Gu Kaiping spent his days in the Hanlin Academy. Although assigned to tasks of little importance, the Hanlin Academy was part of the Imperial Court, and the information there was more accessible.
Even though the superiors had their own agendas, none of them wanted to drag the entire Hanlin Academy into it, so they have been warning them quite frequently these days.
"Father, rest assured, I will focus more on matters at home these days." Having passed the imperial examination, he was not particularly gifted, but he was no fool either. The recent atmosphere felt very strange, like a storm was approaching.
"Don't talk about your official matters at home," Xu Huizhen felt embarrassed, as if the matriarch of the house was being mocked by her daughters-in-law.
"It's just attending fewer banquets, nothing major. But our Tong Er has a significant opportunity..."
"No matter what the opportunity is, stay quietly at home during this time." He was well aware of the behavior of his wife and eldest daughter-in-law, or else he wouldn't have said these things today.
He secretly pledged allegiance to the Third Prince, aligning himself in the future struggle for royal power. He had already made plans for his granddaughter's future and getting involved with other princes would only complicate things for him.
"Since the master has spoken, we will of course comply," the old madam lowered her eyes, then looked up towards her sons and daughters-in-law, "Your maternal family encountered difficulties, and they turned to me for help. Since everyone is here today, let's discuss it."
Gu Baijiang frowned upon hearing this. The Xu Family had taken so much from Xu Huizhen, yet he never minded. He even made a trip to the Xu Family to warn them before, and they had been quiet for a while, but now they were acting up again.
Although the Xu Family wasn't what it used to be, it was still a small land-owning family. The father-in-law had a hundred acres of fertile land; how bad could life be?
Ah yes, there was that good-for-nothing brother-in-law who loved to gamble, but he had already informed the casinos to be on alert. Could he have found a new one?
"Didn't I say you were not to meddle in Xu Family matters?" he rebuked coldly.
The old lady knew how to handle Gu Baijiang's temperament, "That's your in-law family and the maternal family of the children. How can you be so heartless? What good name would it bring to the Gu Mansion?
Besides, it's not a big deal, just some silver coins. Helping them isn't like sheltering a criminal."
Having said that, Xu Huizhen didn't bother with Gu Baijiang but turned towards Gu Kaiping, "Kaiping, what do you have to say about your uncle's matters? Will you manage it?"
Gu Kaiping, "..." How was he supposed to respond to that?
While racking his brains, Xu Huizhen turned to Gu Kaichen, "Second son, that is both your maternal and in-law family, what do you say?"
Without waiting for a response, Xu Huizhen went straight to the next target.
Gu Kaiyuan wasn't there, so she directly confronted Bai Suihe, "Your third brother isn't home, Ms. Bai, what will you do when your maternal family is in trouble? Will you help?"
Bai Suihe, "..." What was this old woman's look? Did she owe the Xu family anything?
Questioning the eldest and second branches was just perfunctory, so why was she staring directly at her?
Bai Suihe pretended to think while lowering her head. Look as much as you want, it's not like it costs anything.
But clearly, Xu Huizhen wasn't going to let her go and asked, "Ms. Bai, I'm asking you, why aren't you answering?"
Bai Suihe looked up, her face full of fear, "Mother, I'm not familiar with these matters. I'll see how eldest and second brother handle it and follow father and brothers' advice."
Xu Huizhen was exasperated, aware that Bai was cleverly avoiding trouble, redirecting it elsewhere.
"Enough," Gu Baijiang saw through her intentions immediately, "Kaiyuan is not at home, she is just a woman, what could she know?
So tell us, what happened with the Xu Family this time?"
"It's like this, the ancestral hall is in disrepair and has been damaged by continuous rainfall, with the eastern wall collapsing and the whole structure on the verge of collapse.
You know our land is just about a hundred acres, barely enough for the family to scrape by and there's no silver to date for repairs, so they've come to us for help."
"Liu Yun, send ten taels of silver to the Xu Family later as our contribution."
"Ten taels of silver won't be enough," Xu Huizhen immediately protested, "To rebuild everything, it would take several hundred taels of silver, not to mention the ancestral tablets are also quite old…"
"Mrs. Xu," Gu Baijiang barked angrily, "That's not the Gu Family's ancestral hall. Although I'm not the head of the family, I understand these mundane affairs.
I recall when I returned to burn incense and pay respects at the Gu Family ancestral hall, it didn't cost more than a few dozen taels.
What, do you want the Xu Family to have gold-tipped edges?"
Xu Huizhen was rendered speechless by the rebuke. She vaguely remembered the matter, but it had been so long ago that it had slipped her mind.
Looking at Xu Yulan, she noticed her evasive gaze. She finally understood.
"The Xu Family ancestral hall is the responsibility of the filial sons and grandchildren of the Xu Family, it has nothing to do with the Gu Mansion. Don't even send the ten taels; instead, buy a gift for Father-in-law."
Gu Baijiang glanced around after finishing, not paying Bai Suihe much heed, without the third son at home, what could a woman know?
At least she was decent enough to know to listen to her elders and brothers.
Xu Huizhen clenched her fists in frustration, "But they've already come begging for help. If we don't assist, Father will come again in a few days."
Mrs. Xu's words were a veiled threat, easily understood by Gu Baijiang, causing him once again to regret the early marriage with a leaning toward a non-supportive in-law family.
Once that old man from the Xu Family arrived, he would flaunt his patriarchal status, and getting rid of him was no trivial task.
Even Liu Yun, who was observing, seemed a bit restless. If that old fellow from the Xu Family showed up, the house would lose its peace again.
They were clearly just small landowners, yet their demands were excessive. To avoid calamity, it might be best to pay them off.
Gu Kaiping was also helpless with his mother's unreasonable approach, "Mother, there are recent movements in the government, and they might assign a batch of officials to posts outside; I was thinking..."
"Don't even think about it. Your father is in the capital; how can he not protect his son?" The old madam interrupted her eldest son. The master previously considered posting Kaiping elsewhere, but she had always opposed it.
As the eldest son of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, was he afraid of not having a place in the capital? With a few more years of hard work, he could become a rising star in the court, surely an Imperial Minister.
She was dreaming of a bright future, unaware that her dear son constantly yearned to leave, which was unacceptable to her.
Posting far and wide elsewhere, without knowing where he might be assigned, how can it compare to peace under her knee?
"This matter isn't up for discussion, and if you father and son dare to keep it from me, I surely won't agree." The old madam hadn't realized she was being diverted again.
Watching this turn of events, Bai Suihe couldn't help but glance at her sympathetically.