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

Chapter 254

In the Imperial Palace, in the Ziwei Palace.

Empress Zhaojing counted on her fingers and said with a smile: "Now there are more and more people in my junior brother's family, and he has been promoted to earl. It's time for him to have a good appearance."

"Xiaozhuang, what do you think about me giving him Chen De's mansion?"

Xiaozhuang shook his head and said: "It's too big, too much honor and favor, the ministers will criticize."

Empress Zhaojing thought for a while and said: "Is Cao Ye's one okay? Now he has inherited Cao Ye's position, and his status is just right."

Xiaozhuang smiled and said: "Your Majesty, Zhou Yuan may look down on the mansions of treacherous ministers and thieves. It's better to choose from the mansions of retired officials."

"That makes sense."

Empress Zhaojing smiled and said: "Then give him the mansion of the former Minister of Personnel. It has a good location, is well maintained, has a large layout, and has many rooms."

Xiaozhuang said softly: "Your Majesty, I heard that the girl of the Qu family has come to the capital, and I also want to give Zhou Yuan a mansion, which is the one that Qu Shuyuan used to have."

Empress Zhaojing's face suddenly darkened.

"Who is she? How dare she compete with me for a house? Xiaozhuang, just write the house in the imperial edict."

Speaking of this, she pondered for a moment, and then said: "By the way, give him a verbal order."

Xiaozhuang nodded slightly and soon left for Zhou Mansion.

After arriving at Zhou Yuan's place, Xiaozhuang looked at the women in the house and had a headache.

This kid is too romantic. This is not a Earl's Mansion, it is clearly the emperor's harem.

"Zhou Zhaoshi, Zhao Jianjia accepts the order."

Before Zhou Yuan and others greeted each other, she shouted with a cold face.

Zhou Yuan was also confused. He was just named the second-class Zhongwu Earl, why did he receive another imperial edict, and it was for Jianjia.

There was no way, so he could only accept the order obediently.

"The Emperor, in accordance with the Will of Heaven, decrees: Zhou Yuan, the commander of the Northern City Military Department, has performed his duties faithfully, bravely rescued the emperor, and defeated the rebels. He has made great contributions in Yanshan. He has been conferred the title of Zhongwu Earl, and is hereby posthumously granted a set of Earl's mansion."

"His wife, Zhao, is well-educated, virtuous, and virtuous. She is hereby posthumously conferred the title of Second-Rank Imperial Lady, and is granted a set of Imperial Clothes, a pair of jade ruyi, six sets of gold hairpins and jade ornaments, and a box of jewelry to honor her virtue. This is the decree."

Zhao Jianjia's figure trembled, her face flushed, and she hurriedly said respectfully: "Zhou Zhao Zhao Jianjia accepts the decree, thank your majesty for your grace!"

She was so excited that her voice was a little hoarse. She carefully took the imperial decree, feeling heavy, and her whole body was burning with blood.

In this era, the ultimate goal for women is to be granted an imperial decree. Zhao Jianjia was not even 20 years old, but she was granted an imperial decree of the second rank. This was a great honor for her and a unique recognition.

Xiaozhuang smiled and said, "The imperial decree clothes and the jewelry awarded by His Majesty will be delivered by the female guards. Jianjia, His Majesty really appreciates you."

"Ah?"

Zhao Jianjia was startled and said excitedly, "Sister Zhuang, His Majesty... His Majesty also knows me?"

As the first empress since the beginning of the world, Empress Zhaojing is the highest mountain in the hearts of countless women and the most admired person.

Xiaozhuang nodded and said, "His Majesty said that you are gentle and virtuous, not jealous, not domineering, and have the style of a great woman."

Zhao Jianjia really didn't know how to express her feelings.

She could only bow again and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty."

Xue Ningyue, Qu Ling and others couldn't help laughing.

"Congratulations, sister Jianjia. Now you are a lady of imperial decree. We have to be polite to you."

Zhao Jianjia was embarrassed and said: "We are sisters. Why say such things? Besides, my honor was earned by my husband."

In theory, the earl is already a super-rank, and being granted a second-rank imperial decree is actually nothing. It is just to match the status.

Xiaozhuang said, "It's okay. You can continue to do your own things. You can also try on the imperial robes."

"His Majesty has another oral order, which is only for Zhou Yuan to hear."

Zhou Yuan hurriedly said, "Please go to the study."

When they arrived at the study, Xiaozhuang smiled and said, "His Majesty asks you, are you satisfied with this reward? With this imperial status, Zhao Jianjia will mature faster and can help you manage the house better."

Zhou Yuan scratched his head and said, "The eldest sister is really thoughtful. She also said that Jianjia is not jealous. This is forcibly praising her. She will not find an excuse to stop me from being romantic in the future."

Xiaozhuang said, "His Majesty means this. In addition, His Majesty has a promise to you. If you make more contributions, His Majesty will fulfill your wish and give Xue Ningyue an imperial decree and grant you marriage, so that you can marry her openly."

This sentence really made Zhou Yuan happy. In this era, status is a big problem, and Zhou Yuan also has a headache because of it.

I originally thought that I would be granted the title of a prince in the future. In addition to Zhao Jianjia, the principal wife, I could also have two concubines, Ningyue and Cai Ni.

But that was too far away, and it was impossible for Ningyue to be the wife.They waited so long.

Now it seems that there is no trouble. His Majesty has granted marriage, which is grand enough and solves his problem in this regard.

Senior Sister understands me after all!

Although... Master didn't accomplish anything, there is still a long way to go.

"By the way."

Xiaozhuang suddenly said: "You should move into the house sent by His Majesty as soon as possible. Don't be stupid and move directly to the house sent by the girl from the Qu family. His Majesty will be angry."

"The Qu family is a favorite of the previous dynasty after all, so they are somewhat sensitive."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said: "I understand. Did His Majesty say anything else?"

Xiaozhuang looked strange, and finally whispered: "Let you have a baby as soon as possible."

Zhou Yuan couldn't laugh at this sentence.

It seems that the situation in Dajin is quite bad and it can't hold on any longer. His Majesty can't wait to send him to the Central Plains to suppress bandits.

The battlefield is dangerous, leave offspring to avoid extinction.

Zhou Yuan nodded and sighed softly.

After sending Xiaozhuang away, he looked at the small door next to him and frowned slightly.

When he pushed it open, he saw the delicate little bed and neat wardrobe still had a faint fragrance. The empty room was clean and tidy, but it was no longer lively as before.

Zhou Yuan walked out and couldn't help asking: "Jianjia, did Xiaoying move out with Zhuang Sizhu?"

"Yes."

Zhao Jianjia said: "She moved out before the New Year, probably around the 26th of the twelfth lunar month. Xiaoying blamed herself for the incident on Beishan Mountain."

"This girl is usually silly, but she is actually very sensitive. She kept silent when she came back, and I couldn't persuade her."

"Husband, you should go see Xiaoying too. The situation was urgent that day, and your words were a bit harsh."

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly, but he felt inexplicably uneasy.

He didn't bother to accompany Ningyue and others, so he went to the kitchen and asked the nanny to invite Zhuang Sizhu over.

After Zhuang Xuansu arrived, Zhou Yuan was silent.

"Xiaoying just moved her things back to the inner court, and then went to Yanshan to find you."

"At that time, I saw that she was too sad, so I told her that you were still alive. This girl was stubborn and insisted on finding you."

"In fact, she should have arrived in Yanshan on the night of the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, but she never showed up. She secretly protected you and followed you all the way back to the capital."

It was freezing cold, and she was not in the tent. How did she survive?

This silly child didn't know how to come out. What was she doing hiding alone? It was too stupid to protect you secretly.

The more Zhou Yuan thought about it, the more worried he became. He hurriedly asked, "Where is she now?"

"She's gone."

Zhuang Xuansu said, "February 26th is her grandmother's memorial day. She asked for leave to go back home and left Shenjing at noon."

"I can't stop her in this regard. This girl is pitiful."

Zhou Yuan couldn't help but say, "She went all the way back to Guizhou alone? How much hardship must she have endured!"

Zhuang Xuansu frowned and said, "Do you have any misunderstandings about Xiaoying? She has been living like this for the past three years. When she was fourteen, she could carry out missions alone."

Zhou Yuan stopped talking and just sighed softly.