Chapter 1127 Left Alone

The emperor asked again, "Any news about the birthmark?"

Shi Qing shook his head, "No news yet."

The emperor nodded, indicating that Shi Qing could leave. After Shi Qing left the study, the emperor asked the prince, "Do you have any news?"

The prince replied, "There is some information, but not much. We only found out that the family escaped from the fire. However, the family was not wealthy, and we didn't know if they could raise two babies."

The emperor didn't hold out much hope. The fact that the family could breastfeed their child showed how poor their living conditions were. "Keep investigating."

The prince nodded, and then asked: "If Lord Yu is a member of the Rong family overseas, how should we treat him?"

Your Majesty, "Just wait and see what happens."

The prince understood. In fact, his father did not want to recognize the overseas Rong family. It was also true that they were separated at that time just as a fallback. The Rong family in the capital was the one recognized by his father.

It was not until the evening that Zhou Shuren said that Lord Yu might be an overseas honorary family member.

Zhulan raised her eyebrows, "If Changyi doesn't go on a diplomatic mission, the Rong family won't come back."

After all, they were still divided up. Overseas honors have been completely integrated into the country. It can be seen from the fact that there has been no news for so many years that overseas honors are not active.

Zhou Shuren was surprised, "Are you sure that Master Yu is a member of the Rong family?"

Zhulan nodded, "Want to bet?"

Zhou Shuren, "No, I think so too. In fact, judging from the age, this Yu Lord is of the same generation as my mother. He should be one of those who went overseas. Just like you said, the Rong family overseas are not active. Only the Rong family members who went out of the capital are active."

Zhulan sighed, "After so many years of living overseas and marrying foreigners, the Rong family overseas is no longer the Rong family. The bloodline has been passed down for generations, and it should have taken root overseas."

So it’s normal that I haven’t been back for so many years.

Zhou Shuren curled his lips, "And maybe he really hopes that the Rong family in the capital will be gone. There must be a secret in the box that the emperor is holding. The Rong family overseas must want to keep the secret for themselves."

Zhulan blinked her eyes, "We both seem to only think of the bad side."

Zhou Shuren turned his head and said, "It is true that the overseas veterans did not make people think positively."

Zhulan didn't want to talk about the Rong family anymore. Instead, she was more concerned about Changyi. "This man really needs to grow in knowledge. Changyi's knowledge is right. He doesn't just look at his own little piece of land. This kid's intelligence is finally put to good use. I almost forgot what Changyi was like before."

Zhou Shuren, "Changyi has indeed changed a lot."

In the second room, Chang Yi tossed and turned and couldn't sleep. Zhao sat up with her coat on, "What are you thinking about that can't sleep?"

Chang Yi simply sat up as well. "I was thinking about my brothers. The fourth brother is a legitimate imperial examination candidate. The third brother, needless to say, has already gone to Xuzhou to be an official. I have to work twice as hard. It will be harder for me to be promoted than the third and fourth brothers. Dad said that my qualifications are still too low and it will take me several more years to get promoted."

This is what kept him awake. It would take him several years to get through this.

Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Change your mindset. You were just a commoner before, but you were able to walk step by step back then, and you can do it now. You yourself said that you lack a lot, so it's just right to endure for a few years to make up for it."

After hearing this, Chang Yi's irritability dissipated a lot, and he held his wife's hand, "You are right."

Zhao thought to herself, her mother-in-law said that reading books can help you understand things, and it was true. She had read more books and understood more things. She would never say such things before. She would only look for reasons from others, and never from herself. "Go to bed, it's getting late."

Changyi lay down and fell asleep quickly, but Zhao Shi didn't fall asleep. Listening to her husband's breathing, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.

The next day, Zhulan went to Ninghou Mansion. The girl had already moved back to the mansion from the Duke's Mansion. "Let me see Linxi quickly. Does Linxi remember her grandmother?"

Xue Han smiled and said, "Of course I remember."

Zhulan narrowed her eyes, knowing that her daughter was trying to coax her, and hugged her granddaughter, "Have you visited the Duke's wife recently?"

Xue Han sighed, "I went there and took a lot of medicine, but there's still no improvement."

Zhulan felt that the old lady would not live much longer. She had been ill since the beginning of winter and had not recovered. "What did the Duke say?"

Xue Han whispered, "Grandpa seems to have accepted his fate. Last time I went there, he said he couldn't bear to see grandma suffer."

Zhulan, "The Duke's wife was a nice person, what a pity."

Xue Han was also upset. "My second uncle wanted to show his filial piety, but my grandfather didn't let him. The more my grandmother suffered, the more my grandfather blamed my second uncle. My second uncle has become so thin that he is just skin and bones. If I didn't have a child, I would have gone to the Duke's Mansion too."

Zhulan said, "How about I take the child back with me? You can go to the Duke's Mansion more often. The Duke's wife treats you very well."

Xue Han replied, "I have talked to Rongchuan. Rongchuan and my father-in-law said that I can't take care of the child even if I go. So they asked me to take good care of the child."

Zhu Lan heard that Xue Han and Rong Chuan had discussed it before, and said, "Just keep it in mind. If anything happens, send the child back."

Xue Han also prepared for the worst. If her grandmother really died, she would be relieved if the child was sent back to her mother's home. "I hope she can survive the New Year."

Ministry of Rites, Changyi has been in the spotlight this time, Lord Wang has said several times that he should keep a low profile recently, so Changyi is reading books honestly and doesn't care about anything else.

Wu Ming came over and said, "If you don't understand anything, feel free to ask me."

Chang Yi motioned Wu Ming to sit down and whispered, "Aren't you going to fight?"

Many officials from the Ministry of Rites wanted to compete for the envoy's visit to Beijing this time.

Wu Ming shook his head, "I won't argue with you."

He was just gaining experience in the Ministry of Rites, not taking root there to climb up the ladder. His achievements during his last diplomatic mission were enough.

Chang Yi didn't say much, "Just keep it in mind."

Wu Ming smiled and said, "Don't worry, second brother. I heard that there are two more departments."

Chang Yi nodded, "Dad told me yesterday, and said that the fourth child has encountered good times."

This was also the reason why he was so impatient last night. The fourth brother was lucky, as it was the time when the court needed people. As long as he was on the list, he would not have to worry about the future.

In the palace, the emperor frowned, "You said Zhang Yang took four concubines back to the prince's mansion?"

Eunuch Liu, "Yes, the status of the four concubines is not high, they are all daughters of some nobles and scholars, the highest being nobles."

The emperor narrowed his eyes. Zhang Yang's behavior was a little unusual. "Send someone to check these households. Zhang Yang, keep a closer eye on them."

Eunuch Liu, "Yes."

Time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, most of the envoys had left the capital one after another, and Zhang Yang was also trying to make his presence felt. When the emperor was receiving him, Zhang Yang took concubines one after another. Zhang Yang was also a hotly discussed figure in the capital.

Lord Yu did not leave with the envoys, but stayed behind because he was ill.