"You must take good care of your home recently, don't cause trouble, and try not to go out if you can."
After returning from the morning meeting, Zhou Chen gave Hua Lan solemn instructions.
In today's early morning court, the civil officials headed by Grand Prime Minister Han Zhang once again made suggestions to the officials to establish a prince early in order to consolidate the foundation of the country.
The angry official became furious and quarreled with the officials again. As a result, due to his old age and lack of physical strength, he almost couldn't breathe. The officials were frightened and panicked, and they quickly called the imperial doctor.
Although the morning court had to end early because the official was out of breath, Zhou Chen knew that the more the official was like this, the more anxious the officials would be.
With the current situation of the official family, there is a possibility that it will be gone one day. If no successor has been appointed at this time, the government will be in turmoil and the world will be in chaos.
After all, today's official families have no children, so it is not easy to choose a son from the clan to inherit the throne.
Therefore, the officials must have wanted to establish the crown prince early before the official's illness reached that point, but the harder they pressed, the more resistant the official's family became.
In this way, a vicious circle is formed, which turns into a confrontation between officials and officials.
It is conceivable that similar situations will occur for a long time to come. I am afraid that in every government meeting, the matter of establishing an heir must be mentioned.
It is precisely because of this that the struggle between King Yong and King Yan has become more and more intense. Now the two of them are the most promising people to become the crown prince. If they don't fight now, it will be too late by the time they want to fight.
When he retired from the imperial court today, some distinguished colleagues invited him to go to Fanlou for dinner, but he turned them down for various reasons.
You don't need to think about it to know that these people must be here to lobby. He is also an important minister of the imperial court, not to mention that he is in charge of one of the three yamen, Ma Junsi. He is definitely the most powerful and powerful person in Bianjing City.
Of course, both King Yong and King Yan wanted to win over him.
However, neither King Yong nor King Yan looked down upon him, and he did not want to have any contact with them, so at this juncture, the best thing to do was to stay behind closed doors.
Seeing Zhou Chen's seriousness, Hua Lan replied with a cautious expression: "I know, but when I returned to Sheng Mansion a few days ago, my grandmother said that after the Lantern Festival, my uncle's family might come to Beijing to visit and count the days.
It should be close."
Zhou Chen said: "It's okay to go to Sheng Mansion, but it's better to keep a low profile. I ruined King Yong's plan this time, and I might be resented by him. He shouldn't dare to do anything to me, but I still have to be cautious in everything and go out more often.
Bring some guards, especially Lao Cao, so I can rest assured."
Cao Er is the most courageous soldier under his command. He can handle a pair of more than a dozen and is trusted by Zhou Chen. However, he rarely follows Zhou Chen around. Most of the time, he follows Hualan when he goes out.
Protect.
When Hua Lan heard this, he suddenly looked nervous: "When did you offend King Yong? I heard that he is the person who has the best chance of becoming the prince."
Zhou Chen didn't want Hua Lan to worry, so he didn't explain much. He just responded: "Things in the previous dynasty were more complicated. Just remember what I told you. In recent times, no matter who comes to ask for help, don't agree."
, I really couldn’t push it away, so I just said I felt unwell.”
"Okay, I understand."
Feeling Zhou Chen's solemnity, Hua Lan also paid attention to it.
For more than a month, no official went to court. There were quarrels and quarrels in the court every day. It cannot be said to be chaos, but there were constant disputes and everyone had their own plans.
At this time when the court was in chaos and the situation was turbulent, the marriage of Gu Tingye, the legitimate son of the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion, and the eldest granddaughter of Mrs. Yu's family happened to happen.
On the day of the wedding, the city of Bianjing was very lively, especially the streets where the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion and the Yu family were located, which was filled with people and joy.
On this day, Zhou Chen naturally brought his eldest wife Sheng Hualan with him to the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion to attend the wedding banquet.
The people who received Zhou Chen and the others were naturally Gu Yankai and Mrs. Qin from the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion.
It can be seen that Gu Yankai is very happy today, with a spring breeze on his face.
Zhou Chen can naturally understand his behavior. Although he usually treats Gu Tingye very badly, he actually knows in his heart that among his sons, Gu Tingye is the most promising. In the future, most of the Ningyuan Hou Mansion will have to rely on Gu Tingye for support.
With.
He usually beats and scolds Gu Tingye, but it is more because he hates iron than steel, and he also means to show off to others.
After all, he has been a marquis for more than 20 years. How could he not have any city government? How could he not understand the situation at home?
But they were all members of the family, and the palms and backs of his hands were full of flesh. He was a true upright official and found it difficult to deal with household matters, so he simply ignored it and caught the second son, who had the most stubborn temper and was easy to bully, to vent his anger on him.
Gu Yankai seemed to be smiling from the bottom of his heart, and Madam Qin beside him also seemed to be smiling from the bottom of her heart.
I have to say that this woman is really hidden. If Zhou Chen hadn't known the plot and met her for the first time, he might not have been able to tell clearly about this woman's real estate and authenticity.
There were a lot of guests at Ningyuan Marquis Mansion today. Most of the dignitaries in Beijing came, and many civil servants came as well. Even King Yong and Princess Yong came.
Shortly after King Yong and Princess Yong arrived, King Yan and Princess Yan also arrived.
Gu Yankai greeted him very warmly, but he was probably already scolding him in his heart. He didn't know why these two princes came.
Although he is now the Marquis of Ningyuan, he has not been in charge of affairs for a long time due to his health in recent years, and the Gu family has little voice in the court.
But things are different now. Although Gu Tingye has only entered the official position not long ago, he has risen very quickly and has become a new noble in the current court. Even the officials praised him highly. Everyone can see that the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion is slowly gaining momentum.
The purpose of King Yong and King Yan coming to attend the wedding is naturally self-evident.
However, although these two people were tit for tat, they also understood the situation. They did not quarrel with each other in the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion today, and they appeared to be harmonious on the surface.
Zhou Chen didn't want to be in the limelight, so he just greeted some familiar people and then sat aside without saying much.
Fortunately, he has always been low-key in the eyes of others, so no one thought there was anything wrong with him.
"Marquis of Zhou."
Zhou Chen turned around and saw that it was Rong Yuan whom he had seen that day.
"Lord Rong."
Rong Yuan said very enthusiastically: "Thanks to Mr. Hou for what happened that day. Our family has always wanted to repay Mr. Hou, but we have never found the opportunity. Please don't blame Mr. Hou."
"That's my responsibility, Lord Rong, don't take it to heart."
"The Marquis is so open-minded and admirable."
Rong Yuan said in a low voice: "My little sister's matter has brought trouble to Mr. Hou. We, the Rong family, are very sorry. That King Yong really bullied others too much. He actually..."
Zhou Chen immediately interrupted: "Master Rong, today is Gu Erlang's wedding day, let's not talk about this."
Rong Yuan was stunned for a moment, then realized: "Master Hou is right, I was the one who was abrupt."
When Gu Tingye brought Yu Yanran back, the Ningyuan Hou Mansion reached its most lively moment.
Until Gu Tingye and Yu Yanran successfully visited the court, Zhou Chen still had a slight realization that Gu Tingye really got married to Yu Yanran, and Gu Yankai was not mad to death. As for the male protagonist Gu Tingye, the plot has completely changed.
On the other hand, Minglan was still arguing with Qi Heng and Mrs. Wu.
Thinking of Minglan, Zhou Chen suddenly remembered that Hua Lan had mentioned that Minglan seemed to have come with Sheng Changbai and the others today, and that the Duke of Qi's Mansion and the Ningyuan Hou's Mansion were relatives. Gu Tingye was getting married today, so people from the Duke of Qi's Mansion would naturally come.
In the plot, Minglan and Qi Heng met privately at the Gu family. Now that they have all come to the Gu family, will they have another private meeting?
Thinking of this situation, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
He didn't want to comment too much on the relationship between the boy and girl Minglan and Qi Heng. After all, you are not the person involved in this relationship and you will never be able to empathize with it.
With some relationships, as a bystander, you can see the problem at a glance, but insiders don't know it, or even if they know it, they are willing to bear it.
Especially first love is unforgettable and difficult to control.
Qi Heng is the second male lead in Zhifu. When watching TV, many people may think that he is weak and incompetent, and would prefer a domineering male protagonist like Gu Tingye.
But actually, in this era, people like Qi Heng are more in line with the mainstream of this era. People like Gu Tingye are deviant in the eyes of the mainstream.
At least when it comes to marriage, nine and a half out of ten families will choose Qi Heng over Gu Tingye.
As a person born in modern society, Zhou Chen naturally appreciates the type of Gu Tingye who works hard on his own and dares to fight and kill.
But he doesn't have any ill feelings towards Qi Heng. In fact, Qi Heng's humanity is very good, but in such an era and in such a family, he has been cared for and grown up since he was a child. In addition, he has such a strong person.
His mother is doomed to have a rough emotional life, because his emotions will definitely not be chosen based on his temperament.
If nothing else, take the matter of King Yong putting his father under house arrest as an example. If you think about it from his perspective, if you are a normal person, faced with that kind of choice, I am afraid that most people would make the same choice as Qi Heng.
To be honest, the kind of behavior that Gu Tingye mentioned about breaking into Prince Yong's palace is really not feasible. Prince Yong dared to put even a prince under house arrest. You, a legitimate son of the prince's mansion, are risking your own life by breaking into the prince's palace and robbing people.
If you bet again, the probability of success is slim.
Of course, Gu Tingye's heart was good, because at that time there was really no better way, he could only take a gamble and give it a try.
It's a pity that Qi Heng didn't dare to gamble and couldn't afford it, so the tragedy between him and Minglan was doomed.
In fact, based on his experience, Zhou Chen doesn't agree with Minglan and Qi Heng. With a strong mother-in-law like Princess Pingning, Minglan will definitely suffer when she marries her, and Qi Heng's character will definitely not be protected.
Minglan, everything depends on Minglan herself, which is destined to lead a very difficult life for her.
Zhou Chen quietly walked out of the banquet hall, walked in the Gu Mansion for a while, and came to a garden. Suddenly he saw Minglan's maids Xiaotao and Danju, and the young boy Buwei next to Qi Heng.
"Are you really that brave?"
When Zhou Chen saw this situation, he knew that Qi Heng must have taken this opportunity to have private contact with Minglan.
Since they have been in contact, it means that Qi Heng's mother, Princess Pingning, has most likely discovered their secret meeting. With her character, she will not tolerate it.
Minglan and Qi Heng used the bamboo forest to cover their figures and ate the mille-feuille cake brought by Qi Heng. Qi Heng looked at them infatuatedly, his eyes so gentle that they seemed to melt everything.
Qi Heng told Minglan his determination, saying that even if he risked his life, he would find a way to marry Minglan.
Minglan ate the thousand-layer cake in silence, and did not look very happy. Unlike Qi Heng, who had been pampered since childhood, she had experienced a lot and was not as naive as Qi Heng.
Although she also likes Qi Heng in her heart, she is more sensible and knows that there are few possibilities between her and Qi Heng. Qi Heng's mother alone cannot get through.
But even so, she was still reluctant to give up, thinking that as long as Qi Heng could persist for one day, she would persist for one day. If Qi Heng finally compromised and no longer wanted to marry her, she would not blame Qi Heng, because
She also knew that it was not easy for Qi Heng.
Just when Qi Heng and Minglan said they would never let Minglan down, a voice suddenly sounded.
"If a man is not absolutely sure, it is best not to say this easily."
The sudden sound startled both Qi Heng and Minglan, and they both stood up in shock.
When Minglan saw the person coming, she immediately panicked.
"Big, big brother-in-law."
"Marquis of Zhou."
Qi Heng also looked nervous. He was watching from outside even though he was not doing anything. Why did Zhou Chen suddenly come in?
Especially when he used this method to meet Minglan privately and happened to meet Minglan's brother-in-law, it was really embarrassing and embarrassing.
Seeing Minglan lowering her head and not daring to speak, Zhou Chen snorted softly.
"They are meeting in the front to get married. It would be better for you to come to the backyard to meet. If you don't know, you think this is your own garden?"
Qi Heng hurriedly defended Minglan: "Hou Zhou, this is entirely my fault. The sixth sister was forced to do it. You must not blame the sixth sister."
Zhou Chen said calmly: "It's useless to explain to me. You should still think about how to explain to your mother, Princess Pingning, when you go back. When I just came over, I saw her leaving with a dark complexion. I'm afraid it's your little move.
, it was all seen by her, and it was only because this was in the Ningyuan Hou Mansion that she did not make the matter a big deal."
Upon hearing this, Minglan's body trembled, and Qi Heng's already pale face turned pale.
Seeing their reactions, Zhou Chen couldn't help but shook his head. Even though Minglan was more restrained, in the final analysis, their character was not much higher than that of children. Qi Heng was a few years older than Minglan, and his character and maturity were not even as good as Minglan's.
Orchid.
With such a mind, it is simply a dream to break through the obstacles of family and power.
Qi Heng gritted his teeth and said firmly: "Even if mother knows, it doesn't matter. Anyway, I have made up my mind. If I don't marry my sixth sister, I will ask the Marquis of Zhou to make it happen."
Zhou Chen was speechless. He asked him to fulfill his wish, but he was a fool. Minglan was not his daughter. Qi Heng was indeed too immature.
But you're right, it's naive to go on a hunger strike against your mother, just like a child playing house.