Chapter 68: Harvest
When Zhu Yuhuan returned, the servant at the door said that Xu Wangzhi went outside to pick up Xu Yun. Zhu Yuhuan then went into the private room and sat at the table waiting for the two of them.
After talking through the details with Yang Pu and Yang Shiqi, Zhu Yuhuan felt particularly relaxed.
Leaving the capital city is certainly challenging, but if he stays in the capital city, the ultimate result he can get is nothing more than to safely resign from the post of regent. In this case, Zhu Yuhuan might as well join the army to attack Luchuan, at least he can gain something.
While the three were talking, Han Guilan was guarding outside the house and had no idea what was going on inside. After Zhu Yuhuan came out, the expression on his face changed from being slightly solemn at the beginning to being relaxed, which greatly reduced Han Guilan's original worries.
"Your Highness, Madam Xu and Master Xu have arrived."
Zhu Yuhuan put down the teacup in his hand and said with a smile: "Let them both come in quickly."
"yes."
Xu Wangzhi brought Xu Yun in. Although he hadn't seen Xu Yun for three or four years, Xu Wangzhi still looked carefree and said, "Your Highness, Brother Xu is back. Look, he's been away building dams and dredging rivers all year round. He doesn't look like the scholar he used to be when he first came to help me in the capital!"
Officials who are in charge of projects outside are exposed to wind and rain every day, so naturally they will not look as delicate and tender as ordinary officials.
Xu Yun was as humble and polite as ever. As soon as he entered the room, he saluted Zhu Yuhuan and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Princess."
Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help but smile upon hearing this. He said, "Being posted outside the government is already arduous, let alone being an official who needs to lead a project." He then raised his hand to Xu Yun and said, "I imagine you've just returned from the government office. The journey must have been tiring. No need to be so polite."
Xu Yun quickly replied, "It is my duty to serve my country faithfully. How dare I call it hard work? Your Highness, you are too kind."
Xu Wangzhi had already sat down nearby. Upon hearing Xu Yun's words, he spoke without mercy, "Brother Xu, you've been out for a while and look like a farmer. How come you're still so smooth-talking?"
Xu Yun felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this. He could only cough dryly a few times and whispered to Xu Wangzhi, "Why are you still so unruly in front of His Highness..."
"Unruly? What do you mean by unruly?" Xu Wangzhi was confused and whispered, "I'm usually like this too, and I've never seen her scold me."
Xu Yun was speechless when he heard this. He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.
Forget it, Xu Wangzhi has a natural personality, so Princess Shunde probably won’t care too much about it.
Zhu Yuhuan pretended not to notice the two's little movements, and remained calm and composed. He said to Xu Yun, "Your Majesty and I have both witnessed your achievements abroad. I know that you have learned from many people and have dabbled in many aspects of martial arts. That is why I recommend you to come to the capital to plan the military examination."
Of course Xu Yun understood that all this had a lot to do with Princess Shunde, and he immediately said that he was where he was today because of the princess, and he would certainly do his best. Not only that, he also handed over the documents he had prepared long ago regarding the military examination and border preparation to Zhu Yuhuan.
Regardless of whether what he wrote is right or wrong, at least this attitude is very admirable.
Zhu Yuhuan didn't take his flattery to heart. He just took Xu Yun's document and looked through it carefully. As he read, he said, "Did you come up with this on your own?"
"Yes." Seeing that she was looking at it so seriously, Xu Yun couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. After all, this eldest princess in front of him had to participate in various state affairs as a regent and help the emperor implement decrees.
If he could get her approval, there would be a high probability that he would get the emperor's approval. How could Xu Yun not be nervous?
Zhu Yuhuan hummed, then asked, "Has it been submitted? This looks like an original manuscript to me."
Xu Yun's heart skipped a beat when she asked this. He first responded, then asked cautiously, "Is there anything wrong with what I did?"
Zhu Yuhuan raised his eyes slightly and glanced at him, then smiled and said, "What's wrong with that? It's only natural."
Xu Yun was from the south and had never been to the border. The measures he wrote about were mostly conservative. They were nothing more than some policies to reorganize border troops and strengthen defenses. They were not particularly amazing, but at least they had no merits or demerits.
However, Zhu Qizhen himself had an aggressive attitude towards border issues, and if Xu Yun submitted a document like this, it would probably not be valued by Zhu Qizhen.
However, with the example of officials with military merits who were passive and lazy, the diligent Xu Yun became a "loyal minister" worthy of being reused. Even though his ability was slightly insufficient, Zhu Qizhen would certainly not let go of such a good seedling.
Isn’t this a blessing in disguise?
Xu Yun's heart began to beat fast when he saw her looking through the documents very seriously. Xu Wangzhi, who was standing by, noticed Xu Yun's subtle uneasiness and couldn't help but chuckle.
Xu Yun heard it clearly, but he could do nothing about it.
Zhu Yuhuan put down the document in his hand, looked at Xu Yun, smiled slightly, and said, "Your Majesty is now thinking about stabilizing the northern border. Your memorial can be regarded as 'rain in time of need'."
Hearing the praise in Zhu Yuhuan's words, Xu Yun was immediately overjoyed and said, "Thanks to your Highness's recommendation, I have the honor of being appreciated by Your Majesty."
Xu Yun knew better than anyone what "everything depends on human effort" meant. Having Zhu Yuhuan's recommendation was one thing, but working hard on one's own was another.
The job in the Ministry of Works was not a good one, but at least it gave him some reputation. If it were not for Princess Shunde's recommendation, it would be hard to say how long Xu Yun would have to wait to make further progress.
Zhu Yuhuan chuckled and then said, "I'm sure Eunuch Wang will be very pleased with your memorial."
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