After that, Mu Guiyi swiftly seized the power of Mu Province's housekeeper overnight. She was decisive and did not seem like a pampered young lady who had been raised in the boudoir.
After she took over, she punished a few disobedient servants by beating or selling them. When she checked the accounts of the past years, she found fault with two housekeepers and sent them away. She promoted the old ones and assigned a few pairs of maidservants. Among them, the one who played the zither was assigned to one of the young men who beat her up that day.
This set of actions was terrifying and amazing. Everything in Mu Province gradually went on the right track. Mu Guiyi slowed down her actions. At the same time, Mu Jiahua and Mu Guiyi were like the boundary between the Chu River and the Han River. They respected each other like ice. They were not like father and daughter, but more like enemies.
It was not that Mu Jiahua did not think of inviting Lady Mu to control Mu Guiyi. However, Lady Mu ordered people to close the ancestral hall and did not even show her face. She only looked at the ancestral tablets. Her breathing was a little chaotic and she moved the prayer beads faster. However, she quickly calmed down and made up her mind.
In a month, Mu Province was turned upside down. The household affairs were all on Mu Guiyi's shoulders. Her thin body became even thinner. Anyone who saw her like this would feel sorry for her. However, she still liked to take afternoon naps. Every day, she was so busy that she forgot to eat and drink, but she would never forget the time to sleep.
Half a month before Empress Dowager Jin Yue's death anniversary, Yun Yaochi sent an invitation to visit. Mu Guiyi personally went out to receive her and they exchanged greetings.
Yun Yaochi looked at Mu Guiyi, who was getting thinner and thinner. She held her hand and said with concern, "The last time I saw you at Sister Qin's wedding banquet, it has only been half a month and you have lost a lot of weight. No matter how hard it is, you have to take care of your body. Why are the two housekeeper aunts assigned to you not working well?"
Mu Guiyi smiled and shook his head. "Don't say that. If it weren't for the help of my two aunts, how could I have settled the old scores so quickly?"
Not long after Old Lady Yun's accident, the Yun residence sent people to express their concern and even asked an imperial physician they were familiar with. Now, Old Lady Yun could already sit up and make some sounds.
Mu Guiyi had just been dealing with affairs for the whole morning, and her face was full of fatigue. However, she still smiled and said, "Sister, you're here. Let's go and see Grandmother first. Ever since you came last time, Grandmother has been looking forward to your visit every day. She's even closer to you than to me, her biological granddaughter."
After that, Yun Yaochi would often come over to give her some pointers. Mu Guiyi was still a novice after all, so it was inevitable that she was unfamiliar with it at the beginning. However, under the guidance of the two aunts in the Yun residence, the speed at which she picked it up was astonishing. After a while, the two of them became familiar with each other. It could be said that Yun Yaochi was the first friend that Mu Guiyi made among the young ladies of the aristocratic families.
"You're talking nonsense." Yun Yaochi chatted and laughed with Mu Guiyi all the way into Nanshan courtyard.
Old Lady Yun was very happy to see Yun Yaochi. She waved her hand and gestured for her to sit beside her. She held her hand and opened her mouth to make a few hoarse sounds. "Snake … eh …" Yun Yaochi was confused.
Nanny Yue explained from the side, "Old Madam is asking when Miss Biao arrived?"
Yun Yaochi suddenly understood and said, "She just arrived. Is Third Great-aunt feeling better?"
"Monkey, monkey."
After a few simple greetings, Yun Yaochi got to the main topic, "Third Great-aunt, it will be Empress Dowager Jin Yue's death anniversary in half a month. After all these years, it's no longer our turn to express our gratitude. However, Old Madam's intention is to bring a few juniors into the palace to pay respects."
Empress Dowager Jin Yue had passed away for so many years. According to the etiquette of her death anniversary, it had nothing to do with the Yun family. Bringing a few juniors was an excuse. It was probably to meet the nobles in the palace in advance. If they could say a few words and leave a good impression, it would be good. At the same time, they could also inquire about the current emperor's intentions.
Old Lady Yun also understood the twists and turns of this matter. In the past, the four great aristocratic families would definitely send their daughters into the palace to pay respects. Although the Lin and Wu families had declined, their reputation was still there.
Although the Yun family had already produced an empress in the previous generation, this generation did not have such thoughts. However, it was customary to send their daughters to participate in the election. If they were chosen, it would be fortunate. If they lost, it would be even more fortunate.
The Yun family had a large business and was afraid that others would covet it. Therefore, all the men in the family, regardless of whether they were in the government or not, were instructed by the elders to bury themselves in work and keep a low profile. Even the women were instructed to keep a low profile. Otherwise, with Yun Yaochi's talent and appearance, there might be four great talented women in the capital.
In the previous generation, the Lin family had few descendants. They only had Lin Pingshi. In addition, she was too young. Ze Huang exempted her from participating in the selection and married her off himself. Now, only Mu Guiyi had a drop of blood. Her appearance and talent were first-class. The possibility of her being chosen was very high. Since her maiden family was willing to help and support her, Old Lady Yun was very happy.
Old Lady Yun stumbled and gave some instructions. Soon, she showed signs of fatigue. After all, she was old. Previously, she had been holding her breath and fighting against her daughter and son-in-law for more than ten years. Once she collapsed, her foundation would be damaged. It was like Mount Tai had collapsed. She needed time to carefully recuperate.
Seeing that Old Lady Yun was tired, Yun Yaochi took her leave. She helped Mu Guiyi serve the old lady to sleep. Only then did the two return to Luminous Magnificence Courtyard.
Sitting by the window, Yun Yaochi looked at the courtyard and said, "You don't plant any other seasonal flowers in this courtyard. It's already cold and cheerless in autumn and winter. If you face a garden full of withered branches, it'll be even more lifeless."
Mu Guiyi personally poured tea for Yun Yaochi. Hearing this, she smiled, "Good flowers don't come often, and good scenery doesn't come often. It's precisely because I've experienced the loneliness of autumn and winter that I know how rare and precious the beauty of spring is."
Yun Yaochi took a sip of tea, "Hey, I was just casually saying. You have a lot of logic. However, it's also reasonable. Flowers don't bloom for a hundred days. After entering the palace, who knows how long it'll be good."
Mu Guiyi's hand that was pouring tea paused, "From elder sister's words, your matter has already been confirmed?"
Yun Yaochi smiled bitterly, "My family has a lot of connections. The entrance to the selection is like this. Some people's names are finalized early on. If there's no mistake in the middle, they'll be the Concubine or Little Mistress. As for the rest, it'll depend on whether that person will be on a whim."
Mu Guiyi didn't know that there was such a thing, so she was surprised. After interacting with her for a few months, she liked this gentle and determined woman very much. When she thought of her future, her eyes couldn't help but show pity.
Yun Yaochi laughed when she was looked at like this, "Why are you like this? You're not an old man in his seventies or eighties. You're young, handsome, and cultured. Moreover, my family background is also there. Even Consort Wang can only use her status to suppress me. You don't have to worry about me."
Hearing the hidden meaning in her words, Mu Guiyi probed, "Could it be that elder sister's family has already investigated her status?"
Yun Yaochi made a gesture to keep quiet and ordered her servant to withdraw. Mu Guiyi also had Bai Suyan and Jing Jing leave together.
Speaking of which, this was the first time that Bai Suyan had heard of the selection. In this way, her name was probably already on that specific list. Thinking about it now, the unwillingness in her heart before was laughable.
When the servant girls all withdrew, Yun Yaochi took out a small piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to Mu Guiyi. After opening it, she saw that it was the specific list. The noble young ladies that she had met that day, including Mu Guiyi herself, were all on the list. There were a total of seven people.
Looking at the two names at the bottom, Mu Guiyi frowned. Yun Yaochi sighed: "I only received this list yesterday. When I saw it, I found it even more unbelievable than you. I never thought that it would be arranged like this. Today's thoughts are hard to fathom."
Mu Guiyi rubbed her own name, feeling a bit wronged, "What do I have that is worth him thinking about? Moreover, he has never seen me before."
Yun Yaochi didn't know how to explain and could only vaguely comfort her: "With younger sister's appearance and talent, you naturally wouldn't condescend to an ordinary family. Besides, who wouldn't fall in love with younger sister after seeing younger sister?"
Mu Guiyi lowered her eyes and didn't speak. She threw the list into the charcoal brazier and burned it, "I don't know, how did the Old Ancestor arrange it this time. Does elder sister know?"
Yun Yaochi said: "I haven't entered the palace many times with the elders. I only have a rough idea of the temperament of the people in the palace. The Old Ancestor called me here today to talk to you and then bring you into the palace to pay a visit. This way, you will have an idea and familiarize yourself with it so that it won't be too difficult in the future."
Mu Guiyi smiled and said: "The Old Ancestor is considerate. Yaohua understands."
In the end, it was still a bit distant and couldn't be compared to a close relative. Old Madame Yun looked confused, but her heart wasn't at all confused. Half of the poetry gathering was to see who would be participating in each residence. The other half was also a selection so that Yun Yaochi could see clearly who was worthy of deep friendship and who would be "useful" in the future.
Now, she, Mu Guiyi, was the one who would be "useful". That's right, the world was bustling with activity for profit. How could it be good for no reason?
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye and it was the death anniversary of Empress Dowager Jin Yue. Because Mu Guiyi was entering the palace today, it was rare for her to let Jing Jing comb her hair. She also used the set of silver and jade head ornaments that Old Madame Yun gave her. She wore plain clothes with dark patterns and a water-red smock on the outside.
To Empress Dowager Jin Yue, she was respectful and respectful. To the Yun residence, it was both a way of expressing her position and also a way of being unfamiliar.
It was Jing Jing's first time entering the palace. From the time she woke up in the morning until she was about to leave, she had already nervously run to the toilet five times. In the end, Mu Guiyi said helplessly: "Forget it, you can stay in the residence. I'm afraid that you won't be able to find a place to change your clothes in the palace."
When Jing Jing heard this, she wasn't sad but happy. She blurted out: "That's great!" As soon as she said this, she was pinched by Mama Yue, who was sent by Old Madame Yun to arrange for Mu Guiyi's trip. She also knew that she had said something wrong and covered her mouth uneasily.
Mu Guiyi didn't care. She waved her hand and said: "It's done, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll leave the matters in my room to you today." Jing Jing lowered her head and agreed. Although she restrained herself, she could still feel that she was very happy and relaxed.
"Young Miss, it's almost time." Bai Suyan looked at the hourglass in the room and reminded her. There were also people who came to report that the Yun residence's carriage had arrived.
Mu Guiyi brought Bai Suyan onto Yun Yaochi's carriage and headed towards the majestic Imperial City together. Along the way, Yun Yaochi would talk to Mu Guiyi from time to time, telling her not to be nervous.
Mu Guiyi's expression was indifferent and nothing could be seen. However, Bai Suyan was really nervous in her heart. She was afraid that if they bumped into someone, those people with the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart would notice something wrong.
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