Wu'anbo's mansion was in decline, and Zhu Zhenchuan, the prince of Wu'anbo, had never done any serious errands. He received a casual job in the Wucheng Army and Horses Division, and only went to answer the questions every now and then.
However, a dandy also has the advantages of a dandy. Zhu Zhenchuan is good at eating, drinking and having fun, he is loyal and generous, and he has friends from all walks of life.
This Murong branch who worked at the palace gate was one of Zhu Zhenchuan's friends.
It was rare for Zhu Zhenchuan to see his wife look good, so he was very happy and said with a smile: "I have money to spend, don't give me money."
Xu Zhi frowned suspiciously: "Where did you get the money?"
The little salary and money given by the military commanders of the five cities was not enough for a dinner. Where did Zhu Zhenchuan get the money?
Zhu Zhenchuan straightened his back and raised his eyebrows proudly: "Don't worry about this. In short, my money came from a clean source and was not stolen or cheated."
As soon as Xu Zhi heard something was wrong, she reached out and pinched Zhu Zhenchuan's ears. The familiarity of the gesture and the ferocity of the force were shocking: "Tell me! Where did you get the money?"
Zhu Zhenchuan cried out in pain: "It hurts, it hurts! Let go! Your ears are about to be torn off!"
Crying and begging for mercy could be heard outside the door.
The two boys who were peeping at the door looked at each other and then rushed in.
The boy in the front is about seven years old and is the eldest son of Zhu Zhenchuan and Xu Zhi. He has thick eyebrows and big eyes. The boy in the back is four years old this year and is fair and handsome.
"Mom," Zhu Dalang and Zhu Erlang struggled to hold his mother's left and right arms: "Mom, don't be angry."
Xu Zhi's heart softened, she let go and hugged her two sons.
Zhu Zhenchuan covered his ears and took a few steps back. He first grinned at his two sons, then rubbed oil on his soles and slipped away.
"This bastard!" Xu Zhi spat angrily.
Zhu Dalang is older, and he feels sorry for both his father and his mother: "Mom, don't always be angry with dad. Although dad is a bit of a bastard, he will never lie to mom. If dad said the money comes from a legitimate source, then there will be no problem.
"
Zhu Erlang started crying because of his young age: "Mom, don't be angry."
Xu Zhi is both funny and sad.
These two boys were always afraid that she would return to Beihai County with Zhu Zhenchuan and Li in a rage. How could she be willing to abandon them?
"Mother is not angry." Xu Zhi hugged her sons into her arms and tried her best to slow down her voice: "Da Lang Erlang, don't be afraid. Mother is fine now and is not angry anymore."
"In a few days, your uncle Chunsheng will come to see you. Are you happy?"
Xu Zhi often talks about Uncle Chunsheng. Although Zhu Dalang has never met his uncle, he still feels very friendly and his eyes are bright: "Mom, when will uncle come?"
Xu Zhi hid her worries and responded with a smile: "You will be able to see your uncle when he comes out of the palace."
…
The Office of the Minister of Rites.
Xu Fang got off the carriage and walked into the house. First she went to greet her grandmother, mother-in-law and several aunts.
The Zhou family is a scholarly family in the Qing Dynasty. As the Minister of Rites, Zhou Shangshu attaches great importance to etiquette. While his eighty-year-old mother is still alive, the sons cannot live in separate houses and live in four rooms together.
Xu Fang's husband, Zhou Yun, was the eldest grandson of the eldest family member. After passing the Jinshi examination the year before last, he worked as an errand in the Hanlin Academy.
Xu Fang has children and a daughter, and she has a good relationship with her husband. But this does not mean that her life is easy. In the Zhou family's inner house, there is a big Buddha named Mrs. Zhou, her mother-in-law, three aunts, and a bunch of sisters-in-law.
.Four generations live under one roof, and there are so many trivial things all day long.
Now the person in charge of the family is Xu Fang's mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhou. The other three female relatives are keeping an eye on the eldest brother, both secretly and overtly. In order to avoid conflicts and quarrels, Xu Fang is extra cautious in her words and actions.
Having lived like this for too long, I am really exhausted mentally and physically, and I don’t even know where to start if I want to complain.
Mrs. Zhou was eighty years old and she was in good spirits. She asked immediately, "Fang Niang is going to the Zhao Mansion today. I wonder if I can see Miss Zhao Liu today?"
Xu Fang cheered up and replied with a smile: "Yes. Miss Zhao Liu is beautiful and very smart."
Before Mrs. Zhou could open her mouth, the second wife's aunt on the side covered her mouth and smiled: "Fang Niang is so complimentary, which shows that Miss Zhao Liu is really talented and beautiful."
The aunt of the third room also smiled and said: "Logically speaking, Miss Zhao Liu should come to visit the future sister. There is no reason for you to go to the Zhao family in person. This Miss Zhao Liu is quite impressive."
Xu Fang endured her displeasure and said with a smile: "Miss Zhao Liu wrote a reply and said she would visit her in two days. I was impatient and wanted to see her, so I took the initiative to go."
The "enthusiastic" aunt of the fourth room immediately said: "In two days, I have to have a good meeting with this Miss Zhao Liu who has fascinated the prince."
Xu Fang was not a face person either. Hearing that the tone was wrong, she moved her brows and said calmly: "Chunsheng is a disciple of Master Zhao. He and Miss Zhao Liu are brothers and sisters. They have been childhood sweethearts since they were young. How can it be said that one is obsessed with the other?"
It’s really not pleasant to hear such words spread out. It’s better for Fourth Aunt to be more cautious in what she says.”
The fourth aunt's eldest daughter-in-law, Ms. Zhang, immediately jumped out: "My mother-in-law just said it casually, with no other meaning. Why is my sister-in-law so embarrassed?"
Xu Fang smiled and replied: "I just said it casually, why should my brothers and sisters worry so much."
Mrs. Zhou frowned slightly and glanced at Xu Fang: "Okay, just say a few words. Fang Niang must be tired after being out for half a day, so go back to the yard and rest first!"
Xu Fang responded, stood up and left.
As he walked out of the door, he could still hear a sentence coming from behind him: "Look, as soon as the prince came to Beijing, someone came from his family, and my sister-in-law's tone of voice was different from before."
Xu Fang: "..."
Days like this are like a cloudy day when drying clothes, and the main feeling is one of depression and depression.
Fortunately, she has a broad mind and a cheerful temperament, otherwise, she would have died of suffocation.
In the evening, her husband Zhou Yun came back.
Every day for dinner, the whole family ate together. The dining room was filled with five tables, and a total of sixty or seventy people from the Zhou family, young and old, sat on their own.
Mrs. Zhou loved to see her children and grandchildren in the house. During the day, the men were away from the house on errands and studying. At night, they all returned to the house and had to eat together.
Xu Fang silently endured the "joking" of the female family members, endured the quarrels, and waited until the dinner was over before returning to the courtyard with Zhou Yun.
The eldest son, who is ten years old, is studying in the academy and only comes back one day every ten days. His daughter Hui is only five years old this year. Xu Fang coaxed Hui to sleep before going to take a bath and change clothes.
Zhou Yun wiped his wife's hair and whispered: "Chunsheng has moved into Bixiao Palace."
The Imperial Academy was well-informed. Zhou Yun inquired again and found out where Xu Jing lived.
Xu Fang whispered worriedly: "With Chunsheng's temper, I'm afraid he will get into trouble."
Zhou Yun comforted him with a smile: "Don't underestimate Chunsheng. I heard that Bixiao Palace is the closest to the East Palace. Chunsheng can live in this palace, which shows that he made a good first impression on the emperor."
