The Eldest Imperial Prince is dead.
The Emperor Chu, ignoring the courtiers’ opposition, ordered the Fuhu Army to drown the Eldest Imperial Prince directly, forbade his burial in the Imperial Mausoleum, and even removed him from the Jade Scroll, thoroughly treating him as if he never had this son.
The two sons of the Eldest Imperial Prince, who had just learned to walk, also died, leaving not a single male in the Eldest Imperial Prince’s Mansion. However, a daughter survived and was taken into the palace for upbringing.
This was the result pleaded by the Empress Dowager.
Because of the Eldest Imperial Prince’s affair, the Emperor Chu started a massacre in the capital, causing panic among the people; everyone took detours to avoid the Execution Ground, not daring to get near it.
Princes, courtiers, noble families, nobles, and even concubines were all terrified and cold-hearted because of this matter.
The brutality of the Emperor Chu this ti exceeded their imagination, even killing his own sons and grandsons.
Qi Yi, being a close minister to the Emperor, was also deeply chilled by the Emperor Chu’s actions. He knelt outside the palace gate for two days, hoping to plead for the Eldest Imperial Prince’s life but was unsuccessful.
He eventually fainted and was carried back ho by the family’s servants.
Upon waking, he looked at his tearful and worried wife and felt deeply sorry, propped himself up to sit, embraced her, and said, "Ah Shu, I’m sorry for making you worry, it’s my fault."
Lady Qi said, "Husband, don’t talk, just rest well, the children and I are fine."
Again with these words.
Over the years, because of the Emperor Chu’s violent temper, he killed many people and uprooted many noble families. Qi Yi had knelt to plead more than once or twice, fainted each ti, and though Ah Shu was worried and sad, she always said they were fine and told him not to worry about the family.
But she is his wife, the one he loves in his heart, how could he let her worry about him year after year?
Qi Yi finally conceded, promising, "Ah Shu, I will start arranging for a transfer from the capital and won’t act impulsively in the future."
He is no longer young; he has a family. Even if he wants to be a loyal minister and sacrifice for Great Chu, if the ruler is unworthy, he cannot take his whole family with him to their doom.
Lady Qi was overjoyed to tears upon hearing this, her husband finally thought it through, but she shook her head and said, "Husband, you don’t need to do this. I know your aspirations, you don’t have to worry about the family, just go achieve your great ambitions."
Qi Yi did not nod this ti, but insisted on leaving a way out for his family.
...
The capital had already beco a river of blood, yet He’an Prefecture had beco lively, for the Prefecture Examination was nearing, and examinees from all counties within He’an Prefecture were flocking there to prepare for the exam.
Gu Dexing, along with Gu Qingliang and Gu Qingtian, also arrived, traveling with the Xu Family’s carriage.
Elder Xu wanted to befriend the Gu Family, so he personally drove the carriage to bring them, allowing them to co with the Xu Family to the Prefecture City.
Originally, he intended to invite them to stay at the Xu Family’s residence, but since Gu Jinli’s house had a residence in the Prefecture City, Elder Xu had to send them to the Gu Family instead.
Although Xu Zhao Ming was a noble young master, after being reprimanded by his grandfather, he understood that so people cannot be oppressed at will; since he couldn’t surpass them, befriending them was the wisest course of action.
Hence, Xu Zhao Ming followed his grandfather’s advice and went to the Gu Family to apologize.
This ti, he also ca with the Xu Family to et Gu Jin’an.
Gu Jin’an was very socially adept, understanding that Xu Zhao Ming was instigated during the county examination and did not trouble him, instead, sincerely befriended him: "Brother Xu, have you ford an alliance with anyone? My Cousin Ming and I are still short of one person for our alliance. If you haven’t ford one yet, why not join us?"
The rules for the Prefecture Examination were similar to the county examination, requiring examinees to form alliances in groups of three.
Upon hearing this, Elder Xu imdiately said, "What a coincidence, we are indeed having trouble finding suitable scholars for an alliance. Good Brother An, you’ve truly solved our urgent need."
This was a polite remark; with the Xu Family’s capabilities, finding people for alliances should be easy.
Xu Zhao Ming, seeing his grandfather had spoken, nodded his head, "Alright."
Elder Xu glared at him with disappointnt, you mute? Or are you a sheltered young girl, can’t you say a few more words? Being shy like this, how can you make connections with peers or form a community?
Gu Jin’an, however, was proactive, conversing with Xu Zhao Ming for a while, planning to study together the next day, before seeing the Xu Family off.
Mrs. Chen, seeing Gu Dexing, rushed over to ask, "Brother Xing, have you made any progress in your studies lately? You must pass the exams; if not, matchmaking becos difficult."
Before Gu Dexing could respond, she thought of the Xu Family and asked, "Have you been studying with the Xu Family boys lately? Have you been to their place? Are the Xu Family girls pretty? Any you like, if so..."
"Second Aunt, please stop, the Xu Family hasn’t gone far, what if they overhear?!" Gu Dexing was terribly anxious; looking back at the Xu Family’s carriage, he was only relieved after seeing just the tail end of it.
Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes at him, "Hmph, shy in front of old , aren’t you? You’re not that young anymore, the Xu Family is decent and has girls of suitable age, if you can marry one, it’s your fortune."
Thinking her words seed to devalue her family, she added, "It’s also the Xu Family girl’s fortune, you’ll be an official in the future, your status won’t be inferior to hers!"
Gu Dagui almost wanted to kick Mrs. Chen, quickly saying, "That’s enough, let’s go inside and let Brother Xing and the others rest."
Always talking, can’t see Brother Xing is almost burying his head in the ground?
Scolded, Mrs. Chen had to hold her tongue and led Gu Dexing into the house to rest.
Yet she was unwilling to yield, scolding Gu Dagui, "Are you even a real uncle? Brother Xing is grown, his mother is gone, and his father doesn’t know the situation with the local girls. If I, as his aunt, don’t help him, who will?"
After Gu Yui died, Mrs. Chen felt guilty for not taking good care of the siblings, afraid her sister-in-law might bla her later, so she paid close attention to Gu Dexing, inquiring about all the suitable daughters of wealthy or official families in Tianfu County, nearby counties, and even the Prefecture City, noting down any suitable matches for Gu Dexing.
Gu Dagui cursed inwardly, why does he always lose in argunts with this woman?
Yet, seeing Mrs. Chen being good to Gu Dexing, he was pleased. His elder brother had only one child, who must be treated well, without any mistakes.
After Gu Dexing and the others arrived, everyone enjoyed a good al that night, satisfying themselves with at dishes and ordering so famous dishes from a few Prefecture City restaurants for them.
Among them was a layered pastry; upon seeing it, Gu Jinli suddenly asked Gu Jin’an, "Big Brother, when you took the county examination, did you ever check the food distributed by the governnt office by breaking it apart?"
Gu Jin’an nodded, "I broke it apart and looked, but many people don’t, because broken food is hard to eat."
Gu Qingliang said, "I didn’t break it, just stored it after receiving it, ate it when hungry."
He took the county examination as practice, never expecting to pass, so he was carefree, not carefully inspecting his food.
Upon hearing this, Gu Jinli reminded, "Food is the easiest to hide things in. In future exams, you must always break apart the food given by the officials on the spot to make sure there’s nothing hidden inside."
She added, "This concerns your future and even your lives; better to eat broken food than overlook this."
Gu Jin’an and the others imdiately nodded, "Xiao Yu, don’t worry, we’ve noted it."
And this reminder from Gu Jinli truly saved their lives.
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