Read Novel Full Chapter 1838: Changes
Chapter 1838: Chapter 1838: Changes
This year there is a happy event for the Royal family, the eldest princess is finally getting married. The Emperor really kept his daughter unmarried for a long time, and the age at which the princess marries also affects the common people.
Due to the rise in the status of women over the years, after graduating from the Academy and earning money, the age at which women marry has been postponed.
Zhulan is pleased, because marrying later is beneficial for girls and their children. Zhulan has already had people collect statistics on the mortality rate of children from later marriages, as there used to be fewer late marriages, but now there is enough reference data.
Now Zhulan is not only the president of the Girls College but also the first president of the Girls Academy. The eldest princess and the legitimate Princess Jingxuan have become honorary presidents since many Mr. Guan’s daughters and noble families’ daughters enrolled as students because of the two princesses.
Zhulan kept Jiang Ling at the Girls College, while her granddaughter-in-law Shao Ting helped her handle matters at the Girls Academy. There is a big difference between the Academy and the College; the Academy is for learning business skills, while the College is for learning knowledge.
Today, Zhulan is wearing glasses reading the newspaper. Her eyesight has been declining rapidly these past two years, and without glasses, everything is blurry.
Zhou Shuren returned early, reached out to take the newspaper, "Stop reading; it’s tiring for your eyes."
Zhulan took off her glasses to massage her eyes, and when she felt better, she opened them and said jealously, "You’re older than me and deal with numbers all day; why are your eyes still so good?"
Zhou Shuren handed his wife a brewed floral tea, "I don’t look at the books anymore; I have people read them to me. You like to personally take charge; you could have the children read the newspaper to you if you want to know its content."
Zhulan sipped her tea, "The daughters-in-law are too busy, granddaughter-in-law Lau Jia is pregnant, Shao Ting is too busy at the Academy, and He Sishi is five months pregnant; who can I ask to read the newspaper for me?"
"What about Chang Xhong’s wife?"
Zhulan sighed, "Having a child is a matter of fate. The young couple is still young, so I’m not worried at all, but Xingyi feels pressured, so I better not meet this child alone."
Zhou Shuren was speechless, "If it weren’t for the naming matter from the Emperor, Chang Xhong’s wife wouldn’t be under such pressure."
Zhulan, "Isn’t that the case!"
Zhou Shuren talked about Ming Hui and the others, "I don’t know how their spring imperial exam results will be this time."
Zhulan chuckled, "The exams haven’t ended yet, but I think the results should be good because they are the most prepared."
Zhou Shuren continued, "Today, I taught the Imperial Grandson how to read."
Zhulan then realized and glanced at the clock, "Something seemed off; you’ve been coming back quite early lately."
Zhou Shuren smirked, "I’ve kept it hidden for a few years, and after the spring exam, the Emperor will announce I am the tutor of the Imperial Grandson."
Zhulan thought of the Crown Prince’s residence, "I heard the Crown Prince’s harem is selecting two concubines?"
Zhou Shuren, "It’s been difficult all these years with only the Crown Princess Consort."
Zhulan frowned, "Announce you’re the tutor of the Imperial Grandson first, or let the Crown Prince’s harem select concubines first?"
"Announce I am the tutor of the Imperial Grandson first."
Zhulan said, "The Emperor has a hint of a warning there too."
"Yes, the Imperial Grandson is the Emperor’s beloved, it’s fair to say he was raised by the Emperor these past few years."
Since the Empress passed away, the Emperor has rarely visited the harem, instead focusing on nurturing the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson. The young Imperial Grandson resembles the Emperor closely.
At the time Hanlin Academy’s government office was closing, Chang Zhi said to his fourth elder brother, "Fourth brother, I’m leaving first."
Chang Zhi, "Okay."
He was also aware of the pressure his sister-in-law was under. The more outstanding Chang Xhong was, the greater the pressure on his sister-in-law. He heard from his wife that there were quite a few rumors targeting his sister-in-law, scoffed, some people who couldn’t compare to his brother would talk about childbirth!
Zhuo Guyu came out, "Lord Zhou."
Chang Zhi nodded as a sign, then got on his family’s carriage and left.
Through the carriage window, Chang Zhi looked at the Zhuo family’s carriage. Without a title, the Zhuo family’s days were hard. If it weren’t for the Crown Prince, the Zhuo family would have already disappeared. These past two years, Zhuo Guyu matured increasingly, thanks to the burdens he carried.
Thinking of this, Chang Zhi thought of his son-in-law. The son-in-law is older than Zhuo Guyu, but when they stand together, he doesn’t need to pretend that his son-in-law is young. Now, his son-in-law looks younger than Zhuo Guyu. Reflecting on his daughter’s wedding, Chang Zhi felt angry; if it weren’t for Gu Sheng’s pitiful waiting, he would have kept his daughter for another year.
Inside the carriage, Zhuo Guyu felt a sense of calmness. The decline of the family prompted his personal growth, and he remembered his grandfather’s entrustment before his death.
He wanted to preserve the Zhuo family, so he had to closely follow the Crown Prince, taking on any dirty and tiring jobs he could. Thinking of his newborn son at home, a smile finally appeared on Zhuo Guyu’s face. Although his wife miscarried once, fortunately, she became pregnant again.
Zhuo Guyu glanced towards the direction of the Third Prince’s residence. Who would have thought the Third Prince would gain the Crown Prince’s recognition? The once-transparent Third Prince now has a wife and the Prince Residence, with the wealth left by the Zhuo family becoming his assets.
The Third Prince married into a family of low status, yet life was still prosperous, and they had a legitimate son born last year.
In contrast, the Second Prince still relied on the backing of his mother’s family, and the relationship between the Second Prince and his wife was poor.
Zhuo Guyu shook his head slightly, wondering what he was thinking, as he should be considering the spring exam results of several cousins.
At the Wei household, when Chang Xhong arrived, his father-in-law and brother-in-law had just returned home. Chang Xhong greeted them, "Father, elder brother."
Minister Wei laughed, "Today, let’s have a couple of good drinks."
Chang Xhong, "Yes."
Chang Xhong had clothes for changing at his father-in-law’s house. Since his wife returned to her family’s home, he accompanied her there for a couple of days’ stay. Once he changed his clothes, he went to the main yard and saw his wife smiling and chatting, which eased his heart as her mood had been erratic lately. Finally, she laughed today.
The dishes were already set on the table, and Lady Phang gestured to her son-in-law to sit, "Your father is slow; let’s wait for him a bit."
Chang Xhong smiled, "Father works very hard."
Lady Phang felt grateful for her son-in-law’s tolerance towards her daughter, saying that if he returned home for a short stay, he would stay for two days, "You all have been compiling a lot of books over the past few years; you work hard too."
At that moment, Minister Wei came out, "Everyone’s waiting for me!"
Lady Phang said, "Indeed, just waiting for you."
Minister Wei invited them, "Can’t let my son-in-law starve; come quickly for dinner."
Xingyi playfully said, "Father and Mother just see the son-in-law and forget this daughter of yours."
Minister Wei laughed heartily, "You are so grown-up and still jealous of your husband!"
"No matter my age, I can’t help but feel jealous."
Lady Phang pinched her daughter’s nose, "You’re something."
At the same time, she was pleased that her daughter was still so lively after marriage, thanks to the affection from her son-in-law.
The next day after the morning assembly ended, the Emperor left first. The Crown Prince didn’t leave with the Emperor, causing many ministers to look at the Crown Prince in confusion.
The Crown Prince stepped out of the grand hall first, and only then did the ministers follow him out, discovering the reason: the Imperial Grandson was waiting outside the hall.
The Crown Prince bent down to pick up the Imperial Grandson, father and son looked at each other with smiles and a close bond, which pleased some people while others frowned.
Old Minister Qi furrowed his brows, then relaxed as if the previous discontent was just an illusion.
Zhou Shuren walked out, only to see the Imperial Grandson noticing him and decisively leaving the Crown Prince’s embrace, walking step by step towards him.