Zhou Shuren didn't think that the Minister of Rites was doing it for money. The embassy would replace its supplies and furnishings every year, and collect a sum of money from merchants every year. The Ministry of Rites didn't have any major events, so they were not short of money.
The Minister of Rites motioned for him to go first, and said as he walked in, "The youngest son of Marquis Zhou hasn't been engaged yet, right?"
Zhou Shuren paused, "Yeah."
The Minister of Rites smiled and said, "My sister's youngest daughter was born in the seventeenth year of Yongzhi, one year younger than the son of Zhou Hou. What do you think of the son of Zhou Hou?"
Zhou Shuren didn't think much of it. How should I put it? He didn't like the Minister of Rites. The Minister of Rites was somewhat politically opportunistic. Of course, there was no shortage of such people in the court, but his son's marriage would definitely not be related to the Minister of Rites. He smiled and said, "The child is still young."
The Minister of Rites is the best at listening to the hidden meaning. Even if he is rejected, he will not be angry. He still has a smile on his face and says, "That's a pity."
Zhou Shuren was not afraid that the Minister of Rites would make things difficult for Chang Yi. As long as he held power and as long as he was Marquis Zhou, the Minister of Rites would only take good care of Chang Yi.
The Minister of Rites then chatted about some recent events until he got on the carriage and left.
Zhou Shuren sighed, saying that his youngest son had reached the age to get married. No one missed him when he was away from Beijing for more than a year. Now that he has returned to Beijing, it is normal for him to be missed.
In ancient times, it was easier for men to marry than for women to find their families, so Zhou Shuren was really not in a hurry.
At the Zhou residence, Zhulan looked at the letter sent by her elder brother, pursed her lips, and was in a bad mood. Her elder brother was not young anymore, and he broke his leg in the fall.
Zhulan sighed. She didn't believe the letter saying that everything was fine. Her brother's metabolism slowed down with age, and he must have suffered a lot from the fracture.
Zhao comforted her, "Mom, with the doctor watching over me, my uncle will be fine."
Zhulan was a little sad, "We are just getting older, old, all old."
Zhao said, "Mother, don't say that. You are still young in your daughter-in-law's eyes."
Zhulan smiled a little, "You are the only one who can talk. Your brother has sent you a letter. Do you want to come to the capital?"
Zhao nodded. "He has already become a scholar and is not in a hurry to take the imperial examination. I haven't seen him for many years. He wrote that he plans to come to the capital to spend the New Year with me and will go on a study tour in the spring."
Zhulan calculated, "You siblings haven't seen each other for many years."
It was her idea to let the child stay in Lizhou.
As time went by and they got to know each other better, Zhao no longer felt uncomfortable with her brother. Instead, she hoped that her brother would come to the capital. She thought that her husband had helped her brother for many years and it was time for him to help her.
Zhulan talked with her second daughter-in-law for a while, then went to the warehouse in person to select tonic medicine for her eldest and second brothers. Good medicinal materials are still difficult to buy in Lizhou.
At night, Zhou Shuren did not mention the marriage proposed by the Minister of Rites. Instead, he said, "Prince Liang is a ruthless man who is torturing himself. The Emperor is his father after all, and he is old. With the Emperor watching over him and Prince Liang's military exploits, the Emperor will not touch Prince Liang's mansion."
Zhulan, "Is King Liang miserable?"
"How should I put it? Prince Liang gives me the feeling of chronic suicide. I can see it, and the emperor and the emperor emeritus can see it too. Prince Liang is like a soft knife cutting the emperor emeritus' heart!"
Zhu Lan, "Prince Liang is also afraid. He is afraid that the Queen will die young. The Crown Prince is the Queen's son. Prince Liang can't do anything evil, so he can only torture himself."
Zhou Shuren smiled, "Many people can see the situation of the King of Liang clearly. There is an unsolvable knot between the King of Liang and the Crown Prince. I think someone wants to take advantage of it, but it's a pity that the King of Liang is only interested in keeping the Liang Palace."
"That's what King Liang saw clearly."
The emperor has been suppressing the maternal families of the concubines in the harem and has been keeping everything under control. It is obvious that the emperor has suffered enough from the powerful aristocratic families. Can't the maternal families of the concubines in the harem understand this? They understand it, but the imperial power is too attractive.
The next day, news spread in the capital that Prince Liang was seriously ill. The head of the Imperial Medical Bureau moved to Prince Liang's mansion. Prince Liang's illness lasted for a month before he recovered. Then rumors spread that Prince Liang would not live long.
There was news in the capital that Prince Liang was seriously ill, and there was another major event. The emperor was stingy with the titles of concubines in the harem and actually promoted one of the concubines, Concubine Zhang. Then, because Concubine Hui was seriously ill and could not take care of the two princes, the little prince was given to Concubine Zhang to raise.
This was a big blow to the Wang family. They finally realized the emperor's determination, stopped pretending to be ignorant and behaved themselves.
At this time, Zhao's younger brother finally arrived in the capital. Zhulan looked at the young man in front of her. Zhao's mother was a beauty, and so was Zhao. The son took after his mother. Qian Keqi had grown into a gentle and jade-like young man. This child was really good-looking.
Zhulan gestured, "You were only this tall when I left you. Now you've grown so big that I can hardly recognize you."
Qian Keqi had been living alone for many years and was very familiar with interpersonal relationships. He was best at observing people's expressions. When he sensed the old lady's kindness, his anxiety when he came was gone. He smiled and said, "Because Keqi has grown up, Keqi is grateful for the old lady's care over the years."
Zhulan smiled and motioned to sit down. She really didn't take much care of him. The one who really took care of him was the second house, but she didn't stop him. In addition, the Yang family's care for this child was the care for this child. "You are a very insightful child."
Qian Keqi said, "I have lived alone for many years, and I am where I am today thanks to this insight."
Zhulan asked about Qian Keqi's studies again, and then said to the second daughter-in-law, "You two can chat. Take him to see if there is anything missing in the yard and if there is anything he needs you to arrange."
Zhao smiled and said, "Okay."
Zhulan waited for Zhao to leave with Qian Keqi, and said to Qingxue, "This child is really good."
Qingxue nodded, but thought in her heart that she looked a bit like a woman.
Zhao took her brother to the yard, "This yard is close to the front yard, so it's convenient if you want to go out. See if there's anything else you can add."
Qian Keqi felt concerned and no longer felt strange towards his sister. "It's already good enough."
Zhao said, "Your brother-in-law wanted to take a leave, but something happened at the Ministry of Rites, so he couldn't leave. He told me to tell you that he would have a good chat with you when he got back."
Qian Keqi said, "Okay, sister, I brought a gift but I don't know if you like it or not."
Zhao thought of the leather that was given to her, "It's not easy for you to live your life. You must have spent a lot of money this time."
"The annual gifts my sister and brother-in-law send back are even more valuable. I have managed my family business well over the years, so you don't have to worry about me."
Zhao knew her brother's situation very well and knew that he was not just pretending to be rich. "You should take a rest first, and we can talk to you in the evening."
When leaving the yamen, Chang Yi came back first and met his brother-in-law. He was stunned for a moment by his brother-in-law's appearance. He was too good-looking. There were too many dirty people in the capital. Fortunately, he was his wife's brother.
Qian Keqi felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, "Brother-in-law?"
Chang Yi sighed, "You can practice martial arts with Ming Rui and the others in the future."
Add more heroic spirit.
Qian Keqi was not someone who didn't know what was good and what was bad. "Okay."
Half an hour later, Zhulan frowned. It was already dark outside, but Shuren still hadn't returned home.
Changyi and the others didn't care much about it, as Dad would sometimes come home late.
Another half hour passed before Zhou Shuren returned home. Zhulan saw that Shuren looked unhappy and asked hurriedly, "What happened?"