"Besides, Wanzhou girl has entered the court, you..."
"Mother."
The Empress Dowager Zhu kept talking, but Yuan Chen had no choice but to interrupt and defend himself in a low voice, "My son has long since lost interest in Wanzhou. He has no intention of having a harem, just because of his country."
Hearing this, Queen Mother Zhu was dubious, pushed the portrait in front of him, and said softly, "No matter whether you are idle or not, the harem must not be empty. If you want to be stable, you cannot handle it by yourself."
When it came to this point, Yuan Chen had no choice but to refuse, so he had to flip through it casually.
What a coincidence, I found an acquaintance.
Yuan Chen looked at the person above him, his fingertips holding the portrait tightened, his eyes flashed, as if he was thinking about something.
Empress Dowager Zhu noticed something was wrong, followed his gaze, and exclaimed, "Isn't this Prime Minister Yun's legitimate daughter? What does she seem to be called..."
"Yun Qinghe." Yuan Chen spoke slowly and called out the name of the person in the painting.
"Yes, that's the girl." Empress Dowager Zhu looked at the portrait, feeling satisfied in her heart. "She has a beautiful face and a good family background. When the late emperor was still here, Prime Minister Yun was still a tutor and led his family members into the palace for banquets. I have seen that girl from a distance. At first glance, although he looks a little cold, he looks really good-looking."
Hearing this, Yuan Chen was stunned. The image of the little girl crying until she turned red because she couldn't afford candied haws appeared in his mind. He felt a little funny for a moment, "I'm afraid the cold face is fake."
Queen Mother Zhu felt surprised and looked him up and down, "I hear your tone sounds familiar. Could it be that you have gotten along with her before?"
Yuan Chen straightened his expression, shook his head and denied, "No, it's just my son's random guess."
"If the Queen Mother also likes her, why not choose her to enter the palace and take Yu Ruyi."
"You want to choose her to be the queen?" Queen Mother Zhu was surprised and asked in a low voice.
Yuan Chen nodded, pulled out Yun Qinghe's portrait, and whispered, "My mother just said it. She has a prominent family background and good looks. Such a person is naturally the best choice for the queen."
Queen Mother Zhu frowned and couldn't believe it, "Why did you suddenly change your temper?"
Yuan Chen paused with his fingertips, Shen Ji's words rang in his mind, and his earlobes started to heat up, "It's nothing..."
-
Hulong County
Shen Ji leaned against the car, his long eyelashes drooping, and the moonlight reflected on his body, making it difficult to see his expression clearly.
"Shen Ji."
Hearing the sound, Shen Ji slowly raised his head and met Fang Xu's gaze, who was also under the moon.
Seeing Fang Xu, Shen Ji subconsciously raised the corners of his mouth and called in a deep voice, "Madam."
Fang Xu took off his hat, walked a little faster, and urged, "The inn has been prepared, and we have reserved two upper rooms. The location is good. Let's go early and come back early."
Shen Ji blinked and nodded, "Okay."
The two of them got on the carriage and went straight to the Marquis Zhuo Wen's Mansion. Within a quarter of an hour, they stood in front of the Marquis' Mansion.
It was getting later at night, and the curfew in the small county town was later. The lights in Zhuo Wenhou's mansion were brightly lit, as if they were celebrating something.
The servant went in to report, and after a while, a man strode out.
The man has reached middle age, but he is still elegant. It is not difficult to see how handsome he was when he was young, and his appearance is similar to Shen Ji.
When he saw Shen Ji, the man was stunned for a moment. Without thinking much, he smiled and talked to him, "Master Shen, I have long admired your name."
Shen Ji looked at him and was stunned for a long time. It was not until he heard Fang Xu coughing that he came back to his senses, "Marquis Zhuo Wen is extraordinary. Now that I have seen him, it is indeed as rumored."
"Master Shen is so complimentary that Yue is too ashamed to deserve it."
Shen Ji's sweet words coaxed Marquis Zhuo Wen into elation, "Master Shen, you are so tired from traveling and traveling, please come to your residence to have a rest."
Shen Ji nodded and said warmly, "Thank you."
Zhuo Wenhou smiled in an easy-going manner and reached out his hand towards the house, "Master Shen, you are welcome. Please."
Shen Ji looked at Fang Xu calmly and stepped into Marquis Zhuo Wen's mansion.
At night, Zhuo Wenhou's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. The further we walked inside, the clearer the laughter became.
Shen Ji looked sideways at the man beside him and asked in a low voice, "It's so late and the house is still so lively, but what's there to be happy about?"
"It's a coincidence, Mr. Shen, that today is the birthday of Mr. Yue's grandson. Please make sure to have a glass of festive wine, Mr. Shen!"
When he mentioned his grandson, Zhuo Wenhou could not suppress the smile on his face.
Shen Ji paused, his face a little confused, "Grandson?"
Zhuo Wenhou looked at him with a smile, somewhat unresponsive.
Shen Ji suddenly came back to his senses and twitched the corner of his mouth, "Marquis Zhuo Wen is really lucky to have his grandson around his knees."
Zhuo Wenhou laughed twice and agreed, "Looking at Mr. Shen's young age, he should be about the same age as my son. I wonder if this is Mrs. Shen?"
Zhuo Wenhou stared at Fang Xu, obviously asking her.
Shen Ji stiffened and did not dare to look back at Fang Xu's face.
Fang Xu seemed to be aware of his emotions, his eyes darkened, he saluted and said with a smile, "I have met Marquis Zhuo Wen."
This answer was ambiguous, not only did it not refute Shen Ji's face, but it also followed Zhuo Wenhou's words.
Marquis Zhuo Wen couldn't help but nod his head and joked with Shen Ji, "Shen Da is so talented and lucky to have such a beautiful wife."
Shen Ji opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he saw a boy running out of the corner not far away, about eight or nine years old.
"Grandfather!" The boy threw himself into Marquis Zhuo Wen's arms, coquettishly, "I have been waiting for a long time tomorrow, but my grandfather has not come back."
The smile on Marquis Zhuo Wen's face became even bigger. He hugged the boy and whispered, "Be good tomorrow, grandpa is busy at the moment."
"What's more important than tomorrow's birthday?" The boy raised his head, his face full of accusations. Then he noticed someone was there, turned to look at Shen Ji, and pursed his lips, "Who are you and why do you want to come to us? Home?"
Shen Ji's heart ached. Seeing the guarded look in the boy's eyes, he didn't know what to say.
"Ming'er, don't be rude!" Zhuo Wenhou scolded him lightly, hugged him in his arms, and smiled at Shen Ji, "Master Shen, Yue's grandson is naughty, and no one comes to the house on weekdays. My wife dotes on him and neglects to discipline him, so please don’t blame me, Mr. Shen.”
Shen Ji shook his head. He didn't know what was blocking his throat and couldn't say a word.
Zhuo Wenhou lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "Ming'er, this is an adult from the capital. Don't play with your little temper anymore!"
The boy pouted with dissatisfaction on his face, "Ming'er just wants his grandfather to celebrate his birthday with him. He doesn't want his grandfather to be snatched away by others."
Each word passed into Shen Ji's ears, which was quite ironic.
Who robbed whose family?
Fang Xu frowned, took a step forward, and was about to speak, but Shen Ji held his wrist.
Fang Xu was stunned and looked sideways at Shen Ji.
Shen Ji turned pale, suppressing the sourness in his heart, and shook his head at her.
Fang Xu lowered his eyes and retreated calmly.
"Father, why are you staying here?"
Suddenly a male voice sounded, and Shen Ji followed the sound and met the eyes of the man under the Moon Gate. (End of chapter)
