Jade Without Fragrance

   Chapter 321 Blue Eyes

  With those Westerners with different hair colors entering Beijing, only Cheng Zhiyuan was a great Zhou person. When Emperor Tai'an heard that he was the adopted son of General Lin and that his son Cheng Shu was a member of the royal guard, it was not surprising that he was recruited into the palace.

   "Caomin Cheng Zhiyuan has seen His Majesty, long live His Majesty."

  Taian imperial language was so gentle that Cheng Zhiyuan got up and asked about overseas affairs.

  Cheng Zhiyuan has been in the West for several years, and even built a large power with his own hands. Naturally, there is something to be said. Every word is a new insight and valuable experience for Tai'an Emperor.

The sea can best reflect the unpredictable power of nature. Which route on the sea is less risky, how to avoid and resist when encountering danger, where pirates are rampant, what grievances and grievances are there between various forces, and the laws and customs of overseas countries, etc. These are not It is said that the imperial court has opened up maritime trade, and it can be understood and mastered by casually setting up a caravan.

   If there is a person who is familiar with these and trustworthy to lead the way, there is no doubt that the result will be multiplied with half the effort.

   Emperor Tai'an and Cheng Zhiyuan talked for a long time before letting them go. Because they talked too much, they even drank two cups of tea to feel better in their throat.

   Liu Chuan hurriedly congratulated Emperor Tai'an for his talent.

   Emperor Tai'an has been in a good mood for many days, but his face is still light: "Although this Cheng Zhiyuan is the adopted son of General Lin, after all, he has not been in the capital for many years. Even if he does have talent, he must be used with caution."

   Having said that, the corner of Emperor Tai'an's mouth could not help but rise.

   After a period of time, the ministers held numerous large and small court meetings about maritime trade, almost all of which were attended by a non-staff like Cheng Zhiyuan, so people knew that the adopted son of General Lin was about to become an upstart.

   After inquiring again, Cheng Zhiyuan's only son, Cheng Shu, has yet to marry. How does this work? Immediately, countless matchmakers stepped down the threshold of the General's Mansion.

   After inquiring again, Cheng Zhiyuan himself does not have a daughter-in-law? So the new threshold of the General's Mansion ushered in a wave of matchmakers' stampede.

   Lin couldn't help sighing to the old lady: "I didn't expect that the elder brother is so popular at such an age."

  The old lady smiled without saying a word.

  The father is more popular than the son, not only because Cheng Zhiyuan is favored by the emperor, but also because of his coveted wealth.

Those houses did not see rabbits and do not scatter eagles. Ever since Emperor Tai'an revealed the idea of ​​opening up maritime trade, he sent people to the coast to inquire, or he had been secretly operating maritime business, so when Cheng Zhiyuan appeared in the capital, even if I don't know all the details of him, and after a little inquiries, I know that this is the owner of a very rich man.

Getting older? Don't be kidding, people are only in their early forties, and they are still good-looking.

   "There's actually a teenage girl!" Lin just felt that these few days were an eye-opener.

   "Then what do you think?" the old lady asked calmly.

   walked to the door and stopped at the feet of the man.

  Lin was suddenly asked, and he couldn't think of himself at all, so he curled his lips and said, "I don't think it's suitable. Marry a little girl who can be her own daughter, isn't she afraid of being punished by heaven?"

  The old lady twitched the corners of her mouth fiercely: "It's not like..."

   In this world, there are many people who are twenty years apart from old husbands and young wives.

   "Why not, I thought if Chan'er and Ah Hao could find a son-in-law about my age—" Seeing Cheng Zhiyuan coming in, Mrs. Lin didn't say any more.

   "Zhiyuan is so busy these days, why is he back at this time?"

   "A batch of consignments has arrived. I'll send them home." Cheng Zhiyuan restrained the urge to look at Lin's and asked quietly, "How did you hear that son-in-law—"

  The old lady was delighted: "It's not Wanqing yet. I'm a little worried when I see that I'm here to tell you that I'm kissing a little girl as big as Ah Hao and the others."

  Lin felt that what his mother said was a little strange. She wasn't worried, she was clearly shocked.

Cheng Zhiyuan's smile was extraordinarily bright: "Wanqing, don't worry, I definitely won't marry a little girl, that's inappropriate. I was just about to tell my adoptive mother, please help me to reject all those who came to propose marriage. Busy with business at sea, I don’t have the time to spare for the time being.”

  God knows how nervous he was standing outside the door when his adoptive mother asked Wan Qing what he thought. Ke Wanqing's words made him understand that she still has no idea about him.

The fact that    is very sad and helpless, but he still feels lucky. At least he can wait openly, without having to bear the shackles of coveting a married woman.

   "Since you don't have the heart for the time being, let's push it first." The old lady knew Yoshiko's heart well and was happy to see it happen.

  Lin said with a smile: "Big brother can't wait until he's not busy before making plans, but it's time for Shu'er's marriage to be brought up."

  Cheng Zhiyuan took a break from his busy schedule and discussed the marriage of Qi Chengshu with the old lady and the Lin family.

   There is also Emperor Tai'an in the palace who is interested in marrying the father and son.

   During this time, it was enough for Jin Linwei on the coast to send back some information about Cheng Zhiyuan.

   Emperor Tai'an had read it over and over again, at least from what he inquired about, Cheng Zhiyuan had never done anything serious. Of course, if you want to get a share of the sea, you will inevitably use some means, which is nothing in the eyes of Emperor Tai'an.

   He wants a man who can fill his treasury with gold and silver, not a gentleman who is morally flawless.

   If you can make money, if you don’t have the heart of treason, you can use it.

   Wanting to be more at ease, Emperor Tai'an thought of getting married.

  If Cheng Zhiyuan is reused, he will leave Beijing soon. Even if the princess is married to him, a wife who has little affection and has little affection will have a hard time influencing his decision at some point.

   The only people who can really influence Cheng Zhiyuan are Cheng Shu, the only son, and the people from the Lin family in the general's residence.

   Emperor Tai'an thought about it for two days and went to the Cining Palace. As soon as he approached, he heard the laughter of the Queen Mother.

   He softened his facial expression and walked in with a smile.

   "The emperor is here." The queen mother's voice was gentle, obviously in a good mood.

   Kou Wan, who was with her, respectfully saluted and said hello.

   Emperor Tai'an smiled so that Kou Wan didn't need to be polite, and after chatting for a while, she let him back down.

   "The mother seems to be in a good mood." Without the younger generation, the conversation between mother and son is more casual.

   The corner of the Queen Mother's mouth smiled deeper: "Wan'er is a lively and pure child, and she is a happy fruit."

   These words made Emperor Tai'an think of Kou Wan's elder sister, Kou Jiao, the princess of Yi'an.

   The girl who called him "Imperial Father" has not entered the palace for a long time.

   He didn't have much affection for Kou Jiao, especially Kou Jiao's temperament could not be concealed from his eyes, but at this moment, it was inevitable that the empress dowager had hard-hearted thoughts.

   Of course, Emperor Tai'an knew better that it was normal to be hard-hearted in this palace, and this thought dissipated in the heart lake without even making a fuss.

   "How old is Wan'er this year?"

  The Queen Mother's eyes flashed: "Sixteen."

"Sixteen, it's really a good age." Emperor Tai'an smiled and said the purpose of coming, "My son thinks that Cheng Shu, the grandson of the old lady of the Lin family, who works in Jin Wuwei, is a good, capable and upright young man, and he is a good match for Wan'er. What do you think?"

   (end of this chapter)