Chapter 56 - New Year's Eve Rice
Zuo Shaoqing came to the backyard of Fu Yue House alone countless times at night. Sitting on the chair that Lu Zheng used to sit on, lying on the bed that he used to sleep on, playing with the tea set that Lu Zheng used to use, thinking about where that man would be now, what he would be doing, and whether he was surrounded by beauties or small people to flatter him.
And Master Lu, who he thought of, was actually not as good as he imagined.
In the imperial study, Emperor Tianfeng, who had just ascended the throne, was deep in thought as he looked at a chessboard. Finally, he laughed loudly and threw away the chess piece and said, “It has been a few years since we last met, but your chess skills are still so good. Do you still have the time to play chess in the Northern Frontier?”
Lu Zheng, dressed in his usual attire, sat straight in front of Zhan Yuanfeng. Without any expression on his face, he replied lightly, “Occasionally.”
Zhan Yuanfeng would always have a smile on his face in front of outsiders. Even if he wanted to rob the home of a courtier, he could still smile and bless that family.
Zhan Yuanfeng, who was not the crown prince back then, did not perform too badly. Compared to the First and Third Princes, who were adept in military strategy, Zhan Yuanfeng's performance was rather dull.
However, his popularity was quite good. No one would speak ill of this prince when they mentioned him. Moreover, during the old emperor's last illness, the one who had shown the most filial piety and showed the most lack of desire was this prince.
From these few points, it could be seen that Zhan Yuanfeng was definitely not the kind and kind person he was showing, but a tiger wearing fox skin.
“Did you enjoy going down south, my beloved lady?”
“Not bad.” Putting aside being surrounded and assassinated in the middle, it was not bad at all.
“I heard that the person who saved you was a scholar?”
“Yes.”
“Scholars are worthy of respect!” I remember that the person you look down upon the most is a weak scholar, yet he was saved by a scholar this time around.
“Not bad.”
“I heard that the scholar is Tutor Zuo's descendant?”
“Yes.”
“I heard that you shamelessly stayed in the Zuo's Mansion for a few days? Someone even said that you were intentionally making a marriage alliance with Zuo's Mansion. Did you remember the agreement between husband and Tutor Zuo back then?”
Lu Zheng glanced at him and didn't reply with a single word.
Zhan Yuanfeng did not care whether he answered or not, and continued to ask: “I heard that you sent a message to the Ministry of Rites, agreeing to let the disciples of Zuo Family participate in this matter.”
“Yes.”
“To repay the favor of saving his life with Zuo Family? Do you know how disrespectful this is to the late emperor?” Zhan Yuanfeng said lightly.
“You care?” Lu Zheng raised his head and thought to himself: Shouldn't the person who disrespected the late emperor the most be the person before him?
He was pretending to be a filial son to serve the soup, but he had secretly aggravated the old emperor's illness. It was hard to say how the late emperor died.
Zhan Yuanfeng's face suddenly darkened, and said in an extremely serious tone: “I intend to marry the Fifth royal sister to you, what do you think?”
Lu Zheng replied coldly without batting an eyelid: “Nothing.”
“You don't want to think about it?” Zhan Yuanfeng stood up and walked to the window. With his hands behind his back, he said with a lonely figure, “You should know that the Wu Steel Manor is already flourishing. It would be better if you were one of us, otherwise...” Which emperor would truly be at ease with such a huge tiger lying beside his throne?
“This subject would be happy to be promoted to a commoner.”
The Lu Family was the general of the generation, defending the nation on behalf of the Great Yang, how many people died? It could be said that he had died of exhaustion. If he still could not obtain the trust of the royal family, then there would be nothing left to say.
Zhan Yuanfeng turned around and suddenly changed from his serious expression to laughing out loud. He shouted towards the outside, “Send some food and wine in. I want to have a drink with Master Duke.”
Putting aside the previous topic, the two of them started drinking. Most of the time, it was Zhan Yuanfeng who asked, and Lu Zheng would occasionally reply with a simple syllable, passing on the answer with his eyes when he was too lazy to reply.
Since Zhan Yuanfeng was already used to Ye Zichen's taciturn look, he could easily read Ye Zichen's meaning from his gaze.
There were many princes, and only one could ascend to the throne in the future. However, there was only this single child in the Lu Family, it was also true that rarer things were more valuable than the next generation.
“Has someone stepped on the doorstep of the duke's estate recently?”
“Not bad.”
“Haha... I don't believe it, otherwise why would Master Duke stay in my study for so long...” In the past, this person didn't even want to enter the palace.
On the night of New Year's Eve, Zuo's Mansion gathered together to eat a round meal, with everyone in the main house and second house present. Other than Zuo Shuyuan who had already been married off, the scene was very lively, at least everyone was smiling.
Zuo Yunwen continuously raised his glass to Zuo Yunyang. It was as if he could already see the bright future of Zuo's Mansion, see his grandchildren standing in the temple, see Zuo Shuhui's marriage and the scene of him becoming the master of Zuo Family that everyone envied.
A few days ago, he received instructions from the capital that after this year, he would be able to rapidly expand his trading and trading business, and at that time, he would be able to count the money until his hands give up.
Even Zuo Shaoyan, who always had a cold face, became a bit more gentle, especially when he mentioned Mrs. Hoe's pregnancy.
Zuo Shaoqing didn't remember that his sister-in-law was pregnant at this time in his previous life. Most likely, it was because of this series of changes that caused Zuo Shaoyan's mentality to change.
Zuo Shaoling was still his hedonistic young master. However, after being ordered around by Zuo Yunwen for a while, he knew that he couldn't make any mistakes in his Zuo Family, so he restrained himself a little.
Liu'er, who had been with him for a while, was also unable to enter the house due to her low status, so Zuo Shaoling started to treat her lightly.
Zuo Shaojin was the happiest out of all his descendants. This year, there were many good things that happened, and the red packets given by his seniors had increased several times, making him unable to contain his laughter.
Zuo Shaoqing maintained his smile as he watched the happy scene from the beginning to the end. He couldn't help but think in his heart: Back then when I charged into the Zuo's Mansion to take revenge, wasn't the Zuo's Mansion the same as this scene? It was just that there were no one from the Second House and only a few married daughters.
“Come, Shao Qing, let Second Uncle toast you! Congratulations to your senior high, for next year's Spring Festival Gala, for sure you will be able to get a gold medal!”
Zuo Shaoqing came back to his senses and said, “Thank you, Second Uncle!” Then he raised his glass and clinked it with Zuo Yunyang's. The two of them exchanged a look of obscurity and simultaneously drank a cup of wine.
Zuo Yunwen was getting more and more satisfied with this son of his. Previously, when Mrs. Ruan was here, he loved his family, but after his beloved concubine left, he also neglected this bastard. He didn't expect him to be so useless.
“Haha... Second Brother, don't praise him anymore. How old is he? He still needs to hone his skills for a few more years.”
Zuo Yunyang narrowed his eyes and suggested, “I just happen to have to go north to discuss a business deal in the first month of this year. How about you let your two nephews follow me on the road?”
Zuo Yunwen's brows slightly furrowed, he put down his wine cup and unhappily lectured: “Brother, in the past, our family was free from any official responsibility, we could do whatever we want in business, but now that Shao Yue and Shao Qing are about to enter the official service, didn't you also get a supervisor to take over the business?”
Zuo Yunyang smirked, and answered truthfully: “Brother's teachings are true! However, this little brother only has this little ability. I can only earn some betrothal gifts and dowry for my family's children.”
Zuo Yunwen shook his head, “A normal person! Money was just a thing, what was the use of having no status if one earned it? In the future, Shao Jin will take the exam, if he goes out as the son of a merchant, I'm afraid his reputation will be affected.”
“Haha... Big Bro, you're overthinking it. Shao Jin is still young right now, but he will need at least 8 or 10 years to reach that level. By then, I will already be old, I can't even put my life on the line.”
Zuo Shaoqing lowered his head and sniffed a glass of wine as the corner of his mouth slightly curved. In this family, the most sensible person would probably be his smelly Second Uncle.
It seemed like he had found the right person to ally with him.
In the end, Zuo Yunwen didn't agree to let his sons follow his Second Uncle on the road. Zuo Yunwen didn't agree to let his sons follow his Second Uncle on the road.
Zuo Shaoqing was quite moved. He had a share in the trading of kaleidoscope. It wouldn't be bad if he could see it with his own eyes.
Just as he wanted to give Second Uncle a meaningful glance, he heard Zuo Yunwen say: “Tonight we will guard the year, but forget about this old one. Tomorrow we still have to go to the ancestral shrine to pay our respects, don't be unable to withstand the pressure.”
Mrs. Zuo's family had a lot of branches remaining, but because of what happened that year, most of them went out on their own and did not want to get involved with their family. The ones left behind were the elders who had authority in the family.
If Zuo Shaoqing wanted to take over Zuo Family as a concubine, unless all the males in the Zuo Family Hall were dead, or unless they all did something to make the ones close to them hate the ones who are faster, he would never be able to take over this position.
It seemed like he could let second uncle start moving towards the clan. Everyone had their weakness, as long as they could bear it, there wouldn't be any wolves that they couldn't trap. It wouldn't be a bad thing to rope in those old fellows first.
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