Chapter 222 Report
The Zhuang family has no relatives, and the old lady of Zhuang doesn't like to socialize with people, so the Zhuang family is deserted, and no one visits during the New Year.
When Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu arrived at the Zhuang family, the servants were happy.
Zhuang Yin was even more delighted: "Uncle, aunt."
"Happy New Year, Yin'er." Jiang Shu handed Zhuang Yin a brocade box.
The New Year gifts for the Zhuang family have been moved into the mansion by the servants. This was specially prepared by Jiang Shu for Zhuang Yin.
"Thank you, aunt." Zhuang Yin took it with both hands and held it in his arms.
"Sister." Yu Zheng called Yu Lan.
Yu Lan smiled and said, "Sit down, mother should be here soon."
Not long after they sat down, the old lady of Zhuang came.
"I have met the prince and princess." Yu Zheng comes every year, and Mrs. Zhuang is used to it, but this year Jiang Shu is here.
"Madam." Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu return the greeting.
Mrs. Zhuang sits down and sighs when she sees Jiang Shu, who is very different from before.
She was very angry when Yu Lan helped Jiang Shu to trick her two years ago. She was still very angry when Jiang Shu brought the Jade Guanyin to ask her for help.
Now thinking about it, it's a good thing that there was no difficulty at that time, otherwise it would be difficult to meet now.
Regardless of whether he is the only relative or Yu Zheng's identity, Mrs. Zhuang attaches great importance to him.
After a few words of greeting, the servants came to report.
"Madam, Mr. Zhou... Mr. Zhou is here."
"What?" Mrs. Zhuang was shocked and almost knocked over the teacup at hand.
Yu Lan and the others were also surprised. They didn't expect Zhou Boxu to come suddenly.
"What is he doing here?" Old Madam Zhuang said in an unhappy tone.
Before the servant could answer, Zhou Boxu had already arrived at the door and said in a deep and clear voice, "I am here to see you, old lady."
After many years, this was the first time that Old Madam Zhuang saw Zhou Boxu again.
He had a golden crown on his hair, a handsome face, and a lychee-colored brocade dress, which made him look calm and graceful. What a high-spirited and handsome boy, no wonder Yu Lan couldn't forget him.
But if Zhuang Heng were alive, he would not be much less handsome than Zhou Boxu.
In front of Yu Lan, Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu, Madam Zhuang couldn't show too much. She suppressed her anger and said in a condensed voice: "I don't know Mr. Zhou, let alone have any dealings with him. How honored I am to have Mr. Zhou come to visit me."
Zhou Boxu entered the hall, bowed deeply and said: "Please forgive me, Madam. I was a little abrupt today, but I had no choice. Please forgive me, Madam."
Madam Zhuang was over 60 years old. The hard work of these years made her look much older. She looked like a 70-year-old woman.
But knowing the loyalty of the Zhuang family and understanding that it was not easy for Madam Zhuang, Zhou Boxu respected Madam Zhuang with all his heart.
What a choice!
Glancing at Madam Zhuang's face, Yu Lan clenched her hands, fearing that the old man Zhuang would drive Zhou Boxu out.
Fortunately, with Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu around, Madam Zhuang had to be a little cautious and pretend to be magnanimous.
"Please take a seat, Lord Zhou."
"Thank you, Madam." Zhou Boxu thanked him and sat next to Zhuang Yun.
Although she knew what Zhou Boxu was doing, Madam Zhuang did not point it out and directly declined: "Although Lord Zhou and the princess are old friends, their identities are different now, so you still have to avoid suspicion. If there is nothing to do in the future, please don't come to the door again, so as not to cause misunderstandings."
Yu Lan's heart sank when he heard it.
Madam Zhuang disagreed.
Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu sat quietly without saying a word.
Zhou Boxu understood that some things had to be done by himself.
"Madam, I came here today to inform you that I want to marry the princess."
Was her refusal not obvious enough? Or was her words not harsh enough? He actually dared to ask for marriage!
Old Madam Zhuang was furious, and her pretended magnanimity broke in an instant. She said with an extremely awkward face: "The princess is my daughter-in-law of the Zhuang family."
Zhou Boxu frowned and said: "Yes, but General Zhuang has been gone for many years. Even if the princess is loyal to him, she should have fulfilled her chastity long ago. You can find someone else to marry."
The last layer of paper was ruthlessly torn, so that Old Madam Zhuang could no longer deceive herself. She glared at Zhou Boxu and said coldly: "Are you here to force me today, Lord Zhou?"
"I dare not. I just expressed my feelings and asked for your approval." Zhou Boxu bowed his head and bowed his hands, very respectfully.
Before he came, he knew that today would be difficult and had already prepared.
Not caring about Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu, Old Madam Zhuang gritted her teeth and said: "What if I don't agree!"
The hall was silent.
Yu Lan had a sad face and tears in her eyes.
Zhuang Yan looked at her in confusion.
He had never seen his grandmother so angry, nor had he seen his mother so sad.
Being still young, he didn't know what to do.
Yu Zheng, who had been silent for a long time, pondered and said, "Madam, even if my sister was an ordinary lady or an ordinary woman, she could remarry after eight years of chastity."
He respected the loyalty of the Zhuang family and understood that it was not easy for Madam Zhuang, but he would never allow anyone to bully his sister.
Zhou Boxu would be fine if he didn't take this step, but since he had already taken it, the Zhuang family must let him go.
Old Madam Zhuang was shocked, and looked at Yu Zheng in disbelief, saying, "Your Highness, are you here to force me today as well?"
Old Madam Zhuang knew clearly that Zhou Boxu only needed an imperial decree to marry Yu Lan, and she didn't need her consent at all.
But she just didn't want to give up.
She took the risk of offending the royal family by marrying Yu Lan, just to leave a support for the Zhuang family. If Yu Lan remarried, wouldn't her efforts have been in vain?
"Old Madam, you worry too much. Zhou Boxu and I have no intention of forcing you. I'm just telling you the truth." Yu Zheng said calmly.
Yu Zheng was so frank that Old Madam Zhuang was speechless. If she questioned again, she would be judging others by her own standards.
Knowing what Mrs. Zhuang was worried about, Yu Zheng said, "Yun'er is my elder sister's eldest son and my most beloved nephew. As long as my elder sister and I are together, I will protect him and will not change because of any changes."
This was a promise.
Mrs. Zhuang was shocked when she heard it.
Yu Zheng's status is well known to everyone. As a prince, his promises are golden words.
Seeing that Madam Zhuang seemed to be a little loose, Zhou Boxu took the opportunity to say, "Madam, everyone in Beijing knows how I treat the princess. As the saying goes, love your family and love your dog. Please rest assured, I will treat Yan'er as my own and will never treat him badly."
"When Yan'er grows up, I will do my best to help him revive the Zhuang family and will never let the Zhuang family fall. If I break this promise, I will never have an heir."
This curse is already very severe.
Taifu Zhou has been upright all his life and devoted himself to the country, but he only has one son, Zhou Boxu. If Zhou Boxu never has an heir, the Zhou family's incense will be cut off, and their end will be even more miserable than that of the Zhuang family.
Yu Lan suddenly raised her eyes and looked at Zhou Boxu, anxious and angry, but more moved.
Old Madam Zhuang was shocked. She didn't expect Zhou Boxu to do so much for Yu Lan.
Although she didn't know Zhou Boxu, she had heard about his character.
Like Yu Zheng, Zhou Boxu was a true gentleman who kept his word and kept his promise.
Moreover, Zhou Boxu was the son-in-law chosen by the emperor and Concubine Yu Guifei, and his character had been tested by the royal family.
Old Madam Zhuang knew in her heart that Yu Zheng and Zhou Boxu were giving her face and giving face to the Zhuang family.