frightfiction Chapter 217 World 389
Chapter 217 World 389
As the son-in-law of the Wang family and "valued" by Prime Minister Wang, Zhan Zheng naturally had to help out. So, throughout the mourning period for Old Madam Wang, Zhan Zheng frequently visited the Wang family.
After the Wang family escorted the coffin back to their hometown, Yu Miaoqi thought he would be able to relax a bit, but unexpectedly, Zhan Zheng was busy integrating the Wang family's connections and sorting out their network of relationships, making him even busier. Even when he stayed at home, he mostly worked in his study with the door closed.
Seeing that Yu Miaoqi wanted to care for her son but didn't know how, Yinyin simply asked someone to tell Zhan Zheng and took Yu Miaoqi to the estate.
It's currently the time when the ice and snow are melting, so the peach blossoms are still a bit early, but the pear and apricot blossoms have already bloomed.
Enjoying the beautiful scenery before her, Yu Miaoqi's mood improved considerably, and she even felt inclined to start preparing Yin Yin's dowry again.
Previously, Yu Miaoqi prepared a dowry for Yin Yin according to the standards for a noblewoman's wedding. Now that it is confirmed that her daughter will become a princess, the things she prepares will naturally be changed to something more valuable.
After talking with Zhan Zheng, Old Master Zhan learned about the matter and immediately discussed it with Yu Miaoqi. He had Yin Yin change her surname and rewrote the genealogy of the eldest branch of the family when the ancestral hall was opened.
After that, Pan Yinyin became a thing of the past.
After Yin Yin changed her surname, the presence of Grandpa Zhan and his wife in her life suddenly increased. In addition to adding nice things to Yin Yin's dowry, the old lady also kept Yin Yin to talk more often and took her out to meet guests more frequently.
Thanks to their efforts, many people now know that Yin Yin is no longer Miss Pan, but Miss Zhan.
The Pan couple, far away in the south, naturally learned of this matter, but their opinions could not influence the course of events. They could only continue to run their embroidery workshop in the south and send the deeds to Yin Yin as a token of their goodwill.
In response, Yu Miaoqi and Old Master Zhan released them from their free status and gave them many properties and shops. As long as they lived a good life as wealthy men, they did not intend to stop them from continuing to write letters to Yin Yin as before.
When the youngest son of the Pan family passed the imperial examination and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations), Old Master Zhan even wrote a special letter recommending him to study at a famous academy in the south, which was quite a gesture.
After learning about this, Yin Yin couldn't help but sigh to Zhan Zheng in private: "When the old master wants to be thorough, he can do things that are exactly what people want."
Zhan Zheng replied, "Even if he does something to your heart's content, so what? If you're still wary of him and won't let him lead you by the nose easily, then whatever benefits he gives you, just take them."
"In the end, once these things come into my hands, I'll most likely give them to you anyway."
As Old Master Zhan grew older, the fifth branch of the family ignored his kindness and only followed the eldest branch.
Since her daughter went to Pingzhou, the second wife's family has gradually faded into obscurity. However, perhaps because they have more time to see their children, her son, after being properly disciplined, is no longer as unruly as before.
The third branch of the family was still unwilling, but their unwillingness was useless. After Yin Yin's matter was settled, the old master had handed over the affairs of the clan to Zhan Zheng, and the clan members all started to call Zhan Zheng the young clan leader. As for the third branch, who cared what they thought?
As for the fourth and sixth branches of the family who were outside, their abilities were average, but they all wrote back expressing their willingness to follow Zhan Zheng's instructions. Although they have not returned to the capital, they have been promoted.
With this in mind, although Old Master Zhan is still alive, the number one person in power in the Zhan family has changed to Zhan Zheng, so he naturally has the confidence to say this.
"Brother, you should keep what you have to yourself. Why give it to me? When you have more nephews and nieces in the future, your little bit of stuff might not even be enough to go around."
"Besides," Yin Yin pointed to the account book in front of her, "all the estates and shops I own are making a lot of money now. They cover my daily expenses and I even have a considerable surplus. I don't need you to give me any more."
"Keep your income to yourself. Who can complain about having too much money?" Zhan Zheng was unhappy that his sister refused his offer, even though it was just a loan for the future and hadn't actually reached him yet. "As for your nephews and nieces, divide them among yourselves. Those who are capable will live well, and those who are not will live poorly. It's all up to them. I can't expect you to take care of them forever and never divide the family."
"If we cause a fratricidal conflict again, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist beating them half to death one by one, so I might as well just let them all lie in bed and be done with it."
Yinyin didn't offer any comment, only saying, "Big brother, when you see your nephew and niece at Mother's later, you'll still be saying these things. See if Mother scolds you."
"When I get to my mother's place, I naturally can't tell her. She's a grandparent now, and she probably doesn't even remember me anymore."
Zhan Zheng said that, but he was still very happy that his mother was happy every day.
After Zhan Zheng and Wang Yingqing got married, they had a son and a daughter the following year, which Yu Miaoqi loved dearly and wanted to hold every day. Although she couldn't treat her daughter-in-law Wang Yingqing as well as she treated Yin Yin, she was still very kind and never interfered in the young couple's intimate affairs.
Wang Yingqing reciprocated by treating Yu Miaoqi and Yinyin well as well, and the two women, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, got along better and better.
Therefore, Zhan Zheng turned a blind eye to Wang Yingqing's occasional thoughts about the Wang family, sending letters to the Wang family, or subtly seeking benefits for the clan through Zhan Zheng.
Now, Zhan Zheng's family is considered harmonious and happy by Yu Miaoqi, so her focus has shifted a lot towards Yin Yin.
Shortly after Zhan Zheng's marriage, the emperor issued an imperial decree to marry Prince Ning'an and Yin Yin. However, Zhan Zheng was reluctant to part with his sister and urged Yu Miaoqi to join him. He kept picking and choosing the wedding date, postponing it again and again. As a result, almost two years have passed and Prince Ning'an still has not been able to find a wife.
The emperor found it really inappropriate and hinted at it several times before Zhan Zheng finally managed to hold a coming-of-age ceremony for Yin Yin when she turned nineteen. As for the wedding date, it was arranged for after the new year.
According to Zhan Zheng, once you get married, it's not good to go back to your parents' home for the New Year. This last family reunion dinner should be a must for everyone to gather at home.
Hearing this reason, no matter how anxious he was, Prince Ning'an could only continue to wait patiently.
On New Year's Eve that year, Zhan Zheng specially pleaded with the emperor not to go to the palace. He had originally planned to set up a table at Dongchang Courtyard. However, Old Master Zhan also did not go to the palace, so the feast was set up in the house near Linshi Diecui.
The various branches of the Zhan family in the capital sat together in one room, all looking harmonious and happy, and presented Yin Yin with many nice gifts.
After the banquet ended, the eldest son's family went to the East Chang Courtyard. Seeing that Zhan Zheng and Yu Miaoqi seemed to have something to tell Yin Yin, Wang Yingqing considerately said, "The children are tired, I'll take them back to rest first."
After Wang Yingqing left, Yu Miaoqi scolded Zhan Zheng: "Who are you giving a hard time to during the New Year?"
“I didn’t give her a hard time,” Zhan Zheng couldn’t help but argue. “I was just feeling uneasy because this is my sister’s last New Year at home.”
His words also dampened Yu Miaoqi's spirits.
Seeing this, Yin Yin quickly grabbed Yu Miao Qi's arm and said, "What do you mean it's the last New Year? If I come back for the holidays in the future, will Mother and my eldest brother kick me out again?"
“How could that be?” Zhan Zheng quickly said, “This is your home. You can come back whenever you want.”
Yinyin nodded in satisfaction and said to Yu Miaoqi, "From now on, I will book a table outside every Lantern Festival. Mother, please remember to come out so we can enjoy the lanterns together."
“As for New Year’s Eve,” Yin Yin glanced at Zhan Zheng with a hint of annoyance, “Big brother, you can’t even spend it at home by yourself. If we attend the palace banquet together, doesn’t that count as spending it together? In the future, Mother will also attend the palace banquet, so we will be together every New Year’s Eve.”