Chapter 1393: Face

When the time came to leave the government office, Zhou Shuren walked out of the gate of the Ministry of Revenue on time. Today, there were horse-drawn carriages of grassland tribes parked in front of the Ministry of Revenue.

King Tana got off the carriage and said, "I have never had the chance to invite you to a drink, and I feel very sorry. I wonder if you can give me some face today?"

Zhou Shuren wanted to refuse, but unfortunately he couldn't. The emperor was plotting against the grassland tribes, so he had to cooperate. "Your Highness, please."

King Tana laughed, "I like Lord Zhou's personality. Lord Zhou, please."

Zhou Shuren did not get on King Tana's carriage, but pointed to his own carriage and said, "My carriage will follow."

King Tana did not think much about it. Since the person had already been invited, Minister Zhou would not go back on his word, so he turned around and got on the carriage.

Zhou Shuren also got on his own carriage, and Jianyan followed him, whispering, "Why does the prince of the grassland tribe want to invite you?"

My Lord, you should have offended all these tribes last time.

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "The princesses of various tribes must have come to the capital for this matter."

There are no permanent enemies. As long as the benefits are enough, enemies will become brothers.

The grassland tribes also fight for territory every day, and have been sworn enemies for generations. But when the benefits are great, they should intermarry and form alliances.

Jinyan's heart was moved, "King Tana will give you a gift, sir."

Zhou Shuren, "Well, these grassland tribes should not only come to me."

As long as one can speak in front of the emperor, there should be people who will bribe him. Don't let yourself down when something comes to you for free. Thinking about the leather and medicinal herbs I saw yesterday, the grassland tribes have indeed become wealthy in the past few years.

Zhou Shuren couldn't help laughing again. These people had different minds. None of them were foolish enough to spend all their family savings to prepare for the war. They all had their own little ideas.

At night, Zhou Shuren came back when it was already dark. As soon as he entered the house, Zhulan smelled alcohol and frowned, "How much did you drink?"

Zhou Shuren, "I didn't drink much. King Tana is a heavy drinker. I smell like alcohol."

Zhulan put down the pen in her hand, took the handkerchief handed to her by the maid and wiped her hands. She observed that Zhou Shuren was indeed not drunk, and then she felt relieved. "You are not old anymore. Drinking is harmful to your health."

"I have heard your words many times before, and I remember them all in my heart."

Zhulan motioned to Zhou Shuren to change his clothes. Zhou Shuren took out a box from his arms. Zhulan opened it and her eyes lit up. The quality of this gem was really good.

"Did the grassland prince give it to you?"

"Well, let me say something nice about his daughter and say there will be a big reward if it's done."

Zhulan, "How generous."

Zhou Shuren said with regret, "It's a pity that it can't be accomplished. I can only reap the benefits once."

"It's already good. If you just accept it, will the emperor think too much?"

Zhou Shuren changed his clothes and said, "No, I will just mention it to the Emperor tomorrow when I go to the palace. Besides, I am not the only one to receive the gift."

There are too many old foxes in the capital, and no one will give away the benefits that they have gotten for free.

Zhulan thought the same thing, "Did you eat enough tonight? If not, ask the kitchen to prepare some."

"No, I want to eat noodles. I'll ask the kitchen to make me some noodles with soybean paste."

"good."

The next day, after the morning court session, Zhou Shuren and the others had not yet taken action. The emperor left, leaving behind Eunuch Zhang. Eunuch Zhang stepped forward and said, "Sir Zhou, the emperor said you should just keep it."

Zhou Shuren touched the bag in his arms and nodded. This was the report from the general guarding the gate to the emperor.

Eunuch Zhang continued to deliver the message. Zhou Shuren counted and found that there were quite a few people who shared his idea today. Rong Enqing, who did not attend the morning court, also came and it seemed that he had received something.

Rong Enqing walked over quickly and asked, "You also got a gift?"

Yes, it was a gift, he didn't say it was a bribe.

Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "Well, I feel uneasy!"

Rong Enqing, "......"

You were not worried about receiving three hundred thousand taels, so this is nothing!

Zhou Shuren raised his eyebrows, "What's that look in your eyes?"

Rong Enqing, "I see that you don't look well. You must have been restless and didn't sleep well last night."

Zhou Shuren nodded, "Yeah, I couldn't sleep last night."

Rong Enqing didn't want to answer, "Most people have left, should we leave too?"

Zhou Shuren saw that there were not many people left, so he turned around and walked out. He met the prince after walking a few steps. "I have seen your highness."

The prince looked into Lord Zhou's arms. Why didn't anyone give him gifts? He was really poor. Even with his mother's help, he was still very poor. "I will go back to the Ministry of Revenue with you."

Rong Enqing was also busy paying his respects. He had very few opportunities to meet the prince, so he would naturally try to improve his impression of him as much as possible.

Zhou Shuren felt the prince's gaze, and he remained calm. He knew that what had gone into his pocket could not be spit out.

When they arrived at the palace gate, the prince had no carriage ready. He was planning to take advantage of Zhou Shuren. As he was about to get on the carriage, Rong Enqing took out something from his pocket and said, "Here are some small toys I just got for you to play with. Don't reject them."

The prince knew what these people had received, and he was happy in his heart, but his face was very reserved, "This is not good."

Rong Enqing had already stuffed the bag into the young eunuch's arms, "There's nothing wrong with it. I got it for free."

The prince frowned, "I can't accept it."

Rong Enqing ran away after paying his respects again, thinking that he had earned the prince's favor today, and his steps were very brisk.

The prince winked at the eunuch and then got on the carriage. Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes in his heart. Rong Enqing had cheated him, but Rong Enqing had generously given everything to the prince. If he didn't give anything, who knows what the emperor would think.

Zhou Shuren lowered his head and took out the bag. He opened the bag and turned over the gems inside. He confirmed that it was the smallest one before taking it out. "I have to support a large family, which is not as easy as Lord Rong. It is not easy to save up the dowry for my granddaughter. Please don't despise this gem, Your Highness."

The prince reached out to take it. He didn't need to pretend in front of Minister Zhou, but he failed to take it. "Sir?"

Zhou Shuren reluctantly let go of her hand, "Ah, it's not easy for me to support my family."

The prince pretended not to hear anything. He was happier to receive something from the door-snatching Lord Zhou than if Lord Rong had given him a bag of things. "I will treasure it."

Zhou Shuren, "......"

The prince thought that it would be safest to sell the gems to his father. Although the price would certainly be lower than the market price, at least it would not be discovered by the grassland prince. Between being embarrassed and losing some money, he chose the latter. Well, he still had some dignity.

At the Zhou family, Zhulan was looking at the letters from her eldest and second brothers. She wrote a letter to Wuchun, but it was her eldest and second brothers who replied. This explains a lot of problems.

The letter replied that everything was fine at home and didn't mention anything else.

Zhulan touched the letter and saw that there seemed to be some movement on the border. She took a deep breath and put the letter away.

Mrs. Zhao rushed in, "Mother, Wan'er is about to give birth."

Zhu Lan stood up and was not in a hurry. Ran Wan was already pregnant with her second child. "It was more than ten days earlier than the expected date."

Zhao, "Yes, my sister-in-law and I were talking to Ran Wan, and Wan'er had a stomachache, so the child was anxious to come out."

Zhulan smiled and said, "Let's go and take a look."