Shi Qing didn't get enough rest yesterday and was still feeling a little uncomfortable. He sat on the chair, looking at his distraught father, staring at his wife with a dull look, and closed his eyes. He didn't expect that the father-in-law who announced the decree would tell him what happened in the court.
Originally he wanted to hide it from his wife for a few days, waiting for him to think it over, but now, his wife knows everything.
Shi Qing opened his eyes. He was happy about being made a marquis. How could he not be happy? He was a marquis and had returned to the Rong family name. He had a noble birth and the unattainable birth that he had always pursued was finally achieved.
But under the joy, Shi Qing became calmer. There were many dramas in the court today, but the Shi family was the only one not involved. This already shows the emperor's attitude. The emperor only recognized their origin and identity, but not them, and the emperor did not recognize his father.
Their branch is closest to the emperor, but not as close as Lord Zhou's lineage.
The title of marquis was given to him directly, bypassing his father. The emperor did not want to give them a higher title and he was a bastard. There were too many factors. Moreover, there was no mention of the marquisate lasting for several generations, which meant that the title would be demoted to his son's generation.
Shi Huai had come back to his senses. He looked up and saw his son's pale face. He couldn't understand it and was unwilling, but helpless. He staggered to his feet, laughed, pushed away the servant who wanted to support him, and walked slowly to the backyard alone.
Yao Yao was also awakened by the noise, her eyes full of confusion. No matter how smart she was, she had never encountered the current predicament. She raised her head and looked at her husband. Seeing the worry in his eyes, she felt a little relieved. Her legs were numb and she fell to the ground.
Shi Qing stood up and reached out his hand to help her. Yao Yao tilted her neck. She was not pretty, and she was actually not confident in her heart. Her husband was good-looking. At this moment, the negative emotions in her heart controlled her brain, and she was in a daze, "You shouldn't have reached out your hand."
She really didn't know that after all the things the Yao family had done, her husband was actually a member of the Rong family, and a direct branch of the family. Even if she didn't want to acknowledge her father and hated him, it couldn't change the fact that she had the blood of the Yao family.
Shi Qing had experienced too much since childhood, and had encountered many difficulties when he grew up. His heart had already been vicissitudes. He never asked for love from his children, let alone expected it. He only knew what was right for him. "You and I have been married for several years. I think I have done a good job. You have always been my ideal wife."
Feelings are developed slowly over time, silently and subtly. They are not together because of love, but because they are suitable for each other. Water can wear away a stone, not to mention that they are human beings. Yao Yao's subtle and silent influence has permeated Shi Qing's life, like the company of a family member.
Yao Yao was devastated. Her feet were able to move again. She did not hold her husband's hand, but stood up on her own. She could stand up on her own, looked at her husband, and threw herself into his arms. She went from silently crying to bursting into tears. God knows what she thought about in just two quarters of an hour. She thought about suicide because she did not want to let her son bear the consequences, did not want to embarrass her husband, and did not want to face being abandoned.
Shi Qing raised his hands and hugged Yao Yao.
Zhulan already knew about the imperial edict from the Shi family and had thought a lot about it, but she was very busy now. She had a title and had to host a banquet, so she let it go after just a thought.
Everything else can be left to Su Xuan and Zhao, but she needs to arrange the guest seating.
Xuemei came over from home, looking dazed, "Mom, is what Butler Wang said true?"
"It's all true. You will be the daughter of an earl in the future."
Xuemei has no ambitions, but her family is moving up step by step. Now that she has a title, she feels like her mother said she has won. "Mom, I really have won."
Zhulan choked. This was the word she used to describe her granddaughter Linxi. She said that birth was the end point and she didn't need to make any effort. She was the big winner. She didn't expect her eldest daughter to remember it.
Zhulan smiled and said, "I guess so."
Xuemei smiled, "Mom, is there anything I can help with?"
Zhulan pointed to the list and said, "This is the list of guests to be invited to the banquet. Please read it for me and I will write it down."
Zhulan has to arrange seats according to people's names. There are many people coming this time, so she has to make good arrangements and the previous list cannot be used.
Xuemei nodded, "Okay."
The mother and daughter were busy for most of the hour before Zhulan separated all those who might have a grudge against each other based on the information she had collected. Holding the seats that she was satisfied with, Zhulan breathed a sigh of relief. It was such a waste of effort.
Xuemei drank tea to moisten her throat, then asked, "Has mother sent a letter to my eldest brother and Changlian?"
Zhu Lan clapped her hands and said, "Look at my brain. I really forgot about it."
Xuemei smiled and said, "You also have a lot of things to do."
At the Ningguo Mansion, the old Duke was old, so he did not attend the morning court. After listening to his son, the old Duke signaled his son to go to his private warehouse to choose a gift.
Ning Xu wrote the list himself and handed it to his father, "Dad, please take a look."
The Duke took the list and looked at it carefully, then pointed at the ornaments and said, "Change them to red coral ornaments."
Ning Xu said, "Isn't it too expensive?"
The old Duke did not even raise his head and said, "They are not valuable. These things are useless to us. We do not need them. We want to let the whole capital see the close relationship between the Duke's Mansion and the Zhou family."
The old Duke was also shocked that there was such an unexpected thing. The Crown Prince was neither close nor distant to the Ning family. Now he was willing to help the Ning family, but who knows what will happen in the future? The Queen is gone, how much affection will be left? Don't talk about feelings with the royal family. Whoever talks about feelings will be doomed.
The old Duke was originally a little worried. He didn't dare to die. Even with Rongchuan protecting him, he was still worried. Now he was unwilling to miss this surprise.
Ning Xu understood, and after confirming that his father had no intention of changing it, he spoke up, "Who would have thought there would be such a twist? Zhou Shuren's last name is Zhou, but the emperor gave him the treatment that only the Rong family had. He values Zhou Shuren, and he also hopes that Zhou Shuren can rely on the Rong family and guard the royal family."
The royal family has no elders, and the emperor wants him to be gone. There can still be someone the prince can respect and listen to advice from. Zhou Shuren is obviously the most suitable person. When he had no background, the prince respected Zhou Shuren.
Now that he has a status and the achievements that the emperor listed today, they are all Zhou Shuren's future amulets. With these amulets and his birth, as long as the Zhou family has not committed the crime of disobedience, even if he has made a mistake, the prince will let him off with ease when he ascends the throne. Moreover, Zhou Shuren is needed for the prince to ascend the throne.
The old Duke sighed. He could naturally think of what his son had thought of. He was full of envy in his heart, eyes and mouth. "That's because Zhou Shuren is so capable."
If the person had no ability, why would the emperor work so hard for him? It was all Zhou Shuren's own fault. Thinking of his own incompetence, the old duke sighed again.
Ning Xu also remained silent. Who says it’s not true? One must have the ability himself.
At the Fifth Prince's residence, Zhang Yang did not attend the morning court. He was not angry that he was not called. The emperor did not want to see him in his current state, but Zhang Yang did not care.
Zhang Yang just didn't expect that Zhou Shuren had this identity. Recalling the Zhang family's hatred for Zhou Shuren, Zhang Yang laughed. It was really interesting and there were surprises everywhere!