Gu Jiu wanted to copy scriptures for her deceased mother, so she closed the door and refused visitors.
Gu Zhen and Gu Lin came twice in a row but were turned away both times.
"Please forgive me, eldest and fifth girls. My young lady said that she wants to concentrate on copying scriptures now. When she returns from Tianmen Temple at the end of the month, she will invite the eldest and fifth girls to come to our house for tea."
Qing Mei bowed slightly and spoke in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.
Gu Lin frowned. "Second sister has just recovered, and she is busy copying scriptures. What should I do?"
"Thank you for your concern, Fifth Miss. My young lady is taking the medicine prescribed by Doctor Chen, and she is doing fine."
Gu Lin added, "Second sister should also take good care of herself. Let me go in and talk to her in person."
Qing Mei stood at the door and said, "My young lady appreciates Fifth Miss's kindness. But my young lady is not suitable to see guests. Fifth Miss, please go back."
Gu Lin was dissatisfied, but there was nothing she could do about Qing Mei.
Gu Zhen asked, "I heard that my second sister will go to Tianmen Temple with my third brother on the fifteenth of this month and burn the scriptures she copied by hand for Madam in front of the Buddha."
Qing Mei bowed and nodded. "That's right."
"Second sister is very filial; I wonder how we can help."
Qing Mei said, "My young lady appreciates your kindness, Miss."
Gu Zhen smiled and said, "It seems that I won't be able to see my second sister today. Well, my second sister wants to concentrate on copying scriptures, so we won't disturb her. Fifth sister, let's go. I'll come to visit my second sister another day."
Gu Lin hesitated for a moment and nodded. "I'll listen to my elder sister."
The two left together, and after reaching the garden, they separated.
Gu Zhen went to see Gu Shan.
Gu Lin went to see her biological mother, Aunt Bai.
"Aunt, my second sister won't see me."
"Did you say something wrong before and make your second sister unhappy?"
Aunt Bai is gentle and kind, and it is easy for people to like her.
Gu Lin shook her head. "Your daughter didn't say anything wrong. I don't know why my second sister doesn't want to see me."
Aunt Bai frowned and thought deeply, "Perhaps it's just like what Qing Mei, the maid, said. The second young lady is busy copying scriptures. She needs to concentrate on it to show her sincerity, so she can't be disturbed."
Is that so?
Aunt Bai held Gu Lin's hand and said, "Go and do your needlework. I'll go see the madam."
Gu Lin was puzzled.
Aunt Bai added, "We have to prepare a table of wine and food and serve wine to the master in the evening."
"Will father come over tonight?"
Gu Lin looked surprised.
Aunt Bai smiled and said, "Madam is concerned about the second young lady's situation. I will go and have a chat to relieve Madam's worries. If Madam is happy, Master will come over."
Gu Lin seemed to understand, but not quite.
Aunt Bai didn't explain anything. She just stood up and left the courtyard with her maid.
…
Zhi Lan Courtyard.
Gu Jiu had already changed into a maid's clothes and was ready to go out.
She asked Qing Mei, "Have they all been sent away?"
Qing Mei nodded. "I've sent them away. Do you really have to go out, young lady?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Don't worry. With my brother and cousin Su here, nothing will happen. Qing Zhu, you can stay in the house for me. Is there any problem?"
Qing Zhu had already changed into Gu Jiu's clothes and looked very uneasy.
As soon as Gu Jiu leaves, she will pretend to be Gu Jiu and lie on the bed.
"Miss, is this really okay? What if someone finds out?"
Gu Jiu comforted her, "Don't be afraid. Just do as I tell you, and no one will find out. Qing Mei and I will be out for a while, and we will definitely be back within two hours."
Qing Zhu nodded nervously. "Miss, you must come back soon!"
Gu Jiu followed Qing Mei and quietly left Zhi Lan Courtyard.
She chose a remote and deserted path and left the governor's mansion through the back door.
There was a bullock cart parked at the door.
Gu Jiu got on the ox cart directly.
Gu Ting and Su Zheng were already waiting in the car.
"Sister, you are finally here. I was just worried that you might be in trouble and unable to leave the house."
Gu Jiu said, "My eldest sister and fifth sister came to visit me, and it took me some time to get rid of them. Let's set off now."
Gu Ting nodded.
Li Chuan waved his whip, "Go!"
"Moo"
The old ox cried out to the sky, then started running, pulling the ox cart towards the south of the city.
The ox cart is very stable, but slow.
There's nothing we can do about it.
Five years ago, the Qing Ping Horse Farm, located in the northwest of the imperial court, was poisoned at the water source by the coalition forces of Xiliang and Beirong.
All the 100,000 fine-bred horses in the racecourse were killed or injured overnight.
Since then, there has been a serious shortage of horses in the Great Zhou Dynasty, from the imperial court to the people.
More than 100 officials from the Taifu Temple, which was in charge of the Qing Ping Horse Farm, were either beheaded or exiled.
Due to the accident at Qing Ping Horse Farm, the cavalry suffered heavy losses, and the Great Zhou army had to switch from offense to defense and enter a passive defense state.
In order to remedy the situation, the imperial court introduced a series of policies, collectively known as horse policies.
The two most critical policies are:
First, private horse trading was not allowed. All horse trading had to go through the imperial horse market. Anyone who violated the rules would be put in shackles for ten days and exiled a thousand miles.
Second, the number of horses that the rich and powerful could own was limited. If the number exceeded, the excess horses had to be sold to the imperial court.
Therefore, the huge governor's mansion only had four horses, which were only used for Lord Gu and Mrs. Xie to travel.
If Gu Jiu wanted to go out, he could only choose an ox cart.
Except for its slow speed, the ox cart is good in all other aspects.
Gu Ting and Su Zheng were sitting on the bicycle frame, dressed very low-key.
Gu Jiu sat in the carriage and changed into men's clothes with Qing Mei's help.
Gu Jiu lifted the car curtain, poked her head out, and asked, "How is it?"
Gu Ting looked at Gu Jiu dressed in men's clothes and was stunned for a moment. "I didn't expect my sister to look so heroic in men's clothes."
"Really?" Gu Jiu was worried that she was too small to wear men's clothing.
Gu Ting nodded repeatedly.
Su Zheng also said, "This outfit looks surprisingly suitable on my cousin."
Gu Jiu felt relieved. She was wearing clothes that Gu Ting had worn a few years ago. They were the right size, but they looked a little too rich and not low-key enough.
She said, "It's good as long as it's suitable. Have you reached the pharmacy yet?"
"We're almost there; sit down, sister."
Gu Ting nodded and returned to the carriage and sat down.
After a cup of tea, the carriage stopped in front of Xu's pharmacy.
Gu Jiu jumped out of the carriage, scaring Qing Mei so much that she almost screamed.
Gu Jiu acted like a rich young man and walked into the drugstore with Gu Ting and Su Zheng, the two servants who were there to support him.
The shopkeeper greeted her personally upon seeing her: "Sir, are you here to see a doctor or to prescribe medicine?"
Gu Jiu looked around, deliberately lowered her voice, pretending to be a man, and said, "See a doctor."
The shopkeeper said, "The doctor who is seeing patients today is Wang..."
"I'm looking for Doctor Xu," Gu Jiu decisively interrupted the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Doctor Xu is not seeing patients today."
Gu Jiu took out the prescription and showed it to the shopkeeper. There was Doctor Xu's signature and seal on the prescription.
The shopkeeper wanted to take a closer look, but Gu Jiu withdrew her hand and put the prescription away.
"I have been seeing Doctor Xu before, and I don't want to change to another doctor. Please be flexible, boss."
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, then seeing that Gu Jiu was dressed richly, he nodded and said, "Sir, wait a moment. I will go get Doctor Xu right away."
Gu Ting secretly gave a thumbs up and whispered, "Sister, you are amazing."
Gu Jiu coughed lightly and said, "Brother, don't talk nonsense."
Gu Ting nodded, "I understand."
Soon, Dr. Xu came out from the backyard.
"Who wants to see me?"
"It's me!" Gu Ting looked the other person up and down, her eyes as if she were evaluating a commodity, somewhat nonchalantly.
"You are..." Doctor Xu was unhappy. Whose son is this? He doesn't know any Etiquette. How can you look at people like this?
Gu Jiu took a step forward, a smile on her face, her words as sharp as a knife: "Doctor Xu, you are a forgetful person. I almost lost my life in your hands some time ago; have you forgotten it so quickly?"
Doctor Xu suddenly realized and recognized Gu Jiu, "You are Gu..."
"Doctor Xu, please be careful with your words. There are so many people coming and going here; this is not the place to talk." Gu Jiu looked at the other person with a smile.
Doctor Xu felt inexplicably guilty; his eyes wandered, and he said nervously, "Please go to the backyard to talk."