The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 440 The Zhu Family Mansion
There is a magnificent mansion in the middle of the two Tianshui Lanes in the east of Kaifeng City, covering an area of ​​more than [-] acres, with hundreds of houses and pavilions, and three magnificent halls distributed on the central axis. Ma Qing asked an alchemist to calculate that it is exactly the same as the center of the imperial city. The axis is vertical.

The palace is arranged vertically from north to south, while the mansion is arranged horizontally from east to west.

The alchemist said that a house in this position would not conflict with the feng shui of the imperial city and would be beneficial to the owner, ensuring that the family's house would be peaceful and prosperous for a long time.

The previous owner of this house was Wang Zhang, the last prime minister in the Liu Chengyou era.

With the support of Shi Hongzhao and Yang Bin, and after Tongping Zhangshi became prime minister, Wang Zhang spent a high price to buy this mansion, and asked the Ministry of Works to send craftsmen to redesign and decorate it, spending countless money. Just after he moved in and prepared for the housewarming, the tragic news of the Guangzheng Palace Incident happened. When the war came, hundreds of members of Wang Zhang's family were arrested and imprisoned, and soon they were all executed.

Before the red silk on the plaque on the Prime Minister's Mansion was taken off, the entire mansion was sealed off. Liu Chengyou originally planned to reward Liu Yun, the military governor of Xuzhou, and use it as the residence where Liu Yun would be granted the title of Duke.

Therefore, there were many defects in the building of this mansion that exceeded the regulations. Ma Qing tried his best to find someone to renovate it, so as to retain the style and characteristics of the original mansion and not let the Yushi Yanguan get caught.

Zhu Xiu arrived in a hurry, and when he rushed into the two red lacquer doors, he stopped and looked up at the golden plaque with iron paintings and silver hooks in big words: Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Then I turned around and looked around. I saw that the gatehouse alone was a structure of three rooms and five bays, with cornices and brackets, and red lanterns hanging high. It was extremely majestic. At first glance, it looked like a noble and distinguished family.

"With my rank, isn't it illegal to live in such a house?" Zhu Xiu murmured.

Ma Qing smiled and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Hou, I've consulted someone specifically. It's not a violation of the rules. There are a few suspected violations, but they were all modified by craftsmen, so they can't be seen easily!"

Zhu Xiu glanced at him: "Who are you asking?"

"Several doctors from the Ministry of Etiquette are well versed in etiquette. When they heard that they would look after the house for the Marquis, they all rushed to come!" Ma Qing was quite proud.

"Who wrote those words?" Zhu Xiu pointed at the plaque.

"Old grand master Feng Dao! The villain originally refused to let me, and wanted to wait for Lord Hou to come back and write it by hand. Although the old grand master's handwriting is good, it can't compare with Lord Hou!
But when the old master heard that this mansion was bought by the Marquis, he had to write a plaque in his own hand and send it as a gift to congratulate the Marquis on his safe return to the north! "

Ma Qing complained, feeling a little depressed. Master Feng was too concerned about his own affairs.

Zhu Xiu pouted: "Forget it, let's just hang on. Feng Dao can barely read these two strokes."

Ma Qing hissed nervously: "Master Hou, please lower your voice, I'm afraid Madam Feng is in the house at this moment!~"

Zhu Xiu was also startled and looked around guiltily: "Feng Qingchan? What is she doing here?"

Ma Qing smiled bitterly and said, "Master Hou, we will find out when we go back to the house and take a look."

Immediately, Zhu Xiu did not dare to delay and led Wu Yangyang's group of people into the mansion.

The house is huge and well laid out, with houses, pavilions, galleries, waterside pavilions and pavilions all arranged in an orderly manner. However, there are fewer people and it looks a bit deserted.

Ma Qing led the way, but Zhu Xiu only remembered twists and turns, walked through the long corridor, and then around a small artificial lake. After passing through the middle hall, he walked for a long time before arriving at the back of the mansion.

Hu Guangyue, Bi Zhenhai, and Chen An stayed in the middle hall waiting.

To put it into perspective, Ma Qing was Zhu Xiu's subordinate, his slave, and the steward of the Hou Mansion. He was the first to follow Zhu Xiu, so he was completely a member of the Hou Mansion, and there was no taboo in entering and exiting the back house.

"Uncle is back!"

Zhu Liang and Zhu Fang ran over excitedly after hearing the servant's report.

The two dolls wore new clothes, and they have grown much taller and stronger. They are no longer as thin as when they first met, and their skin has become whiter.

With sufficient nutrition, the excellent genes of the old Zhu family began to appear. Zhu Liang had a tiger-like head and a strong body, and his body was stronger than his peers, just like his father Zhu Wu.

Zhu Fang became more and more beautiful, and she already had some rudiments of beauty.

The two dolls wanted to hug Zhu Xiu's thighs, one on the left and the other on the right. Suddenly, they remembered that their grandmother and mother had told them not to lose their etiquette not long ago. They also thought of the etiquette taught by Sister Zhou Xian. They suddenly stopped in front of Zhu Xiu. In front of me, he bowed in a similar manner:

"Greetings to my uncle! My Zhu family is very lucky that my uncle has returned safely!"

"Haha~" Zhu Xiu picked up Zhu Fang and touched Zhu Liang's head: "Who taught you?"

Zhu Liang said seriously: "Grandma and mother said that when you come to Kaifeng, you can't embarrass your uncle! Our old Zhu family will be officials in the future, so we must have official etiquette and rules!"

Zhu Fang said in a soft voice: "Sister Zhou taught me." Zhu Xiu nodded Xiao Nizi's nose and said with a smile: "Good teaching. Madam Zhou is a lady of the family, knowledgeable and courteous. You should learn from her."

The two dolls obediently agreed. Zhu Liang frowned and corrected his sister: "Mrs. Zhou will marry our uncle in the future, who is our aunt. We can't call her sister!"

Zhu Fang pouted: "But they haven't gotten married yet!"

Zhu Liang said: "You can't call me sister even if you're not married. There's a gap in seniority! You little slug has no manners!"

Zhu Fang said angrily: "Sister Zhou asked me to call her sister!"

"Don't scream! You have to call Mrs. Zhou!" Zhu Liang argued loudly.

Zhu Xiu was so noisy by them that he quickly stopped and said, "Since Madam Zhou has given permission, Da Ya can call her whatever she wants!

And you guys, don’t talk nonsense. What aunt, you’ve made people laugh! "

Zhu Fang put her short arms around Zhu Xiu's neck, giggled, and made a proud face at her brother.

Zhu Liang scratched his head and said, "Mother said it, it will happen sooner or later!"

Zhu Xiu glared at him and slapped him on the forehead gently.

This boy's thick black hair has grown out of his tiled head and has been tied into a boy bun, like a school boy.

"Have you been lazy in practicing martial arts recently? Where is your master now?" Zhu Xiu asked him.

Zhu Liang muttered: "Master has gone to the palace to serve as an official. He has not been here for half a month."

Zhu Xiu was startled and asked in surprise: "Pan Mei joined the palace as an official? What's going on?"

Zhu Liang scratched his head and said with a grimace: "I don't understand either. Last month there was a guy named Zhao. What the hell is Zhao? His name is hard to pronounce."

"Zhao Kuangyin?!" Zhu Xiu reminded him with a suspicious look on his face.

"Yes! My name is Zhao Kuangyin! He is a fair-faced and big-eared man. He brought many gifts to visit grandma. When he met the master, the two of them talked behind closed doors for a long time, and then the master left the next day. I didn’t say when I would come back.”

Zhu Liang had a sad face and was a little depressed. He was still waiting for Pan Mei to come back and teach him his martial arts.

Zhu Xiu was surprised. Pan Mei was called away by Zhao Kuangyin?
Zhao Da'er actually poached someone while he was away?

Could it be that these two guys had a bad connection in their previous life, and they went around and got entangled again?
Ma Qing quickly whispered: "I have sent someone to inquire about this matter, but I haven't had time to report it to the Marquis. Zhao Kuangyin invited Pan Mei to serve in the front class of the palace. Now Pan Mei has served as the guard of the first class of the outer palace, guarding the palace. The east and west gates of the city."

Zhu Xiu opened her mouth and didn't know what to say.

A small guard is just a low-level officer, without even a rank, but that is the guard of the imperial army in front of the palace, and it is not something that anyone can become if they want to.

Pan Mei had previously only had the title of military attaché from the eighth rank of the Imperial Academy, and when she first entered the palace, she was able to serve as a guard in front of the Imperial Guards. Zhao Kuangyin must have been able to help her.

Now that the Dianqian Division is about to be established, it is clear that the two factions of the Forbidden Army will stand side by side. Judging from Guo Wei's attitude, the status of the Dianqian Division will be slightly higher than that of the Guard Division in the future.

The Department of Palace Front will also replace the Department of Guards and become the emperor's primary agency for controlling the imperial army.

Nowadays, military academies of all sizes are trying to get into the Dianqian Army, and they are waiting for the Dianqian Division to be officially established so that they can have real power.

Under such circumstances, Pan Mei's appointment to serve in various classes in front of the palace would be of great benefit to his personal future.

"That's all, let's discuss this matter in two days."

Zhu Xiu shook his head. The first priority was to sort out the mess at home.

(End of this chapter)