Chapter 402: Missing a Knife

The Emperor looked at the list and the spy's message again, and said to the Crown Prince, "Mr. Zhou's assistance can be extended to all states."

There are too many officials with family backgrounds in the court now. No matter how willful he is as an emperor, he cannot select only those without backgrounds for every imperial examination. Of course, not all those without backgrounds are capable enough for him to value. It is difficult for him as an emperor to strike a balance in everything. It is not easy for a founding emperor to take back his power!

The prince pursed his lips and said, "Your Majesty, it will be difficult to promote it."

There are too many poor students taking the exam, and the wealthy families in various places don't want to see that.

The emperor also knew that when he saw Zhou Shuren go to Lizhou City, he had chosen the top scholar as the knife. In the end, the top scholar didn't mention it. He got angry when he thought about it. He was not a narrow-minded person. The emperor thought that Yao Zheyu's knife was aimed at military power, and he still needed a sharper knife to cut the aristocratic family. He turned the names in his mind around and replied to the prince, "Forget it if it can't be promoted."

He didn't want to hear the news that people were pretending to obey but actually disobeying their orders. It was not disturbing enough.

The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince and asked playfully, "It's time for our Lord Zhou to make some moves. Where do you think I should send him?"

The prince felt that his father had been having fits from time to time over the past year, and he had gotten used to his initial trepidation. He lowered his head and said, "It's all up to the emperor."

The emperor said quietly, "Then tell me, after Lord Zhou leaves, who will take over Lizhou City? Lizhou City will no longer be a place without money and resources. Next year, Lizhou City will be a big piece of fat meat. Who do you think should be sent?"

The prince sometimes wanted to scold people, "My son doesn't know."

The emperor flicked his fingers and said, "Your brothers will be very interested."

The prince thought about the actions of his brothers' in-laws, and the chaos in Pinggang. He felt really bad.

The emperor felt that the prince was getting better and better at hiding, so he narrowed his eyes and said, "Get out!"

In Lizhou City, Li Xu looked at the apple trees all over the mountain and asked, "Are these all planted by my in-laws?"

Zhulan nodded, and then introduced how to plant, how much investment and how much income a year would bring. Finally, Zhulan said, "This year's spring rains have not stopped. It looks like a year of good weather and good harvests. I did some calculations, and the income from the apple orchard alone will not be less this year."

Li Xu was moved, "Mother-in-law, can we grow crops in the Northeast?"

Zhulan did ask, "You can plant it, but it won't grow big and the taste will be worse. If your mother-in-law wants to plant it, why not plant hawthorns? I'll help her find a fruit dealer."

Zhulan dared to make a promise, naturally she trusted the Li family. The Li family worked diligently, so the service would naturally be diligent as well. She believed that the Li family could grow hawthorns well.

Li Xu was so happy that she said, "Thank you, mother-in-law."

"You're welcome, you guys have helped us a lot."

Li Xu thought, no wonder the old saying goes that when one person succeeds, his relatives and friends will all benefit. If her father-in-law had not been an official, she would not have dared to plant fruits even if she wanted to, for fear that the fruit merchants would be in trouble and she would not only not make any money but also suffer losses. But now she is not afraid anymore. She can plant fruits with confidence, and she will not lose money as long as there is no natural disaster.

Zhulan and Li Xu took a walk and returned to the city. Zhulan did not take Li Xu to the store as she did not want to embarrass Li Xu. She decided to let Li take her to the store. As mother and daughter, there was no need to worry so much.

The next day, Li took her parents to a shop and bought a lot of things.

Mrs. Li Xu said a little embarrassedly, "I didn't buy anything good, I just bought some dates and honey to nourish my body. I thought we should go to the Yang family since we are here. After all, we are all young people."

Zhulan glanced at Zhao, who was biting her lip. With the comparison, she realized how unpresentable she and her mother were. Zhao felt even more ashamed.

Zhulan smiled. She had originally done this just for Li, but she had not expected that it would also help educate Zhao. Zhulan thought of her mother who liked Li Xu when they were at the Lijia Village house. "My mother must be very happy. She came to talk to me about her hometown a few days ago, and mentioned the days when she chatted with her mother-in-law in Lijia Village!"

Li Xu smiled and said, "My aunt and I get along well, so I just happened to chat with her."

Dong looked at her second sister-in-law with the rest of her eyes, hoping that with the comparison with her eldest sister-in-law's family, her second sister-in-law would see her own problems clearly. The Zhou family would only move up and up, but if her second sister-in-law still couldn't get on the stage, it would be a disgrace to the entire Zhou family.

The next morning, Zhulan and Li Xu went to Yang's house together. Sun was indeed very happy. "I was just talking about you a few days ago. Let Auntie take a good look at you."

Li Xu was filled with emotion. The Yang family was an official family. "Auntie, do you think I am old?"

Sun looked at him carefully, feeling sad, "You are indeed old. It is really not easy for you."

Li Xu used to think that her life was miserable, but now she doesn't. Thanks to her good wife, she can live a comfortable life as an old lady in a few years. "Good days are ahead. I am happy now and I am waiting to enjoy my life."

Sun also liked Li. She liked Li among her grandsons' wives. Dong was not bad either. But Zhao had wasted her daughter's teachings. She was old but not confused. She knew about the daughter's family affairs. "Okay, okay, enjoy your life."

Sun really liked Li Xu, and Zhulan and her group stayed for lunch.

At night, Zhulan had just fallen asleep when she heard someone knocking on the door, "Madam, the first wife is about to give birth."

Zhulan sat up suddenly and said, "Go get a doctor."

(End of this chapter)