The prince also had a headache looking at the files. There were too many cases in the Ministry of Justice, not to mention the pressure. He raised his head and asked, "Master Zhou, are you feeling unwell?"
Zhou Shuren's heart was moved, and he coughed, "It rained last night, and the temperature has dropped a lot today. I am old, and it is inevitable that my body is a little uncomfortable."
The prince was still very nervous. His father said he would go to the six ministries, but he was not really allowed to stay there. There were also time limits. He planned to just go through the motions for the Ministry of War, but not the Ministry of Justice. "I will send someone to invite the imperial physician. Imperial Physician Liu is also familiar with your family. Imperial Physician Liu will step down. His son is even better than me. I will ask him to come over."
Zhou Shuren, "... No, that's not necessary. I'll just drink some hot water. No need to call a doctor."
He finally understood that even if he was really sick, he couldn't escape it. This prince, no, the emperor and the prince really treated him like oil!
When the prince heard this, he understood and was speechless. How many people wanted to show off their faces and abilities more often, but Zhou Shuren was one of them. However, when his eyes fell on Zhou Shuren's desk, the prince felt guilty for a rare time. Well, he had indeed exploited him too much.
The prince cleared his throat and said, "Master Zhou, you have worked hard. After you finish looking at the table today, Master Zhou should go back and rest."
If Zhou Shuren hadn't been an excellent actor, he would have been furious. He thought he was a scanner because of all the files on the table. "Yes."
The prince thought to himself that he would discuss with his father later and reward Lord Zhou with more ginseng and other high-quality tonics in the future.
Zhou Shuren was feeling depressed. He took the file. His original intention was to take advantage of the situation. No, he wanted to just do nothing.
He accompanied the Crown Prince to the six ministries. No matter what the Emperor was thinking, whether he wanted to really prove that he was standing behind the Crown Prince, or simply thought that he could discover something, he really didn't want to be involved in the Ministry of Justice.
Among the six ministries, the water in the Ministry of Justice is the most muddy. Although the Ministry of Personnel is also muddy, it is not as muddy as that of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Rites is the only one in power and the water is very clear. The Ministry of Revenue is the purse, and the emperor will be angry with anyone who touches the purse. The officials of the Ministry of Revenue whose property was confiscated in the past few years are proof of this.
The Ministry of War is the place that the Emperor keeps the closest eye on. Except for some people who have ulterior motives, the Ministry of War is actually in chaos, especially after the Emperor secretly cleaned it up.
As for the Ministry of Works, let’s not mention it. The only difference is the Ministry of Justice. This place has a lot of gray income, which means it is like a sieve.
Zhou Shuren looked at the files on the table. He wanted to slack off, but the prince would definitely not allow it. He moved forward cautiously. The conspiracy did not work on him, but instead he ended up hurting himself. He really wanted to vomit.
Zhou Shuren looked at the file, wishing he could see through it. Finally, he gritted his teeth and put down the work he was doing, "Your Highness, I have something to say."
The prince raised his head and said, "Master Zhou, please speak."
Zhou Shuren took a deep breath, "I don't know much about the Ministry of Justice. I only know a few officials such as the Minister of Justice and the Vice Minister. So I want to get to know the officials of the Ministry of Justice, from the Minister to the Prison Manager."
The prince thought for a moment, "Yes, I'll send it over in a while."
Zhou Shuren didn't plan to look at the files. There was no point in looking at them. These files had been processed and nothing could be seen from them. Of course, fake ones would definitely leave traces, but Zhou Shuren didn't have the time to look at them carefully. If he really read all the files from so many years, he would be exhausted to death.
Zhou Shuren saw the prince put down the file in his hand, thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, why don't you take a look at the records of the atonement department and the payment of atonement silver."
As long as it is directly related to money, the problem must be serious. This is a breakthrough.
The prince felt that his mind was imprisoned. He was in a higher position and liked to see the results, so he ignored a lot. He looked at Zhou Shuren meaningfully, "Master Zhou, are you feeling well?"
Zhou Shuren knew that he was dawdling, and the prince had realized what was happening. He lowered his head and said, "I have been thinking about where to start."
Anyway, he would never admit that he wanted to slack off, even if he was beaten to death.
The prince did not insist on it, "Since Lord Zhou mentioned this, I think the prison office should also take a closer look."
Zhou Shuren felt deeply moved that the prince's reaction was really quick. He was worthy of being His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He was in charge of the prison hall, the jailers, the distribution of prison uniforms, prisoner food, medicine, etc. It was indeed a good starting point to look at the problem in detail.
In the Ningguo Mansion, Ning Zhixiang came back from the newly built study. Yu brought him tea and said, "My husband is back."
Ning Zhixiang was happy, and a smile appeared on his face. "I just saw the newly built study room. Dad has placed five bookshelves in the study room. With the books in the Duke's Mansion, I can't say that the Duke's Mansion has the most complete collection of books, but it is enough for the children."
Yu curled her lips, "Grandpa did a lot for our son, that was prepared for my cousin."
Ning Zhixiang frowned, "Don't talk nonsense, Third Uncle's mansion has everything, this study was built by Grandpa and Dad for Ning Zhao and Ning Ming."
He was clear-headed. Third Uncle had only one son, Rongchuan, and he should give him everything he wanted. He would never be thinking about the study in the Duke's Mansion.
This study was built by my grandfather and father based purely on the Zhou Mansion.
Yu was unwilling to accept this, and her heart ached when she thought of the betrothal gifts. "Yes, Third Uncle's mansion has everything, but I see that Grandpa and Grandma want to give all their savings to Rongchuan."
As soon as Rongchuan returned home, he became the treasure of the old lady and the old man.
Ning Zhixiang would be lying if he said he didn't mind. Without Rongchuan, his grandmother loved him even more because of his health. Thinking that it was Rongchuan himself who suggested educating his son, he felt a lot less depressed. They are a family, Rongchuan understands it, and he, as his brother, understands it too.
Ning Zhixiang said coldly: "Don't talk nonsense in the future. We are all descendants of the Ning family and we must work together."
Yu was choked. They were all descendants of the Ning family, but why did the eldest brother inherit the Duke's Mansion and the cousin have the title of Marquis, but only their second branch had nothing!
At the Zhou Mansion, Boss Zhou and Chang Zhiyong arrived home, got off the carriage and headed straight for the main courtyard.
Zhulan was looking at the recent expenses with Zhao Qiuniang when she heard the eldest brother calling her mother. Zhulan put down the account book and stood up, "Mother thought I heard it wrongly. Good, good, mother has been thinking about you these days. You two finally got home safely."
After Chang Yi was plotted against, Zhou Shuren also sent people to investigate, but found nothing, so the case was left unresolved.
She was particularly concerned about her eldest son and Changzhi. She was afraid that there was a plot waiting for her three sons who were away. Now that she saw her two sons returned home safely, she felt relieved.
The eldest son helped his mother into the house and said, "Mom, I am an unfilial son and have made you worried."
Zhulan patted the eldest brother's hand, "You may not like what I said, but a mother worries about her son even when he is thousands of miles away. How can you be unfilial? In our family, you are all filial."
Changzhi smiled and said, "Mom, how are you and Dad doing lately?"
Zhulan said: "Your father and I are in good health."
Precisely because it was so good, Zhou Shuren talked about it all the time and couldn't afford to be lazy.
Changzhi looked at his mother, who seemed to have gained some weight since he left, so he said, "Mom, you seem to have gained some weight."
Zhulan wanted to pinch her belly. She had indeed gained weight, and she couldn't lose any more weight. Ever since she gained weight, she had been thinking about controlling her weight, but with little effect. Zhulan knew the answer. She had been nourishing her body, and now that she was doing well, she was starting to gain weight.
But she really wants to lose weight, and now she envies Zhou Shuren's weight.