Chapter 100 Family
Sima Jun was stunned for a moment, then said, "Madam is the late king's concubine, so she is naturally my family too."
"Madam?" Zhou Chang said meaningfully, "Even the Queen Mother calls her Consort, but you keep calling her Madam."
Sima Jun said, "I'm just used to it."
Zhou Chang ignored him and looked into the pool again.
"You heard what she just said," Zhou Chang said. "She's doing this for your own good, so she must be sincere. Do you have any concerns here?"
Sima Jun said: "No doubts."
"So you do trust her?"
"Exactly."
Zhou Chang nodded. "From now on, you will only treat the princess as a subordinate and assign tasks to her. As for what she wants, it is of no importance. From my observation of this princess, she doesn't mind the prince treating her as a subordinate. In fact, she would be very happy if the prince could ask her for advice like a military advisor."
Sima Jun was a little puzzled.
He couldn't imagine that he had a woman as his military advisor.
And logically speaking, he should call this military advisor stepmother.
Zhou Chang noticed his silence and said, "Why, you don't want to? Are you also afraid of the words of vulgar people like the eldest princess, afraid that they will spread rumors and falsely accuse you of a relationship?"
Sima Jun said sternly, "Taifu, what are you talking about? I think a woman like Madam shouldn't be involved in the political struggles."
Zhou Chang sneered: "At this point, even the princess has taken action, so what's the right and wrong thing to do? If you don't want her to get involved, will she not get involved? The princess didn't succeed yesterday, so who knows if she won't succeed next time? If you want to protect your family, you can't be restrained."
Sima Jun's eyes moved, and he finally calmed down.
After a while, he bowed to Zhou Chang and said, "Disciple will remember Master's teachings."
Zhou Chang showed a look of relief.
"There's one more thing I want to ask you," he said. "You're already an adult, why haven't you gotten married yet?"
"My father has passed away, and I am still in deep mourning."
"The late king passed away suddenly. What about before that? Didn't he arrange a marriage for you?"
Sima Jun said, "There have been a few times, but I managed to turn them down. Those marriages were all arranged by the Queen Mother. They were either surnamed Wang or relatives of the Wang family. Rather than marrying a spy and keeping him at home, it's better to be alone and free."
"Then you have never been attracted to other women?" Zhou Chang asked.
"I grew up in the military, always busy, so how could I have the time to look at other women?"
Zhou Chang stroked his beard and sighed inwardly.
This new disciple was handsome and of good character, but as some people said, he was still clueless when it came to matters of the flesh and blood.
It’s no wonder that the Empress Dowager allowed him to grow up to twenty without getting married. A man like him could remain a bachelor for his entire life as long as no one interferes.
"That won't do." Zhou Chang patiently advised, "You are the only son of the late king, the last bloodline of the Yuzhang Palace. It's only a matter of time before you get married and have children. If you don't mind, then let the Queen Mother arrange it. Marriage is just for the sake of having children. It's all about having children. If you don't mind, from now on, you have to find a suitable candidate. After all, there is still some time before you leave the mourning period. Do you understand?"
Offspring...
Sima Jun couldn't help but recall that day in the inn in Shicheng, when Princess Wanshou joked with Lu, saying that when he got married and had children, Lu would become a grandmother at a young age.
Thinking of his children chasing after Lu and calling her grandmother in the future, he felt a chill in his heart.
He didn't want to continue this topic, so he said a few perfunctory words and turned to talk about business with Zhou Chang.
"In your opinion, Master, when should I go to Kuaiji?" he asked.
Zhou Chang pondered, "Wait until after the Queen Mother's birthday. Then, when the princess goes to Xunyang, you can go to Kuaiji."
Sima Jun said, "Madam just told me not to send her to Xunyang."
"Who told you to send me off?" Zhou Chang asked, "Before you leave, I still need to arrange the insider information the princess mentioned. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Sima Jun asked, "Has the Grand Tutor already chosen a candidate?"
Zhou Chang waved and called Ruan Hui over.
"I remember the princess said last time that she would arrange an official position for you, right?" he asked.
Ruan replied, "Exactly."
"Then you go back tonight and tell the princess that you want to work for the governor of Kuaiji County and ask her to find you a position. As for the reason, you can come up with one yourself."
Ruan thought for a moment and said, "If I use the excuse of returning to my hometown to take up a post, is that appropriate?"
"Returning home?" Zhou Chang was surprised. "You are from Kuaiji? Why didn't you tell me?"
Ruan Hui was not surprised at all and replied calmly, "Master, I have said this at least three times."
"Oh, really?" Zhou Chao scratched his head and laughed, "Your reason is perfect. Let's do it this way."
"Disciple obeys."
Sima Jun: ...
As he was speaking, Deng Lian came in from outside the courtyard and reported, "Sir, the Crown Prince has come in person and is waiting at the mansion."
Prince?
"Has Madam returned home?" Sima Jun thought for a moment and asked suddenly.
"Yes. When I left, the princess's carriage had just arrived in front of the mansion."
——
In the past two days, Cao Song, the palace attendant, felt that the atmosphere in the palace was weird.
It seems that the prince and the princess are no longer in contact with each other.
Of course, to outsiders, these two people have always been at odds with each other.
The princess was kind and well-mannered, earning her widespread praise. However, the crown prince was a proud man, disliking this unexpected concubine and treating her with coldness. A while ago, the two of them had traveled to the East Sea, and their relationship seemed to have improved somewhat. But upon returning to the capital, he had become cold again.
Last night, the Crown Prince suddenly ordered Cao Song to make the Princess's favorite soup and send it to her courtyard. Cao Song was relieved, thinking that the Crown Prince had finally come to his senses and was showing his kindness to his stepmother. But unexpectedly, the Crown Prince insisted that he say that the soup was sent by Cao Song.
Cao Song had no choice but to tell a lie.
But the princess did not accept this kind gesture. She actually went to bed early.
A'ru from the courtyard over there came to report, and the prince had obviously heard it. When the prince got up this morning, Cao Song saw that he looked unhappy, as if he had been in a bad mood for a long time.
After the two men had their breakfast, they left the palace one after the other.
The kitchen sent someone to ask about the arrangements for lunch and dinner. Cao Song was just pondering this when he suddenly heard the news that the prince had arrived.
It was common for the prince to come to Prince Yuzhang's mansion.
Cao Song went out to greet him and said that the prince was not at home.
Unexpectedly, the prince only asked whether the princess was there.
Cao Song was very surprised and said that the princess had also gone out.
The prince said it was okay and he would wait in the mansion. Cao Song did not dare to say anything more and welcomed the prince in.
Not long after, the princess came back.
Not long after, the prince also came back.
He did not take the carriage he came in, but rode Deng Lian's mount, looking exhausted.
"Where is the prince?" He asked straight to the point before he even dismounted.
Cao Song replied, "The prince has gone to the garden, and the princess is with him."
Sima Jun's eyes sank.
"How long have you been gone?"
"Just gone."
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