When the time came to leave the government office, Zhou Shuren walked out of the gate of the Ministry of Revenue on time. Today, there were horse-drawn carriages of the grassland tribes parked in front of the Ministry of Revenue.
King Tana got off the carriage and said, "I have never had the opportunity to invite you to a drink, and I feel very sorry. I wonder if Master Zhou can give me some face today?"
Zhou Shuren wanted to refuse very much, but unfortunately he couldn't. The emperor was plotting against the grassland tribes, so he had to cooperate more. "Your Majesty, please."
King Tana laughed, "I like Lord Zhou's temperament. Lord Zhou, please."
Zhou Shuren did not get on King Tana's carriage, but pointed to his own carriage and said, "My carriage will follow."
King Tana didn't think much about it. Since the person had already been invited, Minister Zhou would not go back on his word, so he turned around and got on the carriage.
Zhou Shuren also got on his own carriage, and Jinyan followed him, whispering, "Why did the prince of the grassland tribe invite you?"
My Lord, you should have offended all these tribes last time.
Zhou Shuren stroked his beard and said, "The princesses of various tribes came to the capital probably for this matter."
There are no permanent enemies. As long as the benefits are great, enemies can become brothers.
The grassland tribes also fight for territory every day, and they have been sworn enemies for generations. However, the benefits are great, so they still intermarry and form alliances.
Jinyan's heart moved, "King Tana will give you a gift, sir."
Zhou Shuren, "Well, these grassland tribes should not only be looking for me."
As long as one can have a say in the emperor, there should be people who will bribe him. Don't let yourself down with the benefits that come to your door for free. Thinking about the leather and medicinal herbs I saw yesterday, the grassland tribes have indeed become fatter in recent years.
Zhou Shuren couldn't help laughing again. These people had different mindsets. None of them were foolish enough to empty their family fortunes in preparation for war. Each of them had their own little ideas.
In the evening, it was already dark when Zhou Shuren came back. As soon as he entered the house, Zhulan smelled alcohol and frowned, "How much did you drink?"
Zhou Shuren, "I didn't drink much. King Tana is a heavy drinker. I smell like alcohol."
Zhulan put down the pen in her hand, took the handkerchief handed over by the maid and wiped her hands. She observed that Zhou Shuren was indeed not drunk, and then she felt relieved, "You are not old anymore, drinking is harmful to your health."
"I've always kept in mind what you said, even though I haven't heard it before."
Zhulan motioned to Zhou Shuren to change his clothes. Zhou Shuren took out a box from his arms. Zhulan opened it and her eyes lit up. The quality of the gem was really good.
"The prairie prince gave it to you?"
"Well, let me say some good things about his daughter, and said that I would be rewarded handsomely if I succeeded."
Zhulan, "You are so generous."
Zhou Shuren said with regret, "It's a pity that it can't be accomplished. I can only receive the benefit once."
"It's already pretty good. If you just accept it, will the emperor think too much?"
Zhou Shuren changed his clothes and said, "No, I will just mention it to the emperor tomorrow when I go to the palace. Besides, I am not the only one who receives the gift."
There are too many old foxes in the capital, and no one will give away the benefits that they have gotten for free.
Zhulan thought so too, "Did you eat enough tonight? If not, ask the kitchen to prepare some."
"No, I want to eat noodles. I'll ask the kitchen to make me a bowl of noodles with soybean paste."
"good."
The next day, after the morning court session ended, Zhou Shuren and the others had not yet taken action. The emperor left and left Eunuch Zhang behind. Eunuch Zhang stepped forward and said, "Sir Zhou, the emperor said you should just keep it."
Zhou Shuren touched the bag in his arms and nodded. This was the report from the general guarding the gate to the emperor.
Eunuch Zhang continued to deliver the message. Zhou Shuren counted and found that there were many people who shared his idea today. Rong Enqing, who did not attend the morning court, also came. It seemed that he had received something.
Rong Enqing walked over quickly and asked, "You got a gift too?"
That’s right, it’s a gift, he didn’t say it’s a bribe.
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "Well, I feel uneasy!"
Rong Enqing, "..."
You have never felt uneasy about receiving three hundred thousand taels, so this is nothing!
Zhou Shuren raised his eyebrows, "What's that look in your eyes?"
Rong Enqing, "I see that you don't look well. You must have been restless and didn't sleep well last night."
Zhou Shuren nodded, "Yeah, I couldn't sleep last night."
Rong Enqing didn't want to continue the conversation. "Most people have left. Should we leave too?"
Zhou Shuren saw that there were not many people around, so he turned around and walked out. He met the Crown Prince a few steps later, and said, "I greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
The prince looked at Lord Zhou's arms. Why didn't anyone give him a gift? He was really poor. Even with his mother's help, he was still very poor. "I will go back to the Ministry of Revenue with you."
Rong Enqing was also busy paying his respects. He had very few opportunities to meet the prince, so he would naturally try to improve his impression of him as much as possible.
Zhou Shuren felt the prince's gaze, but he remained calm and didn't want to spit out what had gone into his pocket.
When they arrived at the palace gate, the prince did not prepare a carriage. He was planning to take advantage of Zhou Shuren. As he was about to get on the carriage, Rong Enqing took out the pocket in his arms and said, "Here are some small toys I just got for you to play with. Please don't despise them."
The prince knew what these people had received, and he was happy in his heart, but his face was very reserved, "This is not good."
Rong Enqing had already stuffed the bag into the young eunuch's arms, "There's nothing wrong with it. I got it for free."
The prince frowned and said, "I can't accept it."
Rong Enqing ran away after greeting again, thinking that he had won the prince's favor today, and his steps were brisk.
The prince winked at the eunuch and then got on the carriage. Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes in his heart. Rong Enqing had cheated him, but Rong Enqing had generously given them all to the prince. If he didn't give any, who knows what the emperor would think.
Zhou Shuren lowered his head and took out the bag. He opened the bag and flipped through the gems inside. He confirmed that it was the smallest one before taking it out. "I have to support a large family, but I can't compare to Lord Rong who has a simple family. It's not easy for my granddaughter to save up a dowry. Please don't despise this gem, Your Highness."
The prince reached out to take it. He didn’t need to pretend in front of Minister Zhou, but he failed to take it. “Sir?”
Zhou Shuren reluctantly let go of her hand, "Ah, it's not easy for me to support my family."
The prince pretended not to hear. He was happier to get something from the stingy Lord Zhou than to get a bag from Lord Rong. "I will treasure it."
Zhou Shuren, "..."
The prince thought that he could sell the gems to his father, which was the safest way. Although the price would definitely be lower than the market price, at least it would not be discovered by the grassland prince. Between being embarrassed and losing some silver, he chose the latter. Well, he still had some dignity to save.
At the Zhou family, Zhulan was looking at the letters from her eldest and second brothers. She wrote to Wuchun, but it was her eldest and second brothers who replied. This explained a lot of problems.
The letter replied that everything was fine at home and didn't mention anything else.
Zhulan touched the letter. It seemed that there was movement at the border. She took a deep breath and put the letter away.
Zhao rushed in, "Mother, Wan'er is about to give birth."
Zhu Lan stood up and was not in a hurry. Ran Wan was already pregnant with her second child. "It's more than ten days earlier than the due date."
Zhao, "Yes, my sister-in-law and I were talking to Ran Wan, and Wan'er had a stomachache, so the child was anxious to come out."
Zhulan smiled and said, "Let's go and take a look."