Chapter 1535: Don’t come out two years ago

Zhou Shuren stood up and turned around twice. "You are right. There is no smoke without fire. Maybe the queen is really ill. Didn't you ask the concubine?"

"Xue Han hasn't been to the palace recently. You know the weather has gotten cold. Xue Han is afraid that Xia Er will get sick, so she doesn't dare to leave Xia Er at all."

Zhou Shuren sat down. "The emperor didn't react much. This explains two things. First, the empress's illness is not serious. Second, the emperor is aware of the empress's condition and has been mentally prepared for it for a long time."

"I prefer the latter."

Zhou Shuren also thought so, "Well, for now, it's good for the Crown Prince and the government if the Queen is alive and well."

If the Empress becomes a bad person, the ambitions of those in the harem will grow and the current stable political situation will be disrupted.

Zhulan, "The queen is ill, and Concubine Hui has become the most prominent person in the harem. The Wang family has two princes, and they got the job of running the pharmacy. Now the pharmacy is so prosperous that it attracts attention. They are all targets."

Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes, "You mean, someone took advantage of the Queen's illness to attack Concubine Hui?"

"It's either Concubine Hui or the Wang family. As for the prince, he doesn't dare to do that yet. This is the emperor's bottom line, but as his ambitions grow, someone will trample on his bottom line sooner or later."

Zhou Shuren sighed. Once the bottom line is crossed, the gap cannot be closed.

In the following days, there were more rumors about the Queen. It was said that the Queen was seriously ill and it seemed that she would not live long.

The rumor did not spread until the empress met several ladies of noble rank.

Rongchuan also returned to Beijing at this time. When the couple came to the Marquis' Mansion, Zhulan saw that Rongchuan's brows were tightly furrowed, and the murderous aura in Rongchuan's body had not yet completely subsided.

Xue Han saw her mother's expression and said, "Mom, you've also noticed that it's good for him to come back home. Xiaer cries when she sees him."

"Rongchuan suffered a lot on the grassland."

How many people have been killed by this evil spirit?

Rong Chuan tried his best to calm down. "Mom, I can't control people if I'm not fierce in the grassland. I kept trying to calm down on the way back to Beijing, but I still can't calm down completely. I plan to live in Huguo Temple for a few days."

Otherwise, his daughter and son were a little afraid of him, not to mention Xiaer who knew nothing. Children are the most sensitive. His son would cry when he saw him, which scared him because his son had a bad lung.

Zhulan agreed, "We should definitely stay there for a while."

Xue Han was a little reluctant, but she had no choice, "Mom, Rong Chuan was able to come back early because of Brother Wu Ming."

Zhu Lan looked at Rong Chuan, "It seems like Wu Ming helped a lot."

Rongchuan nodded, "Yes, with the help of Brother Wu Ming in the later stage, the division of the states went much more smoothly, and there was no need for me to continue to stay in charge. After all, I also came back with a mission."

"Can you tell me your mission?"

Rong Chuan nodded, "Yes, the winter on the grassland is harsh. It is cold and there is a lack of firewood. The soldiers stationed there can't stand it. I came back with a letter asking for your approval."

Zhulan thought to herself, this is why they come back to ask for money. This year, the army was gradually withdrawn, but many soldiers were left behind to guard the city. Everything was done for the sake of stability, so military supplies cannot be saved.

Rongchuan talked about the hardships of life on the grassland, the lack of cotton clothes and charcoal fire, and how difficult it was to endure in winter.

In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren from the Ministry of Revenue met his son-in-law. After he read the folded paper, the curve of his mouth disappeared. "This should be given to me by the Ministry of War."

"Ah, the Minister of War asked me to take you."

Zhou Shuren knew that "military demand has been rising sharply in the past two years."

It's easy to go up but hard to come down. It really gives him a headache.

Rong Chuan touched his nose and said, "I heard that the Ministry of War sent quite a few memorials."

Zhou Shuren pointed to a pile of things on the table. "They are all from the Ministry of War. The temperature has dropped drastically this year, and they need cotton and charcoal."

Rong Chuan said seriously, "Dad, is there a shortage of cotton this year?"

"Well, the cotton merchants have some cotton that is squeezed out. I have already bought some in the name of the court, but it is not much. The court also has some cotton stored in preparation for the snowstorm. The latter cannot be moved, and the former is not much and not enough to share."

"I would like to donate some, but unfortunately the farm is all used to grow crops this year."

Zhou Shuren, "How much can you personally donate? I know the grasslands are difficult, and they have indeed worked hard this year. I know that."

Rong Chuan was relieved, "Dad, I'm not the one who's selling you out. The soldiers on the grassland are really suffering. And the ointment for frostbite is also in short supply."

Zhou Shuren nodded, "I know you and the soldiers went through hardships on the grassland, but now that you are back in the capital, you are still a prince without military power. You have done what you should do, so go to the Huguo Temple tomorrow."

Rong Chuan felt warm in his heart, "Dad, I know what I am doing. I will not make my brother jealous."

"As long as you understand."

The next day, Rongchuan left Beijing early in the morning and went to Huguo Temple. After meeting the master, he sat in meditation and chanted the Buddha's name.

The emperor shook his head and said, "I still have many things to ask him, but he left so easily."

Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "I heard from my wife that when the King of Qin came back, the children were all afraid of him. The King of Qin was so scared that he didn't dare to get close to the children. He could only peek at them eagerly. The King of Qin must be very anxious."

Your Majesty, "Not to mention the children, even I was shocked."

Zhou Shuren's heart skipped a beat. "Ah, you are still young and don't know how to control your evil spirit. You are not as good as a general who has fought in the battlefield for a long time. The King of Qin lacks a lot."

"You are asking too much of the King of Qin."

Zhou Shuren looked like he was doing his best for his son-in-law, "My requirements are actually not high, just peace and security. Alas, King Qin had a hard time when he was a child, and I still think about the past from time to time."

Your Majesty, "It's all in the past."

Zhou Shuren's nerves slowly relaxed. He was afraid that the emperor would be jealous of Rongchuan and felt resentful. Fortunately, the emperor did not have this idea. After a few days, he asked his concubine to tell Rongchuan in person that he should stay in the Huguo Temple until the New Year and not go out before the New Year.

The emperor talked about business. "The breeding this year is good. The yield of the reclaimed land is not high, but it has also completed the prescribed yield. I want to expand the reclamation next year. The continuous drop in temperature in the past two years has made me feel uneasy."

Zhou Shuren had no objection, "Your Majesty is wise."

As for the fact that the eldest grandson of the Wen family was able to complete the task, he was not surprised. The eldest grandson of the Wen family was useless, but the people he brought with him were not useless. The Wen family wanted to save face, and if the eldest grandson lost face, it would be as if the Wen family lost face. In order to save face, he secretly put in a lot of effort.

Thinking about it this way, sending the Wen family's eldest grandson over there was a perfect move. Look how much the Wen family cared about it.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhou Shuren came out of the palace with a lighter step. There had been no major disasters in the country this year, and grain had been stored in the warehouses, so he was confident. In addition, there was an additional tax this year, and the burden on his back was much lighter.

The next day, after the morning court session, Zhou Shuren rarely stayed behind. Li Zhao came over and asked, "When are you going to deposit the money?"

Zhou Shuren, "Go back and ask someone to come over."

Li Zhao was surprised, "You gave it to me so readily?"

Zhou Shuren snorted, "When did I not give money when I had more than enough? I don't have any money, and you ask me for it. How can I give it to you?"

He just wants to find a way to exchange money everywhere. He feels sorry for himself just thinking about it.

Li Zhao laughed dryly, "Those who are capable should work harder."

Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes and said, "I want to rest more."

Li Zhao touched his nose. It was indeed not easy for Zhou Shuren in the past two years. The old man had aged very obviously in the past two years.