Chapter 033

Zhan Tai is more than ten years older than Zhan Yue. He has been named the Crown Prince and is usually very proud of his status. He rarely argues with Zhan Yue. Of course, Zhan Yue rarely conflicts with him either.

Among the people in the Duke's Mansion, apart from the old lady who still had some respect from Zhan Yue, Zhan Yue hardly saw any other people as superfluous.

Yes, he didn't even have any hatred towards them, he just couldn't see it.

But today, Zhan Yue suddenly showed his sharp fangs. Zhan Tai was slightly startled, and a look of embarrassment suddenly appeared on his mature and prudent face.

Zhan Tai said: "I am worried about my father."

"The prince is a good son," Zhan Yue said calmly, "I feel quite ashamed."

"Rebellious son!" Duke Anguo was still furious. He put the imperial edict aside and pointed at Zhan Yue and yelled at him.

Duke Anguo: "There is no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, or between the superior and the inferior! Now that the princess has married into your family, how do you want your sister-in-law to address her and greet her? Who is more noble, your sister-in-law or the princess?"

Zhan Yue smiled and answered affirmatively: "Of course it's the princess."

Duke Anguo suddenly became furious and started to curse at Zhan Yuehao.

Zhan Yue lowered his head and took a sip of tea. His eyes were calm and indifferent, as if there was a duck quacking in his ear. Only after the Duke of Anguo finished quacking did Zhan Yue lightly raise his chin and signal Liu Qi to put away the two imperial edicts.

Liu Qi took a step forward, without even looking at Zhan Tai and the others, he directly snatched the imperial edict from Duke Anguo.

Zhan Yue's pupils were dark, and he raised his eyebrows and said, "If the Duke has finished teaching me, would you allow me to leave?"

"I have to go and tell my grandmother the good news." Zhan Yue stood up, still in his Jinwu Guard uniform. With his eight-foot-tall stature, even if he just stood there quietly, he could bring considerable pressure to Zhan Tai and Zhan Shaoying.

Duke Anguo pursed his lips and did not answer. Since he could not get a reply from him, Zhan Yue simply stopped waiting. He stood up straight and walked away.

Just as he left, he heard a thud. It turned out that Zhan Shaoying could no longer hold on, and he tilted his body and sat directly on the armchair.

Seeing his grandfather, parents and their eyes all turned to him, Zhan Shaoying couldn't help but rub his red eyes. The corners of his mouth curled up numbly, and he smiled dryly and said, "I'm fine."

When Zhang saw her son like this, she felt so complicated. She felt that it was even worse than if Zhan Yue had directly taken a knife to cut out her heart!

To kill a snake, you must hit it at its most vulnerable part. Zhan Yanqing is well aware of this.

Zhang's lips trembled and she shuddered violently.

When Zhang and Zhan Tai returned to the courtyard, all of Zhang's emotions finally burst out. She covered her face with one hand, and her delicate makeup was a little smudged.

Zhang's body was tense. She rejected the tea offered by Yingchun, looked up at Zhan Tai and said, "Master, what should we do?"

When Zhang thought of Chen Gong's attitude towards Zhan Yue, she couldn't help but say, "If he really marries someone else, there will be no place for Ying'er in this mansion in the future!"

Although Zhan Yue was born out of wedlock, once his child had the blood of the eldest princess, Zhan Shaoying would definitely not be able to compare to that child! How could the emperor allow a child with royal roots to have no merit or title?

Can the title of the Duke's Mansion really fall into the hands of Zhan Shaoying?

The emperor granted her a marriage, but what kind of good marriage was this? It was simply intended to cause the younger generations of the Duke of Anguo to quarrel with each other!

Zhang was not only bitter in her heart, but also harbored arrogance. However, due to the majesty of the royal family, she did not dare to speak out.

Zhan Tai had been married to her for twenty years, so he had some understanding of Zhang.

Zhan Tai frowned, and although he was also sad, he had been an official for many years and had been in harmony with Emperor Zhanghe. He said with a sigh, "Your Majesty is not a foolish person, and he would not do such a thing as not distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate children."

"The court has already promised me the title of Crown Prince. I guess the reason why His Majesty sent him to the Five Armies Commandery is that he is not planning to let him take the title." Zhan Tai said, "Brother Ying is now respected among the younger generation. Don't mess up your position."

If she hadn't received the order from Master Zhan Yue today, Zhang might have really thought that Zhan Shaoying was valued. But now, who is valued?

Zhang couldn't help but compare Zhan Shaoying with Zhan Yue. She smiled bitterly and said, "He is already a commander of the third rank. If there is another fifth-rank military strategist, even if he is a duke, he can't compare to him in terms of the emperor's grace."

Zhan Tai couldn't help but feel a little unhappy when he heard her say this. How many men like to hear their wives praise other people? Although Zhang didn't mean to praise Zhan Yue, this remark was even worse than direct praise.

Zhan Tai's face turned slightly cold, and his eyes, which looked very much like those of Duke An, narrowed slightly. There was a sense of impatience and blockage in his nose. He said, "Let's wait and see."

Noticing that Zhan Tai's mood was not as kind as before, Zhang pursed her lips, clutched her handkerchief tightly, and said no more.

Zhan Yue, on the other hand, did not go straight to Wen Lao Madam's courtyard after leaving the main hall. Instead, he returned to his own courtyard first, took off his official uniform, changed into casual clothes, and then went to find Wen Lao Madam.

He could not care what the Duke of Anguo thought, he could attack Zhan Tai and Zhang at will, and he could even abandon everyone in the Duke's Mansion, but he had to explain it to the old lady in person.

That was his grandmother who took care of him for twenty years after his mother passed away.

Zhan Yue's footsteps were slightly sluggish, his face showed no emotion, he just lowered his head and looked at his dark gold cloud boots.

Mother Sheng was standing guard at the door of Old Lady Wen's room, as if waiting for someone. When she saw Zhan Yue coming, she smiled and said softly, "Fourth Master is here."

"The old lady hasn't rested yet." said Mother Sheng.

Zhan Yue raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Are you waiting for me?"

Mother Sheng didn't say anything, but just smiled and nodded.

Zhan Yue had a tiny smile on his face, and it was unclear whether he was feeling sad or genuinely happy. He nodded as if nothing had happened.

Mother Sheng then lifted the curtain and invited him in, but she herself stayed outside the door. Seeing this, Liu Qi also stood outside the house, watching his nose and mouth, like a statue, loyal and dedicated, not moving.

There were no extra servants in Lady Wen's room. She sat alone at the top, spinning Buddhist beads in her hands. The room was still filled with the familiar scent of sandalwood.

Hearing footsteps, Lady Wen raised her eyelids slightly, looked at Zhan Yue, and said in a deep voice, "Are you here?"

"Yes." Zhan Yue said.

The lighting in the room was dim. Half of his face was hidden in the light, revealing only a dim profile. He still looked handsome.

Zhan Yue's voice was cold, and he said, "I promised you that when the time is right, I will tell you in person why I don't want to marry Feng. Now, I am here."

Old Lady Wen half-closed her eyes. Although her body was still strong, her eyesight was not as clear as before. She squinted for a moment before she could see Zhan Yue's figure clearly.

She said, "I have heard it."

"You're going to marry me," Wen Lao Taijun looked at him, her voice expressing no emotion, "Are you happy?"

Zhan Yue replied: "I'm happy."

Seeing that the old lady was not surprised by his answer, she continued to ask, "Why are you happy?"

“Because——” Zhan Yue paused.

His long eyebrows raised slightly, his face was clearly defined. He looked at Old Lady Wen and said word by word, "I like the eldest princess."

"Yes." Wen Lao Taijun nodded slowly and said, "For this happiness, yes."

Zhan Yue's lips moved. His eyes seemed careless, but there seemed to be a hint of gloom in his pupils that was inconsistent with his clean appearance.

Wen Lao Taijun said: "Marriage is a big deal. If there is anything wrong, His Majesty will also have complaints about the Duke's Mansion. I have asked your mother Sheng to pass the message to the people in the first house. I will personally handle your marriage and will not let your sister-in-law interfere."

Zhan Yue has a high nose bridge and eyes like stars. After hearing what Wen Lao Taijun said, Zhan Yue couldn't help but blink his eyelashes, his face was white and smooth.

"Thank you, grandma." Zhan Yue whispered.

Old Lady Wen looked at him quietly, her eyes sometimes complicated, sometimes kind and compassionate. She turned the Buddhist beads in her hand, closed her eyes slightly and said: "The Zhan family is sorry for your mother."

Zhan Yue's jaws were clenched tightly, his face was half frozen, and after a moment, it slowly returned to normal.

Wen Lao Taijun's solemn and calm voice had sounded again, and she said slowly: "Grandmother has only one request for you."

Zhan Yue knelt straight down, his eyelids trembling: "You say."

"As long as I live, as long as your father lives." Old Lady Wen opened her eyes. Her gaze was not as confused as that of an elderly woman in her seventies, but was full of sharpness.

She stared at Zhan Yue and said softly, "I won't allow this Duke's Mansion to be in turmoil."

Zhan Yue knelt on the ground expressionlessly, his knees were cold, and there was no color in his narrow eyes. After a short moment, Zhan Yue gently touched his distinct knuckles with his forehead.

He said, "Listen to grandma."

Wen Lao Taijun said, "Get up."

She reached out a hand to support him: "It's almost winter, the ground is cool."

Zhan Yue was helped up by Wen Lao Taijun. He turned around and slowly held his grandmother's hands. He felt that the skin on her hands was very old and loose.

But the scorching temperature is still as thick and warm as it was back then.

Zhan Yue's eyes dimmed.

After leaving the old lady's main courtyard, Zhan Yue bent his foot extra hard to look at Zhan Ali.

In just one afternoon, the news that Zhan Yue was going to marry a princess spread throughout the Duke's Mansion, and Zhan A-li also knew about it. When he saw Zhan Yue, the joy on his face was not fake, and he danced with joy and said, "Fourth Uncle, am I going to have a princess aunt?"

"Yes." Zhan Yue was infected by his joy, and his face finally showed the joy that should have appeared long ago.

Zhan A-li said complacently: "Great, congratulations, Fourth Uncle!"

This was the first congratulation Zhan Yue had heard today. Perhaps Zhan A-li's congratulations were the only ones in the whole family that were sincere and without any impurities.

Zhan Yue curled his lips and said, "We should thank Ah Li."

Zhan A-li didn't understand what was going on, but he was happy to hear his fourth uncle say that. He grabbed Zhan Yue's hand and said, "Then, when can I have another little brother?"

Zhan Ali is the youngest child in the Duke's Mansion and is often treated like a small fry, so he is looking forward to the birth of a child younger than him.

Upon hearing that his fourth uncle might be getting married, Zhan Ali was first concerned about this matter. He looked at Zhan Yue with sparkling eyes.

Zhan Yue's eyes were somewhat far-sighted. Thinking of Jia Shan's words "It's impossible for him to have a daughter in a short time", his face was as calm as the surface of a lake. As for the lake below, whether it was surging with waves or exploding with ice, he could not detect it.

He pinched Zhan Ali's face and said in a low and gentle voice: "I will try my best."

Zhan A'li stretched out a hand and smiled as he made a pinky promise with him.