Chapter 1566: Chapter 1566 Clan Rules

The teahouse in the capital, Mingyun attended Lau Song’s invitation, Lau Song said, “You’re not being fair, how could you plan to go to the grasslands without telling anyone.”

“Don’t act as if we have such a deep friendship, your destination is what I guessed, you can’t guess mine, so you can only blame yourself.”

Lau Song was stuck for words, “Alright, alright, I didn’t guess it, but why are you thinking of going to the grasslands?”

The complexity of the grasslands is well known to him, and he was genuinely surprised that Mingyun would go there, being the eldest grandson of the Marquis Zhou Residence, didn’t need to overexert himself, but the reassignment was truly shocking for the entire Hanlin Academy.

Mingyun was also surprised that his grandfather had changed his mind. He was not afraid of hardship and felt his grandfather was right. His grandfather’s position was constrained in the capital, and Uncle Wu Ming could teach him more. He wanted to follow Wu Ming to lay a solid foundation for himself; Wu Ming possessed much that he needed to learn.

Mingyun thought of what his grandfather had said, that he still enjoyed smooth sailing and should go train hard.

Seeing Zhou Mingyun merely smile faintly, Lau Song knew he wasn’t going to get anything out of him, “When will you set out?”

Mingyun, “After the new year.”

Lau Song rolled his eyes, not even telling the specific date, which was clearly guarding against Lau Song, “I’ll set out on the eighteenth of the first month.”

Mingyun, “Oh.”

Lau Song, “…”

Mingyun laughed, picking up his teacup, “Let’s toast with tea instead of wine, wishing you a bright future.”

Lau Song squinted his eyes, “Thanks.”

Mingyun didn’t stay long at the teahouse; his relationship with Lau Song wasn’t close enough for long conversations, so after a brief sit, he left.

Sitting in the carriage, Mingyun quickly spotted his uncle and the Fourth Prince, wandering the streets, buying a lot of things. Mingyun’s gaze fell upon Lu Jia Qing until his uncle’s group disappeared from sight, then he lowered the curtain.

Mingyun’s second destination was the jewelry shop, where he collected custom-made New Year gifts for his wife and daughter, and bought toys for his son before returning home.

Mingyun returned to the residence to see his grandfather, “Has Mr. Wang left?”

“He left, what was Lau Song’s invitation about?”

Mingyun sat opposite his grandfather, “He asked why I was going to the grasslands.”

Zhou Shuren gestured for his eldest grandson to have some pastries, “Just freshly baked.”

Mingyun was indeed a bit hungry and picked up the pastries to eat.

Zhou Shuren spoke, “Lau Song is indeed good, but the Lau family is destined to be restless. You know what happened to the maternal families of Prince Liang and Prince Chu, now the Emperor is merely suppressing, but has yet to act in earnest. Once he does, the fall of the Lau clan is inevitable.”

Mingyun swallowed the pastry and drank a few sips of tea, “The Emperor showed no mercy to the Wen clan, they should understand, pretending to be blind will only lead to consequences, what a pity for Lau Song.”

Zhou Shuren rocked in his chair, “Your grandfather seldom has people he admires, but I do admire Prince Qi’s grandfather. Prince Qi enjoys freedom today, and the Chen family still stands, all thanks to Mr. Chen.”

Mingyun said, “Grandfather, I will remember your teachings and ensure the legacy of our Zhou family continues.”

Zhou Shuren nodded approvingly and added, “When you arrive at the grasslands, be humble. If you learn even half of Wu Ming’s skills, it’ll benefit you for a lifetime.”

Mingyun replied, “I will strive to learn well from Uncle Wu.”

“Yes, the grasslands are both dangerous and promising. Wherever you go, take people with you, prioritize safety, only with safety comes endless future. Your brother’s matter, I don’t want to hear of it again, once is enough, my heart cannot take it.”

Mingyun said earnestly, “Grandfather, I will protect myself and never repeat Ming Tian’s mistakes.”

“Good.”

The following day, Zhou Shuren didn’t see anyone, took a carriage along with his wife, and went to the estate.

Hu Xia came but found it empty-handed, Chang Yi smiled, “You’ve come at a bad time.”

Hu Xia said, “I wanted to come yesterday, but there was a sudden family matter that delayed me.”

Chang Yi asked, “What matter?”

Hu Xia felt embarrassed, his daughter’s temperament followed his wife’s, even after marriage she was strong-minded, and as Liufeng hadn’t taken concubines, his daughter took note, her mother-in-law got her son-in-law a concubine, and it caused a commotion yesterday.

Chang Yi squinted, “Speaking of which, in recent years you’ve been visiting after the new year, coming before the year’s end this time somehow relates to yesterday’s matter?”

Hu Xia deflated, “You know how I married her into a high family. I disagreed at the time, but I couldn’t resist, and eventually, it happened. It’s hard to stay in a high family, alas, my mistake, should have been firmer back then to prevent today’s predicament.”

Chang Yi smirked, “You’re completely under your wife’s thumb.”

Hu Xia touched his nose, fearing his daughter too, alas, children are debts.

Chang Yi understood Hu Xia’s intention, “Yesterday’s uproar, today’s visit, tsk, borrowing our Hou Residence’s influence.”

“Cough, cough, I also want the family to step back, have a peaceful new year.”

Chang Yi rolled his eyes dramatically, “The path you chose, you must walk to the end, there’ll be more uproars in the future.”

Hu Xia sighed, understanding fully well, regret, but it’s too late.

Chang Yi didn’t bring it up again, in recent years Hu Xia hadn’t troubled the Hou Residence, and the in-laws were fine too; the only issue was the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.

At the estate, Zhulan arrived at her own property and said, “I now understand the royal family’s regard for you.”

Zhou Shuren coughed, with nowhere to hide upon leaving the capital, he could only show his face now, following him even to the estate without departing.

Zhou Shuren said, “Ambassadors from various nations inquire about me, raising the royal family’s caution.”

“Hmm, let’s not talk about it, let’s go pick vegetables.”

She suddenly wanted to pick, Zhou Shuren also could seldom rest, so they came with mutual agreement.

In the warm greenhouse, Zhulan said, “The eldest has worked hard over the years, handled all the family’s chores.”

“Yes, in the future the Hou Residence will be in his hands, we trust him.”

Due to the new year, a batch of vegetables had already been harvested, not much was left; the Zhou family’s greenhouse thrived thanks to the eldest’s effort and willingness to spend Silver, yielding quite well.

Zhulan said, “Many Zhou will take exams next year, Jiang Zhu wrote that this batch has the best talents.”

Zhou Shuren placed the peppers in the basket, “This year the hometown’s list might be dominated by the Zhou family.”

“That’s family for you, every year the Zhou clan invests, not something individuals can match, the Zhou clan gradually grows into a significant family, clan rules should be standardized.”

Zhou Shuren said, “Ming Qing’s correspondence indicated the same idea, he wants to refine clan rules; though many additions were made over the years, there are still loopholes. For a longer-lasting heritage, I will personally draft the clan rules, and you’ll help me.”

“Of course.”

Later, the two focused on picking, departing for the capital late afternoon, encountering many carriages, mostly trading caravans.

It was quite a coincidence, a carriage ahead broke down, it turned out Zhao Bo’s carriage was heading to the capital.

Zhao Bo coordinated with the caravan to borrow a carriage, thus blocking the road.

Zhou Shuren listened to the news gathered by Jing Yan without intending to get off the carriage, today’s encounter was indeed surprising.

Zhao Bo was still transferring luggage to the caravan carriage, ultimately the Hou Residence’s carriage proceeded first, someone from the caravan recognized the Zhou Residence’s carriage and said, “The Zhou Residence’s carriage.”