"uncle."
"Master Hou."
When I came to Bianjing this time, Sheng Wei himself came and brought several of his children with him. His daughters were accompanying the old lady in Shou'an Hall. Following Sheng Wei were his two sons, Sheng Changsong and Sheng Changwu.
They all also greeted Zhou Chen one after another.
Sheng Hong said with emotion: "Brother Wei, it's an unlucky time for you to come here. Bianjing City has been very noisy recently. Otherwise, I could have taken you to visit Bianjing City more."
Nowadays, because the official's health is getting worse and worse, the battle between King Yong and King Yan has become more and more obvious, which has caused the city of Bianjing to be in turmoil.
Some people who just want to protect themselves are not willing to go out easily at this time to avoid getting into trouble.
Sheng Wei didn't understand the political situation in Bianjing, but it wasn't his first time in Bianjing. He actually didn't care whether he could visit Tokyo or not.
Sheng Wei expressed that he didn't care, and then said to Zhou Chen: "Master Hou, this time we came from Youyang and got some gadgets. We have prepared them. When we go back later, Master Hou will bring them back to Ji.
Brother, Brother Xu and the others are playing."
"I'm sorry to bother you, uncle, I'm so kind."
"It's just some worthless gadgets. Compared to how the Marquis saved our family, it's nothing at all. It's all deserved."
Sheng Hong advised: "Shu Yuan, your uncle also has good intentions, so just accept it."
So Zhou Chen could only nod and accept it. He knew in his heart that the thing Sheng Wei sent was definitely not the gadget he said, and it must be worth a lot of money.
Not sure if it was his own misunderstanding, but he found that Uncle Sheng Wei seemed to be particularly enthusiastic today, even more enthusiastic than when he was in Youyang that day.
Could it be that I need something from you?
He secretly guessed in his mind.
At the same time, the Shou'an Hall in the backyard was also very lively.
Hua Lan smiled and greeted Shulan and Pinlan, then sat down next to her grandmother.
After chatting for a while, Minglan took Sheng Shulan and Sheng Pinlan out to play, leaving only the old lady and Hualan in the house.
The old lady looked at Hualan, the granddaughter who had grown up beside her and the most respectable daughter in the Sheng family, with a kind smile on her face.
She had been raised since childhood, and Zhou Chen was her nephew and grandnephew who was related by blood, so the relationship between Hua Lan and her was naturally close.
"Hua'er, I heard you say last year that you wanted to take a concubine for Saburo. How is the search going now?"
Hualan asked curiously: "Why did grandma ask about this? Does grandma have a suitable candidate?"
The old lady pondered for a moment and said: "Hua'er, we, our grandparents, don't have to beat around the bush. If you really want to take a concubine for San Lang, I do have a good candidate here. He will neither compete with you for favor nor win."
He threatens you, but his temperament is very docile and kind."
Hua Lan was immediately interested. She knew that her grandmother would not persecute her.
"Grandma, I really sincerely want to take a concubine for the official, but he has never cared about the official. I asked him several times, but he said he is not in a hurry. If it is the person recommended by my grandmother, the official should
I'll feel more at ease, but do I know who grandma is talking about?"
The old lady replied: "I know you. I'm talking about your uncle's Shulan."
"ah?"
Hua Lan covered her mouth with a handkerchief in surprise, and confirmed in disbelief: "Grandma, I heard you right, you are talking about Sister Shulan?"
"Yes, that's girl Shulan." Grandma replied affirmatively.
Hua Lan was dumbfounded: "I heard about Sister Shulan, but that was also a reconciliation. With the ability of my uncle's family and the outstanding performance of Sister Shulan, it is impossible to find a suitable one. How could she be willing to do so?"
Being a concubine? Concubines are all sold to their masters. If there is no choice, which woman would be willing to be a concubine?"
No wonder she was shocked, mainly because the status of concubines in ancient times was very low. They were all sold to the master's family. To be precise, they had no personal freedom and were just slaves. Children born to concubines had no inheritance rights unless
It was adopted to the name of the main wife.
In this era, even the major crime of killing the nine clans could not involve the concubine, because the concubine could not be regarded as a member of the master's family at all.
It is no exaggeration to say that a concubine is like an item. In many wealthy families, concubines can be given to each other.
If there is no choice, no normal woman would be willing to be a concubine for others. Even marrying a wild man from a mountain village is better than being a concubine for others.
That's why Hualan was so shocked. No matter how you say it, Shulan is the eldest daughter of the Dafangsheng family. Even if she is divorced, she is still a lady. How could she be willing to be a concubine?
"Oh, it's all injustice."
The old lady let out a long sigh, with a complicated look on her face: "Shulan, this child, was rescued from a thief by Saburo when we were in Youyang. At that time, I saw some problems, but I didn't take it too seriously. Just like you
He said that no woman is willing to be someone else's concubine, I thought to myself, as time goes by, it will pass."
"But who would have known that this time your uncle came to Tokyo and told me that the couple had found several marriages for Shulan, but Shulan was unwilling to meet each other. She was forced to confess her love for Saburo.
Her thoughts made your uncle and aunt so angry that they wanted to beat her to death."
"But as a parent, who can really bear to see their children suffer? After many attempts to persuade them to no avail, they had no choice but to take Shulan to Bianjing and tell this matter to me, an old woman."
"Well, I'm in a dilemma too. To be honest, I naturally don't want Shulan to be Sanlang's concubine. As you said, a concubine is still a concubine no matter what, but that girl doesn't know what she thinks.
I don’t mind being Saburo’s concubine, alas…”
After all, the relationship between the eldest and the second room in the Sheng family was very close. Although she and Sheng Shulan didn't have much affection, they were still relatives of the same clan. Naturally, she didn't want to see Shulan as a concubine.
But looking at it from another perspective, if Hualan must take a concubine for Zhou Chen, Shulan is indeed a good choice, but after all, she and Hualan are cousins.
nice.
"That girl Shulan has a docile and submissive character. I'm not worried about her at all, but everything depends on your opinion."
Hua Lan looked strange. She had never thought that when one of her officials went out to suppress the rebellion, she would actually cause a romantic affair.
No, it's not a romantic affair at all. It should be Shulan's wishful thinking. I'm afraid the officials don't even know about it now.
She really wanted to take a concubine for Zhou Chen, but if she took Shulan into the Marquis's house, she would feel something wrong psychologically.
Historically, there have been many sisters who served the same husband, but when it was my turn, the concept was naturally different.
However, my grandmother was right in her last words. Shulan has a docile temperament and is submissive. If she were to be a concubine, there would be no need to worry about her causing trouble. In addition, since they are cousins, she would not be harsh on Shulan.
Shulan naturally had no reason to be jealous of her.
The reason why she has not chosen a concubine for a long time is because she is a little worried because she has lived in a family where concubines were doted on and their wives were killed since she was a child. She originally had a particularly bad impression of concubines, so she was very afraid of them.
He chose a charming concubine for Zhou Chen.
Instead of finding a strange woman who doesn't know her temperament, Shulan, who knows everything about her, would be a good choice if she really wants to be a concubine.
There is also the strong body of the official. If one more person can share the burden, then...
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Hualan's mind.
"Grandma, sister Shulan, is she really willing to be an official's concubine?"
"I have talked with her, and judging from her intentions, she should be willing. In fact, she used to be in her husband's family. Although she was a eldest lady, she was not even as good as a concubine."
Thinking of Shulan's life in the past three years, the old lady couldn't help but shake her head and sigh. Sun Xiucai was really rare. He had no ability but had a bad temper, married a prostitute, doted on concubines and destroyed his wife. Compared with the two of the Sheng family,
The old man is exaggerating.
Hua Lan thought for a moment and finally said: "I still have to ask the official. If the official agrees, and my uncle and sister Shulan are sincerely willing, then I will naturally be willing too."
She has always known that it was too much to ask for Zhou Chen to only love her. Even her father married a concubine when he was in decline. Zhou Chen has a much higher status than her father. He has been able to love her for many years. She has already
She understood Zhou Chen's feelings for her, so she was willing to make changes for Zhou Chen.
Taking a concubine is not only for the official, but also for herself.
After having dinner at Sheng Mansion, Zhou Chen and Hua Lan headed back home.
In the evening, after some tenderness, Hua Lan leaned against Zhou Chen's chest with a rosy face and a tired look on her face.
"Officer, I told you about concubinage before, and I already have some clues."
"Ah, you are still thinking about this matter."
Zhou Chen was very surprised. Although Hualan had told him about this matter more than once, Hualan had not taken any action. He did not care and had long since stopped thinking about it.
Hua Lan's expression became serious: "Of course, otherwise do you think I am really joking with you? What do you think of my uncle's sister Shulan?"
"Um?"
Zhou Chen's expression changed, and he asked in shock: "Do you mean to include her in the family?"
To be continued...