Zhulan took a short break and looked at the account book again. This was just a problem on the account book. There were still many unknown issues, such as whether the clothes donated by people in various states were resold, whether the donated food was exchanged for coarse grains, etc.
Zhulan didn't want to make the most malicious guess, but the fact was just as she guessed, and the more she thought about it, the heavier her heart felt.
The next day, Zhulan personally went to the palace and handed the account book to the Queen Mother. After the Queen Mother looked through it, she asked, "What do you think?"
"I think we should send someone to take a closer look instead of listening to reports."
The Queen Mother nodded, "Does that mean you have a candidate?"
Zhu Lan smiled, "Marquis Rong has been focusing on the orphan these past few years. He knows the manor outside the city best, so it would be most appropriate for him to check it out. My grandson Mingrui can also assist."
The Queen Mother did not agree immediately, and sighed, "The person who managed the manor was sent by me."
Now there is a problem of corruption and the Queen Mother is angry.
Zhulan: "It's because they can't control their greed."
But I thought to myself that he must have accepted bribes when he was in the capital. Looking at his accounting skills, he is obviously an old hand.
The Queen Mother said, "I will choose the steward carefully this time."
Afterwards, the Queen Mother asked many questions about the orphans. After Zhulan left, the Queen Mother did not ask Rong Enqing to go on patrol.
In the afternoon, Rong Enqing came to the Marquis' Mansion with a happy look on his face, "Old Madam, the palace sent a message for me to wait for the Crown Prince's wedding and set off to inspect the orphan farms in various states."
Zhu Lan asked, "Is this what the Queen Mother said?"
Rong Enqing said: "Yes, the emperor also sent people to me, and Mingrui also came with me."
Zhu Lan's mind was turning. The Queen Mother did not agree immediately. She must have discussed it with the Emperor. It can be said that the Emperor alone was responsible for Rong Enqing becoming a wealthy marquis. She smiled and said, "The royal family attaches great importance to orphans in various states. You should pay more attention."
Rong Enqing saw the importance the royal family attached to orphans. The orphans in the village outside Beijing were about to become talents, and the country needed them. "I will."
Rong Enqing left, and Zhulan called Mingrui over, "When you're thinking about it, go to the fields more often and learn more about the local economy, etc."
Mingrui, "Grandson has made note of it."
Zhulan added: "Prepare warm clothes. This inspection will take a long time, and it will be hard to travel in winter."
"Don't worry, grandma. Your grandson will take good care of himself."
Zhulan motioned for the maids to go down, "The Queen Mother is in charge at the moment. The Emperor is waiting to see the children in the suburbs of Beijing become talented. When the Emperor sees the results, the manor in the suburbs of Beijing will change. You should make your presence felt now. Ahem, help with the errands. It will be good for your future."
Mingrui smiled, "Grandma is worried about my grandson."
Zhulan smiled and said, "You are so worry-free. Grandma wishes she could worry more about you."
A quarter of an hour later, Mingrui wrote down his grandmother's instructions and left the main courtyard. His steps back to the courtyard were brisk. He was indeed not in a hurry, but he had to seize the opportunity before him.
Seeing her husband coming back, Lin Qing was very sensitive and asked, "What did grandma say that made her husband so happy?"
Mingrui waited until the coldness on his body dissipated, then picked up his daughter and said, "Grandma found a job for me."
Lin Qing was happy for her husband after hearing this, but she was also reluctant to let him go, "If he leaves, he might not be able to come back for the New Year."
Mingrui, "I'll leave the house to you."
Lin Qing leaned on her husband's shoulder and said, "Take good care of yourself when you go out, and write back often."
"good."
Lin Qing raised her head and said, "Don't worry, I will take good care of my parents and make sure my daughter is plump and healthy."
Mingrui coughed and said, "My daughter is already fat enough."
Lin Qing squeezed her daughter's chubby hand and chuckled, "That's true."
Seven days passed in a blink of an eye. Boss Zhou came back with a lot of things. Five or six boxes were placed in the hall.
Zhulan, "So many furs?"
Li pointed to a box of ornaments and said, "Mom, here are some more ornaments. What do you think of them?"
Zhulan looked at them carefully and said, "They are all very delicate."
Boss Zhou explained, "There are frequent caravans coming and going in the grasslands. These ornaments are bought from foreign merchants, including leather. My son saw that the leather was in good condition and the price was reasonable, so he bought a lot."
Zhulan said, "This trip must have cost a lot of money."
Li smiled, "It didn't cost much."
The eldest wife has no unmarried daughters, so she doesn't need to save for a dowry. She has saved a lot of money over the years, and this is the first time she has spent money so lavishly.
Zhulan asked, "How is Mingyun?"
Boss Zhou: "Good, the child has not been wronged and has grown stronger."
Li continued, "He also took us horseback riding. Mother, it felt really good to ride a horse on the grassland."
Zhulan exclaimed, "You can ride a horse now?"
Li raised her chin, "My daughter-in-law is also smart."
"I think you are brave."
Boss Zhou laughed, "She is indeed very brave. When she whipped the horse, it rushed out. She screamed in fear at first, but she was no longer afraid after a while. She even laughed at her son for being timid."
Li blushed and glared at her husband fiercely.
Zhu Lan looked at Ran Wan and sat quietly after coming back. It was difficult for Ran Wan to separate the couple. "You must have been tired on the journey back. Go and rest."
Boss Zhou pointed to a box and said, "Mom, this box is for you and Dad."
Zhulan nodded and said, "Okay."
Boss Zhou brought back a lot of things, and after they were divided up, there wasn't much left. The good leather that Yuyi and the other girls got was also sent to their yards since Yuyi and Yujiao were not at home.
Boss Zhou was busy after returning and went to the farm the next day. It was the autumn harvest season and there were many things that needed his attention.
The days passed one by one, and in the blink of an eye it was two days before the Crown Prince's wedding. The whole capital was bustling with activity.
On the street, in the carriage of Marquis Zhou's mansion, Lin Xi said, "I really envy my cousin."
Yu Wen tilted her head, "What do you envy me for?"
Lin Xi pinched her purse and said, "My mother confiscated my money."
Yu Wen was speechless, "What did you do again?"
Lin Xi felt guilty, "I bought a horse. I fell in love with it at first sight, but it's hard to tame."
"Oh, my aunt is also worried that you might be in danger."
"But you can't confiscate my money."
Yuwen was curious, "Did your uncle secretly give you money?"
Lin Xi said in a dark tone: "You may not believe it, but the dignified King Qin has less money in his pocket than I do."
Yu Wen chuckled, "That's because your uncle-in-law spoils you too much."
Lin Xi sighed, "That's why I envy my cousin. My fourth aunt doesn't care about you."
Yuwen, "Who made my mother so poor that she only has silver left?"
"!!"
"Haha, I'm just kidding. My mom knows I'm too lazy to go out."
As they were talking, they arrived at the painting building. Yuwen and Linxi went straight to the second floor. She said she wanted to buy a painting for her grandmother and had someone keep an eye on the painting building, waiting for a good painting. She had already called in early. When they arrived at the second floor, the shopkeeper came up to greet them, "County Lady Anhe."
Yuwen, "Where is the painting?"
The shopkeeper said, "Please come this way, County Lady."
Linxi seldom came to places like the Painting House. She didn’t know the owner, so when the sisters arrived at the inner room, the painting had already been unfolded.