Chapter 1666 to Chapter 1666

Zhulan, "I want to frame the deed to prevent it from getting damaged over time."

Zhou Shuren said happily, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Zhulan put the deed away first, then asked, "The emperor actually agreed."

Zhou Shuren said, "First, you cannot use your real name in the book. The emperor will feel guilty. Second, I am still taking advantage of my fourth uncle's death. Third, it is because of my many years of achievements and honesty."

The emperor was silent for a long time, but finally signed the contract. Two hundred taels a year was not a lot for the emperor, and the emperor cared about the Zhou family having an heir, so the contract remained valid.

Zhulan, "Do you think I should donate some money every year? Until I die?"

"what ever."

Zhu Lan frowned, "Don't worry, I haven't received this year's money yet!"

Changzhong came in and was surprised, "It's time for dinner, why isn't the meal served yet?"

Zhulan said, "There is a happy event today. I asked the kitchen to make a few more dishes. We will have dinner later."

Changzhong was already sitting next to his father. "Dad, what's the good news?"

Zhulan showed off in front of her son and said, "Take a look."

Changzhong's eyes widened after reading it. "This?"

Zhulan put it back in place again, "Is it a happy event?"

Chang Zhong said happily: "Of course it's a happy event."

Zhou Shuren looked at his youngest son, then at the box, and finally put away his selfish thoughts. He decided that it would be better to give it to his eldest son after a hundred years. He raised his hand and touched his son's head. He was still a mortal after all!

Changzhong was confused, "Dad?"

Zhou Shuren put down his hand, "It's okay."

Zhu Lan glanced at her husband more. After years of mutual understanding, she understood instantly. She reached out and touched the box. This was a guarantee. Shu Ren had selfish motives to give it to his youngest son, but he resisted the urge!

In a blink of an eye, it was the day for the Hanlin Academy to rest. Changzhi and Changzhong went to the Yong'an Duke's Mansion. Minghui had returned to Beijing and had been staying at home. When Changzhi found out, he also wanted to go and take a look, so he brought Minghui with him.

Li's illness was cured, but she lost a lot of weight, had more wrinkles on her face, and looked several years older.

Zhulan felt so distressed, "Take good care of yourself when you feel better."

Li ate less because of her illness and her appetite was also reduced. "Mom, don't worry about me. I will take care of myself and I will be fine."

Zhulan held Li's hand and said, "I feel bad when you act like this."

Li's nose felt sore. Her parents were gone. When she returned home in the future, it would be her brother's home, not her parents' home. She said in a hoarse voice, "Mom, you must live a long life."

Zhu Lan's eyes turned red as she heard this. "Okay, okay, may you live a long life."

When Li got better, she came to accompany her, and she wouldn't leave no matter how hard she tried, as she regarded her as her hope.

Li paused for a moment before she smiled again, "I heard from my husband that my eldest sister and her husband are not coming back for the New Year?"

Zhu Lan, "Well, it's a pain to travel in the winter. Jiang Du won't let them go. They will come back in the spring."

Li thought of her eldest son, "I wonder how Mingyun is doing."

She didn't tell her eldest son when she was sick because she was afraid that he would worry. Now that she has recovered, it is her turn to worry about her son.

Zhulan didn’t know either, as there had been no letters sent back from Caoyuan recently. However, Mingyun was in the city now, so he should be doing well!

Li said, "Ma came to see me a few days ago and mentioned Master Liu. Ma wants to go and accompany her in-laws next year."

Zhulan thought of Ran Wan, "Ran Wan will also go there next year, and you will have to take care of the child."

As she gets older, she no longer looks after children like she used to. She has also become increasingly quiet, and her great-grandchildren are not very close to her.

Li smiled and said, "So my daughter-in-law needs to take good care of her health."

On the grassland, Mingyun looked at the snow outside and chewed some dried fruit. "Hiss, it hurts."

Wu Ming pushed the door open at this time, took off his gloves, picked up the dried fruit and put it to his mouth, "I knew you had some left."

Mingyun pointed to his mouth and said, "I've been eating too much meat lately and my mouth is sore."

Wu Ming, "Hey, who knows when the heavy snow will stop."

Mingyun was waiting for the snow to stop so that he could send letters back to Beijing. He missed dried vegetables and frozen pears. Thinking of the cold frozen pears, the dried fruits in his mouth didn't taste good anymore. "Fortunately, my family sent me several carts of charcoal in advance."

There is a shortage of everything on the grassland, and the most lacking thing in the cold weather is firewood. There are queues of people every day at the charcoal shops in the city.

Wu Ming, "Pack some dried fruits for me later."

Mingyun, "I really don't have much left."

"The capital city sends you a lot of food every time, but you eat too much."

He lives frugally.

Mingyun spread his hands and said, "The guards who came with me had their families come with them, and I gave them some. I can't treat them badly since they worked so hard for me."

Wu Ming stood up and said, "I'm jealous."

Mingyun laughed out loud. His father was in charge of the family farm. Since he was on the grassland, his parents prepared a lot of dried vegetables and other vegetables for him. If the road had not been blocked by heavy snow, his life would have been quite good. It was also the family habit that he got a sore throat after not eating vegetables for a few days.

Gu Sheng arrived at the Yong'an Mansion in the capital on time. It was not because he was afraid of people talking about him, but because he did not want to see Zhuo Guyu.

As soon as I got off the carriage, I heard "Gu Sheng, wait for me."

Wu Shangheng got off the carriage and said, "I knew you wouldn't come early."

"You were waiting for me at the door?"

Wu Shangheng smiled and said, "Yeah, I don't want to look at Zhuo Guyu any more. If I didn't know you were coming, I really wouldn't want to come."

Gu Sheng knew what was going on. Wu Shangheng was afraid that he would be made to feel awkward. “Thank you.”

"We are friends."

He rarely finds someone whose temper he likes.

The two of them entered the mansion together and arrived at the hall. Everyone looked at them. Wu Shangheng smiled and said, "We are not late."

Zhuo Guyu stepped forward and said, "No, this way please."

The future prince consort did not move, but smiled and said, "Gu Sheng and I will sit together, no need to greet us specially."

Zhuo Guyu was puzzled. He didn't understand how the future prince consort, who came from an aristocratic family, could become friends with Gu Sheng. "Then the two of you, please come this way."

Changzhong suddenly said, "Here."

Wu Shangheng's eyes lit up, "We'll go there by ourselves, Master Zhuo, just go ahead and do your work."

The seat next to Changzhong has always been empty. Someone wanted to come and sit there, but Changzhong said that someone was already sitting there. Now we know who it was reserved for.

Gu Sheng sat down and said, "Mr. Zhou."

Chang Zhong smiled and said, "I haven't seen you for a long time, Master Gu. How have you been lately?"

Gu Sheng curled his lips and said, "It's been good lately."

On both sides of Gu Sheng sat the future imperial consort and the youngest son of Marquis Zhou. Those who had mocked Gu Sheng in the Hanlin Academy kept silent. Gu Sheng was very low-key in the Hanlin Academy and never advertised who he knew. Zhuo Guyu would not help him either. People from aristocratic families talked about Gu Sheng behind his back.

Zhuo Guyu's expression did not change. When almost everyone arrived, he smiled and said, "Today we will appreciate three paintings. Two of them are from my grandfather's collection, and one is a painting I recently acquired."

As she spoke, the girl came in holding a painting.

Changzhong curled his lips. What collection? It was obviously stolen during the troubled times. Looking at the scroll, he realized that the collection of the Yong'an Duke's Mansion was indeed rare.

The first painting was unfolded and everyone could see it clearly.

Wu Shangheng covered his face with his fan and whispered to Changzhong, "I heard that the Duke of Yong'an was always fighting in the south."

Chang Zhong glanced sideways, "Do you recognize this painting?"

Wu Shangheng narrowed his eyes and said, "I was wondering why I always dislike Zhuo Guyu!"

Changzhong was surprised, "Did I really guess right?"

Gu Sheng also looked sideways. Wu Shangheng was from a noble family in the south!

(End of this chapter)