Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 183 Couple
Pingyang City.

The Chinese New Year had just passed, and Zhu Shenzhu was in a very good mood. Things in Luzhou were going on in an orderly manner, and Kang Youfu was in charge of the business. Last year's profits far exceeded expectations. Zhang Xijun had gone to the capital before the New Year, and the news just came back said that he and Wei Liangqing had become friends, and the situation in the capital had also opened up...

Apart from these things, the most important thing is that Xu Jingqiu is pregnant.

Ever since she knew that Zhu Shenzui had another woman named Tana on the grassland, Xu Jingqiu didn't say anything, but she was holding a grudge in her heart. Although Xu Jingqiu was dignified and beautiful, she was a woman who was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. Although she never mentioned anything about Tana, one could feel that she was secretly competing with him.

In winter, Zhu Shenzui, who came back from Luzhou, did not go anywhere. He stayed in Pingyang to accompany his family. Of course, he also worked hard in the house with Xu Jingqiu.

Just after the New Year, Xu Jingqiu felt unwell, so Zhu Shenzhui asked a doctor to see her. After taking her pulse, the doctor stood up with a smile and congratulated Zhu Shenzhui, saying that his wife was pregnant.

This good news made the entire Zhu family overjoyed, especially Xu Jingqiu. As Zhu Shenzhui's legally married wife, she was now pregnant. Could there be anything better than this?

He sent letters to Luzhou and Pingshun to tell his uncle Wang Rong, Zhou Anmin, Zhu Xiuer and the Xu family the good news. In the following days, Zhu Shenzhu accompanied Xu Jingqiu, and the relationship between the couple became more harmonious and their feelings became deeper.

"Husband, what do you think of this painting?" In the room, Xu Jingqiu picked up her brush to paint. After finishing the last stroke, she asked her husband with a smile.

Zhu Shencui looked carefully and found that Xu Jingqiu had painted a picture of wintersweet. Although only a few strokes were used, the painting was extremely vivid, especially the wintersweet's spirit of not fearing the cold and snow, which came across on the paper.

"Nice painting!" Zhu Shenzhu praised, "I didn't expect that my wife has such a good painting skill."

Xu Jingqiu put down his brush and said with a smile: "My skills are nothing special. I just learned some basic skills from my father since I was a child. As for painting, my father's paintings are really good, especially the meticulous brushwork."

"My father-in-law actually has such a skill? How come I didn't know about it? Next time I see him, I will definitely ask for one." It was the first time that Zhu Shenzhui knew about this, and he couldn't help but say with a smile.

Xu Jingqiu giggled and told Zhu Shenzhu that although her father was an outstanding painter, he never showed it to others. Apart from his family and a few old friends, not many people knew about it. Xu, the old scholar, called himself an orthodox scholar. Since he was a scholar, painting was just an unorthodox art in his eyes and it was nothing.

Moreover, Xu Lao Xiucai did not want his descendants to indulge in this too much. He once told Xu Jingqiu and her brother that Tang Yin was a genius in painting, but no matter how good Tang Yin's paintings were, it was not the right path. If Tang Yin had not lost the possibility of entering the official career, he would not have fallen to such a state because of the pressure of life.

Many people know that Tang Yin is an unparalleled poet and painter, but who knows the depression and helplessness in Tang Yin's heart? Because of this, Xu Lao Xiucai did not teach Xu Xiancheng how to paint, in order to let him focus on the imperial examination. The Xu family had been in decline for a long time. If he wanted to restore the Xu family's former glory, Xu Lao Xiucai might not be able to do it, but Xu Xiancheng still had a chance.

Xu Jingqiu is a woman, so there is no need for her to do so. Besides, Xu Jingqiu also likes these things. Old Scholar Xu taught her these things since she was a child. It must be said that Xu Jingqiu is quite talented in painting and has unexpectedly good painting skills.

Zhu Shenzhui knew a little about painting, but not much, and he just admired Xu Jingqiu's paintings. Xu Jingqiu also became interested, pointing at the paintings and explaining to her husband in detail how to use ink and how to start painting, etc. The two talked happily and happily.

After chatting for a while, Zhu Shenzhui saw that Xu Jingqiu looked a little tired, and he knew that she was tired. Pregnant women are like this, and they are not as energetic as usual after pregnancy. This is Xu Jingqiu's first pregnancy, and although her health has always been good, she still needs to pay attention to what she should pay attention to.

He helped his wife sit on the kang, poured her a cup of hot water, and fed her two sips. Xu Jingqiu's complexion looked much better.

"My husband, I asked you to do these things, I..."

"Haha, you are now the most honorable person in our Zhu family. Our family is not a wealthy one and does not have so many rules. Besides, what's the big deal about feeding your wife a sip of tea?" Zhu Shenzhui said with a smile.

Xu Jingqiu smiled, she didn't mention anything else, she was a very smart woman, and since she married into the Zhu family, both her husband and sister-in-law had been very good to her, that was enough. As for the woman on the grassland, Xu Jingqiu was a little angry at first, but she was relieved after thinking it through. The woman on the grassland could not affect her family's status at all. Besides, what was a man with a woman? Not to mention a mere Mongolian woman.

Half leaning on the kang, the couple chatted, from their family to their unborn child, and from the child to the child's uncle, Xu Xiancheng, Xu Jingqiu's younger brother.

Xu Xiancheng will take part in the provincial examination in August this year. If he passes the provincial examination, he will become a juren. Then he will be able to go to Beijing to take part in the metropolitan examination next year. If he passes the metropolitan examination, it means he has embarked on an official career.

Xu Jingqiu had high hopes for his younger brother, and Xu Xiancheng did live up to the expectations of the Xu family. A 15-year-old scholar was considered exceptionally good in the entire Ming Dynasty. If he could pass the imperial examination, the Xu family would have a chance to be revived. Seeing Xu Jingqiu's eyes full of spirit, and talking about Xu Xiancheng with great interest, Zhu Shenzhui, although he didn't agree with him, also echoed a few words.

In fact, Zhu Shenzui did not want his brother-in-law to pass the exam so early. After all, he was still too young. What was more important was that the Ming Dynasty today was no longer the same as before. There were fierce party struggles in the court, the Later Jin in Liaodong was ready to make a move, and the local area was not very peaceful at the moment. It was no exaggeration to describe the Ming Dynasty now as being plagued by internal and external troubles. Under such circumstances, being an official in the Ming Dynasty was not a good thing.

However, Zhu Shenzhui could not mention these words in front of Xu Jingqiu. After all, Xu Xiancheng was the only son of the Xu family, and he was the hope of the Xu family's revival. Zhu Shenzhui would never be stupid enough to say something that would spoil the fun at this time. Not only that, he had to follow Xu Jingqiu's topic and say a few nice words to make Xu Jingqiu happy.

"Pingshun is not as good as Pingyang. Why don't you send a letter home and ask me to come to Pingyang to study and prepare for the exam? That way, you can see me often. You haven't seen each other for quite some time since you got married."

Xu Jingqiu's heart was moved, but after thinking about it, she shook her head and said, "I appreciate your kindness, sir. However, it's not bad for me to prepare for the exam at home in Pingshun. Besides, my parents and elders are at home, and I can take care of them at home. I also have classmates at the college, and it's good to be together at ordinary times. There is no need to come to Pingyang. But after I finish this exam, I will give birth to my child. After our child is born, let me come over. Then let my parents come and stay for a few days. What do you think, sir?"

"It's up to you, all up to you!" Zhu Shenzhui nodded with a smile. It was a good arrangement by Xu Jingqiu. Let her decide on this matter.

Zhu Shenzhui told Xu Jingqiu that he would buy two servants in a few days. After all, she was pregnant now and it was inconvenient for her to do things on a daily basis. Although her sister-in-law Zhang could take care of her, he couldn't let her do these things all the time, right?

In the past, there were only three people in the family: Zhu Shenzhui, his sister-in-law Zhang, and Qiao'er. They were a simple family and lived an ordinary life without any particular requirements.

But things are different now. As the business of the merchant company becomes more and more prosperous, the Zhu family is no longer the impoverished royal family. Even if Zhu Shenzui has concealed a lot from the outside world, the family can live well just by relying on part of the profits.

If Zhu Shenzhu had not been worried about attracting too much attention, and if he had not invested most of his profits in other places, it would have been no problem for him to build a big house and have a large number of servants at home.

But even if this is not done, the necessary conditions are still there. Zhu Shenzhu originally wanted to move to a bigger house, leaving this small courtyard behind, and move the family to a better house. But his sister-in-law Zhang disagreed with this suggestion, because she had lived here since she married into the Zhu family. This small courtyard looked ordinary, but it left Zhang with many memories.

But if Zhu Shenzhui and Xu Jingqiu moved out alone, he didn't want to. Besides, Zhu Shenzhui knew very well that once they moved out, his sister-in-law Zhang and Qiao'er would definitely not want to go with them. In this way, one family would become two families, and a good thing would become a bad thing.

After thinking about it, Zhu Shenzhui put the matter aside. However, he could not move, but he still needed servants. If he moved, Xu Jingqiu would be pregnant, and he would have to leave Pingyang in the spring. In the following days, he would not be able to accompany his wife for nearly half a year, and he was worried about not having servants to take care of the family.

Zhu Shenzhui and Xu Jingqiu had mentioned this matter before, and Xu Jingqiu agreed. In the past few days, Zhu Shenzhui has asked people to find reliable servants. Not many, just two will do. A man to help with chores and some things to do outside, a maid to cook at home and take care of the three women in the family. The person must be reliable and have a clean family background, without any problems. This is Zhu Shenzhui's basic requirement. The three women in the family are Zhu Shenzhui's closest people, and he doesn't want to be careless and do bad things with good intentions.

While talking to Xu Jingqiu, footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by a knock on the door.

"Master!" Wang Hai's voice came along with a knock on the door.

Zhu Shenzhui got up from the kang, walked a few steps to the door and opened it.

"What's the matter?"

"My lord, someone just delivered a letter." Wang Hai replied, handing over the letter.

Zhu Shenzhui took it and looked at it. His eyes swept over the wax seal on the envelope and he knew who the letter was from at a glance.

"Where's the messenger?"

"I left a letter and left." Wang Hai replied with his hands down.

Nodding slightly, Zhu Shenzhui said to Wang Hai, "Go ahead." Wang Hai bowed and left. After Wang Hai left, Zhu Shenzhui closed the door and took the letter back to the inner room.

(End of this chapter)