Emperor Yao read the letters written by the Protector to Zhou Zhan one by one and said with a smile: "This Chang Jian, the notes and letters he wrote to me are all very precise and high-sounding. He doesn't want to say a word of nonsense, but he is all here.
You’re complaining here!”
"Complaining that you abducted his daughter, complaining that I interfered indiscriminately, complaining that his daughter is disobedient... He is just a chatterbox, isn't he?"
After seeing Chang Jian's letter, Emperor Yao seemed to be in a good mood and asked Wanzhong to bring a chair for Zhou Zhan to sit on.
"Your uncle must have been extremely bored in the northwest these years!"
Zhou Zhan said sincerely: "My uncle originally felt that he had a lot of troops and it was not good for him to be too close to his son, so he almost didn't write to him. It wasn't until his cousin escaped from marriage and came to the capital a few years ago that my uncle's letters started to increase again.
"
"My uncle said that it is the responsibility of the Chang family to guard the northwest for the sake of the Zhou Dynasty and the imperial court. My uncle does not feel it is bitter, and neither do the sons of the Chang family."
These words made Emperor Yao think of the past again.
"In the past, the old Lord Protector was stationed in the northwest, and your uncle had no one to discipline him in the capital. He encouraged me to go out and play every day. Now he has become a strict father. Time is not forgiving..."
He could only ascend to the throne of God without the help of this good friend. He was grateful and fearful, so when Chang Jian offered to station in the northwest for the imperial court, he agreed to the request.
Now that ten years have passed, he misses his friends a little.
After talking to Zhou Zhan for a while about what happened when he was young, Emperor Yao temporarily forgot about his sons who were still outside.
It wasn't until the chamberlain announced that King Han had arrived that he came back to his senses and looked at Zhou Zhan, who was almost the same mold as Chang Jiayu. Thinking of his old friend, he felt a little more loving towards him.
"You're not feeling well yet. Don't let me get away from your illness. I'll ask the imperial doctor to check on you later."
Zhou Zhan said hurriedly: "Father, I am fine. I have been ill for these years, but now I feel better. I want to go out of the city to Jingshan Temple to pray for my father while I can still walk a few steps."
Emperor Yao would take his concubines and children to Jingshan Temple every spring to pray for blessings. This year it was delayed due to various things. It was already the end of March, and the peach blossoms on the mountain behind Jingshan Temple were probably about to bloom.
"It's rare that you have the will, but you have to do what you can and don't force it too hard."
Zhou Zhan didn't mention the marriage between Zhou Yu and Chang Jinchan, but the letter from the Protector made it clear that Chang Jinchan had already been engaged in the northwest. She escaped from marriage and came to the capital, and she would have to go back to get married sooner or later.
.
In this case, things will be easier to handle.
Emperor Yao waved his hand and asked Wan Zhong to draw up an imperial edict, naming Chang Jinchan Princess of Anping. She was rewarded with a dowry of 120 tons. With the gift of a princess, she was escorted back to the northwest by the Yulin Guards to get married.
Zhou Zhan knelt on the ground and kowtowed.
"My son, I would like to thank my father for his kindness on behalf of my cousin!"
"Get up," Emperor Yao ordered Wan Zhong, "let them come in."
"My son, please retire." Zhou Zhan stood up and left, and met King Han head-on. He glanced at Si Hai who was standing beside him from the corner of his eye, and called softly, "Uncle King Han."
The fake King Han nodded to him and asked, "Are you feeling well again?"
Everyone asked him a question when they saw him, and Zhou Zhan politely replied: "I feel a little better. Thank you, Uncle Han, for your concern."
The two people walked past each other. This fake King of Han did not have the sharpness of Wei Heyan, and instead gave him a gentler feeling.
Thinking of the people and things in the past, Emperor Yao seemed a little distracted when dealing with the concerns of his sons and brothers.
"I'm relieved that my brother is fine. You are sick, so you should rest in peace and cultivate yourself. Don't worry about matters at court."
He didn't even dare to mention these princes in persuasion. Emperor Yao knew in his heart that his son entered the palace not to share his worries, but to carve up the rights from him.
"Fortunately, He Yan is here, I can still cope with it for the time being."
Zhou Chen was angry at Emperor Yao's behavior of trusting outsiders rather than his own son, and said: "Wei Heyan is an outsider no matter how you say it. Father, can you not trust your son so much?"
These words were exactly what everyone wanted to say, but no one dared to say them so blatantly. Emperor Yao had a shady path to the throne, and these were the most taboo.
Seeing Emperor Yao's expression change, Zhou Rong quickly smoothed things over: "Father, please don't be angry. Third brother is just worried about you. Wei Heyan's reputation is really bad. If he gives full power over state affairs to his supervision, problems may easily arise. Third brother is afraid that you will be
The traitor deceived..."
His words were clearly meant to persuade him, but he secretly gave Emperor Yao some eye drops to encourage Emperor Yao to trust Wei Heyan.
"Yes, Father, Wei Heyan is just a eunuch, and he is a slave. How can he deal with important national affairs..."
Zhou Yu secretly observed the faces of his brothers and breathed a sigh of relief. His father-in-law was right. It was indeed not just his problem. As long as he remained silent, did not get involved, and minimized his presence, his father would not be able to remember him.
…
Emperor Yao snorted coldly and called out: "Lao Wu, do you think what your brothers said makes sense?"
Five pairs of eyes were staring at him at the same time. If he followed Yao Emperor's wishes, he would offend his four brothers at the same time. If he followed what his brothers said, he would offend his father.
All of a sudden I was in a dilemma, no matter what I said, it was wrong.
He spoke carefully.
"My father trusted Governor Wei, naturally because Governor Wei has been serving my father longer than us sons. It is said that all sons and ministers are unfilial. If we can serve our father like Governor Wei,
Serve, maybe my father will be more trusting and respectful of his sons and ministers..."
"But the worries of the brothers are not unreasonable. Wei Heyan is an outsider and an eunuch. You have given him too much power, and I am also worried that he will not be under control."
It makes sense to say it the other way around. To put it bluntly, he still wants power. Emperor Yao sighed softly and lay back on the bed.
"I have not yet reached the age of fainting. Wei Heyan alone does not have the final say in major matters in the court. With Prime Minister Shen and Bo Ge taking care of things, what else can Wei Heyan do on his own? You are all making mountains out of molehills..."
He trusted Wei Heyan, and Wei Heyan would not do anything to harm him, but the same could not be said for his sons, who were all like wolves and tigers, trying to pick out his flesh and eat it!
"Father——"
Zhou Chen wanted to persuade him again, but King Han stopped him.
"I am just helping the emperor read the news for a few days, and I am not asking him to supervise the country for a long time. There is no need to annoy the emperor. Since the emperor is tired, I will not disturb the emperor's rest."
King Han had always been lazy, eating, drinking and having fun, not caring about state affairs. He occasionally said something stupid, but it made Emperor Yao feel considerate.
"You all should go too, Xiao Shiwu. When you are free another day, come into the palace and talk to me."
The King of Han is the fifteenth, and he and Emperor Yao are brothers from the same mother. They are more than twenty years apart. In the past, the King of Han did not get close to him. He only saw him during festivals and banquets in the palace.
Now only King Han is left among the brothers, Emperor Yao sighed in his heart.
King Han's body trembled, and he answered bravely: "Yes."
The fake King Han came out of Emperor Yao's palace and met Wei Heyan who was holding a dozen memorials. Their eyes briefly met and they moved away. He originally wanted to say a word for Wei Heyan, but he didn't expect that Emperor Yao would stay and pretend.
After so many years, he is not afraid, but... he is afraid of delaying things outside.
Zhou Yun caught up and asked, "Uncle, do you have any plans later? My nephew recently bought a new talking parrot. Do you want to go to my nephew's house to have a look?"
Shopping and walking around are what dandies like them should do.
The fake King of Han responded, and Zhou Yun said happily: "Let's go, let's go now. This is the birthday gift I prepared for my father. You can help my nephew first!"