Yanzhi had always been skilled at gathering news. "Yes, he left at the hour of mao. The young mistress and old madam personally saw him off at the door. This servant heard that Yujia took quite a lot of silver to arrange things for Young Master Jiang, so this time Young Master Jiang will certainly obtain a good official post when he returns."
Today was an auspicious day. The whole Bo Mansion was waiting for the results of Jiang Yin's appointment.
Gu Ying scoffed.
One cannot enter the Hanlin Academy if not a jinshi degree holder, and one cannot enter the Inner Cabinet if not of the Hanlin Academy.
Since ancient times, scholar-officials have tried their hardest to get into the Hanlin Academy. Jiang Yin also walked a beautiful shortcut in his past life, starting out as a clerk and later obtaining the recommendation of veteran officials to directly enter the Inner Cabinet, becoming the youngest Inner Cabinet consultant in Dongli.
But it may not be so easy in this life.
Recommending and appointing officials requires the sponsor to submit a memorial to His Majesty, with five officials recommending the candidate. One of them is the supervising official, and the memorial is also called the "Jingxie". The five memorials can also be called "five xie", "five papers".
When all five memorials are complete, it is called "hejian".
For a nobleman from a poor family with low status and no connections at court, obtaining consent from five recommending officials is no easy feat.
With her uncle and cousin present, Jiang Yin certainly won't be able to return to the center of power in Bianjing.
Gu Ying was actually not worried that Jiang Yin would fail to impress in the Imperial Court today. She had something even more important to do at the moment.
Yin Lan had painted two patches of dark circles under her eyes, looking very realistic.
Gu Ying had been frail and sickly all her life, so she was naturally adept at this kind of acting.
She didn't bring any maids with her, just carried a lantern and hurried to Yongshou Hall alone. She accidentally stepped on her skirt and fell into the snow, becoming a complete mess.
Li Mama was bringing hot water into the old madam's room when she heard faint sobbing sounds outside. She cried out in alarm, opened the door, and lifted the curtain to come out.
Seeing a figure huddled in the pitch-black courtyard, she was immediately frightened. When she took a closer look and recognized the person, she hurried over. "Second young mistress? What are you doing here? Ah, why are you crying here so early in the morning?"
Gu Ying looked as if she had been too anxious when rushing over and fell prostrate in the snow. She sloppily wiped her tears with her sleeve. Her eyes were red and swollen as she said to Li Mama, "Li Mama, is Grandmother awake?"
Li Mama quickly helped Gu Ying up from the snow. "She's awake. Second young mistress, what's happened to you? Why have you made such a mess of yourself?"
Her hair was uncombed, her face unadorned, and it seemed she hadn't even changed her clothes. It looked like she had leaped out of bed and rushed over in a panic.
"Where are the maids attending to the young mistress of the household? Those wretched girls, how dare they be so negligent towards the young mistress!"
Gu Ying pressed her lips tightly together, with the appearance of lingering fear. She silently shook her head, only crying as she said, "Li Mama, I must see Grandmother, I have something to tell Grandmother!"
Li Mama was shocked by Gu Ying's appearance. Her heart thumped uneasily, filled with a sense of foreboding.
She hurriedly supported Gu Ying inside.
The icy wind swirled snowflakes indoors. A bone-chilling cold rushed forth.
Inside the room, the candle flames flickered. Gu Old Madam sat cross-legged on the bed, speaking with Mrs. Liu.
Today was Jiang Yin's big day. Mrs. Liu and Gu Jia had come early to chat and laugh with Gu Old Madam, discussing whether they should prepare several celebratory feasts if Jiang Yin obtained a good official post.
Seeing Gu Ying, mother and daughter Liu looked at each other in confusion.
It wasn't time for paying respects yet, so why was Gu Ying here?
Could it be for Ye's private treasury?
Impossible. Gu Ying didn't have the brains for that. The dowry was completely in her hands right now. A young girl like Gu Ying wouldn't dare tattle to Old Madam.
Seeing Mrs. Liu and Gu Jia, Gu Ying concealed the coldness in her eyes and pretended to be fearful. Her thin body recoiled slightly.
"Aunt, sister...so early, why are you here..."
Her act left Mrs. Liu confused.
Of course, Gu Old Madam had not missed Gu Ying's careful, recoiling movement. Her gaze grew cold as she said, "So early, why have you come? And in this state, what propriety is this?"
Gu Ying hurried to Gu Old Madam's side, kneeling by the old madam's knees. She tightly grasped the old madam's sleeves, looking up with tearful eyes. "Grandmother, Ying had a terrible nightmare..."
Gu Old Madam's brows furrowed severely, clearly displeased. "Just a dream, why the panic?"
Gu Ying said fearfully, "I dreamed...the dead camellia tree at our backyard gate suddenly blossomed...and then Gu Min's figure walked down from the tree...pulling my hand...saying she wanted to take me somewhere..."
Gu Jia was shocked. She suddenly stood up and yelled, "What nonsense are you saying! Grandmother, hurry and drive her out!"
Gu Old Madam glared at Gu Jia, seeming to reproach her rashness.
Gu Jia pressed her pale lips tightly, glancing at her mother from the corner of her eye before stiffly sitting down again.
Gu Ying shrank back. Tears spilled from her eyes. "Grandmother, a blooming dead tree is normally an auspicious sign, but in the dream Gu Min kept pulling me towards the pond...I was so frightened I struggled violently. When I looked back, I saw Gu Min's swollen, deathly pale face staring blankly at me...She said to tell Grandmother that you must find a priest to perform rites for her, that she is suffering greatly down below...She also said...also said that those who caused her death must not die a good death..."
Gu Jia's chest heaved violently. Her face was pale from anger, yet she was too furious to speak.
"You--"
Such preposterous things...How could they happen!
Yet she knew the other two women in the room had also changed expressions.
When Mrs. Liu heard that Gu Min was suffering down below, her eyes instantly reddened. She pressed down the about-to-refute Gu Jia and asked Gu Ying, "She really said that?"
Gu Ying's eyes were bloodshot. She said viciously, "If Ying dares speak a single false word, may she die without burial!"
Mrs. Liu froze, tears swirling in her eyes. She turned to look at Gu Old Madam. "Mother, Min'er, she..."
The living who feel guilty towards the dead will always have restless hearts.
Over all these years in the Gu household, Mrs. Liu had done all kinds of evil, yet the one she loved, regretted, and felt most guilty for was always her deceased daughter, Gu Min. She wished she could trade her life to have Gu Min live again.
In the small Yongshou Hall, the atmosphere instantly solidified.
By now, Gu Old Madam's brows were tightly knitted. She was the most superstitious out of all of them. Hearing Gu Ying's words was like a sledgehammer forcefully pounding her chest, inexplicably panicked, as if sensing some inauspicious omen.
"What else did your sister Min say?"
Gu Ying shook her head. "Nothing else...Just that the rites must be held, and that if we don't do as she said, she will curse misfortune upon the Gu family..."
The weddings of Gu's two young mistresses were coming right up. For something like this to happen, such an ill-omened dream, would indeed leave one uneasy.
