The emperor asked again, "Any news about the birthmark?"
Shi Qing shook his head, "There is no news yet."
The emperor nodded, indicating that Shi Qing could leave. After Shi Qing left the study, the emperor asked the prince, "Do you have any news?"
The prince replied, "There is some information, but not much. We only found out that during the fire, the family escaped. But the family was not wealthy, and we don't know if they can support two babies."
The emperor didn't hold out much hope. The family was able to breastfeed the child, which showed their living conditions. "You continue to investigate."
The prince nodded, and then asked: "If Lord Yu is a member of the Rong family overseas, how should we treat him?"
Your Majesty, "Just wait and see what happens."
The prince understood. In fact, his father did not want to recognize the overseas Rong family members. After all, they were separated back then just as a fallback. The Rong family in the capital was the one recognized by his father.
It was not until the evening that Zhou Shuren said that Lord Yu might be a member of the Rong family living overseas.
Zhu Lan raised her eyebrows, "If Chang Yi doesn't go on this mission, the Rong family won't be able to come back."
After all, it was separated. The overseas Rong family has been completely integrated into the overseas market. It can be seen from the fact that there has been no news for so many years that the overseas Rong family is not very active.
Zhou Shuren was surprised, "Are you sure that Lord Yu is a member of the Rong family?"
Zhulan nodded, "Want to make a bet?"
Zhou Shuren, "No, I think so too. In fact, judging from the age, this Lord Yu is of the same generation as mother. He should be one of those who went overseas. Just like you said, the Rong family overseas are not active. Only the Rong family members who went out of the capital are active."
Zhu Lan sighed, "After so many years of living overseas and marrying foreigners, the Rong family overseas is no longer the Rong family. The bloodline has been passed down for generations, and it is time to take root overseas."
So it’s normal that I haven’t been back for so many years.
Zhou Shuren curled his lips, "And maybe he really hopes that the Rong family in the capital will disappear. There must be a secret in the box that the emperor is holding. The Rong family overseas must want to keep the secret for themselves."
Zhulan blinked, "We both seem to only think of the worst."
Zhou Shuren turned his head and said, "It's true that the Rong family overseas didn't do anything that people would think positively of."
Zhulan didn't want to talk about the Rong family anymore. Instead, she was more concerned about Changyi. "This man should be more knowledgeable. Changyi's knowledge is right. He doesn't care about his own little piece of land. This kid's intelligence is finally used in the right place. I almost forgot what Changyi was like before."
Zhou Shuren, "Changyi has indeed changed a lot."
In the second room, Chang Yi tossed and turned and couldn't sleep. Zhao sat up with her coat on, "What are you thinking about that can't you sleep?"
Chang Yi simply sat up as well. "I was thinking about my brothers. The fourth brother is a legitimate candidate for the imperial examination. The third brother, needless to say, has already gone to Xuzhou to be an official. I have to work twice as hard. It will be harder for me to get promoted than the third and fourth brothers in the future. Dad said that my qualifications are still too low, and I have to wait for a few more years to get promoted."
This is what keeps him awake at night. How many years will it take? Oh!
Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Change your mindset. You were just a commoner before, but you were able to walk step by step back then, and you can do it now. You yourself said that you lack a lot, so it's just right to endure for a few years to make up for your shortcomings."
After hearing this, Chang Yi's irritability dissipated a lot, and he held his wife's hand, "You are right."
Zhao thought to herself, her mother-in-law said that reading books can help one understand things, and that was true. She read more books and understood more things. She would never say such things before. She would only look for reasons from others, and never from herself. "Go to bed, it's getting late."
Chang Yi lay down and fell asleep quickly. However, Zhao Shi did not fall asleep. Listening to her husband's breathing, she could not help but curl the corners of her mouth.
The next day, Zhulan went to the Ning Marquis's Mansion. Her daughter had already moved back to the Marquis's Mansion from the Duke's Mansion. "Let me see Linxi quickly. Does Linxi remember her grandmother?"
Xue Han smiled and said, "Of course I remember."
Zhulan squinted her eyes, knowing that her daughter was coaxing her, and hugged her granddaughter, "Have you visited the Duke's wife recently?"
Xue Han sighed, "I went there and took a lot of medicine, but I still haven't gotten any better."
Zhulan felt that the old lady would not last much longer. She had been ill since the beginning of winter and had not recovered. "What did the Duke say?"
Xue Han whispered, "Grandpa seems to have accepted his fate. Last time I went there, he said he couldn't bear to see grandma suffer."
Zhulan, "The Duke's wife was a good person, what a pity."
Xue Han was also upset. "My second uncle wanted to fulfill his filial duty, but grandpa wouldn't let him. The more grandma suffered, the more grandpa blamed my second uncle. My second uncle became so thin that he was just skin and bones. If I didn't have a child, I would have gone to the Duke's Mansion too."
Zhulan said: "How about I take the child back with me, and you go to the Duke's Mansion more often. The Duke's wife treats you well."
Xue Han replied, "I have already talked to Rongchuan. Rongchuan and my father-in-law said that I can't take care of the child even if I go. They asked me to take good care of the child."
Zhu Lan heard that Xue Han and Rong Chuan had discussed it before, and said, "Just keep it in mind. If there is any problem, send the child back."
Xue Han also made the worst-case scenario plan. If her grandmother really died, she would be most relieved if the child was sent back to her mother's home. "I hope she can survive the New Year."
Ministry of Rites, Changyi was in the spotlight this time, Lord Wang has said several times that he should keep a low profile recently, so Changyi just read books honestly and didn't care about anything else.
Wu Ming came over and said, "If you don't understand anything, feel free to ask me."
Chang Yi motioned Wu Ming to sit down and whispered, "Aren't you going to fight?"
Many officials from the Ministry of Rites wanted to compete for the envoys' visit to Beijing this time.
Wu Ming shook his head, "I won't argue with you."
He was just gaining experience in the Ministry of Rites, not staying there to climb up the ladder. His achievements during his last diplomatic mission were enough.
Chang Yi didn't say much, "Just keep it in mind."
Wu Ming smiled and said, "Don't worry, second brother. I heard that there are two more departments."
Chang Yi nodded, "Dad told me yesterday, and said that the fourth child has encountered good times."
This was also the reason why he was so impatient last night. The fourth brother was lucky. It was the time when the court needed people. As long as he was on the list, he would not have to worry about the future.
In the palace, the emperor frowned, "You said Zhang Yang took four concubines back to the prince's mansion?"
Eunuch Liu, "Yes, the status of the four concubines is not high. They are all daughters of juren and xiucai families, and the highest one is juren."
The emperor narrowed his eyes, Zhang Yang's behavior was a little unusual, "Send someone to check these families, Zhang Yang should keep a close eye on them."
Eunuch Liu: "Yes."
Time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, most of the envoys had left the capital, and Zhang Yang was also trying to make his presence felt. When the emperor was receiving him, Zhang Yang took concubines one after another. Zhang Yang was also a hotly discussed figure in the capital.
However, Lord Yu did not leave with the envoys, but stayed behind because he was ill.