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"Aunt!"
On the way back to Yongshou Palace, Zhuang Yuexi couldn't help stopping Imperial Consort Zhuang.
Imperial Consort Zhuang glanced sideways at her, "What's the matter?"
Zhuang Yuexi was a noble daughter of the Zhuang Family. She was always dignified, quiet and graceful. Her call of aunt just now really showed that she momentarily forgot her manners.
Zhuang Yuexi, aware of her mistake, handed the flower basket to the palace maid at the side, caught up to Imperial Consort Zhuang with her skirt held up a bit, and said in a soft voice, "Yuexi has lost her manners. Asking aunt for punishment."
Imperial Consort Zhuang said without any anger, "You haven't been acting right since we met County Princess Hui. Tell me, what grudges do you have against the other party?"
"There is no grudges." Zhuang Yuexi answered in a small voice.
But how could Imperial Consort Zhuang not know her niece? Ever since childhood, she was the most noble daughter in the capital. She was intelligent, talented and had never met an adversary.
Gu Jinyu's reputation in early years wasn’t as good as that of Zhuang Yuexi. However, later, she was first conferred the title of County Princess, and then she shone brilliantly in the women's academy, gradually becoming as famous as Zhuang Yuexi.
Gu Jinyu couldn’t surpass Zhuang Yuexi at the moment. However, with Zhuang Yuexi's dignity, it was already a failure to share the limelight equally with others.
Imperial Consort Zhuang walked on, saying, "Is that why you don't like County Princess Hui? Aunt told you, you are the daughter of the Zhuang Family; your vision should be high and your disposition should not be small."
That wasn’t the reason for Zhuang Yuexi’s behavior though.
Zhuang Yuexi merely lowered her eyes and said, "Thanking aunt for teaching me a lesson." She paused a moment before adding, "But why did aunt suddenly care about the marriage of County Princess Hui? Does aunt want to be a matchmaker for her?"
Imperial Consort Zhuang smiled faintly, "I'd like to, but she has to nod her head and say yes first."
Zhuang Yuexi was originally just trying to test her aunt, but she really got an answer, "Aunt… Who do you want to marry her to? Eldest cousin? Or——"
Imperial Consort Zhuang simply smiled without speaking.
Zhuang Yuexi's heart thumped, "Aunt, you’re not planning to marry her to big brother and make her my sister-in-law, are you?"
The Zhuang Family had several sons, but An Junwang was the only one who was still unmarried.
Imperial Consort Zhuang didn't admit it or deny it.
Zhuang Yuexi's eyes were suddenly suffused with panic, "Aunt, she isn’t worthy of my big brother! She’s not a real Marquis Estate’s daughter, but a peasant girl from the countryside. Even if His Majesty bestowed her the title of County Princess, it’s nothing but a mere reputation that is pleasant to hear. She wasn’t even granted a fief, what kind of County Princess is she!?"
Imperial Consort Zhuang stopped walking, and so did the several palace maids. Then she caressed the sweet osmanthus flowers in the basket, "A County Princess really isn’t worthy, but what if… she becomes a Commandery Princess?"
Zhuang Yuexi was shocked.
……
Meanwhile, Marquis Gu was once again summoned by Minister Zhao to the main hall where he handled official business.
Marquis Gu had been getting a lot of scolding recently, and the first thing he thought was that he was going to get rebuked again, but he couldn’t just avoid it either.
However, to Marquis Gu's surprise, Minister Zhao had an abnormally soft expression on his face. It didn't look like he was going to scold him at all!
Marquis Gu: Huh?
When Minister Zhao saw Marquis Gu, he showed him his first brilliant smile in months, "Assistant Minister Gu, how is your day?"
Marquis Gu was puzzled by his boss's manner and tone which was only short of asking, "Did you eat well, are you dressed warmly enough, was it inconvenient for you to make the trip here, or are your children having any difficulty in their studies".
He had no idea what to make of this situation.
Minister Zhao personally pulled up Marquis Gu's wrist and invited him to take a seat.
Marquis Gu looked at the person holding his hand, and wondered whether to tell him that men should keep appropriate distance between themselves.
Minister Zhao said with a smile, "You, really! Having given birth to such a promising daughter, why didn't you say anything?”
Marquis Gu was completely confused.
Minister Zhao smiled and sighed, "How much did you want to keep it from me? What is there to hide about such an important thing?"
"I, what have I kept from you?" Marquis Gu was totally at a loss.
Minister Zhao replied, "People from the Ministry of War came by just now, and they asked me if your daughter invented the bellows?"
Marquis Gu pointed to himself, "My daughter?"
Minister Zhao frowned, "Don't you know?"
Marquis Gu shook his head like a rattle drum.
Minister Zhao said, "Then let me ask you, do you have a daughter?"
Marquis Gu nodded, "En."
Minister Zhao continued to ask, "Were you and your daughter in Qingquan Town in You Province last summer?"
Marquis Gu nodded again, "En."
Minister Zhao added, "Is your daughter an extremely bright girl?"
Marquis Gu nodded heavily, "Yes!"
His Jinyu was indeed extremely bright! Not just intelligent in small ways! If not for the fact that women couldn't participate in the imperial examination, his Jinyu could at least become a Jinshi!
Minister Zhao patted the back of Marquis Gu’s right hand with his left palm, "Then isn't this it? Is there any other Marquis Estate’s daughter with the surname Gu who appeared in that town last year besides your daughter?"
Marquis Gu understood what was going on as soon as he heard this. Perhaps the imperial court found a clue to the identity of that little girl.
But... He hadn’t heard anything from Jinyu!
Marquis Gu wasn't so eager to take credit for himself and seek instant benefit. He decided to go back to the estate to ask Gu Jinyu about the situation first.
This matter blew up at a speed far faster than Gu Jinyu had imagined. She was so absorbed in reading the book of sages that she didn’t hear anything outside of her window. She had no idea what the invention of this bellows technology really meant to the State of Zhao.
His Majesty seemed calm, but in fact he was extremely ecstatic that he almost looked like a fool.
At the beginning, that bunch of wretched things from the State of Liang only used a little poor waterwheel furnace technology to exchange for the State of Zhao’s mines. Although the two countries did not engage in war, this breath was more difficult to swallow than losing the war.
Now this was great! This made him so proud!
This technology instantly became popular in the six ministries. It could not only be used in ironmaking, but also improve the quality of metallurgy. What did the State of Zhao don't lack? Gold mines!
However, the productivity level of the State of Zhao was the lowest among the six countries, so it was still a poor country even if there were many mines.
Looking at the life of the common people, it seemed to be good. In fact, it was thanks to the conscience of the two emperors, who didn't wantonly squeeze their people and even reduced a lot of taxes. Actually, the state treasury was extremely poor. Otherwise, was there a need to sell an Imperial Academy admission quota to Lin Chengye?
Half of the funds donated by the Lin family to the Imperial Academy for building construction were transferred into the state treasury by His Majesty.
However, even though Gu Jinyu didn't know the trend of the imperial court and the sixth ministries, she personally experienced the changes of people around her.
[T/N: Commandery Princess is a Princess of the Third Rank. It is usually granted to the daughter of a Qinwang(Prince of the First Rank). On the other hand, County Princess is a Princess of the Fourth Rank and is usually the title of the daughters of a Junwang(Prince of the Second Rank).]
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