Chapter 157 The Future of Children

"So it's you guys who are here! Who else did I think it was?"

The visitor glanced at Zhu Xiumin and Cui Shuyun, then turned to look at Duke Qi.

There is something meaningful in his eyes.

"Duke Yan!"

Cui Shujun immediately recognized the Zhu clan master who had caused so much trouble in Fu'an Marquis Mansion and Xuzhou City, and thought to herself that something was wrong.

"Duke of Yan~"

Zhu Xiumin also recognized this Zhu family prodigy who had appeared in his ears countless times in his childhood, and his body became tense again.

Although Zhu Xiumin did not witness the battle between Duke Yan and Zhu Chengwu with her own eyes, she understood that Duke Yan and their Fu'an Marquisate were not on the same side.

"Chengyi, why are you here instead of staying in the Qinzheng Palace?"

The Duke of Qi understood the look in the Duke of Yan's eyes, but he did not care.

As the head of the Grand Clan Academy and the strongest master of the Zhu clan, and his father also inherited the prestige of the previous head of the clan, the Duke of Qi has always been second to none in terms of prestige among the Zhu clan members.

For a period of time, the prestige of the Duke of Qi even surpassed that of the old Ming King Zhu Xingyu.

If it weren't for the fact that Duke Qi was devoted to martial arts and had no intention of taking the throne, it would not be impossible for him to succeed even if he openly tried to seize the throne from the old King Ming.

Now that the old Ming King has passed away, Duke of Qi Zhu Xingcheng has the highest prestige among the Zhu clan members.

The Duke of Yan was just a mere figure, not enough to make the Duke of Qi so scared that he would feel terrified because of a meaningful look from him.

"Chengyi sensed the presence of Uncle Xingcheng, and came to see if there was any accident and whether he could help.

However, Chengyi did not expect that Uncle Xingcheng came here to see the wife and younger sister of Marquis Fu'an!"

Duke Yan Zhu Chengyi said with a sigh.

Although he didn't say anything, it seemed like he said everything!

The previous generation Duke of Qi had an extremely outstanding talent in martial arts. He was so devoted to martial arts that he did not marry and have children until he was in his forties and became a master!

Therefore, although this Duke of Qi Zhu Xingcheng was not very old, more than 20 years younger than King Ming Zhu Xingyu, his seniority was the same as King Ming Zhu Xingyu.

Therefore, Duke of Yan Zhu Chengyi called Duke of Qi Zhu Xingcheng his cousin.

"Chengyi, I'm fine here, you should go back to Qinzheng Hall first!

The coffin of the Ming King is still in the Qinzheng Hall to receive condolences from all the clan members and representatives of various major forces. If there is no Zhu clan master in the Qinzheng Hall to suppress it, people will always feel uneasy. "

The Duke of Qi asked the Duke of Yan to return to the Qinzheng Hall to take charge first.

After the death of the king of the Ming Dynasty, his body would be kept in the sleeping palace to receive condolences from representatives of various forces, and the funeral would be held there.

This Ming King Zhu Xingyu was diligent in governing and lived in the Qinzheng Hall most of the time, so the body was also placed in the Qinzheng Hall this time.

"Since Uncle Clan knows what's going on, Chengyi will take his leave first!"

After saying this, Duke Yan Zhu Chengyi immediately left without saying a word or greeting Cui Shuyun or Zhu Xiumin. He just glanced at the two of them.

Of course, Cui Shuyun and Zhu Xiumin responded in the same way.

The conflict between Duke of Yan Zhu Chengyi and Marquis of Fu'an Zhu Chengwu had long been public.

It can even be said that Duke Yan was the beginning of Marquis Fu'an's fame, and Zhu Chengwu became a martial arts legend by stepping on Zhu Chengyi's face.

Under such circumstances, it is normal for Duke Yan Zhu Chengyi to ignore Zhu Chengwu's wife and younger sister!

Of course, it is normal for Cui Shuyun and Zhu Xiumin to treat Duke Yan Zhu Chengyi with the same attitude.

"But, is it so easy? Duke Yan didn't seize the opportunity to attack? It seems that Duke Qi's status and prestige among the Zhu clan members are even beyond our expectations!"

Cui Shuyun and Zhu Xiumin looked at each other and realized that the other had the same idea in their mind.

"By the way, niece-in-law Shuyun, where were we just talking about?"

After Duke Yan left, Duke Qi turned around and asked Cui Shuyun and Zhu Xiumin.

It was as if he really couldn't remember what he had just talked about with Cui Shuyun and Zhu Xiumin.

"Clan leader, we just said that if cousin Qingya and the queen mother are both interested, and the marquis is also willing, Shuyun is willing to divorce!"

Since the Duke of Qi wanted to remind her again, Cui Shuyun would not avoid it.

In other words, facing the Duke of Qi's repeated reminder, Cui Shuyun could not and had no right to avoid it.

After all, we are now in the capital, in the royal palace, and this is the territory of the Duke of Qi.

Duke Qi wanted to remind Cui Shuyun again that Zhao Yushan and the Zhao family had selfish motives, so Cui Shuyun had no choice but to accept Duke Qi's reminder.

Of course, after accepting it, whether Cui Shuyun would develop a rift with Zhao Yushan and the Zhao family as Duke Qi wished, is another matter.

"Shuyun's niece is quick to speak!
Do things in an open and honest manner!

This is certainly a good thing!

But everyone knows Zhao's Sima Zhao's intentions!

Although Shuyun's niece-in-law and Wu Ge'er have a good relationship, it is still better to be careful!

If my niece-in-law Shuyun can secure her position as the first wife and give birth to a legitimate son for Wu Ge'er, then I or our Zhu clan can be assured of the next generation of Ming Wang after Wu Ge'er."

After seeing through his purpose, Cui Shuyun actually chose to give a direct answer and actively fell into his rhythm, which surprised Duke Qi a little.

This is an action that ordinary people can take, but it is not the reaction that a political veteran should have!
However, Cui Shuyun is obviously not an ordinary person!

This only shows that Cui Shuyun is really difficult to deal with.

But Cui Shuyun is difficult to deal with, and the first thing to ensure is the Zhao family!

Zhao, you must never swear again.

The gradual decline of the Zhao family in recent years was certainly due to the planning of the wise king Zhu Xingyu, but the conspiracy of the Duke of Qi Zhu Xingcheng cannot be ignored.

From the very beginning, Ming Wang Zhu Xingyu used the Zhao family and the lineage of Duke of Qi to restrain each other, and the relationship between the lineage of Duke of Qi and the Zhao family was not good!

Afterwards, the Duke of Qi secretly betrayed the King of Ming more than once, and also secretly fought against the Zhao family more than once.

The Zhao family has never been able to obtain the rare treasures of heaven and earth, and the outstanding children of the Zhao family have repeatedly failed to break through to the Grandmaster level. In addition to the secret arrangements of the King Ming, there is also the Duke of Qi who helps the King Ming to "find the gaps and make up for the deficiencies"...

Even if it is finally proven that it is impossible to stop Zhu Chengwu from ascending to the throne, the Duke of Qi will still find a way to suppress the Zhao family.

We can’t let Zhao recover and then “settle the score later”!
"The eldest son? The next generation candidate for the Ming King? The clan leader must be joking!

The Marquis is in the prime of his life. Judging from his age and martial arts skills, he will not have to worry about the issue of succession for at least the next sixty years.

A sixty year is really too long!
My father was on the throne for only more than thirty years, but how many changes have taken place in the world and the Zhu family?

What’s more, a sixty-year period…”

Cui Shuyun understood the Duke of Qi's hint, which was almost explicit.

But such a request was clearly beyond what Cui Shuyun could agree to.

After all, pregnancy is not a one-person thing!

Moreover, pregnancy and bearing the next generation have never been in Cui Shuyun's life plan or ideal list.

It is impossible for Cui Shuyun to make such a big change that goes against her original intention just to increase Zhu Chengwu's chances of succession and to make Duke Qi and the Zhu clan stand on Zhu Chengwu's side.

This exceeds the cost of just one of the three things and is even greater than the cost of all three things combined.

There was no way Cui Shuyun would agree to that.

Furthermore, no one knew whether the Duke of Qi's words came from his true heart or he was trying to use this method to alienate the relationship between the senior officials and allies of the Marquis of Fu'an's Mansion.

"Shuyun, niece-in-law, although Wu Ge'er is still young and you have a good relationship with him, no one knows how things will develop in the future. You'd better leave yourself a guarantee!"

The Duke of Qi persuaded again.

This time, Duke Qi did not persuade Cui Shuyun with the attitude of the Zhu elders and the Dazongzhengyuan, but completely considered the matter from Cui Shuyun's perspective.

"Thank you for the clan order. Shuyun will consider it carefully!"

Cui Shuyun replied in this way, and at the same time bowed to thank the Duke of Qi, the head of the Zhu clan's main clan, for his kindness.

Duke Qi really misjudged Cui Shuyun's heart and the relationship between Cui Shuyun and Zhu Chengwu.

But whether it was the Duke of Qi's elder status or the reality that she was currently inferior to others, Cui Shuyun could only answer in this way.

"By the way, Gongsun Yiyang died in the battle. I wonder who the Marquis Fu'an Mansion has arranged to go there?" At the end of his words, the Duke of Qi asked casually.

The Duke of Qi's irrelevant words once again stunned Cui Shuyun.

"The Marquis has already sent my father, his disciple Zhao Shilin, and Zhu Chengcheng of the Zhu family to the northwest."

Although she could not figure out what the Duke of Qi, a member of the Zhu clan, was thinking when he asked this question, Cui Shuyun still chose to tell him the truth.

Even if Cui Shujun didn't say anything, Duke Qi would know about this in no time.

After all, Cui Zongyan, Zhao Shilin, and Zhu Chengcheng went to the northwest to pay their respects to Gongsun Yiyang.

They will show up sooner or later!
"Gongsun Yiyang is a martial arts genius and a master of considerable strength. I never thought that he would die in order to help Wu Ge'er stop Taoist Qingfeng. How sad!
Taoist Qingfeng was too harsh! "

When the Duke of Qi heard Cui Shuyun's reply, he said nothing but sighed.

The Grandmaster is the ultimate foundation of a major force, and very few of them die in battle!
In the decades since the Zhu family encircled and suppressed the evil cult Dugu Sheng, there has never been a case of a master of the Ming Dynasty dying in battle.

I didn't expect that both the Colorless Divine Monk and Gongsun Yiyang would be killed in one battle.

If Zhu Chengwu continues to choose to confront the Zhu royal family and Wudang and Shaolin head-on, it can be predicted that in the near future, many more masters will die in battle!
The number of masters killed in such battles would not necessarily be less than the number in the decades-long campaign to encircle and suppress the Demon Sect.

……

Just when the Duke of Qi was asking Cui Shuyun and Zhu Xiumin about the personnel sent by the Fu'an Marquisate to the northwest to attend Gongsun Yiyang's funeral, Cui Zongyan, Zhao Shilin and Zhu Chengcheng had already arrived at the Gongsun family in the northwest.

The fundamental reason why Gongsun Yiyang fought to the death was his daughter Gongsun Daniang and grandson Gongsun Lei.

But the direct cause was Zhu Chengwu!

Zhu Chengwu naturally had to give enough respect at Gongsun Yiyang's funeral.

Therefore, the condolence delegation sent by Zhu Chengwu to the northwest was no worse than the team that went to the capital to mourn the Ming King.

"Ghost Mother, Brother Duyi, Brother Lei, please accept my condolences!"

After Cui Zongyan took Zhao Shilin and Zhu Chengcheng to burn incense, he persuaded the Red Flower Ghost Mother, Jin Duyi and their son Gongsun Lei, who was playing with toys with his head down in the mourning hall.

"Thank you!
However, I must avenge this vengeance!

I wonder what the Marquis intends to do with Wudang?"

The Red Flower Ghost Mother pulled her son Gongsun Lei over and, after returning the gift as a family member, she stared straight at Cui Zongyan and the other two in front of her and asked.

After receiving the news that her father Gongsun Yiyang had died in battle, the Red Flower Ghost Mother, who was entangled with Li Shijie to harass the Shaolin abbot Fang Zheng Zen Master, realized that it would be difficult for her and Li Shijie to completely retain the profound Zen Master Fang Zheng Zen Master, so she said something to Li Shijie and left.

Unfortunately, even though the Red Flower Ghost Mother left early and traveled quickly, when she arrived at the place where her father Gongsun Yiyang and Taoist Qingfeng had fought, she still could not find the body of her father Gongsun Yiyang who had died in the battle.

There were only broken walls and pools of blood at the scene!
Judging from the situation at the scene, Gongsun Yiyang died in the battle and no trace of his body was left!

In the end, the Red Flower Ghost Mother had no choice but to build a cenotaph for her father Gongsun Yiyang.

Although Red Flower Ghost Mother has almost lost contact with her father Gongsun Yiyang since she eloped with her senior brother Jin Duyi.

We only met a few times over the past few decades.

During the few times they met, the conversations between father and daughter were not very pleasant and were full of quarrels.

But there is affection between them as father and daughter!

Otherwise, Aunt Gongsun would not have insisted on giving her son the surname Gongsun.

Even if it causes a big thorn in her husband Jin Duyi's heart, she is willing to do it.

When the two great masters of Wudang set out to hunt down the Red Flower Ghost Mother who had plotted against Taoist Zi Yang, Gongsun Yi Yang, after receiving the news, also resolutely took action to stop Taoist Si Zhu.

These are all proofs that there is still affection between Gongsun Yiyang and Red Flower Ghost Mother, the father and daughter.

Not long ago, Gongsun Yiyang even delayed Taoist Qingfeng at the cost of his life.

Gongsun Yiyang's move to hold back Taoist Qingfeng seemed to be of the greatest benefit to Zhu Chengwu.

But Gongsun Da Niang understood that her father only cared about martial arts in his life, and he had no friendship with Fu'an Hou Zhu Chengwu. It was self-evident who her father was trying to stop Taoist Qingfeng for.

For this reason, the Red Flower Ghost Mother must avenge her father Gongsun Yiyang who died so tragically!

But at the same time, Red Flower Ghost Mother also knew that she was far behind Qingfeng Taoist and Wudang in terms of personal strength and power. If she wanted to take revenge, she had to rely on the power of Zhu Chengwu and Fu'an Marquis' Mansion.

After receiving the news that her father Gongsun Yiyang had died in battle, Red Flower Ghost Mother left in a hurry and had no time or chance to meet Zhu Chengwu who was fighting a life-and-death battle with the Shaolin masters at that time. So now she has no idea about Zhu Chengwu's attitude towards the death of her father Gongsun Yiyang, and his attitude towards Wudang and Qingfeng Taoist.

"Ghost mother, the Marquis said that Grandmaster Gongsun has done a great favor to him and the Marquis Fu'an Mansion!

He will definitely ask Wudang and Taoist Qingfeng to give an explanation regarding the matter of Grandmaster Gongsun!

At the same time, the Marquis also instructed that if Young Master Ling is interested and you agree, you can let him go to the Marquis of Fu'an's Mansion for retreat.

My Lord, I will spare no effort to teach you personally!"

In response to the Red Flower Ghost Mother's questions, Cui Zongyan clasped his hands together and conveyed Zhu Chengwu's instructions.

"Isn't he just giving an explanation, instead of promising to kill Taoist Qingfeng to avenge my father?" The Red Flower Ghost Mother muttered to herself when she heard Zhu Chengwu's explanation conveyed by Cui Zongyan.

Although it was expected, Zhu Chengwu's statement still made the Red Flower Ghost Mother feel a little dissatisfied.

However, Zhu Chengwu's subsequent compensation measures forced the Red Flower Ghost Mother to swallow her dissatisfaction.

"If Lei Ge can have a better future, then my father's death will be a worthy one, and he can atone for his previous actions!" thought the Red Flower Ghost Mother.

The reason why the Red Flower Ghost Mother has such an idea is that middle-aged and elderly people always care more about their younger generations than their elders, and the other reason is the special experience of the Red Flower Ghost Mother when she was pregnant with Gongsun Lei.

More than 20 years ago, Red Flower Ghost Mother eloped with Jin Duyi, and passed on Gongsun Yiyang's magical skills "Taiyi Xuan Gong" and "Yin Feng Du Sha Zhang" to her husband Jin Duyi.

The furious Gongsun Yiyang once chased after the Red Flower Ghost Mother and Jin Duyi, and accidentally severely injured the Red Flower Ghost Mother who was pregnant at the time.

This caused the Red Flower Ghost Mother to give birth prematurely and made her lose the ability to give birth again.

Gongsun Lei, who gave birth prematurely, was also greatly affected.

To this day, Gongsun Lei, who is in his twenties, still maintains the IQ of a six or seven-year-old child.

This is what people in the world call mental retardation!

That's why Gongsun Lei lowered his head and played with his toys at Gongsun Yiyang's funeral, which was inappropriate.

However, Gongsun Lei, the mentally retarded person, is different from ordinary mentally retarded people. He has excellent physique and a pure heart.

Today, Gongsun Lei's martial arts skills are no longer inferior to those of his father Jin Duyi. Even the Red Flower Ghost Mother, who has already achieved the status of a junior grandmaster, has to go all out to suppress Gongsun Lei.

However, the more outstanding Gongsun Lei was, the more Red Flower Ghost Mother could not forgive her father Gongsun Yiyang for his momentary mistake.

The Red Flower Ghost Mother does not think that Gongsun Lei’s current achievements in martial arts are largely due to his innocent heart.

The Red Flower Ghost Mother only thought that it was this "innocent heart" that delayed the development of her son Gongsun Lei.

Despite his limited IQ, Gongsun Lei is about to become a junior grandmaster.

The Red Flower Ghost Mother believes that if nothing had happened back then, Gongsun Lei would have achieved even greater success.

Not to mention Li Shijie, who is also a junior grandmaster like her, even the contemporary martial arts legend Zhu Chengwu, who has now achieved the status of grandmaster, cannot be matched or even surpassed by Gongsun Lei.

Moreover, Gongsun Lei's IQ deficiency has two biggest impacts: one is the inheritance of future generations, and the other is the bottleneck of the Grandmaster.

Gongsun Lei, whose IQ remains at the level of a six or seven-year-old child, has no concept of continuing the family line or doing such things.

Even if the Red Flower Ghost Mother stuffed women into Gongsun Lei's bed, Gongsun Lei would either play games with them or despise them for snatching the blanket from him, and kick them off with his martial arts skills...

After this happened many times, the Red Flower Ghost Mother had no choice but to give up.

In addition, Gongsun Lei's Grandmaster bottleneck is almost unbreakable.

Because becoming a master is not achieved through hard practice alone, it also requires enlightenment.

And with Gongsun Lei's intelligence, what can we expect him to realize?
So don’t think that Gongsun Lei’s current strength is okay, but this is most likely the limit of Gongsun Lei’s life.

With such a huge impact, how could the Red Flower Ghost Mother forgive her father Gongsun Yiyang for his momentary mistake back then?
Therefore, over the past few decades, the Red Flower Ghost Mother and Gongsun Yiyang and his daughter, who still had feelings for each other, had only a few unpleasant meetings.

But now, when a person dies, it’s like a light goes out!
After Gongsun Yiyang died in battle, the Red Flower Ghost Mother still hoped to avenge her father Gongsun Yiyang!

However, given Gongsun Lei's situation, if there is anyone in the world who can make Gongsun Lei gain insights, break through the bottleneck, and become a master, in the heart of Red Flower Ghost Mother, Zhu Chengwu, as a contemporary martial arts legend, is definitely a strong candidate.

After all, the previous martial arts legend, Taoist Sanfeng, had created many miracles!

For the sake of her child, the Red Flower Ghost Mother could only suppress the slight dissatisfaction in her heart.

Between revenge for her father and her son's future, the Red Flower Ghost Mother chose her son's future.

(End of this chapter)