As soon as mid-May arrived, the weather continued to be hot and humid, and there was no rain for many days. Many elderly people and children with poor health became ill, and even died. However, Rong Zhao, who was seriously ill, not only did not die, but recovered.
Chen Afu thought to himself, this is what people in previous lives liked to call a disaster that lasts for a thousand years.
Now Lord Chu doesn't go back to the Marquis' Mansion very often, and even if he does, he won't stay there at night, but stays at the Princess' Mansion very honestly. From what the old Marquis said, the Emperor has already made it clear that he has gone back on his promise. When the Emperor asked Lord Chu to be Rong Zhao's consort, he said that as long as the Ninth Prince was in power, he would make Rong Zhao a monk for persecuting important officials of the court.
And now, not only did she not let Rong Zhao become a monk, she also pleaded for her.
Lord Chu analyzed that the emperor continued to let him be the prince consort on the surface, but in fact the emperor did not want him to hold any power.
Since the prince was injured, Lord Chu secretly helped him take care of almost everything, including contacting for treatment, personal protection, cultivating various forces, etc. The prince's feelings for Lord Chu can be said to be more than a monarch and a subject. It is more of gratitude, respect, and even dependence.
At that time, although Lord Chu was the consort of the emperor, he had no real position. However, with the support and permission of the emperor, Lord Chu secretly controlled and developed a lot of power. In addition, the military power that Lord Chu San now possessed, as well as the thriving Chu Lingxuan.
Your Majesty, I am afraid.
During this period, Lord Chu had handed over his dark power. He also stated that his health was not good and he was tired of official life. Even if the crown prince succeeded to the throne, he would no longer hold any official position. Even his title would be passed on to Chu Lingxuan after he returned from the war. In the future, the Chu family would depend on the third master and Chu Lingxuan.
Chen Afu felt that Lord Chu was a real man, and he let go of what he should let go without hesitation. There were really not many men who could let go of power so freely.
Although Lord Chu chose to retire completely at a young age, at least it allowed the emperor to put aside his fears and saved the entire Chu family.
Thinking of this, Chen Ahfu still felt sorry for Lord Chu. He was obviously a very capable and charming man, but because of his loyalty to the emperor, his career, love and family were not going well. In the end, the emperor still did not trust him.
The emperor received the news and went to court despite his illness. He demoted Queen Wang to a commoner and sent her to the cold palace. He also named Concubine Shan Xian as the queen.
The job of emperor, no matter who works for a long time, will turn into a mental disorder. The prince looks good now, who knows if he will change after being emperor for a long time? The answer is of course yes.
However, there was something that made Chen Afu happy. Chen Alu passed the examination and became a scholar, and he entered the Imperial College without the help of the Chu family.
Chen Yulan was also a student, but Chen Shiying did not let him go to the Imperial College. Instead, he was taught at home by his teacher and Chen Shiying himself.
Chen Afu had asked Luo Fang to buy a three-story house for Chen Ming and Wang Shi in Beijing. It had just been renovated, so they could come to Beijing to live for a while when they had nothing to do, to see their daughter, son, and grandson. Because it was the busy farming season, they were still busy in the countryside.
In early June, news came from the south that the first battle at the end of May resulted in half casualties. The Wang family had been operating in Nanzhong Province for decades, and with the many mountains and forests, it was very difficult to attack.
In addition, the Second Prince and the Wang family started their rebellion under the banner of "clearing the emperor's side", saying that the Emperor was seriously ill and was being held hostage by the Ninth Prince and the treacherous Chu family, so they made the Ninth Prince, who was neither the eldest nor the legitimate son, the Crown Prince.
Chen Afu learned about the war in the south the next day because Jin Yanzi went there to play for a day.
The emperor found out ten days later. He was furious and dragged his sick body to court. He demoted Queen Wang to a commoner and gave her a white silk. He also canonized Concubine Shan Xian as the queen. He once again recruited 200,000 soldiers and sent them to the south to quell the rebellion.
The current queen is Shan, and the Ninth Prince is the legitimate son of the Empress. So, the Second Prince and the Wang family are undoubtedly rebelling.
On the tenth day of the sixth lunar month, auspicious, the ceremony of enthroning the empress was held. Because it was a special period and the emperor was seriously ill, the ceremony was not so lively. Only the ladies of the third rank and above in the capital came to the palace to kowtow to the empress and eat a palace banquet.
Mrs. Chu San and Chen Afu both attended the event. They left home early in the morning, entered the palace in the morning, lined up in the scorching sun to kowtow to the queen, and then waited for the palace banquet. It was already early in the afternoon when they returned home.
Chen Ahfu was hot and tired, and was exhausted. She complained in her heart that in ancient times, holding collective activities in the summer was a torture. The sun was scorching outside, there was no air conditioning inside, and the whole house was filled with the smell of sweat, plus the smell of various perfumes, which would make people faint without getting heatstroke. Several old women really fainted, and the queen specially approved them to rest in the side hall.
As soon as she arrived at the door of the bamboo pavilion, she heard people laughing and dogs barking, including the voices of Marquis Chu and the old marquis.
Chen Afu was secretly happy. Both father and son now found the greatest joy in playing with their grandchildren.
When they entered the yard, they saw the old marquis and his two little brothers playing with the animal house under the tree, while Marquis Chu was holding little Yu'er and watching with great interest. Little Yu'er laughed so loudly that even Chen Ahfu at the door could hear it.
Chen Ahfu walked over and knelt down to bow to the old marquis and the marquis Chu, then went into the house to wash up. Seeing that her mother didn't carry her and went straight into the house, Xiao Yuer opened her mouth and cried out of grievance.
Lord Chu hurriedly coaxed, "Don't cry, my dear granddaughter. Your mother doesn't care about you, but grandpa cares about you. Grandpa cares about you very much."
Chen Afu twitched his lips when he heard the voice of Lord Chu behind him. Lord Chu dared to say anything and do anything to win the favor of the children.
Lord Chu returned to the mansion every five or six days. In addition to having secret talks with his master, he would take care of his three grandchildren. In order to please these three children, he used every trick he could, even condescending to be a horseman.
After taking a bath, Chen Ahfu came out refreshed. She first carried Xiao Yuer into the house to feed her, and then kissed the two little brothers who were clinging to her legs. She smiled and said to Lord Chu and his son, "I will take people to the kitchen to prepare some food that Grandpa and father-in-law like, and then invite Aunt San and her son to have a simple meal in Zhuxuan tonight."
The old marquis and Marquis Chu both said they were fine. Now when Marquis Chu returns home, he almost always has a meal at Zhuxuan.
Chen Afu went to the backyard, prepared the menu, and asked Hua Mama to lead the preparation. She sat under the tree in the backyard to enjoy the cool and drink tea. She didn't want to go to the front yard. Those children were very smart and would come to bother her when they saw that she was free. Whenever Lord Chu came to compete with her for the child, Chen Afu would always surrender and admit defeat. In Chen Afu's opinion, Lord Chu had no career and no love for the time being, so he had to let his grandchildren comfort him.
In the evening, the third wife brought Chu Lingzhi to Zhuxuan. Chu Lingwei was studying in the Imperial Academy and only came back once every ten days.
Everyone had a lively dinner.
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