When Zhou Shuren arrived at the Zheng Palace, there was only the emperor inside. Eunuch Liu was standing outside the palace waiting. Zhou Shuren could feel Eunuch Liu's expectant gaze, which was a very bad feeling and made him even more uneasy.
Eunuch Liu stood motionless at the door outside the hall. Although it was a bit cold outside, he didn't need to be scared inside the hall, so he was willing to wait outside the hall.
Zhou Shuren was about to pay his respects when the emperor heard footsteps and raised his hand to signal him not to greet him. "Sit down. I just wanted to chat with you today."
Zhou Shuren, "... Thank you, Your Majesty."
It would be better to go to him if there is something. He doesn't like being the emperor's audience from the bottom of his heart because it is too dangerous. He really doesn't want to know the emperor's inner thoughts and prefers to observe the emperor from afar.
The emperor had already prepared tea and there was a chessboard in front of the table. The emperor had been playing chess with himself for a while.
Zhou Shuren sat aside, not daring to look around, and focused more on the chessboard. From the chessboard, Zhou Shuren could feel the emperor's dilemma, which was not as decisive as before. He also explored the emperor's heart, and several princes had a place in the emperor's heart.
This is what it's like to be a father. Zhou Shuren felt a little more relaxed. At least the emperor before him was more affectionate. Although he was sometimes too cold-blooded, it was only towards outsiders. Zhou Shuren was silent again. Except for the royal family, everyone else was an outsider!
The emperor did not get a good rest last night. He thought for a long time. The only person who could chat with him was Zhou Shuren, because Zhou Shuren was smart, tight-lipped, and knew how to choose. "You have many sons. I see that your sons are very kind. Haven't they earned more than the family fortune you have saved?"
Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes in his heart, thought for a while and said, "I don't know how many of my sons are thinking about my property. I only know that after a hundred years, I will only get money and other property, so they all have to listen to me."
The emperor put down the chess piece in his hand. He understood what Zhou Shuren meant. A hundred years later, what he would divide was not only the money and property, but also the throne. The meanings were different and could not be discussed together.
Zhou Shuren really didn't want to be a close friend, especially to the emperor, but he knew that if he didn't say something, the emperor would not let him go. He was upset but had to bite the bullet and speak, "I like a saying very much, if you don't make a decision when you should, you will suffer the consequences."
That was all he could say. Any more would be beyond the scope. Damn it, it was already beyond the scope.
After hearing this, the emperor played with the chess pieces in his hand. He had never intended to establish the King of Jin. The dreams he had these days had influenced him. He should have decided on the title long ago, but he kept delaying it. Instead, the disputes among his sons became more intense. Zhou Shuren's words pierced his heart, and the emperor sighed, "I am old."
If you count them, you will find that many emperors become more ruthless as they grow older, but he is different. His childhood upbringing has had a profound impact on him. When his several sons were born, he was biased towards the crown prince, but also loved the others.
Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes in his heart, thinking that what you said was scary, but he pretended not to hear it.
The emperor looked at Zhou Shuren, who was looking down as if he was counting chess pieces, and scolded him with a smile, "Everyone in the capital says that Lord Zhou only listens to what he wants to hear. I have witnessed this today."
Zhou Shuren's mouth twitched. He really didn't know there was such a rumor in the capital!
Ministry of Rites, on the day Wu Ming took office, the capital paid more attention to Zhou Shuren. Wu Ming joined the Ministry of Rites, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites already knew Wu Ming's background by heart.
Feng Huai, the Minister of State, was even more amiable. "I have been waiting for you to take office. Today I finally get to see you in person. In the future, the Ministry of Rites will have another talented person. I am optimistic about you."
But I felt emotional in my heart. I thought the top scholar of that year was forgotten, but who would have thought that he would be back in Beijing in the blink of an eye. Zhou Shuren is really capable.
Wu Ming was already familiar with the officials and power distribution of the Ministry of Rites before he came to Beijing. He greeted them and said, "Thank you for your appreciation, sir."
Feng Huai has been a little bit arrogant recently. The Fourth Prince is gaining momentum, and the children of the Feng family have also gained a lot of benefits. He said to the minister beside him, "Take Wu Zhushi to get familiar with the Ministry of Rites."
Wu Ming was not surprised that he received such treatment, it was all because of his godfather, which was also the purpose of the prince sending him to the Ministry of Rites.
Gu Zhuomin felt uneasy when he saw that the treatment of the chief officers was so different. He was not a saint and had gone through a lot of hardships. He was still a human being and would be jealous. If he also had the protection of elders, how could he have become the chief officer at this age
This emotion came and went quickly. Gu Zhuomin was very calm. He was a rootless man. His vines had finally climbed up the giant tree, so he had to be more careful.
It was almost noon when Zhou Shuren came back from the Ministry of Revenue. All morning, Zhou Shuren had chatted with the emperor for a few words. The emperor had been playing chess with him, and he had tortured him so much that he didn't want to play chess for a whole year. The emperor was very merciless in venting his emotions.
After returning to the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was a little dazed. How many people had he killed in the morning? He could still remember at first, but later his mind was full of swear words!
What Xiao Qing saw was Zhou Shuren's dazed look. She wanted to find out more information, but she swallowed the words on her lips and said, "Go back and rest for a while."
Zhou Shuren really needed a rest. Not only was playing chess tiring, but this time it was a real blow to him. He always thought he was a good chess player and even wanted to give the emperor a break from the beginning. But before the game was over, he realized how naive his thoughts were and in the end, all he wanted to do was to delay the game a little longer.
Seeing Zhou Shuren leaning against the chair motionless, Qiu Yan opened his mouth, but finally let out a silent sigh. It was not easy to be an important minister to the emperor. He just hoped that nothing would happen to Lord Zhou.
The Ministry of Revenue knew about Zhou Shuren's condition, and then everyone who paid attention to him knew about it. They all wanted to find out what had happened, but after waiting and waiting, they still received no order for Zhou Shuren. In the end, they guessed that Zhou Shuren must have been reprimanded.
She has always been jealous of Zhou Shuren's gloating and wished that the emperor would punish Zhou Shuren.
Those who are closely related to Zhou Shuren are nervous. Some are afraid that something might happen to the Zhou family and that it will be affected, while others are truly concerned.
When Duke Ningguo heard the news, he immediately called his youngest son over and asked, "What news have you found out?"
Ning Xu was a little confused. He had been very honest since he handed over the power. And because of Rong Chuan, the Marquis' Mansion had always been the focus of the emperor's attention. He no longer kept an eye on the palace, and he didn't have to attend court. "What happened?"
Duke Ningguo explained, "The emperor kept Zhou Shuren here today, and Zhou Shuren returned to the Ministry of Revenue in a trance."
Ning Xu frowned, "Because Emperor Rongchuan will not punish Zhou Shuren unless Zhou Shuren has done something extremely treasonous. You also know Zhou Shuren, it is impossible for him to do something extremely treasonous. My son thinks that the Emperor is in a bad mood today, so Zhou Shuren was scolded."
Duke Ningguo, "I think so too. I'm not worried about Zhou Shuren. I'm worried about the delay in the title. Do you think there will be any changes?"
When the emperor proposed the title, he was confident that there would not be a King of Jin, but now considering the emperor's mood and reaction, and the fact that the prince was not in the palace today, he had to think more.