Chapter 1541 Entering Beijing

Zhou Shuren didn't think that the Minister of Rites was doing it for money. The embassy would replace its supplies and furnishings every year, and receive a sum of money from merchants every year. The Ministry of Rites didn't have any major events, so it was not short of money.

The Minister of Rites motioned for him to go first, and as he walked in he said, "The youngest son of Marquis Zhou has not yet been engaged."

Zhou Shuren paused, "Yeah."

The Minister of Rites smiled and said, "My sister's little daughter was born in the seventeenth year of Yongzhi, one year younger than the son of Zhou Hou. What do you think, Zhou Hou?"

Zhou Shuren didn't think much of it. How should I put it? He didn't like the Minister of Rites. The Minister of Rites was somewhat politically opportunistic. Of course, there was no shortage of such people in the court, but his son's marriage would definitely not be related to the Minister of Rites. He smiled and said, "My son is still young."

People like the Minister of Rites are the best at listening to hidden meanings. Even if they are rejected, they will not be angry. They will still smile and say, "That's a pity."

Zhou Shuren was not afraid that the Minister of Rites would make things difficult for Chang Yi. As long as he held power and as long as he was Marquis Zhou, the Minister of Rites would only take care of Chang Yi.

The Minister of Rites then chatted about some recent events until he got in his carriage and left.

Zhou Shuren sighed, saying that his youngest son had reached the age to get married. He had been away from Beijing for more than a year and no one missed him. Now that he was back in Beijing, it was normal for him to be missed.

In ancient times, it was easier for men to marry than for women to find their families, so Zhou Shuren was really not in a hurry.

At the Zhou residence, Zhulan looked at the letter sent by her eldest brother, pursed her lips, and was in a bad mood. Her eldest brother was already old, and he broke his leg in the fall.

Zhulan sighed. She didn't believe the letter saying that everything was fine. Her brother's metabolism slowed down with age, and he must have suffered a lot from the fracture.

Zhao comforted her, "Mom, with the doctor watching over my uncle, he will be fine."

Zhulan felt a little sad, "We are just getting older, we are old, we are all old."

Zhao, "Mom, don't say that. You are still young in the eyes of your daughter-in-law."

Zhulan smiled a little, "You are the only one who can talk. Your brother sent you a letter. Do you want to come to the capital?"

Zhao nodded. "He has already become a scholar, so he is not in a hurry to take the imperial examination. I haven't seen him for many years. He wrote that he plans to come to the capital to spend the New Year with me, and will go on a study tour in the spring."

Zhulan calculated, "You two siblings haven't seen each other for many years."

It was she who suggested letting the child stay in Lizhou.

As time went by and they got to know each other better, Zhao no longer felt uncomfortable with her brother. Instead, she hoped that her brother would come to the capital. She thought that her husband had helped her brother for many years and it was time for him to help her.

Zhulan talked with her second daughter-in-law for a while, then went to the warehouse in person to select tonics for her eldest and second brothers. Good medicinal materials are still difficult to buy in Lizhou.

In the evening, Zhou Shuren did not mention the marriage proposed by the Minister of Rites. Instead, he said, "Prince Liang is a ruthless man who tortures himself. The Emperor is his father after all, and he is old. With the Emperor watching over him and Prince Liang's military achievements, the Emperor will not touch Prince Liang's mansion."

Zhulan, "Is King Liang miserable?"

"How should I put it? The feeling that Prince Liang gives me is that he is chronically suicidal. I can see that, and the Emperor and the Retired Emperor can see that too. Prince Liang is like a soft knife cutting the Retired Emperor's heart!"

Zhulan, "Prince Liang is also afraid. He is afraid that the Queen will die young. The Crown Prince is the Queen's son. Prince Liang can't do anything naughty, so he can only torture himself."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Many people can see the predicament of the King of Liang. There is an unsolvable knot between the King of Liang and the Crown Prince. I think someone wants to take advantage of it. Unfortunately, the King of Liang only wants to keep the Liang Palace."

"That's what King Liang saw clearly."

The emperor has been suppressing the maternal families of the concubines in the harem and has been keeping everything under control. It is obvious that the emperor has suffered enough from the powerful aristocratic families. Don’t the maternal families of the concubines in the harem understand this? They understand it, but the imperial power is too attractive.

The next day, news spread in the capital that Prince Liang was seriously ill. The head of the Imperial Hospital moved into Prince Liang's mansion. Prince Liang's illness lasted for a month before he recovered. Then rumors spread that Prince Liang would not live long.

There was news in the capital that Prince Liang was seriously ill, and there was another major event. The emperor was stingy with the titles of concubines in the harem, and he actually promoted one concubine, Concubine Zhang. Then, because Concubine Hui was seriously ill and unable to take care of the two princes, the little prince was handed over to Concubine Zhang to raise.

This was a great blow to the Wang family. They finally realized the emperor's determination, stopped pretending to be ignorant and became honest.

At this time, Zhao's younger brother finally arrived in the capital. Zhulan looked at the young man in front of her. Zhao's mother was a beauty, and so was Zhao. The son took after his mother. Qian Keqi had grown into a gentle and jade-like young man. This child was really good.

Zhulan gestured, "You were only this tall when I left you. Now you've grown up and I can hardly recognize you."

Qian Keqi has been living alone for many years and is very familiar with interpersonal relationships. He is best at observing people's expressions. He sensed the old lady's kindness and the anxiety he had when he came was gone. He smiled and said, "Because Keqi has grown up, Keqi is grateful for the old lady's care over the years."

Zhulan smiled and motioned to sit down. She really didn't take care of him much. The one who really took care of him was the second wife. But she didn't hold back. In addition, the Yang family's care for this child was also the care for this child. "You are a very insightful child."

Qian Keqi said, "I have lived alone for many years, and I am where I am today thanks to this insight."

Zhulan asked about Qian Keqi's studies, and then said to her second daughter-in-law, "You two can talk. Take him to see if there is anything missing in the yard and if there is anything he needs you to arrange."

Zhao smiled and said, "Okay."

Zhulan waited for Zhao to leave with Qian Keqi, and said to Qingxue, "This child is really good."

Qingxue nodded, but in her heart she thought that he looked a bit like a woman.

Zhao took his brother to the yard and said, "This yard is close to the front yard, so it's convenient for you to go out. See if there's anything else you can buy."

Qian Keqi felt cared for and no longer felt strange towards his biological sister. "It's already good enough."

Zhao said, "Your brother-in-law wanted to take a leave, but the Ministry of Rites had something urgent to do and he couldn't leave. He told me to tell you that he would have a good chat with you when he came back."

Qian Keqi, "Okay, sister, I brought a gift but I don't know if you like it or not."

Zhao thought of the leather she had given her, "Your life is not easy, and you must have spent a lot of money this time."

"The gifts my sister and brother-in-law send back every year are even more expensive. I have managed the family business well over the years, so you don't have to worry about me."

Zhao knew his brother's situation very well and knew that he was not being pretentious. "You should take a rest first, and we can talk to you in the evening."

When leaving the yamen, Changyi came back first and met his brother-in-law. He was stunned for a moment by his brother-in-law's appearance. He was too good-looking. There were too many dirty things in the capital. Fortunately, he was his wife's brother-in-law.

Qian Keqi felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, "Brother-in-law?"

Chang Yi sighed, "You can practice martial arts with Ming Rui and the others in the future."

Add more heroic spirit.

Qian Keqi was not someone who didn't know how to be nice. "Okay."

Another half hour passed, Zhulan frowned. It was already dark outside, and Shuren still hadn't returned home.

Changyi and the others didn't care much about it, as dad would sometimes come home late.

Another half hour passed before Zhou Shuren returned home. Zhulan saw that Shuren looked unhappy and asked hurriedly, "What happened?"