Did the eldest daughter ascend the throne today?

Chapter 518: Extra: Calculating the Title

Zhou Hongye returned to the mansion with a heavy heart. As soon as he entered the mansion, he met several unexpected people.

"Brother." A woman rushed over excitedly.

Zhou Hongye supported her and patted her back. "Why did you come here suddenly? Did someone bully you?"

He lost his father at a young age, and it was his widowed mother who raised him and his sister and also tried to send him to school. Unfortunately, his mother died before he could achieve success.

Before her death, his mother entrusted Zhou Weiyu, his only biological sister, to him.

Zhou Weiyu was gentle in nature. She got married early and gave birth to three children.

Her husband's family, the Qian family, was just an ordinary merchant family. After he became a Duke, his brother-in-law came to him for help. After much consideration, he spent money to donate a small official position for his brother-in-law and arranged for him to work in the Imperial Household Department as the chief clerk, a seventh-rank official.

Although this rank is small, it is actually a step across the social classes, from merchants to scholars. Among the four classes of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, merchants are ranked last.

With him in control, the Qian family treated Zhou Weiyu very highly. No one dared to bully her, and she lived a very comfortable life.

Her three children also enjoyed the best resources.

Zhou Weiyu chuckled and said, "No, I just brought the kids over to visit my uncle and aunt."

She looked at her three children, her eldest daughter was eight years old, her son was seven years old, and her youngest son was five years old.

The children were more obedient than each other and came forward to pay their respects. The youngest son even hugged Zhou Hongye's thighs and said coquettishly, "Uncle, I missed you so much."

Zhou Hongye's eyes were full of tenderness. He touched their heads and said, "Be good."

Zhou Weiyu pulled a young and beautiful woman over and said, "Brother, this is cousin Chu Yun, my mother-in-law's favorite niece. She admires my sister-in-law the most and came here specially to pay her respects to her."

The woman was charming and gentle, "Yun'er pays respects to the Marquis."

Zhou Hongye nodded slightly, his politeness revealing a sense of distance.

"Wei Yu, your sister-in-law has been feeling unwell these days and is still resting. Please don't disturb her."

Zhou Weiyu frowned slightly. Her brother was good in every way except for one thing: he was too protective of his sister-in-law.

They had been married for several years but had no children, but he didn't mind at all. He protected her in every way and had no concubines or maids around her.

My sister-in-law is so old that she probably can't have children anymore. Why doesn't she let others have children? This will cut off the Zhou family's incense.

"Is it not possible to even meet her once? Is sister-in-law's health already so bad? Why not let Chu Yun stay and serve her?"

Chu Yun immediately said, "It is Yun'er's blessing to be able to serve Madam."

Zhou Hongye looked at them deeply and frowned slightly. Should they serve Ning Wenyin or him? "With the imperial physician and the female physician here, no one else is needed."

Zhou Weiyu was secretly annoyed, but there was nothing she could do. Why was he so stubborn?

If it really doesn't work, just listen to your husband's arrangement and adopt your younger son to him.

The Zhou family has two titles, and it would be perfect for each of the two sons to have one.

"Brother, we are going to attend a wedding banquet out of town, and it is not convenient to bring the children with us. Please ask brother and sister-in-law to help take care of them."

Zhou Hongye loves his three children and takes good care of them. "This is a small matter. Let them stay here peacefully. Someone, go clean up the orchid courtyard."

Zhou Weiyu was very happy, "Thank you, brother. Let Chu Yun stay and take care of the children."

"This..." Zhou Hongye had a severe headache. Why hadn't he given up yet?

A chuckle sounded, "So lively."

It was Ning Wenyin, who came over surrounded by her maids.

Zhou Hongye immediately went over and held his wife's arm, "Madam, why did you come here? Are you tired? Are you feeling well? Are you feeling unwell?"

The concern and care shown are beyond words and make people envy.

Ning Wenyin glanced at them calmly, stroking her belly with her hand, "The child is a little naughty, always kicking me."

Zhou Hongye's eyes were full of tenderness, and he stroked it with his hand, "Little guy, don't make trouble for your mother, otherwise I will beat you after you are born."

Ning Wenyin glared at him fiercely, "How dare you."

She loves children very much, but unfortunately, her last marriage almost ruined her health, and she has been taking care of her body over the years.

Zhou Hongye laughed loudly, "No, no, please spare my life, Madam."

At his age, seeing his colleagues' children getting married, how could he not be anxious? How could he not be jealous?

After six years of marriage, we finally have a child. I can’t tell you how happy I am.

Zhou Weiyu's shocked voice suddenly rang out, "What? A child?"

Her expression was very complicated, like regret, shock, and loss, but not joy.

Her children all looked unhappy, as if something treasure had been stolen from them.

There was a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. Just pretend.

"Yes, in another eight months, the mansion will welcome the young master."

Zhou Weiyu couldn't believe it was true. "How is this possible? Are you sure?"

Ning Wenyin frowned and said in a sarcastic tone, "Sister, you don't seem very happy. Don't you want your brother to have descendants?"

Zhou Hongye stared at his sister and narrowed his eyes.

Zhou Weiyu's heart was pounding. "How is this possible? I am extremely happy, but I just can't believe it. There has been no good news for so many years, and now there is news just when we are about to despair."

The implication of her words made Ning Wenyin laugh. She might be too well protected and so naive to the point of being ridiculous.

"This is God's will, and it cannot be countered by human power."

Zhou Hongye was such a smart man that he understood it easily. "My husband and I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. The Zhou family finally has a successor and an heir to the title. God has treated us well. If anyone dares to attack my child, I will make him have no descendants."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's faces turned pale.

Ning Wenyin saw it and smiled slightly, while Zhou Hongye sighed silently in his eyes.

Zhou Weiyu spoke cautiously, "Well, has the doctor figured out the gender of the baby? Our Zhou family needs a boy to carry on the family line."

Ning Wenyin said calmly, "It doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl, a girl can also inherit the title."

Zhou Weiyu couldn't help but get anxious, "How can this be possible?"

Ning Wenyin raised her eyebrows. "If the Crown Princess can inherit the throne, why can't our child inherit the title? The Emperor has already established rules to allow women to have the right of inheritance."

Ning Zhiwei did not force everyone to abide by the system of primogeniture, but instead allowed women to inherit the title if there were no male heirs.

In this way, there will be less resistance. No one wants to hand over the kingdom they have worked so hard to build to an outsider.

Ning Wenyin smiled, but her words were not pleasant to the ear. "Aye, you should discipline your sister. There are some things that cannot be said carelessly. If those people in the court heard it, who knows how much trouble it would cause."

She has been through a lot and can handle things with little effort. She should let men solve problems like this. They are siblings after all, and even if they have a big fight, it is their family affair and they can get over it in a short while.

If she intervenes, she will only end up in a thankless situation and be in trouble both internally and externally. Why bother?

"We are at the forefront of the storm and we must be careful in everything we say and do."