Chapter 87 Meeting Boss Gu
In the main hall, Duke Zhao and four clan elders called Zhao Yi to go to the study in the front yard.
The third master and his wife were very afraid of trouble, so they followed closely behind with their children.
The Fourth Lady was actually happy to see Zhao Yi become the heir, as this would make life more comfortable for the Fourth House.
She glanced at the pale-faced Second Madam, and left with her maid in a good mood.
The Second Madam's strength seemed to have been drained from her body, and she slumped in her chair. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She gestured for the maid to help her back to her room.
The blow they suffered this time was not only because the title they had been planning for for a long time fell into someone else's hands, but also because people inside and outside the mansion were paying attention to the selection of an heir for the Duke of Zhao's mansion.
She felt that she had a sure win, and when others tested her, she couldn't help but hint to them that the title would be inherited by the second branch.
When the news of Zhao Yi winning the title gets out today, who knows how people outside will ridicule their second branch.
Thinking of this, the second wife felt completely hopeless.
The maid helped the second lady walk towards the door, where she met the first lady and others again.
When the second wife saw the first wife's calm and composed appearance, she felt jealous and glared at her fiercely.
The eldest lady looked at her embarrassed and angry expression and said, "Second sister-in-law, you look very bad, but are you feeling unwell?"
The Second Madam's face was tense: "I'm not feeling unwell."
"Is it because of what happened today that you're unhappy?" The eldest lady repeated the second lady's original words in full, "Second sister-in-law, we are family. You can't write two Zhao characters with one stroke. It doesn't matter who gets the title. No matter what the result is today, the other one must not turn against you and damage the harmony among brothers just because you didn't get elected."
The Second Lady felt a bloody smell rising up her throat, and she wished she could turn back time to before she said this. If she could swallow every word, she wouldn't have to endure the First Lady's ridicule.
"Sister-in-law, I just had a headache." The Second Lady didn't want to let the First Lady laugh at her, so she forced a stiff smile and said, "We share the same fate, so we should naturally support each other."
Without waiting for the eldest lady to speak, she quickly said, "Oh, my head hurts so badly, so I'll leave first."
Then he urged the maid to help her walk quickly.
The eldest lady looked at the second lady's back as she hurried away, then turned to look at Shen Qingtan beside her: "Tan'er, a new batch of goods arrived at our jewelry store today. We happen to be free now, why don't we go take a look together?"
Shen Qingtan was stunned, very surprised that the eldest lady wanted to leave the house.
The eldest lady whispered, "Your mother has come to the Duke's Mansion, and the second branch of the family has lost its title, and your sister is upset. If she finds a reason to make things difficult for you and vent her anger on your sister, you will be wronged. We should just stay away from her and let her have no place to vent her anger."
Shen Qingtan glanced at Shen Mingzhu who was sitting in the chair in a daze, who seemed to have not yet recovered from the blow.
She was not surprised by today's result.
Zhao Jue was an arrogant and conceited person, and he believed that everyone was driven by interests. That was why he rashly visited several elders without investigating their personalities and tried to bribe them privately.
From the moment Zhao Jue approached the clan elder, the outcome was decided.
What's more, how can a brave but foolish warrior compare to the resourceful and resourceful top scholar?
She took the eldest lady's arm affectionately and said, "Mother, let's go."
The eldest lady saw Shen Qingtan's smiling face up close, which was as beautiful as the delicate flowers in the yard, and was particularly attractive for care and love. She really couldn't understand why Mrs. Shen's heart was so biased.
If I gave birth to such a beautiful and delicate girl, I would spend a lot of money to make everything she used, hold her in my hands, cherish and pamper her, and how could I bear to let her suffer any grievance?
Then she thought about the marriage exchange with the Marquis of Cheng'en, which was a good thing for Shen Qingtan. Otherwise, if Shen Qingtan entered the second wife's house, she would be under the pressure of filial piety and rules. No matter how many tricks Shen Qingtan had, he would have suffered a lot at the hands of the second wife.
But when Shen Qingtan married into their eldest wife's family, Zhao Yi treated her very considerately, but he could not give her any offspring.
The more the eldest lady thought about it, the more she felt sorry for Shen Qingtan. She secretly gave Guan Mama a look: Did you bring enough silver?
Mother Guan made a number.
The eldest lady felt relieved and asked her to take care of her son's wife on his behalf today.
——
Second room, Qingyun Garden.
Madam Shen sat upright on the Luohan couch, anxiously waiting for Zhongxia to bring her good news.
A few days ago, Concubine Ling sent a message to Marquis Cheng'en: "I have passed this message to Madam Zhao. If Duke Zhao is determined not to establish Zhao Jue, I am helpless.
After all, Duke Zhao is the emperor's father-in-law and has a debt of gratitude to the emperor. If I use this debt of gratitude to force Duke Zhao to submit, and if he turns against me, I will be spurned by the emperor. I believe the marquis has the right mind to distinguish between the important and the unimportant.
It was already unfair for a concubine in the harem to interfere with the Duke's selection of an heir. How could this be brought to light?
Duke Zhao was a particularly stubborn man, having once declared, "If my son is incompetent, I will appoint a grandson as my heir. If the grandson fails to live up to expectations, I will adopt a son from the clan to inherit the title. I will not leave the title to an unworthy descendant and ruin the Zhao family's century-old legacy."
Madam Shen came to her senses and hoped that Zhao Jue would win the title today so that she could feel happy.
But she waited and waited, but still no one came back.
Mrs. Shen couldn't sit still anymore and couldn't help but go outside to find out what was going on.
As soon as I reached the gate of the courtyard, I heard the servants gossiping.
"The Third Master caused such a big fuss, I thought he would win the title, but who knew..."
"I heard that the Third Master had no talent for studying and felt he would be crushed by the Second Master in the imperial examinations, so he took up martial arts and joined the army. I'm not surprised that the Second Master won the title."
"Tsk tsk tsk, Third Madam specially invited the wife of the Marquis of Cheng'en to come and watch the fun, but who knew they were just here to laugh at her?"
Madam Shen was stunned. Just as she was about to reprimand the servants, she saw Shen Mingzhu coming with some people.
When the gossiping servants saw Shen Mingzhu, their faces changed color with fear and they all paid their respects.
Shen Mingzhu had no intention of paying attention to them. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she threw herself into Madam Shen's arms and cried, "Mother, the title was snatched away by the first house. The Third Master treated me with some respect because we fought for the title for him. Now that the title is gone, my daughter's life in the second house will become even more difficult."
"How could it be... that strategy... your father asked the clan leader." Madam Shen was also unable to accept this result. Seeing Shen Mingzhu crying heartbrokenly, she forced herself to cheer her up and said, "Hold on and get pregnant with Zhao Jue's legitimate son soon. Giving birth to the Duke's eldest great-grandson will help you maintain your position in the mansion."
Shen Mingzhu wanted to give birth to a legitimate son more than anyone else, but Zhao Jue was unwilling to touch her at all.
"Don't be discouraged." Madam Shen's eyes were ruthless, and she whispered in Shen Mingzhu's ear: "What if Zhao Yi becomes the young master? Even if he becomes the young master, there is a chance that the title will fall on you."
Shen Mingzhu understood the meaning of Mrs. Shen's words, and her heart was no longer as uncomfortable as before.
"In half a month, it will be your aunt's fiftieth birthday." Madam Shen touched Shen Mingzhu's head and said meaningfully, "You should take good care of yourself and don't be sad about what happened today."
Shen Mingzhu lowered her eyelids: "Mother, I understand."
——
Shen Qingtan and the eldest lady came to the Treasure Pavilion in a carriage. They got off the carriage wearing veil hats. When they were about to enter the shop, someone called her.
“Miss Shen?”
Shen Qingtan paused and turned around to see Boss Qin who also got off the carriage.
"Uncle Qin, it's me."
Shen Qingtan was about to exchange a few words when he saw another middle-aged man with extraordinary demeanor getting out of the carriage.
Boss Qin introduced: "This is Boss Gu."
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