Chapter 1435: Eldest Princess Li Yunrui, Duke of Feng Guo
Chapter 1437 The eldest princess Li Yunrui, the Duke of Feng Guo
It was November, and Zhou Chen had been back in Kyoto for twenty days.
During this period of time, countless people from various major forces in Kyoto wanted to visit Zhou Chen, but Zhou Chen all refused their visits on the grounds that old injuries had recurred.
Secretly, I don’t know how many people scolded Zhou Chen. Damn it, what kind of old injury has recurred and he needs to go to a brothel to heal?
However, Zhou Chen treated everyone equally and didn't see anyone, which made others feel relieved. No one could see them, which meant that everyone was the same in Zhou Chen's place.
Emperor Qing was also very satisfied with Zhou Chen's behavior. Even though the Grand Master was his target, Zhou Chen's ability to understand the situation saved him a lot of worry.
It was reported some time ago that Emperor Qing wanted to marry Zhou Chen, but there is no clue yet. I don't know if Emperor Qing has stopped doing business, or if he just said it casually at the time.
This was also in line with Zhou Chen's wishes. Otherwise, if Emperor Qing had forced the marriage, he would have refused. Without the marriage, there would be no need for a confrontation.
"Young Master, I just received news that Director Chen of the Inspection and Inspection Institute quietly left Kyoto a few days ago. He must have been following His Majesty's orders to do something."
"I left a few days ago. What's the use of coming to tell me now?"
Zhou Chen only established the Thirty-Six Constellations in the past few years. It was only after he recently returned to Kyoto that he started to establish an intelligence system.
It's just that this kind of intelligence organization cannot be built in one or two years. The things involved are too complicated.
He didn't expect to establish an intelligence network that could cover the whole country. As long as he could gain a foothold in Kyoto, he could know what major events were happening in Kyoto as soon as possible.
Neither Sun Yi nor Tong Quan had any experience in this area. He Qin was a swordsman with good martial arts skills, but he was not good at it either.
In the end, Zhou Chen had no choice but to choose the taller one from the short ones, and chose a veteran who had joined the government before to be in charge, which required Zhou Chen to teach him for a long time.
These days, in Kyoto, the talent pool has almost been recruited, and here are all old silver coins who like to play Infernal Affairs and the Way within the Way. Who knows if the talents recruited are other people's spies.
Zhou Chen fell into deep thought. Chen Pingping was transferred by Emperor Qing in order to prepare for calling Fan Xian back to Kyoto.
It seems that Emperor Qing can't wait to take action. When Fan Xian arrives in Beijing, a big drama will slowly begin.
There was one thing that made him quite speechless these days.
It was Lai Mingcheng who was really like an old dog, biting him and refusing to let go. He was impeached in several court meetings, and it was as if he was a heinous person.
Not to mention him as the client, many among the officials were very unhappy because Lai Mingcheng not only impeached Zhou Chen, but also impeached Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment. The reason was that Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment did not do anything about the case reported by Lao Dou's family.
Dealing with it, shirking responsibility, etc. This led to the tragedy.
Everyone has long agreed that this matter is over, but Lai Mingcheng insists on holding on to it, and even arrests people for impeachment. How can he not be hated by others?
Even Emperor Qing gave him a nod either overtly or covertly, signaling that the matter would end here, but he refused to let it go and brought it up every time he met in court.
Zhou Chen was also amused by this. He didn't expect that the first person in Kyoto who caught him and wouldn't let him go would be Lai Mingcheng. The two of them had never even met.
He doesn't hate Lai Mingcheng, but he definitely doesn't like him. He can only say that he appreciates his integrity, but he disagrees with the way he does things.
night.
Zhou Chen was sitting alone in the courtyard. Ever since he became a Grandmaster, he discovered a very serious problem, that is, he had fallen into a bottleneck.
The Grand Master seems to have become the most perfect living being in the world. At this level, it is very difficult to improve further. Even if he has the understanding of martial arts from multiple worlds, his improvement is very slow.
But what Zhou Chen has is time and patience. The difference in combat power between the four great masters is not very big, but he is different. His strength is not only in Qi, but also in body.
Although he is also a mortal body, his systematically strengthened physical fitness is definitely more than one level better than the four great masters.
He had fought against Ku He and Si Gu Jian, and it was just a simple sparring match with Ku He, while he had a more intense fight with Si Gu Jian, but in terms of combat experience, he is definitely the strongest among the four great masters.
Coupled with his physical fitness that is several times higher than that of ordinary people, he is confident that he will be the one who survives in a life-or-death battle with any of the four great masters.
While he was practicing, he suddenly opened his eyes.
"Old He, a guest has arrived. Go to the back door to greet him."
A gust of wind flashed by, and He Qin appeared.
"Guest, back door?"
The courtyard where they live is not close to the back door. Has the Grand Master's hearing reached this level?
Although he was confused, he still carried out Zhou Chen's order without hesitation.
As soon as he arrived at the back door, he heard someone knocking on the door. When he opened it, he saw that there were indeed a few uninvited guests.
There were one man and three women, all covered in black cloaks, vaguely protecting one of the women.
"Are you the guests that the young master mentioned?"
One of the women stepped forward and said, "My master wants to see your young master, please lead the way."
He Qin held the sword and looked at the woman. He saw that this woman was also a master, almost at the eighth level. He knew in his heart that the master she mentioned might be extraordinary.
"The young master knew you were coming, so he asked me to take you to see him."
He Qin's words made the three men and women look shocked. If this was the case, wouldn't it mean that Zhou Chen already knew about them just after they arrived and before they even knocked on the door?
Is this the Grand Master's method, or did he discover their arrival in advance?
With doubts in mind, he followed He Qin inside, passed through several corridors and courtyards, and finally stopped at a courtyard with the best environment.
He Qin pointed to the courtyard and said, "Your master will go in, and the rest will stay."
"No, we..."
A man and two women immediately wanted to speak eagerly, but were stopped by their master.
"You all stay. If the Grand Master wants to take action, it will be the same with or without you."
Her voice was like a clear silver bell, sweet and sweet, making people's hearts beat. He Qin also looked at this person in surprise, and with just a glance, he saw that beautiful face.
But as a ninth-grade swordsman, his mind was firm, and after being distracted for a moment, he returned to normal.
"please!"
As soon as the woman walked into the courtyard, she saw Zhou Chen sitting in the pavilion. She quickly walked over and lifted the black cloak covering herself in front of Zhou Chen.
"The eldest princess came to visit late at night, why?"
Under the black cloak, there is an extraordinarily beautiful woman. She has long eyebrows and smooth skin. She is as beautiful as a fairy. She has the elegance of a girl and the charm of a mature woman. She is so charming that people can't help but fall deeply into her.
??????????.??????
This girl turned out to be Li Yunrui, the eldest princess of the Qing Kingdom.
Li Yunrui saluted slightly: "I have met the great master."
Zhou Chen raised his eyebrows. This Li Yunrui was interesting. He didn't care about his age. He called him Grand Master with respect and made it clear that he was communicating with the Grand Master, not his other identity.
However, he knew very well what kind of face this woman was beneath her beautiful face and polite title. As beautiful as she looked, she had a vicious heart.
"Young Master has always declined visitors. I had no choice but to take this step. Please forgive me."
Zhou Chen pointed to the opposite side of him and gestured: "Since you have come in, you are a guest. Please take a seat."
Li Yunrui sat down opposite Zhou Chen and looked at Zhou Chen directly.
He had seen the Grand Master before, but this was her first time meeting a young Grand Master like Zhou Chen.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face. Zhou Chen did not disappoint her. He was indeed a charming man. With such a handsome and upright appearance, coupled with the blessing of being a great master, she was attracted by him.
"I have heard of the young master's name a long time ago. When I saw him today, I realized that the young master is more charming than the rumors."
Now that he knew what kind of person Li Yunrui was, Zhou Chen certainly didn't want to have any more contact with her and went straight to the point.
"Eldest Princess, let me tell you what is important and ask you to come to me at this time."
Li Yunrui smiled and said softly: "I came today because I want to marry the young master."
"Getting married?"
Zhou Chen was slightly startled: "Are you talking about Prime Minister Lin Ruofu and your daughter Lin Waner?"
"yes."
"She hasn't been granted marriage by His Majesty yet?"
It had only been a few months since Fan Xian entered Kyoto. He thought Emperor Qing had already granted marriage to Fan Xian and Lin Waner. From what Li Yunrui meant, he hadn't granted marriage yet?
"Marriage?"
Li Yunrui was also slightly surprised: "Wan'er is still young and has not been married yet, nor has she been granted a marriage. If the young master agrees, I can go to His Majesty to grant a marriage."
Zhou Chen immediately refused: "That's not necessary, eldest princess, I have no intention of getting married to anyone, so there is no need to say more."
Li Yunrui's expression remained unchanged and he said slowly: "I heard that the young master once went to the capital in the Northern Qi Dynasty and had a good relationship with the eldest princess of the Northern Qi Dynasty. Could it be that the person the young master wants to marry is the eldest princess of the Northern Qi Dynasty?"
Zhou Chen seemed to be smiling but not smiling: "The eldest princess even knows everything about me in Northern Qi. She deserves to be the one who has the financial power of the inner treasury and the three major houses. Her intelligence ability is amazing."
He did not deny it and simply said: "You are right. If I really want to get married, the Princess of Northern Qi is indeed my first choice."
"Then you should understand that she is the princess of the Northern Qi royal family, and you are the grand master of the Qing Kingdom. Even if the young emperor of the Northern Qi Dynasty agrees, will our Majesty agree?"
Zhou Chen looked proud: "Who I want to marry is my business. As long as the woman agrees, other people's opinions are not important to me."
Li Yunrui's eyes suddenly changed. Zhou Chen's words revealed a meaning. He didn't seem to have much respect for Emperor Qing.
If other royals heard what Zhou Chen said, they would definitely be very angry, but she was different. Instead of being unhappy, she smiled.
"Young Master can become a Grand Master at a young age, but his courage is incomparable. Since Young Master doesn't want to get married, I won't force you."
When talking about marriage with Zhou Chen, she just casually tried it. She didn't have high hopes, so she wasn't disappointed when she was rejected. She just suddenly changed the topic abruptly.
"Young master, who do you think will inherit the throne in the end, the crown prince or the second prince?"
"I can't give you an answer to the eldest princess's question. I just don't know. Does the eldest princess support the prince or the second prince?"
Looking at Zhou Chen's half-smiling expression, Li Yunrui frowned slightly. She felt that Zhou Chen seemed to have something in his words.
"I will support whoever can inherit that position. Who do you think the young master is more optimistic about?"
"As I said before, I have never participated in state affairs, and I am not familiar with them. If the eldest princess comes here today for this matter, then I'm sorry, I can't give you an answer."
Li Yunrui thought for a moment and asked another question.
"If I want to ask the young master for help in the future, I wonder what kind of price I will have to pay?"
"The eldest princess has a noble status and has countless capable people under her command. What can you do that would make you ask the Grand Master to take action?"
"It's not available now, but that doesn't mean it won't be available in the future. If we wait until then to ask, wouldn't it be a waste of time?"
Li Yunrui values Zhou Chen, naturally because he values Zhou Chen's Grandmaster combat prowess. As for the rest, it is not important to her.
Zhou Chen pondered slightly: "Then it depends on what the eldest princess wants to do. If you don't give me an answer now, I naturally can't give you an answer either."
"I don't need an answer now. I just hope that if one day comes, the young master can be on my side."
"I can't guarantee this. After all, things are constantly changing. Until then, who can say for sure?"
Zhou Chen didn't want to promise anything to the eldest princess. This crazy woman was not trustworthy at all. He only cooperated with her because his brain was broken.
Li Yunrui didn't get the answer he wanted, so he had another conversation with Zhou Chen and left the Zhou Mansion.
Zhou Chen knew that as he lived in Kyoto as a grand master, he would inevitably become a thorn in others' eyes.
Some people want to curry favor with him, some want to take advantage of him, and some want to kill him...
The existence of a grand master is a huge benefit, and no one can ignore the combat power of a grand master.
Li Yunrui's visit still had no impact on Zhou Chen. He still lived a secluded life as always, unless he went to the Liujing River.
When he was in Zuixianju, there were many people who wanted to visit him, but they were also rejected by him. He Qin could help him deal with these people without him opening his mouth.
Time flies and the new year is here again in the blink of an eye.
A new year, a new life, and for Anyuan Bozhou Mansion, this year is also a new beginning.
Because this year, Zhou Chen has reached the year of being crowned.
Zhou Chen did not invite anyone else for the crowning ceremony because he no longer had any elders in his family, so he held it himself in the ancestral hall.
Just after his crowning ceremony, Emperor Qing's imperial edict also arrived.
Emperor Qing was a maverick. As an emperor, he did not respect the etiquette of his ancestors in many matters. Even the imperial edicts had his own style.
The imperial edict he gave to Zhou Chen was also different. Originally, Zhou Chen was supposed to inherit the title of Prince Anyuan, but in the imperial edict, he praised Zhou Chen a lot and finally gave him a lot of rewards.
He directly promoted Zhou Chen's title of Count Anyuan to the title of Duke of the Kingdom, and granted Zhou Chen the title.
