Zhulan specifically asked Shuren at night, and got the answer that the emperor had not discussed it with Shuren. She thought there would be results soon, but she didn't expect that after waiting for some time, there was no news at all.
On this day, Zhou Shuren came back at night. As soon as he entered the room, he signaled the maids to go downstairs, "Today the emperor talked to me about Zhuangzi's orphans."
Zhulan asked, "Are there any results?"
Zhou Shuren shook his head. "It's not that easy. The emperor has comprehensive considerations."
"So what did you talk about?"
Zhou Shuren said: "The emperor talked about the need to prepare formal books. The Imperial Hospital is sorting out medical books. I also made a suggestion to let Zhuangzi's children go for internship in batches."
Zhulan, "Internship?"
"Well, put into practice what the children have learned and let the Emperor see their abilities."
Zhulan frowned, "It's easier for boys than for girls."
Ultimately, it is the unfairness of the times. Even though the girls in the village are no worse than the boys, they are still subject to limitations.
Zhou Shuren was helpless, as women in ancient times had a low status, so he comforted her, "Take your time."
Zhulan also knew that she couldn't just rush into it. Before the status of women was improved, everything she said would be empty talk.
The next day, Zhulan received an order from the Queen Mother, asking her to arrange the children's internships in batches and compile a list to send to the palace.
Zhulan thought that the emperor was very efficient. She sent the female official away and asked Qingxue to find the list of orphans.
The orphan list not only records the names, but also has the children's personal information at the back. Below the information is the children's academic performance and each test score, which is recorded in great detail.
Then he asked the butler to prepare a carriage and called the eldest brother and his wife to leave the city together.
In the carriage leaving the city, Zhulan flipped through the list, focusing on the girls' names.
Li asked, "Mom, where are the kids going to practice?"
Zhulan took out the paper the female official gave her, "Shipyard, Medicine Department."
The internship location cannot be a private property; all the places you go to are run by the imperial court.
Li asked, "The medicine department is in great need of people?"
"Well, the pharmacy department needs masters to prepare medicinal materials, medicine boys to handle medicinal materials, etc. The pharmacy department recruits people every year."
Unfortunately, in ancient times, inheritance was emphasized, with medicines passed down from master to apprentice, and ordinary people could not learn from them. The pharmacy recruited people every year but was still short of staff. The lack of staff limited output, resulting in a shortage of ready-made medicines, making it difficult for ordinary people to buy them.
Li, "I thought I would have an internship in the medical department."
Zhulan smiled, "Zhuangzi's children haven't learned enough."
The threshold for the medical department is too high. I’m not even qualified to be an assistant. So don’t even think about it for now.
Arriving at the manor, Zhulan got off the carriage and saw a row of children at the entrance of the manor. She looked at the steward with a puzzled look, "What's going on?"
The steward explained: "These children are from a nearby village. They were brave enough to climb over the wall and enter the village to eavesdrop on the lectures."
Zhulan saw the children lowering their heads, knowing that what they did was wrong, "Is this a common situation?"
Boss Zhou continued, "In winter, it's too cold for children to go out, but after the New Year, when the temperature warms up, this situation has become more common."
Zhulan tilted her head, "You didn't tell me that when you came back."
Boss Zhou hurriedly explained: "These are all trivial matters, so I didn't tell you."
Zhulan signaled to the steward to release the children, and the steward waved his hand to signal the children to leave.
These kids were very brave to climb over the wall. They looked at each other and didn't leave. Instead, they stepped forward and pushed one of them to speak, "Madam, we can help the manor with work. Can we just stand outside instead of going into the house to listen to the class?"
Zhulan stopped and asked, "You are very brave."
The boy was about 11 or 12 years old. He pinched his palm to prevent himself from backing off and said, "We don't have any bad intentions."
He knew that there were orphans in several villages, so he dared to climb over the wall. He knew that nothing would happen, and several times the results proved that his guess was correct.
Zhulan said to the children, "It's too cold today. Don't get sick. You should go back first."
As she spoke, Zhulan entered the manor. After the gate was closed, she said to the steward, "In the future, put up a board at the entrance of the manor. Write a few words or arithmetic problems on the board, and then draw a common herb. Change the content every seven days. Find a literate guard to watch over it and help explain to children who ask questions."
As for how long it can last, it depends on what changes Zhuangzi makes.
The manager said, “Yes.”
Zhulan then got busy. She first selected children from the list and then met them in person to make adjustments. It was a lot of work.
The Second Prince was also there. Zhulan ignored him as he was busy on his own and wrote out new list books, which would record the internship details. She would bring the books back when the internship was over.
Zhulan doesn't have to do anything herself, she just needs to use her brain, which is not too busy, and she can even sit down and drink tea.
The Second Prince did not leave, as he already knew that it was the Queen Mother's order. He was surprised at the ability of Madam Zhou. He thought that he would not be able to finish it in one day, but it was almost done by the afternoon.
The Second Prince looked through the list brought by Marquis Zhou's wife and asked Crown Prince Zhou, "Is this Marquis Zhou's idea?"
Boss Zhou shook his head, "This is what my mother wanted."
The second prince put down the booklet and said, "The old lady is admirable."
Boss Zhou was proud of it, "My mother is really amazing."
He thinks his mother is as powerful as his father!
The second prince gave a dry laugh. He still did not leave. He was thinking about picking peaches. He thought that it was a good thing that Madam Zhou was a woman, otherwise it would be difficult to pick peaches!
Zhulan returned to Beijing from Zhuangzi and looked at the clock in the car, "Let's take a detour to the Ministry of Revenue."
Mrs. Li felt uncomfortable sitting in the carriage, "Mother, I will go and take a carriage with my husband."
Zhulan signaled the carriage to stop, "You don't have to go together, go home first."
Li wanted to speak, but Zhou Laoda said first: "Mom, let's go home first."
Zhulan waved her hand, "Go back slowly."
When Li saw her mother-in-law's carriage leaving, she stepped on her husband's foot and said, "I'm worried about you."
Zhou Lao Da was helpless. Ever since his father-in-law and mother-in-law passed away, his wife had been particularly clinging to her mother. "Dad must not want to see us."
Li was depressed. After so many years, she was still afraid of her father-in-law.
Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren saw Qingxue standing next to the carriage as he walked out of the government office. He quickened his pace and saw his wife in the carriage. He thought something had happened and quickly got into the carriage. "You came to pick me up in person. What happened?"
Zhulan motioned to Shuren to calm down, "I just came back from going out of town today, and I saw that I had enough time to take you home. Don't say that it feels good to take you home."
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "Then you will come to pick me up every day?"
Zhulan laughed, "Aren't you afraid of being talked about?"
She dares to come to pick people up every day, and the whole capital city is talking about Shu Ren!
Zhou Shuren, "As long as I am happy."
Zhulan, "Look at me, I'm happy."
Zhou Shuren asked, "Why did you leave the capital today?"
Zhulan told the Queen Mother the will, "Look at my efficiency. I can report to the Queen Mother tomorrow."
Zhou Shuren, "Yes, yes, you are the best."
Although Zhulan had been busy all day, she was in good spirits. "The Second Prince is at the manor today."
Zhou Shuren was not surprised, "He has a lot of thoughts."
Zhulan, "Who put the Second Prince in the Ministry of Rites?"