Gu Jiu arrived at the shaofu.
Today, she had come to choose people.
She was short on manpower and needed to personally select a few people to bring back with her.
The eunuch Fang mama had mentioned before, the former Senior Attendant named Deng Cunli, was over forty years old.
The more glory Deng Cunli had enjoyed in the past, the more miserable his circumstances were now.
If Gu Jiu was willing to give him an opportunity, he would probably be willing to leave the palace.
Still, she intended to see the man first.
If he didn’t suit her eye or she found him unpleasant to look at, she might as well pass.
Gu Jiu was secretly something of a face-con herself.
Her standards weren’t high, she only required people to look presentable.
The Shaofu Chamberlain had twenty young eunuchs selected for her consideration. Among them was the oldest, Deng Cunli.
Gu Jiu’s gaze swept over him. He looked old, more like a man in his early fifties. His hair was already gray. However, everything about him was neat and clean. Even his fingernails were carefully trimmed.
He was nothing like the slovenly middle-aged man she had imagined.
Deng Cunli noticed Gu Jiu’s gaze. Slowly raising his head, he caught sight of Fang mama standing behind her. He froze for a moment before suddenly understanding.
He had been wondering why Zhao furen would specifically request him.
A man with one foot already in the grave hardly seemed like someone who would catch her eye. So it had been Fang mama speaking on his behalf.
A trace of excitement stirred within him, but it quickly faded. He stood there calmly, his presence barely noticeable.
Gu Jiu noticed his eyes. They remained sharp. Hardship had not worn away his will.
She nodded inwardly. Her first impression of Deng Cunli was quite good.
The remaining young eunuchs were all between sixteen and twenty-one or twenty-two years old, with generally decent appearances.
The clever ones darted glances toward Gu Jiu, hoping to attract her attention.
The duller ones seemed not to understand what was happening and simply stood there blankly.
Gu Jiu’s gaze swept across every face.
Then she had each of them briefly introduce themselves, starting with their names, ages, native places, when they had entered the palace, and what duties they had performed.
As the eunuchs spoke, she compared their answers against the register.
Finally, it was Deng Cunli’s turn. His introduction was brief. He stated only his name, age, and place of origin. Nothing else.
By then, Gu Jiu had already made up her mind.
Shaofu Chamberlain asked, “Has furen found anyone suitable? If these are not satisfactory, laofu can have another twenty selected.”
Gu Jiu smiled softly. “Thank you, daren. I’ve already made my choice.”
“Oh? May I ask whom furen has chosen?”
Gu Jiu smiled and pointed at two bright-looking young eunuchs. “Those two.”
Then she pointed to a simple and honest-looking youth. Only after that did she select Deng Cunli.
Seeing that she had chosen Deng Cunli, the Shaofu Chamberlain couldn’t help laughing.
“Furen truly has a unique eye for choosing people.”
Gu Jiu smiled lightly. “I’m still young. I chose one of every type. Later I’ll know which sort are truly useful.”
The Chamberlain laughed heartily.
“Furen speaks wisely. The same rice feeds a hundred different people. One should indeed choose subordinates without sticking to a single mold.”
Afterward, he ordered the paperwork to be processed.
The four eunuchs’ names were removed from the palace register and entered into the Ning wang fu‘s records.
New identity plaques were issued. From this day forward, they belonged to the wang fu.
The other sixteen were dismissed.
The four stepped forward together.
“Greetings, furen.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “From now on, you will serve by benfuren’s side. Remember one thing: all matters must follow benfuren instructions. Other than benfuren, you need not pay attention to anyone else. If anyone dares betray their master, you all know the consequences.”
“We will remember furen’s teachings.”
Gu Jiu gave a soft hum.
“Deng Cunli is experienced and seasoned. In the future, if any issues arise, the three of you should seek his advice.”
With those words, Deng Cunli was established as the leader of the four.
Deng Cunli remained neither servile nor arrogant. “Many thanks, furen. I will never forget this life-restoring grace.”
Gu Jiu smiled softly. “If Deng gonggong truly wishes to thank me, then serve benfuren wholeheartedly. How about that?”
“I do not deserve the title of ‘gonggong.’ Since furen values me, I will certainly devote myself fully to serving furen and will not fail your kindness.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Very good. Rise. Come with benfuren. Let’s take a stroll through the streets.”
Since she had finally managed to leave the manor, Gu Jiu naturally had no intention of returning so early.
Travelling lightly in her carriage, she arrived at Sihai Xinglin Hall.
She did not go inside immediately.
Instead, she observed the medicinal shop through the carriage window.
Doctor Tian was diagnosing patients and writing prescriptions. His son, Tian Ku, dragged his somewhat crippled leg while filling prescriptions behind the counter.
Er Zhuang sat with an abacus, settling accounts.
A yamen runner entered the shop. With a broad smile, Er Zhuang hurried out to greet him. Judging by their manner of conversation, they clearly knew one another and seemed to be on good terms.
After chatting for a while, Er Zhuang invited the runner out for drinks that evening. The runner happily agreed.
Not long after the yamen runner left, a group of Xiuyiwei guards arrived.
Once again, Er Zhuang welcomed them warmly and chatted with them as though they were old acquaintances.
Seeing this, Gu Jiu smiled.
She hadn’t expected Er Zhuang to have built connections with the Xiuyiwei as well.
Excellent. That would allow her to quietly place a few people within their ranks.
Only after the guards departed did Gu Jiu descend from the carriage and cross the street toward the medicine shop.
Deng Cunli stayed close beside her, carefully watching the pedestrians around them.
Gu Jiu nodded inwardly. He had entered his role so quickly. As expected of a seasoned veteran.
The other three eunuchs, however, were young and inexperienced. They couldn’t help sneaking curious glances at the bustling street around them.
The moment Er Zhuang spotted Gu Jiu, he was startled.
Hurrying forward, he quietly asked, “What brings furen here?”
At the same time, he discreetly examined the unfamiliar faces around her.
Gu Jiu smiled. “I came to take a look.”
“Furen, please come speak in the rear courtyard.”
Given Gu Jiu’s current status, Er Zhuang feared someone might accidentally offend her.
He was also worried that her identity might be discovered. So he quickly escorted her group into the back courtyard.
As they passed through the main hall, Gu Jiu slightly shook her head, signaling Doctor Tian to continue treating patients without stopping to bow.
Once they reached the rear courtyard, Qing Mei moved with practiced familiarity and prepared a pot of tea.
Er Zhuang carried over all the account books since the shop’s opening. “Please review them, furen.”
Gu Jiu placed a hand atop the ledgers. “No rush. Let me introduce these people first. This is Deng Cunli, and this is…”
After introducing all four eunuchs to Er Zhuang, she continued, “From now on, these four will serve by my side. If anything comes up, I may send them to relay messages to you. Likewise, if you need anything, simply ask the gatekeepers to summon them from the manor. I’ll notify the gatekeepers in advance.”
As she spoke, Gu Jiu handed Er Zhuang a document bearing her personal seal.
“With this credential, the wang fu’s gatekeepers will summon them for you.”
Er Zhuang accepted it solemnly.
When he saw the bright red seal reading ‘Seal of Zhao furen,’ he broke into a grin.
“Congratulations, furen.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “It’s nothing worth mentioning. How is business at the medicine shop?”
Er Zhuang replied, “We’ve only just opened, so business is quite ordinary. At times we’re even operating at a loss. However, some days ago a gate officer used our homemade rheumatism pain-relief plaster and said the results were excellent. Yesterday he came back for more medicine and even recommended several of his comrades.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Jiu laughed.
The four prescriptions she had provided were all formulas developed by renowned medical professors of later generations, men who had summarized centuries of experience, consulted countless medical texts, gathered extensive data, and personally refined the formulas. Their effectiveness was exceptional.
They were completely different from the secret family recipes of the current era, passed down generation after generation without improvement.
Gu Jiu said, “A good beginning is half the battle. There’s no need for this medicine shop to make money immediately. First, build its reputation.”
Er Zhuang nodded. “Xiaode understands.”
Gu Jiu picked up a ledger and flipped through it casually. The accounts were clear. Every expenditure and every income entry had been carefully recorded.
Satisfied, she nodded. Then she asked, “How is business at Jumei Zhai?”
Er Zhuang immediately brightened. “As the year-end approaches, business has suddenly improved.”
Gu Jiu said, “If there are profits, remember to send the silver to Su biaoge.”
Speaking of the Su family, Er Zhuang said, “Su er laoye visited the shop yesterday.”
“Er jiujiu came? Did he say anything?”
Smiling, Er Zhuang replied, “Su er laoye was simply worried and came to have a look around. He also asked what medicinal ingredients we’re lacking and told us to prepare a list for him. If anything is urgently needed, he can send a letter home and have the herbs brought up immediately.
“Last night, Doctor Tian and I treated Su er laoye to drinks. We drank until midnight. I told him we won’t be purchasing herbs during the twelfth month. After the New Year, I’ll prepare a list and send it to him.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “You handled that very well. Er jiujiu may end up living in the capital permanently. Please keep an eye on him for me.”
“Xiaode understands. Last night, I also had the restaurant send food and wine over to Su biao shaoye.”
Er Zhuang truly handled matters thoroughly.
Gu Jiu asked, “Where is Song Zheng? Why haven’t I seen him today?”
“He’s out gathering information.”
“Tell Song Zheng that his identity papers should be processed next month. From then on, he’ll be employed by the wang fu and await assignments there.”
“Song Zheng has been looking forward to this day. He’ll be overjoyed when he hears the news.”
Gu Jiu asked Er Zhuang, “If you want an official identity as well, I can arrange one for you.”
Er Zhuang shook his head repeatedly. “Xiaode only wishes to remain at furen‘s side and await your orders. For the rest of my life, I’ll be furen‘s errand boy.”
Gu Jiu sighed. “You’ve been wronged.”
Er Zhuang gave an honest smile. “Xiaode hasn’t been wronged. Furen rescued my mother, my brother, and me from Gao Erfu’s hands and gave us a livelihood. Xiaode is already very satisfied.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “How are your mother and elder brother? How is the horse ranch doing these days?”
The moment the northwest was mentioned, Er Zhuang became excited.
“My da ge sent a letter saying the horse ranch is operating well. This year another fifty foals were born, and fifteen mature horses were sold to Qingping Horse Ranch, settling last year’s debts.”
As he spoke, Er Zhuang took out a letter that had only arrived yesterday and handed it to Gu Jiu.
“Da ge also wrote that by next year the ranch should be able to support itself without furen having to subsidize it further. As for the account books, they’ll be sent after the first month of the new year.”
Reading the letter, Gu Jiu nodded.
Her original plan had been to spend three to five years building up the horse ranch. She had never expected Da Zhuang to achieve self-sufficiency in less than two years. That was truly impressive.
Er Zhuang then excitedly carried out a bolt of wool cloth from the storeroom. “Furen, please take a look. This was sent from the northwest.”
Seeing the wool cloth, Gu Jiu was delighted.
The colored wool fabric felt exceptionally soft to the touch.
Then Er Zhuang brought out two more bolts of plain-colored wool cloth. “My mother blended cotton and hemp fibers with the wool. She says it’s more durable when washed and lowers production costs. Even ordinary families can afford it.”
Gu Jiu was pleasantly surprised.
She reached out and touched the fabric. The texture was indeed different from pure wool.
Er Zhuang explained, “This wool-cotton-hemp blend is extremely popular in the northwest. The workshop is busy every day and still can’t keep up with demand. Xiaode looked around the capital, and wool cloth hasn’t made its way here yet. Furen, should we open a cloth shop in the capital as well?”
Gu Jiu replied, “There’s no need to open another shop. One of my dowry properties is already a cloth store. These fabrics can be sold there. By the way, do we have extra stock?”
Er Zhuang nodded. “Twenty bolts of wool cloth arrived with this shipment.”
“Very good. Select one bolt of each type. Tomorrow, personally deliver them to Zhu guogong fu’s eldest young madam.”
Pei Yun had married Zhu guogong fu’s eldest di son and was now the young madam there.
Gu Jiu’s wool workshop in the northwest had been established in partnership with Pei Yun.
Now that the workshop had produced results, she naturally wanted to share them with Pei Yun as a gesture of sincerity.
When the workshop submitted this year’s accounts next year, she would send Pei Yun a copy as well.
Gu Jiu also selected several bolts for herself, intending to bring them back to the wang fu.
Wool cloth was perfect for winter.
Seeing that it was already getting late, Gu Jiu set out for the wang fu.
No sooner had she returned to the main rooms of the eastern courtyard than Xiao Cui came to report: “Furen, Princess Huyang has come to visit. She’s currently speaking with wangye.”
Princess Huyang was Ning wang‘s younger sister from the same mother.
Gu Jiu had not yet had an opportunity to meet her. She had heard that Princess Huyang had gone to a resort estate outside the capital for a holiday.
She asked, “Has anyone said why Princess Huyang came at this hour?”
“Nubi doesn’t know. However, nubi heard some of the pozi at the second gate say that when Princess Huyang arrived, her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had some difficult matter weighing on her mind.”
Since it wasn’t a holiday or special occasion, there had to be some reason for her visit.
Gu Jiu did not dwell on it and instead asked, “Has gongzi returned?”
“Gongzi is currently at Bixi Pavilion with the Prince.”
Gu Jiu paused. “You mean gongzi is with wangye and Princess Huyang right now?”
“Yes.”
For the past few days, ever since receiving some news, Liu Zhao had been leaving early and returning late every day.
Could it be related to Princess Huyang?
Gu Jiu entered her rooms, deep in thought.
After coming back to herself, she instructed Fang mama, “Have the new eunuchs go out and familiarize themselves with the wang fu as quickly as possible. Also, give each of them some spending money to make things easier.”
“Nubi will arrange it at once.”
Just then, a young maid came in to announce that er furen had arrived.
Gu Jiu smiled. “Quickly invite er furen in.”
Ouyang Fu was shown into the small study.
“What brings er dimei here today?”
Ouyang Fu smiled. “I never visit without a reason. Since dasao has just returned, you’ve probably already heard that Princess Huyang has come.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Indeed. I just don’t know why she’s visiting at this time of year, when there is neither a festival nor a holiday.”
Ouyang Fu said, “I do know. Princess Huyang has come to ask for money.”
Eh?
To ask for money?
Gu Jiu casually asked, “Does the wang fu owe Princess Huyang money?”
Ouyang Fu shook her head. “Not at all. Princess Huyang and the fuma both love luxury. Their annual stipend is never enough for their spending, so every year they come here to sponge off the manor. After all, fuwang and Princess Huyang are siblings born of the same mother.”
Gu Jiu laughed.
People often said the imperial family produced all kinds of odd characters. She had only just married and had already encountered one.
“As far as I know, Princess Huyang receives at least thirty to fifty thousand taels a year in stipends, not counting her other sources of income. The fuma also has numerous properties under his name. Together they must earn well over a hundred thousand taels annually. And that’s still not enough?”
Ouyang Fu smiled. “Exactly. Just wait and see. Tomorrow morning, wangfei niangniang will certainly fly into a rage and take it out on the rest of us. Dasao should prepare yourself and make sure not to give wangfei niangniang any excuse to find fault.”
“Thank you for the warning, er dimei.”
After seeing Ouyang Fu out, Gu Jiu felt vaguely uneasy.
Had Princess Huyang really come merely to ask for money?
At Xile Hall, Xiao Qin’er sat with reddened eyes, looking at Liu Yi.
“These past few days I haven’t even been able to hold my head up in the manor. Everyone is laughing at me. The New Year is almost here. Could you please say a few good words for me before mufei? At the very least, let me participate in the New Year preparations. Otherwise, I truly won’t be able to face anyone.”
Liu Yi was admiring a famous sword in his hands. “Huyang gumu has come today, and mufei is already irritated enough. If I go see her now, won’t I just be walking into trouble? Wait a few days.”
“In a few more days it will be New Year. By then there won’t be anything left for me to do.”
Liu Yi stared at her. “If you had known this would happen, why do it in the first place? When mufei was younger, she was someone whose word was absolute. She’s only become more benevolent with age. Yet you actually dared conceal the accounts. That was truly bold.”
Xiao Qin’er felt terribly wronged. “I did it all for you. You spend money like water outside. The silver doesn’t fall from the sky. I could only think of every possible way to raise more funds.”
Liu Yi looked impatient. “Enough. How many times are you going to repeat that?”
He set the sword down and handed it to an attendant. Then he said, “I’m going to see Father. I wonder how much money Huyang gumu wants this year.”
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