The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 392 Zhou Zongxun’s daughter
It was already afternoon when Zhou Zong returned home in a carriage. He had not had enough water and rice all morning, and he was already hungry.

Zhou Zong didn't have any complaints about this.

Zhu Xiu broke into Jujingyuan and kidnapped the prince. Ultimately, it was because of his beloved daughter Zhou Xian.

And he came forward to try his best to save Zhu Xiu. Firstly, he wanted to repay his kindness for risking his life to keep Zhou Xian innocent. Secondly, he had a word with Xu Xuan first. Zhu Xiu broke into Jujingyuan to save people, and he tried to save Zhu Xiu's life.

Repay kindness and do what you say, this is Zhou Zong's code of conduct.

What Zhou Zong couldn't figure out was that Zhu Xiu had no contact with the Zhou family, so why would he break into the Forbidden Garden to save people at all costs?

Dare you risk kidnapping the prince?

Could it be that Zhu Xiu really had intentions for his daughter?

Zhou Zong's face darkened.

He felt that Zhu Xiu was too dangerous. He was very courageous at a young age, acted unexpectedly, and did not act according to common sense, which even he, an experienced old man, could not see through.

In troubled times, the outcome for such a person is either to dominate one side or to die without a skeleton. There is no middle ground.

He hoped that his daughter could live a peaceful and prosperous life, not suffer from war, hunger and cold, and not be a mere toy to entertain others.

What's more, Zhu Xiu is from the Northern Dynasty. His Zhou family has been running Jiangnan for generations and has been deeply favored by the emperor. He must not take the risk of getting involved with the Northern Dynasty.

Otherwise, Song Qiqiu and others would have more excuses to criticize him.

However, this incident left no room for change between the Zhou family and the prince Li Hongji. Li Hongji already regarded the Zhou family as enemies.

When the prince succeeds to the throne, the Zhou family may not have a good life.
At that time, where should Zhou Xian, the treasure of the Zhou family, go?
Zhou Zong's thoughts were confused, he smiled bitterly and rubbed his brows, his face full of sleepiness and exhaustion.

After the carriage landed on the ground, the servant said respectfully: "Master, we are back at home."

Zhou Zong sat quietly for a moment, opened the curtain and walked down to the ground.

"Daddy!~"

With a loud cheer, Zhou Xian flew from the corridor like a light butterfly.

He was wearing a moon-white half-sleeved outer shirt, a goose-yellow tube top underneath, a moon-gazing bun, revealing two flawless white arms, and a charming smile with picturesque eyebrows that dazzled the eyes.

"Haha, why is Emperor E here waiting to become a father?" Zhou Zong looked at his beloved daughter with fond eyes.

Zhou Xian hugged his father's arm and said expectantly but nervously: "Dad, what does Your Majesty say about Jujingyuan? What will he do with Li Hongji? And Zhu Xiu? Is he still in Honglu Temple?"

Zhou Zong said helplessly: "Ehuang asked so many questions at once, which one should I ask my father to answer first?"

Zhou Xian bit his lip lightly: "Dad, tell me first, how is Zhu Xiu?"

Zhou Zong looked at her: "His Majesty has decreed that he temporarily resides in Honglu Temple and is not allowed to go out without an edict."

"Isn't that just like house arrest?" Zhou Xian's pair of shining beautiful eyes were a little unhappy.

Zhou Zong smiled bitterly and said: "It is a great blessing that I am not thrown into death row for kidnapping the prince!"

Zhou Xian said: "What about Li Hongji? How will your Majesty deal with him?"

Zhou Zong sighed softly: "The prince's behavior is ridiculous and arrogant. Your Majesty has already severely reprimanded him."

Zhou Xian said angrily: "Your Majesty is confused! Li Hongji is vicious and cruel. How can he just rebuke him? Are there not many good people in Jiangning City who have been harmed by him?"
Dad, why don't you join forces with the King of Jin and petition your Majesty to depose him and establish a crown prince instead? "

Zhou Zong's face darkened and he shouted: "Nonsense! Who taught you to say such treacherous and unethical words? The crown prince is the foundation of the country. If the foundation of the country is unstable and the country is not at peace, how can we abolish it lightly?"

As a woman, you are not allowed to discuss state affairs arbitrarily? "

Zhou Xian bit his lip, his face was unconvinced, and his eyes were slightly red.

Zhou Zong stared at her: "Did Zhu Xiu teach you these words when we were at Fangshan?"

Zhou Xiandao: "No! The evil man Zhu Xiu said that Li Hongji was a waste and was not enough to achieve success. If the Tang Dynasty were to succeed him as king in the future, the Great Zhou Dynasty could conquer all the 36 states in the south of the Yangtze River without any effort."

Zhou Zong was startled, "Did he really say that?"

Zhou Xian pouted: "Zhu Xiu doesn't look down on Li Hongji at all, not to mention Zhu Xiu, even his subordinates don't look down on His Majesty the Crown Prince.

When they were in Fangshan, Zhu Xiu's subordinates beat and insulted Li Hongji with fists and kicks. Zhu Xiu looked on and laughed. Li Hongji had snot and tears and knelt down to beg for mercy. How could he have any dignity as a prince?" Zhou Zong stroked his forehead and sighed. .

"The people of the Northern Dynasties were used to wars and fighting, and they laughed at the change of dynasties. In their eyes, the emperors and nobles were no different from ordinary people. Even the emperors and nobles who lost their power suffered a worse fate than cattle and sheep.
Looking at it from another angle, this is why the Northern Dynasties fought fiercely on the battlefield, and they were the only ones who could stop the vicious Khitans."

Zhou Zong was filled with emotion.

Zhou Xian said seriously with a pretty face: "Zhu Xiu said that during the Shi Jin Dynasty in the previous generation, An Chongrong, the governor of the Chengde Army, said: 'The emperor, whoever has strong soldiers and horses, would rather have the talent to do it!' My daughter thinks this sentence is correct. , In today's world, chaos is everywhere, and those who are virtuous and capable are at the top. The so-called inheritance of wealth and honor is just a passing cloud. If you don't learn and have no skills, wealth will only last three generations!"

Zhou Zong looked at his daughter in shock, feeling like he was dripping with cold sweat.

An Chongrong's words were placed in the Northern Dynasty, and they were inspiring and bold words to inspire soldiers.

But if you put it in the Southern Dynasties, it would be a treasonous and unethical statement that would bring chaos to the country and would lead to beheading!

If the Central Plains Dynasty in the north of the Yangtze River inherited the iron-blooded and powerful military tradition of the Tang Dynasty, then the court in the south of the Yangtze River inherited the splendid and prosperous culture of the Tang Dynasty.

It not only has the political power of the surviving gentry clan, but also inherits the profound Confucian thought and culture.

Clan politics emphasizes the importance of concubine's superiority and inferiority. Wealth is determined by family background, and superiority and inferiority are determined by the height of family lintel.

In this way, Jiangnan Prefecture and County achieved short-term stability and prosperity, but it also inevitably fell into decay.

In this turbulent era, Jiangbei Central Plains is like a chariot covered in blood and broken limbs, advancing at high speed while being broken and reorganized.

Jiangnan, on the other hand, looked like a rotten and stiff man on the verge of death. Although his body was covered with silk and jade articles, he could not resist the impact and crushing of the bloody chariot.

Zhou Xian said that wealth only lasts for three generations. Doesn't it coincide with the stagnant situation of the Jiangnan court today?
Zhou Zong solemnly warned: "Ehuang, what you just said must not be spread outside! Even your three brothers must not reveal anything! Otherwise, my Zhou family will be in danger of overthrowing!"

Zhou Xian stuck out his tongue, hugged his old father's arm and shook it coquettishly: "Daddy, don't scare me! I just listened to Zhu Xiu's casual remarks, thought there was some truth, so I wrote it down! Don't worry, daddy, I know the importance. You won’t talk nonsense!”

Zhou Zong smiled bitterly and sighed.

I don’t know if these words are Zhu Xiu’s personal views, or do they represent the general views of the Zhou Dynasty today?

But no matter what, Zhou Zong finally figured out that Li Hongji was not the only one Zhu Xiu despised!
What he looked down upon was the entire Jiangnan court!

"Lord Zhou is indeed a great lord, even his subordinates are so proud of the world!" Zhou Zong sighed silently in his heart.

At the same time, I am a little envious. As a minister, only such a heroic master is worthy of the hard work!
Zhou Xian suddenly fell silent, his bright eyes unable to hide his worry: "Dad, what do you think His Majesty will do with Zhu Xiu? Will he beheaded?"

Zhou Zong patted his daughter's hand gently and said with a smile: "Don't worry, it won't happen for the time being. The emperor of the Northern Dynasty sent envoys to Jiangning soon, probably to discuss Zhu Xiu's matter.

Li Chongjin, the military commander of the Huai Army in Suzhou Town, openly wrote to Chen Jue, threatening that if Zhu Xiu was killed, he would use all his troops from Huaibei to cross the river to attack.

Then Zhu Xiu’s status in the Northern Dynasties is far higher than we imagined~"

Zhou Xiantan opened his mouth slightly and said in surprise: "Is he so powerful? Emperor Zhou sent envoys to Jiangning specifically for him?"

Zhou Zong smiled and nodded: "Even His Majesty, Crown Prince Song Qiqiu and others did not expect this matter. Lord Zhou personally intervened, indicating that the matter has risen to the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries and must be handled carefully to avoid provoking a war."

Zhou Xian murmured: "It turns out that the evil man didn't lie to me. He really was a high official in the Northern Dynasty."

Seeing his daughter's strange expression, Zhou Zong asked tentatively: "Ehuang, why do you think Zhu Xiu broke into the Forbidden Garden to save you?"

Zhou Xian came back to his senses, thought for a while, and said blankly: "I don't know~"

Zhou Zong hesitated for a while and said: "Do you think it is possible that he, um, is interested in you? My father heard that Zhu Xiu has not married yet."

Zhou Xian's almond-shaped eyes flashed, and he was stunned for a moment. Only then did he realize the meaning of his father's words, and his face flew up to the clouds.

"Dad! What nonsense are you talking about!" Zhou Xian stamped his feet in shame and ran away with a flick of his black hair.

"Hey~" Zhou Zong shouted a few times but didn't stop. He shook his head with a wry smile and walked along the corridor to the back house.

Behind the pillars in the corridor, Zhou Xian poked his head out, and when he saw his father walking away, he patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

But when she thought of her father's words just now, she felt her face was as hot as fire, her heart was beating wildly, and her head was in a ball of mush.

She lay on the railing and looked at the water below. The girl's charming face was reflected in the water, but she felt more and more upset.

With a "pop" sound, Zhou Xian threw a pebble into the pond water, causing ripples.
(End of this chapter)