The people of the Zhou family were a few days slower than Huangyan's messenger before returning to Beiping.

At this time, it was already March, and the weather was quite warm. The relatives and friends of the Zhou family have already come to the door to say goodbye and go over, but the people of his family still do not have the intention of leaving for the road to return home, and other residents on the same street are muttering in private: Is the Zhou family reluctant to be prosperous in Beiping and does not plan to send the spirit back to his hometown?

The Zhou family themselves are quite embarrassed, but there is really no way. Without waiting for the response from the capital, they could not be reconciled. The old man is about to enter the ground, and there must be some mourning behind him, and finally the scenery again, otherwise they will return to the ancestral land of the family, and they will not have the face to meet their relatives and neighbors!

The people sent to the capital should have come back a long time ago, but I don't know why it was delayed for so long. Several masters of the Zhou family were quite worried in their hearts, for fear that the emperor would be too unkind to the old man Zhou, and he would not even give this face. Thinking of this, they began to complain about Mrs. Xu again.

In fact, Mr. Zhou is the nephew of the old concubine of Yan Wangfu, when the first emperor originally matched his eldest son Yan Wang Shizi to enter Beijing to participate in the succession, the old lady did not approve, but she couldn't resist her grandson, Zhou Lao stood on the side of his aunt, did not mix with the great cause of Yan Wang Shizi, and was regarded as a coward by many people. But when the prince of Yan Wang was defeated and died, only a side room and a concubine were left to return to Beiping, and they were sheltered under the old concubine, and the other followers died and were defeated, but the Zhou family was safe, and they were still high-ranking officials and rich and noble, and many people in turn envied his family for making a smart decision that day. But even so, because the Zhou family has supported Mrs. Xu to go against the Yan Wang couple over the years, the appointment made the emperor the emperor, King Yan's compatriot, unhappy. The emperor did not cure the sin of Lord Zhou, but he wanted to make his face after his death, and no one could find fault.

The Zhou family knows it, but they still have a little delusion. No matter what, Mr. Zhou is also the nephew of the old concubine, and the old concubine is also the grandmother of the emperor's relatives today! Will the emperor really not save some face for his grandmother's relatives......

The messenger of the Zhou family returned to Beiping and went straight to the official residence of the Zhou family, and when he arrived at the door, he was happily welcomed in by the Zhou family who had received the letter. At that time, a steward of Liu's family (Liu Senate was promoted after the year) passed by outside the door of Zhou's house, and when he saw this, he talked to his door: "Is there anything good about the house?" Why do you have a smile on your master's face? The porter cocked his chin: "This is nature! The emperor's grace to our old lady has come down! There was no news before, but because it was cold and the road was far away, I didn't have time to send it over! ”

Although the porter didn't know what kind of grace his old lady had received, he felt that the old lady was so happy, it must be a good thing, so he picked up the arrogant and arrogant style of the past again, and rolled his eyes at the steward of the Liu family: "I can't tell you that I don't understand, and go, don't pester me and ask endlessly." Our Zhou family is not an ordinary family, and it is useless for ordinary petty officials and eunuchs to inquire about these things, and most of them will never have the opportunity to encounter such a good thing in their lives! ”

The housekeeper of the Liu family originally wanted to inquire in detail, but Leng might as well be ridiculed by the concierge of the Zhou family, and couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Yes, our master is also a high-ranking official of the third grade, and in the eyes of the Zhou family, he is an ordinary petty official and eunuch." Your Zhou family is proud, but you don't know how many masters in charge of the house are now, and what kind of official positions they have? ! Without waiting for the Zhou family's concierge to answer, he just threw his sleeves and left.

Does he need to listen to the other person's answer? Among the people in the Zhou family who are alive now, there is not a single official with rank!

The concierge of the Zhou family reacted, but he could only see the back of the Liu family's steward in the distance, and his face was crooked with anger. But he couldn't refuse, and it was useless to go up and complain to the master's house. The Zhou family is leaving, how can it be possible to have a conflict with the neighbors at this time for the sake of a quarrel between subordinates? Maybe he will beat and scold him as the initiator in turn. The porter was immediately stunned, and when he looked back, no one seemed to catch a glimpse of the conflict between himself and the Liu family's steward, so he hurriedly returned to the door, closed the door, and then retracted into the gatehouse, wondering what kind of grace the emperor Lao'er had rewarded his old lady?

The emperor, or the Ministry of Rites, did not give much grace to Mr. Zhou, and the most important thing was a routine commendation document commenting on Mr. Zhou's life merits. The text above is written quite politely, mainly praising his political achievements in the prime of life, and not mentioning the lazy political situation after the decline in physical condition in his later years. It's just that although this language is polite enough, it doesn't make any sycophants, and he doesn't praise Boss Zhou's achievements during his lifetime. When the Zhou family read it, they were a little dissatisfied.

In addition to the documents, there is also a set of three things made inside, as well as a pair of jade. The jade quality of Yujue is high-quality, not the best, but it is not bad, and it is obviously used for the funeral of the deceased minister. The three things of the furnace and bottle are used for sacrifice or worship. This is according to the unified standard of reward for the death of middle- and upper-rank officials since the current emperor succeeded to the throne. It is slightly different from the time of the first emperor, but the meaning is similar. Lord Zhou was undoubtedly regarded as a member of a group of middle- and upper-grade ministers, and was given these posthumous gifts in a unified manner, rather than being posthumously awarded by the emperor alone.

As soon as the Zhou family saw it, their hearts were cold for three points. When the messenger explained that this set of things was still thanks to the old friend Huang Yan, who was involved in the matchmaking and asked the emperor's relatives to say that it was not easy to get it, and the Zhou family's hearts were even more uncomfortable.

They originally disliked this set of things for their own old man, it was too lazy, but it turned out that the emperor and the court didn't even plan to give them this little thing? They supported Mrs. Xu in the past, and added so many blockages to the Yan Wang couple, they really did something wrong, right?! It's a pity that by the time they wake up to this, it's too late for them to recover!

The Lord Thursday immediately challenged the Lord Tuesday: "It's all the fault of the second brother and sister-in-law!" I advised you at the beginning, don't get too close to Mrs. Xu. She is just a woman's family, even if the nobles are angry with her for not knowing the number of etiquette, they will not be as knowledgeable as her! Our family is a serious official eunuch, and if we annoy the people above, we only have bad luck! No wonder our family has not been able to get an official over the years, it must have been affected by the Xu family! Now even after the death of his father, he will be angry, and it is all the second brother and sister-in-law who are harmed! ”

Tuesday Master immediately refuted it: "Nonsense! Didn't you husband and wife get close to Mrs. Xu in the past?! What did you say when she said she was going to take your daughter-in-law to see the old lady? It's only been less than three years, why did you forget?! It's a pity that everyone is not stupid, everyone still remembers your old face! ”

"Let's not say a word!" Master Zhou scolded the two younger brothers in distraught, "When is this?" It's just noisy! A family can't even have their hearts together, how can they revitalize the lintel?! ”

The old man on Tuesday and the old man on Thursday closed their mouths at this time, but looking at the few things on the table, they couldn't lift their spirits.

The old man on Wednesday flicked his sleeves and said lightly: "Thunder, rain and dew, all are Jun'en." Since the emperor has rewarded it, we will follow. Father and Mother's coffins have been waiting outside the city for too long, so let's get ready to take them home. In the life of the second elder, what has not happened? How can you care about this behind your name? Don't save our own face, even if your parents are under Jiuquan, you can't live in peace! ”

Several Master Zhou glanced at each other and sighed in frustration.