Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 419: Chapter 419 Smart Person_1

Zhulan beckoned with her hand, and when the two maids approached, she embraced them both, ”You both are very good, don’t worry anymore, the matter of today will not be revealed, you both go back and change your clothes, look at how dirty you are.”

Wu Ning clutched her aunt’s clothes, this was the first time her aunt had embraced her, Wu Ning’s eyes reddened, she had lost her parents not long after birth, she had no memories, and had never felt the embrace of her mother; today her aunt’s embrace gave her warmth, she thought if her mother were still alive, she would embrace her like this too.

Wu Ning held back her tears, ”Auntie, I’m afraid that the gentleman from earlier will twist the story of saving me into saving Xue Han, that could affect Xue Han’s reputation.”

Zhulan looked down at Wu Ning, it’s essential to be cautious of others, yet Wu Ning had so quickly anticipated the worst possible turn of events, Zhulan felt pained for Wu Ning, what had this child been through to assume the worst of all men.

Zhulan really wasn’t worried about Wu Ning’s guess, because Shi Qing wouldn’t speak of it; Shi Qing was very clear that if he wanted a future, he couldn’t start scheming against the Zhou family now; the Zhou family took steady steps, while Shi Qing was like crossing a chasm on a tightrope, a single misstep could cost him his life, Shi Qing was smart, he would act as though today’s events never happened.

Moreover, Shi Qing’s action of saving someone wasn’t out of genuine concern, he simply didn’t want the Zhou family to think him heartless.

Zhulan stroked Wu Ning’s face, ”Rest assured, the situation you fear won’t happen, you can trust that Young Master Shi will not speak carelessly, let’s pretend today never happened, now go and change your clothes.”

Wu Ning looked carefully at her aunt, making sure she wasn’t tricked, then let go of the anxiety she was holding, ”Aunt, I’ll go down first.”

Xue Han came back to her senses, ”Mother, I’ll go down too.”

”Go ahead.”

In the front courtyard, Shi Qing, having changed his clothes, stood erect in the study, greeting respectfully without looking aside, ”Minister Zhou.”

Zhou Shuren put down the book in his hand, ”Today a young servant bumped into Young Master Shi, it’s Zhou’s lax discipline that has inconvenienced you.”

Shi Qing smoothly replied, ”Minister, it was I who was too agitated and didn’t watch where I was going, lost my footing for a moment.”

Shi Qing thought, if Minister Zhou doesn’t bring it up, he himself won’t say a word.

Zhou Shuren appreciated smart people because smart people always knew what they wanted from start to finish, Zhou Shuren said, ”Take a seat.”

Shi Qing thought he might have more difficulties today, not expecting he could sit so easily; he didn’t believe Minister Zhou was being polite just because he had saved someone, his understanding of Minister Zhou might not be extensive, but Zhou Shuren managed to transform the hot potato of Lizhou into a piece of fat meat within just a couple of years, his depth of strategy and tactics were extraordinary.

From the words Eunuch Liu had given him, he knew that the Emperor valued Minister Zhou highly.

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, he quite admired Shi Qing, ”You wish to take me as your mentor, answer satisfactorily today, and I shall teach you.”

Shi Qing felt a tightening in his chest, not from excitement but a hunch that the question would be anything but simple, ”Minister Zhou, please pose your question.”

Zhou Shuren, ”I had you tour Lizhou Province, and my question is quite simple, what do you think are the shortcomings of Lizhou?”

Shi Qing was stunned for a moment, the question took him by surprise, he’d considered various tests but never expected Minister Zhou to ask him to find flaws in Lizhou City, which was under Minister Zhou’s governance, signaling that Minister Zhou must have noticed shortcomings himself.

For a moment, Shi Qing recalled swiftly, realizing it was a difficult challenge; what he’d observed of Lizhou was genuinely good, the shortcomings, a sheen of sweat appeared on Shi Qing’s forehead.

Zhou Shuren wasn’t in a hurry, he gave Shi Qing time to think, continuing to read his book.

After a quarter of an hour, Shi Qing had his thoughts organized, giving himself a pep talk, ”Minister.”

Zhou Shuren put down the book, ”Have you thought it through?”

”Yes.”

”Speak, I’m listening.”

Zhou Shuren looked at Shi Qing with interest, hoping not to be disappointed.

Shi Qing felt nervous, he had always dealt with merchants, familiar with the cunning of the commercial world, this was his first encounter with government affairs, Shi Qing took a deep breath, ”As a student of limited experience, and coming from a merchant background, I will speak of shortcomings concerning Silver Coin; the tax revenue in Lizhou City has been gradually increasing, while Minister Zhou is in charge all is well, but once Minister Zhou leaves, issues will arise with the Silver.”

Shi Qing didn’t spell it out, he knew Minister Zhou would understand the implication.

Indeed, Minister Zhou understood what Shi Qing meant, and that was his concern; even with him in charge, things were kept honest, although people still offered Silver, with him in Lizhou, those who accepted Silver wouldn’t dare make any bold moves, but as soon as he left.

The lands he had worked hard to establish would become places for various forces to collect wealth, and in the end, it’s the common people who suffer.

Zhou Shuren looked at Shi Qing, a smirk at the corner of his mouth; Shi Qing’s roundabout way of praising him as a clean official, ”What solutions do you have?”

Shi Qing was taken aback, a remedy, he ventured tentatively, ”Supervision, if there was a supervisory system, even the greedy wouldn’t go too far.”

Zhou Shuren mused quietly, the vision was still an issue; Shi Qing had no mentor yet, he only saw Silver Coin, lacking the big picture; supervision wasn’t suitable, the dynasty was in its fifteenth year, the Emperor no longer spoke with the sword as he had when he first ascended the throne, the Emperor was not young anymore, he feared that should he pass away suddenly, the Crown Prince, still in his twenties, couldn’t suppress the various self-serving powers and some merited ministers, at present not only the Emperor needs to clean up the Prince’s maternal relatives’ influence for the sake of enduring and stable succession, but also deal with the unsettled power-holding ministers who achieved much; the Emperor is playing a long game, now he won’t use supervision to provoke the various powers’ nerves.

For the current Emperor, that’s nothing but wishful thinking, but for the next one, it might be possible.

Shi Qing awaited Minister Zhou’s response, growing anxious.

Zhou Shuren didn’t expect Shi Qing to see beyond that, ”Your thoughts are good, it’s just not the right time.”

Shi Qing bowed his head, ”As a student with no guidance and limited experiences, I ask Minister Zhou to instruct me.”

Having contemplated Minister Zhou’s question deeply, he realized how limited his perspective was, acknowledged the rarity of a good mentor and knew he couldn’t miss the opportunity.