In a blink of an eye, Mingyun and Ranwan set off to leave the capital. Changzhong's eldest nephew, who was sent off, came back and said to his mother: "Mom, my eldest sister brought a lot of things back home, as many as five carriages."
Zhulan counted and said, "The cloth and some ornaments are large, so they appear to be a lot. There aren't many truly valuable items, so a few boxes will be enough to hold them."
Changzhong was eating grapes. He thought his own grapes tasted better than those sold outside. "My elder brother-in-law has sold a lot of paintings these days. In the past, his family relied on my elder sister's dowry to slowly get rich. Now my elder brother-in-law has made a fortune. Mother, the most expensive painting my elder brother-in-law has sold is worth over a hundred taels of silver."
He went to his eldest brother-in-law's house and saw with his own eyes the people who came to buy paintings. His eldest brother-in-law's hands were not hands, and he wanted to take all of his eldest brother-in-law's paintings home.
Zhulan tapped her youngest son's forehead and said, "Don't tell others that you relied on your sister's dowry to make your fortune."
Changzhong covered his forehead with his hands, "Mom, is my son an ignorant person?"
Zhulan looked at her mischievous little son and said, "If it weren't for this engagement, your brother-in-law wouldn't have sold all his paintings."
Changzhong, "My son knows."
Zhulan glared at her brat, "Confess and I'll give you leniency. How many paintings did you get from your brother-in-law?"
Changzhong's eyes were a little wandering. Ah, he especially liked going to his eldest sister's house recently. He always returned empty-handed. His eldest brother-in-law always responded to his requests. "Not much, just three paintings."
Zhulan didn't believe it, and held up two fingers, "Chop it in half when we meet."
Changzhong glared, "Mom, are you splitting it in half? My son only has three."
Zhulan looked at her son with a half-smile, "You are my child, I don't know you yet."
Changzhong choked and gave a dry laugh, "Ah, my son has something else to do."
Zhulan snorted, "The monk may escape, but the temple cannot."
Zhoujia Village, Ming Qing had just arrived at the clan school. Jiang Ming saw him coming over and said, "I was just about to go look for you. Are you really not going to take part in the Spring Examination next year?"
Ming and Qing were already juren, "I have participated in it and know the difference. I am not going to participate this year. I want to continue to calm down."
Jiang Ming got the confirmation and didn't say much, "Just keep it in mind."
Ming Qing said instead: "Now that Aunt Xuemei is back, your two families will get engaged, and some of the rumors will disappear."
Because there was no formal procedure and only a token of engagement was given, there have been a lot of rumors over the past year and even more people have been asking for information.
Jiang Ming's smile became more relaxed, "Yes."
After a pause, he continued, "Not many people from your clan took the exam this year. I asked them and none of them planned to participate."
Ming Qing lowered his voice, "Everyone has his own little calculations. You know this year, Mingyun is here for reference!"
Jiang Ming, "Mingyun has attracted too many people's attention."
He is so talented at a young age. As the eldest grandson of the Earl's Mansion, weakness is a sin. He is not afraid of the edge, but the mediocrity. The children of the Zhou family do not want to be hurt by the edge, so it is right for them to avoid it.
At the Jiang family, Dong Yiyi saw off her second sister-in-law, looking tired.
Mu Lan, "Mom, drink some tea to moisten your throat."
Dong Yiyi drank the tea and her throat felt much better. "Recently, several of your aunts have come over one after another. Their purpose is too obvious."
Mu Lan was also tired. "This is because they know that my aunt really doesn't care about the Dong family. They are afraid of disturbing my uncle-in-law, so they can only work hard on my mother, hoping to get care from the Jiang family."
Dong Yiyi sighed, "You're even targeting your father."
In the past, they wished they didn't have a daughter like her, but now that they have an advantage, they keep staring at her.
In the capital, inside the imperial palace, Zhou Shuren and others were in the emperor's study. The King of Chu returned to the capital yesterday. There was no movement in the morning court this year. Instead, he asked Zhou Shuren and others to stay.
Now everyone in the palace is loyal to the emperor.
The emperor asked several ministers in the study to look at the list. Some of them were filled with anger, while others turned pale. When it was Zhou Shuren's turn, the Zhou family was just starting out, and since it was a list of Jiangnan clans, Zhou Shuren focused on several ministers who turned pale.
The emperor took back the list and said in a tone that was neither happy nor angry, "I have already read the list. I am very disappointed."
Then they all knelt on the ground. Even Zhou Shuren, who was implicated, had to kneel again.
Rongchuan and King Chu knelt in the front, and they both knew that the emperor was angry.
Especially the King of Chu who knew the most. The Emperor was slapped in the face by his own people. Thinking about how angry he would be, the King of Chu lowered his head even more.
The emperor walked back and forth in the study. Although there was not much sound of footsteps, it put a lot of psychological pressure on people. The family members who committed crimes were sweating profusely. It was already autumn.
Zhou Shuren stared at the patterns on the ground, thinking in his heart that he did not make trouble in the morning court today. First, the emperor did not want to slap himself in the face in court. Not only would it be embarrassing for the emperor, but it would also cause some turmoil. Second, the court situation is stable now, and the emperor still needs these ministers when he has no one to replace him.
The emperor really spoke up. "I'll let you handle the people on the list. I want answers in three days."
Zhou Shuren is just a bystander today. This is the advantage of being a close minister to the emperor. He is always the most informed. From what happened today, he knows who to distance himself from and who to associate with in the future.
The emperor said, "Okay, everyone get up."
Zhou Shuren stood up and moved his legs. As expected, he was getting old, and his legs felt very uncomfortable after kneeling for a long time.
The emperor left behind the King of Qin and the King of Chu, while Zhou Shuren and others left the study.
When Zhou Shuren came out, he saw several princes. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was at the head, and next to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was the Fourth Prince, the Crown Prince's younger brother. There was a difference between a legitimate and a concubine's son, and even though he was ranked later, his status was noble.
"I greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
After a pause, he continued to meet the other princes.
Your Highness the Crown Prince, since the Emperor has not been in the capital much, Your Highness the Crown Prince is no longer fat and is becoming more and more dignified as a crown prince.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince smiled warmly, "The adults are very busy, please go first."
When Zhou Shuren saw the prince winking at him, he looked up at the sky speechlessly. He didn't know whether it was because the prince was still young or he had taught him wrongly, but the prince's temper now was all fake, and his temperament was totally unlike that of the emperor. He was obviously the eldest son and the prince, but His Royal Highness the Prince was a little too lively.
Zhou Shuren had a terrible stomachache. The Emperor had told him several times that the Crown Prince should be calm. Bah, he was obviously not the Crown Prince's teacher, and he really didn't think that he had taught the Crown Prince in a biased way.
Zhou Shuren felt even more uncomfortable in his stomach when he thought about what happened a few days ago. The prince's temper had changed, and it was really not his fault!
Not long after Zhou Shuren returned to the Ministry of Revenue, the Emperor arrived. The Emperor said, "I feel that the Crown Prince has become even bolder since I came back this time."
Zhou Shuren said with a wooden face, "It has nothing to do with me."
He has said so many things to the Crown Prince, how could he remember what he said that influenced His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!
The emperor looked deep in his eyes, "Actually, the prince is doing well now."
Zhou Shuren, "Hmm?"