Chapter 159: Don't give in

Chapter 159: Don't give in

Chapter 159 Don’t give in

On the second day, Lu Ziqin got up at the first minute of the morning. After washing and changing clothes, he told Ruxuan: "I'll go in first and you go and do your work. We'll meet at Shuyingyuan later."

 Ruxuan bowed his body and responded.

Lu Ziqin entered the British Duke's Mansion from the east side door.

When I entered the door, I happened to meet the boy pouring night fragrance in Wenyuan Pavilion, so he stopped and asked: "Grandpa rested in Wenyuan Pavilion last night?"

The British Duke lives in the mansion. In addition to Mrs. Yang’s main wife, he also has two concubines living in the mansion.

The British Duke will rest in Rongan Hall on the first and fifteenth day of each month, and occasionally at the two concubines. Other than that, he rests in Wenyuan Pavilion most of the time.

The young man leaned over and said, "Go back to Master Six, the Duke of Guo rested in Wenyuan Pavilion yesterday."

Lu Ziqin nodded and warned, "Don't make any announcement about my return."

 The boy bowed down and got down.

Lu Ziqin walked towards Wenyuan Pavilion. It was too early and he didn't meet anyone else along the way.

When Lu Ziqin entered Wenyuan Pavilion, the concierge was dozing on the table and did not notice anyone entering the courtyard.

Lu Ziqin went to the living room of the British Duke. Du Bin just got up and saw Lu Ziqin. He asked in surprise: "Sixth Master, is it so early?"

Lu Ziqin smiled, bowed to Du Bin and asked, "Uncle Du, is your grandfather still awake?"

Du Bin looked inside and said softly: "The Duke of Guo rested late last night, so I asked Xiao Yinmo to call him again."

Lu Ziqin nodded, walked to the table and sat down, picked up the book on the table and started reading.

Du Bin was so nervous that he rubbed his hands and said awkwardly: "Sixth Master, this book is just for me to pass the time..."

Lu Ziqin glanced at the cover, which read "Green Forest Strange Monsters", and said casually: "It doesn't matter, I'm just killing time.

 Uncle Du, go and do your work. Don't worry about me. I'm reading here and waiting for my grandfather. "

Du Bin did not leave, but stood at the edge and hesitated to speak.

Lu Ziqin looked up at him and asked, "What? Is there anything else wrong with Uncle Du?"

Du Bin mustered up his courage and said, "Sixth Master, what's that? There's something in the book."

Lu Ziqin looked at the book in his hand, nodded and said, "Oh." Then handed the book to Du Bin.

Du Bin bowed gratefully to Lu Ziqin, reached out to take the book, quickly opened it, and took out the bills sandwiched in the book.

 In the rush, several bills fell to the ground.

Lu Ziqin bent down to help pick it up, and found that the note was actually a bet on whether he would show up for the New Year's banquet.

Lu Ziqin took the bill, looked at Du Bin and said speechlessly: "Uncle Du, this..."

Du Bin smiled awkwardly and said: "Sixth Master, we know something about the inside story, so what? If you don't make money, you won't make it in vain, right? So, I just bought some."

Lu Ziqin looked at a handful of bills in Du Bin's hand and asked, "Would you rather buy some?"

Du Bin raised the note in his hand and blurted out: "It's a small thing, but it's a lot in the hands of the Duke."

“Grandpa also bought it?” Lu Ziqin asked in disbelief.

Du Bin realized that he had spilled the beans and whispered: "Sixth Master, please keep your voice down, be careful that the Duke of the country hears it."

 Lv Ziqin looked at the note in his hand and asked, "So, grandfather wants me to come back today?"

Du Bin scratched his head and said, "I don't know. When the Duke called the Sixth Master back, he must have something to tell the Sixth Master, or perhaps the Duke missed the Sixth Master."

"What nonsense are you talking about? What day is it today? You don't know? You shouldn't come back?" The British minister stood at the door of the back room and scolded with a straight face.

Lu Ziqin quickly turned around and bowed to the British Duke to salute, "Hello, grandpa!"

Du Bin stepped forward to tidy up the British Duke's clothes.

The British Duke let Du Bin do whatever he wanted without looking at Lu Ziqin. He just asked, "When did you come back?"

 Lv Ziqin replied respectfully: "Returning to my grandfather, I came back at the first quarter of Yinchu."

 The British Duke nodded and then asked: "How is your grandmother? Is she feeling better?"

Lu Ziqin shook his head, "It's still the same. I've taken a lot of medicine, but there's not much improvement."

The British duke sighed: "Your grandma, this is a heart disease. The only blame is that your grandpa took good care of her when he was alive. Your grandpa suddenly passed away, and it was difficult for her to accept it for a while. Alas, let your mother spend more time with her. Stay with her."

Lu Ziqin bowed and thanked him.

 The British Master has taken a shower and his servants have prepared breakfast.

Yingying pointed to the seat opposite and said to Lu Ziqin: "Come and sit."

 Lv Ziqin leaned forward and sat down opposite the British Duke.

Du Bin stepped forward, first poured half a bowl of milk soup for the British Duke, and then put four pan-fried buns on a plate.

“Sixth Master, do you need this?” Du Bin asked, pointing to the milk soup.

Lu Ziqin shook his head and said, "Thank you, Uncle Du. I'll just have a bowl of rice porridge."

"What kind of rice porridge? Let's have a bowl of milk soup first. You are still growing. If you drink more milk soup, you will grow longer." The British male stopped him without explanation.

Du Bin poured half a bowl of milk soup for Lu Ziqin and said with a smile: "Listen to your Majesty, drink more of this, it will be good for your health."

Lu Ziqin looked at the caring milk soup in front of him, bowed and said, "Thank you, grandpa."

The British man was in a good mood and took one pan-fried bun at a time.

Lu Ziqin picked up the bowl, held his breath, and drank the milk soup in the bowl as if he were drinking medicine.

 Then he quickly put a mouthful of fried buns into his mouth. The aroma of green onions from the fried buns suppressed the fishy smell of milk, and he calmed down.

The British Duke glanced at Lu Ziqin with disgust and said, "Ziqin, what's wrong with you? Drinking a bowl of milk seems to be killing you."

Lu Ziqin leaned forward and said, "My grandson is not as blessed as my grandfather, and he can't stand the taste of milk."

The British Duke laughed and said: "You just eat too little at ordinary times. If you eat a few times, you will get used to it."

Lu Ziqin shook his head and said, "I'm afraid it's not that easy. I'd better have some rice porridge."

The British Duke laughed and scolded: "It's worthless!"

Du Bin smiled and served Lu Ziqin a bowl of porridge, "In this regard, the Sixth Master is like the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince is not used to the taste of milk. Every time the Duke of Guo makes the Crown Prince eat milk soup, the Crown Prince seems to be killed. ”

 The British father's smile deepened when he mentioned his son.

“Dingkun hasn’t been back to Beijing for several years. Let’s see if he can come back this year.”

Lu Ziqin did not answer, but nodded slightly.

The Duke didn’t eat much for breakfast. There were four fried buns on the plate, a bowl of milk soup, and a pear.

Grandpa and grandson had breakfast and sat down to drink tea and chat.

The British Duke sighed and said: "You are seventeen this year. I wanted to discuss your marriage this year. But now that you are in the period of filial piety, the matter can only be postponed to a later date."

Lu Ziqin smiled awkwardly, leaned forward and said, "Let grandpa worry about it. We can discuss the matter of more kisses after the man's wedding ceremony. We are not in a hurry."

The British father sipped his tea and said: "Our family is different from other families. The men in our family all get married when they are fifteen or sixteen years old, and they get married right after the ceremony. Your father was not yet eighteen when he married your mother-in-law. You The second uncle is also eighteen when he marries your second aunt."

Lu Ziqin said with a smile: "My father and my second uncle are going to the military camp, so they will be early. My grandson is not going to the military camp, so it doesn't matter if it's a few years later."

The British Duke looked at Lu Ziqin and said seriously: "I want you to come back today because I want to discuss this matter with you."

Lu Ziqin straightened his body and met the British Duke's gaze, "What did my grandfather say?"

 The British Duke asked: "Ziqin, are you really not going to go to the military camp?"

Lu Ziqin frowned slightly and said, "Grandpa, didn't you decide this matter? A few years ago, my father asked the master to teach his grandson.

Grandfather said that his grandson was not suitable for practicing martial arts due to his weak body, so he asked his grandson to study hard and take the scientific examination or seek favor in the future. "

The British father nodded slightly, "Well, I said this. It was based on the situation at that time. At that time, you were too weak, how could you withstand the high-intensity training every day? Your father is your only legitimate son. If something goes wrong, will your mother still be alive?"

 Lv Ziqin asked in confusion: "Then why did my grandfather mention this matter again today?"

“On the first day of the Lunar New Year, several elders in the clan gathered together and mentioned this matter.

Ziqin, you also understand that our family is a family of military commanders, and all the men have to fight on the battlefield.

Like your father, he has been guarding the border for many years. Your second uncle was also in the military camp in the early years, and was later transferred back to Beijing to serve. "The British father said.

Lu Ziqin nodded, he naturally understood these principles.

 The British Duke continued: "The elders in the clan reminded me to consider the inheritance.

Your father is the heir apparent. Ordinarily, after my death a hundred years ago, the title of the British Duke will naturally be passed on to your father.

 And you are Dingkun’s only legitimate son, so naturally you are the heir apparent to the British Duke.

 Many years later, your father passed away. You inherited your father's title and became a British duke. "

These were things that came naturally without any doubts. Lu Ziqin listened quietly without interrupting the British father.

The British Duke picked up the cup and sipped the tea and then said: "But, Ziqin, if you don't go to the military camp, how will you command the generals of the Lu family?

 So, I want you to go to the military camp and practice with your father for a few years. Later, like your second uncle, you will be transferred back to the capital to serve in the Ministry of War or the Privy Council. This is one of them.

 Second, you have to get married a few years earlier and have more legitimate children. While your father is still young, let him take your children to experience in the military camp. Do you understand what I mean? "

Lu Ziqin nodded and said, "My grandson understands."

 The British Duke asked: "Then what do you think?"

Lu Ziqin looked at the British Duke, hesitated, and asked: "Grandpa, what will you do if your grandson doesn't go to the military camp?"

The British Duke thought for a while and said: "If you don't go to the military camp, you can continue on the road of scientific research or enjoy the grace.

Your father is still the heir apparent, and your mother-in-law needs to raise another son from an early age, or adopt one in your mother-in-law’s name. "

 At this point, the British duke paused for a moment, and then said: "The elders in the clan want to adopt Ziran into your grandma's name."

Lu Ziqin twitched the corners of his lips and said with a dry smile: "Why the eldest brother? Doesn't my father have a son?

Even if Father Chen wants to adopt this house, he should choose from his father’s sons. This is reasonable. No? "

The British Duke looked at Lu Ziqin awkwardly and said, "Ziqin, you don't have to mind. This is just a suggestion. I didn't nod."

Lu Ziqin said calmly: "When it comes to the development of the family, my grandfather should think twice."

The British Duke looked at Lu Ziqin and said, "If you agree to my proposal, why should I think twice?"

 It was related to the interests of his father's family. Lu Ziqin did not intend to give in, so he argued with reason: "Grandpa, this has nothing to do with whether my grandson should be married or not.

If you want to adopt an adopted son, you must adopt your father's son. There is no reason to adopt your second uncle's son. "

The British Duke was a little embarrassed when Lu Ziqin contradicted him, and he said with a stern face: "So, you have to seriously consider my proposal."

Lu Ziqin’s hands tightened again and again, and he clenched his teeth in an effort to control his emotions.

 After a moment, Lu Ziqin twitched his lips and said, "Yes, my grandson will consider it carefully.

However, the grandson is still in the period of filial piety. Even if he goes to the military camp, he will have to wait three years before he can go. "

Lu Ziqin mentioned the matter of filial piety, which made the British public very unhappy.

But Lu Ziqin's filial piety was highly praised by the emperor in the court.

Even if the British publican is so angry that his teeth itch, he can only endure it.

However, after the British Duke thought about it, Lu Ziqin agreed to go to the military camp, which would silence both the clan and the Yang family.

 The British Duke nodded and said: "Okay, I will write to your father later and let him make plans in advance.

 When you are ready to serve, I will go to your father's military camp and experience a few years before being transferred back to Beijing.

However, during these days of observing filial piety, don’t be idle and read books on the art of war.

In the military camp, there is no shortage of brave generals who are good at fighting, but there is a shortage of military advisors who understand the art of war, are good at strategizing, and can win a decisive victory thousands of miles away. "

Lu Ziqin bowed and responded, "Yes, my grandson will remember his grandfather's teachings."

The British Duke smiled and said: "Well, that's right. The plum trees in my grandfather's yard have bloomed this year and are very lush. Let's go and take a look."

 Speaking, the British Duke stood up, followed by Lu Ziqin, and went to the courtyard with the British Duke.

The British Duke took Lu Ziqin to the pavilion not far from the plum tree.

Du Bin has asked people to light a charcoal fire in the pavilion. There is a small red clay stove beside it, and the purple sand pot on the small stove is steaming.

 The stone table is equipped with utensils for serving tea and fruit snacks.

 When the two of them sat down, Du Bin took out the group tea and prepared to make tea.

Lu Ziqin reached out to take it and said, "Uncle Du, let me do it."

Du Bin was stunned for a moment, nodded and said, "Okay." After saying that, he handed the group tea to Lu Ziqin.

Lu Ziqin took the group tea, took some and put it on the fire to roast.

The British Duke was sitting on a round chair made of tiger skin, with his hands clasped in front of him, and he looked at Lu Ziqin lazily and casually.

He said: "You learned this from Ye Yun, right? You can do it well."

Lu Ziqin shook his head while simmering tea: "No, my grandson has never seen his grandfather share tea. My grandson studied with Gao Gonggong."

Lu Ziqin suddenly realized something and asked: "Grandpa can share tea? Why haven't my grandson seen it?"

The British Duke nodded slightly, "Well, the Queen is an excellent tea-handler. It is also because of this that the Queen fell into the Emperor's heart."

Lu Ziqin had never heard of this paragraph before. He stopped what he was doing, looked up at the British Duke, and asked curiously: "How good is the Queen at sharing tea?"

The British Duke nodded, "Ye Yun's skill in dividing tea is extremely proficient, and he can do it easily.

 In the capital, he would condescend to be second, and no one would dare to claim to be first.

His Fen Tea was unique and passed on to the queen, and your mother and you did not learn half a point.

After the queen left, I never saw Ye Yun sharing tea. It's normal that you haven't seen him. "

 (End of this chapter)