The Huaiyang Palace sent a carriage to take Zhu Xiu back to the Marquis Palace.

In the carriage, Zhu Xiu sat blankly, lost in thought.

Fu Jinhuan's pretty face kept flashing before his eyes, making him feel confused.

In terms of appearance alone, among the women Zhu Xiu had seen, Zhou Xian was undoubtedly the most beautiful.

The second is Fu Jinhuan. Many times the two women are indistinguishable.

Zhou Xian has the gentleness of a girl from the Jiangnan water town, is proficient in music, and is good at painting, which also adds a lot of graceful temperament to her.

Fu Jinhuan was born as a general, and his personality is actually somewhat similar to Fu Jinzhan's. He is soft yet strong, and his style of conduct is quite vigorous.

If you ask who is the most suitable as the head wife, it is undoubtedly Fu Jinhuan.

His family background was prominent, and his father, brother, and uncle had extraordinary influence in the military and had a solid position in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Zhu Xiu's shortcoming is that his foundation is shallow and his lintel is not obvious.

If you serve as an officer and lead troops in another state, you can prosper by relying on your skills and connections.

But if he wants to make a name for himself in Kaifeng and occupy a place in the Great Zhou Dynasty, relying solely on his own abilities and connections is not enough. He must also find ways to lay a solid foundation and expand his wings.

If given ten years, Zhu Xiu was confident that he could start from scratch and create a new bureaucratic aristocratic group with the Zhu family in Haozhou as the core.

It's a pity that time waits for no one, and at the time of great changes, there is no time for him to develop slowly and step by step.

At this time, you must use external forces to strengthen your own power.

The Fu family, which has great military exploits, is undoubtedly the best candidate.

But Shi Kuangwei treated him with deep kindness, and Shi Lingyan's heart had long been concerned about him. The confused Shi Xiangwen regarded him as his most trusted friend and closest family member.

After three years in Jingzhou, he and Shi Jia had long become one and it was difficult to part with them.

He would never let down the Shi family's kindness.

Zhu Xiu took a deep breath, and the struggle and hesitation in her eyes was replaced by a look of determination.

Of course he knew that the Fu family was the best choice, but if he failed the Shi family, he would never feel at ease in his life.

Zhu Xiu opened the curtains and looked at the bustling street. There were vendors selling goods along the street, children chasing and playing, merchants from all over the world peddling goods, and government officials patrolling the street.

This city of Kaifeng, full of fireworks, is really fascinating and intoxicating.

In this capital, there are his relatives, friends, subordinates, and everything he is familiar with.

The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was his home from now on, all that was left was the arrival of a real mistress.

As long as he gets married and has children, he can completely take root in this era and fully integrate into this world.

Thinking of this, Zhu Xiu felt hot in her heart and felt a sense of urgency, as if a wanderer who had been wandering for many years was about to return home and settle down.

And in a few years, the world may once again face a great turmoil.

For him, it may be a catastrophe, or it may be a step to the sky.

The road ahead has been revealed, whether it is light or dark is particularly clear.

Zhu Xiu slightly squinted his eyes. The future had already begun to take shape in his mind. He would be well prepared and try his best to fight in that great change.

"Everything depends on human effort. As long as you are properly prepared, you may have the opportunity to steal your destiny!"

Zhu Xiu murmured in a low voice, clenched his fists, and his chest felt a little swollen. Something called ambition took root in his heart and sprouted, lingering and letting go...

~~~

To the south of Dongertiao Tianshui Lane is Yulin Lane, which is also a bustling street. Guanghe Candy Shop in the East District of Kaifeng Inner City is located here.

Compared with Tianshui Lane, which is only one street away, the rent of shops here is 30 to 40% cheaper.

Early in the morning, Zhu Fang clamored to eat the jellybeans from Guanghe Shop, so Zhou Xian took the little girl and left through the back door of the Hou Mansion and walked to the candy store.

The business of the candy shop was naturally not bad, and there were three or four people queuing up early in the morning.

Zhou Xian took the number plate and followed the team. Zhu Fang held her hand and kept chattering.

The little girl has just had a few teeth replaced, and when she smiles, her missing teeth are exposed, but it does not affect her delicate face. After all, the excellent genes of the old Zhu family are there.

Suddenly, a discordant voice came from behind:

"It's just a candy shop, but the shelves are quite big. It doesn't have a number plate, and the waiter can't sell a candy even if he says it."

A handsome young man held a folding fan and unfolded it with a swishing sound, muttering dissatisfiedly.

There is a young man of the same age beside him, but he is half taller than him and has a fat body. If it were not for his immature face, he would look like a strong adult man in terms of body shape.

The fat young man wore a loose scholar's uniform and also rocked a folding fan, but the exquisite folding fan looked very out of place in his hand.

"Guanghe Candy Shop has always been in short supply. Of course our staff is very confident and they will not miss you. If you don't follow the rules, they will naturally not be willing to sell to you." The fat young man said with a smile.

The handsome young man sneered and said: "No matter how good Guanghe Shop's business is, it is just a merchant. How dare you put on airs in Kaifeng City? Humph~ Brother Han, just wait and see. I dare to say that Guanghe Shop will be driven out of Kaifeng sooner or later.

!”

The fat young man said: "Did Brother Kuang Yi not know who the big boss behind Guanghe Shop is?"

The handsome young man said doubtfully: "I don't know."

The fat young man said with reverence on his face: "He is the hermit of Tanzhou, a distinguished disciple of Mr. Siyou, a famous scholar of our dynasty, the founding lord of Dingyuan County in the official family, the co-president of the North Academy of Xuanhui, the deputy envoy of the school inspection, who created the black

Huo Lei’s current genius—Zhu Xiu!”

"Oh? Is it him?" The handsome young man raised his eyebrows.

The fat young man smiled and said: "It is rumored that this Lord Zhu has not yet reached the age of weak crown, but he is a capable man with hands and eyes that are as good as the sky! I am afraid that no one will offend him with the property in his name."

The handsome young man hummed in dissatisfaction: "That's not certain. As the saying goes, things must turn to their extremes and prosperity must decline. Then Zhu Xiu may fall into despair one day..."

Hearing this, Zhou Xian, who had been silent all this time, couldn't help but turn his head and glared at the handsome young man who spoke.

The two young men were stunned. They didn't expect that the woman standing in front of them turned out to be a beautiful lady!

Even if you don't put on makeup and look bare-faced, you can't hide your natural beauty.

Zhou Xian's glare made them not only not angry, but also excited.

After Zhou Xian bought the candies and left with Zhu Fang, the two young men looked at each other and followed him in unison.

"Brother Kuang Yi, I have never seen such a beautiful woman in Kaifeng!"

"Haha, today I know what Cao Zijian said, 'as graceful as a startling giant, as graceful as a swimming dragon. The autumn chrysanthemums are shining brightly, and the spring pine trees are luxuriant'." The handsome young man murmured to himself.

"Follow me and see which girl it is."

"Slow down, don't scare the beautiful woman."

The two of them followed all the way until they saw Zhou Xian and Zhu Fang entering the back door of the Hou Mansion.

"Which mansion is this?" The handsome young man walked out from the corner of the wall and looked at the high-gate courtyard in front of him.

The fat young man looked around and said suspiciously: "It seems to be the Dingyuan Marquis' Mansion."

"A woman from Zhu Xiu's house?" The handsome young man frowned.

The fat young man sighed: "It should be good, but it's a pity that such a graceful and charming woman must be Lord Zhu's forbidden love, and she even has a daughter."

The handsome young man smiled and said: "That's not necessarily the case. That lady is about the same age as you and me. She can't have a four or five-year-old daughter."

The fat young man said excitedly: "I heard that Lord Zhu came back from Jiangning to find a relative, maybe she is his sister."

The handsome young man unfolded his folding fan, his eyes shining brightly: "I, Zhao Kuangyi, must get to know this lady."

"I, Han Lingjun, want it too!" The fat young man raised his head.

The two young men glared at each other and said in unison: "Fair competition!"
Chapter completed!