Han Zijin came with his neighbors from Wujiazhuang.
The villagers will be leaving the capital to return to their hometown tomorrow. Han Zijin learned that the newly opened restaurant serves various medicinal dishes to regulate the body, and thought that everyone's body was severely depleted.
Before they returned to their hometown, I took them here for a nice meal.
Ye Zhen opened a small tea room and had Chaolu invite Han Zijin over.
Because it was inconvenient for the child to hear what she wanted to say, Ye Zhen asked Yin Yue to take Chao Lu to stand guard at the door.
"What business does the princess have with me?"
Ye Zhen's discord with the Ye family was no secret, and he didn't beat around the bush, stating his purpose directly.
"Ideally, he should be someone Wang would take seriously and be able to keep the secret. Once the matter is settled, I will give him a sum of money."
Han Zijin was somewhat shocked.
Ye Zhen actually wanted to find a man for her mother.
But without asking any further questions, I agreed.
Knowing the purpose of Han Zijin's visit to the restaurant, Ye Zhen smiled and asked Chaolu to accompany him to say goodbye to the villagers, thus not taking up any more of Han Zijin's time.
When he returned to his private room, he asked Yinyue to settle Han Zijin's bill.
Ye Zhen himself had run a restaurant in the south and knew that the prices there were not low. Princess Kang Le's mansion had been confiscated, and Han Zijin had lost his income as the princess's husband, so he was probably not well-off.
When Han Zijin learned that the meal had been paid, he guessed that it was Ye Zhen who had done it, and he also knew why she had done it.
Feeling grateful, he began to search through his list of friends from all walks of life, trying to see which one met Ye Zhen's requirements.
After finishing his meal, having already set his goal, he took his two children back to his newly purchased house.
The house wasn't big, but it was cozy.
Pulling the two children down to sit, Han Zijin told them about his future plans, "I want to participate in the imperial examination next spring. Before I pass the exam, I want you to stay in the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. Is that alright?"
As news spread that the villagers of Wujiazhuang had come to the capital to appeal to the emperor, Wu Er and Chaolu's identities were also revealed.
The father and his two sons have openly acknowledged each other, but the Duke of Lu's mansion has made no comment.
Han Zijin also distrusted the Duke of Lu's mansion. He was now just a commoner, and although Kang Le had been demoted to a commoner, Han Zijin feared that she still had some remaining influence to harm the two children.
After much thought, he felt that leaving the children in the Marquis's residence was the safest option.
The only people he can trust now are Xie Tingzhou and Ye Zhen.
Fearing the two children might misunderstand, he quickly explained, "Don't overthink it. It's not that Dad doesn't want to be with you, it's just that Dad is worried..."
"Father, we understand."
Wu Er interrupted his explanation, "I will also work hard in the army and strive to make a name for myself as soon as possible."
Chaolu nodded, "It's good to be by Miss's side. Chunni and Suisui keep me company, and Miss treats me very well."
The two children still didn't consider relying on themselves.
Han Zijin felt a little disappointed, but he was already very satisfied that the children were willing to acknowledge him and did not speak ill of him.
He solemnly vowed to his children, "Don't worry, Dad will study hard and make you proud."
Once he obtains an official position, his children will have a better future.
The Wu siblings sensed his sincerity and nodded in unison with smiles, "We trust Dad."
Encouraged and full of confidence, Han Zijin first gave his son many instructions before sending him back to the military camp, and then accompanied Chaolu to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence.
Seeing that Ye Zhen and the others had not returned, he went to look for them for Ye Zhen.
Han Zijin was preoccupied with his mission and didn't notice the pair of malicious eyes behind him.
After Kang Le's home was raided, he pawned all his belongings, got some money, rented a small house in the west of the city, and settled down.
Fearing that the emperor would send people to monitor her, she dared not make any other moves. She only used her resentment towards Han Zijin to stalk him when he came out twice.
Originally intending to gather information about the outside world, he unexpectedly saw Han Zijin looking at Wu Er and Chaolu with a loving expression, and his hatred surged instantly.
Although she had been using Han Zijin all these years, she hadn't treated him badly. Her two children had called him "father" for many years. Yet this man was so cold-hearted that he had ruined her and her children to this extent.
Once the emperor lowers his guard, she will make sure those two bastards die without a burial place, and she will make Han Zijin regret betraying her.
Back on the other side, Zhongyong Hou Baba chased after them, and just as Xie Tingzhou and the others started eating, he pushed open the door to the private room.
She glanced at everyone at the table with a hint of resentment, then sat down next to Cui Yihuan.
The women paused in their eating, forgetting about the Marquis!
Seeing the women's reactions, Marquis Zhongyong's resentment grew even stronger.
Not a single person thought of him.
But none of the three women were ones he could scold; he only glared at his unfilial son, Xie Tingzhou.
"Isn't Wude Si busy? How come he has time to come out?"
Xie Tingzhou calmly instructed the waiter to bring another set of bowls and chopsticks.
“No matter how busy you are, you still have to eat. Grandma Cai followed you through all the hardships to come to the capital. Now that you’ve opened a new shop in the capital, you have to bring her here to try it.”
"Yes, yes, the young master is a filial son."
Cai Yueya was unaware that wealthy families in the capital usually ate separately and rarely gathered together for meals, so she followed her own way of thinking from the countryside.
There are four people in the family, plus her as a guest. The son took everyone else out to eat something delicious, leaving his elderly father alone at home.
Thinking about it, she also felt that she was in the wrong, so she quickly spoke up for Xie Tingzhou.
"The young master was going to call you, but I was afraid you were too busy, so I didn't dare to disturb you."
The waiter brought over bowls and chopsticks, and Cui Yihuan quickly took them and ladled a bowl of soup for the Marquis of Zhongyong. "When the young master ordered, he said he would pack one for you."
It's clear that the young master always cares about the Marquis. With such a filial son, I am truly happy for the Marquis.
When Marquis Zhongyong heard the two of them lying through their teeth for Xie Tingzhou, he looked at Ye Zhen again.
There are only three women in total, and two of them have already sided with the brat.
Ye Zhen smiled obediently, stood up and used serving chopsticks to pick up some food for Marquis Zhongyong, saying, "Father, please try it."
She didn't make things up or offer help haphazardly, and the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor felt that he hadn't been completely abandoned yet.
It wasn't all for nothing that I spoiled Ye Zhen; I finally felt a little better.
Seeing the Marquis of Zhongyong's expression gradually soften, Cui Yihuan pursed her lips, thinking, "He's so old, yet he's still so childish."
Marquis Zhongyong wondered if Xie Tingzhou's sudden kindness towards Cai Yueya was an attempt to win over the Cai family.
Just then, seeing Xie Tingzhou serving food to Cai Yueya, he became even more certain.
When has His Highness the Crown Prince ever served food to someone else?
This brat is trying to rally support so he can go back and inherit the throne.
As for Xie Tingzhou serving food to Ye Zhen and Cui Yihuan later, he felt that Xie Tingzhou did it as a cover-up.
Seeing that the Marquis of Zhongyong's gaze was shifting between Xie Tingzhou and Cai Yueya, Cui Yihuan rolled her eyes inwardly.
I don't know how this guy managed to win me over in the first place, since my son and Ye Zhen's interactions are so obvious now.
His gaze fell on Cai Yueya. Had he been fooled by Liu Shi and Shu Liu Niang, that mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair?
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