Marrying the Crown Prince
Chapter 165 It's okay to hug a few more.
It's impossible to depose the Crown Prince, so if they can't have children, so be it. Anyway, there are plenty of children in the imperial family. They can just take one or more and let the couple raise them.
As for when to hold them, of course not now. They are both still young, and it is unknown whether they can have children. Anyway, I still have ten or twenty years to live.
With this in mind, Emperor Chenze felt relieved.
Meanwhile, at Mingde Hall, Zhou Zhou frowned upon hearing Li Ziyan's words, clearly indicating that this was a very thorny issue.
"Does Your Highness wish to take a concubine?" she asked.
Li Ziyan was both amused and exasperated. He raised his hand and lightly flicked her forehead. "What are you thinking about?"
"Not to mention that I have little interest in women, even if I did, those old fogies in the Imperial Hospital wouldn't agree to me marrying one woman here and having another one there."
Indulging in excessive sexual activity will more or less harm one's health. If one were to actually need a royal physician because of that, one would lose all face. Of course, the royal physician's mind would also be far from at peace.
Zhou Zhou gritted her teeth. How else could she answer? Some things were better left unsaid.
So, she rubbed her forehead with her hand and said fiercely, "If not, what does Your Highness intend to do?"
“Let nature take its course,” Li Ziyan shrugged indifferently. “If all else fails, we can choose a gifted person from the imperial clan when we get older.”
He paused for a moment, then added, "It doesn't matter if you choose a few more."
Very well, the father and son unexpectedly reached a consensus without prior consultation.
Zhou Zhou gave a soft hum, raised her lips, and her eyes curved, like a fox with a bewitching charm. Her hand moved up his neck and touched his lips.
"Your Highness has already made a decision, yet you still come to ask me. It's truly heartbreaking." She pitifully leaned close to Li Ziyan's ear, her voice soft and her breath sweet as orchids, making the Crown Prince's heartstrings itch.
Li Ziyan's eyes were bright, her eyebrows were slightly raised, and her warm expression exuded a charming affability that made people unconsciously want to get closer.
At that moment, Jufang knocked on the door.
Zhou Zhou pushed Li Ziyan aside, straightened up, and said, "Come in."
His Highness the Crown Prince rubbed his ears in grievance, suppressing the slight flutter in his heart.
Jufang presented the letter with both hands, saying, "This was sent by Madam Du."
Du's letter?
Zhou Zhou took it, quickly tore open the envelope, unfolded the letter, and began to read it carefully.
In addition to reporting that she was safe, the letter also mentioned that she had encountered Zhou Zhou's women's caravan while she was out. She pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of the captain and offered a few suggestions for improvement.
And then there's—
"Your father, Xiao Shiyi, and I will not be coming back this year."
Indeed, after Zhou Laowu resigned from his official post, apart from the first three days when he was so heartbroken that he barely had any appetite, he was unable to control himself.
Three days later, he suddenly realized, "Hey? I don't have to get up early to report to the government office anymore. I can sleep in now?"
So he felt relieved and began to enjoy himself happily.
Occasionally, I would visit Zhou Cheng'an to offer my condolences while he prepared for the spring imperial examinations.
Zhou Cheng'an showed the greatest joy upon his father's arrival—inviting his father to discuss policy issues with him.
Zhou Laowu wasn't very emotionally intelligent, but when it came to studying, he was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, though he was only in the third rank and was granted the title of Jinshi.
In terms of knowledge, he was able to have a few words exchanged with Zhou Cheng'an.
And so, they lived a rather happy life.
Du had been staying in Kyoto for the past few years, and she had long felt that her buttocks were about to develop sores.
Now that Zhou Laowu has resigned from his official post, there's no need for her to be an official's wife here and go out to socialize from time to time. Zhou Cheng'an has married a woman named Zhao, who comes from a prominent family and is quite capable even as a matriarch, let alone managing a small courtyard. So Du Shi has also given up this job.
Finally, Zhou Chengxuan grew up and became strong; it was time for him to go out and see the world.
Therefore, after meeting Zhou Zhou and gaining his understanding and support, Madam Du proposed to Old Madam Zhou that she wanted to travel far away and take care of the shops in the south.
Grandma Zhou was not too happy about it; after all, one should not travel far while one's parents are alive.
However, Zhou Laowu added, "There must be a plan for travel."
It turned out that Zhou Laowu also wanted to go and see the beautiful landscapes of the motherland.
He leaned closer with a grin, "Mother, one of my former classmates is now the governor of a prefecture in the south. He's written to me several times, inviting me to come and visit for a few days."
"Therefore, you don't need to worry about us being bullied when we're out and about."
"Of course, Mother, we will definitely send you a letter every month to let you know we are safe and sound."
"Of course, most importantly, An'er studies as hard as I did back then, so I think he'll be able to pass the exams someday. As for the officialdom, it's naturally up to him to make his way in the world." Zhou Laowu nodded happily, his expression more than satisfied as he could be, thinking of his handsome eldest son.
Grandma Zhou: "..."
Back then, if your dad hadn't been chasing you with a stick, would you have opened a book and looked at a single word?
Now you have the nerve to say you've worked hard...
However, with Madam Du present, Old Madam Zhou held back her speechless frustration and did not expose him.
Zhou Laowu continued, "Since An'er is determined to enter officialdom, the vast family business can only be entrusted to Eleven to manage."
"If we don't take him out to see the world now, how can my wife and I entrust such a large family business to him in the future?"
Since the Yongjing Marquis's mansion had not yet been divided, Zhou Laowu did not own any property. Therefore, the assets of the fifth branch consisted of the dowry brought by Gao and Du.
When Zhou Zhou got married, she took half of Gao's dowry with her. Now, the other half has been given to Zhou Cheng'an and is managed by Zhao Yuehua.
As for Du's dowry, even if Zhou Cheng'an fails the imperial examination, the old lady wouldn't have the face to ask Du to give him any of her assets.
Therefore, this money was destined to be given to Zhou Chengxuan, the son of Du.
That being the case...
The old lady softened her tone, not cutting off any possible escape route, "I will discuss it with your father later and give you an answer."
The result of the discussion was naturally—
"It's understandable that the fifth son's wife wants to take the child out," the old Marquis snorted, "but what does that boy want to do outside? He has nothing better to do than go out and play!"
Despite the scolding, after finishing, he felt it was indeed inappropriate for Du, a widow and her child, to go out alone, so he still asked Du to take Zhou Laowu with her.
Therefore, Lady Du left the capital with her elderly mother and young child.
This departure lasted for more than two years. Before winter last year, when the river was still not frozen, they returned to Beijing for two months. After spring, they went south again and have not returned since.
The letter said they were planning to travel to the southwest.
"Judging from this, Father and Mother have no plans to return to Beijing anytime soon."
As he spoke, Zhou Zhou rolled the letter into a ball and threw it into the charcoal stove.
Li Ziyan watched the flames suddenly ignite and then extinguish, and suddenly spoke up, "I wonder when Father Emperor plans to make his southern tour."
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