Chapter 31: Grapevine
As expected, someone soon knocked on the door and said, "Your Highness, someone from Changping Royal Manor has arrived to deliver the account books and filial piety."
Han Guilan stood up and walked to the door, saying, "Let them in."
As soon as the door opened, two people, one big and one small, came in. The big one was Cheng Ming, and the small one looked familiar, but Han Guilan couldn't recognize him for a long time.
Zhu Yuhuan, on the other hand, recognized the other person's identity at a glance and said jokingly, "Isn't this Yingying? She looks a lot older."
Seeing that Zhu Yuhuan had truly recognized her, Zhou Yingying's red face lit up with a smile. She took a few steps, her steps inevitably bouncing as she spoke, "I knew the Princess would still remember me! She's right!"
The two hadn't seen each other for more than a year. Zhou Yingying came here with the Changping Huangzhuang convoy because she was worried that Zhu Yuhuan had forgotten her.
Cheng Ming hurriedly held Zhou Yingying and saluted Zhu Yuhuan together, then said with a wry smile, "It was my carelessness that allowed this little girl to follow me..."
Not only did he follow him here, but he was also brought to Zhu Yuhuan specifically. It was obviously not that simple.
Zhu Yuhuan didn't expose Cheng Ming's thoughts, but simply asked, "Are those girls who were selected in the imperial manor earlier also coming with us this time?"
When Cheng Ming heard her mention this, he said repeatedly: "They all came along! Your Highness is willing to provide them with food and lodging in the capital, so why wouldn't they want to?"
Zhu Yuhuan just waved his hand and said, "Mrs. Xu is kind-hearted and used the reward from the Empress Dowager to buy the property."
Han Guilan smiled and covered her lips, saying, "That being said, we are the only ones who are special and can learn skills for free. Others have to pay to learn."
Cheng Ming immediately praised: "Your Highness is still very respectable!"
Zhou Yingying listened to the conversation between the two and couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
She had heard about the school from others, so she begged Cheng Ming to come along, fearing that Zhu Yuhuan would forget about her and she would lose this opportunity for no reason.
As for Cheng Ming, he had his eye on Zhou Yingying, who had once been favored by Zhu Yuhuan. If this little girl had a promising future, it would be a boon for everyone. Cheng Ming had also heard that Emperor Taizong was seeking a concubine of similar age for Emperor Xuande. Zhou Yingying was beautiful and about the same age as the emperor. If she could enter the palace through Princess Shunde, it would be a great opportunity!
Even common people like them had heard some rumors that Empress Dowager Sun was treated with many preferential treatments when she entered the palace. Not only did her family live in the capital for a long time, but when they returned home, the emperor personally issued an edict to grant them land. Not to mention that the Sun family had also spread the word that it was a unique honor.
The Zhou family is prospering rapidly. Even if he can't eat the meat, he can at least have a sip of the soup, right?
Zhu Yuhuan glanced back and forth between the two and said with a smile, "I've already told the people at the clinic to take the person to Madam Xu as soon as possible and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Seeing that she had only talked about Zhou Yingying when they met, and had not mentioned her again since then, Cheng Ming guessed that Princess Shunde probably didn't take her seriously. He didn't dare to say much, but just gave a brief introduction to the recent harvest and situation of the imperial farm, received the reward from Han Guilan, and was about to take Zhou Yingying out.
Zhou Yingying was unwilling and couldn't help but wanted to speak, but Cheng Ming next to her quickly covered her mouth and forcibly took Zhou Yingying out.
Zhu Yuhuan and Han Guilan looked at each other without saying anything.
Zhou Yingying was taken out by Cheng Ming and said dissatisfiedly, "Uncle Cheng, you promised to let me talk to the princess."
"The princess has probably forgotten about you long ago. If you pester her and she gets angry, we'll be in big trouble."
Zhou Yingying muttered, "The eldest princess wouldn't be angry!"
Seeing that no one was around, Cheng Ming spoke earnestly, "Even a pleasant character like the Princess is most formidable when she gets angry. Do you know what the Emperor's wrath is?"
Zhou Yingying suddenly lost her momentum and whispered, "Millions of corpses were buried, and blood flowed for thousands of miles. It's written in the book the princess gave me..."
Cheng Ming finally sighed and said, "The Princess is our emperor. If she's really angry, she'll definitely be even more powerful. We have to be more careful. You can't act like a child in front of the Princess anymore!"
"knew……"
Seeing her dejected look, Cheng Ming couldn't help but ask, "Yingying, your family is doing well. You can get by even without being so attentive to the princess. Why are you doing this?"
Zhou Yingying looked up at Cheng Ming and said firmly, "I've read all the books the princess gave me, and even asked the teacher what they meant. I don't want to be a mediocre man. If I can't be the emperor, I must be a scholar!"
Cheng Ming was startled and quickly looked around. Fortunately, no one was around, so he felt relieved. He said to Zhou Yingying, "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's take the others to do some shopping in the capital today, rest for a night, and then return to Changping tomorrow."
Zhou Yingying felt that the bright future she had been dreaming of had gone down the drain. She felt extremely regretful and whispered, "Oh..."
On the other side, seeing Cheng Ming and Zhou Yingying retreat, Han Guilan looked at Zhu Yuhuan and said, "I almost forgot about the little girl from the Zhou family, but Your Highness still remembers her."
Zhu Yuhuan said with heartfelt emotion: "She is so lively and energetic, I like her very much."
Gentleness, courtesy, frugality and modesty are the themes praised in this era. Women like Zhou Yingying who unconcealedly desire to move forward are very rare, like a drop of bright color falling into water.
Han Guilan heard this and said, "I think that little girl is like a grapevine. As long as there is an opportunity, she will take it and climb up."
This metaphor is quite fitting. Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "That's fine too. Who wants to be the dust under someone else's feet? But if she is used by others, it won't be a good thing for her. She should figure it out herself."
Han Guilan still understood what Zhu Yuhuan meant. Given Zhou Yingying's thoughts, becoming a female official and receiving rewards were probably not her ultimate goals. It was obvious that she only had higher-level considerations in her life.
There is only one existing way, that is to become the emperor's concubine from a female official in the harem, like Concubine Xuanmiao Xianfei.
Zhu Yuhuan pondered for a moment and said, "I guess they will stay in the capital tonight. Tomorrow, I will have someone call the little girl to the princess's mansion."
Han Guilan responded, and someone outside brought in more tea and snacks, and also brought in Huang Jinfeng's letter.
Zhu Yuhuan opened it and took a look. Inside were still official reports and the caravan's gains, but this time there was another letter enclosed.
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