From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Zhou Yuan didn't do anything these two days and stayed with his family. When the children were young, he didn't feel much about the separation, but now Wenxin and Xingguo can walk and talk, they are cute and clingy, he really can't bear to leave.

Just like Jianjia said, if he doesn't hug her, she will grow up.

Although the war in the south has not yet broken out completely, the situation is already very difficult. Although Guanlu has passed, he can't make strategic decisions and can only do some auxiliary work to consolidate the foundation.

It's time to set off.

"Daddy... Daddy hold..."

Little Wenxin grabbed Zhou Yuan's thigh, and her babyish tone made people feel distressed.

Zhou Yuan picked her up and smiled, "Baby, you want to hold her high again!"

He let Wenxin ride on his neck and turn around in the yard, and he was even more reluctant to leave.

Until Mingrui came to report: "Son-in-law, Master, there is a woman who wants to see you, she said she knows you."

Zhou Yuan was puzzled, walked towards him, frowned and said: "Know me? What's her name?"

Mingrui scratched his head and said: "She said her name is Li Shuxue, an old friend of the master."

"Please go to the main hall, I'll go right away."

Zhou Yuan handed Xiao Wenxin to the nanny, and then hurried to the main hall. After more than a year, he saw the familiar old friend again.

Time has left some traces on her face. Her body is wider and fatter than before, and her face is full of sorrow and anxiety.

Seeing Zhou Yuan, she bowed deeply and said, "Sir Zhou, no... it's the prince. I'm sorry to bother you."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "We have known each other for four or five years. We are old acquaintances. Why should we be so polite?"

"You are a pragmatic person and don't want to cause trouble to others. You came to the palace to find me. You must have encountered difficulties."

Li Shuxue's eyes were about to burst into tears when she heard this.

She choked up and said, "Prince... I... my man... I'm afraid he's in danger."

Zhou Yuan said, "You guys set up a stall over at Liuda Lane... Has anyone been acting unruly there recently?"

Li Shuxue shook her head and said, "No, Prince, the opening of the sea was a big deal, and many people made a little money. My husband couldn't bear to be lonely, so he went to the south in October last year and teamed up with a group of people to trade some small things."

"But the day before yesterday, there was news that... all the people on their ship... were missing... and couldn't be found..."

At the end, her voice trembled and she almost sobbed.

Born as a merchant, she was kidnapped and suffered in the gambling house for more than a year. She couldn't go home. She finally found a down-to-earth man and lived a peaceful life for several years. She now has three children.

If her husband fell, she really didn't know how to live.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, she really didn't want to come to Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan looked serious and said in a deep voice: "I have received news about this matter. I will go south soon to find out the truth."

"Don't worry, your husband is probably not dead, no, he must be alive."

"They were just arrested. After I go south, I will find a way to find them back."

Li Shuxue was already in tears, her body was shaking, and she said in a trembling voice: "Prince, Prince... I don't understand those big things... I, I just want to tell me if the prince knows any news, so that my child and I can rest assured..."

Zhou Yuan said: "Don't worry, you go home and wait for news, I will do my best to rescue them all."

Li Shuxue nodded and walked out somewhat at a loss.

She didn't know what to say, she was just worried and panicked.

Lost her soul, she slowly walked out of the Prince Wei's Mansion, she could hardly stand and staggered away.

Zhou Yuan followed and said, "Mingrui, send her back in person and make sure she is safe."

"Then say hello to Qiu Yuanren and ask him to help take care of her and make sure nothing happens."

Mingrui responded and followed immediately.

Looking at Li Shuxue's lonely back, Zhou Yuan could only remain silent.

In Zhou Yuan's impression, Li Shuxue is a powerful woman.

She has lived a wealthy life since she was a child, but she suffered a tragic experience in the gambling house, and her life fell into a slump after she got out.

But she never gave up, and always tried to find hope to make herself live better.

Her love for life never stops.

Even when Zhou Yuan was struggling with his thoughts, she could coincidentally give some comfort and encouragement.

But she is almost collapsed now.

Those men who go to sea are the pillars of a family.

Li Shuxue is so strong, and she is still like this, what about other family members? Can they survive? Can they hold on?

Have to go south.

Zhou Yuan knew that fate was urging him to move forward.

This is the eighthIt was the 19th of the month, and they were scheduled to leave tomorrow morning. He was reluctant to leave his family and wanted to stay for two more days.

Alas, he couldn't wait any longer.

With his heart on his mind, he played with little Wenxin for a while, and then took Xingguo to Xiaoying to play with Wenshu. Soon Ningyue also came with Wenyan.

The family was lively and decided to go out to pick up Sifan and Jianjia from school.

When they got home, it was already dusk.

Everyone was talking and laughing. Qu Ling and Qinshui talked about the business of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Sifan said that his recent calligraphy practice was good. Zhao Jianjia teased that a female student wanted to visit the prince...

Ziyuan prepared a table of food. Everyone ate as usual, laughing and joking, and there was always endless talk.

Until Qingyuan hurried over and said, "Son-in-law, there is a letter."

Zhou Yuan stood up and walked out of the inner courtyard quickly.

The spy of the Divine Bird immediately handed over the letter and said quickly: "Eight hundred miles from Ningbo Prefecture, written by Lord Guan himself."

Zhou Yuan's heart moved, and he quickly opened it and took a look, his face gradually darkened.

"My lord, Ningbo is in chaos. The vigorous opening of the sea has brought a trend and countless businessmen, but the new but imperfect rules here can't suppress the complex contradictions in all aspects. Although the Ministry of Commerce is constantly innovating, new things change too fast and they can't keep up with them all."

"Fan Tiande arrived at the end of last year. I met him in person. He said that there are all kinds of people here, and some people can't be suppressed directly because they involve the interests of all parties, which will affect the overall situation of opening the sea."

"Of course, as the lord said, the pain is inevitable, and these are not important."

"The important thing is that we received a letter from the island pirates saying that they captured our merchant ships and asked us to exchange silver for prisoners, 10,000 taels each."

"If we can't raise enough money within a month, they will kill people."

"This is the first."

"Second, the successive loss of contact with the Goryeo merchant ships, the Goryeo The imperial court is already anxious, they can't afford the loss. "

"Another merchant ship lost contact the day before yesterday. It is said that the Queen of New Goryeo personally went out to sea. I don't know what kind of enemy she encountered. Only one of the six large ships escaped back, and six or seven hundred people died."

"When our navy arrived, the Queen of New Goryeo was with the remnants of the army, and they were not in a very good state."

"But don't worry, my lord, because Taoist Su Youzi suddenly appeared, the Holy Mother was not injured, but she was very self-blaming and very depressed. It is said that she even cried."

"My lord, the situation in the south can only be controlled by you!"

Zhou Yuan's eyes were bloodshot, he clenched the letter tightly, gritted his teeth and said: "Damn it, it's too much!"

"You wait for me."

He walked out quickly and shouted: "Mingrui, go and inform the King of Dharma and Lao Xiong, let them roll over before dawn tomorrow morning, we will go south!"

"Go south! Kill people and drink blood!"