The widowed sister-in-law is embarrassed, she criticizes the villain like he only wants to be a love

Inside Cui Lao's study

The four sons of the eldest branch of the Cui family and the eldest grandson Cui Mengsheng gathered here at the same time.

"Father, what happened that made you call us back so anxiously?"

Mr. Cui glanced at his sons, then turned around and walked to the first seat and sat down.

"I have something to discuss with you. I'm sure you've heard about the two distinguished guests who came to the mansion today."

Cui Shanghong, the eldest son of Mr. Cui, nodded and said, "On the way back, a servant in the mansion mentioned that the girl who saved your life when Cui Yuanzhang was chasing you came to the mansion. This girl is our benefactor, so we must treat her well."

Elder Cui drank a few sips of tea in silence, then he said slowly, "Boss, you only have one son, Mengsheng. Do you want a daughter?"

Cui Shanghong was stunned by his father's words, and then he laughed twice.

"You know that Yunniang has not been in good health since she gave birth to Mengsheng. Fortunately, we invited Doctor Kong to save her life. Now we are not young anymore, and we are unable to give you a granddaughter. Besides, the second, third, and fourth brothers all have daughters, so you don't need a granddaughter."

Mr. Cui put down his teacup and stroked his gray beard.

"I'm not asking Yunniang to give birth, I'm sending a ready-made daughter to you."

Cui Shanghong's face suddenly changed when he heard this. The other three and Cui Mengsheng looked at Cui Shanghong.

Mr. Cui spoke first: "Big brother and his wife have a deep relationship. Although they have had two concubines over the years, they have not given birth to any children. I didn't expect that big brother, who values ​​his reputation so much, would secretly keep a concubine outside?"

Master Cui laughed twice: "Big brother has kept it a secret for the past few years. We still don't know about it even after the child was born."

Cui Mengsheng frowned slightly and asked with a hint of displeasure: "Father, have you told mother about this?"

Cui Shanghong took a deep breath and immediately shouted that he was innocent.

"Don't talk nonsense. What about a concubine and an illegitimate daughter? I have never done such a thing. For so many years, my wife has only been Yunniang. Even the two concubines were sent to my room by Yunniang because she was afraid that others would laugh at me for being henpecked. I have never touched them once. Dad, please don't throw this dirty water on your son. Did my second brother do it? He has many female confidantes outside."

Master Cui said hurriedly, "Although I have many female confidants, I have always followed the ancestral teachings when it comes to having children. Women who are not married into the family are not qualified to give birth to children in our Cui family."

Mr. Cui glanced at his sons seriously.

"Don't be suspicious of each other. This girl is not of our Cui family's blood. Boss, I want to let Yan girl enter the capital as the eldest daughter of the eldest house. If you think about it carefully, only your room is a little deserted. It is a blessing for you to recognize this daughter."

He has always been good at judging people. Jiang Ci will definitely win the battle for the throne this time. Given how much Jiang Ci cares about Yan Shu, he will definitely marry her as his wife. If Yan Shu is admitted to the Cui family now, the entire Cui family will become royal relatives in the future, and their status will be completely different.

Cui Shanghong didn't know Jiang Ci's identity, but he was still very happy when his father asked him to adopt a daughter.

"Miss Yan is your lifesaver. If she is willing to acknowledge us as a relative of the Cui family, I would certainly be happy to see it happen. Not to mention Yunniang, she has always wanted to have a daughter to take care of her."

Mr. Cui said, "Then it's settled, Meng Sheng. From now on, Yan Shu is your sister. You have to treat her as your own sister, understand?"

Cui Mengsheng felt mixed emotions. The emotions that had just sprouted during the day were completely worn away by the successive blows.

"My grandson has taken note of it."

"Well, there is another thing, which is about Jiang Ci's identity..."

Cui Mengsheng looked at Cui Lao in confusion: "Isn't Jiang Ci the champion of Xinyang Prefecture this year? Does he have another identity?"

Old Cui looked at his sons and eldest grandson with a serious expression.

"Jiang Ci is the son of the late queen, the current seventh prince Ye Lanqi!"

"what?"

"Is he the deposed crown prince whose whereabouts were unknown after the fire in the cold palace? But didn't the Seventh Prince return to the capital two years ago?"

Elder Cui was silent for a while before continuing, "The man in the palace must be a substitute sent out by Jiang Ci. I can confirm that Jiang Ci is the son of the late queen. The reason why I revealed Jiang Ci's identity to you is because I have something to tell you about the fate of the Cui family."

The four brothers of the Cui family and Cui Mengsheng all felt that Old Man Cui's expression seemed a little solemn, and guessed that what Old Man Cui was going to say next was very important.

"The batch of official salt we transported to the Beijing Salt Transport Bureau was lost a while ago. The robbers not only found out the whereabouts of our cargo ship in advance, but also quickly disappeared after the robbery. There are many people involved in this matter, and the mastermind may even be the one sitting high in the government."

"You mean His Majesty?"

Elder Cui nodded and continued, "So if this matter is not handled properly, our entire Cui family may be doomed, and now the person who can change the fate of the Cui family is in the mansion, so you all listen to me, from now on Yan Shu is the daughter of our Cui family, the legitimate daughter that the eldest wife regards as a pearl, and I will accompany her to the capital after the new year. This trip to the capital may be related to life and death, and our Cui family must be prepared in advance."

After listening to what Mr. Cui said, the fourth son of the Cui family and the eldest grandson Cui Mengsheng were silent for a long time before they digested what he said.

If Jiang Ci is the seventh prince back then, his real purpose of coming to the capital as a candidate is obviously not for the imperial examination. Back then, the late queen died unjustly and hundreds of members of the Feng family were wiped out, so the seventh prince is very likely to come to the capital to seek revenge and seize the throne that should have belonged to him.

"Father wants to support the Seventh Prince to ascend the throne?"

Elder Cui nodded with a firm look in his eyes and admitted, "I have had contact with the Seventh Prince. He is extremely cunning and ruthless. He can be said to be a natural emperor. In the past two years, there has been a proverb in the capital that says that there is the aura of an emperor in the northwest. Even His Majesty has sent people to the Nanwei Prefecture many times to look for this person. The Seventh Prince happens to have been living in Nanwei Prefecture. Moreover, he is surrounded by many talented people. He completely meets the destiny of a generation of emperors. Now it is better for us to choose to join him than to end up killing the goose that lays the golden eggs."

Cui Shanghong thought for a moment and said, "Father's analysis is correct. Now that our Cui family has reached a crossroads of life and death, we should risk our lives and join forces with His Majesty the Seventh Prince. At least there is a glimmer of hope. If the court really uses the official salt incident to frame us for treason, then our Cui family will be completely doomed."

Mr. Cui's sons all have their own strengths. As the eldest son, Cui Shanghong is loyal, steady and a master who can maintain the status quo. The Cui family does not need to expand its influence now. A qualified head of the family is one who can protect the wealth accumulated by the Cui family from generation to generation.