Chapter 1595: Chapter 1595 Duke Residence

In the afternoon, Su Xuan and Yu Wen finally returned. Zhulan saw the weary look on her fourth daughter-in-law’s face, “Tired? Go and rest.”

Yu Wen was already slumped over the chair ungracefully, “Grandmother, granddaughter will rest for a while, granddaughter doesn’t want to move.”

Su Xuan was also exhausted, “Mother, it’s good you didn’t go. Yu Wen and I felt like two golden babies, with everyone being so overly enthusiastic to us. The Crown Prince’s Consort from the Duke Residence set several traps for me, trying to get me to agree to a marriage alliance.”

Zhulan knew of this Crown Prince’s Consort, particularly a person with means and schemes, a model of high marriage in the capital, quite a difficult person, “Going forward, be more cautious with your words, don’t give anyone leverage.”

Su Xuan scoffed slightly, “I heard the Duchess particularly dislikes her, and never let her manage the household. I’ve met the Duchess a few times, and she made it clear that the management would be handed over to her granddaughter-in-law in the future.”

Zhulan said with a hint of melancholy, “I’ve also met the Crown Prince’s Consort a few times; she’s a tough one.”

Su Xuan, “I dislike dealing with her. She kept setting traps for me today, and several times Yu Wen helped me fend them off.”

Zhulan thought deeply and sighed, realizing these were challenges Yu Wen would face, “Very well, Yu Wen can become even more adept.”

Su Xuan’s eyes lit up, “That’s feasible.”

The next day, Zhulan saw the Crown Prince’s Consort of the Duke Residence, Lady Qin, who indeed came to visit. It was fortunate she wasn’t surprised as she had anticipated this.

Lady Qin had a face full of smiles, “I’ve long wanted to pay my respects to the old lady but never had the opportunity.”

Lady Qin sighed in her heart that there had been no interactions between the two families; the Duke of Yongan forfeited all their authority three years into the founding of the dynasty.

Zhulan recalled the Duke of Yongan’s residence; none of the dukes in the capital were fools. The Duke gave up power and no longer participated in politics, living like a pensioner all these years, with his greatest hobby being gambling horses in recent years, particularly adept at it.

The Crown Prince works in court but holds a low position, akin to living a retired life, embodying the theme of a wealthy idler, not causing trouble nor fearing it, but the Crown Prince’s son of this generation is being seriously educated.

Importantly, the Duke has many sons and grandsons, so the Duke of Yongan’s back residence is quite chaotic.

Zhulan thought a lot, smiled slightly, “The Crown Prince’s wife isn’t just here to visit, is she?”

Lady Qin dared to set traps and dared to visit, clearly recognized by the Duchess. Yu Wen has status and wealth, and many regard her as an ideal daughter-in-law candidate.

Lady Qin’s gaze was a bit evasive. The two families had no interactions, mainly because the Duke Residence was without power, “I met Magistrate Anhe yesterday, and I really favored her. I saw that the Magistrate liked gemstones, and the Duke Residence has accumulated some good raw stones, which I’d like to personally gift two pieces to the Magistrate.”

Zhulan’s gaze fell on the box, feeling wistful; the foundation of families who survived wartime and received rewards was indeed deep, “Too precious, the Crown Prince’s wife should take it back.”

Lady Qin knew she couldn’t give it away, but would be better if she could, “I do truly favor Magistrate Anhe.”

Zhulan lowered her eyelids, “Now people in the capital favor her too much.”

Lady Qin, “…”

Zhulan looked up, “Anhe doesn’t lack gemstones, thank you for your kindness.”

Lady Qin closed the box and said deftly, “I heard your grandson and granddaughter-in-law will participate in next year’s spring exams. My eldest son will also participate. They can exchange and interact more then.”

Zhulan, “All right.”

The Duke Residence’s eldest grandson was raised meticulously and is eighteen this year, youthful with prospects, intentionally not yet engaged to select a good match. Clearly, the Duke Residence’s expectations are high.

Thus, she didn’t reject interactions between her grandchildren because avoidance was impossible; it was better to openly agree.

Lady Qin saw the old lady was continuously indifferent, feeling reluctant but fearing to say more, finally did not meet Magistrate Anhe, and left with regrets.

At night, while Zhulan was having dinner, she spoke of the Duke Residence’s intentions, “I originally planned to stay low, but now let’s be more flamboyant since Prince Qin’s residence is hosting a banquet. The Duke Residence won’t easily give up Yu Wen for the sake of the quick rise of the grandchildren generation.”

Zhou Shuren, “Not to mention the back residence being too chaotic, I wouldn’t choose the Duke Residence even for marriage alliances.”

The Duke Residence now appears like wealthy idlers, but the upbringing of the grandson generation will eventually shine. He thought deeply and did not want the Duke Residence to exploit them. He was getting old, and if he died and the Duke Residence rose, exploiting the Zhou family might end up nurturing an ingrate.

He was used to considering others’ perspectives, and the Duke’s plans were evident from two generations of idlers, calmly avoiding the emperor’s power succession, and protecting the third generation to grow up. He didn’t want the Duke Residence to plot against them and ruin the Hou Residence’s family.

Zhulan added, “I’ve already told Su Xuan to spread the news that Yu Wen won’t have her engagement discussed early, stating that it will be discussed after she turns at least fifteen.”

Zhou Shuren disliked the Duke Residence of Yongan, “Our Zhou family will not be anyone’s stepping stone. If they dare to plot, I’ll deal harshly with them.”

Zhulan, “You really don’t like the Duke Residence of Yongan?”

“Managing to remain dormant for so many years is not something anyone can do, you think I could like them?”

Zhulan’s expression turned serious. The Hou Residence was her and Shuren’s home, and nobody could plot against it. A wave of hostility rose in her heart, “I support you.”

Zhou Shuren chuckled, “Hmm.”

In the Palace, the Emperor looked at the news and said to the Crown Prince, “How do you view the Duke Residence of Yongan?”

Crown Prince, “Usable but not trustworthy.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, “How so?”

The Crown Prince thought about what he knew, “The Duke and Crown Prince have been very skilled at pretending over the years. If not for the recent emergence of fame among the grandson generation, the Duke Residence of Yongan would have always been seen by the people in the capital as wealthy idlers, with intentions too deep and superb acting, the son doesn’t trust them.”

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction, “Your grandfather conferred titles to three Dukes, two from noble families, and only this one from common stock. Originally, he planned for a balance of powers among them, but unexpectedly.”

The Crown Prince understood the unspoken words of his father, unexpectedly, the Duke Residence of Yongan was too slippery, they surrendered all power, if not for the Ning family’s consistent low profile, the balance would have been broken, grandfather didn’t say it but harbored resentment in his heart as well.

The Duke Residence of Yongan calculated everything but didn’t expect the grandfather to live so long, and now the third generation arose, the Old Duke also aged, and feared that the capital would eventually have no Duke Residence of Yongan, so he was anxious, Anhe’s emergence is an opportunity.

The Crown Prince said, “Marquis Zhou won’t agree.”

The Emperor was not worried, Zhou Shuren was the most astute, always wary of the Duke Residence, plotting against Zhou Shuren was very difficult.

Days later, Zhulan took her granddaughter to fetch the ordered jewelry. Yu Wen gained a few sets of jewelry, the family was not short of Silver Coin, she generously ordered jewelry for several granddaughters; the designs were her own drawings, rushed out by the jewelry store.

The jewelry store wasn’t crowded, after picking up the jewelry, she took several granddaughters to the teahouse, recently Yu Die kept talking about how interesting the teahouse was, she became curious and came along.

To speak of it, Yu Die and Yuan Bo’s feelings were genuinely good, Yu Yi and Young Master Yu’s relationship was also nice, but Yu Yi’s two’s meet-ups were not as frequent as those of Yu Die and Yuan Bo.

In the teahouse’s private room, it was the height of debates, Zhulan’s eyes brightened at the sight, the two young men downstairs looked really good.

Chang Xhong had been at the teahouse often recently, and seeing his mother came, he came to the private room, “Mother.”

Zhulan pointed to the two debating young men downstairs, “Who are they?”