Chapter 8 The Heartless and Unfeeling Top Scholar
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When Zhiyi and Madam Ji alighted from the carriage, they were overjoyed to see the grand mansion that His Majesty had bestowed upon Ji Huaizhi.
The sign above the gate reads "Ji Mansion".
Madam Ji looked at the two words with satisfaction.
"My son has really made something of himself."
Ji's mother tightened her grip on Zhiyi's hand: "Zhiyi, did you see that?"
"Mother, your daughter-in-law saw it."
Zhiyi was also overjoyed.
Ah Gui had been waiting at the door. When he saw the Madam and the Old Madam arrive, he went up to greet them: "Old Madam, Madam."
"The master is currently busy with official business, so he asked me to wait here first."
"It's alright, we need to focus on important matters," Mrs. Ji said excitedly.
Master Shen nodded as he looked around the mansion: "As expected of the capital, it is indeed prosperous."
Mr. Shen brought all his possessions with him. Now that his daughter has come to the capital, he naturally wants to support her as well.
"Sir, the master has taken your request to buy a house to heart. He said he would send someone to take you to see the house when you have time."
"I'm free right now."
Upon hearing this, Zhiyi called out to her father, "You must be tired from the journey. Father, you should rest early today and go again tomorrow."
“Yes, there’s no rush,” Madam Ji also advised. “Huaizhi is also your son. Do you feel embarrassed to live in your son’s house?”
Mr. Shen was pleased to hear this and laughed heartily: "Then I'll listen to you."
Ah Gui then said, "The master has prepared everything long ago. After you finish your meal, please rest well."
"The master of the manor has hired a few more servants, saying that everything will be decided when the madam arrives."
Shen Zhiyi nodded gently, and after having her father and mother settled, she called A-Gui over.
"Are you always busy this late when you're pregnant?"
Ah Gui didn't hide anything: "Everyone had a good impression of you in the Ministry of Revenue before, but you offended the Prime Minister's daughter, and recently you've had a lot more official duties than before."
"People aren't as friendly as they used to be."
Shen Zhiyi pursed her lips; she knew it.
The capital city is a prosperous and bustling place, where it's easy to offend someone important if you're not careful.
Ah Gui thought the lady would ask why the master had offended the prime minister's daughter.
What are you trying to say?
Ah Gui volunteered to speak: "I bumped into the Prime Minister's daughter on the street before, but the officials didn't want to talk to her, so she suffered an undeserved misfortune."
Shen Zhiyi: "I understand, you can go now."
After going out, they bumped into Master Shen, who had returned.
"Father?"
"I came here to inform you that from now on you will stay in the Ji family to serve your husband and mother-in-law. After you and Huaizhi get married, you will also live in the Shen family."
"Many rules can no longer be followed like they are at home."
“You are Huaizhi’s wife. You must manage the affairs of the household well for him, and you must also be good at socializing when you go out. He now holds an official position. As husband and wife, you are his face when you go out.”
"Madam Ji is not in good health and may not be able to help in many ways, so you are the head of the household."
Mr. Shen felt sorry for his daughter and personally gave her instructions.
Before, you could do whatever you wanted at home, but things are different now.
Shen Zhiyi squatted down slightly, and Hongyin supported her.
"Your daughter understands and will remember your teachings."
"Father trusts our intentions, and you've always known how to behave appropriately."
While waiting in the room that night, Hongyin entered and said, "Miss, the young master is back."
Shen Zhiyi gave Hongyin a look.
Hongyin immediately lowered her head: "Madam, Master is back and is coming this way."
Shen Zhiyi, wearing a coat, said, "Ji Lang must be hungry, having been busy until so late. Go and bring up the food you prepared."
Ji Huaizhi, dressed in official robes, entered and stood tall at the doorway, meeting Shen Zhiyi's gaze: "Was the journey smooth?"
"It went smoothly."
Shen Zhiyi stepped forward to help him change his clothes: "I asked Hongyin to bring some food. You've been busy for so long, have something to eat."
Seeing her loosen her belt for him, Ji Huaizhi couldn't help but step forward and hug her: "Are you used to it?"
A whiff of pine resin filled the air, and I could hear his strong heartbeat as I nestled against his chest.
"See if there's anything else you need in the manor. Everything can be done according to your preferences."
"Mmm," Shen Zhiyi replied softly.
Sitting at the table, Shen Zhiyi watched him eat with tender eyes: "How's work going?"
"Everything is fine."
Seeing him say that, Shen Zhiyi pursed her lips: "I heard from Agui that the reason you are so busy is because of the Prime Minister's daughter. Is she difficult to deal with?"
Ji Huaizhi didn't hide anything from her: "It's nothing."
"This is also an opportunity; we expect to hear news tomorrow."
Shen Zhiyi blinked, feeling much more at ease seeing how confident he was.
At night, Ji Huaizhi gently stroked Shen Zhiyi's belly, his gaze falling on her chest, where he had given her a good luck charm, which she wore around her neck without ever leaving her side.
Her eyes seemed lost in thought, her mind wandering elsewhere.
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Ever since he got a peace charm from the system last time, something vague and indistinct has been on his mind.
He stared at the talisman for a long time, feeling that the runes on it looked very familiar.
One can even imagine what it would be like for the talisman to take effect.
When he asked the system, the system was delighted and asked him if he remembered.
In the end, it turned out he just thought the face looked familiar, so he was told to focus on his task.
Ji Huaizhi felt that his mind was full of tangled threads that were difficult to untangle.
Later, he tried drawing those runes in his study and found that he could draw them smoothly and skillfully.
It's like muscle memory.
~
In the palace.
The emperor looked at the yellow registers of the Ministry of Revenue that the officials from the Ministry of Revenue had handed over, and read them carefully from beginning to end.
These ledgers contained clear tables covering land tax, salt tax, customs duties, miscellaneous taxes, as well as the expenses of various officials, military expenditures, and construction costs.
All these costs are clearly listed.
The presentation is well-organized and the data is accurate.
His Majesty can see the fiscal surplus and deficit at a glance.
Many problems were immediately apparent.
For example, why are there so many other expenses associated with the construction of this official road?
Why is there such a large amount of other expenditure for bridge construction?
Why do royal gardens incur such exorbitant management fees? What is being managed? Who is managing it?
As soon as Prince Rong entered, he saw His Majesty's sullen face.
"What's wrong with my royal brother? He's even more frightening than that big tiger in the animal enclosure."
His Majesty threw the yellow book on the table: "I knew it! How come the national treasury is so badly depleted after it came into my hands? Turns out there are so many rats in there."
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