Chapter 1135 Being Targeted

At night, in the palace, the emperor held two books and asked, "Do you suspect that these two merchants are related to the Zhang family?"

Shi Qing said, "Last time, the woman captured by Mr. Zhou's grandson disappeared when investigating a merchant. I have been investigating. I remember the merchant's business, business dealings, and household registration clearly. The businesses of these two registered merchants are similar. It is too coincidental that they are similar again and again. I think we can continue to investigate."

Shi Qing knew that the emperor was anxious to investigate the Zhang family who had disappeared again. Even if it was still Prince Qi who was investigating openly, he still had to rely on spies in secret.

The emperor was very satisfied with Shi Qing and said, "Send someone to investigate."

Shi Qing accepted the order and took back the booklet, "Yes, I will definitely check it out."

The emperor waited for Shi Qing to leave and fell into deep thought. Last time, Zhou Shuren's grandson accidentally discovered traces of the Zhang family. He wondered if the Zhang family might have become merchants. Now with Shi Qing's discovery, it was likely to be the case.

There was a coldness in the emperor's eyes. He was really willing to do it. It was also true that the Zhang family was not a noble family like the Rong family, who had pride and integrity.

When the Emperor saw the Crown Prince approaching, he suppressed the coldness in his eyes and asked, "You said the other day that the Crown Princess and your concubine both had their families participate in this year's Spring Examination?"

The Crown Prince said, "Yes, the Crown Princess' cousin, he didn't pass the exam last time, but he will continue to take the exam this year. Liu's younger brother is taking the Spring Exam for the first time this year, and Ran's nephew is also taking the exam."

The prince also pays a lot of attention to the backyard. He will naturally use those who are capable, and will not promote those who are not capable. However, Liu's younger brother is indeed good.

The emperor nodded, "The competition is very fierce this year. I have read the lists submitted by various states. I wonder if Zhou Shuren's fourth son will be as competitive as his brother."

The prince smiled and said, "We'll know when the results come out."

The emperor nodded and thought of Yuhun. A year later, he went out of the palace and met Yuhun several times. Every time, Yuhun mentioned offspring. The emperor knew what Yuhun was thinking. Yuhun saw that Zhou Shuren had many offspring, so he was thinking of succeeding.

But Zhou Shuren would not adopt his son, even if he was the eldest son of a white family. If the eldest son was adopted, the eldest grandson whom he had raised with great effort would have grown up into an adult. Yu Yun was aware of this and mentioned Zhou Shuren's second grandson many times.

At Zhou's home, Zhou Shuren doesn't know yet that his grandson is being missed. Zhou Shuren is tired after a day of work and is enjoying a head massage from his wife.

Zhulan first talked about the affairs of the mansion, and then mentioned, "The Duke's health deteriorated after the year, and he is holding on thanks to his energy and spirit."

Zhou Shuren sighed. Who could have thought that in just two years, the Duke's Mansion would become like this? "The old Duke wanted to hold on until the Crown Prince took over the throne."

"But there are gains and losses. Now the Duke's Mansion seems to be on the decline, but it also makes the Emperor and the Crown Prince feel at ease."

Zhou Shuren also agreed. The prince was no less suspicious than the emperor. Now that the Duke's Mansion was weak, the prince would be worried about it when he ascended the throne. Everything would be fine after the next generation came to power.

But Zhou Shuren paused for a moment, and the next generation just happened to grow up as the prince's sons.

Zhu Lan added, "I heard from the concubine that the Queen wanted Ning Zhiqi's second son, Ning Yang, to be a companion to the Crown Prince's eldest son, but the Duke rejected it."

Zhou Shuren, "It's better to decline. The Queen is thinking about the Duke's Mansion, and the Duke doesn't want to get involved."

Zhu Lan smiled, "Xue Han said that the old Duke has been carefully teaching his grandson these days."

Zhou Shuren thought that the old Duke had a long-term vision, so he should just not get involved. Being a reading companion is not an easy job. "The Emperor is also considered to be long-lived. I think the Crown Prince is also long-lived. The Crown Prince's eldest son is different from the Crown Prince. The Emperor got married late, so the Crown Prince is not very old. But the Crown Prince's eldest son is eight years old this year, no, he has already passed the New Year and is now nine years old. The Crown Prince is a long-lived person."

Zhou Shuren didn't say the rest, but he made it clear that even if the prince's eldest son was made the prince, his situation would be very different from that of the prince. The situation would be different, and the future would be very different.

The reason why the prince can ascend the throne smoothly now is due to many factors. Of course, the most important point is that the emperor married late and the prince is not really old. If the emperor married early and the prince was older, the prince might not be able to maintain his current mentality.

Zhu Lan paused, "Besides, the prince has many offspring, and the future is unpredictable. I remember you said that the prince is more ambitious than the emperor."

The current emperor is already a wise ruler, and the prince is ambitious to surpass him. It’s okay now, but what about the future? No one can predict. Power is too tempting.

Zhou Shuren held his wife's hand, "I can feel that the prince has set his sights on me. He believes that I can help him realize his ambitions. Moreover, the prince intends to let me teach his eldest son."

This was what he feared the most. If he really taught the crown prince's eldest son, he would be the crown prince's eldest son's mentor. Although he probably wouldn't see which of the crown prince's sons would succeed to the throne, he was afraid that because of his teaching, his descendants would become the eldest son's faction.

The emperor's grace can be given to you, but it can also be taken back. He is afraid of being angered. If the eldest son succeeds to the throne smoothly in the future, everything will be fine. The Zhou family is rich and glorious, but there is no successor. If the eldest son makes a mistake in the future, it will be the fault of his mentor. He will definitely be angry with him for not teaching him well, and the Zhou family will definitely be in trouble!

Zhulan was shocked, "The prince told you that?"

Zhou Shuren shook his head, "Even though she didn't say anything, I could sense it. When the princess went to the Crown Prince's residence a few years ago, the Crown Princess mentioned me. Plus Concubine Liu's actions, I had some thoughts in my mind."

What Zhou Shuren could think of, Zhulan could also think of. The emperor was ruthless, and the skill he used most often was rage. "You have to think of a way."

Now the emperor has not yet abdicated and has no intention of doing so. Should the prince give the order directly after ascending the throne?

Zhou Shuren pressed his forehead and said, "I think it's good for me to have more headaches in the future. What do you think?"

Zhulan, "...You can imagine it."

Zhou Shuren said quietly, "I thought I had won because of the succession of power, my achievements and my close relationship with the emperor. But now I realize there are traps everywhere."

Zhulan pursed her lips and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "It's OK. It's not hard."

He still has his own son to raise, so he has to work hard for him.

The Spring Examination ended quickly. Zhulan went to pick up Changzhi in person. Zhulan was in the carriage, and Suxuan couldn't wait to get off.

The door opened, and first one saw the young men of the Zhou family coming out one after another, followed by Chang Zhi.

Su Xuan felt so distressed when she saw her husband's haggard appearance that she hurried forward to support him, "What's wrong with you?"

Chang Zhi exhaled, "I'm fine, I'm just hungry and want to sleep now."

Su Xuan, "Mom is here too, let's go home and rest now."

When Changzhi heard his mother coming, he said, "Hurry up and don't let me wait anxiously."

Zhulan had already talked to a few young men and knew that they were in good health, so she quickly asked them to get on the carriage to rest.

Changzhi got on the carriage, and Zhulan handed him some hot tea, "Have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up."

Changzhi licked his lips, drank the hot tea, and after a while he said, "I'm sorry I missed you."

Zhulan, "I am happy to see you doing well."

Her family was lucky and finished the exam safely. However, she knew that some people were kicked out halfway through the exam this year.

Changzhi thought for a moment and said, "Mother, the person sitting next to me is the younger brother of Consort Liu from the Crown Prince's Mansion."

Zhulan was now nervous when she heard about the Prince's Mansion, "Is there a problem?"

Chang Zhi shook his head, "No problem, it's just that my son has heard of him, and he is also a hot favorite this year."