Chapter 1650: Chapter 1650: Meaningful
Yu Wen nodded, "I can part with it."
Zhulan smiled warmly, pushing the painting she hadn’t stored away toward her granddaughter, "It’s yours now."
Yu Wen, "..."
So Grandma knew she would come!
Zhulan, delighted, opened the thousand-tael painting, which was now hers, waved at her granddaughter, "You can go back now."
Yu Wen hadn’t seen her grandmother so happy in a long time, "Grandma, I will buy a good painting and gift it to you when I find one."
Zhulan, "Okay."
Time flew by, and Zhou Changyi was preparing to return to the capital as well. Lady Li felt reluctant, "You’ve only stayed a few days."
Zhou Changyi didn’t want to leave his son either, but he had too many things waiting in the capital, "The Crown Prince is getting married, and we have grain to handle. We can’t stay any longer."
Lady Li looked at her son and daughter-in-law, not knowing what to say, but the couple smiled happily, "The young couple has to part again."
Zhou Changyi, "Didn’t I say that Ran Wan can come over next year."
Lady Li turned her gaze back, "It’s quite nice here."
Zhou Changyi chuckled, "You’ll say otherwise when winter comes."
Lady Li glared, "Are you intentionally contradicting me?"
Zhou Changyi, "I’m just stating the truth. It’s hard to find dried vegetables here, let alone fresh ones."
Though it was not yet winter, the few vegetables on the table in recent days were brought by them. Imagining their son’s daily meals without them—it’s all meat—she felt worried.
Lady Li’s heart ached for her son, despite him looking more robust compared to when he’s in the capital. She always thought about him, "Once we return to the capital, while it’s not snowing, I’ll send more dried vegetables and fruits."
Zhou Changyi, "And send some mountain delicacies, too, to make broth and nourish the body."
Lady Li noted that in her heart and then said, "Didn’t you buy twenty cows? Isn’t that a bit too much?"
Zhou Changyi, "I think it’s too few. If the cattle and sheep ready for market weren’t all contracted by the caravans, I’d have bought more. Bringing back twenty, after distributing, there won’t be many left."
Lady Li calculated and agreed, "Yes. Why did you buy so much wool?"
Zhou Changyi, "I saw Wu Ming having people knit with yarn, and I thought the kids at the orphanage could learn too. Anyway, the wool isn’t expensive; I consider it a donation for the orphans."
Lady Li, "Wu Ming took you to quite a few places."
Zhou Changyi, smiling, "Yes, this trip has indeed broadened my horizons. Wu Ming is indeed remarkable, no wonder Father sent Mingyun over."
If it weren’t for the families’ relations, Mingyun’s visit wouldn’t be easy.
Lady Li smiled, "Father sees people accurately."
Zhou Changyi lamented, "Yes, Father has planned the future of the Hou Residence well."
In the capital, Zhulan listened to Su Xuan finish, "Just engaged and already in a hurry to choose a date for the wedding?"
Su Xuan, "Who knows what the Duke of Yongan Residence is planning. I heard they want the wedding before the year ends. Speaking of which, shouldn’t Yu Yi start heading back to the capital? If she doesn’t start traveling now, it’ll be tough returning in winter."
Zhulan said, "She should be leaving soon."
Su Xuan smiled, "With a few children coming home, the house will be lively again."
Zhulan indeed missed her granddaughter and grandson, "With the children back, the third couple will surely be delighted!"
With the children around, everything seems lively. Without them, it’s just the third couple left; one can’t imagine how they’ll be.
Su Xuan asked, "Did Third Sister-in-law send a letter back?"
"It probably hasn’t arrived yet."
As they spoke, Qing Xue came in holding a letter. Zhulan took one look at the letter and laughed, "Quite a coincidence."
Opened the letter—it was from Chang Lian—Zhulan said after reading, "Yu Yi and some others have set off to visit the Yu family; Ming Ling is staying in Ningzhou Province and not returning to the capital. Third Brother said they’ll send Ming Ling back to the capital after Yu Yi is married."
Su Xuan said, "Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law can’t part with the children."
"Yes."
Su Xuan asked, "Third Sister-in-law could have another child."
Zhulan had also written to suggest this, but the couple’s reply was resolute, "They said three children are enough."
Su Xuan, thinking of herself, didn’t continue the topic.
In the Ministry of Rites, Chang Yi found himself more relaxed after delegating power. He was decisive in sharing authority and got along well with the newly transferred Sir Zhao.
With the Crown Prince’s wedding approaching, the Liu family was under pressure. The Ministry of Rites, already placing great importance on the wedding, was even more cautious, tense with not a single soul leisurely sipping tea these days.
Sir Liu came in angrily, "Don’t you think the deputy minister is going too far? Obviously, his people made the mistake, yet he shifts the blame."
Chang Yi patted his future in-law on the shoulder, "It’s been tough lately."
Sir Liu’s heart was fuming, "He’s trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince and step on others."
Indeed, he had not been spared of troubles recently.
Chang Yi skillfully brewed chrysanthemum tea, handed it over, "Calm down."
Sir Liu drank two cups before his anger subsided somewhat, "You wouldn’t believe how many people are flattering the Crown Prince these days."
"You’re quite bold to say that."
"I’m only saying it here with you, outside I wouldn’t dare say a word."
Chang Yi, "Once the Crown Prince’s wedding is over, you’ll be able to relax."
Sir Liu, enviously, "I really envy you."
Chang Yi joked, "Why don’t you come over too?"
Sir Liu shook his head, "No need."
Paused before saying, "I’ve been in the Ministry of Rites for many years; I should make a move."
Chang Yi raised his teacup, "Congratulations."
Sir Liu knew Zhou Changyi couldn’t leave the Ministry of Rites easily. Even if he wanted to climb higher, it wasn’t feasible. His father was still relatively young, and without his son’s achievements, he would have to keep waiting.
In the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was enjoying tea with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, "It’s still quiet here at Mr. Hou’s."
Marquis Zhou wasn’t one to flatter him; he found peace only in the Ministry of Revenue lately.
Zhou Shuren handed over the tea in his hand, "Your Highness is doing well."
Today, the Emperor hadn’t intervened, which was the Emperor’s way of testing. If the Crown Prince weren’t living in the palace, even more people would come rushing in. Oh, and the Crown Prince was leaving the palace after the wedding, the future tests would continue.
He was relieved that the Crown Prince could hold onto his true nature. Different from the Emperor, when the Emperor was a Crown Prince, the maternal relatives of several Princes were influential, even under the direct guidance of the Retired Emperor, the courtiers acted cautiously to avoid choosing the wrong Babe.
Now, the Crown Prince’s situation was different. The Emperor’s actions this time were to consolidate the Crown Prince’s position, openly protecting him, making those seeking shortcuts more proactive.
The Crown Prince waited for a while, but all Zhou Hou said was that he was doing well, leaving him with a chill of disappointment. He had hoped Marquis Zhou would praise him more, couldn’t help but ask, "What does Marquis Zhou find good about me?"
Zhou Shuren looked at the Crown Prince, laughed—it was still youth indeed.
The Crown Prince felt a bit uneasy being laughed at. He cherished his days of learning at the Ministry of Revenue, although Zhou Hou was very busy and couldn’t guide him much, Zhou Hou’s offhanded remarks seemed idle yet dispelled the mist, allowing him to see others and himself more clearly.
Zhou Shuren didn’t offer more comments on the Crown Prince, silently lowered his head, continuing to sip his tea.
The Crown Prince felt disheartened, knowing Marquis Zhou wasn’t going to say anything, asking more would be in vain. Suddenly, the Crown Prince said, "I’ve looked into Gu Sheng."
Zhou Shuren’s hand paused, "The Crown Prince values Gu Sheng?"
The Crown Prince carefully watched Marquis Zhou, "I wouldn’t say value, but I’ve met Gu Sheng a few times and asked Zhuo Guyu, Zhuo Guyu said he has a good relationship with the future prince consort. That’s why I checked him out more."
Zhou Shuren scoffed inwardly, knowing it was not flattering words. He could easily guess Zhuo Guyu’s intent, "What did the investigation reveal?"
The Crown Prince spoke with a deep meaning, "Unexpectedly indeed!"
Zhou Shuren smirked without saying anything, "Have some tea."