In recent years, the Zhu family's career has not been smooth. Zhu Pei's father Zhu Xiaoyun was promoted to the Secretary-General's Scholarship last year and was the magistrate of Jeju. Although he was promoted to the fifth rank, his real power was greatly reduced. Moreover, he was transferred to a state official from the state to a certain extent, and to some extent, he was separated from the power center.

Zhu Yuanjun's career was even more difficult. He was originally the deputy envoy of the Privy Council and was transferred to the position of the bachelor of Fuwen Pavilion last year. Although he was promoted to the third rank, everyone knows that entering the palace to become a bachelor is actually a transition before a high-ranking official retired. He basically lost his power and should return home after two or three years.

But Zhu Yuanjun is only 60 years old and is still ten years old after retirement. This is obviously not for retirement, but for freezing.

On the contrary, the Liu family's career has risen sharply. Liu Ran's father Liu Yun was promoted to Minister of Personnel last year and was in charge of the Judicial Court. His power surged and he became a popular object for everyone.

Of course, many senior officials of the court also threw the marriage balls to the Liu family. Liu Yun's son Liu Ran was only 18 years old and was once a Jinshi of the Boy Certificate. He had a bright future. The senior officials wanted to marry his daughter to Liu Ran. Even Liu Yun was quite moved. He also felt that his son had no need to stare at the Zhu family's granddaughter. The young lady obviously didn't take her son seriously, so why bother to make trouble for herself?

In the afternoon, Liu Ran came to his father's study and bowed and said, "Father called him a child?"

Liu Yun nodded, "Come in!"

Liu Ran walked into the study and stood in front of his father with his hands down. Liu Yun glanced at his beloved son and asked, "Yesterday, he chatted with Grand Secretary Xu for a while. He told me that his second granddaughter was only 28 years old and was beautiful and dignified. He had not yet agreed to anyone. The implication was very obvious. I don't know you."

Before his father finished speaking, Liu Ran shook his head immediately, "I will not consider my personal matters for the time being, please forgive me!"

Liu Yun knew his son's thoughts, and his face darkened and said unhappily: "What's the good thing about the little lady of the Zhu family? The Zhu family has lost power in politics. If you marry her, you can only have some money, but you don't have any help in your career. Don't be confused anymore!"

Liu Ran hurriedly knelt down and said, "Father, when it comes to wealthy families in Wujiang, Zhu Yi and Liu Er are always suppressed by the Liu family for decades. The child cannot swallow this. He must admit defeat and be willing to marry his daughter to the child. As long as the Zhu family bows his head this time, Liu Yi and Zhu Er will not be too far away.

Besides, there are not many talented children of the Zhu family. If the child marrys Zhu Pei, the Zhu family's property will sooner or later fall into the hands of the child. If the child owns the power of the Liu family and the Zhu family's wealth, why worry about the career failure? It is not impossible to become a prime minister!"

Liu Ran's words were half true and half false. It was true that he was greedy for the Zhu family's money, and it was also true that he could not swallow this tone. He was not wrong, but for the sake of the Liu family, but for himself. The more Zhu Pei rejected him, the stronger his desire to conquer, and his opponent was Fan Ning.

Liu Ran could never forget the humiliation he suffered during the imperial examination interview. The seeds of revenge were planted in his heart at that moment. He could not compare with Fanning in other aspects. He hoped to surpass Fanning in women and snatch Zhu Pei into his hands, allowing Fanning to watch himself and Zhu Pei enter the bridal chamber in despair.

Liu Ran's statement also touched his father Liu Yun. Liu Yun knew the Zhu family very well. Although the Zhu family trained many disciples, the third generation of the Zhu family did not have talented people, and they were even mediocre. Perhaps one day, his son could really control the wealth of the Zhu family.

Although people in Wujiang say that Zhu Yi and Liu Er are very clear in their hearts that the wealth gap between the Zhu family and the Liu family is huge. The Liu family cannot even enter the top 20 in Pingjiang Mansion, but the Zhu family's wealth ranks first in Pingjiang Mansion and is highly superior. If his son really controls the wealth of the Zhu family, it will not only be of great benefit to him personally, but also a great promotion to the development of the Liu family.

After understanding this, Liu Yun nodded and said, "Since you said that, then let's consider this matter again! No conclusion will be made for the time being."

Just as the Liu family and his son were negotiating the marriage in the study, Zhu Yuanjun also came to his third brother Zhu Yuanfeng's mansion.

Zhu Pei's father became the governor of Jeju and took his wife to take office, but his eldest son Zhu Zhe could not follow them to the new environment, so he could only entrust his eldest son and daughter to his third uncle Zhu Yuanfeng.

The reason why he did not hand over his eldest son to his second uncle Zhu Yuanjun was because his eldest son Zhu Zhe did not like this second grandfather. Living in his second grandfather's house only made his son even more anxious.

Besides, his daughter Zhu Pei was determined to refuse to live in his second grandfather's house, so Zhu Xiaoyun had to ask his children to his third uncle Zhu Yuanfeng.

Zhu Yuanjun really disliked his third brother. He and Zhu Yuanfeng were half-brothers, he was the legitimate son, and Zhu Yuanfeng was born in a illegitimate family. The two were about the same age, only a few months apart.

The two have had a bad relationship since childhood. Zhu Yuanjun has excellent academic performance, while Zhu Yuanfeng has poor academic performance, which makes Zhu Yuanjun look down on his third brother from the bottom of his bones.

This discrimination has been going on for decades and has long been deeply rooted and has even affected their descendants. Zhu Yuanjun's more than 20 children and grandchildren never take the initiative to interact with Zhu Yuanfeng's children and grandchildren. They only gather together on occasions during tribe festivals, but even if they get together, they ignore each other.

Fortunately, with his elder brother Zhu Yuanfu, he maintained the connection between the entire family. If it weren't for his efforts, the Zhu family would have fallen apart decades ago.

But today Zhu Yuanjun had to come to Zhu Yuanfeng's mansion. He wanted to find Zhu Pei and persuade her to agree to engage in the Liu family. The rumors that Grand Secretary Xu Jia wanted to marry the Liu family hurt Zhu Yuanjun.

The backstage of the Liu family is the old prime minister Yan Shu. With Yan Shu's strong influence in the court, there is no doubt that Liu Yun will continue to be promoted. He is likely to be promoted to a political affairs officer within five years.

If Zhu Pei and Liu Ran were married, then as the Minister of Personnel, Liu Yun could send himself an institution to serve as a dispatch officer with the qualifications of a bachelor's degree, that would be another matter. Maybe he might still be the deputy prime minister.

Now Zhu Yuanjun is on the fork of his retreat, and his other foot is also on the sunny road where he serves as prime minister. He can be said to be standing at the fork between region and heaven. The key figure that determines his direction is his granddaughter Zhu Pei and Zhu Liu's marriage! Who said marriage is not the basis of politics?

Zhu Yuanjun stepped into the door of his third brother's house, and Butler Yang smiled and greeted him, "It's the second master who is here!"

"Are my brother here?"

"My master went out at noon and hasn't come back yet!"

Zhu Yuanjun breathed a little relieved and said, "I'm here to find Xiaoqiniang, is she here?"

"Miss Pei should be here, please follow me."

Butler Yang took Zhu Yuanjun to the back house and waited in a yard for a while. A little maid went in to report. After a moment, Zhu Pei walked out quickly.

Zhu Pei is already sixteen years old and has a big girl. In the words of Fanning's mother Zhang Sanniang, she is more beautiful than a fairy.

Zhu Pei has grown taller in recent years and is no longer as young as a girl. She has a medium figure, plump and slim figure, white and greasy skin like mutton fat, and a bit of crystal clear as early as snow.

Her face is slightly round, her nose is high and straight, her small mouth is rosy and contoured. Beneath her curved eyebrows is a pair of beautiful eyes that are as bright as gems, looking around, shining brightly, and looking particularly intelligent and wise, like a budding lotus, who is already at the age of getting married.

Today Zhu Pei wore a six-piece wide skirt with a green satin cotton short coat on her upper body, a white coat with a hair, a cloud-shaped double-ring bun, and a pair of phoenix golden-headed jade hairpins.

Zhu Peiying gave a blessing gift, "Granddaughter Peier meets the second grandfather!"

Zhu Yuanjun was stunned for a moment, and then he noticed that his granddaughter was so beautiful. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. No wonder Liu Ran was so infatuated with her. He would understand now.

"Peer, my second grandfather wants to talk to you about something, which is related to the future of my Zhu family. I hope you can treat it rationally!"

Zhu Yuanfeng really couldn't convince his elder brother, so he planned to break through from Zhu Pei. As long as Zhu Pei agreed to get engaged with Liu Ran, his elder brother would have to agree in the end.

Zhu Pei's eyes were a little cold, and then he waved his hand and said, "Second grandfather, please come into the house and sit down!"

Zhu Pei's courtyard consists of a loft and a group of houses. There is a living room and a study room. You can enter the embroidery building behind by passing through the living room. Except for the personal guard Jian Meizi and the maid Awen, no one can enter her embroidery building.

Zhu Pei asked his second grandfather to sit down in the living room, and asked his maid Xiaowen to serve tea. At this time, Zhu Yuanjun saw the tall Jian Meizi standing on his granddaughter, and remembered the last time that the guard was rude to him, and he felt uncomfortable in his heart.

Zhu Yuanjun glanced at Jian Meizi and smiled, "Peer, can we talk to each other alone, is it okay?"

Zhu Pei smiled and said, "In front of Sister Jian, I have no secrets, my grandfather said it without any frankness!"

Jian Meizi showed an undetectable smile on her lips. The little girl spoke generously, but when she wrote to Fanning, she hid it, for fear that she would peek at a word, there were no secrets, she had many secrets!

Zhu Yuanjun was a little embarrassed and had to smile as gently as possible, "I think you should know what your grandfather wants to talk about? It's about Liu Ran. I heard that he will go to Fengqiu County to serve as chief clerk in a few months. He will be promoted to the capital in three years. His experience of being chief clerk can be promoted to the magistrate in one step.

This child is humble and elegant, gentle and talented, and has a high position at a young age. As far as I know, at his age, no young man can catch up with him."

Zhu Pei smiled faintly, "Does my grandfather need me to give an example?"

Zhu Yuanjun suddenly thought of Fan Ning, and his old face turned red. That boy was so evil. Compared with Yan Shukan back then, he was only seventeen years old and was promoted to the seventh-grade Tianzhang Pavilion. "

Zhu Yuanjun quickly changed his words, "Of course, there are excellent young people. Grandfather meant that he was one of his best young people. The key is that he was infatuated with you. Peier, such a young talent is really hard to find."

Zhu Pei pondered for a moment and asked, "Is the Liu family really important to our Zhu family?"

Zhu Yuanjun suddenly felt refreshed. Zhu Pei just needs to care about his family!

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Chapter completed!