Cao Xinyue didn't understand the impact that being Zhu Zhanzhen's contact would have on her, but Chen Xu knew.
Many businessmen sought the protection of officials and were subordinated to their gang members. It was naturally great for them to get the protection of the emperor's grandson. Although the emperor's grandson was still young, his status was high.
It would be fine if he were an ordinary person, but he is a widow after all. Fortunately, Zhu Zhanyi is a child and there will be no rumors. But if Cao Xinyue is related to Zhu Zhanyi, what will happen to Xinyue's reputation?
It would be fine if Xinyue went with her to the capital. Although Cao Xinyue is now the daughter of a merchant family, with her natal family's status, if they are in love with each other, Zhu Zhanyi will have a chance to choose a concubine in the future.
But staying here in Huzhou Prefecture, as someone who is in contact with Zhu Zhanchun, what kind of relationship is this? A concubine raised by the emperor's grandson? A powerful businessman woman who has married the emperor's grandson Gaozhi? A concubine raised in Huzhou Prefecture?
No, absolutely not. Even if people outside don't say anything, several brothers-in-law of the Cao family will definitely find ways to spread rumors and attack their mother and daughter.
She may not care about herself, but this is her precious daughter, her reputation and her happiness, how can she not care about it.
She deliberately brought Zhu Zhanzhen and Cao Xinyue together, hoping that her daughter would be loved by the emperor and grandson, but you can bring it back to the capital, but you can't put it in Huzhou Mansion. If you bring it back to the capital, she will be the granddaughter of Pingjiang Bo's Mansion. Even if you have her in the capital,
The rumors were also detrimental to Zhu Zhanzhen in terms of etiquette and law.
But in Huzhou Prefecture, these rumors could not reach the palace. They would only continue to ferment in the house and around the house, constantly attacking Cao Xinyue.
In ancient times, women were bound to be judged when they appeared in public. In order to support their husband's business, she had to be the master of the family, but she hoped that her daughter could live a simple and happy life without having to do this.
Zhu Zhanzhen also thought of this. Businessmen pursue profits. If the supply and marketing cooperative is monopolized by her, it will be harmful if it is not done well. She must be allowed to do what she wants, and she must check and use each other.
The only thing she will never give up and let go of is her daughter.
"Mom, I can do it."
"You can't! Our Cao family has limited strength in this matter, so we hope that your highness will forgive you."
"No, our Cao family can do it." Cao Xinyue said firmly.
"Silly boy, you don't understand."
"I understand." When Cao Xinyue said this, she looked at Zhu Zhanzhen. Her eyes became complicated. The bright eyes that were originally simple and could be seen to the end were dyed with a layer of veil today.
The more a person grows up, the less light bursts out of his eyes. The light is blocked by layers of veils, covering his childishness.
"Mom, I am the daughter of the Cao family. I can take on the business of the Cao family." She knew that this time her father died and several uncles split up the family. Part of the Cao family's property must be divided, in order to prevent her father's hard work from being in vain.
, the mother must find a way to expand the business again.
The way is now in front of you.
Although she is simple, she was well protected by her parents. She has inherited her mother's intelligence and is by no means a stupid young lady.
Chen Xu felt warm in his heart: "Silly girl, your mother is here. You go to your grandmother's house to stay for a while and have a good time in Yingtian Mansion."
"No, mother, today my fourth uncle and others used my marriage to pressure me. What about tomorrow? What about the future?"
Chen Xu could not imagine that his daughter would talk to him like this. The girl who was still fooling around a few days ago seemed to have grown up all of a sudden.
"Mom will protect you."
"Mom, I have to protect myself!" When she said this, Cao Xinyue looked at Zhu Zhanyi again.
Cao Xinyue's strong appearance was beyond Zhu Zhanzhen's expectation. He thought that the simple little girl couldn't understand what he was talking to his mother, but now it seems that she should understand.
"Hey, Your Highness, can you allow us, mother and daughter, to discuss this for a while?"
"I'll leave early the day after tomorrow. Give me an answer before I leave."
…
On this day, I visited some villages and saw the work of the people.
The day passed quickly, and it was time to set off back early this morning.
Chen Xuan had a frown on his face early in the morning, holding a secret report in his hand.
"What's wrong with Mr. Chen?"
"Your Highness..."
Before Chen Xuan could say anything, the Cao family came out to see him off, so he had to give up first.
The quarrel between the Cao family and Chen Xu was a private matter of the Cao family, but they still had to respect their great supporter, the chief water transport officer. They prepared a lot of gifts and forcibly sent them to the ship. Chen Xuan started a fight with them.
A tug of war between you and me.
Cao Xinyue did not follow them to Yingtian Mansion, it was obvious without further explanation.
Looking at Cao Xinyue in front of him, Zhu Zhanzhen whispered: "I won't go to Yingtian Mansion."
Cao Xinyue nodded vigorously: "Yes."
He looked at his mother who was not far behind him and said softly: "I can't let my mother stay here alone. If it is a younger brother in my mother's belly, we will protect my mother in the future. If it is a younger sister, I will protect their mother and daughter."
both."
She smiled, her eyes curved into crescent shapes, filled with strength and innocence.
"Tell your mother that I will send someone to finalize the steamship matter as soon as possible,"
"Well, mother said she would wait for your news and arrangements."
It only took a few days to transform from that innocent little girl to the current Cao Xinyue. Changes will make people stronger.
After Chen Xuan had finished pulling, leaving only some specialties on the boat, Zhu Zhanzhen turned around and handed a jade pendant to Cao Xinyue in full view of everyone before he stepped on the boat.
"If you need my help in any way, just ask someone to come to me with a jade pendant."
Everyone in the Cao family saw it, including Chen Xuan, but no one said anything.
Cao Xinyue accepted the jade pendant and watched the boat go further and further away. The cold autumn wind suddenly blew up, filling the river with melancholy. The river water gently stirred and slapped the gaps in the bluestone slabs. The green branches growing in the gaps were rising and falling with the river water.
Shake.
As soon as the person left, a harsh voice came from behind: "Don't look, don't look, everyone is gone. I don't know, I thought I was seeing my husband off."
That was the voice of the fourth aunt, with a mocking tone and a sharp edge.
Cao Xinyue stared at the fourth aunt, her sharp eyes did not look like a little girl's, which made the fourth aunt feel inexplicably cold in her heart.
"Why is Fourth Aunt here today? I'm here to see off my uncle. Is it possible that Fourth Aunt's uncle is also setting off here?"
"The little girl has sharp teeth and a sharp mouth. Could it be that she has shamelessly climbed onto the emperor's grandson's high branch, and she has enough confidence to speak."
Facing the fourth aunt's difficulty, Chen Xugang was about to speak, but Cao Xinyue refused to give in: "Why does the fourth aunt also want to climb the emperor's grandson? I'm afraid the fourth uncle is not willing."
"you!"
"you!!"
The fourth uncle and the fourth aunt were furious. The fourth uncle raised his hand and was about to hit Cao Xinyue.
Chen Xu stepped in front of Cao Xinyue: "Fourth brother, are you trying to bully our orphans and widowed mothers?"
"Huh, good men don't fight with women."
The fourth aunt refused to give up: "I just said that my daughter is a loser, and we should quickly find her an in-law with a decent family."
"The fourth aunt is also a daughter. I don't know whether she has lost money to our Cao family or taken money from our Cao family to subsidize her parents' family over the years."
"You!" The fourth aunt realized that the little girl who had only been avoiding crying could actually make her speechless.
"You're a woman who wants to marry outside, don't leave our Cao family alone." At this time, the third aunt saw that the fourth aunt was at a disadvantage and came out to help.
"My surname is Cao, so of course it belongs to our Cao family. What are the surnames of our two aunts?"
The third aunt showed off her unique skills: "If you can't survive anymore, if you can't survive anymore, let's separate the family."
This is their ultimate goal. You can score points even if you don't quarrel, and you can score points if you quarrel. It just depends on how much everyone shares. Cao Xinyue deliberately quarreled with them to speed up the process. They must clearly divide the property before their mother shows her pregnancy. Who will get her father's share?
No one is allowed to move.
Before leaving, Cao Xinyue glanced at the river again. The boat had gone away, and the fog covered the river, making it difficult to see the way ahead.
I murmured in my heart: "You don't like that kind of useless woman after all."
…
As the ship sailed out, Zhu Zhanyi asked: "What did Mr. Chen want to tell me just now?"
Chen Xuan took out the secret letter: "We have received a letter from the capital. Your Majesty has summoned us back. We just arrived this morning, so it won't delay our trip."
"Did something happen when you suddenly called us back?"
"The barbarians from Northern Xinjiang have invaded the border."
"We just beat them last year, why are they here again?" Zhu Zhanzhen was puzzled. Zhu Di killed a lot of barbarians last year, so why did they remember to eat but not beat them?
Chen Xuan sighed: "The barbarians from the border tribe are not good enough to treat them with courtesy."