Chapter 155 Imperial Marriage
Officials of the sixth rank and above in the capital were required to bring their families to the Imperial City to celebrate the New Year with His Majesty as a sign of imperial favor.
The long palace corridor was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the palace servants had all made new clothes.
A scene of thriving joy.
Zhou Congxian got off the carriage and walked behind his parents.
At this moment, he stood like a banner, upholding the dignity of the Duke of Zhou.
Duke Zhou himself was not prominent in the capital, but he had a good son.
Among all the prominent young masters in the capital, who else can match his achievements?
"Lord Duke, Lord Zhou, Happy New Year."
Someone stepped forward to exchange pleasantries.
Aside from getting a cold shoulder at the Meng residence, the Duke of Zhou was all smiles, which added several more wrinkles to his face.
"Happy New Year, Lord Wang!"
Lord Wang was promoted from the local level last year and has recently gained the emperor's favor.
No matter how much the adults argued in the court, they now greeted each other with their hands clasped together, wishing each other a happy new year.
Whether it's sincere or not, it doesn't stop us from saying a few auspicious words to win them over.
The main hall was already properly decorated, with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments and graceful dancing figures.
The emperor and empress sat in the main hall, officials sat on either side, and their families sat behind curtains on either side.
Compared to the other families with large populations, the Zhou family's place appeared much quieter.
All the girls in the family have gotten married, and the two illegitimate sons are studying away from home.
Of the Zhou family's official relatives, only the Duchess Guo and Old Madam Zhou remain.
Immediately, a lady nearby chimed in, "Happy New Year, Duchess of England."
Madam Zhao smiled and said, "Happy New Year, Madam Minister."
The Minister's wife looked in Zhou Congxian's direction and said, "Young Master Zhou is now quite something; he is His Majesty's right-hand man."
Zhao replied, "No, a man should start a family and establish a career. Your family had a grandson last year, and I can only be envious."
The Minister's wife laughed and said, "What's the rush? Young Master Zhou is an outstanding man. After spring, your doorstep will probably be worn down by all the visitors."
Only then did Madam Zhao show a genuine smile. "Then I will take your kind words, Madam. It will be my true wish if he settles down."
Hearing this, the Minister's wife revealed her purpose: "I do have a good candidate here."
Zhao looked at her husband in front of her; he wouldn't let her interfere in Xian'er's marriage.
But besides considering his own interests, what other factors did he take into account when he made his choice?
When the Duke's Mansion had only a name, and Xian'er's official position was low, he felt that the Song family was better.
After Xian'er gained power, he also felt that the Li family, with its many talented students, was better.
After Xian'er was given an important position, he felt that the increasingly prominent He family on the border was good.
Now, he thinks Meng Gong's granddaughter, whom he just found, is good.
How could a rough, uncouth village woman raised in the countryside be worthy of her Xian'er!
Thinking about this, Zhao felt that she was better off doing it herself.
"That's great! Which family's daughter is she, and how old is she?"
The wife of the Minister of Rites, "is the youngest daughter of Minister Yang, who is nineteen years old at the New Year. She is excellent in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
“My eldest daughter-in-law is the eldest daughter of the Yang family. Her reputation for virtue is not something I, as her mother-in-law, can boast about. The Yang family has strict family rules, and the girls they raise are all outstanding.”
Zhao didn't know much about the Yang family, but she had heard of the Yang family's daughters' talent and reputation.
"Then I would appreciate it if you could help me find an opportunity to meet him, Madam."
The Minister's wife immediately smiled and said, "Of course there is no problem."
After the dance, His Majesty stood up, holding a wine cup.
“In previous years, officials and their relatives would celebrate separately. This year, the Empress Dowager is ill and the Empress is pregnant and also lacks energy. So this year, we will simply celebrate together, which will save us the expense of being separated.”
After the Empress Dowager was placed under house arrest, the late Empress died.
Last year, His Majesty suddenly issued an edict selecting the second daughter of the Zhang family, which was on the verge of decline, as his successor.
This surprised everyone in the capital.
Everyone in the hall stood up, holding their wine cups.
"Your Majesty is wise."
His Majesty raised his cup with both hands, saying, "The people are now living in peace and prosperity, thanks to the efforts of all of you. May next year bring another bountiful harvest."
Outside the palace gates, which happened to be open, snowflakes fell softly.
A smile played on his lips. "A timely snowfall promises a bountiful harvest; it's an auspicious sign."
Everyone shouted in unison, "May the nation prosper!"
His Majesty and his officials raised their cups in a toast.
His Majesty's gaze fell upon the court, which was now vastly different.
Then they asked Eunuch Tian to bring them another cup of wine.
"I am in a good mood today, let's have another drink together."
"With the borders secured, trade between the north and south increased, the number of people engaged in farming also rose, and the national treasury became full."
"Approaching the former emperor's prime, I have done it!"
His Majesty's complexion was rosy, and his eyes sparkled like stars, as if they were burning brightly.
"Bring more wine!"
Eunuch Tian advised in a low voice, "Your Majesty, you cannot drink anymore."
No one knows about His Majesty's health except for himself and the Imperial Physician.
The Imperial Physician has hinted several times that His Majesty's continued burning of the midnight oil will eventually lead to his downfall...
His body couldn't withstand any more abuse.
His Majesty pushed him away, "Let's celebrate together! Bring the wine!"
Zhou Congxian looked at His Majesty standing on the high platform, his brows slightly furrowed.
He studied with His Majesty when he was young, but His Majesty was not the Crown Prince and was not highly regarded by the late Emperor.
Your Majesty enjoys painting and playing the flute.
He was urgently put into that position only after the crown prince died.
The tutor was replaced by someone more talented.
He is growing further and further away from His Majesty.
Until the late emperor passed away, Your Majesty ascended the throne.
Five years later, he was able to see the emperor again.
Same, yet different.
Despite being a young emperor who had just ascended the throne, the occasional look in his eyes suggested that he had already experienced many trials and tribulations.
On a day of celebration like this, it should be a time of vigorous prosperity for a great emperor.
He felt that His Majesty was like a candle that was already half-burnt.
The banquet was halfway over when the Emperor and Empress had already left.
Eunuch Tian walked up to Zhou Congxian and whispered, "Lord Zhou, His Majesty requests your presence."
After nodding to his father, Zhou Congxian got up and left with Eunuch Tian.
Everyone in the imperial court is a shrewd and calculating individual.
Of all these people, only Zhou Congxian was named.
Immediately, someone stepped forward with a wine glass to offer compliments.
The Duke of Zhou's vanity was satisfied like never before.
Zhou Congxian walked the path he had walked many times in his youth, and the noise of the front hall gradually faded behind him.
The full moon hung coldly in the sky during the winter.
The Hall of Diligent Governance was brightly lit, and soft coughs escaped from the cracks in the door.
When Zhou Congxian walked in, His Majesty was looking at the jade flute in his hand, perhaps reminiscing about his childhood.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty."
"Zhou Qing has arrived."
His Majesty put down the jade flute, picked up a bright yellow folded document, and handed it to him.
"You've worked hard, Minister Zhou. This is a gift from me."
Zhou Congxian opened the memorial and found it to be an imperial edict bestowing a marriage upon him.
Who is Meng Shilan?
Without thinking twice, he knelt down and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please rescind your decree."
"I have no intention of getting married, nor do I wish to delay innocent people."
His Majesty smiled and said, "Minister Zhou, there's no need to be so hasty in declining."
"I have already issued this decree. It is useful if you take it out; otherwise, it is useless."
"this……"
Zhou Congxian still did not understand His Majesty's intentions.
Your Majesty, "You will thank me for this decree today in the future."
"The banquet at the front is not over yet, you should go back."
"yes."
Zhou Congxian tucked the memorial into his robe and turned to leave the Hall of Diligent Governance.
"Your Majesty, Lord Zhou has already left."
Eunuch Tian stepped forward and said, “A marriage decree is a good thing. Why doesn’t Your Majesty just say so? It fulfills Lord Zhou’s wish and also grants Lord Meng’s wish.”
Once the imperial edict was issued, the identities of the Jiang siblings and the Meng family were confirmed.
This would not only be a good match for Lord Zhou in terms of social standing, but also fulfill Lord Zhou's wishes.
His Majesty shook his head. "There are no perfect solutions in this world."
"Everyone in the Meng family now wants to divide and devour them. Meng Gong's desire to acknowledge his grandson back is nothing more than a way to protect himself."
"Zhou Congxian, I only now realize the meaning behind his words..."
In his previous life, after Zhou Congxian eliminated the Song family, he was ambushed and killed by his own wife.
He said that if there is an afterlife, he will definitely set her free.
His Majesty blinked, still thinking that the "she" he was referring to was Song Jiyun.
When Zhou Congxian rushed to Ding County last year, he learned that "she" was his concubine.
It was then that I learned that the person who was killed by the legal wife in his previous life had miraculously escaped in this life.
perhaps.
Like him, they received a new opportunity from heaven.
She strives to change her destiny.
And he strives to change the fate of this era.
The imperial edict was in Zhou Congxian's hands.
Whether it becomes a shackle or a lifeline is entirely up to them.
*
The first day of the lunar new year is for paying respects to the ancestors.
Fu'er's purse was bulging early in the morning, filled with copper coins.
Xuan'er not only had the copper coins given to her by several of her aunts in the mansion stolen, but she was also almost pushed into the fishpond and drowned.
Dan Niang was so angry that she smashed up the Duan family's house during the festival.
No one could stop her from flying into a rage, and she even chased the two innocent twins all over the yard and beat them up.
During the Lunar New Year, chaos erupted, and all the neighbors came out to watch the spectacle.
"What a jinx! How could the boss have married such a jinx!"
Granny Duan sat on the ground, wailing and howling.
Old Duan and her two sons have gone to visit the graves, leaving only her and her two daughters-in-law at home.
How could such a penny-pinching girl have so much money, yet she's unwilling to share it with her two younger brothers?
Children are at a mischievous age, and since they were two little boys, they accidentally tripped Duan Xuan by the fish pond.
That's when Luo Dan's mother, who came out to pour water, saw it.
This crazy woman is acting like she's gone mad.
Not only did they smash up the house, they even attacked the children!
She tried to stop them, and was hit several times with a stick!
"Luo Danniang, you've gone mad!" Wang Su'e screamed.
The neighbors were also surprised that the Duan family's New Year celebration was so lively.
It's been a long time since the eldest son's family moved away; it's never been this lively.
When the three men of the Duan family saw so many people gathered at their door, they thought something had happened in their house.
The three pushed through the crowd to take a look.
The house and yard were a mess, and Luo Danniang chased after Wang Su'e and her two children with a large broom in hand.
The two children were so frightened that they burst into tears.
"Luo Danniang! What's wrong with you during the New Year!"
Old Man Duan felt utterly humiliated!
Duan Feiyang quickly hugged his wife and snatched the broom from her hand with his other hand.
"Danniang!"
Wang Su'e immediately took her two children and hid behind her father-in-law.
"Father-in-law, Luo Dan's mother has gone mad! She's going to beat me and my two children to death!"
Two little boys, their faces streaked with black marks from crying, each clung to one of Old Man Duan's legs, wailing.
Old Man Duan has always been an invisible person in the family.
No matter how chaotic things got at home, he wouldn't say a word.
But today is the first day of the lunar month, and Luo Dan's mother is shouting and yelling, slapping him in front of the villagers!
"Boss, divorce her! Otherwise, don't blame me for disowning you as my son!"
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