Zhulan and his wife were aware of what was going on in Changzhong's yard. They were chatting while playing chess. Seeing that she was about to lose again, Zhulan said, "Let me make a move."
Zhou Shuren pulled back his hand holding the chess piece. "Can you calculate how many moves I gave you in this game?"
Zhulan had already gotten off the stage, and instead of saying anything, she said, "As expected of a consort that the emperor values, he is indeed smart."
Zhou Shuren glanced at the chessboard and put down the chess piece in his hand. "I carefully selected it."
He still remembers the information on the list clearly.
Zhulan raised her eyes and said, "Then let him live at home?"
Zhou Shuren, "Yeah."
This is also what the emperor wants to see. He is just venting his anger on others, not really being angry.
Zhulan lowered her head and frowned, then put down the chess piece in her hand, "I lost."
"This round has been going on for a while."
As he said this, he put away the chess pieces on the chessboard. He didn't plan to continue playing. After he put away the chess pieces, he waited for the girl to leave, then half-lying on the cushion, "It's still more comfortable to lie down."
Zhulan waited for the maids to leave again and poured herself a cup of fruit tea. "Would you like to drink?"
"drink."
Zhulan looked out the window and said aloud, "It's snowing."
Zhou Shuren looked up and saw, "This is the last snow of this year."
The couple didn't talk all the time when they were together. They enjoyed the quietness of their company. After drinking a pot of fruit tea, Zhulan spoke again, "Changzhong will leave for his hometown after the seventh day of the New Year."
Zhou Shuren, "It's better to go back early so that I can have more rest."
Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "Minghui can also take the exam, but this kid hasn't made any moves at all."
Zhulan asked, "Ask?"
"Forget it, let Minghui decide for himself."
Zhulan added: "It's almost the New Year, and Ming Teng hasn't come back yet. Is he not coming back for the New Year?"
"He can't move until the emperor speaks."
It has taken so many years of hard work to increase the yield of grain varieties. A lot of manpower and material resources have been invested over the years, and now the results are finally visible. Ming Teng will not feel at ease unless he guards the emperor.
Zhulan smiled and said, "It's okay if you don't come back."
After returning, Ming Teng and his wife wanted to go back to the Marquis' Mansion, and the people who came to visit them couldn't stop them.
In the palace, the emperor came out of the queen's bedroom and got the news that Wu Shangheng went to Zhou Hou's mansion. He said to eunuch Zhang, "Monkey spirit."
Eunuch Zhang knew that the emperor liked his future consort very much, "He will probably stay for a few days."
"Stay."
Eunuch Zhang thought to himself that the Emperor's anger had subsided.
The emperor added: "Inform Zhenyue."
In order to prevent the eldest daughter from worrying about him, she did not go to the government palace yesterday and waited for him in the garden. She did not know how long she waited, and she was not afraid that he would not leave through the garden.
Eunuch Zhang asked the young eunuch beside him to pass on the message, thinking in his heart that the emperor was much better to his daughter than to the princes. To his daughter, the emperor was a father, but to the other princes he was first the emperor and then a father.
The queen asked the lady-in-waiting, "Where has the emperor gone?"
The female official whispered back, "Look at the direction back to the Zheng Palace. The emperor didn't go to see any more empresses."
The queen smiled, "Their efforts were in vain."
The female official said: "The more you make trouble, the more the emperor will be displeased."
The Queen nodded. Some people still did not understand the Emperor. The Emperor respected and loved the retired Emperor very much. If someone said he would definitely observe the mourning period, she would just say maybe he would go. When the Emperor was trying to be ruthless, he was truly ruthless.
The queen lowered her eyes and said, "Go see Jingxuan."
The female official responded and stood up to go out. After leaving the bedroom, she sighed in her heart that the biological mother and daughter were not too close!
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve, and the Zhou Marquis Mansion had a new future prince consort. The prince consort hid in the mansion and did not go out at all. He gave the mansion many gifts because he was embarrassed.
The anniversary reunion dinner is still very lively, summarizing this year and looking forward to next year.
Wu Shangheng, on the other hand, drank silently. The warmer the atmosphere was, the more mixed emotions he felt, all because the contrast with the New Year atmosphere was too strong.
He was used to the scheming at reunion dinners, and the toasts were all meant to be insulting. At home, he was also one of the ones who looked down on his half-brother. Add to that the fake smiles of the whole family, and the reunion dinner was full of scheming.
Changzhong lowered his voice, "You're welcome."
Dad didn't say anything and let Wu Shangheng continue to hide, which means the emperor has allowed it, so there is no need to be restricted!
Wu Shangheng smiled and said, "Okay."
He liked associating with Zhou Changzhong because Zhou Changzhong had the sunshine that he did not have, so it was good to have a clean backyard. Then he thought to himself and laughed. He was the future prince consort, and he dared not take a concubine in the future, because the emperor would kill him!
In a mansion in the capital, several young men from Jiangnan families gathered together. There was no joy of New Year at all, and instead, they all looked unhappy.
They didn't expect Wu Shangheng to run away, and they were even more angry that Wu Shangheng was hiding and didn't even reply to their messages.
They didn't find out anything after trying to find out the news. There was no movement from the Duke's Mansion, and they were actually a little worried.
In the Mansion of the Duke of Yong'an, the New Year atmosphere was not good. This year was not friendly to the Mansion, as if it would capsize at any time. The meal was eaten in silence.
The Duke said to his eldest grandson, "You must follow the Crown Prince closely."
After the incident, the prince met his eldest grandson, which put his mind at ease. He didn't figure it out before, and if he can't figure it out now, the Duke's Mansion is doomed.
Whether the Emperor is using the Duke's Mansion as a weapon or has other calculations, as long as it still has value, he can rest assured.
Zhuo Guyu held the wine glass, "Grandson understands."
The Duke thought that if he had known earlier he would not have hidden, but now he is being forced to fight for his life.
The New Year ended, and it was time for the daughters to return home. Zhulan’s two daughters returned, but Yu Lu, who was married, did not.
After paying New Year’s greetings, the grandchildren went out to play, leaving the elders behind in the house.
Zhou Shuren did not take his son-in-law to the front yard. He asked his eldest son-in-law Jiang Sheng, "I heard that someone imitated your painting?"
Jiang Sheng replied, "Someone has imitated it a long time ago. My son-in-law also bought a pair. Imitation is imitation, and those who understand it can see it at a glance."
Zhou Shuren looked at his eldest son-in-law as if he were looking at gold. His eldest son-in-law's hands were not just for painting, they were clearly able to turn stone into gold. "The King of Qi has collected your paintings."
Jiang Sheng said: "I am relying on my father-in-law for protection today."
Without his father-in-law, he wouldn't be as famous as he is today.
Zhou Shuren was satisfied that his son-in-law was not flattered. "That's because you have real ability."
If you don't have the ability, you won't be able to impress those princes who are so arrogant.
Rong Chuan continued, "Brother-in-law, do you have time to draw a picture for me?"
Zhou Shuren smiled, "It's not free, you are the richest person in this room."
Fortunately, the current emperor is his biological brother, and Rongchuan was taught by him to know when to advance and when to retreat, otherwise the huge wealth would also be a disaster in the future.
Jiang Sheng said hurriedly: "I don't charge any money, my brother-in-law has helped me a lot."
The two big Buddhas who protected him, his father-in-law and his brother-in-law, did not dare to threaten him no matter how anxious they were to ask for paintings!
Zhou Shuren said, "Draw me one for free."
Zhulan laughed and said, "Your father is waiting for you to say you don't want the money!"
After these words were spoken, everyone in the room laughed.
In Changzhong's yard, Ze'er pulled his uncle aside and made sure that no one around could hear their conversation. Then Ze'er asked, "Did your uncle check on Lu Jiaqing?"