Zhang Zhou was busy and went on a "blind date".

The place that was arranged was the royal palace, and the woman who wanted to meet him was the sister-in-law of the eldest princess of Yongkang and the sister of the concubine Cui Yuan.

Zhang Zhou also pondered the complicated relationship, and probably thought about it, if he really accepted this woman into the door in the future, he would be a brother-in-law with Zhang Yanling in the future, and Cui Yuan would be his brother-in-law in the future...... He seems to have a little bit of an in-law relationship with the royal family, although it seems that this in-law relationship is still a bit distant.

"It's good that I didn't marry a princess."

Zhang Zhou is also rejoicing.

During the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, it was also because of the bad reputation of the two brothers of the Zhou family and the Zhang family, so that the relatives became synonymous with the female cadres, and Zhang Zhou did not feel that he needed to rely on any nepotism to maintain the relationship with the royal family, so he resisted this blind date.

But in the end...... It doesn't seem appropriate for the woman who was sent to the door for nothing not to take a look, after all, even Zhu Youji said that if he takes a fancy to him, he can take it away.

It's really taken away, and even the three books and six ceremonies may be saved, after all, it's just a concubine, it's not that complicated.

And the woman and the Cui family behind her also knew this reason, so when they sent someone to see Zhang Zhou, they probably didn't want to bring people back.

Zhang Zhou was also thinking, what is this? Let me play freely? Someone should come out and make a referral, right?

Inside the annex grounds.

Zhang Zhou first asked Liu Gui to knock on the door, and then someone came out, looking like a female official in the palace, not young, about fifty years old, such a look is the old man in the palace, very familiar with the court's etiquette.

But Zhang Zhou is not from the palace after all.

"Grandpa, please."

The old lady led the way in front and brought Zhang Zhou and a group of entourages to the garden in the backyard, this royal courtyard is obviously not an ordinary courtyard, it is more like the architectural style of Jiangnan, and the courtyards are scattered, so that Zhang Zhou is also trying to remember the way in.

Probably blind dates need to run away, and if you don't agree, you need to find a reason to slip away, after all, the woman you want to see is not a show, but to take home, so it causes the house to be restless, then it's not interesting.

"Don't say I won't give you a chance." Before Zhang Zhou arrived, he heard the woman's crisp voice, as if it was coming from overhead.

Zhang Zhou raised his head and saw Yongkang standing on a high platform on the second floor next to the courtyard, looking down condescendingly, and her words were obviously said to Zhang Zhou.

Wang Mingshan, who followed, stood in front of Zhang Zhou, probably thinking that the woman above was an assassin.

"Eldest princess, it's been a long time, it seems that the princess is in a good mood, and I never thought that it was the princess who brought me to see me today." Zhang Zhoudao.

Yongkang turned around and went back inside, and after a while, he took an old woman and a few maidservants, bypassing the moon gate and entering the backyard

"This time, I originally arranged it, and the imperial brother actually let you meet it, how can I do it if I don't supervise it?" Yongkang still seems to want to show her strength.

There is a kind of momentum of "you don't want to take people away without my approval", as if you want to think about your sister-in-law's happiness and future.

Zhang Zhou first observed the women around Yongkang, who seemed to be all entourage, and there was no little girl of the Cui family who wanted to see today.

Zhang Zhou said, "What does the princess want to supervise? Are you afraid that I have bad intentions?"

"Be serious." Yongkang frowned and said, "I know that you are a capable person in front of the emperor's brother, and now in the government and the opposition, I am afraid that no one can go against you, and it is rare for a powerful minister to do your job since ancient times." But you should also know that the powerful ministers often end up with nothing."

Zhang Zhou smiled and nodded, seemingly agreeing with this woman's statement.

"Let's go." Yongkang personally led the way.

Zhang Zhou followed, and originally all the Jinyi guards behind him had to follow, but Zhang Zhou raised his hand to leave people behind, touched his usual protective short gun, and then only beckoned Wang Mingshan, who was wearing the official uniform of Jinyi Wei, to walk with him.

Finally entered the garden.

cause

It is the end of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, the weather is already very hot, and a woman is sitting in the gazebo......

She could only tilt her body to her side as much as possible to let the sun shine on her as late as possible.

"Miss, let the slave fan you."

Before Zhang Zhouxing could go around the bushes taller than a person, he heard the maid persuading.

"No, I don't." The woman's voice seemed shy, but it wasn't very writhing.

Yongkang walked in front and was the first to show his head, and when the woman saw her sister-in-law coming, she quickly got up to greet her: "I have seen Her Royal Highness the eldest princess."

Zhang Zhou followed behind Yongkang, and was also thinking, it is estimated that after Cui Yuan and Yongkang got married, they haven't seen this sister-in-law a few times, and it would be good to know each other, and the little daughter of the Cui family will naturally feel that it is an honor to meet the eldest princess.

is related to the ordinary background of the Cui Yuan family, in the eyes of the Cui family, the princess is still too unattainable.

Yongkang smiled, "It's getting more and more peugeot, no wonder your brother always mentions you in front of me. Sit."

The little girl of the Cui family raised her head at this time, and when she saw that a strange man was present, she instinctively wanted to avoid it, turned sideways and almost turned away.

Yongkang said, "What's wrong? Didn't the government tell you what you were doing here?"

"Say...... said ......" The little girl of the Cui family is a little unbearable now.

"What else is there to see?" Yongkang glared back at Zhang Zhou, as if he was still haunted by the fact that he lost the wine fight before, "Then there is no need to hide it, the person you want to see is him, or rather, he came to see you."

The little girl of the Cui family didn't look up at Zhang Zhou, and bowed and said, "The little girl has seen Cai Guogong."

Zhang Zhou smiled, "Courteous."

Yongkang said, "Now that they are all here, let's sit down and talk. Prepare tea."

"Yes."

The entourage brought by Yongkang immediately went to make arrangements.

Zhang Zhou said, "This house should have been idle for a while, right? If it's inconvenient, there's no need."

Yongkang said slightly: "Your Majesty just issued an order to reward this courtyard, saying that it is a reward for the military merits of the horses, and this princess can be regarded as half the master of this courtyard, right?" Why not entertain guests at home?"

Zhang Zhouxin said Good guy, no wonder you, as a woman, can still meet a man in such a private occasion, and your relationship has become your family's territory?

"Cai Guogong, don't you think that this reward is too high, you have to go and ask Your Majesty to take the reward back, right?" Yongkang finished exaggerating Zhang Zhou with words, only to think that Zhang Zhou had a power beyond her reach, and said this not to remind Zhang Zhou that he could do this, but to warn Zhang Zhou not to do it.

Say it in advance, so that Zhang Zhou is embarrassed to mention it to the emperor, otherwise wouldn't you Zhang Zhou be counted out by me as your little belly chicken intestines?

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Cui Juma has made great achievements in Ningxia this time, and he has been rewarded like this, which is justifiable, but it is just the envy of Zai Haosheng."

Yongkang glared at Zhang Zhou again, she seemed to think that Zhang Zhou's words meant something else.

Probably Zhang Zhou went to the emperor and proposed to transfer this courtyard to him, then this courtyard would become Zhang Zhou's industry.

As for the emperor's own sister, all the ducks in hand will fly because of Zhang Zhou's words.

"Humph!" Yongkang was a little annoyed, but it was not good to continue the attack.

Yongkang also knows very well that as the eldest princess, she is already the water spilled by her married daughter, and she can still get benefits through the royal family, so she can only rely on the royal brother's generation, and when her nephew ascends the throne, it is basically impossible to get a reward.

Therefore, a good house in the capital is a valuable property for Yongkang.

If you continue to fight with Zhang Zhou and wipe out the industry you have acquired, it will be useless to take any regret medicine.

Usually you can fight no matter how you want, but if you really want to fight for a specific house, then Yongkang feels that she can't afford to suffer this big loss, and in her opinion, people like Zhang Zhou will feel that the ownership of this kind of house is nothing

So-called.

The little girl of the Cui family next to her was surprised that her sister-in-law was actually arguing with a strange man, and she was still fighting back and forth.

My brother is not at home, and my sister-in-law is so unsuspicious of meeting guests? Or is it because I'm here, so she feels that someone is witnessing and is not afraid of outsiders gossiping?

Just when the little girl of the Cui family glanced sideways at Zhang Zhou, it happened that Zhang Zhou also looked at her sideways, and the two looked at each other, and the little girl of the Cui family quickly avoided her gaze, showing a little nervousness on her face.

Zhang Zhou said: "I heard that Miss Cui has been engaged to someone before, is there something inappropriate about today's affairs?"

When the little girl of the Cui family heard this, she became even more nervous.

A daughter is married, and now she is equivalent to coming out to meet Zhang Zhou under the condition of "famous flowers and masters", and her face will be a little ashamed.

"Cai Guogong, you should also know the rules, the marriage contract is big, but it is not as big as the emperor's order, and the things approved by His Majesty, don't you come yourself?" Yongkang seems to always be good at bickering.

Zhang Zhou was also thinking, fortunately, there is no person like you in my house, otherwise it would be strange if the courtyard could be peaceful.

Zhang Zhou said: "But after all, I am also a person who has a family, with Miss Cui's background and temperament, I really dare not think about anything extravagant. I mentioned the same thing to Your Majesty, but Your Majesty still asked me to take a look first."

This is a bit of a show of power.

Today's matter, it's not you Yongkang who has the final say, or even the emperor, even the emperor has a discussion with me, let me see if I'm satisfied.

You Yongkang came over to stir up the situation, you are sincerely causing trouble!

Yongkang pursed his lips, sighed softly and said, "You might as well make your words clear, and I'm not afraid that my husband and sister will know that I brought up this matter today." Even if I know that she has promised someone, but after all, she hasn't passed the door yet, and with your Cai Guogong's background and character, it is better to enter your door as a concubine than to marry into an ordinary family."

These words came out of Yongkang's mouth, which made Zhang Zhou unexpected.

Zhang Zhou also deliberately observed the reaction of the little girl of the Cui family.

Naturally, there is embarrassment.

What is the most awesome sister-in-law, this kind of thing can be said, as if the marriage contract or something can be counted, she can change it casually as a princess, and it seems that everything is for the happiness of the sister-in-law, but the theory sounds very nonsense.

As soon as Houmen entered the sea, Xiao Lang was a passer-by from then on?

Zhang Zhoudu wants to remind Yongkang, can we check a little, as a trustworthy person of the Cui family, can you consider the feelings of the Cui family when you speak?

"Could it be that Cai Guogong thinks that this incident is an insult to you?" Yongkang continues to play her poisonous side.

Zhang Zhou said: "The twisted melon is not sweet."

Yongkang laughed, "Who's twisting whom? Or do you think that the imperial brother in this palace is not qualified to twist this melon?"

Zhang Zhou sighed in his heart, he finally saw how strong the princess of the Ming Dynasty could be, probably this is the most outstanding representative of feminist figures in this era, compared to Ning Tong or something, fortunately, he doesn't have to face this kind of person every day.

"I've already seen it, Miss Cui, then I'll leave first." Zhang Zhou got up from the stone bench he was sitting on and arched his hand.

"Going?" Yongkang still sat there, looking up at Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou nodded with a smile and said, "The meeting has already passed, and there is no need to stay for a long time, could it be that the eldest princess still has other things?"

Yongkang said, "Then you should always give a letter, right? Okay or no?"

"Let me think about it." Zhang Zhoudao.

She was a little annoyed and wanted to say something, but because her sister-in-law was still present, she directly attacked Zhang Zhou in front of her sister-in-law, which also damaged her majesty as a princess, and finally she gritted her teeth and said, "Send your young lady to the back hall first."

"Yes."

The Cui family followed the maid who came over, and hurriedly helped her young lady to get up, maybe the little girl of the Cui family was numb in her legs, or it was because she was nervous, and she walked very awkwardly in the first few steps after getting up, and she was about to get out of the yard

It's gotten a lot better.

"Zhang Bingkuan, what do you mean?"

Yongkang waited for his sister-in-law to leave, and he couldn't hold back the anger in his heart anymore, and asked directly.

Zhang Zhou shrugged his shoulders and said, "Why did Your Highness say this?"

Yongkang said: "I risk being blamed by the horse coming back, and arrange such a good thing for you, as long as you nod, you can take people away, and even get the marriage of the royal brother, so that you can gain fame and fortune, and I will bear the infamy, just like this, you still want me to be seen as a joke?"

When he said this, Yongkang was angry.

But the impression to Zhang Zhou was that the eldest princess at this time looked angry and questioning her, but it looked much more pleasing to the eye.

This kind of blame, Yongkang obviously put himself on the weak side.

I even feel a little aggrieved.

Zhang Zhou frowned and said, "Your Royal Highness the eldest princess, I just made it very clear, this marriage is actually completely unnecessary, Miss Cui has a happy future, I am ten years older than her, my family has a group of wives and concubines, what did she want to marry?" Just to give her brother and me another layer of kinship?"

"Isn't that enough?" Yongkang said coldly, "Brother Huang is very concerned about this relationship!"

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said, "Actually, what Your Majesty cares more about is your eldest princess's attitude towards me, you don't know it, right?"

"Huh?"

Yongkang was speechless for a while.

After a little pondering, she knew that whether Cui Yuan was Zhang Zhou's brother-in-law or not was not important to the emperor at all.

But if Cui Yuan's wife has a prejudice against Zhang Zhou, then Cui Yuan will not be able to become a member of Zhang Zhou's faction, after all, Cui Yuan is not an ordinary person, he is a concubine, and most things have to listen to the princess.

Yongkang was a little discouraged, turned his body to the side and said, "Zhang Bingkuan, in all fairness, when my family's horse has not yet achieved results, I am anxious to go and ask the Empress Dowager to ask her old man to help inquire and inquire about the matter of the horse, and fight for the horse, is it wrong?"

Zhang Zhou said, "That's right."

Yongkang said again: "And with your identity as everyone in the court, I don't want the horse to get close to you, is it wrong?"

"Absolutely." Zhang Zhou said, "But Your Highness, you have to understand that it doesn't matter what you think, the key depends on what Your Majesty thinks. What Your Majesty wants is that Cui Yuan can completely obey my orders, and you husband and wife can also sing and follow your husband, not like now, everything is dominated by you. So when you think everything is right and you want the colt to go a little further with me, then don't come to me."

Yongkang seemed to hate the root of his teeth, but he said helplessly: "If it weren't for the imperial brother asking me to beg you, do you think I would be willing?"

Zhang Zhou said: "Then it depends on the princess's own choice, listen to Your Majesty, or not. It's about the future of the colt. In fact, I don't need others to ask for it, sometimes I just need to bow my head and admit my mistake, I am magnanimous, and I will definitely be able to release my old suspicions."

Yongkang squinted and stared at Zhang Zhou.

After a long time, she forcibly turned around, lowered her head and said, "The concubine apologizes to Cai Guogong and admits her mistake. I also hope that Lord Cai Guogong has a large number of people, regardless of the momentary battle of will of a little woman like a concubine, and I also hope that Cai Guogong can ignore his past suspicions, respect Cui Yuan, and give him a chance to make contributions to the imperial court."

"That's right." Zhang Zhou smiled with a victorious attitude, "I accept His Highness's apology. Then I'll take my leave."

"You...... You're just leaving?"

Yongkang's nose is about to crooked.

I lost such a big face, I didn't even want the majesty of the royal family, I bowed my head to give you a Ming minister to admit my mistake, you actually accepted it, and patted your ass to leave?

Zhang Zhoudao: "I will ask Your Majesty to let Cui Juma first gain about three months of experience in Ningxia, and before the autumn, after completing the strategic purpose of patrolling the border in Ningxia, he can leave to return to Beijing, and ask him to lead part of the errand of the Beijing camp."

"Where's his title?" Yongkang asked eagerly.

It seems that this is the focus of her attention.

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said, "I can't make the decision on this, but as long as we have a good relationship, I think Your Majesty will consider it as appropriate."

。」

Although Yongkang was still embarrassed, he also realized that Zhang Zhou was not lying.

Zhang Zhou himself is just a prince, of course, he has no direct power to decide whether Cui Yuan can get the title, and the emperor who has the right to decide, the evaluation standard for Cui Yuan has become whether her relationship between Yongkang and Zhang Zhou is harmonious.

If the relationship is good, the title will be given, and if the relationship is not good...... Wait!

Yongkang said: "Okay, I hope Cai Guogong can fulfill your promise, as long as you are dedicated to helping my family's horses, I will also repay the favor." Today's Events...... I'll raise you here first, if you want to understand that you can come and pick up people at any time, the Cui family will say that this is for the future of the horse, and I don't think the Cui family will have any complaints."