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

Chapter 524

According to the old rules after the court was dismissed, Xiaozhuang had already blocked Zhou Yuan outside the main hall.

This time, there was no need to say more. The two looked at each other and walked directly to the Ziwei Palace.

Lunch was ready. Empress Zhaojing was in a good mood and had already sat on the chair.

Seeing Zhou Yuan, she waved and said, "Little Junior Brother, come quickly. There is a new chef from the south in the imperial kitchen. He is good at cooking, especially Huaiyang cuisine. You must try it today."

Zhou Yuan also became interested. Looking at the table full of delicious river food, he couldn't help but salivate.

Empress Zhaojing smiled and said, "It looks good, right? I heard that Junior Brother is also quite good at cooking. He created many recipes for Xue's Baiyanlou. Today, I'll let you, a southerner, taste it."

Zhou Yuan took a bite with chopsticks and squinted his eyes, praising, "It's really good! Fresh and juicy, smooth and not raw, it's first-rate!"

Empress Zhaojing smiled even more happily, nodded slowly and said, "As long as you like it, eat more today."

While eating, she said, "What do you think about the situation in Hetao? ”

Zhou Yuan said bluntly: "The other side just wants to come here to take advantage of us. They know that we lost a lot of soldiers in the battles of Shanhaiguan and Jizhou, so they want to take advantage of the situation."

"But in my opinion, we have never used the forces of the three-border defense, and the quality of the soldiers there is also high. The temporary alliance formed by Mongolia is too loose, and they can't get any advantage."

"As long as Wen Tieli leads the army and defends to the death, the Mongolian army can only return in defeat."

Empress Zhao Jing said: "I feel relieved when you say that. The court has been short of money and silver in recent years, but no matter how hard and poor it is, I have never dared to deduct a penny from the three borders. The important cities of the country should not be taken lightly. "

"I didn't send you out this time, little brother, you don't mind, right?"

Zhou Yuan clasped his fists and smiled, "Not only do I not mind, I also want to thank the senior sister for understanding and giving me a holiday."

Empress Zhao Jing covered her mouth and smiled, "I just can't bear it. Since you went to the Central Plains in March last year, you have never rested. You have traveled all over the country, even to the icy and snowy Korqin grassland. Who would believe you if you said you were not tired?"

"It's not easy to return to Shenjing. I just spent a few days of peace. The senior sister always Can't I send you out again?"

"I'm afraid Jianjia will blame me in her heart. She will give birth next month."

Zhou Yuan nodded and smiled: "Yes, according to the time, she should give birth in mid-April, which is only 20 days away. I will also be a father."

Empress Zhao Jing picked up the tea and said: "Come on, little brother, I'll toast you. I want to congratulate you on marrying two good girls. You will soon have children of your own."

"Thank you, I."

Zhou Yuan raised his glass quickly. As for the matter in Xiaoxiulou on the wedding that day, they both tacitly did not mention it.

Empress Zhaojing tapped the table lightly and blinked, "Do you have anything to do tomorrow?"

Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Nothing special, go home to accompany my wife?"

Empress Zhaojing said, "You accompany me every day, leave one day for me, I want to go to Beishan for an outing and hunting tomorrow. I have been in the palace for a long time, and I always want to go out for some fresh air. After all, the weather is getting warmer."

"But you also know that going out with a normal identity will waste a lot of money and be criticized by those civil servants. How boring."

"Tomorrow, there will be four people, me, you, Xiaozhuang and my sister."

Zhou Yuan nodded. He didn't refuse such a small request. He just asked : "Do you need to prepare anything?"

Empress Zhaojing waved her hand and said, "No need to prepare anything. I will ask the inner guards to send some fruits and snacks. I will be back in the evening."

"Okay, then tomorrow..."

"We will pick you up tomorrow morning."

She seemed to be looking forward to this outing. She was very excited when she talked about it. She chuckled and said, "You are not allowed to get out of bed, little junior brother. I know you have married two beautiful wives and spend every night in the land of tenderness, but your senior sister rarely lets you accompany her."

Zhou Yuan patted his chest and said, "I promise it will be no problem!"

...

The next morning, Xiaozhuang drove a carriage to the Duke's Mansion, and Zhou Yuan went in directly.

So he saw the senior sister taking a nap and Guan Caixi staring.

Recently, this girl is said to be in a bad mood. She had been wandering around in the south, but was forcibly called back and almost betrothed. She was in a very bad mood, especially when she saw the culprit in front of her...

"Shameless!"

She glared at Zhou Yuan fiercely.

Zhou Yuan was confused and whispered: "I am shameless? What are you talking about?"

"Shameless!"

Guan Caixi said: "You already have so many girls, and you still want to hit on me, how shameless."

Zhou Yuan was really wronged this time, and spread his hands and said: "Bye,"Oh, it was your sister who wanted to marry you to me, not me who asked for it, and I've already rejected you, what else do you want?"

"You rejected? Shameless!"

Guan Caixi gritted her teeth and said, "How can I not be worthy of you? You're the one who has to reject me!"

Zhou Yuan said, "Which side do you stand on, whether you want to marry or not!"

Guan Caixi said, "I don't want to marry! But I don't want you to reject me either! I'd rather be the one who rejects me! Otherwise, it'll seem like you despise me, and you won't have that much face."

Zhou Yuan was so angry that he laughed, and simply said, "I'm too lazy to argue with you, so as not to disturb His Majesty."

While they were talking, Empress Zhaojing woke up, rubbed her eyes, and said, "I've woken you up, you two enemies."

She stretched and said, "For today's holiday, I reviewed memorials until the middle of the night last night. ”

It is hard to be an emperor, especially if you want to be a wise ruler, then you basically have no good days to live.

Zhou Yuan also sighed, and the eldest sister was indeed qualified for the position of the king.

He picked up an apple and smiled: "Elder sister, do you want to eat it? I'll peel one for you."

"Of course."

Empress Zhao Jing said: "Today there are no monarchs and ministers, only family members, so everyone should be more comfortable."

After speaking, she looked at Guan Caixi again and said: "You, you are already a big girl in your early twenties, why are you still so willful, have I spoiled you?"

"Sister..."

Guan Caixi threw herself into her arms and said in a tender voice: "How am I willful? It's obviously that Zhou Yuan is too arrogant and greedy. He already has three wives, and he still wants to get me!"

Empress Zhao Jing poked her shoulder and couldn't help laughing: "There are so many people who want to marry our Weiguogong, and you are still not happy? Your sister is doing this for your own good, and wants to find someone to rely on for you."

"I don't want to!"

Guan Caixi chuckled and said, "I have a sister, and I don't need to rely on those stinky men."

Zhou Yuan handed the apple to the eldest sister, and then said, "I have Jianjia Ningyue and the others, and I don't need a willful princess."

"Heh! You still know that I'm a princess!"

Guan Caixi pointed at him and said, "Bold Zhou Yuan, don't think that I'm afraid of you just because you are a duke. I'm the emperor's sister, a real royal relative."

Zhou Yuan said, "Don't come on, I'm still the emperor's junior brother, and neither of us can suppress the other."

Guan Caixi raised her eyebrows, feeling that she couldn't argue with him, and anxiously looked around, grabbed an apple and stuffed it into Zhou Yuan's mouth, and shouted, "Junior brother is not as close as my sister!"

Zhou Yuan took a bite, and then said, "I can fight! "

Guan Caixi said: "I have washed my sister's feet before!"

Empress Zhaojing tilted her head and said: "Caixi, I don't think so."

Guan Caixi pouted and said: "Tonight."

Zhou Yuan said: "Washing feet? I can do it too!"

"I don't believe it! Bah bah bah!"

Guan Caixi shouted: "Shameless! You dare to hit on my sister! Be careful or I will chop your head off!"

Empress Zhaojing smiled and said: "I remember, little junior brother, you owe me a foot wash."

She smiled and looked at the two bickering young men. At this moment, she seemed to have forgotten countless worries and anxieties, and only felt relaxed and happy.

She couldn't help but sigh in her heart, if time could stay at this moment, how great it would be!