Every household is bustling during the Chinese New Year, and the Cheng family is no exception.
Grandma Cheng was resting on a chaise longue covered with velvet cushions. She came back to rest for a while when she heard the children running around outside. Hearing the children making a lot of noise, she stood up and called out to Donggu. A maid came in through the curtains, and she asked, "Is anyone watching those little ancestors making such a fuss outside?"
Her personal maid, Dong Gu, smiled and brought a plate of hot pine nut steamed cakes: "Don't worry, Madam, the personal maids and servants are all here to serve you. The young ladies have a great time, there will be no problem."
Grandma Cheng lay back down and picked up a piece of steamed cake to eat.
"The New Year is tiring. I just don't like it. I don't understand why they like to join in the fun." Grandma Cheng hid lazily and lowered her voice to ask Donggu, "She has consulted the doctor three times for this since the beginning of winter. I heard that she consulted the doctor again today. It's not bad luck during the New Year. But is she really pregnant?"
Dong Gu's voice also softened. "You know, our Fourth Young Master's methods wouldn't justify waiting for her to get pregnant... He's so anxious to ask her to come back, it's just because he's indigestion. Third Madam is upset, but the Fourth Young Master is still at the Lu family and hasn't returned yet. Fourth Madam is telling the servants not to tell him."
Grandma Cheng sighed, "Sometimes I'm too lazy to fight with her... I feel sorry for her. My fourth brother is not a good man at all. He's heartless. I acted like that for her, and she actually believed it."
"Women are like this most of the time." Dong Gu had come from the palace with Grandma Cheng, so she had seen a lot. "If it weren't for the Empress protecting Fourth Grandma, she wouldn't have had such a life."
Hearing this, Grandma Cheng sighed softly and said that Xie Yun was pitiful, saying that every man and every woman was like this. She took a cup of hot tea to moisten her mouth, asked Donggu to help her up, and went to see the Cheng family's wife.
In the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion, halfway across the city, Cheng Lang was waiting for Lu Jiaxue to come out of the house.
He was brought here during the New Year's Day. I don't know what's wrong with his uncle.
Outside, the snow had cleared and the sky was clear, which lifted his mood slightly. He sipped comfortably from a cup of oil tea with roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, and rice crackers. He glanced at the vast expanses of white, bluish ice on the lake, the distant mountains azure, and thought to himself, "This scenery is truly beautiful." The Ningyuan Marquis's residence was a bit farther from the inner city, but its distance had its advantages.
The Ningyuan Marquisate drinks oil tea every New Year.
Every year during the holidays, red lanterns were hung outside the house. Lu Jiaxue lived alone, and the servants dared not move on weekdays. However, during the New Year, they would make the house as lively as possible, so that the Marquis could also have some fun. Lu Jiaxue never complained about them. It was rare for him to be so tolerant towards the servants. Perhaps he was in a good mood because of the red flowers all over the garden.
The old servant who had served Lu Jiaxue for many years stood waiting outside and spoke to Cheng Lang, "The Marquis came back from outside yesterday, not in a good mood. I didn't dare leave, and I was still waiting outside in the middle of the night... This person came looking for me early in the morning, and the Marquis immediately sent for you to come in."
Cheng Lang frowned and asked, "Who is inside?"
The old servant shook his head slightly and said, "I've never seen it before. Cousin, would you like some more? I'll get you another bowl."
"It's so greasy, please pour me a cup of plain tea." Cheng Lang said that during the Chinese New Year, people eat too much oily food, so oily tea is even more unacceptable.
The old servant led his men downstairs to prepare tea for him. Cheng Lang enjoyed the breeze for a quarter of an hour when he heard a gentle voice from inside: "...The person has been bribed. His father happens to be one of my men, so there will be no problem. The Jinyiwei, Yulin Army, and Jinwuwei of the Shangzhiwei are stationed in the Forbidden City. The East and West Factories are all eunuchs, so there is nothing to be afraid of. The Shenjiying may be a bit troublesome, but your master controls most of the troops of the Grand Commandery, so there will be no problem."
When Cheng Lang heard this voice, it was as if he had walked through cold water, and his comfortable feeling disappeared instantly.
If he remembered correctly, he had heard this voice once before. It was the Empress's uncle, Zhou Yingyou, the commander of the outer capital's camp.
Why was he in Lu Jiaxue's study? And he was still discussing the distribution of troops.
Cheng Lang's mind raced. He was a brilliant man. Lu Jiaxue had summoned him early in the morning. Xie Yun had mentioned the Empress's recent abnormalities and the growing influence of the eldest prince in the court... The Empress and Zhou Yingyou might be forcing the Emperor to pass the throne to the Third Prince!
The door inside opened, and Lu Jiaxue walked out first. Seeing Cheng Lang standing outside with his head down, a sneer appeared on his lips: "Have you waited enough?"
"I dare not." Cheng Lang said.
Lu Jiaxue sighed: "Cheng Lang, you know that you and I are one. I didn't hide anything from you during our conversation just now. You should have guessed who the person inside is..."
A cold light flashed in Cheng Lang's eyes. He thought Lu Jiaxue was crazy. He actually wanted to help the Queen!
Although the Empress had fallen out of favor with the Emperor in recent years, forcing the Emperor to take power was a crime punishable by extermination of all nine generations of her family. Without a major event, she wouldn't have considered this tactic. She feared that if she didn't support the Third Prince's ascension to the throne, her Zhou family's position would be in jeopardy. As for Lu Jiaxue, he had always valued the Third Prince and had long been opposed to the First Prince... Thinking about it this way, Lu Jiaxue's actions were justified.
But he still had the feeling that Lu Jiaxue must have taken the risk because of some excitement.
Cheng Lang didn't ask any more questions, but nodded and said, "Uncle, please feel free to speak. Without your help, Cheng Lang wouldn't be where he is today." After hearing what he had just said, how could he dare not help Lu Jiaxue? He might not even be able to leave the courtyard. Besides, Lu Jiaxue's downfall would definitely not benefit him. He was the stigma of the Lu family.
Lu Jiaxue brought him in and met Zhou Yingyou.
Zhou Yingyou had a broad face, a scruffy beard, and an indifferent expression. He didn't even raise his eyes when he saw him come in. He was a man who could accomplish great things. This was Cheng Lang's first impression.
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