The Qinhuai River is like a long silk, from the Changle Bridge in the east of Jinling City, quietly flowing to the Zhenhuai Bridge in the south of the city, all year round, moistening the grass for the capital of the country, and also promoting the vitality of the clusters. If Jinling is compared to a young girl, Qinhuai River is the ribbon floating between the girl's waist; If Jinling is compared to a great man, then Qinhuai River is the thickest blood vessel in this man's body. This tranquil and winding river has long become the vein in the hearts of Jinling people.

There are many wineries and teahouses along the Qinhuai River, which are very close to the official offices such as the Zhusi Yamen and the Guozijian, so many people who eat imperial grain often haunt here, whether they are wearing official uniforms or wearing armor, the surrounding people have long been commonplace. The shopkeepers here even feel superior to others, just because they can often see many big officials and nobles. If there are any anecdotes in the city, they almost always come from their mouths at the earliest.

In the east of the city, where you can enjoy the style of the Qinhuai River, one of the largest mansions here is the residence of the founding father Zhou Zong.

A month ago, Zhou Zong had asked the emperor to clear his family affairs and asked to return to Beijing, and today he has just returned from the eastern capital. And after stepping into the mansion, he saw the frightened eyes of the maids and servants, Zhou Zong didn't think so, and then he heard from a distance that someone was furious in the inner hall, as if it was the voice of his step-room Xu.

Zhou Zong had another wife in his early years, Zhu, who could be regarded as sharing weal and woe and sharing each other's weal and woe. Sixteen years ago, Li Yu, the founding monarch of the Southern Tang Dynasty, was still called Xu Zhihe at that time, and finally completely mastered the military and political power of Yang Wu and entered the king of Qi. Zhou Zong, who was loyal to the lord, naturally rose and began to be entrusted with important positions, but unexpectedly, three months later, his wife Zhu died suddenly.

Knowing that Zhou Zong had lost his beloved wife, Xu Zhihe (Li Yu) made the decision and married a virtuous woman in the Xu family to Zhou Zong as his stepfamily. As a result, Zhou Zong also narrowed the relationship with the later Emperor Liezu, until he entered the court to worship the prime minister and controlled the salt and iron power of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and the scenery was unmatched for a while. After ten years of operation, Zhou Zong's family has also become one of the richest families in Huainan in one fell swoop.

And the only flaw of this enviable family is the withering of people. Zhou Zong is now over the sixtieth birthday, but there are only two daughters under his knees, the eldest daughter Zhou Xian Xiaozi Emperor E, who will be seventeen years old after the New Year, and the little girl is less than two years old, has not yet been named, and is still waiting to be fed.

So now the family can be governed, except for Zhou Zong, the head of the family, is the eldest daughter Zhou Ehuang, and the Xu family.

Although Xu was born in a wealthy family, he is not an arrogant and mean person, he is knowledgeable and courteous, and has always been kind to others, but he is diligent in managing family affairs and does not have too many opinions.

But today, she was unusual, sitting in the inner hall with a sad face.

"I never thought that we would be in the Zhou Mansion, but today we are so famous in Jinling!" Xu Shi seemed to be angry, and while pressing his chest, he took the tea soup from the maidservant and sipped it from time to time.

And Emperor Zhou E also stood timidly beside him at this time, did not sit down, and did not dare to face his mother's gaze, just biting his red lip and letting tears linger in his eyes.

Zhou Zong staggered in, seeing this, the wrinkles on his face seemed to be a little deeper, and he just wanted to go over and comfort a few words, only to see Xu Shi shouting at him again: "God! It's back! Is this the idea of Emperor E's family affairs? Although Li Lang was born in the mountains, he has won the favor of His Majesty and your appreciation, and the concubine thought that he was still worthy of our Zhou family.

I never thought he was a womanizer! You have never married a wife, but you openly propose to take a concubine? Now in the entire Jinling City, everyone is talking about this matter, and even worse, they also fabricated that the eldest sister is not, saying that the eldest sister is ...... That's it, the concubine body is really unspeakable, in short, where will my Zhou family's face be put in the future! ”

"Mother, this right should be her daughter's willingness, no matter what Li Lang plans, her daughter firmly believes that he must have a hard time! Don't be angry anymore...... "Emperor Zhou E's eyes were full of tears, and the makeup on his hazy little face was already messy, which made Qiu'er bite her lip tightly, feeling distressed and at the same time seemed to feel unfair for her own young lady.

Raising his eyes, he saw that there were more than a dozen boxes of all sizes in the hall, some of which were still open, and the full load of gold and jade jewelry shook so much that people couldn't open their eyes, Zhou Zong immediately guessed that it should be because the two of them were preparing for the dowry, and they listened to some criticism in the market, so that they were like this today.

Zhou Zong's face was gloomy, and he slowly stepped forward and sat down. In his heart, although Li Yuan gave him an explanation for taking a concubine that day, and the wording was also very sincere, he inexplicably softened his heart for a while, and he didn't think too much about it, but in the final analysis, Emperor Zhou E was his own daughter, and Li Yuan's actions that day had already affected her, himself, and even the reputation of the entire Zhou Mansion.

After Li Yuan and his entourage left the Eastern Capital, he also hesitated, and even felt a trace of regret for marrying Emperor Zhou E to Li Yuan too early. But he had already seen a few signs from the letters and the mouths of the people in the house, and his indecent daughter had been moved by Li Yuan after he bought his own house by mistake. In fact, since Li Yuan proposed to take a concubine, Zhou Zong ordered someone to send a letter back to Beijing to inform Emperor Zhou E, but Emperor Zhou E did not show any remorse for the marriage, and the wording of the reply letter was still as firm as before.

Zhou Zong has always doted on his daughter, and he can only hope in his heart that Li Yuan will not live up to his daughter's affection in the future. In any case, Li Yuan's ambition and talent should not be underestimated, and he has written frequently recently, and even has a bold plan to form a private army.

Zhou Zong took care of his family and was more worried about the dynasty, so he decided to help, in addition to expressing his kindness to Li Yuan in order to consolidate his daughter's future status, but also for the Tang Dynasty, after all, His Royal Highness King Yan behind him, for Li Yuan's speculation about the north and south that day, very much agreed, and recently expressed great appreciation for Li Yuan.

Thinking of this, Zhou Zong let out a long sigh and persuaded the Xu family: "Li Yuan has already promised the old man that he will never take a concubine before marrying a wife, and even if he accepts a concubine after that, it will be based on the will of Emperor E." Madame, don't be angry! In the end, you understand Emperor E's intentions! ”

After not seeing him for many days, Xu saw that Zhou Zong's face seemed to be a little older, stared for a moment, and then relaxed a little and said: "The concubine is not an unreasonable barbarian, but Li Lang's move is really angry, no matter how many reasons he has, it will damage our family's reputation, isn't it?" ”

Then he lowered his voice again, and said with his eyebrows: "Eldest sister, since you and your father both belong to this Li Lang, the marriage has been decided, and my mother won't say much!" It's just that after you enter the Li family, you need to give birth to a good life, so that everyone in Jinling can see that you are not what they say you are, eldest sister! ”

These words were not only in the fog of Zhou Zong, but Zhou Ehuang was also ignorant, wiped the corners of his eyes and asked, "Mother, how does my daughter work?" What does this mean? ”

Xu Shi glanced at the confused father and daughter angrily, and said in a low voice: "Alas! Li Lang's concubine has caused an uproar in Jinling City. The world will think that it is you, the eldest sister, and your belly is not angry! Understandable? Eldest sister, you are the daughter of my Zhou family, a well-known and lovely person in Jinling City, how could you lose to those vulgar fans? You are still young and don't understand the mystery, and before you get married, your mother will talk to you in detail......"

With Qiu'er's "poof", she couldn't help laughing, and then Emperor Zhou E was also dazed for a moment, and then she understood it, and immediately blushed, turned around and kept pinching her palms.

Zhou Zong was not old and confused, and immediately laughed a few times, and inexplicably thought that his wife might really understand these mysteries, otherwise at his age, how could a little girl be born a year or two ago?

The atmosphere in the inner hall, with Emperor Zhou E's tears into laughter, and the relief of Zhou Zong and his wife, finally eased a lot.

Seeing that Zhou Zong and the Xu family began to seriously discuss their dowry, how to match it, and how to be rich, Zhou Ehuang's mood seemed to be much better. She is not a sad person, she has been accompanied by Qin Se poetry and books since she was a child, can sing and dance, and has visions and fantasies for her future. She can't tell the reason for Li Yuan's love, is it attracted by his appearance, his talent, or his hot future?

Emperor Zhou E is naturally strong, but he also knows how to measure, in fact, Li Yuan's concubine, she was really depressed for a few days, so she didn't think about it anymore, those love poems written by Li Yuan for several days have long been deeply imprinted in her mind, which makes her originally confident more determined, no other woman can take away her position.

But since she is sure that Li Yuan is her man, in addition to being single-minded from now on, she should indeed understand some of the principles of a woman's husband, and her mother Xu's advice may be reliable......

She also understands that her father, who once dominated the political arena of the Southern Tang Dynasty, since he also agrees with Li Yuan so much, then it shows that her vision is extremely correct.

"After all, I'm your wife." The long eyelashes blinked, and Emperor Zhou E whispered softly, and the slightly hot cheeks revealed a shallow pear vortex.