Chapter 79 [VIP]
“Master, the chosen one lives there.”
Upon hearing this, Wuweizi understood.
The stars also show that the woman destined for heaven is currently enjoying great fortune, so much so that the imperial star that complements her shines so brightly it's blinding.
Wuweizi touched the top of her head and sighed softly, "The fortune and merit of the entire family are all on her alone." No wonder his little disciple wanted to defy fate and change her destiny, not even caring about her soul being scattered.
"ah?!"
Gu Zhizhuo's eyes widened in astonishment: "Why?"
She doesn't understand.
Why did Ji Nanke receive all the merit and good fortune that the Gu family had gained through generations of sacrifice?!
Her hands trembled, her taut fingertips turning slightly white, and her voice was hoarse: "Does all her luck come from others?"
Gu Zhizhuo remembered some things.
After the Ji family arranged the marriage with the Zhenguo Mansion, Ji Nanke's entire family perished in a fire, leaving her an orphan with no parents. Therefore, she followed the Ji family into the Zhenguo Mansion and became a cousin of the Zhenguo Mansion.
After she came of age, the entire Gu family was convicted of a crime, and her engagement with Xie Jing was null and void. Lady Ji inherited the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion with Gu Yan. Gu Yan was Lady Ji's niece and rightfully married Xie Jing, continuing the marriage agreement between the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion and the royal family.
There was also the disaster relief work in Qingzhou. They were still on their way when Dongyang County in Qingzhou was wiped out by a plague. Xie Jing completed the disaster relief task perfectly with very little money and then entered the Eastern Palace.
And there's more...
In her previous life, Gu Zhizhuo had a vague feeling that people around Ji Nanke would never have a good ending.
Could it be that her good fortune was entirely due to the misfortunes of others?
Gu Zhizhuo felt a chill run through his body.
The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, her relatives, the most important people in her life, were all just stepping stones to Ji Nanke's glory?!
Gu Zhizhuo forced out the words through gritted teeth: "Master, would it do any good if I kicked them out now?"
She's already been struck by lightning, so risking being struck again is worth it.
"useless."
"That……"
"Even if she dies, it won't matter."
Gu Zhizhuo's shoulders slumped.
Master has revealed her hidden thoughts.
Overwhelmed with resentment, she wanted to stab Ji Nanke to death.
Wuweizi flicked her with his whisk, and Gu Zhizhuo shuddered as if a gentle breeze had swept away the violence and murderous intent in her heart.
The silver strands of the whisk fluttered in the wind as Wuweizi said gently, "Her death without cause is not just a matter of being struck by lightning."
"Your fate is intertwined with Chen'er's; you will both be shattered to pieces, your souls will be destroyed, and there will be no more reincarnation."
"Nearly 90% of the Zhenguo Duke's fortune and merits have dissipated, and it cannot withstand the backlash from Heaven."
"Even if you are willing to sacrifice yourself, Chen'er, and the entire Gu family, the fate and destiny of the world now rest entirely on her shoulders. If no new chosen one appears, the Great Qi Empire will be shaken, and war will break out everywhere. The people have just ended a chaotic era and ushered in less than fifty years of peace. How can you bear to do that?"
Gu Zhizhuo: "..."
She fell silent.
She could sacrifice herself, but she couldn't bear to leave the Gu family and the young master.
She defied fate, all for the sake of ensuring their safety and well-being.
Seeing that she had taken his words to heart, Wuweizi continued, "Resetting the Mandate of Heaven is the right path. Have you forgotten everything I just told you?"
Gu Zhizhuo clenched her fists tightly at her sides. She pursed her lips and remained silent.
She followed Wuweizi forward and heard him say, "Do you still remember the Zhuyin Mantra?"
How could I not remember?
"The chosen one is blessed by the heavens, and the fortune of the world can be used by her. She has obtained the fortune of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and correspondingly, she also bears the curse brought to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion by the blessing spell."
Huh? Gu Zhizhuo parted her lips slightly and turned to look at him.
"Because of this curse, you have been given life."
"This is the law of cause and effect."
The law of cause and effect... Gu Zhizhu silently recited these four words in his heart, and lowered his head in deep thought.
Master meant that due to the influence of the curse, fate had taken a slight turn, and the young master had become the new Emperor Star.
"This curse did not originate from you, and the backlash from Heaven will not fall upon you. Zhuo'er, this is Heaven's mercy upon you."
Wuweizi wanted to say, "Stop cursing the Heavenly Dao all day long, or you'll get struck by lightning."
"Heaven's justice is impartial."
The two walked around the inner courtyard and then went to the outer courtyard. Gu Yican rushed over upon hearing the news, accompanied by Xie Yingchen.
Gu Zhizhuo asked, "Why are you all together?"
"I saw that no one was paying attention to him, so I went over and greeted him." Gu Yican turned the back of his head to him and bowed to Wuweizi.
If Xie Yingchen hadn't told him, he wouldn't have known that his sister had actually taken a master.
“Master, this is my brother, Gu Cancan.”
After Gu Zhizhuo introduced them and exchanged a few pleasantries, the three of them led Wuweizi on a tour of the outer courtyard. In Wuweizi's eyes, the entire Zhenguo Duke's mansion seemed shrouded in a thick, dark cloud. After walking through it all, he thoughtfully asked, "Zhuo'er, when will the Duke enter the cabinet?"
"The first day of the seventh month." This was the auspicious time determined by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
Wuweizi calculated with his fingers and set a time: "Then let's do a ritual on the first day of the seventh month. After entering the cabinet, the Duke of Gu will receive the incense offerings of the people and the great fortune of the state. This fortune of incense offerings can be used to sever the merit and nourishment that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has given to her."
"She cannot leave the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion on the first day of the seventh lunar month."
The "she" here refers to Ji Nanke.
Gu Zhizhuo nodded repeatedly.
She whispered a few more words to Gu Yican, who was dumbfounded. He had never believed in the Tao before, but since the real person was his sister's master, he no longer had any doubts and couldn't help but look at the northeast corner again and again.
After Gu Zhizhuo finished speaking, he quietly tugged at Xie Yingchen's sleeve.
Xie Yingchen suddenly turned his head and met a pair of bright, clear eyes. In the instant their eyes met, he immediately understood her meaning, and a touch of gentleness appeared in his eyes.
"good."
He wouldn't say. The matter of defying fate was known only to the two of them; they wouldn't tell anyone else.
Gu Yican looked left and right.
What's so good about it?!
He pulled his sister aside and stood openly between them.
That would be better!
What's wrong with you?
Gu Zhizhuo always felt that he was a bit awkward.
He seems to want to hit someone, but can't seem to do it.
She asked, "You two weren't arguing just now, were you?"
"It's nothing." Gu Yican smiled through gritted teeth and said fiercely, "Xie Yingchen and I are on very good terms."
Gu Zhizhuo: "..." Calling someone by their full name, it's obvious they don't have a good relationship.
Wuweizi had read through most of it and understood it thoroughly, so he prepared to go back and prepare for the ritual. Gu Zhizhuo knew that his master's five senses were very sharp, and he would definitely not be comfortable staying in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, so he did not insist that he stay.
He wouldn't let them see him off, saying he could walk back himself. However, it would take at least until late at night to get from the capital to Taiqing Temple, so how could Gu Zhizhuo possibly agree to that?
Who is the kind person who lets Master walk alone on mountain paths in the middle of the night?
Xie Yingchen interjected, "Master, let me take you home. I'm heading back anyway."
“Master, please listen to me. I had to send my senior brother back to the capital. How can I let you walk? If you don’t agree, then don’t go back. Stay here and I’ll tidy up the courtyard for you.”
After much persuasion, Wuweizi finally agreed.
Xie Yingchen's carriage stopped at the ceremonial gate. Gu Zhizhuo helped him into the carriage and escorted him all the way to the side gate. After the carriage left through the side gate, Gu Yican asked suspiciously, "When did you become a disciple?"
"I already told you I'm amazing. I can do everything!"
Gu Yican pouted and pinched her cheek, but Gu Zhizhuo giggled and ran away with a low back.
"Tell me quickly."
I won't tell you!
After a chase, Gu Yican quickly caught up with her. They walked side by side, and Gu Zhizhuo recounted the thrilling experience at the theater. Gu Yican exclaimed in surprise as they went straight to Ronghe Hall.
He was a nephew from a different branch of the family, and the third branch was very busy, so it would be inconvenient for him to go over. Not long after, the Grand Madam returned. Upon hearing that Wuweizi had already left, the Grand Madam was so shocked that she almost took out a feather duster.
"You little rascal, that's so rude of you."
“Grandmother, there are so many things to do in the manor today. Just think, the matter of the Duke of Anguo’s manor is still unresolved. The Duke of Anguo suffered a stroke, the heir is kneeling in the palace, and my third aunt just gave birth to Xu’er and is now in poor health. What do you think we should do?”
Upon hearing this, the old lady belatedly realized what had happened.
Oh, right. If it weren't for the incident at the Duke of Anguo's mansion, Rongrong wouldn't have had a difficult childbirth.
Their family has always had a good relationship with the Duke of Anguo's mansion, and they are also related by marriage. It's impossible for them to stand idly by at this time. Those are Rongrong's own mother and brother. If something were to happen to them, Rongrong probably wouldn't be able to bear it.
"Oh, my dear old sister," the old lady sighed, "I didn't think it through. I have to go and take a look."
Gu Baibai, who was pushing the wheelchair in, happened to hear these words. He came over to tell the Grand Madam about this matter and quickly interjected, "Mother, I'll go. Granny Liu said that the imperial physician has already seen Mother-in-law and she has been saved, but my brother-in-law is still kneeling at Shuntian Gate. He is weak and something will happen if he kneels any longer."
Granny Liu was an old nanny serving the Duke of Anguo. The Duke's household was small, with only one son and one daughter, and the heir apparent was childless. The Duke of Anguo was so angered by the princess that he suffered a stroke, and the heir apparent was also being questioned, leaving the household without anyone to manage things. Granny Liu was in a panic and had no choice but to come to Madam Lu for advice, which almost resulted in Madam Lu and her unborn child dying.
Granny Liu was so frightened that she stayed by the delivery room the whole time.
Gu Zhizhuo took the opportunity to sit down, and the two siblings sat together. She rested her chin on her hand and asked, "Third Uncle, what exactly did the palace say?"
These days, her niece has been holding up the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion. Gu Baibai no longer treats her like a child and answers seriously, "The young master injured the princess, and his crime is unforgivable."
"And what about the male concubines?"
Gu Baibai sneered, "The Empress doesn't admit those people are male concubines, saying that her brother-in-law and mother-in-law are just being paranoid."
He let out a series of cold snorts, his face grim.
"Her Majesty the Empress said that it was not unreasonable for the princess to summon a few entertainers to sing and perform when she was bored in her residence."
"When the Emperor heard that his brother-in-law had stabbed the princess, he ordered him to kneel outside and not to get up until he was told to."
When the Duke of Anguo's mansion first got into trouble, Gu Baibai had already ordered people to inquire about it in the palace, and she was absolutely furious.
"The princess has returned to her residence."
"My brother-in-law is really frustrated by this marriage."
Lu Jinyi, the heir of the Duke of Anguo, was born with a weak constitution. Despite being born into a military family, he was unable to learn martial arts from a young age and preferred calligraphy and painting. Gu Baibai and he were initially just nodding acquaintances, but they gradually became more familiar with each other after their marriage.
Lu Jinyi is a very good-tempered and kind person.
He used to love traveling around, and he would make a painting in every place he visited. Sometimes he would send it to Gu Baibai to enjoy. Once he even went to the northern frontier. He traveled with a caravan, stopping and starting, and spent a month painting a spy picture for Gu Baibai.
He was a sensitive and somewhat sentimental man, yet also virtuous and self-disciplined, desiring only to marry a wife and travel and paint together. Who could have imagined that the emperor would force him to marry a princess, and Princess Zhaoyang no less? Just thinking about it made Gu Baibai feel indignant on his behalf.
“A courtesan?” Gu Zhizhuo sneered. “Then let the princess present the courtesan to the empress as a tribute.”
Gu Baibai: ?
Gu Zhizhuo peeled a pine nut and put it in his mouth, leaned forward, and smiled with his eyes crinkling: "The princess is filial, and has trained many entertainers for the empress to enjoy."
If the royal family is a rogue, then you have to be even more of a rogue than them.
It's better to make a scene. Then the Empress will know what to say about whether or not she is a performer.
The word "appreciate" made Gu Baibai frown, but her eyes were clear, so she didn't say anything.
"You silly girl."
Gu Baibai gently tapped her forehead; it really did have a somewhat sinister air about it.
"The Duke of Anguo's mansion has long lost all its prestige in the capital, so what is there to be afraid of?"
Princess Zhaoyang trampled the Duke of Anguo's mansion and the Lu family into the mud, and after trampling them, she even smeared the mud from her feet onto their faces.
"Mother, I'm going now."
“Third Uncle, let me go with you.” Gu Yican stood up and said.
Gu Baibai has difficulty moving around, and Gu Yican is worried about leaving him alone.
Gu Baibai nodded.
This matter cannot be handled by someone from the Gu family; only the mother-in-law can mobilize the Duke of Anguo's mansion.
At first, Duke Anguo hesitated, not wanting to sever ties with the royal family. However, Lu Jinyi knelt for an entire night and didn't return even after the morning court session the next day. Duke Anguo finally couldn't bear it any longer and ordered his head steward to lead guards into the princess's residence. After all, his daughter was married, and the crime shouldn't befall her. There were only the mother and son in the residence; whether it was confiscating their property or exterminating their entire clan, there were only two lives to spare.
The Duke of Anguo's mansion had been quiet for many years, but it still had a considerable number of guards. Even though the princess's mansion had imperial guards, they still couldn't stop these veterans who had retired from the army. The guards didn't harm anyone; they simply took away all of Princess Zhaoyang's male favorites.
Thump!
The head steward banged a gong in the street and shouted, "Princess Zhaoyang is filial and has personally trained some actors to present to Her Majesty the Empress for her enjoyment."
Thump!
"The princess was so filial and pure that her actions moved heaven and earth."
Thump!
To make a big show of it.
The entire capital city came out to watch the spectacle.
Everyone in the capital knows about Princess Zhaoyang's recent dispute with Gong Hai over the role of the maid in blue.
These dozen or so young men, each with a different appearance, were dressed in brightly colored clothes. The head steward personally carried a gong and walked at the front, striking it as he went. A young man beside him shouted, "The eldest princess is filial. She keeps them on the estate to properly train them, so that they won't be unruly and displease the Empress. Our young master has misunderstood the princess and feels truly ashamed."
"Everyone, be our witnesses. The princess did not keep any male concubines. They were all prepared for the Empress."
He would occasionally strike up a conversation with the onlookers.
"Yes, yes, we were just about to give her to Her Majesty the Empress. The princess's filial piety must be known to Her Majesty. What? The Emperor? The princess is so filial, how could the Emperor mind... You mean Qingyi? Oh, of course, that was also prepared for Her Majesty the Empress."
The one who shouted was the steward's son; his voice was clear and loud, guaranteed to be heard in every corner of the streets and alleys.
The Duke of Anguo's mansion was located in the inner city. In order to let everyone in the capital know how filial the eldest princess was, the head steward did not mind the fatigue at all and led people on a long tour of the outer city.
Princess Zhaoyang brought a total of twenty-three male concubines back to the capital, some of whom were currently in favor, while others had already fallen out of favor.
Zhaoyang wasn't one to stick with anyone for long. She would usually give away or sell off any male concubines she grew tired of. It wasn't that Zhaoyang lacked money; it was just that keeping too many would draw the emperor's ire, so she had to periodically remove a few when she needed to bring in new concubines.
As for who to send them to or where to sell them, she never cared, but everyone in the manor knew it would never be a good place. Even respectable young men were forcibly classified as lowly after being brought to this manor.
Almost none of them were able to stay in the village for long.
To spite Duke Anguo and his son-in-law, Zhaoyang brought all the things she hadn't had time to deal with with her this time.
After the Duke of Anguo's mansion arrested them, they bluntly stated that they could either be sent back to the princess's mansion or they would be taken on a roundabout tour of the streets.
To save face, the royal family would most likely spare their lives, and might even strip them of their lowly status and grant them freedom. However, this could not be entirely guaranteed; they might still die, and it was up to them to choose.
Therefore, all of these people who came out together now did so voluntarily.
Walking down the street, they deliberately struck poses and flirted, attracting countless onlookers. The news spread like wildfire throughout the city, making it as lively as the New Year celebrations, except for the occasional firecrackers.
The commotion was in full swing, and the imperial envoy's memorials drifted into the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs like snowflakes.
Shen Xu, dressed in crimson robes, reclined on a chaise lounge in a private room of the Xiangxi Tower. He casually picked up a book, found it interesting, and chuckled softly with lowered eyes.
"What's going on at the Duke of Anguo's residence?"
Wu Shang bowed and recounted the events, adding, "...Upon hearing the news, Madam Gu suffered a difficult childbirth, nearly losing both herself and her unborn child. The heir of the Duke of Anguo has been kneeling outside Shuntian Gate for a day and a night; if he continues kneeling, his life may be in danger. As for the eldest princess, she is currently with that woman in green at the hot spring resort. The Duke of Anguo could no longer tolerate this, which is why he acted in this manner."
A small smile curved Shen Xu's lips.
The Duke of Anguo's mansion is too weak. This crooked and evil behavior, and the lack of respect and fear towards their superiors, is clearly her doing.
"Master, Young Master Chen has arrived."
The water clock in the corner of the room had just reached noon. Shen Xu casually tossed the folded document aside and said, "Let him in."
The door opened from the outside.
Xie Yingchen, dressed in a moon-white straight-collar robe, stepped in, exuding elegance and a touch of nobility.
Shen Xu leaned back on the soft pillows of the chaise lounge, showing no intention of getting up to greet him. A half-smile played on his lips as he asked, "What brings you here, Young Master?"
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