Gu Kaiping spent his days at the Hanlin Academy. Although he was only assigned trivial tasks, members of the Hanlin Academy were Imperial Ministers, making them much more well-informed.
Even though several of his superiors had their own agendas, they did not want the entire Hanlin Academy dragged into the fray. Thus, they had repeatedly warned their subordinates over these past few days.
"Father, rest assured. I will focus more of my energy at home these days," Gu Kaiping said. Having passed the imperial examination, even with average aptitude, he was no fool. The recent atmosphere at court was truly bizarre, giving him the distinct feeling that a storm was brewing.
"Once you are home, stop talking about your official matters," Xu Huizhen interjected. Having been rebuffed earlier, she felt that as the matriarch in charge, being scolded in front of her daughters-in-law made her a laughingstock in their eyes. "It's just attending fewer banquets, which is no big deal. However, our Tong Er has encountered a monumental opportunity..."
"No matter what kind of opportunity it is, everyone is to stay obediently inside the Gu Mansion for the time being," Gu Baijiang interrupted. How could he not know what his old wife and eldest daughter-in-law were up to? Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought this up today.
He had secretly pledged his allegiance to the Third Prince, taking a definitive stance in the future struggle for imperial power. He already had arrangements for his eldest granddaughter's future. If they got involved with any other Prince now, it would only put him in an incredibly difficult position.
"Since you have spoken, we will naturally comply," Mrs. Xu said, lowering her eyes before looking up at the sons and daughters-in-law seated below. "Your uncle's family has run into a difficult problem and has come to me for help. Since everyone is gathered here today, I will explain it to you all properly."
Hearing this, Gu Baijiang frowned. He had never bothered to calculate how much the Xu family had taken from Xu Huizhen over the years. However, he had recently made a special trip to the Xu residence specifically to give them a warning. How long had it been since they finally quieted down? Now they were acting up again.
Although the Xu family was no longer as prosperous as before, they were still minor landlords. His father-in-law still had a hundred acres of fertile land to his name. Just how difficult could their lives possibly be? Right, there was that worthless brother-in-law of his who loved nothing more than to gamble. But he had already sent people to warn the local casinos last time. Could it be that the fool had found a new place to gamble?
"Didn't I say that no one is allowed to meddle in the Xu family's affairs anymore?" he scolded coldly.
Mrs. Xu knew exactly how to handle Gu Baijiang. "That is your Yue Family, and also the children's maternal grandparents' family. If we cut off all ties so heartlessly, what will it do to the Gu Mansion's reputation? Besides, it isn't a major issue. They are just short on Silver Coins. We are merely helping them out financially, not harboring criminals."
After speaking, Xu Huizhen ignored Gu Baijiang and turned to look at Gu Kaiping. "Kai Ping, tell me. Will you help your uncle's family or not?"
Gu Kaiping was rendered speechless. How was he supposed to answer that?
While he was racking his brain, Xu Huizhen turned her attention to Gu Kaichen. "Kai Chen, that is your uncle's family, and also your Yue Family. What do you have to say about this?"
Without waiting for a reply, Xu Huizhen moved straight to her next target. Since Gu Kaiyuan wasn't present, she directed her attack at Bai Suihe. "Kai Yuan is not at home. Ms. Bai, you tell me. If your maternal grandparents' family is in trouble, will you help them or not?"
Bai Suihe was left utterly speechless. She wondered what was up with this old woman's glare and if she owed the Xu family anything. Wasn't putting on a show by questioning the first and second households enough? Why was she staring straight at her?
Feigning deep thought, Bai Suihe lowered her head. She reasoned that Mrs. Xu could stare all she wanted; it wasn't as if she would lose a piece of flesh over it.
However, Xu Huizhen clearly had no intention of letting her off the hook. She pressed again, "Ms. Bai, I am asking you a question. Why aren't you answering?"
Bai Suihe raised her head, her face full of trepidation. "To answer Mother, I don't understand these matters. I will see how Kai Ping and Kai Chen handle it. I will listen to Father, Mother, and my brothers."
Xu Huizhen took a sharp breath. When did Ms. Bai become as slippery as an eel? She actually knew how to divert the disaster and shift the focus away from herself!
"Enough," Gu Baijiang said, having seen through her intentions at a single glance. "Kai Yuan isn't home. What would a mere woman like her know?
"Tell us, what has happened in the Xu family this time?"
"It's like this. The family's ancestral hall has been in disrepair for years. With the continuous rain recently, the eastern wall collapsed, leaving the entire hall on the verge of crumbling.
"As you know, the family only has those hundred acres of land left, which is barely enough to cover their daily food and expenses. They cannot produce the Silver to rebuild it, so they have come to us for help."
"Liu Family, later on, send ten taels of Silver over to the Xu family as a token of the Gu Mansion's goodwill."
"How could ten taels of Silver possibly be enough?" Xu Huizhen immediately interjected. "To completely rebuild it, it will cost at least several hundred taels of Silver. Furthermore, the ancestral tablets are also quite old..."
"Mrs. Xu!" Gu Baijiang rebuked angrily. "That is not the Gu Family's ancestral hall. Although I do not manage the household finances, I am not ignorant of these mundane matters.
"I still remember when I returned to burn incense and pay respects to my ancestors. Rebuilding the Gu Family's ancestral hall only cost a few dozen taels of Silver.
"What's this? Is the Xu family planning to coat theirs in gold?"
Xu Huizhen was left speechless by the retort. She vaguely remembered that incident, but so much time had passed that she had completely forgotten about it. It did seem that had been the case back then. Glancing at Xu Yulan and seeing her evasive gaze, how could she not realize what was truly going on?
"The Xu family's ancestral hall is the responsibility of their own filial sons and worthy grandsons. It has nothing to do with my Gu Mansion. Don't even send the ten taels of Silver. When the time comes, simply buy a cartload of gifts to pay respects to the old man, my father-in-law."
After saying this, Gu Baijiang swept his gaze over everyone. He paid little attention to Bai Suihe. With Kai Yuan not at home, what could a woman know anyway? But at the very least, she was well-behaved and knew to follow the advice of her elders and older brothers.
Xu Huizhen's fists were clenched so tightly they were sweating. "But they have already come to us for help. If we don't assist them, my father will just come over himself in a few days."
How could Gu Baijiang fail to hear the threat in Mrs. Xu's words? Once again, he regretted marrying her so early in life. Not only was the Yue Family of no help to him, but they also constantly held him back. When the time came and that old man from the Xu family arrived at the Gu Mansion, he would definitely throw his weight around as an elder. Getting rid of him wouldn't be an easy task.
Even Liu Yun, who had been watching the drama unfold from the sidelines, felt restless at this moment. If that old codger from the Xu family came over, there would be no peace in the household again. He was clearly just a minor landlord, yet his demands were numerous and absurdly high. If worse came to worst, they would just have to spend money to avert disaster.
Gu Kaiping felt incredibly helpless regarding his mother's shameless behavior. "Mother, there have been shifts in the official circles lately, and a batch of officials will be transferred out of the capital. I was thinking..."
"Don't even think about it! With your father here in the capital, do you think he can't protect his own son?" the old madam interrupted her eldest son. The master of the house had previously wanted Kai Ping to be transferred outward, but she had constantly prevented it.
As the eldest son of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, there was no need to fear lacking a place in the capital. If he simply worked hard for a few more years, he would become a new noble in the imperial court and, indisputably, an Imperial Minister. She was weaving beautiful dreams for his future here, yet who would have thought her precious eldest son always wanted to run away to the provinces? How could she allow that? Being transferred far and wide meant no one knew where he would end up. How could that compare to the peace of mind of keeping him right by her side?
"There is absolutely no room for negotiation on this matter! If you and your father dare to go behind my back, I definitely will not accept it." The old madam was completely oblivious to the fact that she had been successfully distracted from the original topic.
Watching this swift change in conversation, Bai Suihe couldn't help but cast a sympathetic glance at her.