Shen Moran's mood was quite good at first, but it dropped to freezing point after meeting Zhou Yu. Later, she thought about how Si Yiluo could still make excuses with him even though she knew what kind of person he was. She felt wronged for her friend and at the same time, she swore that she would let Zhou Yu go in the future. You can't live but you can't die!
After using eighteen kinds of torture on Zhou Yu in his heart, Shen Moran's eyes regained their light and she regained her energy.
She stared straight at the bloody scab on Zhou Zhan's lips. She was just the last step last night, but they didn't feel embarrassed at all when they met now.
"I thought that His Highness had annoyed me and was unwilling to accompany me back home today..."
He came out of her room angrily last night. Others naturally thought that he had annoyed Shen Moran. He should have accompanied her back home this morning. The princess went out by herself early in the morning, and the servants did not dare to call him. Even the hidden people did not dare to call him. Yue also thought he was angry.
This is how misunderstandings between people arise, and Zhou Zhan has no place to reason. This feeling of aggrievedness makes him very uncomfortable.
"How could it be..." His expression was so gentle, and his heart was so calm, "The king is just feeling unwell, not dissatisfied with the princess. Princess, don't think too much about it."
When he comes back today, if he doesn't give Shen Moran face, I'm afraid Shen Panxing will have trouble here. After all, he is just a prince with no real power, and Shen Panxing is the prime minister with power. It's not easy to catch him if he wants to deal with him.
She has never dared to hope for love in this life, and she and Zhou Zhan have no relationship. This marriage is just a choice that is beneficial to both of them after weighing the pros and cons.
Shen Moran saw through it but did not reveal it. The couple returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion harmoniously. The girl next to Du was already waiting at the door.
"The princess is back!"
Zhou Zhan set foot in the Prime Minister's Mansion for the second time. Shen Moran was called away by Du to talk, and he was welcomed into the study by Shen Jianxing.
There are many books on the bookshelf and many official documents piled on the desk.
"There are many affairs in the DPRK. Today, I borrowed the convenience of His Highness to rest at home for half a day. Your Highness, please take a seat." Shen Panxing packed up the official documents and said apologetically, "I don't have time to rest. Your Highness, please forgive me."
Zhou Zhan sat down on the armchair.
"My father-in-law holds an important position and works hard for the country. How dare my son-in-law blame him?"
The maid served tea.
Shen Panxing took out a book from the official document, opened it and looked at the names that appeared in the official document.
"Recently, many people have been investigated because of Gong Xichun's case. There is someone on the waiting list submitted by the people below that His Highness should know."
Zhou Zhan drank tea calmly, and it was not surprising that he was obviously interested in Shen's case.
"My son-in-law is recuperating in the mansion, but he has never paid attention to the government affairs. I wonder who my father-in-law is talking about?"
Shen Panxing could not let go of the expression on his face.
"Su Mu, ranked seventh among the top two in Tianwu's ninth year. His father, Su Cheng, was once a think tank under the old Lord Protector."
Zhou Zhan made a serious recollection on his face, and after a long time he shook his head and said: "My father-in-law, please forgive me, my grandfather left early, and later my mother and concubine also went. I was too young at that time, so I didn't have a deep impression of the Duke Protector's Palace. I'll take note of it." Since then, my uncle has been living in Western Xinjiang, and we haven’t seen him often in recent years.”
Shen Jianxing continued: "He is following the path of His Royal Highness Prince Yu, and his recommended position is the Doctor of Ceremony in the Ministry of Etiquette."
Su Mu was recommended by Zhou Yu, but he himself had connections with the Duke Protector's Office, so he tested Zhou Zhan because of the seriousness of the case. If Su Mu was his man, he would treat him differently.
The ceremonial doctor of the Ministry of Etiquette, the fifth rank, is in charge of academic affairs and imperial examinations, and is considered to be the position with real power among the many official positions in the Ministry of Rites.
The ninth year of Tianwu was only eight years ago. The students who passed the Jinshi examination that year started from the bottom and had a smooth official career, but they have not yet climbed into the capital.
He had been idle for eight years, but he was regarded as a member of the Qingliu sect and promoted to a high position.
The official document hasn't been handed in yet, but Shen Panxing doesn't intend to stop it. He wants to see if Su Mu can successfully get this position and who is the support behind him.
Shen Sanxing used Zhou Yu to test him. This was to tell him that Zhou Yu had already tried to win over him, and to tell him about Zhou Yu's ambitions. As we all know, Zhou Yu treated him very well. If he had not competed for the throne His thoughts will be Zhou Yu’s best help.
The profound meaning in his words spread out, and Shen Sanxing wanted to force him to express his position now.
The time was not yet ripe, so Zhou Zhan just pretended not to understand.
"Since I have contact with my grandfather, my son-in-law begs my father-in-law to help him if he can. The old ministers who followed my grandfather have now faded out of the court and cannot help him. Su Mu is young and talented. If he can serve the court , Grandpa should be very pleased."
Shen Panxing was not satisfied with the response he gave.
"Isn't your Highness pleased?"
Zhou Zhan was stunned for a moment, then replied: "My son-in-law is naturally happy too."
Shen Sanxing looked at him for a long time, then picked up the tea cup and stopped talking.
"Madam should be in the side hall. She must have something to say to His Highness. Your Highness, please come over quickly."
Serving tea to see off the guests, Shen Shanxing's attitude was not exactly respectful. Zhou Zhan stood up and bowed his hands in a salute without knowing it. After they bowed their hands to each other, the servants took him away.
Shen Panxing stared at his back until it disappeared from sight.
Did he really not understand, or was he just playing tricks on him?
It was hard to tell for a while.
Mrs. Du on the other end had already taken Shen Moran and looked him up and down several times. No matter how strict the servant was, she had heard a lot of news that should be spread and should not be spread.
"My son, you have been wronged..." Mrs. Du tucked the broken hair on her temples behind her ears, "I have lost weight. Is it because the servants in the house are looking down on you?"
Shen Moran married into the palace, and the palace sent a personal maid to her side. Hongying came with her today, and she knelt down with a plop when she heard this.
"Madam, the slaves will never dare to neglect the princess!"
Servants have a habit of flattering others and suppressing others. Du Shi, who lives in a deep mansion, knows this very well and doesn't believe Hong Yun's words at all.
However, Shen Moran knew that this was not the case. The servants of Prince Zhan's Mansion would only work hard, seldom talk much, and would not overstep their bounds.
"Mom, don't worry. Your Highness treats me very well. When I come back today, Your Highness gave your daughter the key to the warehouse yesterday afternoon and asked her to choose suitable gifts for you and your two elders. My daughter specially picked these gifts for you. You see. See if you like it."
Jade carvings of fine Hetian jade and mutton-fat white jade, a box of peanut-sized round pearls that exude lavender light, a half-person-high red coral tree, and top-quality jadeite without any impurities...
"These..." Even Mrs. Du was startled, "You are trying to empty out the palace's warehouse!"
Any one piece alone would be of sufficient weight, so Du Shi gave up her doubts.
"That's all it can do now. You are young, and mother didn't want you to get married so early. Your Highness's body needs to be recuperated slowly. Mother will ask Yihan to pick some nourishing medicinal materials from the warehouse later."
While they were talking, the servants led Zhou Zhan over, and Mrs. Du let him go.
"You guys rest first, I'll go to the kitchen and take a look."
Zhou Zhan's eyes twitched as he looked at the door-coming gifts that his servants were packing up.
Three days later is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Double Ninth Festival in September, the Laba Festival in the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year, the New Year... If gifts are given according to this standard on every big and small festival in the future, he will have to sell Prince Zhan's Mansion within two years.
Shen Moran found it fun to watch him deflate, so to be driven back so quickly, it seemed that his conversation with Shen Panxing was not pleasant.
Thinking of how he had rescued her just now, she sighed. It was time for them to talk straight to the point. Their goals were the same. If the couple were always guarding each other like this, when would they be able to work together...