Chapter 72 [VIP]
The old lady was all smiles after being coaxed.
At her age, most of the good things she kept were reserved for the younger generation. When the children acted spoiled, she readily waved her hand and summoned Granny Zhu to open the storeroom.
Gu Zhizhuo smiled and said, "Weiwei, have someone call Ying'er over as well."
The Dowager was always generous. In her opinion, girls should be pampered. She treated Ji Nanke the same way she treated Xu Ying'er now. She was very happy that Xu Ying'er wanted to "mooch" her good fabrics: "Alright, call her over, go quickly."
Granny Zhu led the old women back and forth, carrying out all the newly acquired fashionable fabrics from the small storeroom and piling them all on the octagonal table.
Not only were there brocade silks with gold embroidery, but also cloud-smoke gauze, soft fragrant satin, and so on, in all sorts of colors and patterns; a large eight-immortal table was almost overflowing with them.
The brocade silk with gold thread embedded in it shimmers brilliantly in the sunlight, making it dazzling.
The silk gauze is extremely soft, light, and thin; holding it in your hand feels like holding a cloud.
The soft, fragrant satin was as colorful as the sunset, especially the fiery red one. At first glance, it looked like a solid color, but depending on the angle, it subtly revealed a rainbow of colors, making it incredibly beautiful. Gu Zhizhuo fell in love with it at first sight.
Several people were overwhelmed by the choices.
Soft, fragrant satin has been a tribute item since the previous dynasty, with no more than fifty bolts produced each year.
The several bolts of cloth worn by the Dowager were specially sent by the Jiang family last month; they were newly woven this year.
The Jiang family was extremely wealthy. After the founding of the nation and the conferment of titles, the patriarch of the Jiang family, who had exceptional foresight, divided the family business among his youngest son, Jiang Huai.
The Dowager Lady was the youngest daughter in the family, and Jiang Huai was her biological elder brother, now over sixty years old. With the Jiang family and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion behind him, Jiang Huai's business was extremely successful, making him one of the three great imperial merchants of the Great Qi Dynasty.
The finest gifts sent to the Dowager Madam each year were even comparable to those sent to the palace.
Third Madam Lu was about to give birth, and her back ached from sitting for so long, so she went back with Gu Baibai first. Before leaving, she didn't forget to say, "Nannan, pick some for me. Mother, your treasured collection is going to be lost."
The old lady was very generous: "It's all yours, all of it."
She turned to Granny Zhu and said, "I remember there were also two peacock silks."
"Yes," said Granny Zhu with a smile. "My uncle specially had it brought to you a few days ago."
"Go and fetch it."
"Grandmother, Grandmother!" Gu Yique said expectantly, "I...I!"
"Make riding outfits for Queque and Cancan."
As its name suggests, the peacock brocade is made by weaving peacock feathers into the fabric. It takes a weaver several years to complete a single piece of cloth. The old lady only received two pieces in total, one sapphire blue and the other dark green.
She showed it to her granddaughters as soon as she got it, but they thought the color was too ugly, while Queque liked it.
Queque has a great eye!
Just as Xu was about to say that it was too gorgeous, Gu Yique raised his arms and cheered.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Greetings, Miss Xu."
Amidst the maid's crisp greetings, Xu Ying'er lifted the curtain and entered.
Although Xu Ying'er lived in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, she rarely went out, and Gu Zhizhuo rarely saw her.
She used a beaded flower to pull back her heavy bangs, revealing her full forehead and a pair of bright, clear eyes, which made her look less timid and hesitant.
Xu Ying'er was two years older than Gu Zhiwei and half a head taller, but she was too thin. Gu Zhizhuo estimated that she probably weighed less than eleven-year-old Gu Zhiwei.
She greeted Tuantuan upon entering, looking slightly uneasy.
"Cousin, come here quickly!" Gu Zhiwei said cheerfully, "Which horse do you like? Big sister has asked the people from Jinxiufang to make new clothes for us."
"I?"
It turns out it wasn't to send me back.
Xu Ying'er's expression relaxed, and she quickly said, "I don't need to make new clothes, my aunt has already made clothes for me."
Everything she wore, from her inner garment to her outer dress, was specially made for her by her aunt's sewing room after she moved into the Gu family home.
Even Xia Chang, like her cousin, was custom-made by the sewing shop and was just delivered a couple of days ago.
She used to go a whole year without getting a new set of clothes.
The Gu family took her in and raised her with luxury, not letting her parents take her away. She was very content.
Being too greedy will bring divine retribution.
“Just pick one. Come here, pick two first.” Gu Zhizhuo forcefully pulled the person over, picked up a rose-purple brocade, compared it to the others, and decided, “This one looks good, this one will do.”
Xu Ying'er's skin tone was slightly darker than Gu Zhiwei's, but her eyebrows and eyes were exceptionally beautiful, possessing a kind of brilliance that had not yet fully blossomed, making her particularly suited to bolder colors.
Xu Ying'er wanted to refuse, but her cousin Zhuo meant well. If she refused directly, would her cousin Zhuo be unhappy? In the short time she was stunned, Gu Zhizhuo had already picked out two horses for her and put them aside.
Gu Zhinan looked up and said, "Big sister, let's call Jin Yu Fang again tomorrow. I want a new gold necklace."
Gu Zhizhuo readily agreed and immediately instructed Qiongfang to have the head maid take care of it.
"Big sister, I want a pearl flower and a bird." Ah Man also made a wish.
"Bird-shaped beaded flowers?"
Ah Man smiled sweetly, and Gu Zhizhuo immediately agreed, adding, "After the ceremony for entering the pavilion is over, we'll go to the hot spring villa for a few days. There are many beautiful birds in the woods near the villa."
"Okay, okay!"
Gu Zhiwei raised her hands and cheered.
She loves visiting her older sister's hot spring resort the most.
“Cousin Ying’er, why don’t you come too? My older sister’s hot spring resort is so much fun. It’s huge, and we can even go up the mountain to catch pheasants to eat.”
“There’s a really big hot spring,” Gu Zhiwei said, pausing for a moment. “However, your shoulder injury hasn’t healed yet, so I don’t know if you can soak in the hot spring.”
"Ying'er is injured?"
"I got burned by a candle flame a couple of days ago, and it gave me a big blister, but my cousin Ying'er didn't say anything," Gu Zhiwei said disapprovingly. "If I hadn't found out last night, it probably would have festered!"
Cousin Ying'er is always afraid of troubling her; she's being too polite!
Xu frowned upon hearing this: "Where are you injured? Why didn't you tell me?"
“It’s on my shoulder.” Gu Zhiwei pointed to her shoulder. “It looks like it’s here… Oh dear, you’ll see when you take a look, Mother.”
As they were talking, the people from Jinxiufang arrived.
The old lady was in a good mood and said, "Quickly, call him in."
The manager of Jinxiufang is surnamed Jiang. Outsiders either call her Manager Jiang or Madam Jiang.
She brought seven or eight embroiderers and several old women with her, carrying the rarest and most fashionable fabrics from the Brocade Workshop.
She was initially pleased with herself for being able to get her hands on the most fashionable fabrics, but upon entering the hall and seeing the fabrics on the octagonal table, Jiang Niang was speechless.
These valuable materials were just piled up casually. She didn't even know the names of the better ones; she had never touched them.
After taking measurements, everyone ordered at least five or six outfits. Nearly 70% of the fabric on the Grand Madam's eight-immortal table was gone, and most of the fabric brought by Jinxiufang was also picked over. Even Gu Yique got his wish—an orange-red cloak. "It's this color," Xu Shi couldn't help but frown. She truly couldn't understand why her son loved to dress like a peacock.
Gu Zhizhuo summoned a head maid and led them down to pay the deposit. This was a big deal, and Jiang Niang was overjoyed, saying, "Young lady, don't worry, we'll definitely pay on time."
After seeing Jinxiufang off, Gu Zhizhuo stood up, dusted off her skirt, and said, "Ying'er, come here, let me see the injury on your shoulder."
Xu Ying'er obediently followed her into the gauze-covered wardrobe and took off her clothes.
Brushing aside the black hair that was draped over his shoulders, Gu Zhizhuo was shocked to see a large blister. The edges of the blister had begun to fester, and at least half a palm-sized area of skin on his shoulder was red and swollen.
Gu Zhizhu frowned and asked, "How did you get burned?"
"careless……"
"How could it have gotten like this by accident?"
Her voice became a little stern, and Xu Ying'er, afraid of upsetting her, said honestly, "Cousin Zhuo, it was really my fault. I... a few days ago, when Granny Sun came to find me, I was doing needlework. Granny Sun said it was too dark and would hurt my eyes, so she helped me change the lamp stand. I happened to get up to get something and bumped into her, and some kerosene dripped onto my clothes."
Xu Ying'er quickly added, "I've already applied the ointment."
Granny Sun was terrified, so she promised her that she wouldn't tell anyone.
"Big cousin, don't tell my aunt that Granny Sun didn't do it on purpose."
Granny Sun said that the rules in the manor were strict, and if anyone found out that she had injured her master, she would be beaten. Granny Sun was old and couldn't take a beating, so Xu Ying'er didn't tell anyone.
Gu Zhizhuo remained noncommittal, carefully observing her wound.
There were indeed traces of something being applied to her skin. Gu Zhizhuo first washed her hands, then rubbed some powder on her fingertips and smelled it. She then gently rubbed it with her fingertips, staring at the black powder left on her fingertips with a furrowed brow.
Who applied this ointment to you?
"Granny Sun."
Gu Zhizhuo almost laughed. This wasn't an ointment at all; it was just incense ash mixed with some oil.
There are indeed folk remedies that use incense ash to treat burns, but the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is not so poor as to not be able to afford a doctor and therefore does not need to use such folk remedies.
No wonder his shoulder was almost rotten.
"Qingmei, go and pour a basin of warm water."
After suffering a setback once, Gu Zhizhuo always carried some commonly used medicines with her. She first used water to clean the incense ash off Xu Ying'er's wound, then carefully observed the condition of her skin, and said, "It will hurt a little, so bear with it."
Xu Ying'er obediently responded, her shoulders tense.
"Relax, it will be over soon."
Gu Zhizhuo took out a silver needle and deftly punctured the blister, then applied the ointment she had made herself with her finger.
The ointment is very light and milky white. It is quickly absorbed by the wound after being gently applied.
Xu Ying'er only felt a slight pain, and then the wound on her shoulder felt cool and comfortable.
My cousin is amazing.
"No need to wrap it up, it will be fine in three to five days."
As Gu Zhizhuo spoke, he handed her the ointment and said, "Just wipe it clean with water every day and apply it once a day."
"By the way, I remember you have a birthmark here?"
When Xu Ying'er fell into the water last time, Gu Zhizhuo caught a glimpse of it; it was a small plum blossom-shaped embryo. But now that her skin is so red, it's not very noticeable.
Xu Ying'er smiled and said, "Yes."
Gu Zhizhuo pinched her cheek: "Living here, you're no different from Weiwei. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion doesn't have many rules, and the Grand Madam is very easy to get along with, so don't always be so cautious. You look beautiful when you smile."
"yes."
Xu Ying'er looked at her with admiration, her eyes unblinking.
"alright."
Gu Zhizhuo pulled her clothes up for her and then took her pulse.
The pulse indicated a slight fever, but it wasn't anything serious. Fortunately, if it hadn't been discovered in time, the wound could have become more severely infected in a couple of days, leading to a high fever.
Gu Zhizhuo resisted the urge to touch her cheek. She still couldn't forget the excruciating pain, like having her bones and flesh ripped out, and the persistent high fever.
At this time in her previous life, the Gu family had already been convicted, so she didn't know what fate awaited Xu Ying'er without the Gu family's protection.
Thinking this over, Gu Zhizhuo was about to check her pulse again when a knock came at the door. Gu Zhiwei poked her head in and asked, "Big sister, is my cousin alright?"
"Grandmother sent me to call you out for a meal."
"It's alright." Gu Zhizhuo stood up and said, "Let's go out first. Your cousin's injury will heal in three to five days. Once she's better, we'll go to the estate to play."
"good!"
Gu Zhiwei cheered.
She linked arms with Gu Zhizhuo, skipping and hopping as she walked.
Xu Ying'er looked on with envy as she carefully touched Gu Zhizhuo's crimson sleeve with her fingertips.
Gu Zhizhuo turned his head and glanced at it, then stretched out his hand: "Pull if you want."
Xu Ying'er's lips curved into a sweet smile as she tightly gripped her sleeve.
It was only about ten steps from the gauze-draped wardrobe to the main hall, and by the time they came out, dinner had already been laid out.
The Dowager Lady enjoyed lively gatherings.
The whole family sat around a round table and had dinner with her. Gu Zhizhuo and Gu Yican then took their leave.
The evening breeze brought a slight chill.
Gu Yican's high ponytail swayed back and forth. They had ordered matching outfits today, so everyone would know they were siblings. He was in a great mood and cheerfully said, "Little sister, how about we go horseback riding tomorrow?"
"Gu Cancan, you're under house arrest."
Even if you're going to pretend, it'll take at least ten days to half a month.
Gu Yican slumped her head, but quickly perked up again: "Then shall we run around the mansion?"
I'm going out tomorrow.
Gu Yican immediately became alert and asked, "Alone?"
Gu Zhizhu smiled and made no attempt to hide it: "It's with Young Master Xie."
"I'm going too!"
"Stay at home!"
Gu Yican: "..."
He was no longer the most important Gu Cancan to her; he was almost withered away.
Gu Yican pretended to cry and leaned on his sister's shoulder, secretly thinking about how to put the sack on her. Soon, his sister ruthlessly pushed his face away.
They went their separate ways.
I'm leaving now!
Gu Zhizhuo waved to him.
Gu Yican watched his sister walk away, then continued along the covered walkway. He needed to pass through a small garden to reach the ceremonial gate.
Just as he turned a corner, he saw Ji Nanke standing not far ahead, seemingly waiting for him.
His younger sister had already told him about Ji Nanke and the Ji family.
My sister said, "Don't mess with her, or you'll get struck by lightning."
Gu Yican didn't understand why he was struck by lightning, but that didn't stop him from always listening to his sister.
Just as he was about to brush past her, Ji Nanke quickly stepped in front of him and curtsied gracefully: "Cousin!"
She wore a slightly worn rouge-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a plain satin sash around her waist. Having been with the Duke of Zhenguo for so many years, she had never worn old clothes before, but this year she only had the usual two summer outfits, whereas in previous seasons she had at least seven or eight. She had no choice but to dig out last year's clothes.
She heard that Ronghetang had hired Jinxiufang, but they hadn't invited her.
Instead of calling her, they called Xu Ying'er.
These days, Ji Nanke has not been having a good time. Her allowance has been reduced, and her food, clothing, and daily necessities are vastly different from before. The servants in the entire mansion are indifferent to her, no longer treating her with the same pampering and favor as before. Her personal carriage is also gone; if she wants to use a carriage, she has to ask a day in advance, and the only carriage she can use is the kind that the head maids use when going out on errands.
Not only in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, but even outside, Ji Nanke could clearly feel that other people's attitudes towards her had changed a lot. Apart from her very close friends like Sun Nian, many noble ladies who used to be warm and attentive to her now kept their distance and were unwilling to talk to her much.
Ji Nanke naturally understood the difference. Before, she was the niece of the Duchess, a proper cousin of the Duke's mansion. Now, she was merely the niece of a concubine.
She thought she could tolerate such mistreatment until another young lady, Ms. Xu, arrived at the mansion.
She had heard of the Xu family. The Xu family had made a lot of fools in order to curry favor with Admiral Gong. Xu Ying'er was timid and hesitant, like a poor relative from a fallen family. However, Xu Ying'er took over her former position as soon as she arrived.
Even when she went out to visit others, people would ask about this "Miss Xu Biao" and blame her for not bringing Miss Xu Biao along.
At that moment, she realized the difference was like night and day.
In this vast capital city, it turned out that without her status as a cousin of the Duke of Zhenguo, she was simply not worthy of the attention of those noble ladies.
All her identity, status, and honor were given to her by the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
This realization shattered all her beliefs.
She thought she was outstanding enough and didn't need the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to add to her glory, but in reality, everyone was the same—superficial and hypocritical!
Ji Nanke felt extremely wronged: "Cousin!"
"Why are you all taking your anger out on me because of my aunt? I haven't done anything wrong!"
"Why are you all siding with Gu Zhizhuo?"
Gu Yican hadn't treated her like this before.
Even if she couldn't treat him as well as Gu Zhizhuo, she treated him almost the same as her other cousins, never ignoring him like this before.
"Yaoyao is my sister. If I don't help her, am I supposed to help you? You're really shameless." Gu Yican stopped and sneered, "If you bark twice while you're blocking my way, I might just take a second look at you."
"Cousin."
Ji Nanke's hands hung limply at her sides, her fingers taut and the tips white.
Her voice trembled with emotion, as if she were forcing back tears. She said, "Even if you ignore me, I'll still consider you my cousin. I came here specifically to remind you that the Ji family has already betrothed Miss Xu to Admiral Gong. Admiral Gong is a..."
Before Ji Nanke could finish speaking, Gu Yican used his hand to push himself up and flip over the railing of the veranda.
Ji Nanke paused for a moment, staring at the glimpse of a sleeve peeking out from the corner of the corridor. She lowered her gaze slightly and finished speaking in one breath: "If Miss Xu doesn't want to get married, she must find a way out for herself. You are the heir apparent and the future Duke, so you are the best way out for her."
Gu Yican had already left.
Ji Nanke sighed softly, as if she were talking to herself: "But if she really had such intentions, she would definitely be driven away, wouldn't she?"
"I was overthinking it."
She was very downcast and walked slowly along the corridor.
As soon as she walked away, Granny Sun turned the corner, lost in thought, her eyes flickering uncertainly.
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