Zhou Kui was also full of anger at this time and said in a hateful voice: "If the emperor makes him a count, I will accept it. But why can he directly make him a duke? And I finally worked hard to raise my daughter and become a generation. The virtuous queen also has a grandson of the prince, and I only have an earl?"
"Yes, I don't even have a shitty title!" Zhou Bian heard this and immediately shouted after him.
In fact, it was naturally impossible for them to know that after Emperor Chongzhen knew that the country would be subjugated in two years, and all hopes could be said to be pinned on Zhang Mingwei, he had even said to Zhang Mingwei that the country should be divided equally, not to mention that he only granted one The Duke gave it to Zhang Mingwei.
This situation was actually very common in the eyes of the last emperor: the title was not valuable at all!
For example, during the Southern Ming Dynasty, everyone had a title, and it was not uncommon to have dukes, princes, and even kings with different surnames! That’s the truth!
However, in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, a few people were able to realize that the Ming Dynasty actually only had a lifespan of two years. Therefore, based on common theory, they felt that Emperor Chongzhen made Zhang Mingwei the Duke of the country at once. Although it was not said to be hereditary, it was still too much. It’s unreasonable!
When Zhu Chunchen heard the complaints from the father and son, his expression suddenly changed, and he hurriedly said to them: "Calm down, calm down, I told you, I shouldn't have said it! Look, are you angry? This is just a matter of time. If you accept it, just wait for the officials to impeach him and give him a new title! But although this is an opportunity to give you a title, it’s better not to mess with it..."
Upon hearing what he said next, Zhou Bian was very sensitive and immediately asked: "What is the chance of being promoted?"
"Look! Even those who flatter and make the emperor happy can be granted the title of Duke!" Zhu Chunchen said to him, "Then comparing the contribution of your Zhou family to the Ming Dynasty, there is no reason to increase the Sir?"
Take Wu Qinghou as an example. He is just a cousin of the late Queen Mother, and both are hereditary marquises. On Zhou Kui's side, he has a queen as his daughter and a grandson as his own, so the earl is really a bit low.
Not suffering from scarcity but from inequality is a common problem among people. The Zhou family originally felt that their earl was not up to par through comparison, and they had their own opinions. At this time, when compared with Zhang Mingwei's Duke, he felt even more aggrieved.
"Yes, you are right!" After hearing Zhu Chunchen's words, Zhou Bian immediately shouted to his father, "Dad, after passing this village, there is no such store. Take this opportunity to tell your sister to go make trouble. I don’t believe it anymore. Do you need my sister’s face or the prince’s face? Our Zhou family has sacrificed so much, but we are so suppressed by others. We might be looked down upon and laughed to death.”
If the original historical development were to follow, Zhou Kui would have been granted the title of Marquis before the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
However, when Zhu Chunchen said this, both Zhou Kui and his son couldn't wait. Zhou Kui also said angrily: "You are right, if we don't fight, others will really look down on our Zhou family!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Chunchen quickly tried to dissuade him: "No, no, no, no, no, don't mess around!"
When Zhou Kui heard this, his face suddenly darkened and he shouted: "Why are you so messed up? Even a villain like that can be granted the title of Duke. Why don't we fight for what we deserve for our great contribution to the Ming Dynasty?"
"That's not what I mean! If you ask me, of course I think you, Old Zhou, should have been granted the title of Duke a long time ago!" After hearing this, Zhu Chunchen quickly explained, "But if you go to the palace to cause trouble now, His Majesty or the Queen will ask, If you say I asked you to go, wouldn’t I be unlucky?”
Having said this, he quickly added: "Old Zhou, I have always advised you not to make trouble. But if you don't listen, you must fight for the title you deserve! Tell me, if you say that I advised you to go , the emperor, and the queen will definitely have objections to me, and maybe they will blame me! To be honest, I have to stop you, otherwise, I will be unlucky, and it will be all because of my bad mouth. I said it, but in the end I couldn’t help but say it!”
When Zhou Bian heard this, he immediately curled up his lips and said with a little contempt: "Can you stop our Zhou family's affairs?"
Zhou Kui consoled him: "Don't worry, this matter has nothing to do with you! It's just that we feel insulted, so we should either remove that villain's title of Duke or seal our Zhou family. Only in this way can it be fair. It's really fair. Speaking of which, this matter was caused by the Emperor himself and has nothing to do with you!"
"It really has nothing to do with me and won't implicate me?" After hearing this, Zhu Chunchen quickly confirmed, "I'm afraid that if the Queen presses, you will still testify against me. If your good intentions are not rewarded, I will be unlucky!"
When Zhou Kui heard this, he became a little angry and said to him: "We haven't dated each other once or twice, right? Did I tell you about what happened before? Now that I've put it down, then Just be at ease! You woke me up so that my Zhou family would not suffer a loss. I will definitely not say anything about you."
"Yes, you haven't been here today, so that's it, right?" After hearing this, Zhou Bian followed suit, then turned to Zhou Kui and said, "Dad, why don't you ask for a title for me this time?" ?”
Without a title, when he went out to hang out with the royal family and nobles, they would call each other "Sir, Lord, Marquis". He was the only one in a white body, which always made him a little uncomfortable.
After Zhou Kui heard this, he immediately shook his head and said: "No, I have to take advantage of this opportunity to fight for the title of Duke of the country. If I don't say anything, after I die, you will be the Duke of the country. Isn't that good?"
"No, I mean..."
Seeing Zhou Kui and his son quarreling among themselves, Zhu Chunchen quickly stood up and said: "Then you guys can discuss it slowly. I believe in Lao Zhou's character. Just treat me as if I've never been here. Lao Zhou, take my leave!"
After hearing his words, both Zhou Kui and his son paused their quarrel. For them, Zhu Chunchen, an upright prince, was very flattering to them, which gave them a sense of superiority, and naturally they were reluctant to involve such a friend.
Therefore, Zhou Kui promised again that this matter had absolutely nothing to do with Zhu Chunchen, and then he let him go.
But they didn't know that after Zhu Chunchen left Jiading Uncle's Mansion, he sneered and spit in the corner and left.
Those who have been knighted for their military merits have no real respect for those who have been knighted through nepotism. It's just that they will bow down to be friends when they see something valuable that can be used.
On the ninth day of the third month in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, hundreds of officials went to court. They looked at each other and understood each other. The censor Yanguan charged at the front and started a just battle to defeat the evil factory guards. It is best to curb the factory guards and continue to let the factory guards act like turtles and grandsons.
At the same time, Zhou Kui and his son also rushed to the palace to see the queen to get the benefits they thought they should get.
Only those nobles who did not have to go to court began to drink tea and watch the show. At the same time, of course, they sent people to inquire about the goings-on in the court.
