At the Second Prince's residence, Qin Jingheng's face was extremely grim, and a storm was brewing in the study.
"Mr. Xu, why hasn't the summer harvest been brought in yet? Our household expenses are already stretched thin!"
Building a reputation for virtue and winning people's hearts can be very costly.
During the two months that the eldest princess was away from Fengjing, Qin Jingheng frequently held poetry gatherings and fundraising events.
He once again took the lead in donating, spending large sums of money.
While it was partly a performance, it also genuinely contributed to disaster relief.
The funds raised by the imperial court for the first wave of disaster relief were used, and the funds for subsequent reconstruction of the disaster-stricken areas were basically all raised by Qin Jingheng through various means, which greatly relieved the pressure on the national treasury.
This is a genuine achievement, and it cannot be denied.
His income from the government office, his salary, and normal business operations was simply not enough.
Besides being a staff member in the mansion, the Mr. Xu in front of me also had an important skill in making money, managing those clandestine businesses for me.
Xu Shenzhi, seemingly oblivious to the sinister glint in the Second Prince's eyes, cupped his hands in a respectful bow and calmly replied:
"The floods in the three states have severely impacted shipping, which has yet to recover."
"Your Highness, forget about the summer bonuses; you should start planning ahead."
"Plans? This is a crucial moment for recognizing merits, how can you expect me to make plans!"
At this time, he needed officials in the court to recommend him for merit. Although he won over a group of people, only a few could truly speak for him.
As long as the struggle for the throne remains unspoken, those old foxes will not easily back down.
Even if they are slightly inclined now, they can turn against them in an instant.
Xu Shenzhi had already prepared a plan in mind, and showed no sign of panic.
"Your Highness, you might consider the selection of a concubine."
Qin Jingheng was stunned, but quickly understood the meaning of those words.
A household should have one principal wife and two concubines, but for the sake of his reputation, he only took one principal wife and one concubine, leaving the position of the concubine vacant.
Both of them came from Shilin families. Although their maternal families did not hold prominent official positions, their implicit assistance was immeasurable.
Originally, it was planned to wait until the succession struggle came to light before considering it, but now it seems to be a good approach.
If one were a wealthy and powerful merchant, they would certainly be willing to pay a high price to obtain the position of a concubine.
"Your Highness, it doesn't matter if our status is lower; the key is to get through this first."
When the time really comes, there are other options...
Qin Jingheng naturally understood the meaning behind those words.
Although the two sides are fixed, one radish for one hole, life is full of unexpected fortunes and misfortunes.
"Mr. Xu is right. I wonder if there is anyone you could recommend?"
"Of course, it has long been prepared for Your Highness."
Qin Jingheng finally smiled, walked up to Xu Shenzhi, gazed at him with deep affection at close range, and patted his shoulders with both hands.
"Thanks to your advice and strategies, sir. Rest assured, the day of success will be your moment of glory!"
"I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Highness, and even die for you."
"Okay, okay..."
Xu Shenzhi bowed deeply in gratitude, but his eyes remained clear and bright as ever, showing no sign of excitement.
If you don't even have the chance to pass the imperial examinations, what's the point of talking about being distinguished?
He knows and has handled too many things, and he is too familiar with the dark side of the person in front of him. The day he succeeds will probably be the day he dies.
At the Prime Minister's residence, Pei Xueqiao took a long, refreshing bath as soon as she got home.
Even Qin Zhaoyue only took two showers on the way back, so this grown man naturally wasn't much better off.
In the past, this would have been unimaginable.
Having not seen her eldest son for over two months, his mother personally cooked a table full of delicious dishes.
Having changed into clean clothes and feeling refreshed, Pei Xueqiao was now enjoying her meal.
"Eat slowly, look how thin my son has become. He must have suffered a lot on this trip." The old mother was heartbroken.
Exposed to the wind and sun, and braving the elements, Pei Xueqiao's skin has become quite dark.
His cheeks did not look as full as before, but his body was stronger than before he left the capital.
Most importantly, his eyes still shine, unlike when he was an official in the Hanlin Academy and appeared prematurely mature.
Pei Xueqiao swallowed the food in her mouth, looked up at her mother, and gave her a big smile.
"Don't worry, Mother, I'm doing very well. I just missed your cooking so much that I couldn't resist."
"Good, good, good!" The mother smiled broadly, her eyes barely closing, and busied herself serving food to her eldest son.
Pei Xuanyun couldn't help but feel a little jealous, but his wife, who was always considerate, had nothing but their son in her heart.
Their gazes weren't even on him, so naturally they didn't notice this subtle emotion.
He rarely gets a half-day off, and after the palace banquet, he went straight home.
The shrewd old man naturally noticed his son's difference at a glance, indicating that he had learned a lot this time.
Moreover, while the memorial was a memorial, he also wanted to inquire about the details of the disaster relief efforts as soon as possible.
He personally poured a glass of wine for his son, which startled Pei Xueqiao.
This was a treatment he had never received before, so he quickly put down his chopsticks and held the wine glass with both hands.
It is said that when a father pours wine for his son, it signifies true approval.
Pei Xueqiao's heart was pounding, and for a moment she couldn't believe it.
The father and son shared a drink and talked about the various aspects of the disaster relief process.
I would ask a question or two occasionally, but most of the time I would listen to my son and compare the information with what he had.
Clearly, Hao Da'er participated very little in the first half of the journey, until Bailu County.
Pei Xuanyun narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was already three parts drunk.
The fact that the governor Yan Wenyuan and Prince Rui were not touched, and that the authorities even helped them quell the "rumors," suggests that there will be no unrest in the short term.
No wonder the eldest son has made great progress; it turns out that he often accompanied His Highness in handling official business during the latter half of the journey.
He knew Yan Wenyuan's abilities; if he returned to the capital, he would definitely be capable of taking on the position of head of the Six Ministries.
For my sake, I imagine he's been teaching me quite diligently these past few days.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, Pei Xueqiao patted her stomach and revealed a satisfied smile.
He knew the taste of home; those weren't just sweet words to please his elderly mother, but a genuine longing for that flavor.
After eating and drinking his fill, Pei Xueqiao stood up and bowed deeply to his father.
After the ceremony, he stood ramrod straight and said in a loud voice, "Father, I wish to join the Six Ministries."
Pei Xuanyun looked back at him, and their eyes met.
This time, Pei Xueqiao showed no sign of backing down, her gaze unwavering.
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