Chapter 1119 Hua Lan is pregnant and the Hou Mansion is in chaos
Come here with pleasure and return with all pleasure!
This trip to Fanlou made Hua Lan and her two maids very happy. They usually don't eat much, but today they really enjoyed eating and drinking.
After getting on the carriage, Zhou Chen said to Hua Lan with a smile: "I'll take you to Fanlou today, and next time I'll take you to the fish banquet at Qianchunlou. It's not bad there, and..."
Hua Lan waved her hands hurriedly: "You can't always go, otherwise I won't be able to control it, and it won't be good to spread the word."
It was delicious, but she was really afraid of getting fat if she ate too much, and as a eldest lady, she always ran out to eat, which would have a bad influence.
Zhou Chen said: "It doesn't matter what others do, you are my eldest wife, I took you there, who dares to say anything?"
"I know that the official is kind to me. I can go there when I want to."
Hualan knew that Zhou Chen loved her, and was very touched. Although they were married, Zhou Chen was still as kind to her as he was when he was a child in Yangzhou. No, he was even better now.
Time flies, half a month has passed, and Zhou Chen has also ended his marriage leave and started attending school.
The personal guard Ma Junsi is one of the three yamen and is in charge of part of the imperial army in Tokyo. Among them, the famous Dragon Guard is commanded by Ma Junsi.
There are three chiefs of Ma Junsi, the Du Commander, the Deputy Commander and Du Yuhou. Zhou Chen, as the Du Yuhou of Ma Junsi, can be regarded as the third in command of Ma Junsi.
Although the rank of the commander of Ma Junsi is not high, he actually holds real power and his status is extraordinary.
Zhou Chen was only twenty-one years old, but he had already taken up such an important position as Du Yuhou, which showed that the officials still valued him very much.
Ma Junsi was originally affiliated with the Imperial Guards, and the Imperial Guards were one of the closest and most trusted Imperial Guards to the official family, so the Ma Junsi was filled with a large number of noble children.
As the legitimate son of Marquis Zhongjing, Zhou Chen was also a general who had made great achievements in the frontiers, so he was still very prestigious among Ma Junsi. Even the two superior officials were polite to him.
The three yamen are the Dianqiansi, the Majunsi and the Infantry Division. The three yamen are in charge of the national imperial army and are also in charge of the security of Tokyo. The Dianqiansi is mainly responsible for the inner city, the Majunsi is mainly responsible for the inner city, and the Infantry Division is mainly responsible for the outside.
city.
Others, such as the patrol battalion and the Five Cities Military and Horse Division, are also responsible for the defense of the imperial city gates and the security of the city, and are under the jurisdiction of the three yamen.
As one of the three officers of the Ma Army Department, Zhou Chen naturally does not have to do everything himself. Generally speaking, his daily duties are not much different from those when there was no war on the frontier.
Go to the office on time and leave the office on time every day. If something urgent happens, someone will notify you.
In the early morning, Zhou Chen, served by Cuichan and Caihan, put on his official uniform and went directly to the Yamen.
After Zhou Chen left, Cuichan walked into the room after a while. Seeing that his eldest wife was still sleeping, he shook his head helplessly and went over to shake her awake.
"Madam, wake up, it's time to get up. I have to pay my respects to the old lady today."
Hua Lan was shaken awake in a daze, feeling sore all over her body. She opened her eyes and said tiredly: "Is it time yet?"
Cuichan gently helped Hua Lan sit up and said with sincerity: "Madam, although the old lady feels sorry for you and asks you to go and greet you once every three days, we still have to be more conscious. You always sleep during the day.
How can this be possible if you don't wake up? You don't stay in bed much when you are at home."
Hua Lan complained innocently: "You can't blame me. The official is too energetic at night, like a cow. I..."
Speaking of this, she suddenly realized that such boudoir talk should not be said carelessly. As for Cui Chan, her cheeks turned red. She was Hua Lan's personal maid, and she had never experienced such a thing.
But she quickly returned to normal, and said with a slightly red face: "Our uncle is young and strong, and I heard that he has never had intercourse in the house, and he is very clean and self-respecting, so after getting married to you, the eldest lady,
That's why it's like this, it should get better in a while, and I think this is also a good thing, maybe the eldest lady will be pregnant soon."
Hua Lan was also a little embarrassed: "Help me up, freshen up and go say hello to my mother."
These days, together with Zhou Chen, I can work very late at night, and naturally I can't wake up during the day. Joy is joy, but exhaustion is also really exhaustion.
Hualan went to Zhou Xu's Jingxinzhai to pay her respects, had breakfast with Zhou Xu, and then came back with a lot of supplements.
"Madam, the old lady really loves you. She always thinks of you when she has good things."
Hua Lan also had a happy smile on her face: "My mother is really kind. It is my honor to be my daughter-in-law."
Cui Chan said: "Madam, you said yesterday that you were going to visit the Imperial Manor outside the city today. The Lord also specially left the personal guards around you, saying that he would escort us there."
Hua Lan then remembered: "Yes, yes, I almost forgot. I will go back and pack up before setting off."
Zhou Chen had previously been rewarded with an imperial mansion by the government for his meritorious service, but Zhou Chen had not been there yet. Later, after getting married, he gave all these things to Hua Lan.
When Zhou Chen and his colleagues came back from dinner outside, they saw Hua Lan and Cui Chan lying on the table settling accounts, while Caihan stood aside to serve them.
"I'm settling accounts. Madam, I went to take over the Imperial Mansion today. Didn't anything unexpected happen?"
He remembered that in the plot, when Minglan went to Huangzhuang to receive her, she encountered a lot of trouble. If Gu Tingye hadn't been strong enough, he would have been bullied by his slave.
Hua Lan raised his head and replied: "It didn't go well at the beginning, but once Brother Cao and the others took action, things became much easier to handle."
Brother Cao is the pro-army soldier who came back from the border with Zhou Chen. There are 18 cavalry in total, all of them are the most elite soldiers. Now he lives in the Hou Mansion and is at the disposal of Zhou Chen.
"Guanren, although it is an imperial estate, its income is really low. Last year, it was only more than a thousand taels of silver. For such a big imperial estate, it is a big problem for such a small amount of money."
Zhou Chen smiled and said: "It's normal, Huangzhuang, you take a little, he takes a little, how much is left in the end? Now it's in our hands, if you run it well, the income will not be low."
"Um."
Hua Lan also understands this truth. There are many nobles in the palace, but after the imperial palace is organized, there will indeed be very few left.
More than a month has passed and winter has entered. Recently, Zhou Tong's health has become weaker and weaker, and he can no longer go out due to the weather.
In this regard, Zhou Chen had no choice but to regularly use his abilities to treat Zhou Tong, but this only treated the symptoms and not the root cause.
Not only Zhou Tong, but also Zhou Yexiong's health is getting worse and worse. He injured his stomach back then, and now he can only eat liquids, and it is difficult to swallow hard things.
Hualan Butler has been working for more than two months. From the unfamiliarity at the beginning, he has slowly mastered the process and become more and more comfortable.
At night, Hua Lan leaned next to Zhou Chen.
"Sir, in the past few days, I have been always sleepy and I feel like I have become much lazy."
"Um?"
Zhou Chen's heart moved, and he looked at Hua Lan's face carefully, then took her wrist and started to feel her pulse.
"Officer, are you checking my pulse again?"
"Um."
Zhou Chen responded and smiled after a moment.
"Silly lady, if you don't feel well, you don't know how to ask a doctor to take a look. Congratulations, madam, you are pregnant."
"ah?"
Hua Lan sat up in shock and grabbed Zhou Chen's hand nervously: "Guanren, you, are you not mistaken?"
"How could I be wrong about this kind of thing? The medical skills of your officials are no worse than those of the imperial doctors. You can't make a mistake about your happy pulse. You really have it."
Hua Lan touched her belly and became stupid for a moment.
"Do I really have it?"
She murmured to herself and soon showed a happy smile.
"That's great, officer, we have a child, I have your child."
Zhou Chen was very calm. He had experienced many such moments, but Hua Lan was different. She was so excited that she didn't sleep much all night.
Early the next morning, after Zhou Chen went to the Yamen, Hua Lan got up immediately, which surprised the maids Cuichan and Caihan.
"Girl, why did you get up so early today?"
Hua Lan ordered: "Cui Chan, colorful hairpin, go and ask a doctor to come over."
When Cuichan heard the call for the doctor, her face suddenly became nervous: "Girl, what's wrong with you? Is it because the master has been working too hard and his body is exhausted?"
Hua Lan was very embarrassed when he heard this. He blushed and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Go and ask the doctor quickly. It might be a good thing."
"Good thing?"
Caihan looked confused, but Cuichan reacted quickly. Her eyes suddenly widened and she exclaimed: "Girl, is it true?"
"Don't delay, go and ask for the doctor."
"Okay, okay, girl, do your best. Keep an eye on the girl, Caihan, and don't let her move around. I'm going to invite the doctor now."
Cui Chan ran out of the house excitedly and sent someone as quickly as possible to ask for the doctor.
Soon the doctor was invited, and not long after that, the doctor congratulated Hua Lan on her happy marriage.
Immediately, Hualan's master and servant were very excited and gave the doctor a big red envelope. Feng's mother was even more happy after hearing the news. She solemnly ordered Cuichan and Caihan to take good care of Hualan and not make any mistakes.
.
The good news soon reached Jingxinzhai, and Mrs. Zhou Xu showed excitement at that time, and then brought the nuns and maids to Zhou Chen's yard.
Zhou Yexiong is wiping his spear in the study. After retreating from the frontier, he is now unable to use this spear. From a mighty general to an old man suffering from injuries, no one can understand the torment and sadness in his heart.
of.
Suddenly, the steward next to him walked in and saluted with joy on his face.
"Master Marquis, just now the good news came from the third brother's departure. It is said that the third brother's eldest wife has found out his happy pulse."
"boom!"
Zhou Yexiong slapped the spear on the desk.
"really?"
"It's absolutely true, Madam has passed."
Zhou Yexiong's serious face broke out into a smile, and he laughed and said: "Okay, okay, okay."
Then he straightened his clothes and said, "Let's go to the ancestral hall."
When he arrived at the Zhou family ancestral hall, he respectfully offered incense.
"My ancestors and ancestors have blessed me, so that my Zhou family will be blessed with a Qilin son, who will pass on the blood of my Zhou family."
In fact, it's not that he has no grandchildren, it's just that they are the children of his second son, the son of a concubine, and have no inheritance rights at all in his eyes.
The eldest son only has one daughter, and now it is impossible for him to have another son, so all his hopes are pinned on Zhou Chen.
Now it seems that Zhou Chen has not disappointed him. He is already pregnant more than two months after getting married. He doesn't know how long his body can last. His biggest hope is to see his mother before he dies.
His direct grandson, the future of the Hou family, otherwise he would not be able to rest in peace when he died.
The news of Hua Lan's pregnancy also reached the ears of Zhou Tong and his wife, but they have no dispute now, so when they heard the news, in addition to being a little bitter, they felt more joy.
As soon as Hua Lan became pregnant, she immediately became the most important object of attention from everyone in the Hou family. The Marquis and his wife made repeated orders not to let anyone get close to her without permission.
Zhou Xu even arranged for four more female envoys and a nanny to take care of the pregnant Hua Lan and prevent anyone from going out to spread the news at will.
On the other hand, Mrs. Wang, Hualan's mother-in-law, couldn't hold back her anger when she heard that her daughter was pregnant. She came to the Zhongjing Hou Mansion with joy and brought a follower, her sister Aunt Kang.
When Zhou Chen came back, he saw the supplements in the house.
"Why so many?"
Hua Lan said: "My mother sent some, and Aunt Kang also sent some."
"Aunt Kang? She gave it away too?" Zhou Chen was very surprised.
Hua Lan nodded guiltily. Aunt Kang gave it as a gift, but before leaving, she also stuffed a lot of money.
She knew what kind of person Aunt Kang was, so she would rather give her money than owe her any favors.
"Madam, your Aunt Kang..."
"Guardian, I know very well what kind of person Aunt Kang is, but because of my mother's sake, as a junior, I can't say anything, so I can only keep as little contact as possible."
"Just understand what I mean. You don't need to take these supplements all the time. They won't do much good to your body. Just eat normally and walk more..."
Zhou Chen has sufficient experience in caring for pregnant women. In modern times, everything is easy to say. However, in ancient times, you must pay attention to giving birth. After all, there were no modern surgical conditions in ancient times. If something happened, it was really possible.
It's life-threatening.
That's why Zhou Chen emphatically told Hua Lan that if he married Hua Lan, he would naturally be responsible for Hua Lan's life, and he didn't want Hua Lan to be harmed in any way.
As the days passed, Hua Lan began to show her pregnancy, and her belly grew bigger day by day.
On a social evening in spring and summer, bad news came. Zhou Tong, who was seriously ill, finally could not withstand the torment of the disease and was dying.
In the house, Zhou Tong was lying on the bed, while Cui and Sister Fu were lying beside the bed, holding his hands and crying bitterly.
At this time, Zhou Tong was on the verge of death, but he did not look very thin, but his body was a little swollen.
When Zhou Chen walked in, he happened to see his mother, Zhou Xu, holding Zhou Tong's hand and wiping her tears while talking.
With heavy steps, Zhou Chen walked over slowly. When he saw Zhou Tong breathing out more and taking in less air, he knew that Zhou Tong's end was approaching and there was no cure.
Slowly squatting down by the bed, he and Zhou Tong did not have a deep brotherhood or bond, but in the past six months or so, he and Zhou Tong were the people who talked the most and were the most conversable.
At this time, seeing Zhou Tong on the verge of death, he felt extremely sad in his heart, and Yangzhou Man's internal strength could no longer work.
When Zhou Tong saw Zhou Chen appear, his eyes visibly lit up.
"Saburo!"
"I am here."
Zhou Tong struggled to grab Zhou Chen's wrist with his hand.
"I can't do it any more, so the Hou Mansion will be left to you."
Zhou Chen solemnly said: "Okay, leave it to me and I will protect it for you."
He knew that although Zhou Tong said he would let it go, he actually never let it go in his heart. It was just that he had no energy. In Zhou Tong's heart, he actually always wanted to carry the Hou Mansion on his back as Zhongjing Hou.
Leading the clan forward, just like his father.
So even at this time, he was still thinking about the Hou Mansion.
"I know, you're sure, it's okay."
A smile appeared at the corners of Zhou Tong's lips, and he immediately grabbed Zhou Chen's hand and said, "Also, Sister Fu and your sister-in-law need you to take more care of them."
"Brother, don't worry, I will take good care of them, I promise."
"That way, I feel relieved."
Zhou Tong let out a breath, then looked at his wife and daughter. Zhou Chen understood what he meant, so he supported his sad and desperate mother and left, leaving space for their family of three.
Outside the house, Hua Lan saw Zhou Chen and her mother coming out and hurriedly came over to help them.
Zhou Xu's eyes were swollen from crying, and she choked with sobs: "Sanlang, Dalang, is he really hopeless?"
"mother."
Zhou Chen didn't know what to say, so he could only comfort in a low voice. The most painful thing in the world is for a white-haired person to send a black-haired person to someone else.
Inside the house, Zhou Tong was explaining the funeral arrangements. What he was most worried about now was his wife and daughter. Fortunately, his biological brother and mother were here. The younger brothers and sisters also had good personalities. As long as they were here, his wife and daughter would never be bullied.
.
After saying the last sentence, he stared blankly into the void. It's a pity that he can't see Sister Fu growing up, and her father, eh.
Suddenly, he seemed to see his father, who was always calm and cold, rushing into the door in a panic.
It turned out that he also cared about me.
Finally, he closed his eyes unwillingly, he was too tired...
"Official."
"Daddy."
As soon as Zhou Yexiong rushed into the room, he saw his son lying on the bed, followed by two shrill screams.
Zhou Chen and others also walked in and walked quickly to the bed.
Zhou Chen looked sad. Although he had known that such a day would come, when it actually came, he still felt reluctant and sad.
Just when everyone was grieving the death of Zhou Tong, Zhou Yexiong suddenly felt angry and blood welling up when he looked at his son's body.
"puff!"
Zhou Yexiong spurted out a mouthful of blood, and then fell back, frightening everyone.
"Master Hou!" "Official." "Father."...
Overnight, the house of Marquis Zhongjing was in chaos. His eldest son passed away. Marquis Zhongjing's old injury relapsed and he fell into a coma in bed.
Fortunately, Zhou Chen was still present in the Zhongjing Hou Mansion. After a period of chaos, order was quickly restored and they began to handle Zhou Tong's funeral affairs.
The news of the death of the eldest son of Marquis Zhongjing also spread quickly. Members of the Zhou family in Tokyo, whether direct or collateral, rushed back to the Marquis Zhongjing's Mansion as quickly as possible.
At the same time, various famous families in Tokyo were also very surprised after hearing the news.
If the eldest son Zhou Tong goes away, the one who will inherit the title in the future will definitely be Zhou Chen, who became famous as a young man. This will be a big shock to the nobles in Tokyo.