Chapter 527 Joy (Two Updates)
At the New Year's Eve banquet, the Emperor and Empress Dowager Zhuang both slipped away, leaving only Empress Xiao and the Crown Prince to oversee the proceedings. They invited Princess Xinyang and other members of the royal family to celebrate the victory at the border and welcome the New Year.
This is truly the first time in history.
The emperor entered the courtyard without any psychological pressure; wherever his mother was, he was there too!
Eunuch Wei looked at his emperor with a complicated expression.
Ever since His Majesty believed he had taken a sleeping potion, he has been on a path of unbridled self-indulgence from which there is no turning back. Should we remind His Majesty that he only took a hair growth pill?
"Mother! I'm here!"
The emperor immediately transformed into Empress Dowager Zhuang's little shadow.
Eunuch Wei covered his eyes, exclaiming, "Damn it! I can't bear to look!"
Gu Jiao originally intended to go to the palace to report her safety to her aunt, but since her aunt has arrived, there's no need to go through all that trouble.
Gu Jiao and her aunt entered the main room.
I hadn't paid much attention before, but after walking around the house with my aunt, I realized that there had been a lot of changes in the house during the three months I was away.
The vegetable garden in the front yard has been expanded, with more scallions and radishes planted. The small fishpond opposite the vegetable garden has been filled in and replaced with a large fish tank.
This was Xiao Jingkong's idea. He said that since there was a younger brother in the family, the younger brother should also have his own place to play. Even though the younger brother was still so young, he still offered up his small fishpond without hesitation.
Furthermore, the passageway leading from the backyard to the neighboring house is no longer a single passageway; the wall has been completely demolished, and now the backyards of the two houses are connected, forming one large courtyard.
“My great-uncle bought that house.” Seeing Gu Jiao looking at the enclosed courtyard with a surprised expression, Xiao Heng explained softly to her.
"It's not cheap, is it?" Gu Jiao murmured.
Xiao Heng nodded: "Yes, it cost a thousand taels."
It wasn't this expensive before, but ever since a new top scholar emerged from Bishui Hutong, it has gained the nickname "Top Scholar Hutong," and land and housing prices have skyrocketed.
This price of one thousand taels is a friendly price.
Gu Jiao asked curiously, "Where did Grandpa get so much money?"
If she remembered correctly, the salary of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy didn't seem to be that high.
Xiao Heng twitched the corner of his lips: "He... sold an official position."
Gu Jiao: My great-uncle does this kind of thing!
The old chief priest's method of selling official positions was as follows: first, he would announce that he wanted to buy a house, and then people with ulterior motives would come to his door and bribe him with a large sum of money.
The old chief priest carried the gold directly to the emperor's study and indignantly told His Majesty, "I, Huo Xian, have lived a life of integrity and loyalty to Your Majesty, without a single disloyal thought! To think you could bribe me is utterly delusional! I hereby swear that even if all the civil and military officials in the court are bribed, I will not be bribed!"
The old chief priest's final words successfully prompted the emperor to ponder deeply. Since assuming personal rule, the emperor had encountered many things, and suddenly he understood some of the decisions made by Empress Dowager Zhuang back then.
The emperor and Empress Dowager Zhuang had completely different views on personnel selection. The emperor was intolerant of any wrongdoing and required people to be upright, such as the old Marquis and the old Imperial Sacrificer. Only the Marquis of Xuanping was a bit frivolous, but he never broke the law or violated ethical norms.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was more easygoing; she valued people's strengths and tolerated their weaknesses. The most typical example of this was Tang Yueshan.
Tang Yueshan was ambitious and eager for quick success, and he had an improper relationship with his sister-in-law. If he were an emperor, he would never have been given an important position.
But after this border battle, the emperor suddenly felt that Tang Yueshan was more good than bad.
The emperor began to ponder Empress Dowager Zhuang's regency strategy and discovered that there were many aspects of her character that he could deeply reflect upon.
Water that is too clear has no fish.
Just like the hereditary system of official appointments passed down from our ancestors, it was absolutely impossible to abolish it, as it threatened the interests of too many powerful and wealthy people and scholars. However, the Empress Dowager easily solved the problem by using the Six Ministries Assessment System.
Although there will still be officials who are granted official positions through hereditary privilege, the mediocrity of these officials and their short tenure have been reduced to the greatest extent possible, which is a perfect balance.
The emperor believed that the practice of buying official positions would always exist.
The old chief priest refused, but there was no guarantee that the other party wouldn't try to find someone else. Rather than finding someone under some unknown official's name, it was better to let the old chief priest agree.
This way, at least he would know which officials were bought their positions, and everything would be under his control. Once the court was completely stable, he would then wipe out this group of people in one fell swoop!
So, with the emperor's permission, the old chief priest openly accepted bribes and bought the mansion next to the top scholar's house!
Empress Dowager Zhuang and the Emperor sat down in the main hall, both having much to say to Gu Jiao.
The old priest quietly went to the kitchen to make brown sugar glutinous rice cakes.
Xiao Heng planned to assist his teacher, but was ruthlessly rejected by the old chief priest.
Don't you have any idea how bad your cooking skills are?
"Aheng, come and help put up the couplets," Yao said with a smile.
"Okay." Xiao Heng went out, carrying a bucket of paste, and led the young men of the family to the door to paste couplets.
Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't mention anything about the battlefield; those things could be brought up after the New Year. She was talking about things in the village.
The eunuchs and guards she sent to Qingquan Village met Xue Ningxiang. The fact that Zhou Erzhuang and Dean Li were both asking to marry Xue Ningxiang caused a great sensation in the surrounding villages.
Xue Ningxiang was a young widow, and many people in the countryside looked down on her, yet some with ulterior motives wanted to take advantage of her. When Gu Jiao's family and Zhou's mother were around, those scoundrels were able to restrain themselves somewhat.
After Gu Jiao's family left, Zhou's mother passed away, and Gu Yan's two bodyguards returned to the capital, Xue Ningxiang's situation became difficult.
One night, she was asleep when a thug from the next village climbed over the wall into her house and pinned her down on the bed, assaulting her. It was only because Gouwa woke up and cried so loudly that the villagers came and prevented the man from succeeding.
News can't be kept secret in the countryside; what happened at night spread throughout the village the next day.
That hooligan was named Li Dazhu. The next day, his wife came to Xue Ningxiang's house and had a big fight with her, calling Xue Ningxiang a vixen, a slut, a whore... She said Xue Ningxiang had stripped naked in the sorghum field to seduce her man and even told him to come find her in the middle of the night.
Xue Ningxiang went from being a victim to a seductive vixen, and there's no way to explain herself.
Such incidents were not uncommon, and Xue Ningxiang never mentioned them in her letters. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's people going to the countryside, they wouldn't have known that Xue Ningxiang had suffered so much injustice.
Luo Li was protecting Xue Ningxiang, but the more he protected her, the more gossip and rumors circulated.
In the end, he, the village head, became someone who was disliked by both sides.
When Dean Li learned of this, he wanted to bring Xue Ningxiang to town, but just then, Zhou Erzhuang returned.
How the matter became public knowledge is unknown, but the whole village knew that Xue Ningxiang had caught the eye of her brother-in-law and the headmaster of Tianxiang Academy. To be precise, they believed that Xue Ningxiang had seduced the two of them.
Xue Ningxiang was severely criticized.
Her family members, who lived a hundred miles away, also received the news and came over to give Xue Ningxiang a good scolding.
Sometimes, that's just human nature. Having witnessed Xue Ningxiang's struggles in the mire, people are unwilling to see her crawl out of it.
Many people believe that a widow who has caused her husband's death should be despised, so why should she live a life of luxury?
Of course, there are ways to solve all of this. People dare to curse a rock that is blocking their way, but almost no one curses the mountains in front of or behind the village.
Empress Dowager Zhuang directly transformed Xue Ningxiang into the tallest mountain in the village.
"My Empress Dowager wishes to invite Lady Xue to the capital."
Upon hearing the eunuch's words, people from the surrounding villages immediately knelt down.
The highest official they knew was the county magistrate. What was the Empress Dowager? She was a Bodhisattva, a Buddha, the heavens! She was a powerful being who could take the lives of their entire village with a single finger—no, not even a finger, but a single breath!
The look in everyone's eyes as they looked at Xue Ningxiang had changed from jealousy to fear.
They can't afford to be jealous anymore.
Of course, Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't really intend to force Xue Ningxiang to come to the capital; it was just a way of putting on a show for her.
The people sent by Empress Dowager Zhuang told Xue Ningxiang that with the Empress Dowager backing her up, she had nothing to fear and that even if she wanted to marry ten or eight husbands, no one would dare to gossip about her.
Xue Ningxiang was terrified by these outrageous words. What did she mean by having ten or eight husbands? She had no such thoughts!
However, this conversation did indeed embolden Xue Ningxiang considerably.
Both Zhou Erzhuang and Dean Li are outstanding men. In ten or twenty years, Xue Ningxiang might choose the spirited young Zhou Erzhuang. But at her age, only two years older than Gu Jiao and burdened by her current hardships, she would be more inclined towards a father figure like Dean Li.
He is mature and steady, considerate and meticulous, tolerant and forgiving, and he is also rich.
Furthermore, Zhou Erzhuang is Xue Ningxiang's brother-in-law, and Xue Ningxiang can't get over that.
Finally, and most importantly, she is a mother. Sometimes what binds a woman is not a man, but her children.
Gouwa likes Dean Li and has unwittingly become his father. What can she, as his mother, do?
Madam Li's affection for Xue Ningxiang and Gouwa is a plus.
To put it simply, Xue Ningxiang was tired and wanted to find a man she could rely on to live a peaceful and stable life for the rest of her days.
Empress Dowager Zhuang expressed her understanding of Xue Ningxiang's choice.
Not everyone in this world can be as strong as Gu Jiao; Gu Jiao is unique.
She never seeks security from anyone; her heart is strong and powerful enough.
This naturally comes at a price; no one is born strong, but there are just too many things she needs to carry on her tender shoulders.
Her precious daughter endured it all.
Xue Ningxiang doesn't need to become a second Jiaojiao; she can just live her own life in a relaxed and carefree manner.
In addition, Xue Ningxiang wrote a letter to Gu Jiao, which Empress Dowager Zhuang kept in her gambling purse. She then gave the letter to Gu Jiao.
This time, Xue Ningxiang didn't report the bad news and only the good news. After all, Empress Dowager Zhuang's people already knew everything, so there was no point in her hiding it.
In her letter, she inquired about the Empress Dowager's situation and why the Empress Dowager knew her. Was it because Xiao Liulang, the newly appointed top scholar, was doing too well in the capital, or because Gu Jiao had recognized the Marquis's family and thus alerted the Empress Dowager's side?
Xue Ningxiang thought to herself that she didn't have that much influence.
"...Could that old lady with leprosy really be the Empress Dowager? I don't have that kind of luck. So, does that mean I cooked for the Empress Dowager? And she even babysat my child? That can't be... My family's ancestral graves haven't been emitting any good fortune..."
Gu Jiao thought for a moment, then picked up her pen and replied: Why don't you go back to your family's ancestral graves and take a look?
"Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao!"
It was Xiao Jingkong who ran over with a letter in his hand.
He was putting up couplets when he suddenly saw Gu Jiao reading a letter, which reminded him that he also had a letter on his end.
That's how kids are.
"Jiaojiao, this is the second letter Brother Ming'er sent me!"
"Do you want me to see it?" Gu Jiao asked.
Letters are very private matters, and Gu Jiao would not casually open or read Xiao Jingkong's letters just because he was a child.
But if he wants to share it with her, Gu Jiao will gladly accept.
"Yes! I want to show it to Jiaojiao!" Xiao Jingkong nodded.
Gu Jiao opened the letter, which was full of greetings between children. In his previous reply, Xiao Jingkong mentioned some interesting things about his family and the Imperial Academy, which successfully aroused Ming'er's enthusiasm for learning.
Ming'er told Xiao Jingkong that he had also gone to the Imperial College for classes.
However, he was taking martial arts classes.
The Imperial Academy in Liang was slightly different from that in Zhao, as it was divided into civil and military sections. This was probably because the imperial examinations in Liang included both civil and military examinations.
When Xiao Jingkong first read this letter, he didn't feel much. But now, after reading it again with Gu Jiao, he suddenly felt extremely envious of Brother Ming'er.
He also wanted to learn martial arts.
He wanted to protect Jiaojiao.
Along with the second letter arrived the gift of gratitude for the sheet music of "Zhaoying" that Ming'er had mentioned in the first letter. The letter was delivered by a flying hawk, so it arrived quickly, but the gift was delivered by a carriage, which is why it took so long.
The gifts were prepared by Prince Yu and his wife, consisting of some local specialties from Liang Kingdom plus a dozen or so children's toys, which was quite thoughtful.
In addition, Princess Yu knew that Xiao Jingkong was exceptionally intelligent and was learning various languages, so she specially selected ten books that were only available in the Upper Kingdom, all of which were suitable for Xiao Jingkong's level.
Xiao Heng made a plan for Xiao Jingkong, and he read a little every day, which made a lot of progress in his Chinese language studies in all three subjects.
To prove her progress, Xiao Jingkong jumped off the chair, ran back into the house, and brought over her three volumes of Shangguo Poetry Collection: "Jiaojiao, I'll recite them for you!"
Then he put his little hands behind his back and started carrying them, shaking his head.
...as if Gu Jiao understood.
This was Gu Jiao's first time traveling far from home. In the past, it was always Xiao Heng who went out, and every time he returned, Xiao Heng could sense the changes in the house. This time, however, it was Gu Jiao's turn to experience those changes.
Gu Xiaobao has grown up, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun have grown taller, Xiao Jingkong has grown hair, and can recite many, many ancient poems...
This feeling is somewhat novel.
Dinner wasn't ready in time, but the hot water was boiled first, and Yao told the children to take a bath.
"Hurry up and finish your bath and wash your clothes. You don't wash clothes on the first day of the Lunar New Year," Yao said.
"I'm going to take a shower first!" Xiao Jingkong instantly transformed into a well-behaved baby who loved taking baths, completely forgetting how much he had resisted taking baths during the three months Gu Jiao was away!
"Jiaojiao, go take a shower too," Yao said gently to Gu Jiao.
"Okay," Gu Jiao replied.
The water boiled is only enough for two people to wash; the rest will have to wait for the next batch.
"Brother-in-law, thank you. Please help me take a bath." Xiao Jingkong came to the door and said to Xiao Heng, who was putting up couplets, with utmost politeness.
Xiao Heng's lips twitched: "Heh, you didn't say that last time. What were you going to do if I dared to drag you to take a bath again?"
Run away from home.
"Ahem." Xiao Jingkong cleared his throat, spread his hands, and said with a helpless expression, "Who hasn't been young and impetuous at some point?"
Xiao Heng: "..."
Xiao Heng took Xiao Jingkong to the west room to take a bath.
The charcoal fire in the west room was burning brightly, so it wasn't cold.
Gu Jiao also went to take a shower.
She then discovered that a new wooden tub had been added to the house; it was large and deep, allowing her entire small body to be submerged in the water when she sat down.
call.
It feels so good.
Her little toes were flexing underwater, one tap at a time.
After jumping around for a while, she suddenly remembered something.
She returned unharmed; shouldn't her husband fulfill his promise to her?
...
When Xiao Heng came out of the west room, he saw that Gu Jiao had already taken a bath and washed her hair, and was sitting in the main room, dressed warmly.
Xiao Heng was slightly taken aback: "So fast?"
Little Jingkong was still playing in the wooden tub, and the water was getting a little cold, so he went to the kitchen to fetch some hot water for him.
Gu Jiao stared at him with her bright, sparkling eyes.
Empress Dowager Zhuang went to the kitchen to eat brown sugar glutinous rice cakes, and the Emperor followed her, leaving Gu Jiao alone in the main room.
It was actually getting dark, but Gu Jiao's eyes were so bright that they were impossible to ignore.
"Why...are you looking at me like that?" Xiao Heng asked.
"I'm not hurt," Gu Jiao said.
“Yes, I know.” Xiao Heng nodded.
After saying that, he realized something, his expression froze, his eyelashes trembled, and his cheeks began to burn.
Gu Jiao rested her chin on her hands as she looked at him, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Can I ask for some monthly votes?
(End of this chapter)
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