Chapter 44: A Thousand Miles of Fate Linked by a Single Thread (Part 1)

  Fang Yi sat on the horse carriage, and Zhuge Yu immediately cupped his hands towards Zhou Wenbo to congratulate him: "Congratulations, Jin Yu has become the son-in-law of the Commander of the Imperial Guards today!"

  Zhou Wenbo could only smile wryly, this misunderstanding was hard to express, but as Xiang Yanqing's identity, since he said these words today, if nothing unexpected happens, the son-in-law of the Xiang family is already settled.

  It's likely that the Lü family and Third Uncle would be overjoyed upon hearing this news. Given the status of the Fu family, the strength of the Bao Yi army, and the beauty of Feng Zhen's name, it's absolutely impossible for the Zhao Guo Gong Fu to refuse.

  As expected, when Zhou Wenbo returned to the mansion and mentioned this matter to Madame Lü, who was still awake, a smile that had not been seen for many days also appeared on her thin face: "I have met Feng Zhen, the second daughter of the Fu family, she is gentle, virtuous, and beautiful, a rare good wife. If you can marry Feng Zhen as your wife, it will be your good fortune too. Tomorrow I will let your third uncle go to the Fu family to propose, first engage this marriage before saying anything else."

  Zhou Wenbo could only nod in response.

  Xu Yuanqing returned home, but the more he thought about it, the more regretful he became. He deeply resented himself for not being able to control his temper. As soon as he opened his mouth, he couldn't take it back now. Zhou Wenbo had only met him once, and although he had left a good impression on him, it also made him appear too impulsive.

  Xiang Yanqing didn't notice until he returned to the main hall of his home that his elderly mother, Gao Lao Taijun, was sitting upright in a high-backed chair with her hands resting on top of her cane.

  "The child is unfilial, troubling his mother for so long until now." Yuanyang was startled in her heart and hastily walked forward.

  "What's your evaluation of Meng and Zhou after meeting them tonight?" Gao didn't rush to ask about the conversation and conclusion that Fu Yanqing had with them in the evening, but instead asked about his impression of Meng Zhiyuan and Zhou Wenbo.

  "Men Jiedu is getting older and more majestic, with long sleeves that are good at dancing. Even by the emperor's side, there are many who get along with him. It can be said that the whole court is full of people on the same path as him. This time, being appointed as the governor of Chuanxi, he will surely be able to sit firmly in this position, truly a remarkable figure!"

  Fu Yanqing, as an inland jiedushi, was still a notch below Meng Zhixiang, a border jiedushi. Although inland jiedushis held military power, they were still subject to central control in terms of finance and governance, making them only half-warlords. In contrast, Meng Zhixiang's border jiedushi was truly all-powerful, with absolute authority over the region under his jurisdiction, a true local emperor.

  Moreover, the land of western Sichuan has been rich and luxurious since ancient times, with its people being wealthy and contented, and the economy flourishing. There are also no powerful enemies nearby to threaten it, making it a first-rate place in the world.

  "Old Meng is a sly fox, indeed clever, but he doesn't have Zhou De's sense of responsibility, far from it." The old lady obviously looked down on Meng.

  "Now that Zhou Zhong's envoy has died in Shu, the whole world is shaken. I suppose by now all the regional military governors have already harbored thoughts of independence!"

  Fu Yanqing still admired this capable and responsible senior in the Later Tang army's vanguard, the first chief minister - Zhou Deyan.

  "What about young Master Zhou?" Old Lady Gao was unwilling to discuss Meng Zhi-Xiang, but instead showed great interest in Zhou Wen-Bo.

  "There's something else I need to report to Your Ladyship!" At this point, Fu Yanqing suddenly blushed and said in a low voice.

  "What's wrong?" Gao was quite satisfied with her son, the official who held the position of Jiedushi. It had been many years since she last saw such an embarrassed expression on his increasingly intimidating face, and for a moment, she was very curious.

  "I have made the decision, and I will give Ernuo Fengzhen to Zhou Wenbo!" Fu Yanzheng never hid anything from his old mother, especially at this moment when he was also very hesitant and needed someone to discuss it with.

  "What? Is this your first time meeting the young master of the Zhou family? How could you hastily agree to an engagement?" Old Lady Gao also became anxious.

  It is said that Lv Dongbin, the Pure Yang True Man, personally told fortunes for Fu Fenghuang and informed the Fu family that their three daughters were not destined to marry true sons of heaven. At the time of this strange encounter, Gao Lao was also present, and she and Fu Yanqing both deeply believed in it.

  Now the eldest granddaughter indeed married Li Cunxu, the current emperor, and fulfilled Lü Dongbin's first sentence. The marriage arrangements for the two younger girls naturally became extremely cautious, which is also why Fu Fengzhen, now 15 years old, has not yet been betrothed to anyone.

  Fu Yanqing only started talking about his daughter going to the eastern city to buy Mr. Jin Yu's poetry in the afternoon, and continued until he competed with Tong Mengzhang for his son-in-law, speaking extremely meticulously, without missing a single detail.

  After listening to his son's words, Gao closed his eyes and stroked the dry skin on the back of his right hand with his left hand. After a long time, he suddenly opened his eyes and asked: "You say that Zhou Xiazi, is it possible for him to become a true Dragon Heavenly Master?"

  When he heard this, Fu Yanqing was also shocked.

  "This is unlikely, isn't it? The Zhao State's imperial court is currently weak and feeble, it's uncertain whether they can even survive this calamity, how could Zhou Wenbo possibly have the chance to become the Son of Heaven?"

  Fu Yanqing subconsciously retorted.

  "So I ask you, according to what Yelu Zu said, all three daughters of my family have married into the imperial family. Is it possible that our Feng could marry the current emperor?" asked Old Lady Gao.

  "It's impossible, the Empress Liu is already extremely dissatisfied with Fenghuang marrying into the imperial family. Now that Fenghuang has been in the palace for two years and still hasn't given birth to a dragon son, it must be the doing of Empress Liu. I'm deeply sorry for Fenghuang, there's no way she can marry the current Emperor."

  Fu Yanqing replied immediately.

  The old lady continued to ask: "If the Great Tang Dynasty has been passed down for more than three generations, is it possible that my family's Feng Zhen and Feng Ting could marry into the current emperor's descendants?"

  Fu Yanqing hesitated for half a day and finally replied: "This is unreasonable, it must not be possible."

  The old lady's speech became faster and more urgent: "Nowadays, the Emperor favors eunuchs and actors, Empress Liu does whatever she wants, now that Duke of Zhao has died, can this Tang Dynasty last long?"

  Upon hearing this, if the secret were to be leaked, it would surely lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the family, Fu Yanqing's mind was racing, his forehead slightly itchy, and he actually broke out in a cold sweat on this chilly winter day.

  "I see you, since becoming the emperor's father-in-law, have become increasingly less vigilant. Do you know that today's situation is possibly more precarious than during the early days of the Li and Tang dynasties? At that time, the world was already at peace, with all four seas united under one rule, yet by the third generation, there was the chaos caused by Empress Wu. Nowadays, the Great Tang dynasty controls at most only half of the territory under heaven, the people are suffering from wars, and this emperor is indulging in pleasure and leisure - is this a sign of long-term peace and stability?"

  Mr. Gao's words became more and more explicit, but his voice grew softer and softer. Although he had already dismissed the slaves around him, this was also a taboo topic.

  "I know Zhou Wenbo is a talented person, and his poetry has the style of a great master. In the future, he will surely be famous in history, alongside Li Bai and Du Fu. However, in this chaotic world, having talent alone is not enough. I wonder how Zhou Wenbo speaks, thinks, and acts?"

  Gao turned to ask about Zhou Wenbo's situation.