Chapter 322 Entrustment
As the only son of the Zhuang family for three generations, Zhou Boxu knew that Madam Zhuang valued Zhuang Yun. He could not teach Zhuang Yun martial arts behind her back. He had to get her consent first. So Zhou Boxu went to the Zhuang family the next day.
"No." Madam Zhuang rejected it decisively.
"Yun'er will be able to bring honor to the family in the future if he studies hard. He doesn't need to learn martial arts."
Zhou Boxu said, "With Yun'er's intelligence, he can have a good future without learning martial arts. But learning martial arts does not necessarily mean that he must become a general on the battlefield. He can also learn martial arts just to strengthen himself and protect himself."
"In addition to generals, there are other military positions in the court, such as the commander here."
Zhou Boxu explained patiently, trying to dispel Madam Zhuang's concerns.
"What if, after learning martial arts, Yan'er takes that path, and something goes wrong, what will you use to compensate me?" Old Madam Zhuang was excited, her chest heaving.
Zhou Boxu looked at Old Madam Zhuang, whose eyes were red and angry, and said calmly: "There are hundreds of thousands of generals in Dazhao, and most of them were civilians before joining the army and did not know martial arts, but they still went to the battlefield. Old Madam, do you think that if Yan'er really wants to go to the battlefield, does it matter whether he knows martial arts or not?"
Old Madam Zhuang was shocked when she heard this, and a surge of despair and anger surged up. She opened her mouth to scold Zhou Boxu, but she couldn't think of any words to refute.
Zhou Boxu was right, and it was because he was right that Old Madam Zhuang was afraid.
Seeing that Madam Zhuang seemed to have listened to some of what he said, Zhou Boxu continued, "When Cao Qian attempted to assassinate at Tianji Mountain, His Majesty and the Crown Prince and others all had martial arts skills, so they could wait for reinforcements to avert danger. Uncle Yan'er has also been assassinated many times in recent years. If he had not been a martial arts master, he would not have been able to escape danger every time."
"There are too many variables in a person's life, and danger is everywhere. If you don't have any martial arts skills, you can only be slaughtered."
"Yan'er likes riding and shooting, and wants to learn martial arts. Madam, do you really want to let him regret for the rest of his life and put him in danger and unable to protect himself because of uncertain concerns?"
Zhou Boxu's every word was like a thorn that pierced Madam Zhuang's heart and pierced her self-deception.
Madam Zhuang sighed and shook her head helplessly.
Seeing that Madam Zhuang was moved, Zhou Boxu said in a soothing voice: "Since I am the father of Yan'er, I will treat him as my own son. The old lady's worries are also what the princess and I worry about, and we will do our best to guide and avoid them." Madam Zhuang
understood that nothing is absolute in the world, and Zhou Boxu has done his best to make guarantees.
But she is old and can't take care of Zhuang Yan for many years. In the future, the only ones she can rely on are Zhou Boxu and Yu Lan.
Yu Lan is a princess of the royal family, and Zhou Boxu is the son of the Taifu. In terms of knowledge and foresight, they are far better than her.
After thinking for a long time, Madam Zhuang sighed: "The son is taught by the father, I don't care."
This means that she has compromised.
Zhou Boxu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and promised solemnly: "Don't worry, old lady, I won't harm Yan'er."
The white-haired old lady Zhuang raised her head, looked at Zhou Boxu steadily, and entrusted her with a pleading tone: "Yan'er is the only incense left in the Zhuang family, I leave it to you."
Zhou Boxu nodded in agreement.
Old lady Zhuang moved her lips and said apologetically: "The Zhuang family feels guilty about you, and can only repay you in the next life."
Zhou Boxu shook his head and said with a clear heart: "Old lady, returning the princess to me is the best repayment, and the Zhuang family no longer owes me anything."
As for Zhuang Yan, he is Yu Lan's child, and he is willing.
After hearing this, old lady Zhuang became more ashamed.
Zhou Boxu is a gentleman and a good man. Zhuang Yan is very lucky to have him as his father.
With her worries gone, Madam Zhuang let out a long sigh and said, "From now on, you don't have to ask me about Yun'er's affairs. It's all up to you and the princess."
Zhou Boxu bowed and promised, "I will definitely live up to your trust."
When Zhuang Yun returned home after graduating from school, he heard that Madam Zhuang agreed to let him learn martial arts, and he couldn't wait to ask Zhou Boxu to teach him.
Zhou Boxu said: "Practicing martial arts is not something that can be done in a few days. It requires years of persistence and is very hard. If you want to learn, you should get up half an hour earlier tomorrow and practice every day without slacking off."
Zhuang Yin nodded heavily: "Okay, I am not afraid of hardship. Please teach me, father."
Zhuang Yin was fully prepared and full of enthusiasm and expectation, but Zhou Boxu said: "Start with horse stance and lifting a bucket, and practice for a month."
Zhuang Yin was very disappointed, but he still did as he was told.
Zhou Boxu taught Zhuang Yin the correct posture in half an hour and asked him to get up early every day to exercise. Zhuang
Yin, who was raised in a delicate family, suddenly started to practice martial arts. That night, he was so tired that his arms ached, his legs and feet were weak, and his hands were shaking when he held the chopsticks during dinner.
Although Yu Lan felt distressed, she said nothing.
When Yu Zheng first started learning martial arts as a teenager, he was the same as Zhuang Yin. So she understood that this was a necessary process.
Although Zhuang Yin was used to being accustomed to being raised and had never experienced such pain, he had a strong character and would never complain about being tired when he was determined to do something, no matter how hard it was. Just like when he was learning horse riding and archery before, even if his legs were rubbed red and swollen, and his hands were cut by the bowstring, he would never back down.
Zhou Boxu taught Zhuang Yin martial arts because he saw these things. He believed that Zhuang Yin could persevere to the end.
The weather in September had turned completely cold. On the first day of the month, Zhou Boxu took Yu Lan and Zhuang Yin back to Zhou's house for dinner.
Since they moved to the princess's house, they would go back to Zhou's house on the first day of every month and go to Zhuang's house on the fifteenth day of every month.
"Yun'er is here. I asked the kitchen to make your favorite sweet and sour spare ribs and lion's head." Taifu Zhou smiled and waved, asking Zhuang Yin to sit next to him.
"Thank you, Grandfather." Zhuang Yin thanked him politely and sat down properly.
The dishes were served. Yu Lan took a quick look and found that most of them were her and Zhuang Yin's favorites.
Yu Lan usually liked to eat fish, and Madam Zhou specifically instructed the maid to put the steamed sea bass in front of Yu Lan.
Yu Lan picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. She frowned after just chewing it a few times.
"What's wrong? Not to your taste?" Zhou Boxu asked immediately.
Grand Tutor Zhou and Madam Zhou looked over when they heard him.
Yu Lan swallowed hard, and said softly, "It's a bit fishy," despite the discomfort .
Zhou Boxu picked up a piece of fish and said nothing after tasting it.
The fish was the same as usual, without much fishy smell.
He knew that Yu Lan was not a person who would make trouble for no reason, and that he might have an upset stomach today, so he thought for a moment and said, "I'll take it away."
Zhou Boxu took the fish away and was about to put it aside, but Madam Zhou said, "Give it to me."
Madam Zhou placed the fish in front of Grand Tutor Zhou and took a bite. She immediately became suspicious.
She looked at Yu Lan who was eating the lion's head, and her mind moved slightly. She served Yu Lan a bowl of soup.
"I've tasted this fish soup, it's not fishy."
"Thank you, mother." Yu Lan took it, scooped it with a spoon, blew it gently, and put it into his mouth.
"Gulp--" After a mouthful of fish soup went down his throat, Yu Lan vomited disgustingly.
Madam Zhou's face lit up when she saw this, and she quickly ordered someone to ask for the palace doctor.
Zhou Boxu handed Yu Lan a cup of tea and asked with concern: "Do you feel uncomfortable in your stomach?"
Yu Lan was not an ignorant girl. After a series of strange reactions and Madam Zhou's words, she vaguely guessed something.