Chapter 1407 Retirement

In the evening, Zhulan told Zhou Shuren about Yujiao. "Do you think Concubine Liu is crazy? She really thinks that our family and the Shangguan family will get engaged right after meeting the emperor?"

Zhou Shuren fanned himself with a fan, "Concubine Liu doesn't dare to make any big moves. Concubine Liu has been with the emperor for many years and knows his temper. Everyone knows that she is a troublemaker. Concubine Liu is afraid that she will not be able to control the situation and be completely disliked by the emperor. It is better to choose two more important ones."

Zhulan wanted to roll her eyes. The Zhou family and the Shangguan family were the best candidates. "Do you think Concubine Liu's plan will work?"

Zhou Shuren paused while waving his fan. "If the emperor wanted to use the second prince as a sharpening stone for the crown prince, he would have granted Concubine Liu's wish. If he didn't, he wouldn't have chosen the Xue family."

Zhulan, "I don't think the emperor would choose a sharpening stone for the prince."

If he is really chosen, the Second Prince will be deposed, and no matter what happens in the future, his fate will not be good.

Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "I don't think so either, so Concubine Liu won't get what she wants."

The next day, in Lijia Village, Mingrui did not sleep well. He was very alert. It rained heavily in the first half of the night. In the second half of the night, Shangguan Liu couldn't sleep and tossed and turned. He did not rest either.

At daybreak, Mingrui sat up, looked at Shangguan Liu who had just fallen asleep, pressed his brows hard, got off the kang with some energy, put on his clothes and walked out of the room.

The servant guarding outside heard the noise and asked, "Sir, why are you up so early?"

Mingrui signaled the servant not to follow him, "I'm going out for a walk."

There were already noises outside: a door opening, soft conversations, and the cries of geese.

When Mingrui came out, he saw the little boy who led the way yesterday carrying firewood to the kitchen. The little boy was stunned for a moment when he saw him, and then said, "Young Master, you need hot water. My grandma is boiling water. You need to wait a while."

Mingrui shook his head, "No hurry."

Mingrui listened to the sound of water in the ditch, took a deep breath of the fresh air, and his sleepiness was completely gone. He was born in Zhoujia Village, but he did not live there for long. His younger brothers and sisters had never been to the village.

He had heard his mother talk about the days in Zhoujia Village many times. He turned around and looked at the busy Zhao family. The Zhao family had fled the war that year. The old lady had three sons, but one died. Now she has two sons. The old lady is the head of the family, and the two sons each have several children. The population is simple.

Mingrui had a good impression of this family: hardworking, united, loving mother and filial children, which reminded him of his own home.

When I walked out of the yard, I heard the sound of people reciting the Three Character Classic. I walked over to where the sound came from and saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen digging a ditch at the door to drain water.

This boy is the eldest son of the second branch of the Zhao family and the older brother of the little boy who led the way yesterday.

Zhao Bai felt embarrassed and at a loss, "I, I listened to what the master taught me yesterday, so I just recited it."

Mingrui asked, "Have you learned it?"

Zhao Bai, "I heard Brother Xia from the Li Zheng family read it, and I remembered some of it. Yesterday, the young master taught me, and I remembered some more."

Mingrui continued to ask, "But do you want to study?"

Zhao Bai nodded and shook his head, smiling and rubbing the back of his head, "I'm not very smart, and my family doesn't have money to support my education. I just want to learn more words. I don't want to be cheated by others because I can't read, and I don't even know that I've signed a contract to sell myself."

Mingrui added: "Official uniforms have promotional brochures with simple words on them."

Zhao Bai pursed his lips and said, "Our village is far from the county town. It takes a whole day to get there. We rarely go to the county town unless it is necessary. We usually go shopping in the nearby big villages and towns."

Mingrui understood that the pictures promoted in the county were not available there. "You want to learn to read so badly, but has anyone in the village been fooled?"

Zhao Bai nodded, "Yes, our village is poor, Uncle Qian is sick, and Uncle Qian's daughter is said to be working, but the deed is a contract of sale."

"Didn't you let Li Zheng take a look?"

Zhao Bai didn't say anything, but Mingrui understood that Lijia Village was not a village composed of families. The clan leader would be in charge of clan affairs and would only help those in the village who could benefit from it.

In the capital, after the morning court session, Lord Shangguan walked up to Zhou Shuren and said, "My granddaughter is indebted to your granddaughter for taking care of her."

"That's too serious. Yujiao is younger than your granddaughter. Yujiao is the one who is being taken care of."

Lord Shangguan smiled and asked, "Lord Zhou, would you like to come with us?"

"good."

The two of them walked together, which surprised many ministers. What was going on? The two had never spoken a word to each other before. Old Master Wen also frowned.

Lord Xue was very nervous. There was no movement in the palace, and he didn't dare to send anyone to inquire. Logically, there should have been news in the palace.

Old Master Shangguan was not proud because his family had a future Crown Princess. On the contrary, he did not want a Crown Princess to appear in his family. The more he tried to avoid it, the more it would happen to his family.

Ever since the imperial edict came down, he had been more careful in the court, fearing that he might say something wrong.

He had never met Zhou Shuren before, and he felt that it was unnecessary before, as the Shangguan family had their own way of survival. But now he wanted to make friends with him, which is why he felt grateful today.

Zhou Shuren has a very good impression of the Shangguan family. The Shangguan family is very similar to the Ning family. As high-profile as the Wen family is, the Shangguan family is as low-key. The future Crown Princess rarely goes out.

He had never heard of anyone in the Shangguan family being arrogant. If the Shangguan family had not produced a crown princess, he would have been very optimistic about the Shangguan family's sons. Unfortunately, if the Zhou family wanted to remain undefeated, it had to avoid any involvement with the royal family as much as possible.

The two didn't say much, just talked about some political affairs, and then separated when they reached the palace gate.

Wang Ju followed all the way, and after Lord Shangguan left, she got on the Ministry of Revenue's carriage.

Zhou Shuren, "Have you gained weight again?"

Wang Ju, "...No."

"I don't believe it. You trembled as soon as you got off the carriage."

Wang Ju shrank her stomach and said, "That's your illusion."

Zhou Shuren stopped teasing Wang Ju and asked, "What are you doing following me?"

Wang Ju, "I'm curious, how did you become friends with Lord Shangguan?"

Zhou Shuren smiled but said nothing. Yesterday, Zhulan and Old Madam Shangguan were invited to the palace, and the news was blocked. Now he didn't know that Yujiao and Shangguan Li had left the palace.

Wang Ju whispered, "The Shangguan family has a future Crown Princess. You don't want to get involved, do you?"

Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes, "What do you think?"

Wang Ju was relieved, "I told you you were cunning and sly."

"You can say that again."

Wang Ju waved her hands, "Just pretend you didn't hear it."

"It's too late."

Wang Ju laughed dryly, then revealed a big news, "My father is preparing to retire."

Zhou Shuren was shocked, "Why do you suddenly want to retire?"

"I have already established myself in the capital, and our two families have already been married. My father has put down his burdens and wants to live a leisurely life in his old age."

In fact, his father was able to put down his burden and retire, thanks to Zhou Shuren, Zhou Shuren's background, Zhou Shuren's status in the court and the royal family, and the marriage between the Wang family and the Zhou family, which gave the Wang family a reliable ally.

His father often said that he had good vision and that the marriage was a good one.