Xia Lian sat down slightly and waited for Song Pan'er to wake up. Then she told Song Pan'er everything she had found out again.

  Song Pan'er's eyes were filled with anger.

  "Damn you!" she cursed Cai Ping.

  After a while, the storm subsided.

  Cai Zhan went out to gather information and didn't spend twenty taels of silver either.

  The remaining sixteen taels were still returned to Song Pan'er by him.

  Song Pan'er handed it over to him: "Go and visit secretly for a few more days, and tell me again when the news is confirmed."

  The way of the letter is.

  In the ear house, Nian Lu changed her clothes and wrapped up more than 20 taels of silver she had saved from her monthly allowance in a blue cloth package and went to Mu Qing's room.

  Mu Qing was lying inside, heard the knock on the door, and after a while asked: "Who is it?"

  The voice was hoarse and sounded like it had been crying.

  "Mu Qing, it's me, Nian Lu."

  Mu Qing hastily got up and opened the door for Nian Lu: "Sister Nian Lu, come in quickly."

  Her face is all over flowers, and her tears have just gone.

  Seeing Nianlu holding a bundle in her hand, Mucqing was puzzled as to what it meant.

  Nian Lu has already sat down on her kang without being polite and beckoned her to come sit down too.

  Admire the green and doubt the subtle.

  Nian Lu opened the package, spread out the silver in front of Mu Qing and said: "These are my monthly allowance, and some were given by the mistress. The mistress's side has accounts that can be checked, so the origin is clean. I kept some, these are lent to you for now... wait until later when you can slowly repay me..."

  Mu Qing's heart was greatly shocked, and her eyes felt extremely dry.

  She is not used to crying in front of people.

  When his wife said those heart-wrenching things while kneeling down, she endured without crying.

  At this moment, my eyes got a little wet.

  She hastily composed herself and said: "Sister, I don't need this for now..."

  "Don't be polite to me," said Nianlu, "First pay back the money to that villain and protect yourself. The lady will avenge you in the future. Our lady hates it when someone bullies people around her..."

  "No, no." Mu Qing pushed it back and said, "I appreciate your kindness, sister. It's just that I won't be able to repay you for a while. What if you need money for something urgent? Are you going to borrow again? I wouldn't dare take the money you've set aside for yourself, even if I die."

  Nian Lu smiled and pushed the money back: "My parents and two brothers are all managing some small affairs on the dowry estate in the south, they don't need me to support them. I still have a lot of money, which is kept by Song Mama. She's coming to Beijing this time and will definitely bring it to me. When Song Mama arrives, I'll give you another 30 taels..."

  Mu Qing's heart suddenly softened.

  She turned her back and covered her mouth with her hand. Tears moistened her eye sockets.

  "Don't cry, don't cry." Nianlu was also brought to tears by her. "One place to work is fate. You deal with those messy things outside and then serve the lady with a clear conscience..."

  Mu Qing did not refuse again.

  She got up and gave Nian Lu a bow: "Sister, great kindness..."

  The words behind are hard to express with a choked voice.

  At night, Shao Yao also knew that Nian Lu and Mu Qing had talked for half a day, so she asked them what they had said.

  Nian Lu secretly told Peony about being admired by Mu Qing.

  The peony is also pitied.

  She also had more than fifty taels of silver on her. However, she and Mu Qing had never gotten along, so it was awkward for her to give it to him. Would Mu Qing think that she was just trying to stir up trouble or pity her?

  If it's like this, then I'll be disappointing the peony's heart and also get a stomach full of anger.

  Peony remained silent for half a day.

  Later she thought, Madam will definitely show up, it's better to have one less thing than one more thing, and it's better for herself to pretend not to know, so as not to make Mu Qing even more embarrassed.

  For several days in a row, everyone continued to serve as usual.

  Song Pan'er didn't mention Mu Qing again either.

  By May 20th. The matter had been inquired about very clearly: that Cai Ping, was indeed because of his unwillingness to give up, determined to get Mu Qing no matter what.

  It's clear at a glance whether it's admiration for Tsinghua or discontent.

  He also said that Mu Qing and he had privately agreed to be together for life.

  Mu Qing went to the mansion of the great lady at the age of thirteen.

  It is ridiculous for a thirteen-year-old child and an adult man to be selfish all their lives.

  Regardless of whether Mu Qing was there or not, Cai Ping broke his promise to marry his wife first and then entangled and threatened Mu Qing afterwards. This person is a scoundrel.

  His wife was also driven to death by him.

  Song Pan'er understood the course of events in her heart, so she called Mu Qing: "I know that what you said is true. I have already asked someone to take 50 taels to Cai Ping and return his money."

  I also sent someone to tell your brother: when you were sold, it was for twenty years. Now it's only been eleven years. You're eighteen years old now, and in a few more years, I'll definitely arrange a marriage for you. Before you get married, you are still a member of the household staff, if he dares to interfere with the affairs of my household maids again, I will have him beaten to death by the house guards. He repeatedly said he didn't dare.

  Cai Ping, I've sent someone to inform the first madam and second master. If there's another incident where someone harasses one of our maids, I'll have them beaten to death without asking any questions. Don't blame me for not being polite later on. Once I say something, even if the second master doesn't care, the first madam will definitely intervene.

  Things seem to be temporarily settled for now.

  "But you secretly delivered things out, violating my rules. Punishment is unavoidable, first deduct three months' salary. Three months later, each month will be deducted two taels from the salary to pay back my 50 taels. Later, go to the outer court and receive ten slaps, are you convinced?"

  Mu Qing knelt on the ground, kowtowing deeply, tears streaming down her face, wetting the floor. She sobbed: "I, a slave, obey! I will never forget your kindness, madam. From now on, I won't be disobedient even half a point, or I'll die a terrible death. Thank you, madam, for protecting me. In this life and the next, I'll repay you by being a cow and horse!"

  Song Pan'er poured tea and took a light sip.

  "She said: 'Go get your luggage and I'll give you three days off.'"

  She is Song Pan'er's confidante and should be protected; but if she has done something wrong, she must be punished.

  Mu Qing cried and then read Lu accompanied him to go out of the courtyard.

  The young servants outside saw Nian Lu standing aside and didn't dare to really hit. They raised their hands high, brought them down lightly, and gave ten slaps.

  Not even a scratch was suffered.

  Mo Qing had no choice but to rest for three days.

  Only a few people serving in Song Pan'er's house knew about her affairs.

  Mu Qing returned Nian Lu's silver and felt grateful for her kindness. The two of them gradually drew closer, but that's a story for later.

  Time slowly passed, and it was already June.

  Tender willow flowers, light curtains and cold spring days have finally been replaced by the scorching summer sun, and the forest is filled with mist. The fragrance wafts away, and the cicadas perch on the tall tung tree, chirping loudly, adding to the restless atmosphere.

  Summer has arrived quietly.

  The Gu family has changed into summer clothes.

  It has been five months since Gu Yanwen and his family came to Beijing.

  Zhu Zhongjun also came over, it has been two months.

  These five months, Gu Yanwen spent his days playing and almost forgot about books; Song Daner also adapted to the dry weather in Beijing; Xiu Ge'er's hand healed and was not seriously affected, reading and writing were not affected. The teacher for Huan Ge'er and Xiu Ge'er has still not been hired.

  Gu Jinzhi teaches her brother Gu Xiang to read. He has already memorized a book of Analects, and is even more impressive than the teacher.

  Song Pan'er thought that Gu Jin had followed the old man to study for two years and learned a lot of Four Books and Five Classics. Huan Ge also liked his sister and studied hard with her, so he decided to wait until next year's spring examination was over, and then hire a failed candidate who didn't want to return home to teach Huan Ge and Xiu Ge.

  The old man is still following the same routine as in Yanling Fu. He writes books every day and has dinner with everyone on the first and fifteenth of each month.

  He no longer teaches Gu Yu now.

  Others didn't know, but the old man was very clear: there's nothing to teach. The child wasn't born with a clever mind, she just knew everything, so learning came easily to her.

  Since it's like this, why bother learning again?

  Zhu Zhongjun has been idle for two months, spending his days lounging at the Gu's residence. He watches as Gu Jin teaches her younger brother to read.

  He also memorized a volume of Analects and Book of Songs.

  In June, Qin Wei died suddenly in prison.

  The hospital has made some suggestions, but there have been no new appointments yet.

  For a moment, everyone in the hospital was on high alert.

  As one of the cabinet elders, Gu Yanwu was visited by imperial physicians every day, either in person or through emissaries.

  Gu Yanwu refused in general.

  This is a critical moment. He also doesn't want to be too arrogant.

  In the past, Guo Xun had been very confident in his own impending promotion to the position of Chief Assistant.

  He missed the opportunity to make a great contribution with his journey to Annan. It's hard to have such an opportunity again. He had to lower his posture and be humble.

  By June 3rd, Gu Jinzhi took Lu Yang Wang into the palace to pay respects to Empress Dowager.

  In Kunning Palace, I unexpectedly ran into someone from Empress Dowager's maternal family.

  The Empress Dowager's maiden surname was Ning.

  Yi Yan Hou Ning is the younger brother of Empress Dowager.

  The Empress Dowager had four sisters, but only one brother. When the previous emperor chose her as his empress, he also considered this, fearing that in the future, the outer relatives would interfere with politics. The Empress Dowager's family was small and weak, and the outer relatives could not become powerful, so they would not be able to hinder the new emperor.

  Nowadays, Yiyuanhou is an idle and indulgent marquis.

  He came in today with his wife and children to pay their respects, just as they happened to meet Gu Jinzhi and the King of Luyang.

  As for Prince Luoyang, he was very affectionate, but found that Prince Luoyang was very cold and didn't recognize him much, only snuggling into the empress dowager's arms.

  Yi Yanhou and Ning Furen both had a hint of surprise in their eyes.

  Gu Jinzhi and Zhu Zhongjun saw it with their own eyes, they knew that the estimate was wrong.

  The empress dowager also smiled and asked: "What's wrong, don't you recognize your uncle?"

  "Xiao Qi said that as the king, I must be dignified and not get close to anyone except my mother, otherwise they will look down on me." Zhu Zhongjun's voice was full of grievance, whispering complaints to the empress dowager.

  The empress dowager did not suspect anything and burst out laughing.

  She nodded in approval at Gu Jin, then also whispered to Zhu Zhongjun: "Very good, very good! Zhongjun did a great job. In the future, you should listen more to Xiao Qi's words."

  Zhu Zhongjun finally revealed a relieved smile and nodded heavily.

  Following Luoyang Wang, Empress Dowager and the Emperor now also call Gu Jin'er "Little Seven" to her face.

  Yi Yanhou and Madame Ning were unaware of what was happening and stood there awkwardly.

  The empress dowager said: "Everyone sit down."

  When Yiyang Hou Ning walked on the road, his left shoulder was slightly tilted, and it seemed that there was something wrong with his leg. Gu Jing looked at him a few more times.

  Because it was in Empress Dowager Cixi's palace, she didn't say anything.

  Zhu Zhongjun took note of Gu Jinzhi's demeanor and secretly remembered it in his heart.

  Everyone sat down after distinguishing the main and secondary seats. Gu Jinzhi and Yiyuan Hou's couple sat facing each other, she couldn't help but glance at Yiyuan Hou a few times, her gaze falling on his right leg.

  Yi Yanhou involuntarily shrunk his legs back in.

  ——*——*——

  Thanks for the reward from 熱戀^^, luna_s and 朗驱.