mtl008 Chapter 215 Gu Ziming has no car, no house, and no savings.
Chapter 215 Gu Ziming has no car, no house, and no savings.
"My sister's information network is indeed very good. She must know that Miss Li has become the Third Prince's consort."
Gu Hanjiao tightened her grip. Luckily, her nail had already broken, otherwise she would have broken it again.
"I don't care about these things. The Third Prince and I are in love. As long as we can stay together forever, titles and such are just fleeting clouds. Unlike some people who have the status of a legitimate wife but don't have the life to enjoy it, there are many like that, and they are even more pitiful."
Gu Qingwan knew that Gu Hanjiao was subtly criticizing her mother, but Gu Qingwan wasn't angry. What did this matter?
"What my sister said makes sense. Status really doesn't mean anything. I hope you and the Third Prince can truly stay together forever."
Just then, Siqi returned.
"Miss, apart from those who still need to serve the old lady in her courtyard, and those who need help from the master's side, everyone who could come has come."
"Baoqin, you and Shishu go to the front and check the population register one by one, then make a new register. When you have time in the future, find out their relationships and the rewards and punishments they have received before making a decision."
"It's Miss."
This time, Gu Qingwan brought all four of her maids with her when she returned. There were many things to deal with today, so even Shishu, who had been stationed elsewhere, had to come back.
"Sister, do you really think that just because Father is unable to manage affairs, you can overstep your bounds and do things your own way? Just this once, you're no longer a member of the Gu family, so you have no right to interfere in my Gu family affairs! If anyone should be in charge, it's me!"
"Mind your own business? What business is it of yours?"
"What I do is none of your concern, but you should stop worrying about our family matters."
"Okay, whatever you want to do."
Gu Hanjiao thought she had won and said, "Chunlu, you go and take over Baoqin's and the others' work."
"Huh?" Chunlu was taken aback. "Miss... how could this servant possibly know how to do that..."
Gu Hanjiao glared at her with a hint of exasperation. She should have brought Hongqiao and Xique along; they were useless.
Just then, someone came in from outside.
The gatekeeper was the one who came in. He looked around and saw only a few young ladies and gentlemen in the mansion. He quickly said, "Reporting to my masters, people from the Duke of Ningguo's mansion have come. They say... they say they're here to take back the house."
"What! The Duke of Ning's mansion is here to take back the house?" Gu Hanjiao was shocked and turned to ask, "Gu Qingwan, what is your Ning family up to? Even if the Prime Minister's mansion has fallen on hard times, shouldn't it be your Ning family taking back the house?"
Gu Hanqing pondered for a moment, glanced at Gu Qingwan who was calmly drinking tea, and guessed that it was probably true. So he said, "Have you reported this to the master and the two concubines who are in charge of the household affairs?"
"Replying to your question, young master, we have already sent someone. The master has not yet woken up, but we have informed Steward Ba, so I suppose the two concubines should know as well. No one has been sent to inform the old lady yet. I wonder if you need me to go?"
"No need. The old lady needs to rest, so let's not disturb her. Since the Ning family has come, there's no reason to make them wait at the door. Let's invite them in first and then we can talk about everything."
"Yes, little one, go right here."
Just then, Aunt Li hurried over alone.
"Qingwan, I heard that the Ning family is coming to take back the house. What exactly happened? Your father hasn't woken up yet, and we're both completely confused, so we rushed over to ask you." Aunt Li asked Gu Qingwan as soon as she entered the door.
"Aunt, don't worry. Qingwan isn't entirely clear on this matter either. But since the Ning family has sent people, they probably aren't here to cause trouble. Let's wait and see, and we'll find out."
"Oh dear, why do all these things happen at once? And what's with all that commotion and noise I saw in the courtyard when I came in?"
"Hmph, I don't believe Gu Qingwan doesn't know anything. She summoned all those servants, I wonder why. Maybe it's to prepare for the Ning family to take over the house!"
“I did gather those servants. My aunt is busy taking care of my father and the old lady and doesn’t care about the affairs of the mansion anymore. Look at how lazy those servants are. When I came, I saw some eating fruit and gossiping in the corridor, and some of the bolder ones taking things out of the mansion to pawn.”
"What! Such a thing actually happened!" Aunt Li was startled, and then she touched her forehead and complained.
“Young Miss, you don’t know, I’ve never managed the household. It’s a complete mess. Rou’s pregnancy is getting worse and worse, and even if I encounter problems, I can’t bear to ask her. Your father can’t be found, and the old lady can’t make decisions anymore. I really…”
"Hmph, a concubine is just a concubine, she can never be respectable," Gu Hanjiao couldn't help but mock from the side.
"Second Miss, you!"
"Don't worry, Aunt Li. So what if you're a concubine? Back then, Wang was just an outsider before she became a concubine and then she had her formal glory. You just lack experience. You'll be fine once you gain more experience."
"You!" Gu Hanjiao choked for a moment. Yes, her mother's identity couldn't be mentioned, let alone now.
"Thank you for your comfort, Miss. Amitabha. I only hope that Master can marry a proper wife soon to manage the household. I really dislike these trivial matters. As long as my Qing'er is well, I would be content even if I stayed in the small Buddhist hall every day."
Gu Qingwan smiled. This Aunt Li had no ambition. If she had ambition, she would have seized this opportunity to firmly grasp the management of the household. However, this also created a problem.
If Gu Ziming survives this time, she'll have to find him a proper wife; otherwise, things will get complicated once he decides to have a change of heart.
"Baoqin, Shishu, you two do as I said before."
"No! You're not a member of the Gu family anymore, you can't interfere in Gu family matters!" Gu Hanjiao shouted.
"Oh my, Second Miss, what are you doing arguing about these things at a time like this? Let the Eldest Miss lend a hand so we can relax a bit. If you're capable, then go ahead and do it. If not, why don't you just sit here quietly?"
Aunt Li was no longer afraid of Gu Hanjiao. Someone who had no mother, was not a legitimate daughter, and had no favor was no longer someone she could fear. After all, her son was now the only male in the household.
Before Gu Hanjiao could say anything more, the people from the Ning family were invited over.
The visitors were Ning Chenglin, the eldest son of the Ning family, and Ning Chengze, the second son. As the only male member of the family, Gu Hanqing naturally had to go forward to greet them.
"We apologize for not being able to greet Young Master Ning and Young Master Ning properly."
"It's alright. We arrived quite suddenly, and seeing the bustling activity at your residence, we can understand," Ning Chenglin said.
Gu Hanqing looked a little embarrassed. The house was more than just busy; it was a complete mess, practically in chaos.
"Cousins, what brings you here?"
“So my cousin is here! That’s great! You don’t know, Grandfather bought this house, so he sent us to collect it.” Ning Chengze said happily to Gu Qingwan.
"Did your maternal grandfather buy this house?"
"Yes, you don't know, do you? Grandfather deliberately didn't tell you that the Emperor wanted to take back the Prime Minister's mansion. After hearing the news, Grandfather took several boxes of silver and rushed to the palace. He happened to run into Prince Chu and bargained with the Emperor for a while before exchanging money for goods. That's why he sent us here to take back the house."
"Yes, yes, we thought it would take a lot of money. Mother even started digging out her savings at home to make up for it. Who knew that the money Grandfather brought was not even used up yet. Two boxes of silver plus some banknotes were enough to cover it all."
When Gu Qingwan heard that the Prince of Chu was also involved, she knew that the Ning family must have gotten the better deal this time. Even if they got some money, it would be very little. Xiao Jingchen must have deliberately gone to the palace at this time. He was supposed to be a prince who was busy with many affairs of state, but he preferred to idly join in the fun and do nothing except for war.
"Impossible! The Gu family is so large, including the Youlan Courtyard behind it. Even if the Ning family is wealthy, how could they possibly come up with so much money to buy this house all at once? The Ning family is a family of military generals. Could it be that you have embezzled and taken bribes?"
“Miss Gu, please be careful with your words. Don’t just casually label the Ning family like this. Our Ning family cannot afford to bear such a accusation,” Ning Chenglin retorted seriously.
“Since Miss Gu has mentioned Youlan Courtyard, then my brother and I must say something: Youlan Courtyard does not belong to your Gu family.”
"How can it not belong to the Gu family!" In Gu Hanjiao's heart, Youlan Courtyard was her courtyard, and since it was her courtyard, it belonged to the Gu family.
"I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as this. That Youlan Courtyard is the courtyard next to the Prime Minister's Mansion that my aunt bought with her private money. She knocked down the wall between the two houses for convenience. Don't you even know who holds the land deed for Youlan Courtyard and what's written on it?"
Hearing the second young master of the Ning family speak so rudely, Aunt Li felt that a girl is still a girl, and this was, after all, the future concubine, so she shouldn't offend her too much. She quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Youlan Courtyard is much larger than the rest of our mansion. Its area is almost half the size of our mansion. I never imagined it was the property of the late Madam."
"What late madam! The late madam is my mother!" Gu Hanjiao couldn't do anything about the Ning brothers, but she wasn't afraid of Aunt Li.
“She was already divorced by the master and did such a disgraceful thing, so naturally we will not admit that she is the mistress.” Even if Aunt Li died, her hatred for Wang Ruyan would not lessen.
“Young masters, there needs to be evidence for taking over a house. You can’t just say it and that’s it, so…” Gu Hanqing said.
"Of course, Young Master Gu is indeed a cautious person. Second brother, bring out our land deed for Young Master Gu to see."
Ning Chengze took out a brocade bag from his clothes, which contained a land deed stamped with red ink, along with an imperial edict from the emperor.
Gu Hanqing read it carefully, and it would be unrealistic to say he wasn't disappointed. Even he himself had always thought that the place he lived in belonged to the Gu family, and even the land beneath his feet belonged to the Gu family. He really didn't expect that the Prime Minister's Mansion was a royal gift.
Generally, imperial gifts are never taken back, but for some reason the emperor did not give the prime minister the land deed, meaning the emperor only allowed the residence but not the sale of the house.
Looking at the floor plan of the house again, it is true that the Youlan Courtyard is not included. If the Youlan Courtyard is not included, the Prime Minister's Mansion is not a very large mansion. Back then, the stepmother's private savings were enough to buy a mansion that was no less than the Prime Minister's Mansion. This shows how much the Ning family doted on the stepmother.
Gu Hanjiao naturally wouldn't miss any of them, and after reading through them one by one, she couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
Her mother, Wang Ruyan, spent her life scheming for everything in the Prime Minister's mansion for that good-for-nothing son. Little did she know, Gu Ziming was the first liar. She thought he was rich, but it was all his ex-wife's dowry. He only had a small salary. She thought he had a house, but it was just a government-provided employee housing unit that would be taken back once he left the company.
Therefore, Gu Ziming was the one who had nothing but a phoenix man, and he was the one who deceived all the women in the mansion who followed him.
"I didn't expect you guys to lose your temper so easily!" The faint voice came from the doorway.
Aunt Rou and Batu helped Gu Ziming to the front hall. Since Gu Ziming was injured in the back, he couldn't find a place to sit down, so he relied on Batu to stand up.