Chapter 1569: Chapter 1569: Gave Birth

The carriage arrived at the Ministry of Revenue. Ming Rui learned from his father that while he was not in the capital, many events had occurred in the imperial court. The most significant was that the two countries at the Dongbei border were exchanging border citizens for food.

The Dongbei border was unstable. Last winter, the two countries frequently tested each other and engaged in several skirmishes, but ultimately did not escalate into large-scale war. This was primarily due to the imperial court’s formidable gunpowder weapons, coupled with the fact that the border citizens of the two countries relied on the court for survival, often causing disturbances in their own countries. Thus, last winter was relatively peaceful.

The father and son waited at the door for a while until the officials of the Ministry of Revenue gradually emerged.

Zhou Shuren and Qiu Yan came out together. Qiu Yan immediately spotted Chang Yi and his son, remarking, “Mr. Hou, this is Ming Rui coming back to the capital to meet you.”

Zhou Shuren smiled, “Ming Rui is such a filial child. Just back home and already here to see me with his father. This child is even more considerate than a daughter.”

Qiu Yan looked envious, watching Marquis Zhou leave cheerfully, and shook his head with a smile. In recent years, Mr. Hou had become increasingly proud of his grandchildren.

Back in the carriage, Zhou Shuren felt sorry for his grandson, who had lost weight, and patted his grandson’s shoulder, “Take care of yourself and recover.”

“Mm.”

Chang Yi said, “Father, you have been working hard lately as well.”

Indeed, Zhou Shuren was exhausted. He had been busy arranging grain supplies. Fortunately, the temperature had risen, and the wild vegetables were sprouting. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to allocate so much grain, “In a few days, things will be less hectic.”

Chang Yi felt a bit emotional, “I didn’t expect the Emperor to agree to exchange grain for the citizens of the two countries; I thought it would be better to invade directly and save the grain.”

Zhou Shuren, “… In these times of grain scarcity, what would conquering two countries gain us? It would only add two more burdens. Besides, the integration of the grasslands and the Dongbei tribes still hasn’t been completely resolved, wouldn’t that be more trouble than it’s worth?”

Then he glared and said, “Do you want your father to be exhausted to death?”

Chang Yi touched his nose, “I was thinking too simply.”

Zhou Shuren snorted, “It’s not just simple. The citizens exchanged for grain have different household registrations as second-class citizens. They can only work on border construction, exchanging household registration according to merit. Tell me, as second-class citizens in our country, as long as they work, they have food to eat. Although they may not be full, they won’t starve. What would the citizens of the two countries think?”

Ming Rui interjected, “The citizens of the two countries would try to become our second-class citizens by any means, and eventually, without a fight, we would swallow the two countries, waiting to take them over when the time is ripe.”

Zhou Shuren nodded with satisfaction, “Exactly.”

The Emperor has ambition, but unfortunately, the country cannot bear the burden of two countries’ citizens yet, with the grasslands still waiting to be developed.

Zhou Shuren mentioned a few points, and after the Emperor pondered it carefully, he had the idea of slowly absorbing the territories. Second-class citizens, being useful, were less of a concern to manage. The Dongbei border is inherently harsh; using the citizens obtained from the exchange for construction is very suitable.

Reclaiming wasteland, constructing cities, etc., now had the necessary manpower.

Additionally, the two countries felt they had profited. For the border citizens, food was more important than their country, which they had long forgotten. They were killed off and intimidated to no effect. It would be wiser to utilize them to exchange for food.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Ming Rui, having returned, stayed at home. Lin Qing never came, but the elders of the Lin family did. They were only waiting for Zhou Shuren’s day off to set the wedding date for the two children.

The Zhou family was busy with preparations. Yu Lu from the Wong family went into labor, and Lady Li hurried to the Wong family with Ran Wan while Zhulan waited at home for news.

Xue Mei, back in the capital and often accompanying her mother, happened to be there today. Noticing her mother glancing at the door from time to time, she comforted her, “It takes time for a child to be born, Mother, don’t be anxious.”

“I am so concerned. I don’t know if my dream will come true. This morning I told your eldest sister-in-law that I dreamt of Yu Lu giving birth, and a little tiger jumped into my arms, immediately turning into a chubby baby, a baby boy. I had just told your eldest sister-in-law when Yu Lu went into labor.”

Xue Mei laughed, “It’s your grandson letting you see him in advance!”

Zhao also said, “Yu Lu is blessed, your dream will come true.”

Zhulan also found it magical. She had shared the vivid dream with Shuren after waking up, “If it indeed turns out to be a big chubby boy, I’ll be generous and give each of you a piece of jewelry.”

Su Xuan chuckled, “What you’ve got are all treasures. We’ll gladly partake in Yu Lu’s blessings.”

Xue Mei looked at her daughter-in-law, smiling faintly. Her daughter-in-law had gotten pregnant at the end of last year. Being in her hometown, she was in a good mood, and the child came. Because her daughter-in-law was pregnant, she and her husband would not be traveling this year, staying home to await the child’s birth.

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was afternoon at the Wong family. Yu Lu, experienced from having her first child, wasn’t panicking but the child just didn’t seem willing to come out.

Outside, Mrs. Tao eagerly watched the delivery room, praying repeatedly in her heart, hoping it was a son.

Lady Li kept glancing at the clock from time to time, “It’s been more than three hours.”

Ran Wan reassured her, “Little sister is in good shape, and the experienced midwife said it’s no problem, Mother, don’t worry.”

Lady Li listened to her daughter-in-law and calmed down. The experience of her daughter giving birth felt different, and being mindful of her daughter-in-law beside her, she could only keep her eyes fixed on the delivery room.

After a while, Yu Lu had been inwardly cursing the child in her belly, and finally, the child’s cries were heard, loud and clear, resonating in the courtyard.

The elderly woman quickly came out, beaming with a smile. Her face was lined with creases, “A six-and-a-half-pound young master, congratulations, Madam.”

The old lady of the Wong family moved swiftly without needing support to see the child, “Good, good.”

Mrs. Tao’s mouth was about to stretch to her earlobes, “Yu Lu is truly blessed.”

Lady Li felt at ease, hurried to care for her daughter, and upon knowing her daughter was fine and already tired asleep, went to see the child. The child resembled her daughter. She then followed the granny into the delivery room.

Ran Wan thought, ‘Little sister-in-law is truly blessed, having two sons. In the Wong family, no one dared to offend her.’

Zhulan learned the news, “My dream indeed came true.”

Qing Xue remarked, “The young master has a bond with you, Madam, he is close to you!”

Zhulan believed so as well, and although not superstitious, she welcomed a little superstition this time, “I will carefully choose a gift. Let’s go, check the storeroom.”

Qing Xue smiled, “Yes.”

The Wong family had another male member, and Wong Wei was exceptionally jubilant, planning to hold a grand banquet. For this, he even wrote a Zhezi, as nowadays everywhere practiced frugality. The Wong family didn’t want to be caught by the Imperial Censor, so Wong Wei personally acted to justify hosting a banquet for the newborn.

The Wong family had a thin lineage, and such high-profile displays were understood from the Emperor to the officials.

Meanwhile, the Zhou family’s daughter was rumored to bring her husband fortune, and the rumors were becoming increasingly serious. Some believed it, while others deliberately fueled it. Being overly popular was also not good as it attracted attention.

In the Palace, Zhou Shuren noticed the Crown Prince glancing at him several times, somewhat unable to fathom, “Why does the Crown Prince keep looking at me? Is there something improper about me today?”