Chapter 1699: Chapter 1699 Gratitude
Zhulan truly remembers, back then her son and granddaughter helped a maid, seemingly saved a young lady, "!!"
Lin Xi blinked her eyes, "Grandmother, you remembered too?"
"I hope I’m remembering wrong."
"It’s no mistake, it was Ji Rong!"
Zhulan thought Ji Rong had it really tough back then, being bullied harshly so she retaliated, "How did you recall it?"
Lin Xi said quietly, "Today I ran into the maid from back then. Ji Rong didn’t return home but released the maid’s contract, and now the maid and her parents have come to the capital."
Zhulan immediately understood that the maid’s family were Ji Rong’s people outside, "Did the maid recognize you?"
Lin Xi nodded, "Yes, though it was dim and she didn’t remember my face, she remembered my voice. I really don’t want any entanglements with Ji Rong."
Seeing how Ji Rong still had more trouble ahead, they might have helped anyway if they knew it beforehand.
Zhulan thought for a while, "If Ji Rong comes to you, don’t mention your uncle."
The favor of saving someone is quite a burden. If choosing a daughter-in-law, she would still favor Ms. Wei. Ji Rong clearly went to extremes after being bullied badly. Zhulan and Shuren have been planning for their descendants and don’t want a daughter-in-law like Ji Rong, which could ruin their family’s future due to impulsive actions.
Lin Xi, "I was the first to speak up back then, don’t worry, Grandmother."
She knew her mother and grandmother favored Ms. Wei, so naturally, she wouldn’t cause trouble for her uncle.
Zhulan, "Good child, are you staying for dinner today?"
"Yes, I plan to stay overnight."
"Your grandfather will be happy to see you."
Lin Xi liked her grandfather. Some say he doesn’t look good, but in her heart, he is the most handsome. "Grandmother, I’ll go find my cousin."
"Go ahead."
Zhulan thought and still felt uneasy, called Chang Xhong who was reading at home, and told him about the matter in Pinggang, finally summarizing, "Avoid it as much as you can."
Chang Xhong also didn’t want any entanglements with women, especially since he found Ms. Wei commendable, "I’ll keep it in mind, Mother."
The next day, Xue Han sent someone to call Lin Xi back to the Prince’s residence. An hour and a half later, Lin Xi returned.
Lin Xi, "Grandmother, Ms. Ji came to thank me, she didn’t mention uncle."
"Hmm, is it resolved?"
"It is resolved, my mother didn’t even have to step in. When I went back, Ji Rong had been waiting for a while, I told her it was a small effort on my part, nothing she needs to remember. We didn’t exchange many words, and I sent her off."
Zhulan, "Then why did it take you so long to come back?"
Lin Xi spread her hands, "My mother found out and asked me for details. I told her I was having lunch with you, only then did she let me go."
Otherwise, mother might confine her again!
Zhulan chuckled, "Since you’re having lunch with me, what would you like to eat?"
"Let’s have cold noodles, the weather is getting hotter."
Zhulan also wanted something cold, "This year the weather is indeed hot."
"Right? Ah, it’s hard to bear this summer."
Luckily, there aren’t many masters at Qin Prince Residence, and there is always surplus ice.
Lady Li came in at this time, "Mother, here’s a letter from Mingyun."
Zhulan looked at it, "He indeed has ideas."
Lady Li smiled, "Ran Wan has settled well over there, the young couple can live well."
Zhulan shook her head, "This time it’s serious business."
Lady Li got nervous, "Did something happen?"
Zhulan put down the letter and said, "Wu Ming has always wanted the nomadic tribes to learn Chinese, but they taught by the prairie people themselves. Mingyun thought of orphans and even thought of taking a few orphan girls there to teach the nomadic women."
Lady Li had been to the prairie, "The conditions are harsh there."
Her son was not lacking in Silver Coin, often receiving things sent from the capital, yet life wasn’t very comfortable, let alone for the people below, whose conditions were even harsher. Orphans have no family backing, only relying on themselves if they go to the prairie, probably not many are willing to go!
Zhulan also knew, the orphans’ wages now were to pay off debts, "I’ll discuss it with Rongchuan."
Lady Li was still thinking of her son, "Who knows when Mingyun can come back."
"Not soon."
Mingyun has grown rapidly outside, conditions the capital couldn’t provide, Zhulan and Shuren are gratified that Mingyun is the future of the Zhou family.
In the Palace, the study was silent, not because the Emperor’s movements were light, but because he was reading very slowly.
Zhou Shuren was calm in heart, after so many years he understood the Emperor’s boundaries well, so he waited quietly.
The Emperor frowned now and then, his brows would relax occasionally, and after another tea time had passed, he put down the Zhezi in his hand, "You’ve calculated every aspect."
Zhou Shuren glanced at the Emperor, seeing His Majesty’s calm face, said, "I still have shortcomings."
The Emperor snorted, "Shortcomings? I see it’s quite comprehensive, merchants pay a patent fee every year to use the improved technology, do you know how much Silver Coin the Ministry of Works spends on improving technology?"
"I have always kept accounts."
The Emperor, "..."
Zhou Shuren said, "Therefore, the patent fee can’t be set too low, we can’t do unprofitable business."
The Emperor pointed out sharply, "Today’s patent protects the interests of the court, what about tomorrow?"
Zhou Shuren, "Tomorrow it will protect the Emperor’s subjects."
The Emperor snorted again heavily, "Officers and people, officers first, then the people. How will you ensure that the patents of the people won’t be taken?"
The saying that the people can’t fight the officials isn’t just empty talk. Even far from the capital, he, the Emperor, sometimes feels helpless, there are many local bullies, and the darkness far from the capital is too much!
Zhou Shuren’s eyes were bright, "So it needs to be improved gradually."
The Emperor remained silent, Zhou Shuren was also patient. After a quarter of an hour, the Emperor waved his hand, "You may leave for now."
Zhou Shuren had expected this, and said one more thing before leaving, "Emperor, there are many merchants, a technology that doesn’t want to fall behind must pay a patent fee, it’s quite a sum of Silver Coin, it can even out the Ministry of Works’ past R&D accounts and leave plenty surplus."
The Emperor, "Leave quickly."
Zhou Shuren left silently this time, along with him was Chang Zhi.
Chang Zhi had been worrying outside the study the whole time, not daring to eavesdrop, Heaven knows how nervous he was with the study doors tightly shut, "Father, are you alright?"
Zhou Shuren patted his belly, "Does drinking too much tea count?"
Chang Zhi, "..."
He worried for nothing!
Inside the study, the Emperor sat twirling the String of Pearls, his mind couldn’t help but think about the law, then frowned. Over these years, the Ministry of Works indeed invested a lot, yet plenty of technology was left unused, Zhou Shuren’s idea was good, but the implications were broad.
Zhou Shuren left the Palace, "Let me send you back to the Hanlin Academy."
Chang Zhi, "Thank you, Father."
Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "Have you been going to the Palace these days?"
Chang Zhi nodded, "Yes."
He had been entering the Palace frequently, which many envied, yet because of his father, no one spoke any harsh words in front of him. Thinking about it, everything he had was due to his father.
"Father, you’ve worked hard."
Zhou Shuren, "??"
Chang Zhi added, "Father, what did you and the Emperor talk about?"
Zhou Shuren widened his eyes, "Don’t pry."
This matter he hasn’t even told his wife, he’s been preparing it all alone.
Chang Zhi shut his mouth, "I’m just curious."
"Then rein in your curiosity, if it’s really hard to bear, I’ll help you tighten your skin."