Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 531 Wedding Date
Although Lin Lao Hu left, Lu Sanlang still exaggeratedly explained to Zhu Ying the story of Zhang Shou's recent confrontation with Hong Shanchang. When the elated Miss Zhu returned home, she told her family the story of today's lecture at the Imperial College in an even more exaggerated tone, and of course she would never miss Zhang Shou's verbal battle with Hong Shanchang.
Because of the teachers in his family back then, Zhu Er hated listening to lectures by those old pedants the most in his life - as for Zhu Gongquan, a certain person whom he once relied on and trusted, he not only never served as his teacher but also made him feel like the master of the world, so he was not among them - however, now he regretted it very much, because Lu Sanlang not only caught up with today's event, but also confronted Zhou Jijiu in public!
Therefore, Zhu Er couldn't help but slap the armrest vigorously, his face full of regret: "Brother-in-law did a great job, and he should let those old Taoists have a taste of his power! Even that kid Lu Sanpang, he is not the chief disciple. If I remember correctly, brother-in-law still has two students in Rongshui Village. Aren't they working for Wang Datou now?"
Zhu Tingfang, who had won numerous first prizes in the Imperial College and was an excellent student among excellent students, was not as optimistic as Zhu Ying when he heard that Zhou Jijiu and Luo Siye were completely suppressed by Zhang Shou's momentum. Among the four presidents, President Hong was overwhelmed, President Yue did not get any advantage, and the other two were cunning and had to stand by and watch.
"Although Zhang Shou is smart, he didn't seem to be so aggressive before. What medicine did he take?"
Zhu Ying was so angry that he jumped up: "Brother, how can you say that! Ah Shou just couldn't stand the old stubborn man looking down on others, so he exposed his face in public! Besides, the old stubborn man surnamed Hong said that Ah Shou was a flatterer, so Ah Shou can't say that he ignored the instructions of Grandpa Taizu?"
"Haha, it turns out that it's not that a gentleman's revenge is never too late, it's that retribution in this life comes quickly."
Zhu Tingfang had also heard about Zhang Shou accompanying the emperor to meet with Shanzhang Yue and Shanzhang Hong, but he had never heard of the flattering words, nor had he heard Zhu Ying mention it before. He thought that Zhang Shou would not have told Zhu Ying, but most likely Zhu Ying heard it from the emperor afterwards. But the next moment, he was choked by Zhu Ying's water and almost choked.
"Brother, do you still have time to arrange things for Ah Shou? The emperor wants you to go to the South City Military Division. Have you made up your mind?"
"Cough cough cough cough..." After coughing for a long time, Zhu Tingfang finally calmed down, and then stared at Zhu Ying with angrily. There was no doubt that after questioning the emperor in the palace that day, Zhu Ying only told him this, but now Zhu Ying revealed it in Qing'an Hall, which was definitely revenge for what he said just now about Zhang Shou!
The little sister has grown up and is about to get married, but her elbow has completely turned outward!
The more Zhu Tingfang thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. However, under the surprised gazes of his grandmother, father, and stepmother—he simply ignored Zhu Er's puzzled look—he had no choice but to tell Zhu Ying exactly what the emperor had said. Sure enough, just as he finished speaking, Jiu Niang spoke first.
"How can a messy place like the South City Military Department be worthy of the eldest son of the Duke of Zhao's mansion? Dalang, you are a famous general with outstanding military achievements and a noble character. Don't get involved in such muddy water! If you want to be an official, you should at least be a general. Otherwise, your father would have fully supported you to stay in Cangzhou, and you wouldn't have given up halfway and let you come back just to watch someone else take your place!"
Zhu Tingfang had always respected his stepmother. When he first became a martial artist, he once climbed over the wall to visit her. When he heard Jiu Niang's words defending him, he smiled bitterly and bowed, saying, "Mother, you are too kind. I just won a battle once..."
"If it weren't for your father, you wouldn't have won the decisive battle that time. It was because he didn't take your life, the eldest son, seriously!" Jiu Niang didn't bother to look at Zhu Jing's eyes that kept looking at her. She said sincerely, "Da Lang, you are a good horse, why bother to get involved in that pool of mud? And Yingying also said that even Zhang Shou was trying to shirk your responsibility for you at that time."
When talking about her future son-in-law, Jiu Niang showed a faint smile. For her, who always had a quick temper and seemed a little cold after staying in the temple for a long time, this smile naturally seemed particularly moving.
"Just listen to my advice. If there is no suitable position, don't take it. If your father wants to be the Minister of War, you, as the eldest son, can't lead the troops, then rest at home, practice martial arts, practice military training, and train the servants and generals at home!"
Jiu Niang never mentioned letting Zhu Tingfang join the Ruiqi Battalion. She knew very well that if Zhu Jing really took this step, even if Zhu Tingfang had made great contributions in the past, he would not have the chance to be a military commander. Although it was not reasonable for a father to give way to a son, she still felt unfair when she thought that a talent like Zhu Tingfang had to give way to his father.
Can't the father and son just hang around in Wumen? What's so good about the Minister of War? Didn't you see that Lu Wan said he would take the blame? And he has to be suppressed by some shitty old man. Why should he endure this?
The Madam and Zhu Jing could see and hear Jiu Niang's resentment from her eyes and words. The mother and son looked at each other, the Madam smiled, but Zhu Jing smiled bitterly. Although the two of them could have put on airs as grandmothers or fathers and forced Zhu Tingfang to make a choice that suited their wishes, they finally decided to let him decide for himself.
Zhu Er still needs someone to take care of him, but Zhu Tingfang is no longer a child who needs them to arrange his life!
Although no one expected him to express his opinion, Zhu Er hesitated for a while, and finally whispered: "Brother, the South City Bingmasi is indeed a filthy mud pond. You'd better think about it more."
He didn't throw cold water on people directly, but he did tell them seriously about the chaos in the outer city. He even used the bad deeds of Mr. Wang, who was captured alive by Hua Qi, as a reason to convince people. He talked for a long time with a dry mouth. Seeing that Zhu Tingfang was unmoved, he couldn't help but feel discouraged and even forgot himself and spoke without thinking.
"Brother, I really didn't lie to you. If you go to the South City Military Division, it would be like an orchid growing in the palace garden being transplanted into a swamp. Wouldn't that be a waste of yourself?"
Seeing that her mother and second brother firmly opposed the proposal, while her grandmother and father remained silent, Zhu Ying suddenly felt that her vote of support or opposition was crucial. She had been leaning on her grandmother's couch when she sat up straight and spoke with a serious look. However, as soon as she said the word "eldest brother", Zhu Tingfang laughed.
"Mother, I'm afraid I'm going to go against your good intentions. In fact, when Yingying told me, I had already made up my mind. Although the South City Army is pitch black , I, a dragon that has crossed the river, can also turn into a giant python that can roll in the mud when I reach the swamp. Although those toads and small reptiles in the swamp are very capable of survival, once the giant python gets angry and rolls around, they will not be able to escape!"
Jiu Niang was stunned. Zhu Er was about to object, but after thinking about his elder brother's words, which sounded like a bandit, he couldn't help shrinking his head and whispered, "Brother, if you use your ruthlessness on the battlefield, those guys will really just run away... But you have to think about it, if you take office, you may see enemies everywhere."
Zhu Tingfang glanced at Zhu Er and was about to say that when I followed my father to the north, I saw enemies everywhere. However, when he saw Zhu Er's eyes clearly showing concern, he, who had beaten his younger brother since he was a child, just laughed.
"Of course I won't be so arrogant as to charge into battle alone. In addition to the personal guards at home, I will have to ask the emperor for a few more elite soldiers and generals. In addition, I have the absolute power to conduct rectification."
Zhu Er felt a gust of cold wind swirling around him, and he shuddered for a moment. Then he mourned for the people of the South City Army - it's bad luck for you to mess with my eldest brother! However, he didn't dare to say anything, but he didn't expect his father to suddenly say something to him.
"Now that Dalang has found a place to stay, Erlang, what are your plans for the future? You have stayed in the capital for long enough , right? When do you plan to leave? The words "Mr. Zhu likes farming" sound very fresh to me. I hope you are not just talking."
Zhu Er had never expected that the topic would suddenly turn to him. He was caught off guard for a moment, but then he felt extremely aggrieved. What do you mean by "I've been lying long enough"... This is also his home, right? Why are you urging him to leave? He was about to say that it was not yet the cotton planting season, but when he thought of the fire in Qin Garden, he immediately became alert.
He hesitated again and again, and finally whispered, "Didn't we agree that Yingying would get married at the end of the year? Can't I leave after they get married?"
This time, the lady smiled and said, "It's better for you to leave later. We originally planned to arrange a wedding for Yingying in November at the end of the year, but now, let's do it for your eldest brother first. First, Zhang Shou's parents have just been posthumously honored, and it will be more appropriate to wait until his family temple is built before getting married. I have discussed this with Yingying, and February next year is a good time. Second, your eldest brother is the eldest brother after all."
Zhu Er's eyes widened immediately, and he saw that Zhu Ying, who should have been noisy, was calm. Zhu Jing and Jiu Niang were even calmer, and Zhu Tingfang... didn't seem to be talking about his marriage at all, and looked like nothing had happened. He felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
When he met his eldest brother before, he felt sorry for him because he was forced to go on a blind date as soon as he came back. It would be better if he had already been engaged to Wang Datou's niece, the good wife and good mother in the eyes of his stepmother Jiu Niang. But now his grandmother told him that his eldest brother, who had clearly had many failed marriages before, was not only engaged, but also going to get married?
"Brother...Brother is getting married?" Zhu Er asked, wondering if he was hallucinating.
"Yes!" Zhu Ying held up her chin and looked at her second brother who was obviously frightened, and said with a smile, "My eldest brother and the third daughter of the Weinan Earl's family met, and they both felt that they got along very well. Grandmother said that they will make a betrothal agreement in the next two days."
Well, it's good that the second brother was frightened, so that she wouldn't be frightened when she hurried out to see her grandmother this morning and heard that her wedding date would be postponed, or because her eldest brother had to get married first. It's better to share happiness with others than to enjoy it alone. Next, should she go and scare Zhang Shou? Who told him to tell her elders that they would get married after the family temple was completed without telling her!
At this moment, Zhu Ying couldn't help laughing when she saw Zhu Er's mouth opened as if it could swallow an egg. Zhu Tingfang, on the other hand, saw his brother's inquiring eyes and said nonchalantly, "I am old and disfigured, but she treats me as normal. Besides, she was raised by her stepmother until she was seven or eight years old, so she knows how to run a household well..."
"Stop, stop!" Zhu Er quickly gestured to Zhu Tingfang to stop talking, and then asked in disbelief, "Brother, you just said the legitimate mother? My future sister-in-law is the concubine's daughter of the Weinan Earl? Ah, that's right, the Weinan Earl's wife died early, and he was too lazy to remarry, so there were a bunch of concubines at home, and then the female official given to him by Grandpa Ruizong was in charge of such a big house... My God!"
Zhu Er just felt his scalp tingling, and the look he gave his grandmother, father, and stepmother was as if he was looking at a ghost.
Even a son like him, who was said to be useless by outsiders, could marry the niece of Wang Datou, the former governor of Shuntian Prefecture and the current governor of Xuanda. As the eldest son, the future heir of the Duke of Zhao's Mansion, and the general Mingwei with outstanding military achievements, he actually married the concubine's daughter of the Weinan Earl family? This did not even take into account that Weinan Earl Zhang Kang was a surrendered person!
"It doesn't matter whether she is born legitimate or illegitimate, as long as she is suitable." Zhu Tingfang smiled indifferently and said lightly, "Her two elder sisters are already married. She is in charge of Weinan Earl's family now. After all, the female official that Ruizong gave to Weinan Earl has already let go and handed over the power to her. As for her appearance and manners, I am not a picky person. Even if she is not as good as Yingying, she is also dignified and beautiful."
However, he had another reason hidden in his heart. Of all the families he could choose, the Zhang family of Weinan Earl was the least likely to cause trouble. And the third daughter of the Weinan Earl family was also the most low-key and least likely to cause trouble.
Such a daughter who is a housekeeper and looks after the family, even someone like Zhu Ying who is always out and about has never heard of her!
After Zhu Tingfang had finished talking to Zhu Er, Zhu Jing, as a father, said in a deep voice: "I have already agreed with Weinan Bo that we will do the engagement ceremony in the next two days and get married on the tenth day of November. After the engagement ceremony, the wedding invitations will be sent out. Erlang, if you are going out, just come back before the tenth day of November."
At this point, he said earnestly, "I originally planned to arrange your wedding in February or March next year, and Yingying's in April or May, but your future brother-in-law Zhang Shou is already successful in his career, and you are still a half-baked person. If you come to propose marriage like this, I'm worried that Wang Datou will write a letter to scold you. So, it's better to arrange Yingying's wedding first, but you have to think carefully."
Zhu Er's face suddenly turned the color of liver. It was still red even when he returned to his room.
The eldest brother got married first, and it was natural for the eldest brother to be the first; Zhu Ying got married first, and the brothers helped their sister to be married, and the brother-sister relationship was deep, which was also a good story. But if Zhu Ying was the next after the eldest brother, and he fell behind, it would not be so good! However, he was indeed not good at literature or martial arts, and now he blamed the young for not working hard, and the old man was sad, is this useful?
In that case... he might as well sneak off and ask Zhang Shou first, and tip someone off at the same time, to see if that person would be as frightened as he was!
