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Zhou Chen said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, why do you say that? It is my honor to be valued by Your Majesty. Fighting costs money and food, and countless casualties. It is Your Majesty's kindness that has avoided the sacrifice of soldiers. We are all grateful to Your Majesty, so how could we have other disrespectful thoughts?"

The official waved his hand and said, "Don't be so nervous. We are just chatting casually today. I only tell you this because I like you. If it were someone else, I wouldn't even bother to tell them this."

"Eat. You seem hungry too. Eat something first."

Zhou Chen could only obey and eat the meal mouthful by mouthful. He knew that the official had called him here not just to say these things, but there must be other purposes.

"My former ministers have urged me to appoint a crown prince as soon as possible. Mr. Zhou, who do you think is more suitable to be the crown prince, the Prince of Yong or the Prince of Yan?"

Zhou Chen trembled all over and bowed down hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I dare not speak nonsense. Your Majesty should discuss such important matters with Han Da Xianggong and others. I am just a military general and do not understand these things. I only know to serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly and protect Your Majesty's safety."

The official said, "I pardon you, you are innocent, you can speak freely, and what you say today will not be heard by anyone else except me."

How could Zhou Chen believe him? Even though his fear just now was all pretended, he had to pretend now.

"I know that you are not only brave, but you were also a top scholar in the imperial examination. If you had participated in the imperial examination, I might have chosen you as the top scholar."

"You saved Concubine Rong's sister. I know you must have known some of the truth, but I don't care. Prince Yong did some things wrong, but is Prince Yan really better than Prince Yong?"

Faced with the official's questions, Zhou Chen didn't want to answer, but he had to.

"Your Majesty, I have not had much contact with His Royal Highness Prince Yong and His Royal Highness Prince Yan, so I really don't know how to answer this question."

Seeing Zhou Chen's answer, the emperor was a little disappointed, but not angry. He asked Zhou Chen to come over, but he didn't really expect Zhou Chen to give him a definite answer. He just felt that among the many court officials, Zhou Chen was the one he promoted, and he had a deep impression of him, so he naturally had a good impression of Zhou Chen.

"I won't make it difficult for you. Eat first, and then walk with me after you finish eating."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhou Chen accompanied the emperor for a walk until he was tired and went back to rest, and then he left the imperial city.

The emperor's actions today made him understand that he was forced into a situation with no other choice but to appoint a crown prince soon. However, he had not made up his mind completely so far and was clearly leaning towards Prince Yong.

He also specifically mentioned the matter of Rong Feiyan, just to tell Zhou Chen not to take it to heart.

"King Yong?"

Zhou Chen frowned slightly. It seemed that even after what happened to Rong Feiyan, the emperor did not change his mind in the end. Just like in the plot, he was more inclined to Prince Yong.

"If this is the case, it seems that the King of Yan will definitely rebel."

Prince Yan and Prince Yong have been fighting for so many years. If Prince Yong were to become the legitimate crown prince, given Prince Yong's character, he would definitely not have a chance to survive. So in order to save his life and for the supreme position, he would definitely not sit back and surrender, and would fight to the death.

I just don't know whether Concubine Rong will help Prince Yan like she does in the plot. If there is no help from Concubine Rong to help Prince Yan control the families of the generals, it would not be so easy for Prince Yan to control the imperial city.

"A storm is coming."

Zhou Chen sighed slightly, looking at the dark sky in the distance, feeling inexplicably heavy in his heart.

He was not worried about himself, but the entire family of Marquis Zhongjing was counting on him, and he must be responsible for them.

Less than a month after the emperor summoned Zhou Chen, several senior ministers in the court again submitted a memorial asking the emperor to appoint a crown prince as soon as possible. Soon after, news suddenly came from the palace that His Majesty was going to appoint Prince Yong as the crown prince.

As soon as this matter came out, it caused an uproar in the city of Bianjing. Afterwards, the emperor announced the matter, saying that Prince Yong was indeed going to be made the crown prince, and asked the Ministry of Rites to choose an auspicious day to officially establish the crown prince.

Following the emperor's words, the entire court immediately became busy.

All the courtiers and families who were on good terms with Prince Yong were extremely excited. They all supported Prince Yong. When Prince Yong became the crown prince and inherited the throne in the future, they would all share in the glory.

On the other hand, the people of Prince Yan's line were all in mourning, with widespread grief.

Zhou Chen naturally knew about this, but he was not surprised. Now he was more concerned about something else.

After his hard work, Shulan, who had been in the mansion for less than three months, became pregnant.

This is a great thing. Zhou Chen and Hua Lan have been married for many years. Although they have two sons, their number of offspring is still relatively small compared to other noble families.

Although the child born by a concubine was a bastard, he was also Zhou Chen's son, so Zhou Chen was naturally very happy when he learned that Shulan was pregnant.

In the room, Zhou Chen comforted Shulan softly.

"Next, you just take good care of your body and don't have to do anything else, understand?"

Shulan replied very obediently: "Yes, Lord."

In fact, she was more happy and excited than Zhou Chen. She had been married to Sun Xiucai for three years, but the time they had spent together was only a few days. She had not had a child in three years, and she didn't know how much gossip people had said about her, but she could only endure it silently.

But after following Zhou Chen, she became pregnant within three months, so she was more excited than anyone else.

During the more than two months in the Marquis' Mansion, both Zhou Chen and Hua Lan treated her very well and did not neglect her at all just because she was a concubine.

Especially Hualan, who often came to talk to her. They were cousins ​​and now lived in the same mansion and were sisters, so their relationship naturally became better.

There was no morning court today, and Zhou Chen did not go out. Instead, he stayed at home and had breakfast with Hualan.

After Hualan finished her meal, she started embroidering.

"Sir, I heard that Concubine Rong in the palace sent invitations to many noble ladies, asking them to attend banquets in the palace. What's going on?"

Zhou Chen frowned slightly, he also knew about this matter. In fact, when the court began to prepare for the appointment of a crown prince, he realized that there was something wrong with the atmosphere in Bianjing City.

Concubine Rong sent invitations to the wives of noble military generals, but not to Hualan, probably because he had saved Rong Feiyan's life before.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 1151: Prince Yan's Rebellion, Imperial Palace Changes

"It's going to change."

Zhou Chen sighed softly, leaving Hua Lan confused. She glanced at the sky outside.

"No, the weather is fine. It's not going to change."

There is no way I can deal with Zhou Chen this time. Well, my wife is really a real person.

"It's not about this change. Inform the people in the mansion that no one is allowed to go out today except for normal shopping, including the people in the courtyard of my fourth and fifth brothers."

Hua Lan finally reacted and her face changed in shock: "Sir, could it be that the change in the world you are talking about is?"

"Ah, a coup."

"what?"

Hua Lan's body trembled and her face showed fear. Although she had been the mistress of the house for many years and had developed a mentality that was not easily shocked by honor or disgrace, she was still frightened when she heard Zhou Chen's words.

"Sir, please don't scare me. How did you know?"

Zhou Chen said quietly, "Prince Yong is going to be made the crown prince. The sword is about to hang over his head. Prince Yan is not someone who will sit and wait for death. He will definitely fight to the death."

There were only the two of them here, so there was no need to worry about eavesdropping. That was why he told Hualan all this so that she could be mentally prepared.

"No matter how the weather changes, it is the same for us. All we have to do is to guard the gate tightly to avoid any trouble."

Zhou Chen warned Hua Lan.

To be honest, he actually thought about whether he should save the emperor. After all, he was forcing the emperor to abdicate. If he could save the emperor and restore order, it would be a great achievement.

But if he rashly led his troops into the city without an imperial decree, even if he captured the imperial city and rescued the emperor, the emperor's mind was unpredictable. Who knew whether the emperor would think of the fact that he had mobilized troops without an imperial decree and attacked the imperial city, and become wary of him.

After all, the Zhao family came to power by relying on a military coup in which they wore yellow robes, so the Zhao emperor attached great importance to military power and tried his best to suppress military generals.

So he has the ability to command the Dragon Guards, but if he really leads them to attack the city to rescue the emperor, it is really hard to predict whether it will be a great achievement or a disaster.

The current life is very good, and Zhou Chen does not want to destroy it. He has not been brainwashed by Confucianism and has not had any ideas of loyalty to the emperor. Everything comes first to protect the people in the Marquis' Mansion.

Now he was only worried about one thing: whether Zhao Zongquan would come to Bian Jing by chance as in the original plot.

Hua Lan suddenly looked panicked: "My father and Changbai are now busy with the ceremony of enthroning the crown prince in the palace. If a palace coup really happens, won't they be in danger? Sir, do you have a way to save them?"

Zhou Chen said, "My lady, don't worry. Your father and Changbai are only in the old palace, helping to look up the classics and standardize the ritual etiquette process. Even if a palace coup occurs, it will not implicate the civil officials, so it is relatively safe."

"Even a coup has happened. Is there any safe place in the palace?"

"Now that things have come to this, we can only pray that they are safe. I'm afraid there is no way out of the palace now."

Zhou Chen called Yuancai and gave him a few instructions. Yuancai was shocked, then nodded solemnly and turned to leave.

"Sir, where do you want Yuancai to go?"

"Go to Sheng Mansion, just in case."

Zhou Chen knew that on the day of the palace coup in the plot, Minglan went back to deliver food to her father and brother. It was by coincidence that she encountered the palace coup. In the end, she escaped through a dog hole, and then met a palace maid carrying a blood edict and a tiger talisman. She was almost killed during the escape. Fortunately, she met Gu Tingye and others in time.

Now that Gu Tingye is still in Beijing, if Minglan is still the same as in the plot, no one will save her.

So Zhou Chen simply didn't let her go to the palace. As for the little palace maid who escaped, he also made arrangements for her to go there.

Sheng Mansion!

Because Sheng Hong and Sheng Changbai had not been home for a long time, only some female relatives and the only male, Sheng Changfeng, were left in the mansion.

Ever since Lin Qinshuang and Sheng Molan were sent to the farm outside the city, Sheng Changfeng had been locked up for a while, and now he has settled down and has become a lot more mature.

In Shou'an Hall, the old lady and Minglan were playing chess, while Hai Chaoyun was doing embroidery next to them.

She and Sheng Changbai have been married for almost a year, and they are very much in love. This time Sheng Changbai hasn't been home for a long time, so she is worried and misses him.

The three generations of grandparents and grandchildren were talking and chatting, and they talked about their father and brother. Finally, they said they wanted to send them food, and Minglan volunteered to deliver it herself.

But just as she was preparing food in the kitchen, Fang's mother suddenly came in from outside and whispered in the old lady's ear.

"Yuan Cai, who is with the Marquis, has come. He said he has something important to tell you, and it can only be told to you alone."

The old lady looked surprised, then said, "Help me up, let's go out and talk."

"Grandma, let me help you."

Minglan and Hai Chaoyun both stood up and wanted to support the old lady.

The old lady waved her hand and said, "No need for you, you just stay here, I'll be back soon."

After saying that, she walked out of Shou'an Hall and came to the outside of the courtyard with the help of Fang Mama.

Yuan Cai was standing outside. When he saw the old lady coming, he immediately walked over quickly.

"Old lady Jin An,"

The old lady asked, "Did Sanlang ask you to come?"

"Yes, the Marquis ordered me to come here."

Yuancai finished speaking and did not continue. He carefully glanced at Fang Mama who was beside the old lady.

The old lady understood immediately: "Mother Fang, go and call everyone around to leave, don't let anyone get close."

"Yes."

Yuan Cai glanced around and made sure that there was no one around. Then he came to the old lady and whispered Zhou Chen's instructions to her.

After hearing this, the old lady's face was shocked.

"really?"

"That's what the Marquis ordered."

The old lady took a deep breath, her face still full of shock, because what Zhou Chen said was too horrifying, but she also understood that Zhou Chen could not have lied to her.

"Okay, I understand. You go back to the mansion immediately."

"Yes, then the younger one will go back first."

"Mother Fang."

The old lady shouted, and Fang Mama came over quickly and helped the old lady back into the house.

Minglan was most familiar with the old lady. When she saw the old lady coming back with a serious face, she immediately realized what might have happened.

"grandmother."

Just as she was about to ask, the old lady raised her hand and glanced at Fang Mama and others.

"You all go down."

After everyone left, the old lady sat down with a very ugly look on her face.

"Tomorrow, go tell the Madam to seal the gates of the mansion immediately and not allow anyone to enter or leave."

"what?"

Minglan and Hai Chaoyun were both stunned.

After the old lady finished speaking, she immediately realized that something was wrong.

"Wait, let's not go find the Madam. With her temper, she can't keep her composure. We can't tell her. We can't panic at this time. The right thing to do is to remain unchanged in the face of ever-changing circumstances."

Minglan asked in a low voice: "Grandma, what happened?"