Chapter 708: A harmonious family brings prosperity

The next morning, just after breakfast, the palace ladies arrived. Zhulan was still looking forward to visiting the imperial palace. This was not the Forbidden City of the future, nor was it as majestic as the Forbidden City, but it was also an extremely luxurious place, and the luxurious buildings from previous dynasties and later periods were all preserved.

When the carriage arrived at the palace gate, a female official led the way, and Zhulan and the ladies just had to follow.

The female official remained silent all the way, and her pace was not fast, but the distance of each step was basically the same, which showed that the queen was a person who attached great importance to rules.

Zhulan estimated the distance. The palace was really big. It took her almost two cups of tea to walk this distance. They just passed the garden. The flowers in the garden inside the palace were all precious varieties, and many palace servants were maintaining the garden.

The harem of this dynasty is considered cold and heartless. There are only a few concubines in total, and they are all old and not willing to be moved. Looking around the garden, the only person you can see is the gardener.

After a while, we finally arrived at the main palace where the empress lived. The main palace was located in the center of the harem, on the same line as the Zhengdian where the emperor lived, and it was also the palace closest to the Zhengdian.

What Zhulan knew was not a secret; she knew it without even asking.

The female official went in to report, while Zhulan and her concubines stood outside waiting. Soon, a different female official came out. Judging from her age, she was the Queen's personal female official.

The female official said, "Lady Yang, please come in."

Zhulan was still a little nervous. She followed the court lady into the palace. When she saw the empress sitting, she bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am Yang, your Highness."

Xue Han followed suit and bowed, "Your Highness has met the Empress."

The queen was delighted. She had waited for a long time and finally saw the real person. Miss Zhou was well behaved and indeed looked better than her portrait. Her voice was also pleasant. She had long forgotten that she was jealous of her future daughter-in-law yesterday. She smiled and said, "No need to be polite."

Zhulan stood up and just took a quick look at the empress. There were still many secret methods for the maintenance of the harem. The empress was about the same age as her. When she saw her today, the empress seemed to be five or six years younger than her. The empress was good-looking, and she was not just a beauty on the outside. With her temperament, she was really dazzling.

Xue Han stood properly. She didn't have the courage of a mother to take a quick look. The only thing she felt relieved was that the Queen's tone was quite gentle.

The Queen looked at her without hesitation. Yang did not look like she came from a peasant family. She had seen many wives of officials who worked as farmers, but none of them was as calm as Yang. She did not show any timidity or inferiority. It was not easy to raise such an outstanding daughter.

The Queen said, "Please take a seat. Don't be shy. Lord Zhou is the pillar of the country. The Emperor and I have mentioned Lord Zhou many times. I heard that Lord Zhou's family is also in Kyoto. Yesterday, the Emperor rewarded Lord Zhou. I know that a harmonious family is the foundation of everything. Lord Zhou can work for the court without worrying about his future. This is all thanks to you, Yang."

If Zhulan hadn't known Rongchuan's identity, she would have really believed the Queen's words. As expected of the Queen, she felt relieved after hearing these words. She said modestly, "I dare not take credit for it. Teaching the children and managing the backyard are what I should do."

The Queen was very satisfied with Yang. Yang was sensible and could teach her children well. The development of Zhou family today was inseparable from Yang. Husband and wife complement each other. She saw true unity of husband and wife in Zhou Shuren and Yang.

The Queen motioned for the lady-in-waiting to come over with a tray. "You deserve a reward for your meritorious service. These gems and jewellery are given to you as a reward."

Zhulan guessed that there would be a reward, but she didn't expect the queen to be so generous. The two trays dazzled her eyes. "Thank you, Her Majesty."

The Queen glanced at Zhou Xuehan with her peripheral vision. Zhou Xuehan only glanced at the tray with a calm look in her eyes, without any greed. The Queen was satisfied. This was her test of her future daughter-in-law.

Afterwards, the female official brought out another tray, and the Queen said, "I believe in rapport, and I like Miss Zhou very much. These are gifts from me, and they can be kept as dowry in the future."

Zhulan, "......."

Now that I have come to realize, I was just testing her when I gave it to her. Fortunately, the girl she taught has very positive values ​​and will not be greedy for things that do not belong to her.

Xue Han had not expected such a reward, so she thanked him politely, "Thank you, Her Majesty, for your love."

The Queen nodded imperceptibly. Discipline is a good thing. She wanted to laugh again. Zhou Shuren really made full use of the people he had kept for the Emperor. The two trained maids became the people who taught discipline in the Zhou Mansion.

This can be considered a miraculous fate, as it saves her from having to place another maid into the Zhou Mansion. Now Miss Zhou is very well-behaved.

The more the queen thought about it, the more she liked Zhou Xuehan. This girl and her son were so compatible. Maybe they were a match made in heaven. "Get up quickly."

Xue Han stood up obediently. Although she still didn't dare to look at the Queen, she relaxed a lot when she heard the joy in the Queen's tone.

Zhulan felt relieved. This future mother-in-law was quite satisfied with Xuehan. It was good if she was satisfied. She was just afraid that if she was not satisfied, Xuehan's life would not be easy even with Rongchuan around. Now she could put aside her worries.

At the Zhou residence, Zhou Shuren coaxed his unhappy son, "You can talk nonsense. Your mother has been gone for an hour and a half. Even if you are unhappy, your mother won't be able to see it."

Changzhong's eyes widened. "Dad has been to the palace, and so have mom and sister. I've never been there."

Zhou Shuren, "Your third brother, no, your third brother has been there too."

Changzhong was unhappy, "I've been there before."

Zhou Shuren was amused, "You think the palace is a good place."

Changzhong said, "Daddy, don't lie to me." "Daddy brought back a lot of good things from the palace. I heard from my sister that they are worth a lot of money. How can the palace not be a good place?"

Zhou Shuren thought for a moment and said, "It can only be said that the palace is a place where opportunities and dangers coexist. You are still too young. If you really want to go, you have to rely on your own efforts."

"How hard will my son have to work to get to the palace?"

Zhou Shuren tapped his son's nose and said, "First of all, you need to study better than your third brother and be as good as your brother-in-law. Then you can pass the imperial examination and get a third place in the imperial examination for your father, and then your wish will come true."

Changzhong held up his chubby little hands and counted them one by one, "It will take many more years."

Anyway, he didn't have enough hands.

Zhou Shuren thought his son was so cute, so he kissed his fat son and said, "Come on, Daddy will take you to school."

Masatada, "......"

He has been having a great time in Beijing recently and hasn't studied for a long time. Well, he has forgotten a lot of what his fourth brother taught him!

In the Hanlin Academy, Shen Yang was painting on paper with a brush. He was very unhappy. He had just become famous yesterday, but today it was snatched away by Zhou Changlian. It is good to have a good father. Yesterday, Lord Zhou took the reward out of the palace, and the news spread today.

Shen Yang listened to Master Lu speaking and stopped moving his hands.

Master Lu asked, "Chang Lian, is Lord Zhou going to the capital soon?"

(End of this chapter)