The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 458

Zhu Xiu didn't remember when she returned to her house. When she woke up at noon, she only felt a little dry in the mouth and throat, but she was very conscious and didn't feel too dizzy and hungover.

The main character last night was Li Chongjin, a black man who got promoted and made a fortune, got a beautiful woman, and is about to become a father. He is a sure winner in life.

How could Zhu Xiu miss this opportunity to get him drunk? He made a fuss about it, and he and Chai Rong kept trying to persuade him to drink.

Li Chongjin was very happy. When the glass was empty, he drank a jar of burning white knives alone. By the end of the drink, his tongue was numb, and he collapsed on the ground and snored.

The atmosphere at the banquet was enthusiastic. Even Zhang Yongde, who drank until the end, joined the crowd in singing. It was one of the few sounds that could be heard among the cries and howls in the banquet hall.

Fan Zhi and Xue Juzheng, a few gentlemen, played the game of drinking.

Zhu Xiu only remembered that when Bi Zhenhai carried him away from the county government's mansion, the sky had turned white.

After sleeping until about three o'clock in the morning, Zhu Xiu stretched himself out and prepared to go to bed. Suddenly he heard the sound of the door being opened, and two steps stepped forward and backward into the bedroom.

"It smells like alcohol, Brother Xiu, it's true. Not long after I returned to Kaifeng, I've been drunk several times."

Yang Qiaolian fanned herself, feeling distressed and complaining.

"Mrs. Zhou, what are you doing standing at the door? Come in!" Yang Qiaolian turned around and saw Zhou Xian standing at the door of the bedroom, hesitating and said strangely.

Zhu Xiu was lying on the couch. When her heart moved, she quickly pulled up the quilt and covered her face, pretending to be still asleep.

Zhou Xian hesitated: "Sister-in-law Yang, I won't go in. You should take care of him."

"Oh~ why are you still shy?" Yang Qiaolian grabbed her arm and pulled her into the house without any explanation.

"Mom's side is inseparable from people. I have to go back. Brother Xiu can only rely on you here. Those rough guys under him can't do the delicate work of serving people."

Yang Qiaolian said, seeing Zhou Xian lowering his head and saying nothing, she smiled ambiguously and said, "What, Brother Xiu bullied you?"

Zhou Xian understood the meaning of her words, his face turned red, and he quickly shook his head in denial.

"Oh~ You rich little ladies are good at everything, but you are too shy! You and our family fled all the way from Jiangning to Kaifeng. In our eyes, you have long been members of our Zhu family. It's not too late for you and Brother Xiu. thing!"

Yang Qiaolian patted Zhou Xian's hand.

Zhu Xiu heard it clearly and hid in the quilt and snickered, shouting in her heart that her sister-in-law was powerful!

However, Zhou Xian broke away from her, lowered his head and said nothing, and his mood was obviously not very high.

Yang Qiaolian looked at her suspiciously, then at Zhu Xiu who was on the bed, and burst out laughing: "I know, the young couple must have quarreled!"

Zhou Xian said in a serious tone: "Sister-in-law Yang, please don't talk nonsense, it's nothing."

"Alas~ I don't care!" Yang Qiaolian waved her hands carelessly, "I have to go back and take care of Mom. You stay and take good care of Brother Xiu."

Saying that, Yang Qiaolian didn't wait for Zhou Xian's agreement, slammed the door and hurried away. You could still hear her muttering from far away: "Young people nowadays, I really can't understand. They clearly like it in their hearts, but they still..." I’m having trouble all day long.”

Zhou Xian glanced at the bed, his eyes flashed with sadness and loneliness, mixed with a bit of hatred and disappointment. He bit his lower lip lightly and was about to walk out of the room and leave.

"Ouch~ Ouch~"

Suddenly, a groan of pain came from the bedroom, and then a hoarse voice sounded: "Water, give me water. Come, come, come."

Zhou Xian paused, hesitated for a while, but still didn't feel comfortable leaving Zhu Xiu alone, so he turned back to the bedroom, filled a cup of warm tea, and brought it to the bed.

Zhu Xiu covered her forehead with one hand and put her other hand on her heart, with a look of pain on her face.

Zhou Xian shouted coldly: "If you want to drink water, get up by yourself."

Zhu Xiunao opened her eyelids and groaned: "It's Ehuang. Help me, I can't get up."

Zhu Xiu stood up and looked like it was extremely difficult. He struggled several times but couldn't sit up.

Zhou Xian hesitated for a moment, so he had to put down the tea cup, support his arm and back, and try to help him stand up.

Just as Zhu Xiu sat up, he suddenly grabbed Zhou Xian's little hand and pulled it into his arms. She fell on Zhu Xiu in panic.

"Hey~ Good Ehuang, I knew you wouldn't leave me alone!"

Zhu Xiu took advantage of the situation and tightly wrapped his arms around her slender waist, half hugging her into his arms.

A faint and elegant fragrance was inhaled into her nostrils. Zhu Xiu sucked it greedily, feeling a little hot in her heart: "It smells so good!~ Let me kiss you husband!"

Zhu Xiu extended his mouth and sucked hard on the beauty's face.

Zhou Xian's cheeks were as red as blood, and he was ashamed and angry, struggling hard: "Let me go!"

The warm fragrance of nephrite was in her arms, but she couldn't let go easily. Zhu Xiu hugged her tighter and tighter, and the two fell on the bed. Zhu Xiu's breathing became rapid, and she felt a fire rising in her lower abdomen.

Suddenly, the beauty in his arms no longer struggled, but began to cry.

"Uh" Zhu Xiu let go of her dejectedly, as if a basin of cold water had been poured on her head.

Zhou Xian's dress and hair were a little messy, his legs were curled up against the wall, his eyes were red and moist, and his thin shoulders could not help shaking.

Zhu Xiu looked ashamed and said, "I was impulsive, I'm sorry."

"But don't worry, my love for you can be seen from heaven and earth. Even if the scenery of the mountains and rivers changes, I will never change it!" Zhu Xiu quickly added, pointing to the sky with three fingers, vowing to do so.

Zhou Xian stared at him with tears in his eyes, and said in a low voice: "Your so-called affection is to coax me to come to Kaifeng, and then send me away as a concubine?"

Zhu Xiu scratched his head and was speechless, and said: "It's true that I didn't consider this matter carefully, but I didn't mean to deceive you! Ehuang, I really like you."

Zhou Xian sneered: "If you reject Fu's marriage proposal and immediately send someone to Jiangning to propose marriage to your father, I will believe you!"

Zhu Xiu was silent for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said: "Ehuang, don't force me, you know, this is impossible! Whether it is the Fu family or the Feng family, I need a marriage to help me stand firm in Kaifeng and in the Great Zhou Dynasty. heel."

Zhou Xian's eyes welled up with deep hatred and disappointment, and he sneered again and again: "You finally said what you were thinking!"

Zhu Xiu still wanted to explain, but Zhou Xian pushed him away with all his strength, got off the bed and ran out of the bedroom holding back his tears.

"Alas~ This matter is difficult to handle." Zhu Xiu patted his forehead in distress.

This girl has such a stubborn character, I'm afraid she won't forgive herself easily.

After drinking the slightly cold tea, Zhu Xiu felt an unpleasant smell all over her body and shouted out of the yard: "Come here! Prepare hot soup! I want to take a bath!"

It was already afternoon after taking a bath. Zhu Xiu was dressed newly and sat in the small hall of the back house, eating some light porridge to clear his stomach.

If nothing happens later, he plans to go to the Ministry of Works to prepare for the firearms supervision, which requires his personal supervision.

Ma Qing ran over, approached ghostly and said: "Master Hou, Mrs. Zhou is in the house, and she hasn't come out for almost an hour, and some maids even heard crying from inside the house."

Zhu Xiu sighed and shook her head: "I know, don't disturb her, just send someone to take care of her."

Ma Qing winked and whispered: "Master Hou, for women, crying, making trouble, and hanging themselves are common tricks. Don't pay attention to them! I'm afraid they will run away when the rice is cooked."

Zhu Xiu glared at him: "Fart! Is this the kind of man who dresses like a beast?"

Ma Qing held it in for a long time and said nothing. He just told Zhu Xiu with his eyes: Mr. Hou, you are the one!
Zhu Xiu was about to fight, but Ma Qing held his head and dodged, hehehe said: "Master Hou, Mrs. Zhou has you in her heart, otherwise she wouldn't have gone all the way north to Kaifeng with you.

It's just that she is the daughter of a wealthy family after all. She was looking forward to marrying a good man, but in the end she was told to be a concubine. It was hard to accept it.

The Marquis might as well let Madam Zhou calm down for a while and wait for her to think clearly. "

Zhu Xiu finished the porridge, sighed with satisfaction, and said with a sideways smile: "San'er, judging from your tone, you have subdued many ladies in the past two years in Kaifeng?"

Ma Qing hunched over and said: "The villain doesn't have the skills of the Marquis, and he has such an ugly look like a disabled ghost. Women will be scared away when they see it. But the villain is rich. In Kaifeng City, if you have money, you can do it." If you can buy enjoyment and miss a woman, the villain will go to Yanliu Lane for a walk.”

Zhu Xiu said seriously: "I think you should marry a decent woman and start a family and live a good life."

Ma Qing chuckled and said: "I can no longer live a leisurely life, I just want to stay with the Marquis and be loyal all my life! When you marry a woman and give birth to a child, you will inevitably have worries, and you will have scruples when doing things, fearing that things will go wrong in the future. It's a big deal for the Marquis!" Zhu Xiu wanted to persuade him again, but Ma Qinggong cupped his hands and said: "I will be a slave of the Marquis for the rest of my life. As long as the Marquis and our Zhu family enjoy wealth forever, my life will not be in vain."

Zhu Xiu sighed and patted his shoulder: "Ma San, think about it when I was in Cangzhou. Fortunately, I saved you. Otherwise, I, Zhu Xiu, would not be where I am today!"

Ma Qing was smiling, with a few strands of yellow hair on his bald head, and a black mouth full of missing teeth. He looked as scary as a ghost.

"It is a blessing accumulated over several lifetimes that the villain can meet Lord Hou in this life!"

Zhu Xiu smiled and said, "Master and servant, you and I have become one and the same. If I, Zhu Xiu, have a mouthful of meat, you will not be hungry!"

In this world, the person Zhu Xiu trusted the most, besides herself, was Ma Qing.

This old servant who followed him from Cangzhou to today has witnessed his downfall and rise, and has long been an indispensable core figure in the small circle around Zhu Xiu.

Ma Qing glanced outside the small hall to make sure there was no one around, and said in a low voice: "Master Hou, the secret sentry in the mansion discovered that in the past few days, strangers have been wandering around the mansion. Every time Mrs. Zhou comes back from going out, there are strangers along the way. Follow him and linger outside the house for a long time before leaving."

"Huh?" Zhu Xiu suddenly became alarmed, "Is there someone spying on the Marquis's residence? And following Mrs. Zhou?"

Ma Qing said: "Looking at it now, I'm afraid that Mrs. Zhou was stared at by some sneaky thing with no eyes when she went out. Mrs. Zhou is beautiful, even if she wears a curtain and hat on the street, an occasional glance is enough to attract covetous eyes. "

Zhu Xiu stroked the green stubble on his chin, and felt that what Ma Qing said made sense.

"Why don't you ask Madam Zhou not to go out and just stay at home?" Ma Qing suggested.

Zhu Xiu thought for a while: "What does she mainly do when she goes out on the street?"

Ma Qing said with a smile: "It's nothing, just taking Brother Liang and Miss Fang to the temple fair and the busy markets near Baoci Temple and Tianwang Temple to buy some novel and delicious gadgets."

Zhu Xiu thought for a moment and said: "Ms. Zhou has a grudge in her heart. If she is confined in the house, I'm afraid she will think too much. In this way, you send more people to protect her and see which Mao Shen dares to follow. As long as that If anyone dares to show up, take it down first!"

"Don't worry, Lord Hou, the villain understands!"

"By the way, is Tao Wenju's whereabouts there?"

"Forgive me, Lord Marquis. I sent fifteen spies near Zhouqiao to monitor closely, but this guy seemed to have disappeared from the world and never showed up."

When talking about Tao Wenju, Ma Qing's face was filled with annoyance.

This person's cunning gave him a headache. Since the establishment of Zangfeng Camp, it had never been so difficult to find someone.

Zhu Xiu sneered: "Continue to monitor and control, don't worry if this guy doesn't show up! Wang Jun is back, let's see how long he can hide!"

"The villain takes orders!"

Just as he was talking, Bi Zhenhai hurried over: "Master Hou, it's not good! On the Xuande Gate tower, Madam Fu hung a banner saying that she wanted to propose to the Marquis! Now there are thousands of people gathered in front of the gate tower. Watching the excitement, as the news spreads, more and more people rush to Xuandemen!"

Zhu Xiu's hand holding the tea shook violently, and the tea spilled out, making him grin.

"Fu Jinhuan, this crazy girl, what on earth is she going to do?" Zhu Xiu was so angry that she pulled Bi Zhenhai along and trotted all the way. After leaving the mansion, he got on his horse and went straight to Xuande Gate.

In front of Xuande Gate, there is already a sea of ​​people. If you look around, you can see thousands of people gathered in the city gate square.

Xuandemen is the south gate of the imperial city. There are four towers on the left and right, plus the main tower in the middle, totaling five floors, which resembles a flapping golden phoenix, so it is also called the Five Phoenix Tower.

This imperial city architectural form has continued from the Sui and Tang Dynasties to the present day. Only the main entrance of the imperial city is eligible for construction.

On the first tower on the left side of Xuandemen, a five- to six-foot-long cloth hangs high, with a line of large characters written on it:
To Zhu Xiu, Marquis of Dingyuan: I am in love with you. Do you want to marry me?Fu Jinhuan Shu
Zhu Xiu squeezed into the crowd, looked up, dumbfounded.

This girl, where did she get the courage to show her love and propose marriage in front of the people in Kaifeng?

She actually made a joke in Jingzhou back then! ?

For a moment, Zhu Xiu felt mixed feelings, some were moved, some were agitated, and some were emotional.

The crowds were moving and crowded.

Some people shouted out the words on the giant canvas, some people cheered loudly, and some people rushed to shout, asking Dingyuan Marquis Zhu Xiu to come forward to respond.

The wind blew, and the huge cloth swayed slightly.

The people watching the excitement in the square were talking loudly. They had always seen phoenixes begging for phoenixes, but today they opened their eyes to seeing women begging for men.

Moreover, both parties involved are well-known figures in Kaifeng City.

One is the Fu family's two daughters, and the other is a young leader and the youngest founding prince of the Zhou Dynasty.

The people of Kaifeng were very excited to eat this melon.

On top of the tower, a snow-white mink fur cloak is tied around the talisman. Standing behind the wall, his face is as beautiful as frost and his expression is calm. He looks at the crowded crowd in the square below, and there is expectation hidden in the depths of his calm eyes.

Fu Zhaoxin paced anxiously behind her and muttered: "There is such a big commotion today. If Zhu Xiu doesn't reply, I will lead my men to the Hou Mansion, tie this kid up with a hemp rope, and take him directly to the bridal chamber." "

Fu Jinhuan's cheeks were rosy and he only smiled but said nothing.

Among the crowd, Zhu Xiu looked up at the faintly visible figure above the tower, and the throbbing in her heart became more intense.

"Master Marquis, Madam Fu Er is asking for your hand in marriage in front of the whole city. If you don't accept her, please give me a happy word!"

Bi Zhenhai led his people to surround Zhu Xiu in the middle, shouting anxiously.

Zhu Xiu took a deep breath and raised his hand: "Get a pen and paper!"

"Oh, there are people everywhere in this place, where can I find paper and pen?"

Bi Zhenhai turned around and looked around, and found a student not far away standing with an endorsement basket watching the excitement. He pushed through the crowd and slipped him forward without saying a word.

"Boy, let me lend you a pen and paper!"

Bi Zhenhai threw him half a penny, ignored the obstruction, and took out the paper, pen and ink from his backpack.

There was a Hexi man with his back hunched over. Zhu Xiu spread out the paper, put it on his back and wrote a few lines of words.

"Take it and deliver it to Mrs. Fu Er!" Zhu Xiu handed it to Bi Zhenhai, took a deep look at the top of the tower, squeezed through the crowd and left.

Bi Zhenhai looked over it over and over, it seemed to be a poem, but he couldn't read between the lines whether the Marquis agreed or not.

"Mom, don't worry, just say that our Marquis agrees to this marriage!"

Bi Zhenhai squeezed through the crowd and ran to Xuande's door. He found an acquaintance of the gate guards and asked them to forward it to Fu Jinhuan.

After a while, the paper was delivered to Fu Jinhuan's hand. When he unfolded it, it turned out to be Zhu Xiu's unique handwriting:
Answer to the Book of Wufenglou: The pear blossoms are fighting against the Chanjuan in silence, and the silver man is leaning in front of the embroidered house.Self-love burns incense and disappears forever, and never complains to the sky about anything.

After Fu Jinhuan finished reciting it softly, his heart beat violently, and tears suddenly welled up in the depths of his eyes.

She held the rough paper torn from nowhere in her heart, stood on tiptoe and looked down.

Although Zhu Xiu could not be found, she knew that he was here just now.

"Oh, second sister, show me quickly, what did Zhu Wencai say? Did he agree?"

Fu Zhaoxin was anxiously scratching his head and ears.

Fu Jinhuan ignored him, just holding the letter and smiling stupidly, his cheeks wet with tears.

On the Imperial Street side near Xuandemen, a carriage with the Taishifu logo on it was parked beside the road. Feng Qingchan stuck her head out of the car window and looked at the tower from a distance, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

The word love makes people crazy.

What Fu Jinhuan could do, she could never do.

"Let's go back home." Feng Qingchan put down the curtain and sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)