The prince was more energetic when attending the morning court now that he had a legitimate eldest son, and the emperor was smiling every day. The royal family and the Shangguan family were happy, but the aristocratic families who were plotting something were very upset.
I can’t show it yet, so I congratulate the prince with a fake smile.
Zhou Shuren had seen the fake smile for several days in a row, which made him break out in cold sweats on his back. Old Master Shangguan couldn't stand it anymore and asked for leave.
Of course, everyone was still guessing the mystery of the third day's bath, but unfortunately they couldn't find out the answer. Marquis Zhou didn't get any closer to the prince, and the less they could find out, the more they tended to think about it, as if there was some huge secret.
Zhou Shuren pushed away the probing person and said to Lord Wei, "Isn't this asking for trouble?"
Lord Wei's heart trembled. After listening to Marquis Zhou's scolding for two consecutive days, his eyes were opened. He laughed dryly and said, "I won't give up until I find out."
Zhou Shuren moved his gloved hands, "Do you want to know?"
Lord Wei shook his head, "No, I don't want to."
Zhou Shuren laughed out loud. His youngest son's father-in-law was a little timid. "It's almost the end of the year again. This is the last time to distribute salaries this year."
Lord Wei exhaled slightly, and his tone was full of joy when he talked about his salary. "I wonder if there will be any reward at the end of this year."
After raiding so many officials’ homes, we should be able to have a good New Year this year!
Zhou Shuren thought, “There should be.”
Lord Wei smiled. Even though he had a lot of money, more rewards would be good. "Lord Wang hasn't come to court for two days."
Zhou Shuren nodded. The old man's body couldn't take it anymore, but he still tried to hold on until the New Year.
In the afternoon, at Zhou Hou Mansion, Minghui came back from outside the city, his cloak was covered with snow. Zhulan frowned, "Why don't you shake off the snow before coming in?"
Minghui gave the cloak to the servant and said, "My grandson has good news. I forgot to shake off the snow."
Zhulan snorted. Minghui was not frequenting the academy anymore. This was only the third time this winter. She heard that Shao Ting's attitude towards Minghui had returned to normal. "What's the good news?"
Minghui rubbed his hands and warmed them by the fire, "Miss Jiang is getting engaged."
Zhulan: "Oh."
Minghui saw that his grandmother was not surprised, "You knew?"
Zhu Lan put down the book in her hand, "There is nothing in the whole college that I don't know. Miss Jiang and Shao Ting are close, so Shao Xun and Miss Jiang are not surprised."
Minghui, "My grandson is so excited that he wants to tell you!"
Zhulan also knew about Shao Ting's connections. The two girls brainwashed the golden pair and persuaded many families to send girls to the academy. Shao Ting's appreciation for Miss Jiang led to the follow-up. Shao Xun did not despise Miss Jiang because of her appearance, but respected her. She felt that Minghui had a good eye for people.
Minghui said, "Grandson thought Miss Jiang would tell you in a few days."
Zhulan also thought so. After all, he was someone under the care of the Marquis's Mansion, and she also had to help act as a matchmaker for the engagement.
Minghui didn't know Miss Jiang's family background, "I guess they will get engaged first, and then talk about marriage after she passes the exam next year."
"Not enough for you to worry about."
Minghui asked, "Grandma, will you add some makeup to Miss Jiang?"
"The Emperor has handed her over to our Marquis' Mansion. I will prepare some dowry for her when she gets married."
Minghui peeled an orange and said, "The Shao family has no wealth."
Zhulan waved her hand, "Okay, don't bother me, go back and rest too."
Minghui swallowed the orange and said, "Grandma, I'm leaving now."
Just as Zhulan left, Li came in, holding the gift list of previous years, "Mom, this year we have my younger brother's in-laws, I don't know how to draft the gift list."
Her parents-in-law’s youngest son was like their lifeblood. She looked through a lot of gift lists and grabbed her hair several times, but still couldn’t put pen to paper. Finally, she had no choice but to ask her mother-in-law.
Zhu Lan pondered for a while, "Compared with the Ran family and other relatives, it is 20% more."
Changzhong is Mingyun's uncle, so an extra 20% is enough.
Li was confident: "My daughter-in-law will go back and draw up the list right away."
Zhulan looked at the thick list of New Year gifts, which was just the important gift list. "Thank you for your hard work recently."
Li smiled, "Liu Jia helps her daughter-in-law."
She would also give instructions to her daughter-in-law. The Rong'an Marquis's Mansion received a lot of New Year gifts, and her daughter-in-law was in a state of panic.
Zhu Lan said, "Take Liu Jia with you when you go out, and talk more about the taboos of women when you have nothing to do."
Women really hold grudges. If you offend them unintentionally, they will try to trip you up next time. It's better to avoid this if possible.
Especially the women in the ancient harem, many of them had mental illnesses as a result of the house fighting. They either had a strong desire for control or they had the final say, etc.!
Li, "There have been a lot of banquets recently."
"The prince has given birth to a legitimate son, and the royal family wants to relax while they are in a good mood."
Ever since the death of the retired emperor, the court has been reorganized by the emperor. There have been fewer banquets, and even if there are banquets, people dare not make a big fuss. Now that the royal family is back on track, there are many banquets being held in the capital.
Li thought of what she had heard, "I heard that the prince wants to take a concubine."
Zhulan: "Not credible."
Li smiled and said, "So my daughter-in-law just listened and didn't take it seriously."
The Crown Princess has a legitimate son, and the Crown Prince is not crazy. These rumors can only be attributed to some people being too impatient.
In a blink of an eye, the Wei family sent back the New Year gifts, and the Zhou Hou Mansion sent the New Year gifts early. There was no way they could interact too often, and if they didn’t send them early, they would definitely be in a mess in the end.
Zhulan took the gift list and looked at the Wei family's return gift. Well, it was the same as the Zhou family's return gift, but with a different emphasis.
Zhulan asked, "Is Changzhong at home?"
Qingxue replied, "The young master went out early in the morning."
Zhulan put down the gift list and said, "Pick out the ones that Changzhong can use and send them to his yard."
Qingxue: "Yes."
Li asked, "Mother, did I make an appointment with Miss Wei?"
Zhulan: "It should be."
Next year Changzhong will leave Beijing and return to his hometown to take the examination for the scholar. He will be gone for a long time and the young man is reluctant to leave.
In a foreign shop, Changzhong accompanied his fiancée to select items. He stood and looked for a while, "Why are all the items you selected for men?"
Wei Xinyi asked, "Do you like it?"
Chang Zhongzhen had no shortage of these things. He had received many things from foreigners, which were more exquisite than those in the shop. However, "I like everything you choose."
Wei Xinyi said sweetly, "Take them all with you when you leave."
Chang Zhongmo calculated the price and estimated that his fiancée's wallet would be emptied. "Okay."
Wei Xinyi felt distressed when she had to pay the bill. She used the money she had saved with great difficulty and paid with a normal expression.
Changzhong already knows his fiancée very well. Look at the hand that is pinching her purse, it hurts!
Wei Xinyi took a deep breath. She could continue saving. "Move them all to your car."
“That’s pretty generous.”
Wei Xinyi chuckled, "Let's go and choose a pen."
Changzhong glanced sideways, "Still buying?"
"Um."
Changzhong wanted to say that he had too many famous pens, and his father had even more in his warehouse, so he had never bought a pen himself. He looked at his fiancée's sparkling eyes and smiled, "I'll listen to you."
After buying pens, the two went to the bookstore again. This time, Changzhong paid Wei Xinyi to buy a travel journal.
Zhou Shuren took two hours to visit Grandpa Wang. He was in a bad mood when he came out of Wang's house. He wanted to walk around the street to see the world. As a result, he met his youngest son and future daughter-in-law. The two of them didn't even sit in the carriage, but talked and laughed all the way, showing their love.
Zhou Shuren was patted on the shoulder. There weren't many people in Beijing who could pat him on the shoulder. He turned around and looked at Li Zhao. "You."
Li Zhao was wearing casual clothes. "Why are you holding your stomach? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Zhou Shuren, "I feel so full."
Li Zhao, "Hmm?"