Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 74: British Invitation

Hanlin Lane, Zhao Mansion, backyard.

Zhao Han did not hide what happened in the court today from Hua Lan.

Hua Lan's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and there was a hint of worry in her bright eyes.

"Sir, this is a very serious matter. Are you really sure you can accomplish it?"

Zhao Han smiled slightly and raised his hand to tuck the strand of hair that was scattered on her forehead behind her ear.

"If this can be accomplished, by this time next year, my Hua'er will be a royal consort."

Hua Lan's eyes were slightly hot, and she reached out and pressed her hand on the back of his hand.

"I don't want any imperial edicts. I just want to live a peaceful life with you and stay together forever."

Zhao Han held her hand and said gently, "Don't worry, now that I have a family, I won't do anything that has no chance of success."

Hua Lan raised her eyes and looked at him deeply, then finally nodded.

"I believe you, sir, but you must be careful about everything. I am at home, so you don't have to worry about me."

Hearing this, Zhao Han felt a warm feeling in his heart, and he said, "You can take some time to go back to your parents' home in the near future."

"I ignored my father-in-law's objections and agreed to this matter. I'm afraid he must be extremely worried right now."

Hua Lan smiled slightly, her red lips parted.

"Dad has always been cautious in his official duties, and he always considers everything carefully."

"He must have been terribly frightened today. I'm afraid he couldn't even eat."

As she spoke, she was already thinking about how to comfort her timid father when she returned to her parents' home in a few days.

At this moment, Chang Qing bowed and came into the wing room, saying softly, "My Lord, the Duke of Yingguo's mansion has sent someone to deliver a letter."

"Please come to my house for a chat at 5:00 PM."

Zhao Han looked at the invitation in Chang Qing's hand, which was sealed with green silk, inscribed in gold, and stamped with the Duke of Ying's red seal. He nodded slightly and said, "Go tell the person who comes that I will be there on time."

After Changqing responded, he immediately went to pass on the message.

At the same time, in the Imperial Palace, inside the Wenhua Hall.

Empress Cao looked at Zhao Zhen who was reviewing memorials, and finally could no longer suppress her anxiety.

"Han'er hasn't even reached the age of twenty yet, how can he shoulder such an important responsibility?"

"If there's even the slightest mistake, not to mention the border war, even the court will have a hard time explaining it!"

"Why don't the officials try to stop him?"

Zhao Zhen put down his red brush and sighed softly, "Dan Shu, do you still remember when I ascended the throne?"

Empress Cao blurted out, "In the first year of the Qianxing reign, the emperor came to power at the age of thirteen."

But as soon as she said this, she was stunned. Looking at Zhao Zhen's meaningful eyes, she suddenly understood something.

There was a hint of melancholy in Zhao Zhen's voice. "Yes, thirteen years old!"

"At that time, I couldn't even understand the memorial, but I had to tell the entire court: I understand."

"The Empress Dowager has been ruling the country from behind the curtain for over ten years, but hasn't life gotten along just fine?"

Empress Cao was silent for a moment.

"Although Han'er is still under 20, he is neither humble nor arrogant in his words and deeds in front of me. He is much more steady than those veteran officials in the court."

"If this matter is accomplished, it will be a blessing for the Great Zhou."

"If it doesn't work out, as a father, can I not protect my child?"

"Don't worry, that old man Zhang Fu will do his best to make this happen even if he doesn't know Han'er is my biological son."

"He has been looking forward to sending troops to Xixia for who knows how many years."

"However, I was quite surprised that Marquis Gu spoke up for Han'er today." Zhao Zhen said, then shook his head with a slight smile on his lips.

Zhang Maoze, who was standing by, saw this and said softly, "Your Highness, your Highness and the Second Prince of Marquis Gu's family have a close relationship and have been brothers for a long time."

Zhao Zhen thought carefully for a moment, his eyebrows raised slightly, "The second son of Marquis Gu's family, is he the one named Gu Tingye?"

"The emperor has a good memory, it's him." Zhang Maoze bowed in response.

"I remember that when this boy was seven or eight years old, he often followed Marquis Gu into the palace."

"After showing off his skills in front of me, he still dared to ask for a reward. I admired him very much at the time and felt that he would become a great man in the future, so I rewarded him with a lot of things."

At this point, Zhao Zhen changed the subject, his tone sounding somewhat helpless.

"I never imagined that this boy would become so naughty that he once tied the Duke's grandson to the back of a horse and dragged him around the training ground three times."

"The Duke of Lingguo was so angry that he complained directly to me, crying and begging for justice."

"I have put a lot of thought into mediating this matter."

Under Xiao Qin's overt and covert instigation, Gu Tingye did countless naughty things when he was young.

For example, he rode a wild horse and rushed around the market, injuring several people, forcing Gu Yankai to go door to door to apologize.

In the cold winter, the fourth wife's son Gu Tingbing was hung on the roof. When everyone found him, Gu Tingbing was almost half dead.

He also grabbed his fifth cousin Gu Tingdi by the collar and pushed him into a cesspool, almost drowning him.

And when he and Gu Yan drove into the palace, he secretly killed all the goldfish in the pond in the imperial garden.

Queen Cao pursed her lips, her tone filled with worry.

"This boy is so naughty, and Han'er is so close to him. Will he be caught by others and gossiped about in the future?"

Zhang Maoze smiled and said at the right moment, "Your Majesty, you may not know that Gu Erlang is currently working hard at the White Deer Cave Academy."

"It is said that his ability to reform is due to Your Highness's efforts. Marquis Gu spoke up for him today, most likely because of this matter."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but smile.

"Even such a troublemaker can be led onto the right path by Han'er, and yet the Queen still thinks I haven't considered Han'er?"

Empress Cao personally poured a cup of tea for Zhao Zhen and said with a smile, "I am the concubine who has troubled myself. Han'er will definitely live up to your expectations."

-

At noon, a carriage slowly stopped outside the Duke of England's mansion.

Seeing this, the gatekeeper came forward swiftly and bowed, "Is this Master Zhao?"

"Exactly."

Upon hearing this, the servant looked even more respectful.

"My humble servant greets Lord Zhao. Lord Zhao, please follow me. The Duke has been waiting in the hall for a long time."

The Duke of Ying held the military power in the capital. In the city of Bianliang, his family was among the top three in terms of respectability, except for the royal family.

The Duke of Qi's Mansion and the Duke of Ling's Mansion, all have to stand aside.

This Duke of England's mansion was a gift from the emperor. It has red gates and black tiles, five entrances and three corridors, and a pair of majestic and solemn stone lions in front of the gate.

The six large gilded characters "敕造英公府" (The Mansion of the Duke of Yingguo) written in a flamboyant style by the emperor himself on the plaque at the main gate were shining brightly.

Passing through the screen wall, you can see flying eaves, brackets, corridors and waterside pavilions. Everywhere you look, you can see the grandeur.

In a hall facing south of Zhongxiao Hall.

Zhao Han looked at the Duke of England, whose thick eyebrows were like swords and whose eyes were piercing, and bowed in accordance with etiquette, saying, "Your humble servant greets the Duke of England."

The Duke of England stroked his beard and smiled, then personally got up from his seat and helped him up.

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(End of this chapter)