Chapter 9 Proposing marriage three days later

There is no such thing as monogamy in the royal family.

Even if only one extraordinary person appears every thousand years, Prince Duan would not believe that such an extraordinary person would be a member of the Zhou family.

So he suspected he was hallucinating.

Or maybe his second brother was joking with him.

“Second Brother,” Prince Duan said with a sneer as he crossed his arms and looked at Zhou Chuanxing, “For you, I can go to the Chu family to pursue that Third Miss, and also take a look at that cousin of the Chu family.”

Zhou Chuanxing gave him a cool glance and said, "Just do what's best for yourself."

Prince Duan moved closer to Zhou Chuanxing and deliberately said, "You dare to say you don't like that girl?"

Zhou Chuanxing refused to speak, so Prince Duan continued, "There is clearly a way to get that girl's cousin to give her a proper status, but you insist on saying you can't do it. Aren't you ashamed?"

Zhou Chuanxing responded this time: "What can I do if his cousin won't marry him!"

Prince Duan: "I hereby bestow a marriage upon you."

Zhou Chuanxing: "Your Majesty is still ill. Can you make him sober enough to issue an imperial decree?"

Prince Duan almost forgot that his second brother was now in charge of all the important affairs of the court, but his second brother was not the emperor after all, but only a temporary regent.

An imperial edict could not be issued.

"Well, it's also acceptable for the Empress to issue an imperial decree."

Zhou Chuanxing picked up a book, intending to throw it at him: "I think you're really bored."

The little girl loves math so much; she must really want to read the books she chose herself.

Zhou Chuanxing placed the five mathematics books on the left side of his desk, within easy reach.

I'll flip through it when I have nothing else to do.

Five days passed, but he still hadn't heard from the girl that she wanted to see him.

That afternoon, Zhou Chuanxing ordered someone to invite Chu Yannuo to the Qin Zheng Hall.

This should be considered the first time the two met alone.

After entering the room, Chu Yannuo began to sized up Zhou Chuanxing.

After all, the other party was the regent, so he couldn't just stare at him blatantly.

However, the focus remained on the other party.

This man went to the battlefield at the age of thirteen, and as long as he wasn't seriously injured, he was always on the front line.

Over the course of more than a decade, he quelled the seven feudal lords, conquered the northern regions, expanded the territory, and made countless military achievements.

The fact that the Great Zhou Dynasty has survived to this day after nearly being destroyed is not entirely due to Zhou Chuanxing's military prowess, but it is largely due to him.

His rise to his current position is not solely due to being the emperor's younger brother.

The Emperor is now seriously ill and has not woken up for several months.

This throne will belong to this regent sooner or later.

He suddenly called me here today.

It shouldn't be because I didn't do my job well, since I've thought it through carefully and haven't found anything that could have caught the Regent's attention.

As Chu Yannuo sized up Zhou Chuanxing, Zhou Chuanxing, sitting in a grand chair, was also observing Chu Yannuo.

As someone in a superior position, his gaze doesn't need to be subtle; he can fix it directly on the other person.

An image of a little girl in a blue jacket and long skirt opening her arms to him for a hug uncontrollably flashed into his mind.

The two cousins ​​grew up together...

Zhou Chuanxing unconsciously tightened his grip on the teacup.

"Young Master Chu, please sit down."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Chuanxing didn't waste any time. He first inquired about Chu Yannuo's work progress, then about his family, and even mentioned Marquis Wu'an. Finally, he patted Chu Yannuo on the shoulder and sighed.

"Prince Yanchu, I have summoned you here today because there is something I need to discuss with you."

Chu Yannuo couldn't possibly accept the word "discussion" and hurriedly stood up: "If there's anything I can do for Your Highness, please just give the order."

The Regent nodded approvingly: "I am really worried about the 100,000 disaster victims in the Northern Region. I'm afraid that even if the money and grain arrive, they won't end up in the victims' stomachs. I'm thinking of sending a capable minister there to serve as a prefect, responsible for educating the disaster victims, helping them learn how to cultivate the land, and ensuring that they can all have enough to eat."

After much thought, you seem like the only suitable candidate. I wonder if you could spare the time to stay in the Northern Region for three years?

"Your Highness wants me to go to the Northern Region?" This news came too suddenly, and Chu Yannuo was unable to accept it for a while.

The Regent gave a heavy "hmm," and said, "Of all the civil and military officials in the court, very few are truly capable of serving the court. Apart from you, I really can't think of anyone else to entrust with such a heavy responsibility."

Chu Yannuo had never imagined being away from home for so long. "My father's health..."

Zhou Chuanxing comforted him, "I know you have difficulties. Here's what we'll do: both the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Personnel are now old. When you return in three years, you can choose either of these positions."

Chu Yannuo: "..."

Zhou Chuanxing tried his best to relieve his worries, "I know you are not married yet. Marquis Wu'an only has you as his son. I am not heartless. I can give you two months, which is enough time for you to prepare for the wedding."

Since the Regent had already gone this far, what else could Chu Yannuo say?

"This humble official will do his utmost and will never fail Your Highness's trust."

Since Tang Xinuan returned to the Marquis's residence after attending the palace banquet, security at the Green Bamboo Garden has been tightened.

Now, even when she walks out of the Green Bamboo Garden to pay her respects to the Lady of the Marquis, she is followed by several maids.

Chu Yannuo even sent his eldest aunt, Qingning, over.

Chu Yanqing came looking for Tang Xinuan just now, but Qing Ning stopped her.

"Third Miss, it's not that I don't want to let you in, but the young master specifically instructed that you need his permission to see Miss Cousin."

Chu Yanqing was so angry that she raised her hand as if she wanted to slap her.

Then she thought, Qing Ning was just following her brother's orders; she was just a servant. What had she done wrong?

She stomped her foot angrily and turned to find Lady Hou.

Tang Xinuan hadn't seen any outsiders for several days.

Neither her cousin nor her younger cousin came. She could only chat with her relatives for a few minutes by going to pay her respects to her aunt every morning. She was so bored staying in the Green Bamboo Garden all day.

"Xiaoqian, why hasn't my cousin come to see me?"

Xiaoqian dared not say that the young master would not allow it.

The young lady hasn't been active these past few days, so she's been in a bad mood, her appetite has been decreasing, and she's lost quite a bit of weight.

"Perhaps the Third Miss is busy. It's time for the household to arrange marriages for the girls who have reached marriageable age."

Tang Xinuan sat listlessly on the swing, staring blankly at the clouds in the sky. "But my cousin doesn't come to see me either."

In a daze, she remembered things that happened before she came to the Marquis's residence.

Back then, her parents would take her out to buy candied hawthorns. Her older brother would tease her and snatch the candied hawthorns from her. She would try her best to chase after him with her short legs.

Her brother suddenly stopped, waited for her to bump into him, and then, as if by magic, took the candied hawthorn out from behind his back and handed it to her.

Then he gently pinched her nose and said, "Nuan Nuan, you little glutton!"

“Miss,” Xiaoqian walked to Tang Xinuan’s side, let her lean on her, and gently coaxed her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

"Don't cry," Tang Xinuan said, but she couldn't help sobbing. "I miss my parents and my brother."

I really want to.

I really want to...

When Chu Yanqing arrived at the inner residence, Chu Yannuo was discussing marriage with the Lady of the Marquis.

For the first time, Chu Yanqing couldn't help but lose her temper with her brother.

"What did my cousin do wrong? They won't even let her out of the Green Bamboo Garden?"

Chu Yannuo said matter-of-factly, "She doesn't understand anything. What if she gets lost!"

Chu Yanqing knew her brother was stubborn, so she complained to Madam Hou, "Mother, look at him. Even when I wanted to say a few words to my cousin, Qingning stopped me. My cousin is a person, not his pet. Even if she is a pet, she still needs to be let out to get some fresh air from time to time."

Lady Hou sighed helplessly: "The imperial court has decreed that your brother will be going to take up his post in the Northern Region in two months, and he will be gone for three years. Your brother is not young anymore, so the wedding must be held in these two months."

Chu Yanqing was taken aback. "My brother is leaving?"

Lady Hou nodded. "Yes."

Chu Yanqing quickly came to her senses. "Since time is so tight, let's hold a wedding for him and my cousin. My cousin will definitely be willing. We can skip all the formalities of the marriage ceremony and the dowry. As long as we have a grand wedding, one month is enough. Don't even mention two months."

Lady Hou picked up her teacup and frowned as she looked at her only son.

"Yannuo, what's your opinion?"

Chu Yannuo was a little slow to react, but quickly gave his answer, "She can't."

Chu Yanqing became anxious: "Why can't she? She's your cousin, you grew up together, childhood sweethearts, inseparable since you were little, you even swore to her that you would take care of her for the rest of your life, and you also... also..."

They also had a relationship.

Chu Yannuo clenched her fist. "She has mental problems. She can't be the mistress of this house, and she can't have normal children. I can't gamble with the future of the Marquis's mansion."

Chu Yanqing seemed not to recognize this older brother.

He looked at the Lady Hou with a mocking smile, "Mother—"

Madam Hou gripped her cup tightly for a long while before finally speaking: "There's no need for our Tang family's daughter to rush to marry into the Chu family. Since she's so picky, I'll find her someone who won't be tomorrow. Chu Yannuo, you'll get married one day, and I'll send her off the next day."

“Mother,” Chu Yannuo said, “I don’t believe anyone would go against me, the heir of a marquis’s mansion, for the sake of a fool.”

Lady Hou was furious. "You're going to take up your post in two months? By the time you return, it will be three years later."

Chu Yannuo said decisively, "I will take her with me to take up my post."

Lady Hou was always gentle and had almost never laid a hand on her own children.

But this time I really couldn't hold back anymore.

She gripped the teacup and smashed it hard against the son she had carried for ten months and raised with her own hands.

"Chu Yannuo, you'll regret this."

Chu Yannuo stood still, but Madam Chu's aim was off, and she missed him, the blow grazing his ear before flying away.

Then came the loud sound of a teacup shattering on the ground.

Chu Yannuo performed the formal ceremony with great respect. "I request that Mother send someone to the Duke of Wei's mansion to propose marriage within three days, and explain to him that I am going to take up a post in the Northern Region, so that the marriage can be completed as soon as possible."

Chu Yanqing stopped him, saying, "Mother, don't agree to him. If he's so capable, let him propose himself and hold the wedding himself."

Lady Hou was tired. "Since Yan Nuo has made up his mind, let's do it this way."

"Mother—" Although Chu Yanqing knew she was powerless to change the situation, she still wanted to salvage it.

Lady Hou waved her hand: "A forced marriage won't be happy. Even if we force her to marry your cousin, if anything goes wrong, she'll definitely blame your cousin. If I'm no longer around then, who will protect her?"

Chu Yanqing: "...I can protect you."

The Lady Hou's voice was full of weariness, "By then you were already married, how could you have had the energy to pay attention to your family's affairs every day?"

Besides, your cousin is the kind of person who wouldn't even file a complaint...

"Enough, enough, in the end, our Tang family's daughter is not worthy."

A note from the author:

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Zhou Chuanxing: When we have three or five healthy and smart babies in the future, they will all call Chu Yannuo their cousin's uncle.