Zhou Shuren enjoys his son's filial piety, and most of his weight is on his son. "Another year has passed, and after these few busy days, I can relax."
Changzhi smiled and said, "Is there any bonus this year?"
Zhou Shuren squinted his eyes, "You still care about the year-end bonus?"
Chang Zhi said: "Why should I look down on it? Last year's bonus was very generous."
Zhou Shuren frowned, "The emperor didn't say anything."
Changzhi thought for a moment and said, "That's bad enough."
Zhou Shuren thought, "Not necessarily. Probably not as good as last year."
Changzhi added: "The treasury is full this year, so Dad will have less to worry about money next year."
Zhou Shuren laughed, "Money has many uses."
Changzhi felt sorry for his father, "Dad worries too much."
Zhou Shuren's steps suddenly became much lighter, "There aren't many years left to fuck."
He was waiting for the eldest grandson to grow up, and after he had continued to improve the Ministry of Revenue, he could let go completely.
Changzhi was really happy for his father, "You can enjoy a peaceful life now. Dad and I can support the family now."
This is not an empty statement. No one took him seriously before, but now no one dares to look down on him.
Zhou Shuren turned his head to look at his fourth son and laughed, "Dad is very happy."
The father and son walked very slowly. When they left the palace, only the carriages from the Ministry of Revenue and the Hanlin Academy were left. Zhou Shuren did not ask his son to see him off. Instead, he watched his son go first.
Jin Yan asked, "My Lord, let's go too."
Zhou Shuren sighed, "You see, Changzhi and the others still have a long way to go, and all I can do is support them."
He no longer had to support the Marquis' Mansion by himself, and he felt proud but also a little empty.
Jin Yan said, "My Lord, you should be happy that you have someone to succeed you."
"Yes, I should be happy. All my descendants are good."
As the year draws to a close, Zhulan and Liu Ling keep in touch with each other. Liu Ling takes the opportunity to bring Shao Ting along when she wants to send New Year gifts.
Shao Ting hasn't been to the Marquis' Mansion since she took over the position of headmistress, all because her sister-in-law pointed out the meaning of it. Shao Ting felt a little uncomfortable coming with her sister-in-law today.
Especially when Shao Ting saw the Crown Prince's wife, she became even more nervous.
Zhu Lan motioned for Aunt Liu Ling to sit down. She rarely went to the academy in winter and hadn't seen Shao Ting for a long time. The girl was at the age of growing up, and she saw that Shao Ting had changed a lot. "I think Shao Ting seems to have grown a lot taller."
Liu Ling smiled and said, "It has indeed grown. All the clothes at home are too small."
Li also looked at Shao Ting. She was not a wicked mother-in-law. In addition, her family background was not high, so she did not look down on Shao Ting even after she became the Crown Prince's Consort. In her opinion, the girls praised by mothers-in-law were all good girls. She was not a person with a strong desire for control, so as long as her son liked her, it was fine.
Zhulan looked at her eldest daughter-in-law, and Li smiled knowingly and said, "I got some good material here. I'll take it out and buy new clothes for the young lady."
Shao Ting stood up quickly after hearing this and said, "Thank you, Madam."
Li likes girls who are open and generous. Shao Ting is in charge of things in the college and is a successful person. The more Li sees her, the more he likes her.
Shao Ting has a crush on Zhou Minghui. She didn't dare to think about it before and had to put it in her mind. But now she can think about it and feels embarrassed when facing her little daughter who is looking at her too much.
After chatting for a while, Liu Ling and her sister-in-law left, and Li prepared jewelry and fabrics for making clothes for Shao Ting.
After the aunt and sister-in-law left the mansion, Liu Ling smiled and said, "I feel relieved this time."
She knew that the Crown Prince's wife was a good person, but the lady didn't express it and she was afraid that her younger sister would not be liked by the Crown Prince's wife.
Shao Ting felt sweet as she held the jewelry box. Although she hadn't seen Zhou Minghui for a long time, the Crown Prince's wife's attitude was that of Zhou Minghui, "Sister-in-law."
Liu Ling sensed shyness and said, "Okay, okay, I won't say anything."
But she was thinking about her sister-in-law's dowry. The Shao family didn't have much wealth. The current wealth, not counting her dowry, was all what her husband got after passing the imperial examination. These things were not enough for her younger sister's dowry. It would be ugly if the dowry was too little for a high-class marriage.
Liu Ling was thinking about how to buy more dowry.
At the Marquis's Mansion, Li also talked about the betrothal gifts, "Minghui's betrothal gift should not be higher than that of his two brothers."
She wanted to give more betrothal gifts so that Miss Shao's dowry would not be ugly, but she didn't want to give too much.
Zhulan understood, and thinking of the books Minghui had sorted out, she smiled and said, "Minghui has a plan, let him figure it out himself."
Li, "What else can he do? Is he going to secretly send all his savings over there?"
Zhulan smiled but said nothing, "Just follow your plan and don't worry about him."
Zhulan had no intention of adding Minghui to her family secretly. She had many grandchildren and she would not make an exception.
Another day passed, and the brothers Mingrui and Minghui went to the bookstore. They had ordered books from the bookstore and were going to pick them up today.
Changzhong thought about it and followed them. Sitting in the carriage, Changzhong smiled and said, "You look more like people who are going to take part in the Spring Examination than I do."
Mingrui has a complete plan for the future, so he is not in a hurry to take the imperial examination. "Although we don't take the imperial examination, we are also very brave."
Changzhong, "I've been busy doing the questions and haven't paid much attention to you. How's your progress?"
The two frowned, "Ah, even with Fourth Uncle's guidance, our progress is still slow."
"I'll help you after my spring exam is over."
Mingrui smiled and said, "Well, uncle, don't lose your words."
Changzhong didn't know how big a hole he had dug for himself, and smiled cheerfully, "I will keep my word."
When the carriage arrived at the bookstore, Changzhong saw the third prince at a glance. Beside the third prince was Lord Du, the third prince's cousin.
The Third Prince also noticed Changzhong and the others and said with a smile, "It's rare to see the three Young Masters Zhou at this time."
Changzhong smiled and said, "We came to the bookstore to pick up books. Are you here to buy books?"
The third prince also picked up the book and said, "Pick a few books about architecture."
Chang Zhong understood. He had heard from his father that a royal garden would be built next year. The Ministry of Works had the most complete collection of such books. The Third Prince did not read them at the Ministry of Works but bought them at a bookstore instead. He obviously did not want people to suspect his intentions, but at the same time he did not want to see the opportunity slip away.
Lord Du remained silent. He had had some thoughts, but unfortunately the Third Prince was determined to be a wise king. He also threatened the Du family and even threatened that he would report to the Emperor if the Du family dared to mess with him. The Du family's thoughts were completely put to rest.
The third prince bought a book and left. Changzhong also selected a book. After returning home, Changzhong came to the main courtyard and told the story about the third prince's behavior.
Zhu Lan said: "The Third Prince is a man with a promising future."
Opportunities come to those who are prepared. The third prince already has the right time in the Ministry of Works. If he works hard in secret, he will have the right time, place and people.
Changzhong thought so too. "I think the Du family is very well behaved. The third prince is quite sober."
Zhulan smiled and said, "Only when you are sober can you live a good life."
Changzhong smiled and said that as long as the crown prince was not involved, the emperor would arrange for other princes.
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye it is the New Year again. In the blink of an eye it is the twelfth year of Shenghui. The big event after the New Year is the Spring Examination.
Many eyes in the capital were on Zhou Hou Mansion. As Zhou Hou's youngest son won the first place in the imperial examination, some people privately placed bets on whether Zhou Hou Mansion would have another runner-up.