In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren returned home. "Why do I feel like there are fewer maids and servants at home?"
"It's not an illusion. Today, I got the Zhuangzi deed. I selected some maids and servants to go and clean up first. There are indeed fewer people in the house."
Zhou Shuren was thinking about the reward, "Can the Prince's Mansion send the deed over?"
Zhulan recalled the description given by Butler Wang and smiled brightly. "It was delivered this morning. Butler Wang has already visited it. The manor is large and the architecture is elegant. It is warm in winter and cool in summer. There are several hot spring pools where you can go and soak in the hot springs in winter."
Zhou Shuren thought that Yazhi was indeed like the prince's character, "Let someone take good care of this manor and don't ruin it."
"Don't worry."
During dinner, Chang Lian was eager to share the good news with his father, "Dad, today my son entered the palace and received a reward from the emperor."
Zhou Shuren nodded and continued looking at the third brother.
Chang Lian would read your expression and quickly continued, "I am relying on you for your help. Without you, I wouldn't have received this reward. Dad, I'd like to offer you a glass of wine."
Zhou Shuren raised the corner of his mouth, "Don't be arrogant."
Chang Lian listened to the instruction humbly, "Son, I will remember your words, and be careful and cautious in everything I do."
Zhou Shuren was very satisfied, "Well, you are not bad either. The emperor mentioned you yesterday."
Chang Lian was excited, "What did you mention about your son?"
Zhou Shuren curled his lips and said, "For your father's sake, I say you are good."
Chang Lian twitched his lips and said, "The son benefits from his father's help."
Zhulan held back her laughter. Zhou Shuren was teasing Changlian on purpose. She looked at the empty seat where Rongchuan sat. Rongchuan did not come back for dinner today.
Rong Chuan stood in front of the Ningguo Mansion. "Come to the Mansion for dinner today? I, I'm not ready."
This was too sudden. It wasn't a surprise, it was a shock.
Ning Xu touched Rongchuan's head. Rongchuan was his son now. It felt really good to be a father these days. He said he didn't care about his offspring, but he couldn't lie to people. He still cared. "Your grandfather has been nagging about you for a while. Dad couldn't stand it anymore, so I brought you back for dinner today."
I almost let it slip!
Rong Chuan didn't notice, his mind was on his grandfather. Thinking of the Duke of Ning who he had seen last time, he was obviously old, and thinking of the Duke of Ning's poor health, "It's my son's fault. He should have taken the initiative to see Grandpa."
Ning Xu smiled and said, "You are right, this is human nature, let's go."
At the Ningguo Mansion, when Ningguo heard the butler say that someone had arrived at the main courtyard gate, he stood up and wanted to go to greet them, but then sat down again because he didn't want to scare the child.
Lady Ningguo Duke’s wife didn’t have so many thoughts and stood up to greet him. She had only seen the portrait but had never seen the real person!
When Lady Ningguo saw Rongchuan, tears fell from her eyes, "He looks exactly like her. He looks so much like her. My Shao'er is back."
Rongchuan was a little panicked. He heard his father say that he looked like his uncle, and when he saw his grandmother's appearance, it seemed that he looked more than just like her. He didn't know what to say for a moment and could only let his grandmother hold him.
Duke Ningguo could no longer sit still, and hurried out to see his wife. His eyes turned red as he heard the words "Shao'er" again and again.
As soon as Ning Xu saw the headache, he knew this would happen, and he carefully supported his mother. The old lady did not let go, and her grip was quite strong. "Mom, let's go inside and talk."
Lady Ningguo was crying so hard that she couldn't hear what her youngest son said. She felt that Shao'er was Rongchuan, and Shao'er must have been reluctant to leave his parents, so he was reborn. She felt so distressed that it felt like a knife was cutting her. "Ah, my Shao'er."
Rongchuan felt very sad when he heard the cries. He hugged his grandmother and patted her back. "Grandma, don't cry. Uncle's spirit in heaven doesn't want to see you sad anymore. Your grandson will take Uncle's share to be filial to grandpa and grandma. Please don't be sad."
Duke Ningguo had been holding back his tears, and he burst into tears after hearing these words. This child is so thoughtful. After so many years, the emperor finally did something that made the Duke's Mansion loyal to him. "Good, good child."
Finally, the old lady was tired of crying, so she gave up and didn't need to eat dinner. She called the imperial physician directly. The old lady lay down holding her grandson's hand.
Rong Chuan comforted her, "Grandson is not going anywhere today. He will just stay with grandma."
Lady Ningguo finally smiled, "Good, good, good child."
Ning Hui and his wife stood at the back. Mrs. Du felt very sad. She felt sad for her two sons. Her mother-in-law was not particularly close to any of the children from the second wife and was very impartial to them.
Now that Rongchuan has appeared, the mother-in-law has changed. It seems that she wants to treat Rongchuan with all her heart. Look at the father-in-law again, his eyes have never left Rongchuan.
At the Zhou Mansion, Zhou Shuren finished writing the letter to Wu Ming, answered questions that his grandsons did not understand, and gave Chang Lian some extra lessons before slowly returning to the main courtyard.
Zhu Lan asked, "Why do you suddenly want to write to Wu Ming?"
Zhou Shuren told the Crown Prince what he said, "I think I should think of some way to get Wu Ming to Beijing. Even if he doesn't come to Beijing, it would be good to get him near the capital."
Zhulan thought for a moment and said, "Will it be earlier?"
"Not too early, now is the right time."
Zhulan: "Just keep it in mind."
Zhou Shuren sat down and saw the account book on the table. He felt a headache when he saw the account book. He looked away and asked, "What are you calculating?"
Zhu Lan said quietly, "I calculated how much money I would have next year. I guess our daughter's marriage won't be delayed for much longer."
Zhou Shuren also knew in his heart, "When the time comes, I'll bring as much money as I can."
"Um."
Zhou Shuren thought of Rong Chuan who hadn't returned home again, "I will be on leave in a few days. Tomorrow, tell your daughters-in-law about Rong Chuan's identity!"
Zhulan said, "Even if you don't mention it, I plan to tell my daughters-in-law tomorrow."
At the Ningguo Mansion, Rongchuan had a simple dinner. Seeing that Ning Xu was a little tired, he said, "Dad, you should go back and rest. I'll stay here."
Ning Xu's mind froze for a while, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses, "What did you call me just now?"
Rongchuan felt that he was being hypocritical, and said with a smile: "Dad."
Seeing his grandmother's sad look, he understood everything.
Ning Xu grinned foolishly, "Dad, did you hear that? Rong Chuan calls his son dad."
Duke Ningguo said cheerfully, "I heard it. Look how happy I am for you."
Ning Xu didn't know where to put his hands and feet, "How can my son not be happy? This is my son."
Rong Chuan called him dad, which meant he really recognized him as his father. He had finally waited for it. Oh, the emperor hadn't heard Rong Chuan call him dad yet. He was really happy today.
There was warmth in Rongchuan's eyes. This was his home, everyone was looking forward to him, he was not an outsider.
The next morning, after breakfast, Zhulan did not let her daughter-in-law and grandchildren leave. As for Zhou Shuren, he went to court early.
Li is now acting like the eldest daughter-in-law. She was very professional in selecting servants yesterday. "Mother, do you have anything to tell me?"
Zhulan briefly explained Rongchuan's life experience, "This is what I want to say. When the Ministry of Revenue is closed, Rongchuan will recognize his relatives."
This news made the Zhou family's daughters-in-law dumbfounded. Even Mingyun and the others were stunned. It was obvious that the shock was too great.
Li was stunned. "Rongchuan is Lord Ning's son? Oh my goodness, that means he is the prince's cousin, a royal relative!"
Zhulan was amused, "You know a lot now."