Chapter 100: Granted Marriage 2◇

On the sixth day of the eighth month of the twenty-first year of the Chengqian reign, the news that the Emperor had granted marriage to the fifth grandson, Zhu Xi, and the daughter of the Zhou family caused another sensation in Kyoto. No one knew who this daughter of the Zhou family was, someone the Emperor personally selected and appointed as his grandson's wife.

Those who were curious about the matter searched all the big, medium and small families in Kyoto, but they were unable to find the daughter of the Zhou family.

It was not until the eldest princess acted as a matchmaker and brought the fifth grandson to deliver the engagement gift that people in Kyoto discovered that the Zhou family was actually just an ordinary family in the west of the city. They only had three rooms in their house, and when they asked later, they found out that they were renting.

Why on earth would the emperor be so determined to marry the daughter of such a poor family for his grandson? Everyone was baffled!

However, if the gossip spirit of the people is ignited, they will all be like Sherlock Holmes!

Soon, someone found out that the Zhou family was not only of the same clan as the family of Zhou Ge Lao who had been executed by the current emperor, but also had been exiled together with the descendants of Zhou Ge Lao.

Although Lord Zhou hadn't been rehabilitated, everyone knew that his family's original residence had been returned to his descendants by His Majesty. Emperor Chengqian had also personally transferred Lord Zhou's eldest grandson to the Hanlin Academy as an editor. Could this be a sign of the Zhou family's rise to power? Was His Majesty intending to re-employ the Zhou family?

But even if he wanted to make use of the Zhou family, he didn't have to sacrifice his own grandson, did he?! That was the fifth grandson of the emperor! The former legitimate son of the crown prince! The most noble grandson of the emperor's grandson, bar none!

If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had not passed away, this imperial grandson would most likely have been the next monarch. Even if the Crown Prince passed away, his bloodline destined him to still be the noblest among the many imperial grandsons!

Even now, it's just a title, but it's not something a poor man can be worthy of! Even if Lord Zhou is still alive and still in the position of Lord, only his granddaughter can be worthy of this position!

But the girl from the Zhou family and Lord Zhou’s family are already distant relatives within the fifth degree of mourning!

But why did the emperor personally choose this girl from a poor family as his principal wife for his grandson?

Even sending the eldest princess to act as matchmaker? Doesn't this sound like they're rejecting the fifth grandson?!

And the engagement gifts were each more lavish than the last! Among them was a glazed screen, which would have seemed priceless even as a betrothal gift, yet the Fifth Emperor's grandson had it carried away and given it to the girl as one of the eight engagement gifts.

The other eight gifts were also exquisite items that could not be more exquisite. The gem on the armlet, hairpin and ring was enough for a small family to live on for a lifetime!

It was obvious that those things were left to the fifth grandson by the former Crown Princess. They were treasures that could not be bought on the market!

All of this was given to the girl from the Zhou family as an engagement gift. It seems that the fifth grandson of the emperor is very satisfied with this marriage!

Everyone was once again baffled, wondering why this girl from the Zhou family was so lucky! Even if she was stunningly beautiful and could charm the Fifth Emperor's grandson, how could the current emperor, a man of such wisdom, allow his grandson to marry a vixen?

Moreover, after squatting for a long time, someone discovered that the girl from the Zhou family was just so-so. She was pretty, but not stunningly beautiful! To be honest, she was not even as pretty as her mother!

Later, a good thing happened. After conducting an in-depth investigation, it was discovered that this girl from the Zhou family had once done a great favor to the fifth grandson of the emperor! She had once saved his life!

Now everyone finally understood! They all sighed that Emperor Chengqian was indeed an emperor of all ages, and the royal family he led was worthy of being a role model for the people of Dayan!

Because the Zhou family's daughter had saved the fifth grandson, Emperor Chengqian granted her the title of Imperial Consort!? And not just a concubine, but the principal wife!? With such a morally upright emperor and a royal family so sincere towards the people, how could they not support him?!

Therefore, the people of Kyoto had an unprecedentedly good impression of Emperor Chengqian and the Zhu royal family, and they became even more supportive of the Zhu Dynasty!

Emperor Chengqian was naturally delighted to have gotten free advertising for his family without any effort! But at the same time, Zhou Jin in the Zhou family courtyard nearly gnashed his teeth!

Damn it! It was clearly the Fifth Emperor's grandson who approached his sister, but now it's like they're asking for repayment?!

Zhou Jin was already unhappy with his sister marrying Zhu Xi, and after this incident, he became even more dissatisfied with the royal family and Emperor Cheng Qian. He was so angry that he couldn't even eat!

Zhou Li, who was standing by, ate two bowls of rice and advised his brother,

"Brother! Such remarks are because the men of our Zhou family are not standing high enough, which is why our eldest sister was insulted! We shouldn't be angry, we should work harder to become stronger!"

After saying this, he assured Zhou Yu:

"Big sister! Don't worry, I will definitely pass the imperial examination this year and come back to support you!"

After saying that, he put down his bowl and chopsticks and ran to read!

Zhou Jin was deeply inspired by his younger brother's words and put down his chopsticks and returned to the barracks! No! Before his sister got married, he had to make a name for himself, at least become a commander!

Seeing her two sons like this, Zheng couldn't eat anymore. No, she had to find Mrs. Bai to discuss what needed to be added to Ayu's dowry and what needed to be purchased first!

Although her family is not short of money now, she has heard that those wealthy families start saving for dowries as soon as their daughters are born. Their Ayu is already one step too late and there is no time to delay. She doesn't want their Ayu to be laughed at again when she gets married!

Therefore, I put down my chopsticks and left in a hurry!

So, the table, which had just been full, was left with only Zhou Yu and her younger sister Zhou Ying staring at each other in bewilderment...

Zhou Ying... Oh my! Her two brothers and her mother are working so hard for her eldest sister?! Shouldn't she do something for her eldest sister too?!

But she can't do anything else except drawing?

Oh right! She heard that screens were very popular among the nobles in Kyoto. How about she draw a complete set of screens for her eldest sister, then find an embroiderer to embroider them and give them to her eldest sister as a dowry?

Yes, do it!

Little Zhou Ying was thinking about this and couldn't sit still any longer. She said something to Zhou Yu and hurried away!

Zhou Yu was left alone, looking at a table full of half-eaten dishes, at a loss as to what to do...

Everyone, she really doesn't care about dowry and reputation. Let others say whatever they want. You really don't have to fight so hard for me!

…

In the Zhongcui Palace in Kyoto, Zhu Xiqiu had been in the storeroom for almost a day, carefully selecting the treasures inside and taking them out of the entire room...

Looking at the antiques, calligraphy and paintings, pearls and jade that filled his room, Zhu Xi still felt unsatisfied. He packed up and went back to Emperor Chengqian's bedroom...

Emperor Chengqian had recently listened to Zhou Yu's medical knowledge popularization and realized that he had a strong liver fire and should not stay up late. Therefore, he had been going to bed earlier these days and was already lying down...

He was enjoying the soft, boneless hands of a young concubine massaging his head when he heard the announcement that the fifth grandson of the emperor had arrived...

Emperor Chengqian's face flushed instantly, and he jumped up from the bed in shock, covering the young concubine with the quilt...

After coming to his senses, he realized that no matter how ignorant Zhu Xi was, he would never break into his bedroom, so he embarrassedly dug the concubine out again...

Then, with the help of the concubine, Emperor Chengqian put on a large coat, straightened his clothes a little, and left the palace in a bad mood...

When he went out to take a look, he saw that his grandson was indeed waiting obediently in the side hall. He felt a little satisfied, but he still pretended to be stern and shouted:

"Why are you here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?!"

"Grandfather, after looking around today, I feel that the Zhongcui Palace is still too small. How about you give me a house outside the palace? I can marry Ayu there when the time comes..."

Zhu Xi immediately pleaded with Emperor Chengqian. He felt uncomfortable living in Zhongcui Palace today, as the Crown Princess and his second brother were still living there! When his second brother got married next year, three families would live in one palace. Not only would it be crowded, but his A-yu would have to endure the Crown Princess's harsh treatment as a step-mother-in-law!

So Zhu Xi thought of asking his grandfather to give him a big house outside the palace. If there was no ready-made one, he could buy it with his own money. As long as Emperor Cheng Qian agreed to let him live outside the palace, it would be fine!

"no!"

Emperor Chengqian interrupted him before he could finish, "The princes and grandchildren of our Great Yan all lived in the palace before they were enfeoffed, and they were enfeoffed two years after their marriage. How could I break this rule for you alone?

Besides, your Zhongcui Palace is the largest except for my bedroom. You still think it's too small? Are you trying to piss off your uncles to death?!"

In fact, according to the law, after the death of the former crown prince, the crown princess and her entourage should have moved out of Zhongcui Palace to make room for the future crown prince! However, when Emperor Chengqian thought about his eldest son's death and he, as a father, immediately drove away his wife and children, he felt very sorry. In addition, he had not found a good candidate for the crown prince in the past few years, so he never let them move.

I thought that before he appointed another crown prince, he would first settle his two grandsons, confer the title of prince on them and send them to their fiefdoms...

At that time, let the Crown Princess follow his second grandson directly to the vassal state, so as to avoid the awkwardness of her identity in Kyoto, and it would be awkward for everyone to get along with the future Queen!

Moreover, Emperor Cheng Qian had been preventing the Crown Princesses from moving out, and he also had some selfish motives. He was thinking that if he really couldn't find a good one among his sons, then the two grandsons born by the Crown Prince could also be within his consideration!

Passing the throne to his eldest son and grandson actually did not violate the rule of establishing the eldest son as the heir when he founded the country! That's why he has been raising his two grandsons by his side and educating them personally in the past few years!

"But Grandfather, won't Ayu be bullied if she marries in?!" Seeing that his grandfather didn't respond, Zhu Xi finally expressed his real concerns in angrily!

Emperor Chengqian...

On the one hand, he was pleased with his grandson's honesty with him, but on the other hand, he deeply hated the boy's character of disregarding everything for his wife. He was simply too obsessed with his wife!

So he lectured Zhu Xi,

"No matter what, the Crown Princess is still your stepmother! Once your wife enters the house, she must at least behave like a son and a daughter-in-law!

If you move out of the palace like this, how will others view your wife? When they see her, they won't laugh at you, but will only laugh at your wife for being ignorant! "

Seeing that Zhu Xi was still unmoved, Emperor Chengqian was so angry that he kicked him and cursed:

"What are you worried about?! With your wife's personality that shows she's not even afraid of me, will she be irritated by the Crown Princess?! Who knows who will be irritated by then!"

"Go back to where you came from! If you disturb my sleep again, I will take back the marriage order and marry your Ayu to someone else!"

After hearing this, Zhu Xi finally became obedient and left quietly! !

Emperor Cheng Qian also went back to sleep angrily!

Really! What a brat! He's been tormented so much for a girl. Doesn't he know that he shouldn't go to bed late?

The author has something to say:

I've been wondering whether to let Zhu Xi take the throne or stay in a corner. What do you think? Leave your opinions in the comments section!

Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2022-07-26 17:46:40 and 2022-07-27 08:25:59~

Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: lx Mumu 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!