Chapter 1652: Showing Presence

Zhulan took a break and looked at the account book again. This was just a problem on the account book. There were many unknown issues, such as whether the clothes donated by people in various states were resold, whether the donated food was exchanged for coarse grain, etc.

Zhulan didn't want to make the most malicious guess, but the fact was just as she guessed, and the more she thought about it, the heavier her heart felt.

The next day, Zhulan went to the palace in person and handed the account book to the Queen Mother. After reading it, the Queen Mother asked, "What do you think?"

"I think we should send someone to take a closer look, rather than just listen to reports."

The Queen Mother nodded, "Does that mean you have a candidate?"

Zhu Lan smiled, "Marquis Rong has been focusing on the orphan these past few years. He knows the manors outside the city best, so it would be best for him to check them out. My grandson Mingrui can also help."

The Queen Mother did not immediately agree, and sighed, "The person who managed the manor was sent by me."

Now there is a problem of corruption and the Queen Mother is angry.

Zhulan, "It's because they can't control their greed."

But I was thinking that he must have accepted bribes when he was in the capital. Looking at his accounting skills, he is obviously an expert.

The Queen Mother said, "I will choose the steward carefully this time."

Afterwards, the Queen Mother asked many questions about the orphans. After Zhulan left, the Queen Mother did not ask Rong Enqing to go on an inspection.

In the afternoon, Rong Enqing came to the Marquis' Mansion with a happy face, "Madam, the palace sent a message asking us to set off to inspect the orphanages in various states before the Crown Prince's wedding."

Zhu Lan asked, "Is this what the Queen Mother said?"

Rong Enqing said, "Yes, the emperor also sent people to me, and Mingrui also came with me."

Zhulan was thinking. The Queen Mother did not agree immediately. She must have discussed it with the Emperor. It can be said that the Emperor was responsible for the fact that Rong Enqing became a rich and noble Marquis. She smiled and said, "The royal family attaches great importance to orphans in various states. You should pay more attention to them."

Rong Enqing saw the importance the royal family attached to orphans. The orphans in the manor outside Beijing were about to become talents, and the country needed them. "I will."

Rong Enqing left, and Zhulan called Mingrui over, "When you're thinking about it, go to the local area more often and learn more about the local economy, etc."

Mingrui, "Sun'er has made a note of it."

Zhu Lan added: "Prepare warm clothes. This inspection will take a long time. It will be painful to rush on the road in winter."

"Don't worry, grandma. Your grandson will take good care of himself."

Zhulan motioned for the maids to go down, "At present, the Queen Mother is in charge. The Emperor is waiting to see the children in the suburbs of Beijing become talented. When the Emperor sees the results, the manors in the suburbs of Beijing will change. You should make your presence felt now. Ahem, help with the errands. It will be good for your future."

Mingrui smiled, "Grandma is worried about my grandson."

Zhulan smiled and said, "You are such a worry-free person. Grandma wishes she could worry more about you."

A quarter of an hour later, Mingrui wrote down his grandmother's instructions and left the main courtyard. His steps back to the courtyard were brisk. He was indeed not in a hurry, but he had to seize the opportunity before him.

When Lin Qing saw her husband coming back, she was very sensitive: "What did grandma say that made her husband so happy?"

Mingrui waited until the cool air on his body dissipated, and picked up his daughter, "Grandma found a job for me."

Lin Qing was happy for her husband after hearing this, but she was also reluctant to let him go, "If he leaves this time, he might not be able to come back for the New Year."

Mingrui, "I'll leave the house to you."

Lin Qing leaned on her husband's shoulder and said, "Take good care of yourself when you go out, and write back often."

"good."

Lin Qing raised her head, "Don't worry, I will take good care of my parents, and I will definitely raise my daughter to be plump."

Mingrui coughed, "The lady is already fat enough."

Lin Qing squeezed the lady's chubby hand and chuckled, "It really is."

Seven days passed in a blink of an eye, and Boss Zhou came back with a lot of things. Five or six boxes were placed in the hall.

Zhulan, "So much fur?"

Li pointed to a box of ornaments and said, "Mom, here are some more ornaments. What do you think of them?"

Zhulan looked at them carefully and said, "They are all very delicate."

Boss Zhou explained, "There are frequent caravans coming and going in the grasslands. These ornaments are purchased from foreign merchants, including leather. My son saw that the leather was in good condition and the price was reasonable, so he bought a lot."

Zhulan said, "This trip must have cost a lot of money."

Li smiled and said, "It didn't cost much."

The eldest wife had no unmarried daughters, so there was no need to save for a dowry. She had saved a lot of money over the years, but this was the first time she spent money so lavishly.

Zhulan asked, "How is Mingyun?"

Boss Zhou: "Good, this child has not been wronged, and has grown stronger."

Li continued, "He also took us horseback riding. Mom, it felt really good to ride a horse on the grassland."

Zhulan groaned, "You can ride a horse now?"

Li raised her chin and said, "My daughter-in-law is also smart."

"I think you are very courageous."

Boss Zhou laughed, "She is indeed very courageous. When the whip was swung, the horse rushed out. She screamed in fear at first, but soon she was no longer afraid and even laughed at her son for being timid."

Li blushed and glared at her husband fiercely.

Zhu Lan looked at Ran Wan, who was sitting quietly after returning. It was hard for Ran Wan to separate the couple. "You must have been tired after the journey. Go and have a rest."

Boss Zhou pointed to a box and said, "Mom, this box is for you and Dad."

Zhulan nodded and said, "Okay."

Boss Zhou brought back a lot of things, and after they were divided up, there wasn't much left. The good leather that Yuyi and the other girls got was also sent to their yards since Yuyi and Yujiao were not at home.

Boss Zhou was busy after returning and went to the farm the next day. It was the autumn harvest time and there were many things that needed his attention.

Days passed one by one, and in the blink of an eye it was two days before the Crown Prince's wedding. The whole capital was bustling with activity.

On the street, in the carriage of Marquis Zhou's mansion, Lin Xi said, "I really envy my cousin."

Yuwen tilted her head, "What do you envy me for?"

Lin Xi pinched her purse and said, "My mother confiscated my money."

Yu Wen was speechless, "What did you do again?"

Lin Xi felt guilty, "I bought a horse. I liked it at first sight, but it's hard to tame."

"Oh, my aunt is also worried that you might be in danger."

"But you can't confiscate my money."

Yuwen was curious, "Did your uncle secretly give you money?"

Lin Xi said in a gloomy tone: "You may not believe this, but the dignified King Qin has less money in his pocket than I do."

Yu Wen chuckled, "That's because your uncle is too used to you."

Lin Xi sighed, "So I envy my cousin. Fourth aunt doesn't care about you."

Yuwen, "Who made my mother so poor that she only has money left?"

"!!"

"Haha, I'm just kidding. My mom knows I'm too lazy to go out."

As they were talking, they arrived at the art gallery. Yuwen and Linxi went straight to the second floor. She said she wanted to buy a painting for her grandmother and had people watching the gallery, waiting for a good painting. She had already greeted them early. When they arrived at the second floor, the shopkeeper came up to greet them, "County Lord Anhe."

Yuwen, "Where is the painting?"

The shopkeeper said, "Please come this way, County Master."

Linxi seldom came to places like the Painting House. She didn’t know the shopkeeper. When the sisters arrived inside, the painting had already been unfolded.