Chapter 229 Gains and Losses
If Grand Tutor Cao is gone, the Cao family will lose its backbone. As time goes by, the disciples will gradually drift away and the power of the Cao family in the court will be weakened.
After thinking about it, Queen Cao said in a serious voice: "No matter how much it costs, you must take good care of your father. After some time, when Cheng'er is healed, we will go back to visit your father."
Cao Qian nodded and said hesitantly: "Father always said that you should be prepared for rainy days before you worry. We still have to make preparations for both situations."
Yu Cheng is thirty years old this year. He has assisted the emperor in handling state affairs for many years and has the ability to rule the world.
However, the emperor is in good health and has no intention of abdicating. If we continue to wait like this, who knows when it will be.
The queen understood what Cao Qian meant. If the emperor wanted to move the Cao family, no one could stop him. Only by letting Yu Cheng ascend the throne can the Cao family be safe.
"This matter is of great importance and requires long-term consideration. We cannot rush into it. Let's discuss it when I go back to visit my father." The queen frowned, not daring to make up her mind lightly.
After all, once this step is taken, there will be no turning back.
That's not only the emperor, but also her husband.
Cao Qian also knew that this matter was of great importance and had to be considered over and over again.
Cao Muxue, who was still young, was shocked when she heard their words, but also had some expectations.
If Yu Cheng ascended the throne, she would be the queen, and it would be easier to punish that bitch Xie Wanruo.
The mother of the world and the master of the harem are the highest honors for a woman.
"It is inconvenient for an outsider to stay in the harem for a long time. I should go." After discussing important matters, Cao Qian got up and left.
The queen did not stay, as she knew the palace rules better than anyone else.
"Your daughter will see you off." Cao Muxue stood up and personally saw Cao Qian off.
Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea. The only bad thing about this palace is that you can't leave the palace at will and can't go home to reunite with your family at any time.
Cao Muxue stopped in front of the gate and watched Cao Qian go away, her eyes slightly moist.
"It's lonely at the top, there are gains and losses, you have to learn to make choices." The queen came over without knowing when.
Cao Muxue had walked the same path before, and it was more difficult than hers, so she knew firsthand how it felt.
"Yes, aunt." Cao Muxue wiped her tears and calmed down.
The queen was satisfied and said, "Let's go and see Cheng'er."
When Cao Qian reached the palace gate, he happened to meet Yu Zheng and others.
"Lord Cao." Grand Tutor Zhou greeted him in a good mood.
"Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Zhou." Cao Qian greeted him.
Although Cao Qian was the Minister of War and held real power, his official rank was not as high as Grand Tutor Zhou.
Of course, there was no need to weigh the importance of real power and nominal position.
In recent years, the emperor had always wanted to promote Cao Qian in order to undermine the power in Cao Qian's hands and disintegrate the influence of the Cao family in the court, but Cao Qian held on to it tightly, which gave the emperor a headache.
Cao Qian had just left the palace at this time, and it was self-evident what he had done. Yu Zheng and others were not surprised or curious.
But Cao Qian had no idea what Yu Zheng and the other two were doing, and combined with the emperor's anger during the morning court session, he was inevitably a little uneasy.
Cao Qian wanted to shamelessly ask a few questions, but Yu Zheng and the others had no intention of chatting with him and walked away.
Looking at the backs of the three people, Cao Qian was filled with resentment, but he could do nothing.
After many days of rest, Zhou Boxu had a lot of affairs that needed to be dealt with urgently, but knowing that the eunuch would come to Zhou's house to announce the decree, he waited in the hall after breakfast.
When the imperial edict arrived at Zhou's house, Zhou Boxu's family had been waiting for a long time.
Zhou's mother, who thought it was just a formality, was stunned when she heard the imperial edict granting Zhou Boxu and Yu Lan to marry and live in the princess's mansion. It
was not until the eunuch who delivered the edict left that Zhou's mother came to her senses.
"What do you mean by marrying and living in the princess's mansion? You won't live in the Zhou family in the future?" Zhou's mother questioned Zhou Boxu.
Although the imperial edict stated that Zhou Boxu would not marry into the family, and his offspring would still bear the Zhou surname, they would not live in the same mansion with them, which was still difficult for Zhou's mother to accept.
The Zhou family was already small, and the mansion was very empty. After Zhou Boxu left, there were only the couple left in the mansion, which became even more lonely and boring.
Previously, Zhou's mother compromised and agreed to Zhou Boxu marrying Yu Lan, firstly because she was powerless to stop him, and secondly because she wanted to enjoy her grandson as soon as possible.
But after this imperial edict, let alone her grandson, it would be difficult for her son to see him in the future.
Knowing that Zhou's mother would have such a reaction, the father and son did not dare to tell her in advance, so as not to lose their composure when receiving the edict and cause trouble.
Facing Zhou's mother's sad and questioning look, Zhou Boxu clenched the imperial edict in his hand and said, "Son will come back often."
Upon hearing this, Zhou's mother immediately understood.
"You knew it long ago and kept me in the dark on purpose?"
Zhou Boxu pursed his lips and bowed his head without saying anything.
Zhou's mother turned to look at Zhou Taifu and asked with red eyes: "Even you lied to me."
Zhou Taifu frowned and said in pain: "How can this be considered a lie? We only knew it more than an hour earlier than you."
"Since you knew it long ago, why didn't you ask the emperor to change his will."
Zhou's mother was so angry that her voice broke, like a knife scratching a broken bellows, piercing Zhou Taifu's ears.
"The emperor's will is not something that a minister can change. Besides, with your temper, if you really live in the same mansion with the princess, I don't know what will happen. If you live in a separate mansion, it's good for everyone to be quiet."
Unable to appease her, Zhou Taifu simply told the truth.
Zhou's mother is not a bad person, but she is a little too strong-willed.
What happened ten years ago was a thorn in her heart. If she saw Zhuang Yan every day in the future, she would definitely feel uncomfortable.
Living in separate houses and not interfering with each other is the best solution.
"What do you mean? You have been married for many years, and now you think I have a bad temper?" Zhou's mother stared at Zhou Taifu stubbornly, crying in grievance.
"You still want peace and quiet, but you think my voice is unpleasant? I should ask to leave, so that everyone will be happy."
"You are getting more and more outrageous. When have I ever disliked you?" Zhou Taifu frowned and looked at Zhou Boxu uncomfortably.
Zhou Boxu was also embarrassed to hear the couple quarreling, and immediately bowed to Zhou Taifu.
Zhou Taifu returned a gesture, asking him to leave quickly.
Back in his own study, Zhou Boxu unfolded the imperial edict, silently read it word by word, and curled his lips after confirming that it was correct.
He could finally marry Yu Lan.
The warm sun outside the house dispelled the winter chill.
When Mrs. Zhuang heard that the emperor granted Yu Lan and Zhou Boxu the right to live in the princess's mansion instead of the Zhou family, her worries disappeared and a rare smile appeared on her face.
But it was this imperial edict that made Mrs. Zhuang understand how much the emperor loved Yu Lan and Zhuang Yan.
If she disagreed and forcibly stopped it, she would really trigger the emperor's wrath.
"Mother, you can rest assured now, Yan'er will not suffer any grievances." Yu Lan held the imperial edict, her heart deeply moved.
She did not ask her father for help, but her father had already thought about everything for her.
Fatherly love is silent, but deafening.
Old Madam Zhuang pulled Zhuang Yan and said, "I'm relieved. You guys should live well in the future. Just come back to see me more often when you have time."
Although she was reluctant to leave Zhuang Yan, as long as Zhuang Yan lived well, it didn't matter if she was a little lonely.
Originally, Zhuang Yan couldn't always accompany her.
Seeing that Old Madam Zhuang's eyes were red, Yu Lan said jokingly, "Mother, don't be sad too early. The wedding date has not been decided yet, and it will take time to renovate the Princess Mansion. It's still too early for us to leave."
Old Madam Zhuang gave her a glare and was no longer depressed.