spend time

"That's impossible!" Zheng Chen's eyes dimmed, and his tone was firm: "How can a man of seven feet tall be inferior to a woman?"

Duke Anguo snorted, "You haven't completely lost your mind yet. Look at you and Wang Jin, you both went to Nanyang County one after the other. When this matter reached the capital, many people made fun of it."

"If it weren't for Prime Minister Wang and me standing in the way, I don't know how many rumors would have spread and how many jokes would have been made."

"Jiang Shaohua is not an ordinary person. She is capable and ambitious. A woman like her will not be content to stay in the inner house. Our Zheng family cannot have such a mistress. You'd better give up this idea as soon as possible."

Zheng Chen was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Don't worry, father. This is the last time I will act willfully. I won't do it again."

Duke Anguo was a little surprised. He looked Zheng Chen up and down and suddenly asked, "Did the princess reject you directly?"

Zheng Chen: "..."

Duke Anguo didn't know whether to be angry or laugh. After a long while, he sighed, "Well, since we are not destined to be together, let's just cut it off. There are so many outstanding ladies in the capital. If you like any of them, our Zheng family will go to your house to ask for your hand in marriage. There is no reason why we can't succeed. From now on, don't think about that Princess Nanyang."

Zheng Chen remained silent.

Duke Anguo changed the subject and mentioned the disturbance caused by Cui Du's reward: "When Princess Nanyang wrote her first memorial, she only listed Cui Du's merits and asked the court to reward him."

"If the court had agreed at that time, the title of Viscount would have been enough. But Prime Minister Wang got in the way and created complications, sending an official document to Nanyang County to demand military rations."

"The Princess of Nanyang is not a soft persimmon that can be easily bullied. While agreeing, she also submitted a memorial to the court, asking the court to confer the title of Marquis on Cui Du."

"It is clear that if the imperial court does not give rewards, Nanyang County will not offer military rations!"

"Now the matter has come to a standstill, and the emperor is also very troubled by it."

Zheng Chen looked up and asked, "What does father think about this?"

Duke Anguo laughed at himself and said, "Nanyang County has been paying tribute to her privately, and the Empress Dowager has been fully bewitched by Jiang Shaohua. Even the Empress Dowager agrees, what else can I think?"

The will of the Empress Dowager is the will of the Zheng family. It is not his turn to oppose or agree with it.

Zheng Chen whispered, "I will go to the palace to see my great aunt in two days and ask my aunt to reduce Cui Du's reward."

"The title of Viscount is a bit low, and the title of Marquis is too high. I'll just give him the title of Earl as a compromise."

Duke Anguo glanced at his son and said suddenly, "You should be very clear about the intention of the princess to promote Cui Du."

Zheng Chen was stabbed in the chest, bleeding profusely, but his handsome face remained calm: "I know. She wants to take Cui Du as her son-in-law in the future. This is to give Cui Du a status that matches her. This will prevent Cui Du from being laughed at as a gigolo."

It was different now. Cui Du had been conferred the title of nobility based on his own merits, and could stand shoulder to shoulder with her with dignity. No one had the right to find fault with Cui Du.

Duke Anguo hummed, "It's good that you understand it in your heart. However, your idea is not bad. Go to the palace in two days and talk to the Empress Dowager."

……

In the study room of Prime Minister Wang’s residence.

As expected, Prime Minister Wang had a sullen face and scolded his son first. The content was nothing more than that he was blinded by beauty and went to Nanyang County to embarrass himself.

Wang Jin bowed his head and accepted the scolding honestly without arguing. After Prime Minister Wang had finished his temper, he whispered, "My son has completely given up after this experience."

Prime Minister Wang was still furious and sneered, "Princess Nanyang has submitted memorials one after another to request a title for Cui Du. Anyone with eyes can see the intention behind it. You have no choice but to give up." "Zheng Chen is also confused. He actually went to Nanyang County. Three people are vying for the favor of Princess Nanyang. The joke is about to spread throughout the capital. What's more embarrassing is that they haven't even finished vying for the favor, but they have already lost everything."

Wang Jin's eyes dimmed and he sighed, "If I were the princess, I would also choose Cui Du."

Prime Minister Wang was amused: "I never thought that my son, Wang Rong, would be such a romantic."

Wang Jin raised his head and looked at his father: "If father could see Cui Du in person, see the new crops he planted and the grain seeds he cultivated, and spend a few days with him, he would have the same idea as me."

"Although we are a love rival, I really admire him."

Prime Minister Wang was speechless, and waved his hand, saying, "Forget it, at least you should give up the idea now."

Wang Jin was silent for a moment, and whispered: "Today in the palace, the emperor mentioned the reward for Cui Du. From the emperor's attitude, it seems that he is a little dissatisfied with my father."

Prime Minister Wang said calmly: "Your Majesty is still too young, and he is easily influenced by others. Merits should indeed be rewarded, but Cui Du has been made a marquis before he reaches adulthood. How should we reward him for greater merits in the future?"

"To be conferred the title of Baron is already an exception. To be conferred the title of Marquis is absolutely impossible."

Wang Jin pondered for a moment and said, "It's not a good idea to keep going like this. Otherwise, we can both take a step back and make Cui Du an earl."

Prime Minister Wang did not say a word, but only ordered: "You should take a good rest for a few days. You don't need to worry about such things."

……

Two days later, Zheng Chen went to the palace to meet Empress Dowager Zheng.

After half a year, Empress Dowager Zheng had recovered from the pain of losing her son in old age. Her thin face had become plumper, and upon closer inspection, she had put on a lot of makeup and looked energetic.

Empress Dowager Zheng joyfully held Zheng Chen's hand and said repeatedly, "I'm glad you're back. I've been worried since I heard that there was an epidemic in Pingzhou. What if those rebels and bandits flee everywhere and escape to Yan County?"

"It's good that you're back now. Stay in the capital and don't go to the north again."

What Empress Dowager Zheng said was selfish and foolish.

However, I also feel really sorry for my nephew.

Zheng Chen agreed meekly.

Empress Dowager Zheng couldn't help but talk about Nanyang County again: "...Shaohua is a girl with her own ideas. She wrote to me and told me that she didn't want to get married and wanted to marry a son-in-law into the Nanyang Palace. The children she will have in the future must also have the surname Jiang. We can't let the lineage of the Nanyang King be cut off."

"She is beautiful, smart, and capable, so it's not surprising that you admire her. However, for this reason alone, you two are not suitable for each other."

"Listen to my great aunt, and don't think about her anymore. I'll pick another good girl for you..."

Zheng Chen pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled: "Grandma misunderstood. I was just passing by Nanyang County to let the wounded soldiers rest for a few days. I had no other intention."

Empress Dowager Zheng narrowed her eyes and laughed: "Anyway, just figure it out."

Zheng Chen calmly changed the subject: "Grandma, I heard that the court was in a big fuss over the reward for Cui Du of Nanyang County." (End of this chapter)