Chapter 731: Combining Soft and Hard Approaches
Chapter 731: Chapter 731: Combining Soft and Hard Approaches
Gu Baoshu immediately jumped up and shouted, "The Duke Zhen’s Mansion must have ill intentions, mother, take me along if you go."
"Take you?" Nanny Rong glanced at Gu Baoshu.
The Seventh Miss really has no self-awareness at all.
Seeing her, I’m afraid the Duchess Dowager would literally die of anger.
Old Madam Gu shook her head and asked, "Who delivered the message?"
Nanny Rong said, "It seems to be someone like the housekeeper, Housekeeper Han didn’t even let them in past the second gate.
The old nanny who came to report is quite aged, hard of hearing, and couldn’t say things clearly. It seems she’s not often serving in front of the main family, not quite familiar with the rules.
I don’t know what happened, to send such a person to report. I’ve already sent a young maid to inquire further."
Old Madam Gu said, "Yuan’er just left, or else I would have her accompany me."
Gu Baoshu got excited.
"Mother, even if the Third Sister-in-law was here, she shouldn’t accompany you to that wretched place, only if I accompany, anyone else would be in danger."
"You’re being more and more nonsensical, and I simply won’t let you go!" Old Madam Gu thought for a moment, then said, "I will go change into the guest attire."
After Old Madam Gu changed and came out in the grand outfit, Nanny Rong had already inquired properly and reported, "It was indeed the housekeeper sent there to invite, also accompanied by Ru Hua from beside Madam You."
"Ru Hua?"
Old Madam Gu was even more confused.
Who doesn’t know that the Duchess Dowager cannot do without Ru Hua for a moment, even the daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law don’t hold her favor.
"Let’s go."
After glancing at Gu Baoshu who was drooping her head, Old Madam Gu thought and said, "It might be best to bring more guards, in case something really happens."
Gu Baoshu’s expression improved somewhat.
As soon as Ru Hua saw Old Madam Gu, tears began to fall uncontrollably: "Old Madam Gu, Her Grace has been worried you wouldn’t come to see her."
Old Madam Gu said, "We’ve known each other since the boudoir days, why wouldn’t I go see her? Even if she didn’t want to see me, I would go."
Ru Hua held back her sobbing and whispered, "The Old Madam has urgent words to say, please rise promptly, Old Madam Gu."
Hearing these words, Old Madam Gu was filled with confusion, but still ordered, "Quickly, move fast on the road, let the guards clear the way ahead, set up the procession, so people steer clear from afar."
...
Gu Shiliu didn’t escort Mr. Songshan and Qin Yuan to the prison, but instead accompanied them, entered the Horizontal Street, and stopped in front of a moderately famous teahouse.
The waiter spotted them from afar, hurried out to greet them, and led them into the pre-reserved ’Heaven’ room to sit.
One after another, the maids skillfully set up the tea and fruit plates and then retreated.
Seeing these familiar items, Mr. Songshan nodded contentedly and asked, "Why arrange for us to be here?"
Gu Shiliu replied, "All instructions from the Marquis."
Mr. Songshan gave Qin Yuan a meaningful look.
"I’ve also come to share in Madam’s blessing."
Qin Yuan said, "Teacher jestingly expects much from me today when trying to persuade Wang Zichuan."
Mr. Songshan shook his head liberately.
He resembled a celestial crane taking a bath.
Elegant and leisurely.
"With you present, I only need to support from the side, naturally composure and ease prevail, hence you perceive that I am so confident today."
Qin Yuan hurriedly said, "I’m young and uncertain in many matters. Yesterday it was evident that Wang Zichuan was deeply contemplating the gatha poem you spoke of, or otherwise, he wouldn’t urge another meeting."
Mr. Songshan was greatly pleased: "It shows that this Wang Zichuan has quite some insight, let’s see what he says today."
Gu Shiliu said, "My guess is that he wants to negotiate terms."
"Why do you say that?" Mr. Songshan asked.
Gu Shiliu glanced at Qin Yuan and smiled: "The Marquis was annoyed with those bandits causing much trouble, Xu Tang and others were very tight-lipped, to account early to the Sacrificial Officer, he ordered the prison chief to give the one surnamed Wu and Eunuch Huang a lesson, and especially let them walk past Wang Zichuan’s cell after their punishment."
This was indeed killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.
Qin Yuan was drinking tea and almost spat it out.
She held back and then laughed, "Well, just persuading with words makes us appear too weak."
Mr. Songshan nodded.
"These bandits are murderously ruthless, without shocking them a bit, they probably wouldn’t behave obediently."
Gu Shiliu laughed, "That’s the truth. Not long after they went by, Wang Zichuan was shouting to see you. Eunuch Huang and Xu Tang confessed obediently as well."
It truly was Marquis Gu’s deterrence that worked effectively.
Qin Yuan laughed, "The Marquis’s method is clever, Xu Tang and the others had some leverage in the prison, thus were tough at first, but after days of waiting, they grew anxious with deep suspicion.
After the punishment and seeing Wang Zichuan in prison, they must have thought that King Jin had failed, and was despised by the Emperor, and dared not hide anything further."
"The Marquis’s strategy hits two birds with one stone, truly brilliant," Mr. Songshan was in great spirits, picking up a piece of chrysanthemum cake and popping it into his mouth, "Is the Marquis now having us pressure Wang Zichuan thoroughly?"
Gu Shiliu laughed, "The Marquis says simply persuading in good words might approach some who lack sense, but only intimidating could provoke them to martyrdom."
"A mix of hard and soft, haha," Mr. Songshan laughed heartily.
...
Duke Zhen’s Mansion.
Kneeling like a gathering of crows by the bed of Madam You was a cluster of mourners.
Despite the efforts to suppress it, the sobbing sounds continued to rise steadily.
Madam You, among others, knelt at the bedside, expressions wooden.
Once the First-Grade Duke’s Wife passed, the plaque of Duke Zhen’s Mansion would change to An Ding Marquis Mansion, and according to the old lady’s wishes, the whole family must escort the casket back to their hometown in Jizhou to observe mourning, staying out of the capital’s contest for succession.
As her daughter and son were tied to King Jin’s faction, Madam You often complained her mother-in-law was too cautious.
Marquis You simply said, "Wait until mourning is over to act as circumstances dictate."
In the midst of mourning, participating in court affairs risks impeachment by the Imperial Censorate, which is no trivial matter.
Madam You could only say, "That’s best then."
In her heart, resentment towards her mother-in-law had grown.
Today, her mother-in-law yet delayed in passing, the Imperial Physician said the old lady had unfinished matters, unable to find peace.
"What has happened now, why must she see the Old Madam of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion? They weren’t particularly close before," Third Madam You asked.
Second Madam You quietly muttered, "If she misses the time, it might bring harm to the descendants."
Both younger sisters-in-law looked at Madam You, urging her to make a decision.
Madam You could only cry out loud.
After all, she couldn’t urge her mother-in-law to pass on, could she?
Ru Hua stumbled in, rushing straight to Madam You’s bedside, Madam You barely spoke a word of reproach, as Ru Hua already wailed sharply, "Old Madam, Old Madam, wake up, the Old Madam from Dingbei Marquis Mansion is here."
The previously dying Madam You suddenly opened her eyes, and her weak, slow breaths became strong and clear.
After a while, accompanied by a raspy phlegmy sound, a frail voice spoke: "Quick, call her in, all of you, leave, all leave."