vstars Chapter 281 Showdown (1)
Chapter 281 Showdown (1)
In response to Zhang Xueming's question, Gong Shangjiao said the same thing: "The elders will be here tonight, just ask them whatever you want to know."
Zhang Xueming stared at his face intently. As soon as the face-reading technique came into contact with the suppressing objects in the back mountain, it automatically turned into garbled characters. No one knew what was wrong.
Zhang Xueming simply threw it aside and asked Gong Yuanzheng to take out the line drawing and add color.
Seeing that Gong Shangjiao was still going to check the account books copied by the accountants, she shook her head helplessly and stopped his workaholic behavior: "Okay, brother, stop working, leave it to me."
She wrote an official document and had him stamp it with the sword-holding seal. She then summoned the three maids in charge of the Jiaozheng Palace and the female guesthouse and selected some people who were good at accounting to come to the Zheng Palace.
The accountants with big dark bags under their eyes were allowed to go back and rest, and the newcomers were divided into groups and cross-checked under the leadership of three maids.
Zhang Xueming asked Su Rong to bring out two large boxes of gold ingots of various colors, opened the lids of the boxes and placed them on a table in the middle, and placed a blank booklet and writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone next to them.
She pointed at the dazzling gold ingots and said with a smile to the group of maids and servants standing respectfully with their hands hanging down, "I don't care how many times you check, I just want the results. If you find a clerical error, come and get a gold ingot on the spot, and the maid in charge of your group will also get one. If you find a bad debt, you will get ten, and your maid will do the same. Write down what you find, there will be a reward for bad debts, and you can also get a commendation written by the knife in his own hand during the New Year."
Then let Su Rong arrange the food and accommodation for these people, and all the problems can be easily solved.
Returning to the Miaoxiaju Teahouse, seeing that Gong Shangjiao was still worried, Zhang Xueming couldn't help laughing: "Brother, these people are not from the same place. They have gone through it several times and can't find any problems, so there is no problem... Believe in their abilities and sense of honor, and let yourself go, okay?"
Only then did Gong Shangjiao reluctantly give up the idea of checking it one last time himself.
Gong Yuanzheng was quite used to Zhang Xueming's behavior, and pushed all the line drawings of the three people's daily life to Gong Shangjiao, "I remember that brother's painting is very good, so I'll give these to him. When the time comes, we can make it into a picture album, one for each of us three."
What a little bastard who takes advantage of every opportunity! Gong Shangjiao was both angry and amused. He poked him lightly with his finger, but also accepted this arrangement.
Zhang Xueming also had someone move the Lei Qin that he had snatched from Gong Shangjiao. When he got tired of painting, he and Gong Shangjiao took turns washing their hands, burning incense, and playing a tune.
Gong Yuanzheng just listened without playing, and smiled as he ate the egg yolk biscuits that he never got tired of.
After afternoon tea, Gong Shangjiao invited Zhang Xueming to play a game of Go, and as usual, he was defeated and completely routed.
He also played chess with Gong Yuanzheng. The two brothers ate snacks while playing, bickering from time to time, and completely forgot all the rules.
This leisurely daily routine effectively alleviated the tension caused by the earlier discovery of the secret of the Infinite Flowing Fire. The three of them could also take this opportunity to sort out their thoughts and prepare for the showdown in the evening.
The three of them had dinner separately, and when they gathered again at the Miaoxiaju Tea House, Gong Yuanzheng had already changed into his new robe.
The lilac outer robe was paired with an ivory inner shirt, and vivid little red carps with gold edges seemed to be swimming in groups on the robe. He tied his hair into a high ponytail, tied a small silver crown, and tied an ivory white crepe satin headband that Zhang Xueming had made for him last night. In the center of the headband was a large pearl surrounded by a small ruby, which was one of the pearls that Gong Shangjiao had sent. Even the necklace around his waist was changed to a red carp with gold edges.
Gong Shangjiao was jealous: "Are all these Zhaozhao's work?"
Gong Yuanzheng grinned, looking very proud: "Engagement gift."
Gong Shangjiao choked for a moment, then looked at Zhang Xueming again, only to see that she was wearing a silver lotus crown, a round-necked, wide-sleeved short jacket made of lilac jacquard satin with a vine pattern, embroidered with six playful snow-white kittens, and a horse-faced skirt made of ivory crepe satin embroidered with a gold-thread diamond pattern. Her headband and cord were the same as Gong Yuanzheng's.
Standing next to Gong Yuanzheng, the two of them were holding hands. Both were good-looking and dressed in bright pink clothes. They were a perfect match, but they looked even younger when they smiled.
"Are you two leaving your brother aside?" Gong Shangjiao said sourly.
Zhang Xueming tilted her head and smiled sweetly: "There will be guests coming soon. Brother is the head of the family, so he needs to dress more conservatively."
Gong Shangjiao snorted and laughed, accepting this statement.
The first to arrive was Gong Zishang, who was holding a large box. She handed the box to Zhang Xueming as soon as she came in: "Last time you said that my dresses were beautiful, so I made a set for you in the sewing room. It was just delivered today. Try it on later to see if it fits you."
When she noticed the 3D little red carps with gold edges on Gong Yuanzheng's new clothes, she leaned over to look at them again and again. After asking, she found out that they were an engagement gift from Zhang Xueming. She was so envious that tears were about to flow from her mouth: "Zhao Zhao, don't marry Brother Yuanzheng. Marry me. I'm easier to deal with than him. Just embroider two little fish on my clothes and it will be fine."
"You wish. Zhao Zhao only wants me." Gong Yuanzheng bared his teeth and made a weird face at her.
He did not correct Gong Zishang's words about Zhao Zhao marrying him, and Gong Shangjiao pretended not to hear it.
Just looking at the "dowry" that was transported over, it was clear that the Zheng family could not be the only one behind Zhao Zhao. If it was really the family he guessed, I'm afraid the palace would not be qualified to mention the word "marry". So, who cares who marries whom? It would be fine if there was a child with the surname of the Gong family.
The four of them chatted and laughed while waiting for Jin Ting to report outside that the elders had arrived. Gong Shangjiao straightened his robe and led the two younger ones and Gong Zishang to go out to greet them.
The two elders and the three people from the back mountain behind them were all wearing black hooded cloaks. If it weren't for Jin Tong and a few Huang Yu servants holding lanterns, they would have blended into the night.
Not in the solemn and dignified main hall, everyone was much more casual. The seats on both sides of the table were given to Gong Shangjiao and the two elders, and everyone else rushed to sit on the left side of Zhang Xueming and Gong Yuanzheng. The two of them shared a low table, and the seats behind the elders opposite were given to those who arrived late.
Zhang Xueming was sandwiched between Gong Yuanzheng and Gong Zishang, with Hua Gongzi next to Gong Zishang, and Xue Chongzi and Xue Gongzi next to Gong Yuanzheng. They sat very close together, whispering to each other from time to time.
Opposite him was Gong Ziyu, who was sitting between the former Yue Elder who had changed his appearance and Gong Huanyu, who had lost his inner strength. There was a seat for one person between the three of them. They all lowered their eyes and remained silent, ignoring each other.
Huang Yu's waiters took over the work of the servants, brought in hot tea, dim sum, snacks and desserts, and arranged them one by one, then stepped out and stood guard two meters away from the door.
The palace door was closed. Gong Shangjiao cleared his throat and asked the elders to stay calm. He began by telling the story of how he and Zhang Xueming met and teamed up to lure and kill Wu Feng more than two years ago.
He had already sought the opinions of Zhang Xueming and Gong Yuanzheng, and the speeches of the three of them had been discussed, so they seemed plain and straightforward and not lively at all, but the others were all listening attentively.
Although the elders had heard some of what Zhang Xueming said when Gong Hongyu had a stroke, it was not in detail. This time they were just as confused as the younger generations.
Gong Huanyu, without his inner strength, became much calmer. He listened to Gong Shangjiao's story quietly, and his eyes, which had been calm and empty, seemed to have light again. He glanced at Zhang Xueming, who was covering his mouth and spitting blood, from time to time, with a complex expression in his eyes.