Chapter 138: Liu Zhao's invitation

Ning Palace.
The garden pavilion was surrounded by a screen, blocking the howling cold wind.
Inside the screen, there is the sound of piano.
The sound of the piano is melodious, expressing a little laziness.
The maid and the servant waited on the sidelines, did not order, and did not dare to approach.
Liu Zhao played the piano alone, his expression relaxed.
The ups and downs outside could not affect his mood of playing the piano.
The sound of the piano gradually became agitated, faintly revealing the ambitious people of the piano.
The guard Zhao Sanchao came to the pavilion, heard the sound of the piano, and involuntarily let go of his steps.
He did not disturb Liu Zhao, but waited outside the pavilion, waiting to be summoned.
"Has Zhao San come?" Liu Zhao's cold voice came from the screen. Accompanied by the sound of the piano, in the winter, people shiver subconsciously like ice.
The guard Zhao San bowed and said, "Subordinates are here."
"come in."
"Yes."
Zhao San took a step, walked up the steps, removed the screen and walked into the pavilion.
The pavilion is warm like spring.
Zhao San looked down and saw the brazier placed in the corner.
Liu Zhao continued to play the qin, the sound of the piano was low, as if he was pitying for someone.
Liu Zhao combined several pieces together and played for nearly half an hour before stopping.
As soon as Qin Yin stopped, the maid came in from outside the screen, holding hot water, and wiping Liu Zhao's fingers.
Wipe each finger carefully. After wiping, massage and relax.
After enjoying for a while, Liu Zhao waved his hand, and the maids exited the pavilion in silence.
He picked up the hot tea, took a sip, and asked, "What's the matter?"
Zhao San bowed and said, "Qingping Racecourse has sent another batch of horses to Beijing."
"That's it?"
Liu Zhao lifted his eyelids, his eyes cold.
Zhao San hurriedly said: "Things are developing according to the plan of the son. Lord Gu was imprisoned last night. This morning, Ping Nanhou went to the palace and wanted to intercede for Lord Gu. But his Majesty did not give Ping Nanhou. Opportunity. In this meeting, Ping Nanhou should have been asked Li Shizhong to talk with him."
Liu Zhao's face was expressionless and kept silent.
Zhao San thought about it and said carefully, "Master, Master Gu is the father of Girl Gu. If Master Gu is planted this time, Girl Gu will have a worrying future. She will definitely not be able to marry a good family by then."
"Are you worried about her?"
Liu Zhao asked indifferently.
Zhao San deliberately said, "She saved the son after all."
The corner of Liu Zhao's mouth raised slightly, "You're right, she saved my son after all."
Lin Shuping, the servant, walked into the pavilion and bowed to salute, "Come to my son, the princess would like to please."
Liu Zhao's eyebrows moved slightly, and he asked calmly: "Why does the mother and concubine want to see this son?"
"I don't know." After a pause, Lin Shuping guessed: "Or because of the son's marriage."
Liu Zhao frowned rarely.
Zhao San did not dare to speak because of Liu Zhao's marriage.
Liu Zhao was silent for a moment, and said to Zhao San, "Go to the study and wait. This son will go to meet his mother and concubine first."
"Subordinates obey."
Liu Zhao got up, and the maids walked into the pavilion silently, putting on cloaks for him to ensure that they would not be hit by the cold wind.
Liu Zhao went to Chunhetang where Princess Ning lived.
Walking into the main room, I saw Princess Ning Pei was chatting and laughing with the two side concubines and several beauties.
Several sisters of Liu Zhao were also amused by Princess Ning.
He walked forward blankly, bowed and bowed, "The son pays respects to the concubine and greets the concubine. How well is the concubine's health these days?"
Princess Ning originally had a smiling face. From the moment she saw Liu Zhao, her smile gradually faded and her eyes became serious.
She looked at Liu Zhao with an indifferent expression, "Come on, sit down. You are now old, and it is not easy to want to see you."
Liu Zhao expressionlessly sat down under Princess Ning Pei's head.
The side concubine and the beauties stood up one after another, "I have something to talk about with the eldest son, I will leave first."
Several sisters of Liu Zhao also followed suit.
Princess Ning Pei waved her hand, "Go ahead."
Because everyone said goodbye, the main room was almost empty in an instant.
The maid brought a cup of health tea and placed it in the hands of Princess Ning Pei.
Concubine Ning Pei took a sip of health tea, but never spoke.
Liu Zhao was very patient, and also did not speak.
When Princess Pei Ning finished drinking the tea, she couldn't help frowning when Liu Zhao was silent.
"You have nothing to say to the princess?"
Liu Zhao bowed slightly, "The mother and concubine asked her son to come over, isn't there something to order? My son just listen."
Princess Ning Pei frowned, obviously dissatisfied. She suppressed the anger in her heart and said calmly: "You are not young anymore, and you should hurry up on marriage. Your brother has already started talking about kisses. When will you be delayed?"
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows and laughed, "I am worried about my tired concubine. When the time comes, my son's marriage will be resolved. Mother concubine don't worry."
"You are my son, how can you not be anxious. I think that girl Pei Yun is very good, she has been thinking about you since she was a child, you just happen to be a couple."
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows, "This is the meaning of the concubine, or the meaning of the father."
Princess Ning Pei suppressed her anger, "Is there a difference?"
Liu Zhao bowed slightly and said directly: "Pei Yun is not suitable."
Luhou himself held a heavy soldier and held a high position. As the saying goes, marrying Pei Yun is bound to attract attention from all parties.
Liu Zhao now needs to be low-key and minimize his presence as much as possible. Marrying a wife who is not very conspicuous is more suitable for his current status.
Princess Ning Pei was dissatisfied, "Why is Pei Yun not worthy of you. Or, you are dissatisfied with this princess, so you don't want to marry Pei's daughter?"
"The mother and concubine have misunderstood. The son definitely didn't mean to look down on Pei's daughter. It's just because Pei Yun is not suitable for his son, so there is no other meaning."
Liu Zhao said calmly and calmly.
Princess Ning Pei snorted coldly, "Don't worry about how many reasons you have, your marriage must be resolved within a year. Don't forget, you are already twenty, and you are already three to five children in the clan. Also. It's you, who has been dragging the unmarriage, how decent you are."
Liu Zhao was unmoved, but he still said: "I know what the mother concubine meant, and the son will settle the marriage as soon as possible, so you don't need to worry about it."
"You, you're just crazy. Marriage matters, parents' order of the matchmaker's words, don't need to worry about what is meant by the princess. The princess sees you, the bigger the bigger the more unreasonable."
Princess Ning Pei's heart aches with anger.
Liu Zhao smiled, "Mother concubine, don’t forget that the son is in the clan. The son’s marriage will take care of the Shaofu. When the first month enters the palace, the son will meet with Shaofu Ling and ask him if he is suitable. Girl. When the time comes, the son will choose one directly, and the mother and concubine are satisfied?"
"After all, you just refuse to marry the girl from Pei's family."
Liu Zhao did not deny, "Yes, a son cannot marry the girl from the Pei family. If the mother and concubine have to be in-laws with Pei's family, it is better to ask the father and Luhou first. The two of them, I am afraid that they have no plans to be in-laws. ."
Princess Ning's Pei frowned, "Is there something bad about the Pei family that you all dislike it so much?"
Liu Zhao smiled softly, "Mother and concubine misunderstood. It's not that Pei's family is bad, but that Pei's family is too good. So good that his son dare not marry."
Princess Ning's face changed drastically, her lips opened and closed, and she finally sighed, "You...so do it yourself. The marriage is resolved as soon as possible, otherwise, when your majesty remembers, he will directly point you to the marriage, and you will not be allowed to regret it."
"Thank you for reminding the concubine, the son knows the importance. If the concubine has nothing else, the son will leave."
Princess Ning Pei waved her hand, "Go, go. Now that the princess wants to see you, she has to find a chance."
Liu Zhao bowed to bid farewell and left Chunhetang.
He went directly to the study, where Zhao Sanzheng was waiting.
"The son!"
Liu Zhao waved his hand to signal Zhao San not to speak.
He stood by the window, looking at the dead branches outside the window, and then asked for a long time: "Master Gu has been sent to prison?"
"Exactly."
Liu Zhao smiled contemptuously, "The empress is becoming less and less careful now."
Zhao San echoed: "After all, the empress has no time. She has to hurry up and remove all obstacles for His Royal Highness."
"It's a pity that she was in vain. His Royal Highness can't support the wall with mud. The officials in the Eastern Palace are all selfish and selfish."
Liu Zhao was not at all polite, and criticized Donggong for nothing.
Zhao San asked cautiously: "What is the son going to do?"
Liu Zhao chuckled softly, "That Gu Er girl must be very anxious."
"Subordinates don't know."
Liu Zhao made a decisive decision, "Send her a letter, and my son asked her to have an interview."
Huh?
Zhao Sanyi couldn't react to his face.
I don't understand, I don't understand at all.
"Why does the son want to see Girl Gu Er?"
Liu Zhao said capriciously: "Because my son wants to see her, I want to see her. The time is about tomorrow afternoon. I hope she will not disappoint my son."
Zhao San didn't ask too much, and bowed his orders, "Subordinates obey. Subordinates will make arrangements."
...
Gu Mansion, Zhilan Academy.
Gu Jiu came to the study, ready to practice calligraphy and meditation.
If the mind is not calm, one cannot think calmly.
When she opened the copybook, a letter fell.
This is an unsigned letter.
Gu Jiu frowned, first sniffed it, and made sure that there was no poison, before she tried to open the envelope.
This is an invitation letter inviting her to meet in Taoist temple in the city tomorrow afternoon.
Signed: Gongzizhao.
It turned out to be the son Zhao?
How could it be possible that Gongzizhao would take the initiative to see her.
How could Gongzizhao know her little character? It was incredible.
Gu Jiu was confused, and she felt as if she had overlooked any important clues.
She read the letter again, it shouldn't be fake.
Who would make such a joke?
"Ome, Ome..."
Gu Jiu shouted outside the study.
Qingmei heard the movement and walked in.
"The girl called for a slave and maid, but is there something to order?"
Gu Jiu asked directly, "Has anyone been in the study today?"
"No way. Or the servants go and ask, maybe the little maids came in and cleaned up when the girl was away."
Gu Jiu said hurriedly: "Go and ask, ask them clearly. Ask them if they have seen anyone come in, and then ask if they have seen an unsigned letter in the study."
"Girl, did something happen?"
Qingmei looked at Gu Jiu worriedly.
Gu Jiu said: "It's not a big deal, don't worry. You can ask first."
"Slaves obey orders."
Qingmei walked out of the study and asked the little maids one by one.
After asking around, nothing came out.
Qingmei told Gu Jiu anxiously, "Return to the girl, the little maids said that no one had ever entered or left the study during this period."
Gu Jiu frowned, this letter came too strange.
It seemed to have fallen from the sky and landed on her desk.
That son's edict, what a powerful method. Entering Gu's Mansion is like entering and leaving an uninhabited state.
Gu Jiu pursed her lips, feeling depressed.
At this time, Xiaocui hurried back from outside.
"Girl, girl..."
"Don't run around, be careful to bump into the girl." Qingmei stared at Xiao Cui.
Xiao Cui was embarrassed, and quickly slowed down, and walked into the study in a proper manner, "Enlighten girl, there is a major event, the slave and maid must report it."
"But the Hou Mansion has new news?" Gu Jiu hurriedly asked.
Xiao Cui shook her head, "It's not the master's business, it's Mrs. Wu who is guarding the back door. She suddenly grabbed the servant and gave the servant a key. The servant did not respond at the time. After that, the servant secretly went to the back door and tried the key. The key, yes, can open the back door. Really, the servant didn't lie."
Xiao Cui quickly took out the key and put it on the desk, "This is the key to the back door. With this key, the girl can secretly leave the house without worrying about being discovered."
Gu Jiu looked at the key and took a breath.
This young man had such a powerful method, even the question of her going out was considered.
Did Gongzizhao plant his eyeliner in Gu's house, or did he buy out Gu's gatekeeper in such a short time.
In either case, to Gu Jiu, it is not so wonderful.
Obviously, Gu Mansion, Master Gu, had been targeted from the very beginning.
Gu Jiu rubbed his eyebrows, and it seemed that the meeting tomorrow afternoon was inevitable.
Qingmei is still asking Xiao Cui, "Are you sure if this one can open the back door?"
Xiao Cui nodded repeatedly.
Qingmei asked, "Is it sure that the back door guardian Wu gave it to you personally?"
Xiao Cui said: "It is true, it was indeed handed to me by Granny Wu. Sister Qingmei, if you don't believe it, let's go to the back door and try this key."
Qingmei bit her lip, "Okay, I'll go to the back door with you to try this key."
Then, Qingmei asked Gu Jiu for instructions.
Gu Jiu's face was sinking, and he said, "Go ahead. It's okay to give it a try. But that key must be real."
"Why is the girl so sure?"
Gu Jiu laughed at herself, "Because this girl will be out of the house tomorrow."
"what?"
Ome is not sure why.
Gu Jiu waved his hand, "Go ahead and talk later."
Gu Jiu's own thinking is chaotic.
She always felt that she had overlooked some important clues, but could not remember them all the time.
The one thing she didn't understand the most was why Gongzizhao would take the initiative to see her?
She is just a little-known boudoir girl, and she is not a pearl of the capital, everyone knows. How did the son Zhao think of meeting her?
Two people can’t know each other before.
Qiaomei went to the back door to try the key in person, and she was able to open the back door.
She couldn't understand at all, how could Lady Wu take the initiative to give the key.
At the beginning, she didn't pay for her with the money, but when she gave up, she took the initiative to give the key.
What kind of operation is this?
Qingmei was very worried. She and Gu Jiu murmured, "Isn't Mrs. Wu wanting to hurt the girl. Could it be someone else bought Mrs. Wu, and when the girl secretly leaves the house, he will go to his wife to file a complaint?"
It was true that other people bought out Mrs. Wu, but not to complain, but to facilitate Gu Jiu's departure.
Gu Jiu couldn't say this.
She said to Qingmei: "You don't have to think about this, and Mrs. Wu is not malicious. Take the keys and accompany me out the door tomorrow afternoon. In addition, let Li Chuan notify Er Zhuang and ask Er Zhuang to prepare the bullock cart. "
"The maidservant knows. The maidservant is going to see Li Chuan now."
Qiaomei walked to the door, turned around, and confirmed again, "Girl, does this matter really matter?"
"Don't worry, it doesn't matter."
Gu Jiu has been waiting for news from the Hou Mansion.
However, Master Laohou worked hard for a day, but no good news came.
Things are deadlocked.
Lord Hou made it clear that if things continue to stalemate, it will be extremely detrimental to Master Gu.
I was most afraid of a situation, Master Gu was detained in the imprisonment with anxiety, but His Majesty completely forgot about him.
Whenever your Majesty remembers it, I am afraid that one, two, or even three to five years have passed.
By then, Master Gu would be completely ruined.
This forgotten situation is even more terrifying than exile.
Exile, knowing his own situation anyhow. With the help of the Hou Mansion, the days of exile may not be difficult. And maybe, one day it will be amnesty and revive.
During the exile, everything is possible.
To be forgotten, that is the real misery.
I was in panic every day, with a sharp sword hanging above my head, not knowing when the sharp sword would fall.
In such days, people who are not strong enough will be kept in prison all day long without seeing the sun, fearing that they will be driven mad.
The Lord Hou's meaning is very clear, this matter cannot continue to stalemate, no matter the result is good or bad, it must be resolved as soon as possible.
Gu Jiu agreed with this.
However, the negotiations between Lord Hou and the empress did not go well.
The empress lays out the cart and horse, and refuses to show face to the old man.
Gu Jiu can only look forward to meeting with Gongzi Zhao tomorrow.