While Su Fei was reporting the situation of Prince Jin's Mansion to Jiang Changning, Chang Youzhong was also reporting a piece of news he had just found to Prince Jin, "Your Highness, we have found the owner of the house on South Gate Street."
"Who is it?" Prince Jin liked the house very much, but he didn't want someone else to buy it first.
Chang Youzhong smiled, "It's Miss Jiang."
King Jin was stunned at first, then he laughed happily, "Her vision is as good as mine."
"Someone has been renovating the house these days. I wonder if Miss Jiang is planning to move out of the village." Chang Youzhong continued.
King Jin hesitated for a moment and said, "Let's check what's going on."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Chang Youzhong replied.
The day before the Ghost Festival, Zhou Chengxin's wife Miao and Zhou Shouxin's wife Luo came to the bank together.
Old Madam Zhuang was not very willing to see Jiang Changning have close contact with the Zhou family, but she couldn't kick him out.
Miao and Luo were not only Jiang Changning's wet-sisters-in-law, they were now of good status and wives of officials, and could no longer be regarded as Jiang family's old servants.
"The young lady has done a great favor to the Zhou family, and the Zhou family will never forget it. We really shouldn't have come to greet the young lady for many days." Miao said apologetically.
"Before her mother-in-law passed away, she was still thinking about the girl, and asked us sisters-in-law to come and greet her more often," Luo added.
Although the Zhou brothers are now in mourning at home and have no rank or status, the Zhuang family does not dare to offend them to death.
"Second brother, please accompany the two Mrs. Zhou in." said Mrs. Zhuang.
"Yes, old lady." Zou bowed and replied.
"Thank you, Madam Zhuang." Miao said politely.
Zou smiled, "Please come in, Mrs. Zhou."
Bao Ge stayed inside, Jiang Changning was playing chess with Zhuang Daocong.
Jiang Changning was very surprised to see Miao and Luo, "Why are the two sisters-in-law here?"
"Greetings to the young lady." Miao and Luo bowed with a smile.
"Sister-in-law, there's no need to be so polite." Jiang Changning stepped forward and helped the two up.
Miao glanced at Zhuang Daocong casually. She had big breasts and round buttocks, and looked like a woman who was good at giving birth.
After Zou and Zhuang Daocong left, Miao asked directly, "Miss, who was the person you played chess with just now? I have never seen him before."
"Zhuang Daocong, a member of the Zhuang family." Jiang Changning smiled, "The Zhuang family has invited five girls to stay here temporarily."
Miao and Luo looked at each other and said, "Miss, the Zhuang family has bad intentions!"
"They must have a purpose for moving in, but I can't figure out what it is." Jiang Changning told the truth.
"The girl is a very beautiful woman, of course she wouldn't have thought of that." Mrs. Luo smiled flatteringly.
Miao lowered her voice and said, "I'm afraid that Madam Zhuang wants them to be concubines and accompany the young lady into the palace."
"Ah?" Jiang Changning was surprised. It was no wonder that she didn't think of this.
Marrying as a concubine is an ancient marriage system. In this dynasty, only princesses and princesses are eligible to marry as concubines.
She had no rank or title, so according to etiquette her dowry could only be a concubine.
"The girl is the savior of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother appointed the girl to the prince. In order to make the girl a match, she will definitely elevate her status. Maybe an imperial decree will be issued later." Luo analyzed.
Miao said with hatred in her eyes: "The Zhuang family is really calculating. They actually want to use the girl as a stepping stone."
The status of a concubine is higher than that of other concubines, second only to the mistress. Moreover, if she is favored, she can even be promoted to the principal wife after the mistress dies, and the children she gives birth to can even be considered legitimate.
"Girl, you can't live in the Zhuang family anymore. Move out today." Luo said.
Miao agreed, "Young lady, move."
"There's no rush to move. Old Mrs. Zhuang hasn't told me about this yet, so I can still pretend to be ignorant." If Jiang Changning moved to the Zhou family at this time, the Zhuang family would lose face.
The banker has been operating in Beijing for generations and has a stronger foundation than the Zhou family. If they are suppressed with all their strength, the Zhou family will not be able to bear it.
Miao and Luo persuaded her for a while, but Jiang Changning still refused to move out. Helplessly, Miao could only say, "Miss, you must be careful in everything."
Jiang Changning wanted to invite them to dinner, but they declined and said with a smile, "I will come back to eat with you after you move out."
After sending them to the gate, the two men bowed and said, "Miss, please stay."
"Xiu Lan, please send my two sisters-in-law out for me." Jiang Changning ordered.
"Yes, young lady." Xiulan sent Miao and Luo out.
On the way, Miao repeatedly reminded Xiulan, "Don't let the girl be alone, you must protect her well."
"You should also pay attention to what you eat. It's best to cook it yourself. You should also be careful with what you use and check it several times." Luo felt that the banker was in great danger.
"The girl's underwear must also be carefully selected. Don't let them use it to make trouble." Miao added.
"I understand. Don't worry, grandmas. I will definitely protect the girl and will never let her be in danger." Xiulan said solemnly.
Miao and Luo said hello to Wu and left the village. After returning home, they described the situation as serious.
When the Zhou brothers heard this, they were shocked and thought, how could the girl be in an environment surrounded by wolves
"We must get the girl out as soon as possible." Zhou Chengxin said in a deep voice.
"The girl is kind-hearted and still cares about Old Madam Zhuang, but Old Madam Zhuang is plotting against the girl viciously. She is such an old fool." Zhou Shouxin cursed.
"Second brother, you have nothing to do at home, so go and supervise the work. You can give them more money or do anything else to make them clean up the house on Nanmen Street as soon as possible." Zhou Chengxin said.
Zhou Shouxin said, "I will go to supervise tomorrow, but you'd better tell Uncle Nan about this. The girl can't stand being bullied by the Zhuang family like this."
The next day, Zhou Shouxin went to Nanmen Street to supervise the work, and Zhou Chengxin went to find Jiang Nan.
He did not meet Jiang Nan, but met the King of Jin.
Prince Jin had investigated Jiang Changning and knew that Zhou Chengxin was her foster brother.
A thought came to his mind, "Youzhong, go call him over."
Chang Youzhong walked out, "Master Zhou."
Zhou Chengxin of course recognized him as someone close to the King of Jin, and bowed his hands in greeting, "Eunuch Chang, what advice do you have for me?"
"Sir Zhou, you are too polite. It is the prince who wants to see you." Chang Youzhong said with a smile.
"Yes." Zhou Chengxin couldn't, nor did he dare to refuse to meet King Jin.
Chang Youzhong brought people to the private room of the teahouse, where Prince Jin was leisurely sipping tea.
"Your humble servant greets His Majesty and pays his respects to His Majesty." Zhou Chengxin saluted.
"No need to be so polite, just sit down and talk." The King of Jin was very approachable.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhou Chengxin only sat on half of the chair.
"The house on Nanmen Street has been bought for two years. Why was it suddenly renovated?" Prince Jin asked straight to the point.
Zhou Chengxin was not surprised at all that Prince Jin knew about this. The Queen Mother appointed an orphan girl who suddenly appeared as Prince Jin's consort. It would be strange if Prince Jin did not investigate this matter.
"The girl said that the daughter of the Jiang family cannot marry in the Zhuang family." Zhou Chengxin did not intend to lie.
Prince Jin laughed, "I'm afraid the Zhuang family won't let her leave the house so easily."
"I will arrange someone to pick up the girl." Zhou Chengxin concealed Jiang Changning's involvement in the arrangement.
The King of Jin is in a high position of power and he probably doesn't like women who are too opinionated. For the girl's future happiness, he will claim the throne.
(End of this chapter)