Chapter 1124 The plot begins on the second day of the first lunar month
"Mom, my sister and I went to play."
"go Go."
Hearing Zhou Ji's words, Hua Lan waved his hands impatiently. She had just taught him a stick of incense and was already so angry that she wanted to hit him.
Out of sight is out of mind, so go as far away as you can.
Zhou Ji jumped up excitedly, took Zhou Fu's hand, and shouted: "Sister, let's go to grandma's place to play."
When passing by the yard, Zhou Ji shouted to Zhou Chen: "Dad, let's go."
Before Zhou Chen could speak, the two of them ran away quickly, and he could only smile and shake his head.
After getting up and going back to the house, Hualan saw Zhou Chen come in and sighed in distress: "Guanren, I really can't teach my stepbrother. I think it's better to find a teacher to teach him well. Sister Fu happens to be older too."
Now, we can study together with my second brother and his two children."
Zhou Chen thought for a while and said, "Okay, I'll take some time to look for it."
It is not impossible to open a private school in the Hou Mansion, but it is not easy to find a good teacher, mainly because the children in their family are still young and have no definite characteristics, so it is not easy to teach them.
"It will be the first day of the year in a few days, and you will be busy with many things at home."
Hua Lan said softly: "There is nothing to be busy with. I have become accustomed to it in the past few years. Are there any changes at home this year?"
After Zhou Chen became the Marquis of Zhongjing, although his management of the Marquis Mansion was not as strict as Zhou Yexiong's, he was still very disciplined, and even relaxed a lot towards his brothers and sisters who were concubines.
Except for specific ancestor worship days, he did not have any harsh requirements for them at other times. He also allowed them to spend New Years and holidays with their wives.
However, Zhou Chen's second brother had already moved out of the Hou Mansion with his daughter two years ago. With Zhou Chen's help, he also got a position in the patrol camp.
The fourth child still wanted to take the imperial examination, while the fifth child wanted to follow Zhou Chen's example and join the army, but unfortunately, his mother couldn't let him go. In the end, he ended up in the western suburbs camp, relying on Zhou Chen's relationship, and became a captain, which can be regarded as
A serious military position.
The new year is coming soon. On the first day of this year, the official family once again held a banquet in Jiying Hall, and Zhou Chen also came to Jiying Hall to attend the banquet again.
At the banquet, the officials, who were already much older, specifically mentioned Zhou Chen and talked about the events of that year, which reminded many officials of the scene that year. In the blink of an eye, nine years had passed.
The officials remembered that time, so they asked Zhou Chen to write another poem. Zhou Chen had no choice but to obey the officials' wishes and wrote a congratulatory poem again, but it was not as big as the last time.
It was originally a good banquet, but someone happened to have bad intentions and mentioned the matter of establishing an heir in a roundabout way. The angry officials turned away on the spot.
Zhou Chen was also speechless. He was celebrating the New Year and insisted on mentioning this unpleasant thing. If it were him, he would also just walk away.
The second day of the first lunar month!
Hua Lan started packing as soon as she got up. Because they had already agreed that today, the second day of the Lunar New Year, they would go to their parents' home to visit their grandmother and parents, so they started packing early in the morning.
In addition to Cuichan, Hualan's current personal maids are also one named Xing'er. She has only been with her for three years, but she is relatively capable, with nimble hands and feet, and a sharp eye. Hua Lan can use her very easily.
Because there was a family of four and two small children when we left, the things we packed were basically the things of the two children.
After being so busy, Zhou Chen and the others set off from the Hou Mansion as the sun rose high.
Today's Sheng Mansion is quite lively. The old lady's former friend, Mrs. Yu's wife, brought her eldest granddaughter to visit Sheng Mansion. Also visiting was Qi Heng, the young prince of Qi State.
Mrs. Yu and Mrs. Sheng have a good relationship. They have met Mrs. Sheng several times since she came to Tokyo. This also makes Mrs. Yu’s granddaughter Yu Yanran and Minglan who are beside Mrs. Sheng very close.
Yes, they became good sisters, and they got together to talk as soon as they met.
Sheng Hong and Qi Heng were talking in the hall, while Mrs. Yu was talking to Mrs. Sheng in the side hall behind the screen in the hall, and Mrs. Wang was sitting at the bottom to accompany them.
Mrs. Yu said in a soft voice: "Your family is really nice, with so many sensible children. Sister, are you in good health?"
Mrs. Sheng smiled and said, "Thanks to you, it's okay."
Old Mrs. Yu said: "My body is quite strong. I always want to wait for Yanran to get married before returning to my hometown. As you know, I can't count on her biological father and stepmother for my family affairs."
"Don't worry, I really like what our brother Chen said, children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, haha." Mrs. Sheng laughed.
Mrs. Yu was very surprised: "Isn't it the Marquis Zhongjing that the elder sister is talking about?"
Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "Yes, you don't know, in our family, this is how mother calls Mr. Hou now."
Mrs. Sheng said in a pretentious manner: "What's wrong with Mr. Hou? Mr. Hou is also my nephew and grandson-in-law."
"What grandma said is that no matter how I am outside, I will always be a junior in front of you."
There was a sudden sound, and everyone looked over in surprise. They saw Zhou Chen and Hua Lan walking into the hall. Suddenly everyone sitting in the hall stood up, including the old lady and Sheng Hong.
"Oh, I'm back, everyone is back." Old Mrs. Sheng shouted with joy.
Zhou Chen walked into the hall and first saluted Sheng Hong: "Father-in-law."
Then he turned to Mrs. Sheng and Mrs. Wang: "Grandma, mother-in-law."
Then when he saw Mrs. Yu, he also bowed: "Old Mrs. Ci'an."
Old Mrs. Yu had nothing to do with Zhou Chen, so she returned the salute and addressed her as Lord Zhou.
Sheng Hong was smiling all over. He had always been proud of Zhou Chen, his eldest son-in-law. Now Zhou Chen was the Marquis of Zhongjing, with a higher status than Gao Na.
Posture.
Qi Heng also studied at Shengfu Private School for several years and met Zhou Chen many times. He bowed to Zhou Chen very respectfully, and Zhou Chen didn't put on any airs and returned the bow naturally.
He doesn't have a good impression of Qi Heng, but he doesn't have any bad feelings either. Generally speaking, Qi Heng can be regarded as a gentleman. The thing he was criticized for in the plot was his first love relationship with Minglan.
.
Hualan walked in with her child in her arms, and the old lady happily greeted her and hugged Zhou Xu carefully.
"Oh, mother, please slow down, Brother Xu is not in a hurry right now."
Mrs. Wang was very frightened. Zhou Xu was already over one year old. She was not only afraid that the old lady would hurt herself, but also that she would drop the child.
The old lady hugged the child a few times and then handed the child to Madam Wang. Madam Wang held the child with a smile on her face.
Hua Lankong took action, saluted the elders, and then was pulled over by Mrs. Sheng and Mrs. Yu to talk.
Zhou Jiren is a brat and knows almost everyone here. He greets everyone one by one. Before he finishes saying hello, he is pulled away by Ru Lan.
"Stepbrother, let's go, my aunt will take you to take Chuiwan."
"Okay, okay, where are the fifth aunt and the sixth aunt? Please invite them to join us."
Zhou Ji and Hua Lan have been to Sheng Mansion many times. They have a very good relationship with the fun-loving Ru Lan, and they also like their great-grandmother's sixth aunt.
"She's over there, I'll take you to find her."
Ru Lan was already bored here, but now that her nephew was here, she finally had an excuse to run away, so she quickly took Zhou Ji to ask Ming Lan to play with her.
In the blink of an eye, Wang Ruofu saw Ru Lan running away with her grandson, with a look of helplessness on his face: "This child."
Because of the arrival of Zhou Chen and Hua Lan, the atmosphere in the room became much more lively. Sheng Hong also came here to sit down, and at the same time called Zhou Chen to sit down.
Watching the two old ladies talking to Hua Lan, Sheng Hong approached Zhou Chen and asked in a low voice: "Shu Yuan, I heard that the banquet at Jiying Hall was very lively yesterday?"
Since Zhou Chen Xijue became the Marquis of Zhongjing, Sheng Hong and his wife have become more polite and no longer call them Brother Chen or Sanlang like the old lady.
Zhou Chen replied in a low voice: "It was because of the matter of establishing an heir. The official family was angry and left at that time. Father-in-law, please pay attention to the court meeting after the holidays. I think Mr. Han will definitely ask the official family after they hold court."
Attack."
Sheng Hong took a deep breath and his heart beat faster. He was the most timid person and never dared to participate in the establishment of an heir. When encountering such a thing, he just wanted to run away as far as possible.
"I understand. As a close minister of the official family, you have to be more careful. I heard that both King Yong and King Yan have tried to win over you. You must not get involved."
While talking, Sheng Hong kept looking, even in his own home, for fear that others would hear his conversation with Zhou Chen.
"Don't worry, father-in-law, I naturally know about it and will never get involved."
Zhou Chen knew very well that he was able to secure his position as the commander of the Ma Army because the officials valued him and never got involved in the matter of establishing a prince. Whenever he got close to King Yong or King Yan, the officials would not let him continue with confidence.
Stay in this position.
"Teacher Yu will come over later, and you can also toast to Mrs. Yu."
"I understand, father-in-law."
Mrs. Yu, who was in charge, kept praising: "Shangshanshan and Mrs. Wang are so lucky. The children they raised are more promising than the others. Unlike our family, they get angry when they talk about it."
Mrs. Wang was so praised that she said, "No, you are too complimentary. It's not as good as you said."
Mrs. Yu smiled and said: "The eldest lady is too humble. Who in Tokyo doesn't know that Madam Shanda of Marquis Zhongjing's Mansion is dignified, generous, beautiful and decent? Isn't this all taught by the eldest lady?"
Mrs. Wang's smile became even brighter: "No, no, Hua'er was taught well by his mother. I don't dare to take credit for it."
Old Mrs. Sheng smiled and said, "It's only because you were born well that I can teach you well."
"Ha ha……"
Zhou Chen listened to them talking and glanced casually, and suddenly saw a black handkerchief falling on the ground where Qi Heng was just sitting.
He frowned slightly, why did this scene feel a bit familiar? When she noticed Sheng Molan getting up, she immediately realized that this was the beginning of the plot.
Thinking of the turmoil caused by this veil and what Mo Lan did.
Zhou Chen waved to Cui Chan standing next to him, and after Cui Chan walked over, he whispered an order.
Mo Lan glanced around the hall and found that no one noticed her actions, so she quietly stepped back and came to where Qi Heng was just now. She lowered her head and prepared to pick up the handkerchief on the ground.
But at this moment, a hand picked up the handkerchief first, causing her body to freeze immediately.
"Fourth girl, is this your veil?"
Cuichan picked up the handkerchief, put it in front of Mo Lan, and asked.
Mo Lan's expression was stiff and she opened her mouth to admit it, but she didn't have the courage.
At this moment, Qi Heng hurriedly walked in, saw the handkerchief in Cuichan's hand at a glance, and said hurriedly: "I'm sorry, this is my handkerchief."
Cuichan immediately returned the handkerchief to Qi Heng: "I'm sorry, young master, I thought this was the fourth girl's handkerchief."
Mo Lan hated Cuichan in her heart, but she reacted very quickly and explained to Qi Heng: "Young Master, I just saw this handkerchief. I guessed that you might have dropped it, and I was about to pick it up and return it to you."
And you."
Qi Heng did not have any doubts. He gave a salute and said thanks: "Thank you very much. Fortunately, I found it. If this veil is lost, it will be in trouble."
Naturally, someone noticed what they were doing here. Sheng Hong got up and walked over, asking what was going on. He learned that it was just a small matter, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
A small storm was easily resolved by Zhou Chen.
After returning to her seat and sitting down, Mo Lan's face became very ugly. She felt that her good fortune was ruined by Cui Chan, but she had nowhere to vent her anger. Cui Chan was the personal maid of her eldest sister Hua Lan.
Even if she is extremely capable, she can't move Cuichan, and she can't even reprimand her.
Zhou Chen saw Mo Lan's ugly face and shook his head. It's not that the children raised by the concubine are not good, but that the woman Lin Sushuang has big problems herself. How can she raise good children?
As the eldest uncle of the Sheng family, he has come to the Sheng family often, but he has really had few contacts with Sheng Molan. Now Molan has been completely led astray by Lin Sushuang, and has learned all kinds of tricks, like this
Even if a woman becomes a lady, she is destined to be unable to be on the stage and achieve success.
In the evening, Mrs. Yu, who had already retired as an official, actually came to Sheng Mansion and was very happy to see Sheng Hong and Zhou Chen.
Although Mrs. Yu was a civil servant, she had no opinion about nobles. Instead, she praised Zhou Chen very much. Especially when Zhou Chen learned about the Yuan Dynasty in the middle of the year, but did not take part in the examination again, he sighed repeatedly, which was a pity.
ah.
Zhou Chen also respected Master Yu very much, and it was quite lively while changing cups and cups.
Qi Heng also found an excuse to stay and have dinner together. During the meal, he respectfully asked Mrs. Yu a few questions about the imperial examination.
Mrs. Yu, perhaps because she was old, seemed to like being a teacher. She told Qi Heng, Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changfeng, who were going to take the scientific examination soon, some experiences about the scientific examination. The three of them listened very seriously.