Chapter 14: Suspicion (2)
On the sixth day of the New Year, set sail.
This Han River is the largest river in Shu and has been very prosperous since ancient times.
On the deck, Wang Shoutian pondered.
I don’t know why, almost all the courts of all dynasties have been like this. The later the emperor’s lifespan is shorter and it is difficult for his descendants to reproduce. After Emperor Yuan Chong’s death, the mess left behind was not easy to deal with. But Emperor Chui Zheng, who succeeded to the throne, was a seven-year-old child, which further exacerbated the tragedy of the court.
It is now the twelve years old. In this way, the emperor is also twenty years old. However, according to what he knew in his previous life, although the emperor is still the lord of the world in name, I am afraid that even Jinling may not be controlled?
Just as he was pondering, a gust of wind first came, followed by heavy rain and beans falling down. The boatman and his personal soldiers quickly comforted the horses and covered them with oil cloth. Wang Shoutian also retreated to the boat warehouse.
"How long will it take to get to Hongze Mansion?"
"Official, it's not long before I cook a fish for you. After eating it, it's time." The boatman smiled apologized and asked the wife to cook the fish again. Sure enough, there was not much time, and the fish smelled the fragrance.
The rain continued to fall. Wang Shoutian held a wine pot and dipped the fish cooked with vinegar and ginger. At this time, he was wearing a blue shirt and looked like a young master on a trip.
"Ganhou, half of the people were on holiday yesterday, why didn't you go?" Wang Shoutian slowed down his fish and asked boredly.
"Sir, I have many brothers, and there are five. My parents don't have to worry about not having anyone to serve me. There are not many brothers in the fire, and the family is not good. Let them bring some food and meat back to celebrate the New Year." Gan Hou patroled around and explained.
"What you said makes sense. After this matter is done, I will give you some vacation and you will go back once." Wang Shoutian smiled slightly, his expression was plain, as if he was thinking about something else.
"Thank you, sir!" Gan Hou nodded and looked back at the five personal soldiers worriedly: "Is it inappropriate to have only brought one army this time?"
"No obstacle, it is enough to deal with ordinary thieves. Besides, there are only five or six entourages in general, and they bring too many, which makes them conspicuous. We wear casual clothes on the road, so there will be no serious problems." Wang Shoutian said with a smile.
"Yes, sir!" Gan Hou looked ahead and said, "Sir, the river ferry has arrived."
Sure enough, when the ferry arrived, the boat not only did not speed up, but instead reduced the speed. However, even so, it quickly moved up.
The inspectors did not dare to make things difficult when they saw Wang Shoutian's appearance.
Hongze Prefecture is a county town, a very prosperous city with a large number of people coming and going, and frequent trade.
Especially in the past few days, the New Year atmosphere has not passed, and the merchants have been holding back their energy and are full of ways to attract passers-by. At first glance, the streets are colorful and festive.
Wang Shoutian looked carefully and found that as a county town, it was indeed an extraordinary magnificent city with high walls, solid defense, and lively city. Compared with Jishui County, it was really in the sky and the ground.
There are soldiers guarding the city gate, and everyone who enters the city needs to pay some fees, but even so, there are still many vendors entering the city, which makes Wang Shoutian a little amazed.
I don’t know when Jishui County under his control will also have such prosperity.
As soon as you enter the city, the shouting sounds poured into your ears and the bustling scenery caught your eyes.
In addition to merchants and ordinary passers-by, there are also some patrol soldiers on the streets, as well as some rich children who are dressed more gorgeously than ordinary people.
In the county town, lights and colorful colors were everywhere. People who traveled far away rushed back. The streets that were not usually deserted were crowded with people. These smart merchants took advantage of this time to launch objects in their stores and use various methods to attract people on the street. Therefore, this time of year is the most lively time in the county town.
Although Wang Shoutian came to Hongze Mansion for the first time, he had also been to many places in his previous life. Therefore, he was a little surprised by such a prosperous scene at first and soon returned to peace.
"Lai Tongyu, I remember that he was writing a essay in a commercial bank at this time, and the scale of it is not small. Although the Hongze Mansion is large, there are only these large commercial banks... It should not be very troublesome to find it." Wang Shoutian thought, because he was rushing to the road early and was a little tired, so Wang Shoutian decided to find an inn in the city to rest.
"Ganhou, I want to find someone whose name is Lai Tongyu. In a large business, please find it for me." Wang Shoutian looked at it and said to a hotel opposite: "If you find it, come back and report it to me."
"No!" Gan Hou said in response.
At this time, the residence of the Wenyang Prefecture Jiedushi,
"Where is the madam?" Wang Zunzhi, who had changed into casual clothes and had a haggard face, walked to the inner house after handling the matter, but did not see his wife, which made his face look less beautiful.
In front of him, three maids stood side by side, and under his eyes, their bodies trembled slightly.
"I'm asking you, where's the madam?" Seeing this, the expression on the Jiedushi's face was filled with shadow.
Wang Zunzhi had already guessed something, but this kind of guess made him feel a little uncomfortable. He was waiting for an answer. If it was really what he guessed, he would be really disappointed.
"...Madam...she...she went to Jingxin Temple..." The oldest maid among the three didn't even dare to raise her head and said stammeringly.
"Jingxin'an!" Wang Zunzhi's face suddenly darkened: "This time, did she say how long she stayed there?"
"Master...I don't know..."
"I don't know? What are you doing? Do you dare to tell me that I don't know?" As he said coldly, Wang Zunzhi glanced at the three of them: "Why are you doing while standing there? Why don't you go to Jingxin Temple to invite your wife back? Humph, if she doesn't come back, then you don't have to come back! I'll send you to the temple to be your sister!"
Be a sister-in-law?
The three maids were shocked by his words. After hustling to him, they hurried to Jingxin Temple.
Looking at their departure backs, Wang Zunyi sat down on the chair and looked at the deserted hall. After a moment, he started coughing, one more and one more sound.
He had three sons and two daughters, but the two sons died young. The eldest son was originally twenty years old and was expected to inherit the throne, but he died unexpectedly. The entire Jiedu Mansion was no longer the same as before.
It’s not that Wang Zunzhi has never taken a concubine and wants to have another child.
However, the two newly married women had no movement in their stomachs. They were not young anymore, and they were afraid they would never give birth to children again.
Besides, even if there are children, so what? It is already a chaotic time. Even in a feudal state, there are a few who can survive the father and son, most of whom are usurped by their subordinates.
Even if he has a son now, he would not dare to help his young son ascend the throne - this is a harm to the child.
Thinking of this, Wang Zunzhi was very disappointed and full of regret.
Wang Zunzhi's wife was the daughter of the previous Jiedushi. Relying on her wife's relationship, she was able to take up the throne.
After marriage, Wang Zunzhi always respected her and never even took a concubine. Of course, this caused not many descendants. Two of the three sons died young and the only eldest son died again.
After his son died, Wang Zunzhi had to consider his tribe and his subordinates.
"You hypocritical hypocrite, you promised my father that you would treat me kindly and not marry a concubine. Now that Hao'er has just left, you can't wait to lead the woman into the door. You are heartless! Look at the woman you chose, just two most despicable women. Do you want such a woman?" When he deliberately chose two female slaves of humble status and entered the door, his wife pointed at his nose and cursed.
Wang Zunzhi gently massaged his eyebrows, feeling indescribable. Could it be that his wife didn't understand that he chose these two women in order not to threaten her position as a mistress?
Any of them gave birth to a child, he would carry him to her to recognize his mother.
Although you can choose your illegitimate son Wang Shoutian, if she doesn’t have a son, the evening scene will be very sad.
Forget it, everything is fate.
Wang Zunzhi's eyes were calm, and he stood in front of the window, looked at the distance, and smiled bitterly.
"Sir!" I don't know how long it took, but the butler of the mansion appeared at the entrance of the study and said carefully.
"What's the matter?" Wang Zunzhi turned around and looked at him.
"Madam, she..." The housekeeper hesitated for a moment.
Seeing this, Wang Zunzhi said, "She refuses to come back, right?"
"...Yes!" the butler replied with a tough bullet.
However, the rage he expected did not appear, and Wang Zunzhi just said lightly: "Since she wants to be in the temple, then let her go!"
After sending the housekeeper, Wang Zunzhi coughed, and gradually there was red in the gap in his palm.
"Madam, you still don't understand? I was obedient to you in order to stabilize my position, but over the years, how much influence does your father's old subordinate have? Especially now, is there any meaning to make trouble?"
"I am really empty in this life, running around for the rest of my life, white-haired people send black-haired people, and the careers of the vassal states have not improved at all. Who should I blame for such an end?"
He looked outside at the rainy day and said to himself: "Maybe, I can only resent myself. I am not a good monarch, nor a good father, nor a good man!"
"But I haven't failed yet. I still have Tian'er. Haha, I didn't expect that the spring breeze once became my lifeblood. My hope is all on him."
"The generals are unruly and cannot get married. Only the Li family is a civil servant and does not hold military power. I have married my adopted daughter to become a relative of the family and can rely on several points in the future."
"The Song family in Chengdu is a big family in Chengdu. I have prepared a lot of effort for you to make his family agree to marry a daughter. The Song family is very rich and has an influence. It can bring you wealth and family background, and will not affect your power. I hope you can use these to go to the next level... That's all my father can do for you."
Chapter completed!