RPAGF Chapter 477 Zhou Feng's Wedding
Chapter 477 Zhou Feng's Wedding
The next day, Feng Zizhou did not enter the palace, but instead spread rumors among the people that Xiao Youchuan and Si Mutong might be forming a clique and training a private army.
This incident immediately caused turmoil in the imperial court.
After entering the palace, Feng Zizhou became completely dejected, losing all his usual energy and spirit.
The younger sister had already received the news and said with a smile, "You did a good job this time, you deserve a reward."
Feng Zizhou lowered his eyes and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing this, the younger sister simply smiled, gesturing for him to come forward and handing him a letter: "Look."
Feng Zizhou took it and examined it closely, his eyes growing brighter and brighter: "This is a letter Si Mutong wrote to His Majesty? She...she knew you were going to release this kind of news, was it a play you two put on together?"
"She's not entirely foolish," the younger sister chuckled. "She's my own sister, I know her very well, how could I not know her character or not trust her?"
"In the past, it wasn't uncommon for officials to submit such memorials to me, but they were harmless and I didn't pay much attention to them. However, recently, there have been many more such memorials, with officials from various ministries reporting on them. This shows that someone is pushing things along behind the scenes. Well then, I will give them a push!"
Feng Zizhou understood and was happy: "I see, I see, Your Majesty is wise."
The younger sister said, "When I asked you to do some errands a few days ago, you didn't think I was wise."
Feng Zizhou scratched his head sheepishly: "It was my own foolishness. No wonder, no wonder!"
"No wonder what?" the younger sister asked curiously.
Feng Zizhou replied, "No wonder yesterday, when I told my elder brother that the purest people in the world were Prince Ning and Princess Xintong, my elder brother said that the reason they were able to maintain their purity was because Your Majesty is a wise ruler!"
The younger sister laughed and waved her hand, saying, "Such flattering words coming from your mouth, Feng Zizhou, are quite unsettling to me!"
Feng Zizhou took Zhao Ning and her son back, and everything seemed to be calm.
However, rumors among the people intensified. On one hand, some said that Prince Ning and Princess Xintong were taking credit for their achievements and were ambitious and eager for glory, and that their intentions were despicable. On the other hand, some suspected that His Majesty had become wary of Prince Ning and Princess Xintong and wanted to deal with them.
There are many different opinions, but no one knows the truth. It's just something to talk about over tea.
Some people sighed: "In the past, everyone said that the three young ladies of the Marquis of Anle's mansion were all capable people. The eldest young lady was a business prodigy with keen and unique insight; the second young lady was upright and incorruptible, traveling among the people to benefit them; and the third young lady... her political talent was not to be underestimated, which enabled her to ascend to the throne of the Empress. It was also said that the three were different in their own way, but they complemented each other..."
The person next to him immediately chimed in, "The most ruthless are those in the imperial family, that's absolutely true. I think the eldest young lady is the truly intelligent one. With such a family background, she actually went to the estate to grow vegetables and do business. Now look at her, only someone as detached as her, staying away from the power struggles, could avoid conflict with her two younger sisters."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"So regardless of gender, once they gain power, ambition arises. The princess used to be unyielding, but now instead of helping her younger sister, she wants to usurp the throne. It's truly..."
"But it may not be the princess's idea. The princess married Prince Ning, who is a man and a member of the royal family. Perhaps Prince Ning thinks he is more qualified to sit on the throne than His Majesty, and that's why he has such thoughts."
Even the number of memorials submitted to the emperor increased, all demanding that his younger sister handle the matter immediately.
The younger sister didn't care about anything, leaving it to Feng Ziheng to worry about. But Feng Ziheng had injured his back and couldn't sit or stand for long periods, so he claimed to be sick and stayed home.
Hearing that he was having a big fight with his younger brother Feng Zizhou and that his home was in turmoil, how could he possibly care about matters of state?
Therefore, this matter has been delayed again and again.
Zhou Feng's wedding was a grand affair, which eased the tense atmosphere in the court considerably.
As Zhou Feng's subordinate, and even more so as his apprentice, it's only natural that I attend the wedding.
Someone then joked, "Jing'an, Lord Zhou is only getting married at the age of thirty. You can learn other things, but you can't learn this, or His Majesty will really have to worry."
Someone else sighed, "Zhou Feng is quite a character. I've never seen him show interest in any woman all these years. I heard that even the dogs in the Zhou family are male. I used to think he was into men."
It was just a joke.
After all, it wasn't that no one had tried to test Zhou Feng. When they sent various beautiful, thin, and slender dancers to his residence, there were also entertainers among them.
But Zhou Feng refused them all.
The man said, "I have never seen anyone with such a hard heart. Years ago, he didn't even have any hobbies. I have heard that Lord Zhou likes to paint, especially portraits of benevolent people, but I have never seen him paint any young ladies."
My younger brother found it extremely jarring.
Thinking of all those portraits of his sister in the study, he felt a tightness in his chest.
However, when he saw the groom beaming with joy as he brought the bride into the mansion, the younger brother was at a loss again.
Didn't he... like his third sister? He refused to compromise for so many years, and suddenly he's come to his senses?
While he was lost in thought, Zhou Feng walked over and patted him on the shoulder.
"Jing'an, why are you here alone? Why aren't you going out for a drink?"
The younger brother looked up and saw Zhou Feng's gentle gaze, as if the conflict between them had never happened before.
He asked, "You...don't regret it?"
Zhou Feng laughed: "What nonsense are you talking about? At my age, to meet such a suitable woman, what is there to regret?"
"But you..."
Zhou Feng looked at him and said, "Jing'an, I should thank you for pulling me out of that impossible dream. What I couldn't have in my youth became an obsession, but not true joy. I realized this too late, but fortunately, I realized it not too late."
Although the words were convoluted, Zhou Feng's eyes were full of relief.
Zhou Feng was someone His Majesty valued, and this wedding ceremony was personally ordered by His Majesty and supervised by the Ministry of Rites, so it was very grand and gave the Minister of Works a lot of face.
After all, because there was an older, unmarried woman in the family who had been rejected by her fiancé, it was difficult for her granddaughters to find husbands.
Now he can finally redeem himself; his old maid, whom everyone else looked down on, has actually caught Zhou Feng's eye.
Most importantly, his silly granddaughter was willing from the bottom of her heart, not forced to marry into the family for the sake of the family.
Therefore, the Minister became more and more satisfied with Zhou Feng, his grandson-in-law.
The capital city remained as usual, but there seemed to be undercurrents stirring within it. In particular, the rumors about His Majesty and Prince Ning seemed to be escalating.
There are also rumors that His Majesty is furious with Prince Ning and has ordered General Cao to arrest Prince Ning and Princess Xintong. He also intends to uncover evidence of their unauthorized military training and forming cliques.
As winter approached, Prince Ning and Princess Xintong entered the capital, but they were not escorted there by anyone; they returned on their own.