Chapter 1669: Chapter 1669 Envy
Old Zhou felt a headache coming on, "The grandson of the Minister of War and the nephew of the in-law family were both teaching on the manor. Today, the Second Prince unknowingly went to the manor, and one of the young gentlemen spoke inappropriately. Once outside the manor, they got into an argument, which led to a fight among a few people."
Zhulan listened intently, "You’re back, but where are they?"
Old Zhou said, "They’ve each gone back to their own homes. The Second Prince, knowing that it was the grandson of the Minister of War, took his side and asked Mr. Ji to apologize. My son sent them back to the city and then returned."
Zhulan asked, "Mr. Ji?"
"The Second Prince took Mr. Ji to the manor, a Ministry of Rites official."
Zhulan considered asking her second son, "The Second Prince handled it, so what are you worried about?"
Old Zhou exhaled deeply, "I’m worried that such incidents will not be few in the future. Lately, a lot of young gentlemen want to go to the manor to teach."
Zhulan glared at her eldest son, "What do you think this is? One fight should be enough."
Old Zhou rubbed his forehead, "I was thinking too much."
Zhulan asked further, "Has the Second Prince been going to the manor often recently?"
Old Zhou nodded, "He even taught the children a lesson. The princes are all erudite. I listened to one of his classes and still want more."
Zhulan thought to herself that the Emperor not stopping him meant he was allowing it, and recalling what Shuren said, she sighed.
Old Zhou was puzzled, "Mother, what’s wrong?"
Zhulan spoke softly, "Once the manor changes, it has nothing to do with me anymore."
Old Zhou also fell silent because his mother was in charge of the orphans. He would often spend time on several manors, where he raised livestock with the children and oversaw the planting of fields. He watched the manor being built bit by bit, and he had deep feelings for it too.
The next morning, at court, Zhou Shuren left together with Li Zhao. Mr. Lin didn’t attend court today, otherwise, it would’ve been the three of them together.
Li Zhao wrapped his cloak around him, "It’s really cold today."
Zhou Shuren walked with his head down to avoid the wind in his mouth, "The coldest time is during the end of winter and the twelfth lunar month. Wear more, we’re not young anymore."
Li Zhao, who was significantly older than Zhou Shuren, felt his age, "Yesterday after leaving the government office, the Second Prince personally talked to me about the fight."
Zhou Shuren, "I thought so."
The grandson of the Minister of War, the Second Prince couldn’t alienate him fast enough, so why offend him? Sure enough, he personally went to explain.
Li Zhao reached out to catch snowflakes, the wool gloves were really warm, "Wu Ming is truly talented; wool gloves are more flexible than leather gloves."
Zhou Shuren, "Did the Emperor give them to you?"
"Yes."
Zhou Shuren didn’t receive any, not because the Emperor didn’t want to give them, but because he didn’t need them, having grandchildren and Wu Ming to honor him.
Li Zhao drew his hand back, "With the Second Prince in the Ministry of Rites, if the manor needs to change, the Ministry will handle it. Don’t you have any thoughts?"
Zhou Shuren, "Do you have thoughts?"
"No, when I was young, I didn’t get involved, and now that I’m old, I definitely don’t want to get involved."
Zhou Shuren understood; Li Zhao was talking about the struggle for the throne, "Whatever happens to the manor is up to the Emperor."
Li Zhao laughed softly, "You are indeed the clearest-headed."
He gives things up without hesitation when necessary, never considering the management of the manor as his own.
Zhou Shuren walked on the snowy ground, "Aren’t you clear-headed too?"
Otherwise, why hasn’t the Emperor replaced the Minister of War all these years? It’s not because there aren’t suitable candidates, but because Li Zhao is clear-headed, and the Emperor trusts him.
However, Li Zhao is not young, and it’s time for a change. Unconsciously, a trace of envy appeared in his eyes.
Li Zhao laughed, "What are you envying about me? It should be me envying you."
The Marquis Zhou Residence has many outstanding children. The problem lies in the fact that because each child is excellent, resources are insufficient, and they can’t secure a future for each child, but the Zhou Residence can still make things happen. Now they’re even managing to secure resources for their grandchildren!
Zhou Shuren spoke wistfully, "I’ve been at the Ministry of Revenue for over ten years."
Li Zhao understood. He’s old and can move positions, but Zhou Shuren cannot. These past years, with the weather being strange, the Ministry of Revenue needs someone to guard it. Even if the officials in the capital are jealous of Zhou Shuren, they must admit life would be tough without him guarding the Ministry of Revenue.
In the Ministry of Rites, Chang Yi just arrived on time and saw the Second Prince at a glance. He returned to his room and had someone inquire, finding out Ji Deming had arrived.
Chang Yi found it amusing since he thought Ji Deming wouldn’t come today. After hearing his brother recount the incident yesterday, he felt Ji Deming wouldn’t be foolish enough to provoke. Didn’t the Second Prince know the grandson of the Minister of War was on the manor? Haha, the Second Prince must know!
Ji Deming is the Second Prince’s hanger-on, and Chang Yi chuckled.
"Who upset you?"
Chang Yi, "You arrived without doing your tasks. Why are you here with me?"
Sir Liu was speechless, "I don’t have any tasks to do."
He mostly drinks tea or reads books!
Chang Yi fell silent because this one was about to leave, "Sit down."
Sir Liu was in a good mood. His son’s province of Zhangzhou had a good harvest of medicinal herbs this year, and the Emperor praised the report openly. He’s about to be transferred from the Ministry of Rites, so it looks like the Liu family is having a series of fortunate events, "But it’s still more comfortable here with you."
Chang Yi touched the cushion behind him, "This fur is indeed comfortable to lean on."
Sir Liu noticed the cushion for the first time, "I didn’t see that yesterday. Did you just bring it from home?"
"Don’t you find this fur somewhat familiar?"
Sir Liu stood up to take a closer look and was suddenly wide-eyed. Then he clutched his chest and sat down, "That ungrateful son of mine."
This was bear skin, sent by the family. He quite liked it and was thinking of making it into a cloak in some time, but his son gave it to his future father-in-law instead.
Chang Yi snorted internally, provoking Sir Liu to show off his eldest son, "How is it ungrateful? A father-in-law is like a father too."
Sir Liu felt even more pain in his chest, "He’s not even married yet!"
"Are you saying you don’t want this marriage alliance anymore?"
Sir Liu felt even worse, "I have some things to do. I’m going back first."
Today, if he doesn’t go back and punish that ungrateful child, he won’t be surnamed Liu. A perfectly good full bear hide, cut up to make a cushion, it’s infuriating!
Chang Yi didn’t care whether the future son-in-law would be punished or not. Recently, that brat has been meeting Yu Die now and then. Hmph!
In the afternoon, at the Marquis Zhou Residence, Zhulan looked at the fruits on the table, "Why did you bring fruits back after visiting your maternal family?"
Lin Qing said, "Grandma said that every time I go back to my maternal family, I bring things home, and she always feels embarrassed. Grandma knows our family lacks nothing, so this time she got some rare fruits and specifically asked me to bring them back for you and Grandpa to taste."
Zhulan said, "Your grandmother is too polite."
Winter fruits like apples and pears are common, and mandarins too. Southern fruits are rare in the capital, and the Lin family, being distinguished, wouldn’t have much of it. The basket on the table probably contains most of what the Lin family got.
Lin Qing smiled, "Grandma, you should try the fruits; they’re very sweet."
Her husband wasn’t home, and her mother-in-law treated her very well and didn’t control her, so she liked going back to her maternal home. The more often she went, the more her mother-in-law prepared things each time, which made her feel embarrassed.
Zhulan signaled Qing Xue to distribute the fruits, "Send some to each courtyard."
Madam Zhao then interjected, "Mother, keep these fruits for you and Father; there’s no need to share them with us."
There aren’t many fruits, and if divided, there’d be even less for their parents to eat.
Zhulan raised her hand, "Just tasting the flavor is enough. Eating too much of this can cause excessive heat."