Marrying a treacherous official

Hua Chao pondered for a while, but still couldn't understand the deeper meaning behind the lady's words.

"Even if the master beats an old servant to death, the officials won't dare to do anything to him, so why should he care about those crazy words?"

"If this had happened in the mansion, no one would have dared to investigate, but since Granny Wang spread the word, it's a completely different story."

Seeing that she was completely bewildered and lost, Yunji patiently comforted her, saying:

"That day, the whole city was under lockdown, and a fire in the East Ward killed thousands of people. You're saying that the old man started that fire?"

"……yes……"

"Did anyone escape alive from the fire?"

"……No……"

"With no one to testify against the dead, even if the censor impeaches you, you won't be able to produce any conclusive evidence."

Yunji looked at her quietly and said, "But the matter of Granny Wang has become common knowledge in the neighborhood. Her brother and son are still alive, as is the Lady of Minghe Hall. As long as Granny Wang dies, all the blame will be directed at you, Master. Once the censor has solid evidence, he will reopen old cases and impeach you endlessly in the court."

Hua Chao sold herself into servitude as a maid in a wealthy household. She knew that it was common for servants to be executed in the inner quarters. As long as it was not publicized, a few coins could easily settle the matter.

However, if the matter were to come to light, the imperial laws strictly forbid the private execution of servants. Even a master cannot overstep the law, and the matter cannot be left unresolved.

A strong north wind was blowing outside, rattling the windows.

"The heavy snow collapsed the houses, and the last snowflakes to fall were light."

Yunji placed the teacup on the table and advised her, "You should assume the worst about your enemy, rather than instinctively being kind and making excuses for the wicked."

Hua Chao understood that the heavy snow represented the thousands of people who had been burned to death, and the last snowflake referred to Granny Wang.

She was deeply moved and said, "This servant knows her mistake and will think twice before acting in the future."

Yunji sent someone to inform the Gu family of her return home early in the morning.

Huo Xi led his guards on horseback, clearing the way, and then led the three carriages behind him straight towards the Gu residence.

When the carriage arrived at the Gu family residence, Madam Gu the Second, accompanied by her maids and servants, was already waiting at the gate.

With Chunxuan's help, Yunji stepped off the carriage using a stool.

She wore a pale white blouse with a jade brocade skirt trimmed with embroidered threads. Her makeup was elegant and understated. Her watery eyes were full of affection as she gracefully curtsied to Madam Gu. Madam Gu then took her hand and gently helped her up.

"Ji'er, there's no need for such formalities. Why are you returning home alone again this time? Where is General Cui?"

Huo Xi stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and then said at the opportune moment, "General, you are busy with official duties day and night and cannot spare the time. You have specially ordered your subordinate to escort Madam back to her parents' home for a visit. We will accompany Madam to visit the old lady at another day."

Yunji, holding Madam Gu's hand, said with a smile, "It's good that he's not coming. I can stay at my parents' house for a while longer and have some private conversations with my aunt."

Madam Gu gently tapped her forehead and said, "Seeing how the General has spoiled you so much, I don't know what to say to you."

The group entered through the side gate and headed straight for the east room.

Having learned his lesson from the previous incident of carrying gifts, Huo Xi dared not act ostentatiously again. He instructed the coachman to drive the carriage to the second gate, and after carefully checking the gift list with the steward, he quietly carried the return gifts into the storeroom.

In the main hall of the east wing, Old Madam Gu, dressed in a gray-brown brocade jacket with intertwined floral patterns, sat regally on a warm couch, her gentle demeanor like that of a pine tree. She watched with a kind smile as her granddaughter bowed before her, nodding repeatedly.

"Good, it's good to see you back. Let me see if you've lost any weight in the six months since you got married."

"Grandmother, you're so worried. I dare not lose weight."

Yunji was pulled closer and sat down, letting her grandmother's wrinkled fingertips tenderly stroke her cheek, before being pulled into the old woman's arms and held tightly.

"His cheeks have been shaved off, how come he hasn't lost weight? My poor grandson."

"Ji'er is doing well in the Cui family, but she misses her grandmother too much and has become thin, which is why she looks a little delicate."

After Yunji had comforted Old Madam Gu, she finally withdrew from the old woman's embrace, holding her wrinkled hands tightly as she said:

"I heard Grandma is ill, but what's wrong? Has she seen a doctor?"

"I've seen doctors, and they all say I'm perfectly healthy."

Old Madam Gu patted her hand and said:

"That day, my second son went to the palace to guard the living quarters and did not return for a long time. I heard from the servants that he was trapped in the palace and that he would probably never be able to get out. I had already lost my husband and eldest son, and I could not lose my second son as well. I was so anxious that I fainted."

"Fortunately, after waiting for two days, your second uncle returned to the mansion from the palace. The weight that had been hanging over me was lifted, and I felt much better. I no longer have any illness."

Old Madam Gu looked at her meaningfully and said:

"After the second son returned to the manor, he told me that General Cui had pleaded for him before the new emperor. The new emperor, mindful of their past personal relationship, spared his life. I knew then that you were the one supporting the entire Gu family behind this."

"It is my grandmother's great blessings that have protected the Gu family and ensured peace and tranquility. My second uncle's safe return has little to do with me."

Yunji's words comforted Madam Gu, and even as night fell, laughter continued to drift from the east room.

In her second life, all she cherished were the days she spent enjoying the company of Old Madam Gu.

I still remember nine years ago, my father was serving as a censor in Qianzhou.

Just as her three-year term was coming to an end, her father was to return to the capital to report on his work. However, her mother suddenly fell seriously ill and could not withstand the arduous journey. Therefore, she took the initiative to suggest that she stay in Qianzhou to take care of her mother. Her father had no choice but to take his young brother back to Shengjing.

Little did they know that this parting would be their last.

After learning of her father's death, her mother cried every day, and her face became increasingly haggard. In order to treat her mother's illness, she pawned all the valuable jewelry and items in the house. After spending all the money, she had no choice but to live with her maternal grandparents.

My maternal grandfather was a notorious merchant in Qianzhou, who only cared about money and not people.

Upon learning of the decline of the Gu family after her father's death, the family took in the mother and daughter, but treated them like beggars.

She lived in the most dilapidated courtyard, where the two meals a day were never enough to fill her stomach. In the cold winter, her hands and feet would get sores from the cold. She endured all the suffering, but she felt she couldn't go on living when she couldn't get money for her mother's medicine.

My grandmother then sent people down to Qianzhou to bring her back to Shengjing.

But she can't leave.

My mother was still bedridden. With her passing, my mother would have no one to rely on and would be unable to live on her own.

Later, in order to please her aunt, she had to stand aside and smile even when her cousins ​​bullied her. In order to win over her maternal grandfather, she spent the whole night fiddling with abacus beads and calculating every penny that came in. But her mother was terminally ill and eventually passed away.

It was around that time that her grandmother brought her back to the Gu family mansion.

She survived thanks to her grandmother's devoted care, and no matter what happens, she will never let the Gu family fall into ruin like it did in her previous life.