Forgotten?
She truly didn’t know much about it.
Now, seeing Lady Ye’s reaction, it seemed that the original owner of this body must have known the person in question, and likely had a deep connection with them.
If she said the wrong thing, she might expose herself.
The situation was somewhat critical, but Lu Jinxi had weathered many storms and had her own way of handling such scenarios.
At that moment, instead of avoiding Lady Ye’s gaze, she smiled faintly, deliberately speaking in a half-truthful tone, “I’ve really forgotten.”
Lady Ye fell for it.
She was a shrewd woman, well-informed and thoughtful, and now her mind was racing with possibilities.
Seeing Lu Jinxi’s ambiguous smile, she connected it with the past events she knew and sensed a hint of mockery, thinking that Lu Jinxi was feigning ignorance on purpose.
But…
Given what had happened back then, it was only natural that Lu Jinxi wouldn’t want to bring up “that person.”
Lady Ye held the small teacup and sighed, “It was my mistake to forget that you, Madam, have a grudge against them. After all, Wei Yi once ostracized you, and Gu Juefei was close to her. It’s only natural that you’d hold some resentment toward him now…”
This short sentence immediately gave Lu Jinxi the information she needed.
She suddenly remembered—
She had heard of them.
Both Wei Yi and Gu Juefei were names she had heard before.
However, what she had heard were the romantic tales of talented scholars and beauties that circulated among the common folk, while Lady Ye was referring to the hidden affairs of the court, which she hadn’t connected at first.
Wei Yi was known as the most beautiful woman in the capital, far surpassing the original owner of this body.
As for Gu Juefei, the eldest son of Grand Tutor Gu, he was a man of extraordinary talent. It was said that he had achieved the rank of Tanhua (third place in the imperial examinations) at the age of twenty-three and was on good terms with Wei Yi.
Everyone said they were a perfect match, a pair of exceptional beauty and talent.
But who could have expected that Wei Yi would later enter the palace and become the favored Consort Xian, while Gu Juefei, for some unknown reason, chose to become a monk and secluded himself in a place called “Snow Jade Peak”?
Now, based on Lady Ye’s words, it seemed that “Snow Jade Peak” was likely a location within Dazhao Temple.
This event was so legendary and full of intrigue that even though it had happened five or six years ago, people still couldn’t stop talking about it.
What Lu Jinxi didn’t know was that the original owner of this body had some past grievances with Wei Yi and Gu Juefei.
Her knowledge of Gu Juefei was limited to the occasional whispers of infatuated maids, so even though she had remembered, she showed no sign of it on her face.
Her thick eyelashes fluttered slightly as Lu Jinxi let out a soft laugh, feeling more confident. She began to probe Lady Ye for more information, “It’s all such old news. Who could possibly remember it all? Just now, you mentioned that Grand Tutor Gu went to Dazhao Temple last night, and that Young Master Gu is also there…”
Her voice trailed off, as if she were deep in thought.
Since Xue Kuang’s passing, Lu Jinxi had rarely gone out.
Lady Ye, unaware of her true situation, assumed she knew nothing or hadn’t been involved in these matters. Seeing her confusion, Lady Ye naturally continued, “This could lead to something big…”
Who didn’t know about the falling out between Gu Juefei and his family a few years ago?
Grand Tutor Gu had been so furious that he called him an unfilial son, but no one in the Gu family could match Gu Juefei’s abilities.
He had left home at fifteen to travel and study, returning to the capital at nineteen.
In those four years, he had made friends throughout the scholarly circles of Jiangnan, many of whom now held official positions in the court.
At twenty-three, he had achieved the rank of Tanhua, and whether it was the impoverished scholars of the capital or the scions of noble families, all sought his friendship and spoke of him with genuine admiration.
Moreover…
Gu Juefei had done many things behind the scenes. Lady Ye had only heard fragments, but even now, the thought of them made her shiver.
In terms of talent, strategy, or even mental fortitude, he surpassed Grand Tutor Gu in every way.
Even though he had fallen out with his family, anyone with eyes could see that Grand Tutor Gu still favored and placed the highest hopes on his eldest son.
Having lived among the noble families for so long, Lady Ye’s insight was far from ordinary.
She had a clear understanding of many things.
Now, she carefully analyzed the situation for Lu Jinxi, presenting it in a logical and coherent manner.
“You must have heard, Madam, that the second son of the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion passed the provincial examination last year and is considered a young prodigy. Even the children of Grand Tutor Gu’s second wife are all clever and talented.”
“But with Gu Juefei as the shining jewel, they pale in comparison.”
“No matter how well they perform, they will always be overshadowed by their elder brother. Even in Grand Tutor Gu’s heart, no one can compare to his eldest son…”
This was the first time Lu Jinxi had heard someone speak so thoroughly about Gu Juefei, a man whose reputation rivaled that of Xue Kuang.
She didn’t interrupt, nor did she rush. She simply listened as Lady Ye continued.
“Grand Tutor Gu is fifty this year, and his health is failing. He suffers from a leg ailment.”
“This winter, he fell seriously ill and was unable to attend court for several days, causing the imperial physicians to lose sleep in fear.”
“The burden of upholding the Gu family’s prestige rests on his shoulders, and it’s exhausting. It’s only a matter of time before he retires…”
“When the news spread last night that Grand Tutor Gu had gone to Dazhao Temple, every household in the capital sent people to investigate.”
“He has never been one to believe in gods or worship Buddha. The only reason he would go to Dazhao Temple is likely related to Gu Juefei, who is secluded at Snow Jade Peak.”
“Everyone in the capital is speculating: Will Gu Juefei return? When will he return? Will he take over the family’s affairs? And who will inherit Grand Tutor Gu’s influence and connections in the court…”
At this point, Lady Ye couldn’t help but shake her head in amazement.
The Gu family was deeply rooted and powerful.
Although their own Duke’s residence was influential, it paled in comparison to such a formidable faction.
Lu Jinxi finally understood: It was all about interests…
With Grand Tutor Gu’s immense influence in the court and Gu Juefei’s extraordinary capabilities, if the two reconciled, the Gu family’s direction could shift dramatically.
The affairs of the court were intricately connected, with far-reaching implications.
Thus, even the slightest movement could set countless people on edge, leaving them restless and uneasy.
This was quite intriguing.
It seemed that Lady Ye’s earlier inquiry about the Gu family was an attempt to gain some advantage in this ever-changing situation, or at least to avoid making any missteps.
After all, the Gu family had several sons, but Gu Juefei was the eldest and the most exceptional.
The more Lu Jinxi thought about it, the more fascinating it became.
After pondering for a while, she asked, “So, what do you think, Lady Ye? Will Gu Juefei return?”
“…”
Lady Ye looked at her for a long moment, speechless and somewhat exasperated.
“Madam, please don’t tease me. Back then, Gu Juefei left so decisively. The news struck like a thunderbolt, shocking half the capital. Who can predict what will happen now? Our Duke’s residence has never been closely connected with the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, unlike you…”
At this point, Lady Ye paused for a moment, her eyes growing somewhat complex, carrying a profound meaning.
"Although Madam and the Virtuous Consort did not get along, those are all matters of the past."
"Your esteemed father, Elder Lu, and Grand Tutor Gu were scholars who passed the imperial examination in the same year, and their friendship was unbreakable. On the side of the General's Mansion, there is also Princess Yongning, who once collaborated with Grand Tutor Gu from within and without to help the current Emperor ascend to the throne. Their relationship is as close as it gets..."
"Madam is the treasured daughter of Elder Lu, and I have also heard that she has a good relationship with Princess Yongning."
"If we are to talk about the details of Grand Tutor Gu's ascent to the mountain, no matter how well-informed my sources are, they cannot compare to Madam's."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jinxi understood clearly.
Calculating it this way, it is indeed true that the Lu family's information should be more reliable...
"It's just a pity that I have been ill these past few days, and no one has even informed me about the banquet at the Grand Preceptor's Mansion. Now that I know about Grand Tutor Gu's ascent to the mountain, it is all thanks to Madam Ye for bringing it up..."
"That doesn't matter much."
Lady Ye, who was quite familiar with the affairs of noble families, gently patted Luo Dingfang's head and said with a smile, "Now that Madam has recovered from her illness, I'm afraid a pile of matters will come your way. Even if you wish to avoid them, the current situation won't allow it. However, I have something I would like to say to you, though I am unsure if I should bring it up..."
Lu Jinxi became curious, "Please, feel free to speak."
"Consider me overly cautious then..."
Lady Ye sighed, looking at Lu Jinxi and recalling her earlier half-serious remark, "I have truly forgotten."
"From your demeanor just now, it seems you have not yet let go of the past grievances with the Virtuous Consort."
"But now the Grand Preceptor's Mansion is powerful, and the eldest son of the Gu family, Gu Juefei, no longer has any ties with the Virtuous Consort."
"Whether it is for the sake of the General's Mansion or for Chi'er's future, Madam should put aside these grudges and take this opportunity to befriend the Grand Preceptor's Mansion..."
Although the Xue family has been a family of generals for generations, during the reign of the previous Emperor, wars were frequent.
Both the eldest and second branches of the Xue family died on the battlefield, including the eldest son of the main branch. Lu Jinxi's mother-in-law, Lady Sun, became a widow, as did her aunt, Princess Yongning, and her sister-in-law, Lady He.
Even Lu Jinxi herself is in the same situation.
The capable men of the family all went to war, and most met unfortunate ends.
Now, in the mansion, those who have reached a certain age but have not made a name for themselves are mostly hopeless cases, not to be relied upon.
Grand Tutor Gu, a high-ranking official, holds influence not only in civil affairs.
Moreover, Lu Jinxi herself comes from a scholarly family and may not necessarily want her children to go to the battlefield again. This can be inferred from her decision to send her child to the Guangyin Academy for education.
Lady Ye's words were all out of fear that Lu Jinxi, holding onto past grievances, might falter at this critical juncture.
Befriending the Grand Preceptor's Mansion would at least mean one less enemy.
Her words were not wrong, but in truth, Lu Jinxi had no idea about the original body's grudges with them and had no feelings towards Wei Yi or Gu Juefei.
She knew it was her earlier half-serious remark that had led Lady Ye to misunderstand.
But she did not explain.
Her hands, with their translucent and smooth nails, slowly folded and rested on her knees.
Lu Jinxi smiled gently and said to Lady Ye, "Madam Ye's considerations are thorough, far beyond my capabilities. Regarding the banquet at the Grand Preceptor's Mansion, if I get the chance upon my return, I will inquire about it. If I obtain any information, I may have to trouble you again for some advice."
Lady Ye's eyes flickered slightly as she met Lu Jinxi's deep, calm gaze.
For a moment, she felt a bit startled.
It seemed as if the other party had seen through her little scheme: her goodwill towards Lu Jinxi was all for obtaining some information about the Grand Preceptor's Mansion.
Now that Lu Jinxi had agreed, she felt somewhat uneasy.
Fortunately, Lady Ye reacted quickly and immediately smiled charmingly, "That would truly be a blessing for me, saving me the trouble of seeking information about the Grand Preceptor's Mansion elsewhere. It is I who should thank you, Madam."
Her words were spoken with such frankness, without any concealment.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jinxi felt a sense of goodwill and couldn't help but smile as well.
The atmosphere in the room became even more harmonious than before.
The two of them changed the topic and chatted for a while longer.
After about half an hour, seeing that it was getting late, Lu Jinxi stood up to take her leave.
Before leaving, she had Bai Lu leave behind the medicinal herbs, which Lady Ye accepted without any reservations, and even escorted her to the door.
Only after watching Lu Jinxi disappear down the path did she have the time to reflect on the afternoon's interaction.
Sitting and talking with Lu Jinxi was truly a most comfortable experience.
Whether it was listening to her voice, looking at her face, or observing her subtle expressions, everything was perfectly pleasant.
But upon carefully recalling the details, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease: could an ordinary person evoke such feelings?
Her emotions slightly stirred, and Lady Ye murmured in a daze, "How is she even more difficult to read than Wei Yi..."
Those who once claimed Wei Yi was the best must have been blind.
With a very strange feeling, Lady Ye returned to her room.
Meanwhile, Lu Jinxi, having left the Duke's Mansion, returned to the East Courtyard accompanied by Bai Lu and others.
Several maids were waiting outside.
As she ascended the steps, she intended to ask about Zhang the Ghost Hand, but upon looking up, she noticed several unfamiliar maids standing outside.
They wore exquisite peach-colored dresses, standing with their legs together, backs straight, heads slightly bowed, and hands folded in front of them.
Their manners were far stricter than those of the other maids in the mansion.
Even their appearances were exceptionally striking, not something that could be cultivated within the mansion.
Her thoughts turning, before she could ask, one of the original maids from the East Courtyard came forward and softly informed Lu Jinxi, "Second Madam, Princess Yongning is inside, waiting for you. She has been here for a while."
Princess Yongning?
Lu Jinxi's eyelids twitched.
Wasn't this the very Princess Yongning she had just mentioned with Lady Ye?
During the reign of the previous Emperor, she had married the second son of Old General Xue, Xue Huan, becoming the sister-in-law of her mother-in-law, Lady Sun, and had a daughter.
Due to her noble status, although she only managed the affairs of the second branch, even the main branch held her in high regard.
Moreover, having played a significant role in Emperor Qing'an's ascension to the throne, she held considerable influence in the court, making her position in the mansion even more elevated.
The original Lu Jinxi, with her gentle nature, had managed the household for several years, largely due to her support.
Lu Jinxi had no idea why, but this did not diminish her regard for the matter.
She just didn't know why this aunt, Princess Yongning, had come.
Frowning, she nodded and walked towards the room, her mind suddenly recalling everything Lady Ye had said earlier...
Princess Yongning was very close to Grand Tutor Gu and must know a lot.
Could it be...
