Chapter 614 Successor

Li Baolu blushed slightly, turned to look at An An and said, "I have to ask her."

He Zipei thought she was talking about Gu Jingyun, so he couldn't help but glance at Gu Jingyun, looking at him with warning eyes.

Gu Jingyun, who had been paying attention to this side all the time, couldn't help being silent when he saw his aunt's eyes. He also heard what his aunt said, and looked away thoughtfully.

He Zipei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as long as Qinghe wanted it, Chunxi would definitely not object.

She and her husband are getting old day by day, and her husband has already decided to write a letter to pray for the bones on the Double Ninth Festival. Due to the Qin family's genes and the loss of his body in the early years, the two of them have no idea how long they will live, so they hope to see that Gu Jingyun has an heir before they die .

He Zipei stroked Li Baolu's hair and said, "I know that Qinghe doesn't want you to have more children. After all, the earlier a woman gives birth, the more it will affect her life. But at least you have to give An An a younger brother and Niuniu a nephew."

In this way, they will have their natal family to rely on in the future.

Li Baolu nodded with a blushing face, hugged He Zipei's arm and said in a low voice: "Don't worry, Auntie."

He Zipei was both relieved and somewhat disappointed, looking at the lanterns hanging on both sides of the flower shed and said softly: "Only if you live well, your uncle and I can leave at ease. With you and Qinghe here, we are very relieved to leave Niu Niu to you. In the end, what worries you the most is your mother, she and your master don't know where they are now."

Li Baolu hugged her arm, put her fingers on her wrist, listened to her pulse and said with a smile: "Auntie and uncle are young and strong, it's too early to think about it now. My master is here with my mother." , you don’t have to worry, didn’t my mother say in a letter that she was going to write the regional chronicles of Dachu, and now she’s just gone wherever she goes.”

"She used to be so quiet and elegant, who would have thought that her mind is so unruly now, it's all at the mercy of your master." He Zipei said the blame, but his face was very satisfied. It is better for my sister-in-law to be pampered than to be restrained and bullied.

Li Baolu let go of her fingers, grasped her hand, leaned on her shoulder and said, "Auntie, your health is good, and you can live another twenty years without any problem. You still have to watch Niu Niu get married and have children. When the time comes, let's get married." She will give birth to two more, and you will adopt one to inherit the direct line, as long as you take good care of it, you may be able to watch your grandson marry a wife and have children."

It is true that He Zipei has some physical problems, but they are all minor problems. After all, it is impossible for a person to be so healthy in middle age.

But her real problem is still psychological, and she feels a little depressed. Li Baolu couldn't help feeling a little worried, wondering if something had happened.

Li Baolu was worried in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face, she whispered in He Zipei's ear.

An An played with Niu Niu. There was a five-year age difference between the two. Niu Niu was very self-conscious and stylish as an aunt, and was trying to take care of An An, especially wanting to hug her in her arms.

But An An also felt that she had grown up, so she decided to sit opposite her and play together.

Qin Xinfang and Gu Jingyun were sitting in another corner looking at their wife and daughter. It was noisy outside, but their hearts were filled with tranquility.

Qin Xinfang looked at Niu Niu who was holding mooncakes and insisting on feeding An An, and said softly to Gu Jingyun: "I want to take advantage of the Double Ninth Festival to write a letter to pray for the dead, if you have arrangements, do it early."

"Have you decided on an heir?"

"I have decided to recommend your uncle and Cheng Shangshu."

Gu Jingyun picked up the teapot and poured tea for his uncle, and pondered: "Uncle Master is more prestigious, but he is old, and he won't be able to serve for a long time even if he is promoted to the cabinet, but he is very insightful in education. Is uncle interested in education?"

The corner of Qin Xinfang's mouth twitched, "Why don't you mention Cheng Shangshu?"

"Cheng Shangshu is younger than you, and he is in the prime of life. If he is Shangshu, he will have a tenure of at least ten years. I am afraid that others will not be able to wait."

Like Peng Dan, he has occupied the cabinet position for a long time.

He used to be the elder of Ge, and he was the chief assistant after the Supreme Emperor ascended the throne. It has been many years now but he has not moved his nest for future generations. The people waiting behind may not be impatient.

This time it was so easy to get rid of Qin Xinfang, everyone will definitely fight for the top. And Qin Xinfang's recommendation is very important. Generally speaking, only the candidates recommended by him will be selected, unless the emperor has new candidates to join the competition.

It is better to choose Jin Wan than Cheng Shangshu, because Jin Wan is over 60 years old, even if he wants to be a court elder, he will not be able to be a elder for a few years.

Therefore, in the case of choosing one of the two, everyone must choose Jin Wan, not the young and vigorous Cheng Shangshu.

As for Qin Xinfang's recommendation, he obviously prefers Jin Wan.

The corner of Qin Xinfang's mouth curled up, "Peng Dan has guarded the cabinet for many years and served as the chief assistant, while the other three cabinet elders represent the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Officials, and they have always been horns with the Ministry of Households represented by Peng Dan. It's okay now, and later After a few years, how do you know that they will not unite to control the government? Moreover, it is time for Da Chu’s education and agriculture to take a step forward.”

"Your master is in charge of the Hanlin Academy. He has studied local education for nearly twenty years. He is a good friend of Ouyang Shangshu. If he takes my place, it will not only prevent the other four cabinets from forming an alliance, but also make Da Chu's education more advanced. further."

"And I made an agreement with your uncle. He will recommend him as a minister after he resigns. At that time, what will change is Nongsang Water Conservancy."

"So Cheng Shangshu will support the master?"

Qin Xinfang nodded, this is an agreement he reached with Cheng Shangshu.

Cheng Shangshu is the minister of the Ministry of Industry, a rare pragmatist among the six major ministers. He was just promoted from Minister Zuo of the Ministry of Industry to the position of Minister two years ago. He has been focusing on improving rice seeds and has made progress.

However, due to the allocation of funds by the Ministry of Household Affairs, the cultivated rice has not been able to be used for large-scale sowing experiments.

If there is no two years of large-scale sowing experimental data, he would not dare to promote it, and the court would not dare to let the people sow large quantities of seeds.

So he needs more right to speak, to fight for capital for himself and the Ministry of Industry.

He has only been promoted to minister not long ago, and it is very difficult to be promoted to the cabinet, so it is better to nominate him first and pass it to Jin Wan, and then nominate him after Jin Wan retires, the chances will be higher then.

Apart from part of Qin Xinfang's political resources being reserved for Gu Jingyun, most of Qin Xinfang's political resources were handed over to Jin Wan, and Jin Wan will be handed over to Cheng Shangshu in the future.

These resources can provide a certain guarantee for their ascent.

He didn't know if he would devote resources to his future son-in-law and grandson after becoming Shangshu, but the favor they owed would definitely be there.

As long as they can keep their hearts, and the emperor is wise, these two favors will not be broken.

This is also the guarantee Qin Xinfang left for Niuniu.

If Cheng Shangshu was as ungrateful as Gu Huaijin, he would naturally have countermeasures against him, not to mention that Gu Jingyun was not a vegetarian either.

Qin Xinfang decided to retire last year, and this year was spent making arrangements. He always wanted to leave something for Gu Jingyun and Niuniu, so that they would have resources available when they wanted to use them in the future.

But he can't abolish the public because of personal interests, he wants to have both, but he has screened all the ministers of martial arts and martial arts in the court.

Needless to say, Jin Wan is over sixty years old, and his character and ability are all there. Although his nephew and nephew are not particularly outstanding, they are not lagging behind.

Qin Xinfang is still at ease regarding the elder brother.

Cheng Shangshu is the second successor he finally selected, and also the second move of the arrangement.

The other party's current character and ability are also trustworthy, but the changes in people's hearts and courts are like the wind and clouds in the sky, which are always changing. People can speculate, but they cannot be sure.

So now he is just doing his best, and whether the result can be as he imagined depends on the destiny.

After the two finished their business, they heard the explosion of fireworks outside, An An and Niu Niu screamed "Wow", and they were about to run outside.

Gu Jingyun and Qin Xinfang grabbed their collars quickly, "We'll take you to see, you can't run around, there are bad people outside."

Li Baolu also dragged He Zipei to watch the fireworks. It happened that Dongfeng Nanfeng and the others brought Qu Weizhen and Qu Jingxi to look for them, and they stood at the door of the flower shed to watch together.

Gu Jingyun hugged An An, and Qin Xinfang hugged Niu Niu to let her stand on the high platform, supporting her with one hand and protecting He Zipei who was almost squeezed by the crowd with the other.

Niu Niu and An An yelled and slapped their palms almost red.

The servants quickly formed a human wall to block the masters inside and prevent the crowd from crowding them.

Gu Jingyun saw that Li Baolu was watching seriously, and his eyes sparkled, so he said in a low voice: "We will buy more fireworks to set off during the Chinese New Year."

Li Baolu shook her head, "The pollution is too much, just watch the court burn it."

In this era, not everyone can afford to set off fireworks, but every New Year's Eve, Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, the imperial court and palace will set off fireworks, and ordinary people come to watch them.

Some wealthy families will also buy them, especially some aristocratic families and dignitaries, who still have pipe fireworks every year, and because of the geographical location, the fireworks are not far from their homes.

It's fine to watch other people's houses release it. Li Baolu has no intention of contributing to air pollution.

But she does not object to others setting off fireworks, because it is a way of expressing joy, and fireworks are also art to a certain extent.

After watching the fireworks, Li Baolu whispered to Gu Jingyun about her aunt's depression.

Gu Jingyun frowned slightly, and looked at his uncle and aunt calmly, seeing that they were helping Niu Niu down the high platform, and they were still close before, so it seems that the problem is not with the uncle.

Gu Jingyun glanced at Niu Niu, and saw that the eyes of his uncle and aunt looking at her were full of love, without any sorrow.

Husband and daughter are not worried, so what is the aunt worried about?

"Are you sure that your aunt is in good health?"

"It's just some minor ailments, not a big problem. At my aunt's age, some minor ailments are normal."

Gu Jingyun nodded slightly, "I'll ask my uncle later."

Qin Xinfang got along with He Zipei day and night, so he naturally knew about her changes, but he didn't expect it to be so serious, and even reached the point of depression.

He had also been consulted by the imperial physician before, and the imperial physician gave the conclusion that he was depressed. Although he prescribed the prescription, he said that the disease was not caused by medicine stones, but by his mood.

Qin Xinfang rubbed her forehead and said in a low voice, "I was too negligent."

Gu Jingyun couldn't help being curious, "Why is Auntie depressed?"

There shouldn't be anything bad happening recently.

Qin Xinfang said helplessly: "We are all old, we can't help but think more, it's not a big deal, just wait until I retire."

He paused and said: "Why don't you and Chunxi bring An An back to live for a while, the house will be more lively and busy, and she will have less time to think about it."