Chapter 1541: Chapter 1541: Entering the Capital

Zhou Shuren didn’t think the Minister of Rites was after Silver; the embassy annually replaces its furnishings and whatnot, and every year collects Silver Coin from merchants. The Ministry of Rites doesn’t have any major issues, nor is it short on Silver.

The Minister of Rites gestured to invite first, speaking as they walked, “Marquis Zhou’s youngest son isn’t engaged yet, is he?”

Zhou Shuren paused in his steps, “Mm.”

The Minister of Rites smiled, “My younger sister’s daughter was born in the seventeenth year of the Yongzhi reign, a year younger than Marquis Zhou’s son. What does Marquis Zhou think?”

Zhou Shuren didn’t think much of it; how to put it, he didn’t like the Minister of Rites. The Minister was somewhat politically opportunistic, though this type of person was never lacking in the Imperial court. But his own son’s engagement certainly wouldn’t be linked to the Minister of Rites. He chuckled, “My son is still young.”

This type of person, like the Minister of Rites, was skilled at understanding subtle hints. Even when rejected, he wouldn’t be offended, and his face still bore a smile, “That’s quite a pity.”

Zhou Shuren wasn’t afraid of the Minister of Rites putting Chang Yi in a difficult position; as long as he held power and was Marquis Zhou, the Minister would only favor Chang Yi.

Afterward, the Minister of Rites talked about some recent events until he departed by carriage.

Zhou Shuren mused; his youngest son was indeed at an age to discuss marriage. His son had been away from the capital for over a year; no one bothered about him, but now that he was back, it was normal to be concerned.

In ancient times, it was easier for men to marry than for the families of women. Zhou Shuren truly wasn’t in a hurry.

At the Zhou residence, Zhulan looked at the letter sent by her elder brother, purse-lipped and in a bad mood. Her brother was no longer young, and this fall had broken his leg.

Zhulan sighed. The letter said it was nothing, but she didn’t believe it. Age slows metabolism, and her brother certainly suffered greatly from this fracture.

Mrs. Zhao comforted her, “Mother, there is a doctor watching over him. Uncle will certainly be fine.”

Zhulan felt a bit sad, “It’s still old age; we are getting old, all of us.”

Mrs. Zhao said, “Mother, don’t say that. In your daughter-in-law’s eyes, you’re still young.”

Zhulan smiled slightly, “Only you know what to say. Your brother wrote to you; is he coming to the capital?”

Mrs. Zhao nodded, “He has already become a Scholar, not in a hurry to take the civil service examination. We haven’t seen each other for many years; he wrote that he plans to come to the capital to spend New Year with me, and then travel for studies in the spring.”

Zhulan thought, “Indeed, you siblings haven’t seen each other for many years.”

At first, it was her idea for the child to stay in Lizhou Province.

Mrs. Zhao’s unsureness towards her brother gradually faded with time, and now she genuinely hoped her brother would come to the capital for her husband’s assistance towards him over the years.

Zhulan, after chatting with her second daughter-in-law for a while, personally went to the storage room to select tonic herbs to send to her elder and second brother. Good medicinal materials from Lizhou are still hard to come by.

In the evening, Zhou Shuren didn’t mention the engagement proposed by the Minister of Rites. Instead, he said, “Prince Liang is a ruthless self-tormentor. The Retired Emperor is, after all, his father and is getting older. With the Retired Emperor watching, along with Prince Liang’s military achievements, the Emperor won’t act against the Prince Liang Residence.”

Zhulan asked, “Is Prince Liang miserable?”

“How to say, Prince Liang gives me the impression of slow self-destruction. I can see it, and so can the Emperor and the Retired Emperor. Prince Liang is cutting at the Retired Emperor’s heart with a soft knife!”

Zhulan said, “Prince Liang is also afraid, worried about the short lifespan of the Empress. The Crown Prince is the Empress’s son, and Prince Liang can’t cause trouble, so he’s left to torment himself.”

Zhou Shuren chuckled, “Many people are aware of Prince Liang’s predicament. There’s an indissoluble knot between him and the Crown Prince. Someone may want to exploit it, but unfortunately, Prince Liang is focused solely on preserving the Prince Liang Residence.”

“That’s because Prince Liang sees things clearly.”

The Emperor has consistently suppressed the mother clans of the harem’s concubines, keeping everything within controllable bounds. Apparently, the Emperor has suffered enough from the strength of noble families. Can’t the mother clans of the harem’s concubines see it? They do, but royal power is too alluring.

The next day, news spread in the capital that Prince Liang was gravely ill, and the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital moved into the Prince Liang Residence. This illness of Prince Liang dragged on for a month before improving, then rumors spread of Prince Liang’s impending demise.

Besides Prince Liang’s grave illness, another big matter emerged in the capital. The Emperor was frugal with the ranks of harem concubines but unexpectedly promoted one to the position of Consort Zhung. Following this, because Consort Hui was too ill to care for the two Princes, the younger Prince was entrusted to Consort Zhung for upbringing.

This dealt a significant blow to the Wang family, finally understanding the Emperor’s resolve not to feign ignorance anymore and became obedient.

At this point, Mrs. Zhao’s younger brother finally arrived in the capital. Zhulan looked at the young man before her. Mrs. Zhao’s mother was a beauty, and so was Mrs. Zhao; her son took after her. Qian Keqi had already grown into a gentleman as gentle as jade. This child indeed grew up well.

Zhulan gestured, “When you left, you were only this tall, and now you’ve grown. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Qian Keqi, who lived alone for many years, was adept at handling social relations and reading people. Sensing the old lady’s goodwill, his initial nervousness vanished, and he said with a smile, “Because Keqi has grown up. Over these years, Keqi is thankful for the old lady’s care.”

Zhulan smiled and motioned him to sit down. She hadn’t provided much care; it’s truly the second wife who did so. But she didn’t interfere, and coupled with the assistance from the Yang family, it’s counted as caring for the child. “You’re perceptive.”

Qian Keqi replied, “Having lived alone for many years, this perception is what allowed me to achieve what I have today.”

Zhulan asked about Qian Keqi’s studies and then said to the second daughter-in-law, “You siblings chat, take him to see the yard and see what might be lacking. If there’s a need, you arrange it.”

Mrs. Zhao smiled, “Alright.”

After Mrs. Zhao led Qian Keqi away, Zhulan told Qing Xue, “This child grew up well.”

Qing Xue nodded, though inwardly thinking he seemed a bit feminine.

Mrs. Zhao took her brother to the courtyard, “This place is close to the front yard, so it’ll be convenient for you to go out. See if there’s anything else you need.”

Qian Keqi felt cared for, and the estrangement toward his sister lessened, “It’s already fine.”

Mrs. Zhao said, “Your brother-in-law originally wanted to take leave, but there’s something happening temporarily at the Ministry of Rites, and he couldn’t leave. He asked me to tell you that he’ll chat with you properly once he returns.”

Qian Keqi replied, “Alright, sister, I brought gifts and don’t know if you would like them.”

Mrs. Zhao thought of the leather sent to her, “It’s not easy for you to live by yourself. This time you spent quite a bit of Silver, didn’t you?”

“The annual New Year gifts sent back by you and brother-in-law are more precious. My business has been running well these years, so you need not worry much for me.”

Mrs. Zhao was well aware of this brother’s circumstances and knew he wasn’t pretending to be rich, “Rest first; we’ll chat again in the evening.”

When the government offices closed, Chang Yi was the first to return and went to see his brother-in-law. He was momentarily stunned by his brother-in-law’s appearance; he looked too good. There were too many sordid affairs in the capital, but fortunately, he was his wife’s brother.

Qian Keqi felt a bit uneasy being stared at, “Brother-in-law?”

Chang Yi sighed, “Later you can practice martial arts with Ming Rui and the others.”

Add a bit of masculinity.

Qian Keqi wasn’t someone who didn’t know good from bad, “Alright.”

A little over an hour elapsed when Zhulan, frowning, realized the sky was already dark outside, yet Shuren had still not returned home.

Chang Yi and the others didn’t mind much; sometimes father would return home late.

Another hour passed before Zhou Shuren came back to the residence. Seeing Zhou Shuren’s troubled expression, Zhulan quickly asked, “Did something happen?”