Chapter 1273: Old but Vigorous

The Shi family urgently needed to calm the dispute.

Recently, the Shi family had been in the limelight, all for bad things. The palace had already noticed the Shi family, which was very dangerous. What they needed to do right now was to suppress all contradictions and keep a low profile.

Therefore, the sincerity the Shi family gave was very sufficient.

Looking at the money, Chen Guanlou readily agreed to reconcile with the Shi family.

As long as the Shi family didn't come to find trouble with him, he wouldn't deliberately target the Shi family. However, if they fell into his hands, he wouldn't be polite either. One yard is one yard!

The Fifth Master of the Shi family was dissatisfied, but thinking that today's goal had been achieved, he didn't say anything more. He politely said goodbye and left.

After the people left, Chen Guanlou teased the head steward, "How much benefit did you old man take to stand up for the Shi family. Is the relationship between the Marquis's Mansion and the Shi family very good?"

The head steward snorted, "Don't slander this old man with your mouth; what benefits, not a single cent of benefits. The Shi family and the Marquis's Mansion are relatives and old acquaintances. Since the other party begged the Marquis's Mansion, the Marquis's Mansion couldn't ignore it.

This old man also knows that the prisoner surnamed Shi brought you a lot of trouble. The Shi family is really something, pestering a prisoner and not letting go, and even asking the Ministry of Justice to investigate; this matter was done too excessively. Fortunately, their sincerity for reconciliation was sufficient, otherwise this old man would never have taken this trip to make things difficult for you."

Chen Guanlou accepted the favor; after all, the Shi family could indeed be called sincere.

He gave the head steward a hard-earned fee, but the head steward refused no matter what, and he insisted on giving it.

"You old man should retire soon."

Chen Guanlou's words made the head steward hesitate. Taking the opportunity, he stuffed the silver note into the head steward's bosom.

"You old man should enjoy your old age."

In the past two years, the head steward had clearly aged, and his whole body was in the state of a twilight old man, and his energy was insufficient.

With his current energy, he was no longer qualified for the heavy responsibility of the Marquis's Mansion's head steward. If there were no accidents, he would soon retire.

The head steward sighed, "Nothing can be hidden from you kid. I've discussed it with the Heir, and I've also told the Marquis; I'll retire after the New Year. If I can still move in the future, I'll run errands for the Marquis. I won't manage the Marquis's Mansion's affairs anymore."

"You retired, who will take over your position."

"My unsuccessful eldest son."

Chen Guanlou understood.

A family-born servant, as long as his ability was outstanding, could also take over, and maybe even go up a step. For example, the descendants could get rid of their humble status and restore their status as good citizens, study for the imperial examination, and become officials. With the Marquis's Mansion supporting them, and their own brains not being muddled, their official career would definitely be smooth.

"Congratulations!"

While the head steward was happy, he also felt a bit regretful and reluctant. Ultimately, he was retired, and without power in his hands, he would be an old man despised by others in the future, no longer the head steward of the Marquis's Mansion who was respected and feared by others.

It was inevitable to sigh in his heart.

Chen Guanlou draped his arm over the head steward's shoulder, "After you retire, if you have nothing to do, come find me in the Heavenly Prison. Nothing else, but if you sit in the signing room, I'll put a hundred hearts at ease."

"Little Lou, you have a heart. However, although this old man has retired, the Marquis still has use for this old man."

"Are you going to the Northwest?"

The head steward nodded.

"You are so old, can you do it?"

"This old man is old but vigorous, why can't I do it."

"The situation in the Northwest is very tense, right? The Marquis has been delaying the war, can he do it?"

"Stop talking nonsense; how did the Marquis delay the war? The imperial court hasn't made a conclusion, but you, on the other hand, have convicted the Marquis first."

Chen Guanlou chuckled.

"When Xiliang first started moving south, the imperial court's army didn't react in time, and it was normal not to win. After several years, with the Marquis's ability, not having scared Xiliang, and having to come back every year, if there's no ghost in this, I don't believe it."

He even suspected that the Marquis of Pingjiang was colluding with Xiliang.

It wasn't the kind of collusion that betrayed the country for glory, but rather collusion of raising bandits to respect oneself.

Without war, the Marquis of Pingjiang would have no reason to continue staying in the Northwest. Even for civil war, such as fighting the rebel Guo Dachun, the Marquis of Pingjiang wouldn't be needed. Only by fighting foreign enemies like Xiliang could the Marquis of Pingjiang justify asking the imperial court for money, food, and people, and stay in the Northwest to fight for a long time.

"Whether you believe it or not is not important, as long as the imperial court believes it. Also, don't say similar things again. I heard from people in the palace that the Emperor's temper is getting weirder and weirder; be careful of causing trouble for the Marquis's Mansion."

Chen Guanlou smiled knowingly, and instead asked, "Is Mengxun's wedding date set?"

I heard before that they were getting married at the end of the year, but the time was changed again.

"Set for March next year."

Speaking of Chen Mengxun's marriage, the head steward sighed a bit.

"What's wrong again?"

The head steward hesitated for a moment and said, "A few days ago, I heard the Heir nagging, saying that the Third Prince's temperament is a bit soft, and I'm afraid he can't handle things. Other princes are like wolves and tigers; if the Third Prince can't stand up, what should we do!"

"That's simple; if the Third Prince can't handle things, let the Third Prince's wife handle it."

"Mengxun is a girl after all."

"So what if she's a girl. Once she marries, she's the Third Prince's wife; with that status, plus the Marquis's Mansion's support, I'm not afraid she can't handle things."

In Chen Guanlou's view, fighting for power and profit doesn't distinguish between genders. If you have the ability, go up; if you don't, go down!

If Chen Mengxun had the ability to seize power, he would definitely support her. At that time, directly knocking down Emperor Emperor Jian Shi and the Third Prince—wouldn't that be beautiful!

"Let me tell you, fighting for power and profit, don't be restricted by gender. Put aside gender and only look at ability. Even if Mengxun can't stand in front of the stage and can only hide behind the scenes, you shouldn't deny her. And she can still give birth; she has good health, is young, and can raise two children well. When the time is right... you understand, right!"

The head steward's cheeks twitched.

He had long known that Chen Guanlou was daring, but he didn't expect him to be so daring. The Heir didn't even dare to think deeply in that direction, but he said it out loud.

"Alright, stop talking. The Heir has already arranged it; don't give bad ideas."

"Fine. When you need it, tell me, and I'll solve your worries."

Killing members of the imperial family—Chen Guanlou didn't have any psychological burden at all.

As for the two old immortals in the palace, he couldn't beat them now, but that didn't mean he couldn't beat them in the future. Anyway, he had plenty of time. As long as he lived long enough, he could become the Supreme God!

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.

On this day of the New Year, Chen Guanlou didn't go out to be wild, but stayed at home and prepared a New Year's Eve dinner himself.

It wasn't lonely.

Because someone was accompanying him!

Eunuch Wang Hai, his brother from another mother, brought over some tribute wine and food from the palace to sponge off him. Pure Yang Zhenren from the Jade Spring Palace also ran over.

This old guy ran out purely to avoid disaster.

The seed he left outside found his door and wanted to acknowledge him as a father. He also demanded that he, the father, find a job for his own son, preferably a job in the government office, and preferably starting from the Seventh Rank.

"Your good son, really asked for this? What kind of background, eyes so high. Still starting from the Seventh Rank?" Chen Guanlou teased the other party. ===== CHAPTER 1274 =====