem fake at all.
Aunt Zhang was blinded by the enormous wealth.
This bracelet is more expensive than all her jewelry combined!
The gold hairpin on her head was heavy and quite valuable!
Could it be that Gu Jiangli has become more attached to family ties after losing his mother?
Otherwise, why would they send me so many things as soon as I entered the palace!
Gu Jiangli is a fool, but she isn't. She's not going to let the money she's got slip through her fingers!
Aunt Zhang's eyes gleamed as she greedily eyed the priceless jewelry on the plate.
"Since you value me so much, my lady, then I won't stand on ceremony and will take whatever I want."
Gu Jiangli smiled gently, "Of course, Aunt, please take whatever you like. You can visit your sister at Lanfang Palace later. You haven't seen each other for so many years, she must miss you very much."
"Can I still go see Ru'er?"
Aunt Zhang touched the jewels and asked in a surprised tone.
“Go ahead, I’ll have Lotus take you there. You two haven’t seen each other for so long, you must have a lot to talk about. Your aunt has finally come to the palace, how can we not let you see your daughter?”
Aunt Zhang was overjoyed.
"Thank you, my lord! I'll go right away!"
She didn't carefully select any of the jewelry on the plate; she just grabbed a few pieces and stuffed them into her pocket.
Lotus once again led the way for her, "Aunt Zhang, please come with me."
"Okay, okay!"
Aunt Zhang followed Lotus away from Guangming Hall with cheerful steps, without even offering a farewell bow.
The surrounding palace maids couldn't stand it anymore and showed disdain for this ill-mannered concubine.
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