Chapter 236: Avoiding the important and focusing on the trivial, what is the meaning
Every time such words came up, E-lan didn't dare to say much.
She understood the conflicts between Aunt Liu and the Fourth Young Lady due to their own interests and the conflicts in the harem, and therefore she hated the Third Young Lady.
But she had followed the eldest lady since she was a child, so she had a general understanding of the third lady's character and had seen the eldest lady's true face with her own eyes.
In fact, the third girl is quite pitiful. Even though she grew up with her parents, they are often not as good as an orphan.
E'lan often thought that if her family members behaved like the master and his wife, it would be better for her to be alone and free.
Ning Wanshan expressed her envy and blessings.
"Now, Shuang'er has found such a good in-law family. Although she has no parents, she will always have Jiang Shaolang by her side. It is like waiting for the clouds to clear and the moon to appear."
E Lan smiled.
With just this one serious sentence, Ning Wanshan lost her composure again.
"If I need Mr. Zhuang's help in the future, I'll ask you to help me."
"Also, the Jiang family is wealthy. If you get any good treasures, you must share them with me. Auntie said that we are sisters and should take care of each other and treat each other as equals."
"By the way, you have already received the Reunion Festival gift, now share it with me."
E-lan was startled when she heard this.
"what?"
Liu Yan interrupted and explained in time.
"She's just joking again, don't take it seriously."
After explaining, she turned to her daughter and gave an example of what O-lan did to teach her.
"Didn't you listen to what Shuang'er said just now? No reward without merit. She will return all the gold and silver."
"If she doesn't accept the gift for the Reunion Festival, it will be a bad omen, so she will accept it for now. Later, she will go buy some things that the Jiang family needs on a daily basis and send them all to the Jiang family's elegant residence as a gift."
"Shuang'er is extremely virtuous. You should learn from her."
Ning Wanshan disagreed and retorted.
"Their family doesn't lack these material possessions, why does Shuang'er want to return them?"
"What's the point of being so shy? If it were me, I would just accept it and spend it on myself. That would be great."
Liu Yan was helpless and sighed repeatedly.
"Alas, you are a child. No matter how you teach, you are not good enough."
As he spoke, he turned to E-lan with a gentle look.
"Jiang Shaolang is indeed a rare good man in the world."
"Don't worry, Shuang'er, leave the dowry to me. They've offered a betrothal fee of ten miles, so we won't lose face."
"The master is not here today. I will tell him about this matter when I see him tomorrow and ask him to be the matchmaker himself. When you get married next year in grand attire, you will be famous all over the world and become a good story."
There was a hint of anticipation in E'lan's eyes and she nodded obediently.
"Thank you for your kindness, Auntie."
At the same time, Gu Mengzhen moved to the Zhuang Mansion, and every year during the Reunion Festival, he would accompany his brother's family.
As they sat around eating, he looked around and immediately realized something was wrong, so he asked.
"Where's Rui'er?"
Fang Zhixuan handed over the chopsticks with both hands and responded respectfully.
"Reporting to my brother, Rui'er is busy with his studies and said he won't be back this year."
Gu Mengzhen took the chopsticks and looked annoyed.
"The Reunion Festival is so important, but the school dares not close it? Which teacher is so arrogant?"
Fang Zhixuan explained.
"He asked to stay. He also wants to thank the teacher for being willing to accompany him and sacrifice himself for not going home to reunite with his family."
Gu Mengzhen glanced sideways in the direction of the school where Zhuang Rui was, with a hint of arrogance and disdain.
"My dear brother, you are too modest."
"It's his blessing to be with Rui'er, how dare he complain?"
Fang Zhixuan nodded in agreement.
"My brother is right."
Worried about his nephew, Gu Mengzhen had no appetite. He took a deep breath and sighed.
"Ugh--"
"I have prepared rich gifts, including gold, silver, jewelry, silk and satin, everything is fine. It's a pity that I can't give it to Rui'er in person."
Zhuang Xianhui was very concerned and knew what happened to her second brother in the suburbs of Beijing, so she spoke up to help him cover it up.
"Uncle Huang only cares for my second brother, but ignores my eldest brother and my nephew."
"My second brother is so naughty, what good is there? He didn't even come back for the reunion festival, he must be unfilial and unwilling to kowtow to his elders. Why should the emperor be concerned about such a person? Just forget about him."
There is no doubt that Fang Zhixuan was angry again.
"Hui Er, who taught you to scold your brother and be disrespectful?!"
Gu Mengzhen glanced at them left and right, and in the blink of an eye, he had already found a suitable excuse for his niece.
"Hui Er is just jealous, why are you scolding her?"
As he said this, he turned to his niece, smiled kindly, and advised her patiently.
"Be good, Hui'er. You can be jealous, but don't comment on your brother like that in the future. Got it?"
Zhuang Xianhui curled her lips and looked willful.
"Since ancient times, those who have no filial piety are all guilty of the ten unforgivable crimes. What kind of brother is he? I don't acknowledge him as my brother."
Fang Zhixuan was so angry that he pretended to be taught a lesson.
"Brother, look, how can we tolerate such disregard for etiquette?"
Gu Mengzhen insisted on protecting him without giving any explanation.
"Is it a little bit jealous? What's wrong with you? Girls are all like this when they are brought up in pampered families."
"Even if you need to be punished, it won't be your turn as long as I'm here!"
Zhuang Xianhui started to act softly and coquettishly.
"what?"
"Uncle Emperor, do you really want to punish me?"
Looking at his niece's clever and lovely appearance, Gu Mengzhen couldn't help but smile with joy.
"That's not the case. You are filial and considerate, and everyone in the world loves you. I can't bear to punish you."
Fang Zhixuan asked back.
"Who in the world loves and cares for me? I have never heard of it."
Gu Mengzhen glared at him and reprimanded him sternly.
"If I say yes, then yes. Why are you asking so many questions? I think you are the one who is disrespectful and ignores your brother!"
Fang Zhixuan quickly apologized with a smile.
"I have done something wrong, please forgive me, my brother."
So, this year's Reunion Festival ends.
Gu Mengzhen didn't think much about Zhuang Rui's affairs at first, but when he walked out of Zhuang's house, he suddenly felt something was wrong, so he ordered Xiao Fuzi to send people to the outskirts of Beijing for a secret investigation.
I returned to Di Sheng Palace and had just sat down when I received the news.
After hearing what Zhuang Rui said, Gu Mengzhen felt confused.
"Tang Mengshuang?"
The name sounded familiar. He thought about it and was shocked.
"How is she still alive?!"
Xiao Fuzi spoke sternly and quickly came up with a guess.
"It seems that Madam Ning still defied the emperor's will and kept her."
Gu Mengzhen slammed the table and gave an order.
"Summon Mu Rong to the palace. I will ask her everything clearly!"
After a while, Mu Rong came as she was summoned and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish you the best of health."
Gu Mengzhen was not allowed to stand up and remained kneeling with her.
"It's been so many years since the old events at the Gao Mansion. I'm afraid you have forgotten everything about them, right?"
Mu Rong was caught off guard and asked in confusion.
"Which old incident is your Majesty referring to? I don't know, but please let me know."
Gu Mengzhen gave a simple reminder.
"The matter of the second wife of Gao's family and Gao's second daughter."
Mu Rong's eyes dimmed, hiding a hint of surprise and guilt.
"Your Majesty, I remember this."
"Back then, Jing Qing took Miss Gao Er with him and took refuge in a village near the eucalyptus forest in the western suburbs. Later, to avoid being hunted down, they hid in a cave in the eucalyptus forest. When they were safe, they realized that they had taken the wrong child."
"Before this, the emperor figured out everything and learned that the Supervisory Office was not a mutiny, and Gao Ji and others had been pretending to surrender from the beginning. They had angered the emperor and deserved to be punished, but the emperor didn't know which family Jing Qing had taken refuge with, so he punished the people in all the villages near the eucalyptus forest in the western suburbs, removed them from the register, and exiled them all."
"In this way, Miss Gao Er will never come back. Gao Nan deserves the punishment and deserves to lose his beloved daughter."
"Unexpectedly, by chance, Qiu Bi was given up for adoption by the Feng couple and became Ning Yunxi's personal maid."
"Afterwards, the Feng couple embarked on the road of exile. Jing Qing arrived a step too late and failed to bring back Miss Gao Er. So, he could only carry the Feng couple's child back to the Gao Mansion, coax the child to sleep, and report the bad news to the master."
"While Lord Gao and his wife had not seen the child yet, the Emperor acted on his own accord and replaced Lord Feng. He also killed Jing Qing to prevent her from recognizing that the child had been replaced. Thanks to the Emperor's resourcefulness, Lord Feng was able to stay in hiding and became the legitimate daughter of the Gao family's second wife."
Gu Mengzhen's expression was gloomy and fierce, like a north wind piercing the bones.
"Why are you avoiding the main point?"