RWNEFE -Chapter 593 Zhou Xinrou Arranges Marriages for the Young Women of the Family!

“Yes!”

Huang Yu was eager to earn merit and did not want to listen to Zhou Xinrou’s self-assumed arrangements. When she left, she did not inform her.

Even so, not long after leaving the city, a small group of men quietly began following her.

Idiots. This time she had officials from the court with her—what if suspicion was aroused? Truly useless, more hindrance than help.

“You go ahead. I’ll catch up in a while!”

Huang Yu made an excuse to stop. After finding the men who were following her, she immediately reprimanded them.

“Didn’t she say there weren’t many people with me?”

The leader of the covert guards replied cautiously, “We only followed orders. As for how many men you have with you, we do not know.”

Huang Yu felt irritated. Their attitude toward her reflected Zhou Xinrou’s attitude.

Zhou Xinrou truly did not regard her, this “young mistress,” as important.

“Follow from farther away. Don’t let the people around me discover you. They’re all from the court—there may even be people sent by Shen Lanxi to monitor me.”

The covert guards immediately obeyed.

When she set off again, Huang Yu could no longer see them.

On the other side, Zhou Xinrou was fulfilling her duties as the head mistress, selecting marriage matches for the young women of the family.

Old Madam Shen, Madam Liu, and Madam Miao were all invited.

At first, the three felt somewhat uncomfortable, but after sitting for a while and seeing that Zhou Xinrou was genuinely concerned about arranging marriages for the girls, they relaxed.

“Elder Sister-in-law, wouldn’t it be inappropriate to marry Yuantang off to a distant place?” Madam Miao spoke up on Shen Yuantang’s behalf, after all, her grandson was still being looked after by Yuantang.

Zhou Xinrou replied, “The Zhou family of Nanliang is of imperial blood. Though the lineage is somewhat distant, His Majesty has not revoked their fief. Moreover, after generations of accumulation, the Nanliang Zhou family is not merely wealthy—they are more prosperous than most princely families.”

“If Yuantang marries there, she will not only enjoy endless wealth and honor but can also help His Majesty stabilize the Nanliang clans.”

Her reasoning was flawless—but Zhou Xinrou was Yuantang’s own mother. Nanliang was so far away that a round trip took months. If Yuantang married there, they might not see each other for years.

Could she truly bear it?

After all, she only had two daughters: Lanxi and Yuantang.

“What does the eldest son say? Does he agree?” Old Madam Shen asked.

Zhou Xinrou replied, “If his daughter can help the family, he naturally agrees.”

The elders said nothing more, but the younger generation might not remain silent.

Ever since the elders gathered together, the women of each branch had been watching closely.

Whatever was discussed soon reached their ears.

“She’s a princess, yet she’s that kind of person.”

“Using one daughter’s marriage to pave the way for another—what kind of mother is that?”

“Not just her daughter—they’re discussing our marriages too.”

“When we married the first time, we didn’t help the family much. This time might be different.”

“She only helps her eldest daughter and never thinks about us.”

The younger generation was already complaining, but Zhou Xinrou’s arrangements were orderly and deliberate.

“To avoid any talk of favoritism,” Zhou Xinrou said, “I will marry my own daughter to a more distant place. The others will be arranged here in the capital.”

Her words stunned the others.

Was she serious?

Impossible.

Who would be so harsh to her own daughter?

Marrying so far away—if she were bullied, her family might never even know. Many daughters married far away died in their husbands’ homes without their natal families ever learning the truth, believing instead that their daughters lived well.

“Each of you has daughters who have returned home,” Zhou Xinrou continued. “Look through these name cards of families and choose as well.”

“If you choose wisely, they will become support for your own households in the future.”

That was indeed true.

“We elders think more carefully than the children,” Zhou Xinrou said. “They see only romance and flowers in the present, not the daily necessities of the future. Since they are young, we elders must help guide them.”

“Elder Sister-in-law is right.”

“That’s true.”

“Elder Sister-in-law, Yuanhao’s wife has been gone for some time now. Could you speak to His Majesty about shortening his mourning period? A man cannot manage well without a woman to care for him.”

Zhou Xinrou nodded. “I’ll write a letter later and have it delivered to the palace.”

Madam Miao had no further objections.

Old Madam Shen, however, had something to say.

“Princess, ordinarily I would not trouble you with such matters. But I am getting old, and my health is no longer what it once was.”

Zhou Xinrou replied politely, “Mother, please speak freely.”

Seeing that she did not resist, Old Madam Shen said tactfully, “We cannot only arrange marriages for the younger generation. They will have someone to care for them—yet the elders’ households should not remain empty either.”

Zhou Xinrou thought for a moment and immediately understood whom she meant.

“Why haven’t I seen Fourth Brother recently? Is he busy with something?”

Old Madam Shen was startled. Her sons came daily to pay their respects.

“Is the fourth not at home?”

Madam Liu spoke bluntly, “It’s not that he’s only recently absent—he’s often not at home.”

After years as mother- and daughter-in-law, Old Madam Shen knew her well. Whenever Madam Liu spoke in such a tone, there was definitely something behind it.

“Madam Liu, do you know something? Tell me quickly!”

---

Another secret report arrived from Jinmen—again, news from Seventh Brother.

The situation there was chaotic. She could not allow Seventh Brother to keep risking himself to pass messages.

She picked up her brush, wrote a few words, and sent the letter off at once by carrier hawk.

Under Yuan Lang’s persuasion, many aristocratic clans defected to Zhou Ruyuan.

Zhou Ruyuan granted them official posts and land.

On the map of Great Zhou, circles were drawn in ink, dividing the territory into pieces. The newly altered map now looked riddled with holes and in disarray.

“National Preceptor, this piece of land is too small and not fertile enough. I want this area of Jiangdong,” one newly arrived clan leader said, circling a large region with a charcoal pencil.

Yuan Lang’s expression darkened. The man had not brought many troops, yet his appetite was enormous—he was demanding the most fertile region of Jiangdong.

“No. That is the largest and best land in all Jiangdong. With the troops you brought, at most you can have one third.”

The Liu clan leader refused. “I command ten thousand soldiers, all well equipped with armor, weapons, and fine horses. One third is far too little.”

Yuan Lang’s eyes flickered. “If you insist on that land, it’s not impossible—but there is a condition.”

“What condition?”

“Your ten thousand troops and their equipment must be incorporated into the Great Zhou army.”

The Liu clan leader immediately refused. “Impossible. Those troops were painstakingly raised to protect my household. They cannot be absorbed into the Great Zhou army.”

Yuan Lang sneered inwardly.

These aristocratic clans only wanted to come and divide the spoils, unwilling to contribute real strength. Were they supposed to be fattened up, only to turn around and devour their host?