After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 182
Prince Yingchuan would come to the northwest for training, and it was indeed Zhou Shuyi who pulled the strings.

If something happens to the former, it should happen next year.Did Zhou Shuyi start planning so early?Was this something she did selfishly, or was it really, as Zhou Shigong said, the first step taken by the Marquis of Yingchuan to help the emperor seize power in the northwest?
Hai Jiao and Hai Tang looked at each other, feeling that the possibility of the latter was unlikely.

The Prince of Yingchuan is just a teenager. He went to the northwest for two years to practice, learn some real skills, and become rich. After returning to Beijing, he can arrange for a more dignified official position.It is very common for the descendants of noble families to take this route.

But with such qualifications and status, there is no way he can get ahead in the Northwest Frontier Army.

If the Prince of Yingchuan Hou did not go through battles and achieved several military exploits, he would probably not be as good as Sun Yonglu!Sun Yonglu also had a lot of credit in those years. What did the Prince of Yingchuan have?The former cannot yet seek the position of commander of the First Guard. If the latter wants to gain military power in the northwest, might he have to spend decades on the border?The Marquis of Yingchuan only has one legitimate son, how could he give up?

Even if he really wanted to help the emperor seize military power in the northwest, instead of letting his rookie son take risks and suffer, he might as well do it himself!After all, he was a general for generations, had military achievements in quelling chaos, and was much better than his son in terms of experience, qualifications, and talents.

Hai Xiya thought so too.He analyzed it for Zhou Shigong and felt that the Marquis of Yingchuan would not let a half-year-old child come to the northwest to seek military power. This could not be regarded as clear evidence that the Marquis of Yingchuan's mansion was plotting against the Zhou family.

Zhou Shigong didn't understand military affairs, but he felt that even if Marquis Yingchuan didn't intend for his son to seize power, he must have other plans. Otherwise, why would he send his only eldest son to the northwest?It's not just a long experience in the prosperous and stable Chang'an.My sister Zhou Shuyi made it clear in her letter that she wanted her brother to arrange for Prince Yingchuan to be in a relatively safe place on the border but with a chance to fight the barbarians. She must have wanted her nephew to seek military service or something, so that he would be truly gold-plated.

The legitimate son of Marquis Yingchuan wanted to make a career in the army and fill a vacancy in the Forbidden Army. He would be dignified and safe, and his future would be smooth. Why risk it at the border?The Marquis of Yingchuan would have this thought and say that he had no plans in mind. Who would believe it? !In the northwest, apart from the military power of the Zhou family, what else is worthy of the calculations of the emperor's confidants?

Zhou Shigong still insists on his point of view.Although he has not guessed Yingchuan Hou's plan, he is already on guard, and plans to remind the Zhenguo Duke's government to be on guard as well.

With the credit of this warning, his eldest cousin Zhen Guo Gong should be kinder to him, right?

Seeing that he couldn't make sense, Hai Xiya simply gave up and continued arguing with him.Anyway, in the northwest, the person who calls the shots is Marshal Zhou, the Duke of Zhenguo. And Marshal Zhou knows how to handle the relationship between the northwest and the court, and he will know how to deal with it.Zhou Shigong is just a sinecure. Even if there is a misunderstanding, it will not affect the overall situation.

In Chang'an in winter, the farther the sun moves to the west in the afternoon, the colder the wind outside becomes.Hai Xiya wanted to leave, so he winked at his wife.

Ma said to Zhou Ma knowingly: "Sister, let's discuss the matter here first. You and your wife will discuss the follow-up charter by yourselves, and we will tell you when you have the results. This audit is not a matter of a day or two. Take advantage of it. For example, next year, every family will have to take stock, and your old lady is sick again. This is your chance to show off your skills, so don’t get sick again."

Zhou Ma glanced at her husband and nodded reluctantly.When she thought that her husband did not allow her to disturb Mrs. Ma, nor allowed her to change the housekeeper and accountant at home, but if she did not do so, even if she took charge of the house, she would not be able to spend money, and she might have to pay out of her own pocket, so she felt that this accounting check There's no point in coming, I'm afraid I won't find anything useful, but it's better than nothing.

Seeing this, Ma secretly squeezed her hand and reminded her to be more positive.Some things are difficult to say clearly, but the eldest sister should know it in her heart.If they want to become the real heads of the third room of the Zhou family, they can't be too afraid of Mrs. Ma.How can we bring order to the chaos if our hands and feet are tied?The brother-in-law has obviously been abandoned by Mrs. Ma. At this time, it is time for the eldest sister to stand up.

Zhou Ma took a deep breath and tried to cheer up, but she really didn't have any confidence in her heart.

She whispered to Ma in a low voice: "I will send someone to find my eldest brother soon. He can no longer tolerate my sister-in-law's mischief. My sister has been back in Chang'an for so long, and he has to meet her. Otherwise, what will happen to the clan members?" What?" Ma Shi smiled slightly: "If you can't go today, we will go to the Yamen again tomorrow, so you can go back with your children by yourself. Brother, don't blame me for coming to the door without authorization. If my sister-in-law dares to block her, Outside the door, brother, don’t recognize this girl from now on!”

Mrs. Zhou Ma hurriedly said: "No, no, how can my sister-in-law have such courage?"

Zhou Shigong still wanted to chat with his brother-in-law for a while, but he couldn't force him to stay when he was leaving. Besides, his wife and sister didn't listen to what he said, and they were heart-wrenching from time to time.He might as well think about the follow-up plan first and then discuss it with his brother-in-law in private.

He personally escorted his brother-in-law and his family out, and his attitude was much warmer and kinder than before.When he just left the main courtyard, he saw his eldest son Zhou Jinpu standing on the roadside with a dark face, as if waiting for them.

Although he didn't know Zhou Jinpu's intention, he felt bad when he saw the eldest son's dark face.Now that he was seeking something from Haixi Cliff, how could he let his eldest son be rude in front of his brother-in-law?Therefore, before Zhou Jinpu came forward, he ordered the eldest son to pay tribute to his aunt and uncle, forcing the eldest son to bow his head, and then sent him away without giving the eldest son a chance to speak.

Zhou Jinpu's face turned even darker.He reluctantly gave a hasty salute, then turned around and left angrily, not even bothering to give a greeting gift to the two juniors, Haitang Haijiao.Zhou Shigong felt that the eldest son was too disappointing. How could he embarrass his old father in front of his relatives?Looking back, he saw Hai Xiya and Ma looking like they were used to it, and he felt even more embarrassed. He knew that this was not the first time that his eldest son had been rude in front of his stepmother's relatives.

He had never thought this was a big deal, but today he felt very embarrassed. He only resented his stepmother for teaching the child a bad way, which made him lose his face.It's all Mrs. Ma's fault!
The Hai family said goodbye to Zhou Shigong and got on the carriage home.

As soon as he left the front street where the Zhou clan gathered, Ma couldn't help complaining: "Brother-in-law is dead. The evidence is so obvious. He is still indecisive, worrying about this and that. There is no way he can be expected to suppress Ma in the future." Old madam. Well, eldest sister listens to him in everything, I'm afraid she will have to endure it in the future!"

Haixi Ya was still calm: "As long as the Zhou clan can trap Mrs. Ma in the inner house and not allow her to interfere with the general affairs of the third house, the money of the third house will no longer flow out inexplicably, and they can rely on the remaining property of the family to make a living. It shouldn't be difficult. Even if the account is a bit short, with the help of the tribe and the aunt's talents, it will slowly recover. But Brother Zhou's temperament... is really not suitable for staying in the army to take care of things anymore. Let him return. It is good for the family to be in charge of the overall situation and to educate the children and grandchildren. If his eldest son fails to live up to his expectations, he will probably not be able to achieve much in the future, so he might as well count on his grandchildren."

Ma agreed very much with her husband's words: "Zhou Jinpu has been hollow-minded since he was a child. He has known for a long time that he can't achieve anything!"

Hai Jiao had been holding it in for a long time, and finally couldn't help it anymore: "Grandpa, grandma, what my great-uncle said... The wife of the second wife of the Yingchuan Hou Mansion wanted the prince of Yingchuan Hou to come to the northwest to experience something. ...Do you have any other plans?"

Hai Xiya smiled and asked her grandson: "What do you think she will plan?"

Hai Jiao swallowed, hesitating whether he should point it out.

Haitang decisively made a decision for him: "Grandma once told me that the third aunt of the Zhou family married the brother of the Marquis of Yingchuan, but she wanted her son to inherit the position of the eldest son of the Marquis. Wouldn't she want to marry Yingchuan Marquis? The Prince of Chuanhou came to the northwest to kill people with a borrowed knife, right?"

(End of this chapter)