Chapter 787: True Digging

Li and Zhao had not seen much of the world. Although Li did not express any regrets, her eyes and hands betrayed her. She could not help but touch the table and chairs. She heard clearly that the table, chairs, etc. would be left behind.

Zhao was also very happy, and she felt it was like a dream.

Zhulan didn't need to say anything else and just made the decision.

Deng Xiucai said in a low voice: "Five thousand taels is too low for the renovation of this manor. It would be a loss even if it is sold for ten thousand taels. The material alone is higher than the selling price. I think it is better to check it out."

There is no problem that will affect the Zhou family. He can now live a decent life relying on the Zhou family.

Zhulan looked at the housekeeper. Although the housekeeper didn't say much and she saw few maids and servants, the way the maids and servants walked could not deceive Mrs. Song. She already knew in her heart that this should be a manor built by the royal family.

"It will be no problem."

What Mr. Deng heard was an affirmative tone, and he was puzzled. Could there be something he had not discovered? Thinking of how much Mr. Zhou loved his wife, he had already reminded her, so he did not say more.

Then they went to another manor. This manor was not as well renovated as the previous one, and its area was not as large as the previous one. Zhulan knew in her heart that this should belong to the Ningguo Duke's Mansion, and Zhulan made the decision.

Li pinched herself and it hurt, but she still felt like she was dreaming. She pulled her younger brother and sister-in-law and asked, "Is our family going to have two manors?"

Zhao was still somewhat sober, "Yeah."

Li and Zhao never thought that they would be given as dowry to their sister-in-law, so they thought that after buying it, it would become their own.

Li grinned and said, "Next summer you can come to the manor to escape the heat."

Mrs. Zhao was also very excited, she liked this place.

Zhulan came over and heard the conversation of her two daughters-in-law, and fell silent. She really liked the first manor, but unfortunately, she asked Mr. Deng to inquire about it for the purpose of dowry. Now the emperor and the Ningguo Duke's manor were selling the manor, and she couldn't slap herself in the face.

In the imperial palace, Zhou Shuren and the prince arrived at the Zheng Hall. Inside the hall, the emperor was discussing something with the Grand Scholar, so Zhou Shuren and the prince could only wait.

The prince was very comfortable, sitting down and eating the fruit, and motioned, "Master Zhou, you should eat too, this fruit is good."

When the prince thought of the fruit, he sighed in his heart that his uncle was really a good person. Yesterday, when he was in the Ministry of Revenue, his uncle sent fruit to the Ministry once and also to the prince's mansion once, because he was afraid that he would not be able to eat it.

Zhou Shuren looked at the prince, then at Eunuch Liu, and also started eating the fruit.

Eunuch Liu was really happy. When the prince was away, he missed him. Without the prince in the Zheng Palace, he trembled at the emperor's anger.

After waiting for about a cup of tea, the emperor came over.

The prince greeted him, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Father."

Zhou Shuren stood up quickly, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

The emperor raised his hand and said, "No need to be polite, everyone, please sit down."

The prince stood up and said, "My son has something important to report."

The emperor knew in his heart that the prince would not come to the palace unless he discovered something serious. He had already noticed the account book. "Go ahead."

The prince told his father what he had discovered and showed the numbers to his father. Seeing his father remained silent, the prince shut up. He had said everything he needed to say and left the rest up to his father.

Zhou Shuren felt that he had to speak up for the Ministry of Revenue. Judging from the emperor's attitude, he was angry. The emperor had a tendency to get angry quickly. "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue is only responsible for recording. The problem lies with the Salt Transport Department and the Salt Inspector who delivered the account books."

The Ministry of Revenue only needs to record every year and will never look at the figures from previous years. There are too many things to do in the Ministry of Revenue and there are too many figures to record to remember them all.

These days, he has a headache when facing numbers every day, and he easily forgets the calculations he has made. Who caused him to have too many numbers? People are not computers.

The emperor was indeed angry, but when he looked at Zhou Shuren, his anger subsided a lot. "Lord Zhou is very much in my heart. You have done a great job this time, and you deserve a reward. Is there anything you want?"

Zhou Shuren's heart was in his throat, but the emperor was still angry. "Your Majesty, this is all my responsibility. I dare not take credit for it."

Your Majesty, "Just say what I tell you to say."

Zhou Shuren wanted to curse in his heart. This was also a test from the emperor. Ever since the incident with Sun Liao, no one knew what the emperor had found out. The emperor was suspicious to begin with. He was considered to be valued. The emperor had tested him, so he had to give an answer. If he didn't, the emperor didn't know what he was thinking. It was really not easy for him. "Then I will boldly ask for a reward."

The emperor picked up the teacup and said, "I am listening."

Zhou Shuren said, "I was born into a farming family and it has not been easy for me to come this far. Thanks to my virtuous wife who is my housekeeper, I have money to spend. I am old now and I want to enjoy a few years of peace and quiet."

Before he could finish his words, the emperor interrupted him, his mouth twitching, "You are not very old, so don't mention retirement."

Zhou Shuren choked. Did he put too much padding?

Zhou Shuren coughed and said, "I am not going to retire. I just feel that it is not easy for my wife to follow me. It is not easy to buy a manor in the capital. The land I just bought is not suitable for building a manor. So I am brave enough to ask the emperor to reward me with a manor."

The emperor almost choked on his tea. This morning, the empress had just sold the manor to the Zhou family at a low price. He had given that manor to the empress. The emperor thought that since the young lady of the Zhou family would marry into the royal family with the manor, it could be considered as selling it to an outsider. It would be passed on to his grandchildren in the future, so he just sold it.

The emperor thought of the estates in his hands, and looked at the prince with the rest of his eyes. The estates he left behind were too big to be given as a reward. "I have an estate in the south of the capital, with an area of ​​80 mu. I give it to you as a reward."

Zhou Shuren talked so much because he wanted to relax the emperor's nerves. He really had no hope of getting Zhuangzi. He was surprised that the emperor really appreciated Zhuangzi. He knelt down with a smile on his face and thanked him, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

The Crown Prince had a wooden face. Haha, when he heard about the estate in the south of Beijing, he didn't think much about it, because most of his father's estates were in the south of Beijing. But when he heard about the estate of eighty acres, he looked at his father in disbelief. This is really his real father. His father all had large estates, and the estate of eighty acres is his. It was awarded to him many years ago!

The emperor felt uncomfortable being stared at by his son, and cleared his throat, "The deed is in the hands of the prince, prince, don't forget to give it to Lord Zhou."

Zhou Shuren, "......."

No, so, this manor belongs to the prince. Thinking back to the prince's jade pendant, Zhou Shuren sympathized with the prince for a few seconds.

The prince's heart ached, "I will deliver it to Lord Zhou's residence tomorrow."

He will deliver the deed tomorrow. There are too many antiques in the manor that need to be moved, and Lord Zhou cannot let them get away with it.

The emperor felt the accusation in his son's eyes, as if he heard his son say, "Dad, I have a whole family to support, and I only have a few estates. I am so poor."

The emperor remembered his assets very clearly, especially those in his hands, which were all the best. He coughed and said, "Prince has also made contributions. I reward you with a manor of 130 mu in the south of the capital."

The prince's eyes lit up, and he felt relieved this time. He knew this manor, as his father had taken him there before. "Thank you, father."

Zhou Shuren, "......."

He laughed in his heart, and he finally understood that the emperor only rewarded outsiders, and the emperor was just reluctant to reward an outsider like him!

(End of this chapter)