Zhulan motioned the maid to go down, and then said with emotion: "The eldest wife already has four sons. What do you plan to name your little grandson?"
The Zhou family has so many grandchildren, and they are all legitimate grandchildren. They are both enviable and a burden!
Zhou Shuren sat on the kang and said, "You can get it."
Zhulan was a little worried. With so many grandchildren, it would be difficult to name them. She really didn't know how to name them. "Mingjing, what do you think?"
Zhou Shuren pulled the quilt over and lay down. "It's fine. Go to sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow."
Zhulan also lay down. She really couldn't sleep. The rainy days these days were especially suitable for sleeping, so she slept a lot. "Do you think the emperor's actions today will make the princes face reality and be honest?"
Zhou Shuren thought of the King of Chu's laughter, "I'm not sure either, but you didn't hear the bitterness in the King of Chu's laughter today. This is because his own father didn't give him a chance, and he felt very sorry for it."
Zhulan envied Zhou Shuren, "It would be great if I were a man, so I could watch the live version up close. It's much more exciting than watching all kinds of costume dramas."
Zhou Shuren turned sideways and asked, "You are a man, so am I not a woman?"
Zhulan looked very regretful, "So I wore the wrong clothes at that time. It would be much better if I were a man."
Then he laughed out loud, thinking about Zhou Shuren socializing with a bunch of women. It made him happy just thinking about it!
Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes. "How could you think of that? Go to sleep, go to sleep."
Zhulan smiled secretly and pulled the quilt over her. She suddenly felt sleepy, held her husband's hand and closed her eyes.
The next day, Zhou Shuren stayed after the court session. This time it was the prince who kept him. When he came out of the side hall, Zhou Shuren saw Old Chen. Old Chen did not attend the morning court session today. He did not expect that he had been in the palace all the time? Eunuch Liu sent Old Chen out? Old Chen went to the palace to see the emperor.
When Mr. Chen saw Zhou Shuren, he smiled. "Master Zhou is leaving the palace?"
Zhou Shuren greeted him and said, "Yes."
Old Master Chen extended his hand, "Would you like to leave the palace together? Please, Master Zhou."
Zhou Shuren took a step back and said, "Mr. Chen, please go first."
The two walked for a while, and the eunuch beside them disappeared. Old Master Chen spoke, "When people get old, they yearn to find their true self in the countryside. Master Zhou, please come and visit more often in the future. I will be waiting for you at the farm."
Zhou Shuren almost fell down and turned back suddenly. "What do you mean?"
Old Master Chen's eyes were full of smiles as he stroked his long white beard. "I'm retired now. Our two farms are not far from each other. We can go fishing together in our spare time."
Zhou Shuren was shocked. The King of Qi's biggest supporter retired. Looking at his expression and spirit, the old man was obviously very happy. This open-mindedness was unmatched. "I admire you."
The old man walked with his hands behind his back, "There is nothing to admire, the winners are the kings and the losers are the bandits, I am just more afraid of death."
Zhou Shuren's heart was very complicated. Among the maternal families of these princes, except for the prince's maternal family who had always kept a low profile, only the Chen family survived. As soon as the emperor gave a signal yesterday, the old man came today. This is a truly smart man who knows when to advance and when to retreat, and protects the family. Zhou Shuren greeted him deeply, "Your Excellency has taught me a lesson, and I am grateful."
Old Master Chen narrowed his eyes, so it was easy to talk to smart people. "I have been calculating all my life, and I just want to make some good connections when I am old."
He spent his entire life teaching Zhou Shuren that it is wise to retreat when it is time to do so.
Zhou Shuren, "Please come in, sir."
Old Master Chen just felt relieved. From today on, he could put down all the burdens. In the troubled times, he said that his father had sought refuge with a wise ruler for the family. His father died before the establishment of the dynasty. He protected the family and worked hard to gain power for the Chen family.
After founding the dynasty, he had fought and struggled for his family and had faced many ups and downs along the way. Now, he has secured the continuation of the Chen family. He is worthy of his family and his grandson.
Old Master Chen took big strides and laughed, "Master Zhou, I will go ahead."
Zhou Shuren stood still, watching the old man leave, then smiled. He would do better than Mr. Chen.
In the Zheng Palace, the Emperor and the Crown Prince sat opposite each other. When the father and son were alone in the palace, the Emperor said, "Let's leave it at that for the Chen family."
The prince felt a little unwilling in his heart, cursing Chen Lao, the old fox, in his heart. He had so many ways out. Of the top families, only the Chen family was left. He had to admire him, "Yes."
The emperor continued, "In the days ahead, officials from the Chen family who hold important positions will retire one after another, and you can place new people there."
The prince was stunned. The Chen family actually made so many concessions. Not everyone could have such pressure. This directly weakened the power of King Qi. The prince looked at his father. His father agreed to this deal not for the Chen family, but for King Qi. Over the years, King Qi had been making small moves, but because of the pressure from Old Chen, he had not made any major mistakes, but instead made greater contributions.
The prince's heart was moved. Among his brothers, the position of the King of Qi was more important in his father's heart. His father's actions were also a father's love. This time, he also wanted to use the Chen family to make him more tolerant. "I understand."
The emperor was drinking tea. He hoped that his eldest son could really be tolerant. This was also his selfish wish.
At the Zhou family, Zhulan was holding a letter from Xuzhou. What happened in the capital had already reached Xuzhou long ago. This was a letter delivered by the third brother on express horse.
Xue Han sat next to her mother, "Mom, the capital is open, didn't you write to my second brother?"
Zhulan had already opened the letter. "I was afraid that your third brother would worry, so I sent it as soon as the city gate was opened."
After saying that, she looked at the letter. The whole letter was full of Lao San's worries. When she saw the end, Zhu Lan's face didn't look good. "You can also take a look."
Xue Han took it and read it carefully, "There is a rumor that the Zhou family was wiped out."
Zhu Lan snorted, "Fortunately, your third brother had the brains to not fall for the trick and come back, otherwise who knows what would have happened on the way back."
Xue Han put down the letter in her hand, feeling scared, "Mom, first there were two groups of assassins, and then the rumor reached my third brother's ears. They are going to wipe out our family."
Zhu Lan's face was particularly cold, "What a good plan, very good."
Xue Han is so worried now. The joy of her nephew's birth is gone.
Xuzhou, this is also a coincidence. Beijing received a letter from Xuzhou, and Xuzhou also received a letter from Beijing. Dong was worried about not being able to eat or sleep well these days, and she was out of energy. When she heard the letter from Beijing, her movements were a little big, and her eyes were a little dark. She took a while to quickly take the letter. When she saw the first sentence that everything was fine at home, she breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, "It's good that everything is fine, it's good that everything is fine."
Then he reacted and called to the servant, "Go and tell the master that everything is fine in the capital and everyone in the family is safe."
After hearing this, the servant ran away quickly. The maids and old women's sad faces began to smile. They were all afraid that something really happened in the capital!
Dong continued to read the letter. The letter talked about the thrilling incident, the handling of the incident in later generations, and some things that happened in the capital. Dong was stunned. So many things happened in the capital in just a few days, and there was even an entire family being wiped out. Dong was terrified.
After Chang Lian received the letter, his tense heartstrings finally relaxed. He stood up happily and walked back and forth. Then his eyes were deep in thought. Oh, the rumors of extermination of the family were directed at him. Fortunately, his father told him again and again not to listen to any hearsay and to see it with his own eyes.