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

Zhou Yuan had always planned to discipline Zhao Jianjia. In fact, it was not that he was impatient, but that his father-in-law had been urging him.

For Zhou Yuan, he did not mind continuing to get along with Zhao Jianjia in a plain way, and wait until the time was right to improve the relationship.

But his father-in-law had indeed spoken several times, and he had to give Old Taishan a face, so he brought this matter forward.

After such a long period of observation, Zhou Yuan also understood what kind of character Zhao Jianjia was.

A lady from a noble family, she had never had a hard life since childhood. She was proficient in poetry and songs, and was also good at calligraphy and painting. She had a quiet personality, but this was a quietness under cultivation. Once she encountered a big thing, she would be easily impatient.

Hating evil is her character, and being straightforward and kind is her quality, which also means that she does not like people who are bad, and she hopes that someone will conquer her.

Zhou Yuan found that when he was strong, Zhao Jianjia was gentler, and when he was not so strong to her, she became strong.

So the way to deal with Zhao Jianjia is very simple. On the one hand, you should be very strong and show your strength that she admires. On the other hand, you should isolate her and be cold to her.

In this way, she will respect you and be angry, but she can't leave you.

When she really can't stand it anymore, she will take the initiative to admit her mistakes, and the relationship will naturally improve.

So although his father-in-law advised him to take her to Lin'an Prefecture, Zhou Yuan still didn't plan to do so and left it alone for now.

In addition, there is still a need to do something about the separation, so that she can use it as a breakthrough point in the future to let her accept Ningyue and other future confidantes.

Zhou Yuan is not a moralist, nor a gentleman.

He doesn't mind having too many women.

Putting aside all these distractions, Zhou Yuan came to Mo Yunzhai.

The matter in Yunzhou is basically over. He needs to communicate with Qu Ling to understand the specific matters of the trip to Lin'an Prefecture, so that he can be mentally prepared in advance and decide what to bring.

"There is no particularly important mission to go to Lin'an Prefecture. It's just to attend some grand events and meet some dignitaries and great scholars."

"In terms of communication, I am not worried about Mr. Zhou's ability. After all, I have also specifically inquired about the Yunzhou Poetry Society's outing."

Qu Ling spoke very directly. There was no weakness and gentleness in her tone of voice like a Jiangnan woman. Instead, she was frank, generous, clean and neat, and had an inexplicable self-confidence.

This self-confidence in her has evolved into a unique charm and affinity, which makes people not feel disgusted, but admired.

Zhou Yuan has always believed in the principle of speaking to people in a human way and speaking to ghosts in a ghost way. He speaks to sincere people sincerely, and to cunning people, he is more cunning than the other party.

So he said directly: "In the final analysis, it is to support your Mo Yun Zhai. After this trip to Lin'an Prefecture, Mo Yun Zhai has truly become a well-known bookstore and engraving studio."

"I can't work for nothing, right? You have to give me some benefits."

Qu Ling's expression was very interesting. On the one hand, she felt that Zhou Yuan was very similar to her, and on the other hand, she felt that Zhou Yuan was too shrewd and it was too difficult to take advantage of him.

"Are you ashamed to ask me for a benefit?"

Qu Ling said angrily: "Isn't Mo Yunzhai generous? Eighty thousand taels of silver, I gave it to you immediately, and even paid the tax in advance."

"And I have been promoting your name vigorously. You are well-known throughout the Jiangnan area. These are not benefits?"

Zhou Yuan said: "Let's put it in a different light. Regarding the matter of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", we are helping each other, but the trip to Lin'an Prefecture is not within the scope of my writing as an author!"

Qu Ling's eyes narrowed into crescents, and he was so angry that his teeth itched. Then he said: "Anyway, I won't give money! As for benefits... If you come with me, even if you have a relationship with the Qu family, this is a big deal for you. Great benefit."

"Zhou Yuan, you will always have a future, and you must have a good reputation in the literary world, but you have no foundation, which is your biggest flaw."

"You and I have become friends, that is the biggest foundation!"

Speaking of this, she snorted: "If you say you didn't ask Zhao Cheng about our Qu family, I don't believe it."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "Yes, yes, I asked around, and I also know that Miss Qu Ling is 23 years old and has not married yet. She is a real old maid."

"It is said that you came to Lin'an Prefecture to escape from marriage, and your husband's family was so angry that they turned against you on the spot and scolded your Qu family."

In fact, the personal information about Qu Ling was completely provided by Cai Ni.

Qu Ling's face flushed immediately, and she stood up suddenly, shouting angrily: "So what if I run away from the marriage! It's better than being a son-in-law!"

Zhou Yuan said: "Being a son-in-law is also a marriage, it's better than nothing."

Qu Ling sighed and sneered: "Don't think I don't know, you and Zhao Jianjia are clearly incompatible, and you haven't even slept together yet.. "

"You are more embarrassing than me!"

Why compare this!

Zhou Yuan said angrily: "Okay, let's stop attacking each other, we are all brothers in distress."

"Alas, yes, every family has its own problems."

Qu Ling shook her head helplessly, and then said: "The ladies of Lin'an Prefecture are eagerly waiting for you, they all want to see the style of Yuan Yi Zhenren."

"Under my deliberate publicity, your poems and past have also been spread."

"A group of brothel girls by the West Lake in Lin'an Prefecture have a high opinion of you, saying that if they have the opportunity to serve you, they don't charge money."

Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and said: "Hey! Too much! In order to promote Mo Yunzhai, you sold my privacy!"

Qu Ling said: "Heh! Do you care about this? You are a son-in-law, but you are entangled with the courtesan and have an ambiguous relationship with the girl from the Xue family. You are obviously a playboy. You will only be secretly happy if I promote you like this! "

Zhou Yuan laughed.

Indeed, he was not offended by this. To spread his reputation was exactly what he wanted to do.

You have to seek a future, so fame is very important. In the future, you can get a position through special channels, which is considered promising.

Whether in the ancient times or in the present Jin Dynasty, the imperial examination is the main way to enter the officialdom, but it is not all.

There are always other ways, such as "enyinbuguan", "liren jia", "recommendation and guaranty", etc., which have room for operation.

You don't need to study or take exams, and you can directly become an official. This is more suitable for Zhou Yuan who is afraid of trouble.

But Zhou Yuan still said: "At least you have to help me solve the food, clothing, housing and transportation? I don't know the place, I don't want to be abducted. "

Qu Ling rolled her eyes and said, "You are really stingy. You still care about such a small matter. However, as a big shot in our Mo Yun Zhai, your food, clothing, housing and transportation must be arranged, which is also convenient for participating in activities."

"Go back and prepare. We will set off on the morning of June 25th and arrive in Lin'an Prefecture in the evening."

Lin'an Prefecture is the provincial capital after all. From Yunzhou, the official road is wide and smooth, and the carriage runs fast. It is indeed possible to arrive on the same day with a daily travel of 500 miles.

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "Okay, you send a car to Zhao Mansion to pick me up, it's settled."

He stood up and was about to go downstairs, but he heard a noise downstairs. The old shopkeeper rolled up, his face full of panic.

"Miss! Something big happened!"

The old shopkeeper exclaimed: "The people in Wa Lane have changed!"