Chapter 659: Second Brother, You Are Well-Informed...
Jiang Lianzhu smiled, "Don't worry, mother. Everything is going well. It's just that things are so hectic at the beginning. The late emperor passed away so suddenly, and there are so many things to hand over. My husband and Dabao are both very busy, and I can't leave either. I just found a little time and was making a nourishing soup for them when mother came. It's a good time for me to try a bowl and tell you how it tastes..."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good. Your soups must be delicious. I've heard so many times that I love your cooking. You're so busy, and I'm tired of chanting sutras for you at home every day. People come to visit you every day, non-stop, so I thought I'd come and see if there's anything I can do to help you..."
Jiang Lianzhu said, "Mother, you receive visitors every day. Isn't that helping us? The noble ladies in the capital are also a circle. Maintaining this circle and stabilizing people's hearts is also a good way to unite our Da'an Kingdom. The new emperor passed away so suddenly. During the transition, the most taboo is to unsettle people's hearts. Mother, just behave as usual."
After hearing this, Mrs. Zhou's brows brightened.
"Really? Does this count as helping?"
"Of course, if mother is willing to go the extra mile, perhaps you could help visit the homes of the high-ranking officials and nobles who died in the accident at the Grand Princess's residence to offer condolences to the women in their families. Just say you're doing it on my behalf. I simply don't have the time to visit every family right now. If mother is willing to share the burden, I'm sure the families of the victims will feel better."
Mrs. Zhou suddenly perked up.
"Okay, I'll go. I know everything."
"Yes, then I'll trouble you, mother. When Liao Jiu comes back, I'll tell him. Then, our little emperor will also be grateful to you, mother. When the opportunity arises, I'll confer you a suitable imperial title or something..."
Liao Jiu is now considered to have reached the highest position among officials.
His mother should also be given the title of Lady.
Dabao calls Madam Zhou his grandmother. Now that Dabao is the emperor, it would be inappropriate for Madam Zhou to have no suitable imperial decree to suppress him.
Anyway, it will be put on the agenda in the future.
Mrs. Zhou was excited.
In her life, she married a husband who was a loser. He didn't bring her any fame and still relied on her for support.
Unexpectedly, in the end it was her son, no, her daughter-in-law, her non-blood-related grandson who granted her the imperial title.
She couldn't say no. Every woman had the belief of being a noble lady. It was a lifelong honor. When she died, she would be glorious and even the specifications of her burial would be different. It would be too fake to say no.
His old face flushed, "We're family, helping each other is our duty. Let's not talk about this for now. Lianzhu, you're busy. I'll leave the palace first. I'll get ready and go do some work. It's still early today, so I can still visit one or two families. If you have anything to do, just send someone to the mansion and let them know. I'll be back soon. I'm leaving..."
"Mom, there's no need to be so anxious. Have a bowl of soup before you go..."
“No…”
He left the palace like a gust of wind.
***
Shangrao City.
It is a border city of Da'an State and also the fief of the King of War.
It used to be a barren and sparsely populated area. After it became the fiefdom of the War King, people began to migrate here and it developed step by step.
It has grown to the scale it is today.
The city was fortified, the people densely populated, fields were cultivated outside the city, trade was established, and the official roads were filled with horse-drawn carriages carrying goods...
The War King and his entourage, dressed as ordinary people, returned to the city quickly and quietly.
We rode at full speed all the way.
When they were near the border of Shangrao City, they slowed down and took a closer look.
"I haven't been back for half a year, and Shangrao seems to have undergone some major changes..."
Guard Lei said, "Indeed, those barren hills over there are now being planted with crops, and the canal seems to be newly built. Building it must have taken a lot of effort, requiring both manpower and resources. Erlangjun has done a good job in managing Shangrao."
The War King nodded.
Many people migrated here, mostly because of the War King’s reputation.
However, whether you can have food to eat and whether you can survive after arriving here cannot be determined by fame alone.
We must have strong governance capabilities and ensure that every citizen has enough food to eat. They cannot go hungry. If they go hungry, we will definitely not be able to retain people.
If a city wants to develop, the first condition is to retain its people.
Erlangjun did it.
"Let's go back to the city and check. Did we keep our itinerary secret?"
"No."
The War King nodded, and continued to move forward in his cloth clothes and a conical hat.
At the city gate, after the customs inspection, Guard Lei took out the replacement identity disc he had prepared in advance and passed the checkpoint.
They stepped into Shangrao City, where there was a constant hustle and bustle of traffic, various businesses, and hawking, which was no less lively than the provincial capital.
Before I had walked a few steps, I saw a young man with delicate features, gentle and polite, rushing towards me with his men.
He lifted his robe and bowed deeply to King Zhan.
"Foster father is back! Your son greets you! Welcome home!"
It was Erlangjun, Xuanchang.
The War King frowned, "Second Brother, you are well-informed..."
Erlangjun heard the displeasure in the War King's tone and was extremely frightened. "Foster father, I received your letter and have already posted people at the city gate. I already know what happened in the capital. Faced with this huge change, Wang Ming slandered me, and I was extremely anxious. If I hadn't been worried about Shangrao City, I would have gone to the capital long ago to explain and apologize to you. Now that you are back, I can't wait a moment longer. I want to explain the situation to you to prove my innocence..."
As the two were talking, the streets, which were originally crowded with people, were now quietly cleared away.
The War King nodded, "Okay, I came back just to hear what you have to say..."
"Father, please! I will never go along with Wang Ming. Wang Ming is a mean man, and I have always looked down on him. I have no second thoughts about my sister, the princess!"
"Let's talk when we get home." King Zhan went back home first.
Erlangjun followed.
***
Erbao hadn't seen his brother for several days and had been wanting to discuss with him about moving back to Prince Xiang's Mansion when he returned to Fengyi Palace.
In the end, I didn’t wait.
He could only go to the imperial study to find him.
As soon as I walked into the imperial study, I saw a familiar loud voice.
Tan Tao, President Tan.
"No, no, how could I leave such a great academy to become your tutor? I was born to travel and study. I'm so exhausted I can't stay here any longer! Don't even mention it. The most I can promise you is that if I'm in the capital, I'll come to the palace once a month to give you a lesson. That's the biggest concession I can make..."
See Erbao walk in.
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