The world of film and television begins from childhood

"Sanlang is right." Grandmother agreed.

After chatting for a while, the old lady took the initiative to ask: "Sanlang, is your father's health okay now?"

Zhou Chen sighed: "It's hard to say, sometimes good, sometimes bad, but he has let it go. Now he just visits his grandson and walks with his mother every day, and doesn't ask about anything anymore."

The old lady said, "That's right. When people get old, they should enjoy a peaceful life. Your father has had a hard time too. You and Hua'er must be filial to him."

"Don't worry, grandma. We know what's going on."

As they were chatting, they saw Minglan returning to Shou'an Hall with her maid Xiaotao.

"Grandmother, mother, elder sister, elder brother-in-law."

Minglan is already eleven years old this year, which is not considered young in this era. She has learned a lot from her grandmother and has become much more introverted.

Grandmother waved happily at Minglan: "Come here Ming'er and see your little nephew."

Minglan walked over and looked at the tiny baby in the cradle, and was very surprised.

"so cute."

Zhou Chen and Hua Lan had dinner at Sheng Mansion before returning. During the dinner, they heard Sheng Hong say that he would be promoted after the new year, and would probably be able to wear a scarlet robe by then.

Zhou Chen was not surprised by this. Sheng Hong had been in Tokyo for three years. As far as he knew, although Sheng Hong had not made any great achievements, he did a very good job and had a good relationship with his colleagues. It was only natural that he should be promoted.

Zhou Yexiong didn't hold on for long after all. One night, more than three months after Zhou Ji's death, he finally couldn't take it anymore.

Before he died, he used up his last bit of strength to hold Zhou Chen tightly.

"The mansion and the family are now in your hands. I will definitely..."

Only after seeing Zhou Chen nod did he take his last breath and pass away.

Marquis Zhongjing, who was strong-willed throughout his life and lived for his family, eventually passed away at the age of fifty-three.

Zhou Yexiong's death made Zhou Chen unable to calm down for a long time. He did not have many feelings for this father, but he had to admit that no matter how cruel his methods were, he was indeed fighting for a goal. He spent his whole life for his family, and even in his last breath, he was still thinking about his family.

poor person must have something mean.

No, maybe he just felt pitiful because he thought so. Zhou Yexiong never thought so from the beginning to the end. He was willing to devote everything he had to his family, even his emotions and humanity.

…………

The death of Zhou Yexiong, Marquis of Zhongjing, caused much more fanfare than the death of Zhou Tong.

In just two years, the Marquis Zhongjing's Mansion underwent earth-shaking changes. Within a year, both the eldest son and the Marquis passed away, only ten months apart.

During the funeral, most of the dignitaries in Tokyo came to mourn, and the scene was grand. Even the current emperor issued an edict to give Zhou Yexiong enough face.

Once Zhou Yexiong left, all that was left was for Zhou Chen to become the new Marquis of Zhongjing, and the Marquisate would usher in a new era.

After Zhou Yexiong left, Zhou Xu went out less often. She stayed in her own yard every day, eating vegetarian food and reading scriptures. Her sister-in-law Cui also rarely showed up. However, Hualan would often call Fu Jie'er over to teach her to read and write, to look at account books, and to play with her younger brother. She was very kind to Fu Jie'er, who also liked and respected Hualan very much.

The Song Dynasty's mourning system was the most complete. Even people of Zhou Chen's status had to abide by it. So after Zhou Yexiong passed away, Zhou Chen began to observe mourning. He temporarily gave up his position as the Du Yuhou of the Cavalry Army, as well as other part-time jobs, and stayed in the mansion to mourn for his father.

Just after the funeral, the imperial edict came down from the palace. Zhou Chen officially inherited the title and became the new Marquis Zhongjing. Sheng Hualan was also promoted and became a third-rank lady of honor.

The Marquis Zhongjing's Mansion was one of the most prominent noble families in Tokyo City. Now, they had a new Marquis Zhongjing. Everyone was waiting to see how the new Marquis Zhongjing performed compared to the old one.

But considering Zhou Chen's previous achievements and the fact that he is highly regarded by the government, many people feel that Zhou Chen may be able to surpass his predecessor.

Therefore, even though the old marquis Zhou Yexiong was dead, no one dared to underestimate the Marquis Zhongjing's Mansion.

In ancient times, the mourning period was three years, but in reality it was not really three years. It was more than twenty months. Some ordinary people did not even need to observe a one-year mourning period. On the contrary, scholars attached great importance to this kind of filial piety.

Moreover, some important officials of the imperial court were said to observe mourning for three years, but if the emperor allowed it, they did not need to observe mourning for that long. One year would be enough.

Zhou Chen was not prepared to take shortcuts and began to observe mourning obediently. He was able to inherit the title thanks to the Zhou family, so naturally he had to accept the favor and observe mourning for Zhou Yexiong.

More than half a year passed in a flash, and Zhou Ji was also one year old. Due to the special circumstances, it was naturally impossible to hold a wedding banquet, so the family gathered together to celebrate Zhou Ji's first birthday.

During the mourning period, no one in the marquis's mansion was allowed to wear red or green, and could only wear plain clothes.

Chaoyun Pavilion!

Recently, the layout of the Marquis' Mansion has changed a lot, and Zhou Chen and Hua Lan's courtyard has also expanded a lot. They named the new courtyard Chaoyun Pavilion.

It was already evening when Zhou Chen returned to Chaoyun Pavilion from the ancestral hall. He saw Hua Lan counting the accounts in the house and asked curiously.

"Where's my stepbrother?"

Hua Lan raised his head and replied: "At mother's place, this child insists on pestering mother and sleeping at mother's place. I have no choice but to let him."

Zhou Chen smiled and said, "This kid is smart. He knows that his mother loves him the most and spoils him the most. Let him be. It's good for his mother to be alone."

Although Zhou Xu was a vegetarian and had a simple temperament, she was really good to her grandchildren, especially her eldest grandson Zhou Ji. She held him in her hands for fear of dropping him, and held him in her mouth for fear of him melting. Although Zhou Ji was only one year old, he was already very perceptive, so he liked to stay with his grandmother.

Hua Lan complained bitterly: "This little naughty monkey is so heartless. He doesn't want me as his mother when he sees her."

Zhou Chen smiled and put his arm around Hua Lan's shoulders, saying softly, "It's good that he's not here. I can be with you wholeheartedly."

As he said that, he kissed Hualan on the face, which made Hualan roll her eyes.

"My Lord, Madam, I'm going out first."

Cuichan was very observant. She closed the door and left immediately without being told.

You cannot get married during the mourning period, and there are also rules for matters between men and women, but in fact they are not that strict. As long as you don't go out too high-profile, there will basically be no big problem.

Zhou Chen hugged Hua Lan and leaned against the head of the bed.

"Sir, my mother sent someone to tell me that Changbai and Changfeng will both take the provincial examination in a few days. My mother invited me to go with her to Sanqing Temple to burn incense and worship the gods tomorrow."

Today, Hualan is the wife of a marquis and a lady of the third rank. In Tokyo City, where powerful people abound, she is a lady of high rank. If she were not in mourning, I wonder how many visiting cards would have been sent to her.

Although her identity and status have changed, Hualan has not forgotten her parents' home. For women of this era, the more glorious and powerful her parents' home is, the more confident she will be in her husband's family.

Naturally, she didn't need the support of her natal family in the Marquis' Mansion, but she also hoped that her natal family would become strong, especially since her own younger brother Sheng Changbai was also going to take part in the provincial examination this time, so of course she had to care about him.

"Then you can go with your mother-in-law. If you want to take your stepbrother with you, you can take him with you. If you don't want to take him with you, just leave him with your mother."

"it is good."

Hua Lan leaned in Zhou Chen's arms and suddenly remembered something.

"My mother also told me one thing. She said that Duke Qi heard from somewhere that Master Zhuang was teaching at my house, so they sent someone to find my father and asked his son Qi Heng to attend the class at our Sheng Family Private School. My mother said that Qi Heng was handsome, had a handsome face, was gentle and elegant, and was a first-class young master."

"Qi Heng, Young Master Qi?"

Hearing this familiar name, Zhou Chen looked surprised. Did you know that there were still a few years before the official plot started? At this time, Qi Heng had already gone to the Sheng Family Private School?

Although Qi Heng is still young, his reputation has already spread among the nobles in Tokyo City. Everyone knows that the young master of the Duke of Qi is a handsome and elegant young man.

"Does the official know him, too? It seems he is quite famous."

Hualan thought of what her mother had said to her, saying that ever since Qi Heng went to Sheng's private school, Rulan and Molan had often clashed over Qi Heng. What she didn't expect was that her mother actually wanted her daughter to have contact with Qi Heng.

She had been married into the Marquis' Mansion for two years and had come into contact with some of the ladies from powerful families. She knew very well that each of these ladies had lofty ambitions. Their Sheng Mansion was just the residence of a fifth-rank official. If she had not married Zhou Chen, she probably would not be looked up to by others.

It was extremely difficult for a girl from an official's family to marry into a noble family. The fact that she was able to marry into a marquis's mansion was entirely due to her grandmother. If it weren't for her grandmother, she would not have been able to meet Zhou Chen, let alone be favored by her mother-in-law.

So she felt that her mother's idea was too naive. He was the son of Duke Qi and Princess Pingning. Everyone in Tokyo knew that Princess Pingning had high standards. How could she possibly look down on their Sheng family?

But she didn't tell Zhou Chen these words, and she was too embarrassed to say them.

The next morning, Hualan went out with her maid Cuichan and the guards, but she left her stepbrother with his grandmother and did not take him with her.

In the study, Zhou Chen was holding a military book and reading it carefully. The books here were all collected by Zhou Yexiong. There were books of all kinds, but military books were the most numerous.

It was really difficult to be a military general in the Song Dynasty. Zhou Yexiong was considered very capable, but the only major battle in his life was the Song-Xia War. Unfortunately, in foreign wars, the Song Dynasty was as bad as ever. It couldn't even defeat the Western Xia and had to acknowledge the establishment of the Western Xia regime.

Just as he was watching intently, Hualan's personal maid Caizan walked in carrying a tray.

"My Lord, you must be thirsty after reading for so long. Here is the tea I just brewed. Please try it."

"let it go."

Zhou Chen didn't even raise his head and continued to look at the military book in his hand.

Cai Zan put down the tea, but did not leave. Instead, she looked at Zhou Chen's profile with admiration flashing in her eyes, and walked closer to Zhou Chen.

"My Lord, you have been sitting for a long time. I will massage your shoulders for you."

As she said that, she reached out to massage Zhou Chen's shoulders, but Zhou Chen's face turned cold.

"go out."

"Master Hou."

Cai Zan was startled and didn't have time to massage Zhou Chen. Her legs went limp and she fell to the ground.

Zhou Chen looked at her with disgust and said coldly, "Bring your tea and get out."

Caizan is a personal maidservant of his wife Hualan. It is disgusting that she wants to use this method to get to the top. Does he really think she is so beautiful that she can topple a country?

Although he also likes women, he also has a bottom line. Caizan is Hualan's personal maid. If he touches her, it will embarrass Hualan. Of course, he will not do such a thing.

Seeing that Zhou Chen was really angry, Cai Zan was so scared that she was shaking all over. She didn't dare to say another word. She quickly stood up, picked up the tea and fled from the study.

Zhou Chen frowned slightly. This colorful hairpin was really bold. Even if it seduced him, it actually seduced him during his filial piety period. He really thought he couldn't stand the test.

This colorful hairpin cannot be kept, but she is Hualan's personal maid, so it is not easy for him to do anything. It is better to wait for Hualan to come back before dealing with it.

Hua Lan did not come back until the evening, and then had dinner with Zhou Chen at her mother Zhou Xu's house. She wanted to bring Zhou Ji back with her, but little Zhou Ji cried and refused to come back. Zhou Xu was reluctant to let him go, so she had no choice but to let little Zhou Ji stay with his grandmother.

"Sir, when my mother and I went to the Sanqing Temple to worship the gods today, we unexpectedly met Princess Yong and Princess Jiacheng. Princess Yong also invited me to her house, but I didn't dare to agree and refused on the grounds of mourning. Princess Yong's face was not very good at that time."

Hua Lan looked worried: "Will I offend Prince Yong?"

Zhou Chen smiled and comforted: "It's okay. Not to mention that the emperor has no intention of appointing an heir now, even if Prince Yong really becomes the crown prince in the future, we don't need to be too nervous. Our Zhongjing Marquis Mansion is the representative of the nobles. Even if the emperor wants to make a move, we have to find a suitable excuse, let alone Prince Yong. Don't worry about him."

The most popular candidate in Tokyo City right now is Prince Yong, followed by Prince Yan. However, Zhou Chen knows that neither of them will become emperor in the end.

It is said that Prince Yan was extremely bold in forcing the emperor to abdicate, but in fact Prince Yong was not much different. For the sake of his daughter's marriage, he even dared to kidnap and humiliate the younger sister of the current imperial concubine, and even threatened the Duke of Qi and forced Qi Heng to agree to the marriage.

All these actions showed that Prince Yong was definitely not a good ruler, and Zhou Chen did not have the slightest good impression of him.

"I'm glad you're okay. I was worried that I would cause you trouble." Hua Lan breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Chen hugged her and said softly, "There's no need to be so cautious. You are my wife, Zhou Chen, the eldest lady of the Zhongjing Marquis's Mansion. You are not much worse than the Princess Yong. Even if you meet her in the future, don't be afraid of her."

Hua Lan rolled her eyes at him and said, "It's not as easy as you say. That's Princess Yong. You don't know that my mother has such a temper that she dared not say a word to Princess Yong."

"Really? That's quite interesting. I'm really curious about my mother-in-law's expression at that time."

"You..."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 1122 Hualan's awakening, Xixia coup

"Madam, I have something to tell you. Today..."

Zhou Chen told Hua Lan about Cai Zan's visit to him in the study today. He didn't say it so obviously, but Hua Lan was not stupid, and women are naturally sensitive about such things, so when Zhou Chen just mentioned it, she immediately understood.

Hualan's face turned extremely ugly. Caizan had been with her for many years and had been married into the Marquis's Mansion for two years. Before that, she had been thinking about finding a good family for Caizan.

What he never expected was that she actually took advantage of his absence to secretly seduce his husband.

Although she was extremely angry, she also felt somewhat comforted because her husband directly refused the matter and did not hide it from her.

"Sir, I will deal with Cai Zan. After tomorrow, I promise not to let her appear in the Marquis' Mansion again."

It is true that she has a kind heart, but Cai Zan did such a shameless act of betrayal that no master could tolerate. She did not kill her on the spot out of consideration for her past kindness.

The most important thing is that Cai Zan actually did such a thing during Zhou Chen’s mourning period. How could she, as the lady, tolerate this?

Zhou Chen didn't care about it, and just said casually: "You can handle it, let's take a rest."

After a while, Zhou Chen fell asleep, but Hua Lan didn't. She was still thinking about Cai Zan.

In ancient times, there were maids who came with the bride price as dowry. Strictly speaking, maids were also dowries. Once they arrived at the man’s house, they became the man’s private property.

However, the dowry maids in the world of "Do You Know" are slightly different from the dowry maids in normal history. They still have some human rights. The indenture is a living contract and is in the hands of the mistress. If they can get the mistress's permission, they can marry others.

This is the case with Minglan's maid in the plot, as well as Molan's maid. If Molan hadn't pushed them too hard, they wouldn't have hooked up with Liang Liulang.

There are also several families that appear in the plot, such as the Sheng family, the Gu family, etc., none of them turned their dowry maids into concubines. Instead, many of the dowry maids around them eventually became housekeepers around them, and continued to serve the mistress like maids.

Just like Madam Liu beside Madam Wang, Madam Xiang beside Madam Qin, and so on.

Although this does not represent all, it can be seen that in this fictional world of "The Story of Minglan", a dowry maid is not necessarily a concubine's maid.

Cuichan and Caizhan are both Hualan's dowry maids. If Hualan allows and they are willing, they can of course serve Zhou Chen. They don't even need to be promoted to concubines. They can just be like maids who share the same room with Zhou Chen.

However, Zhou Chen had never mentioned it before, so Hualan had never told Cuichan and Caizan. The kind-hearted Hualan actually had plans for these two maids who came with the dowry.