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

Chapter 773: Chapter 773: The Next Six Parts, Bottom Touching_1

Zhou Shuren glanced over, no wonder Xiao Qing was angry. This time with the purchasing of grain and the resettlement construction in the south, the silver from the Ministry of Revenue was flowing out like water, and now every expenditure of silver made the minister wince.

Clenching his teeth, Xiao Qing spat, ”Officials from the Ministry of Personnel, tsk.”

He really wanted to raid the homes of some officials from the Ministry of Personnel, those fat rats!

Zhou Shuren knew well that the Grand Master of Writing would not agree, so he let it go and no longer dwelt on it, then asked, ”Sir, did you summon us here to give us some instructions?”

Xiao Qing said, ”I’ve been so vexed by the Ministry of Personnel that I almost forgot the important matter. I have already asked His Majesty for leave, a half-month’s vacation. Tomorrow I need to return to my hometown, and during the days of my absence, the two of you must safeguard the Ministry of Revenue.”

Speaking of taking leave, Xiao Qing felt better. Ever since he became the Minister of Revenue, he had taken leave only the second time in so many years, and it was a long half-month vacation at that. It was possible to take this leave thanks to Zhou Shuren. He was not young, and this time he could finally go back to his hometown to arrange for future matters.

Qiu Yan’s heart tensed. This month Zhou Shuren was attending the court sessions, and with the Grand Master of Writing absent, wouldn’t it mean that only Zhou Shuren would be attending the court? The Emperor already had his eyes on Zhou Shuren, and now Zhou Shuren would stand out even more. Qiu Yan felt his luck was very bad and he gathered his spirits, ”Sir, rest assured, the lower official and Master Zhou will guard the Ministry of Revenue well.”

Zhou Shuren felt somewhat dizzy. With Minister Xiao absent from the Ministry of Revenue, and not to mention attending the early morning court, the thought of all the ministers from The Six Ministries coming to find him alone was enough to make his scalp tingle. ”Yes.”

Xiao Qing continued, ”The expenditures of the Ministry of Revenue, everything can wait until I return. If you can delay, then delay; only the ones that absolutely cannot be delayed must be approved by His Majesty. Qiu Yan, you have been in the Ministry of Revenue for a long time; I will leave it in your hands. Shuren, you assist Qiu Yan.”

It did not feel to Qiu Yan that being responsible for the Ministry of Revenue was a good thing. If he was in charge, it meant he would be the one offending people. Yet, Zhou Shuren had recently arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, and Qiu Yan could not show weakness; falling back would prove his lack of ability and mean submitting completely to Zhou Shuren. In the future, he would have to look to Zhou Shuren as his leader. He truly found himself in a difficult position, and with suppressed annoyance, he bowed his head and said, ”Yes.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t feel that with Qiu Yan responsible, he himself could relax. Thinking about the old foxes serving as ministers in the other departments gave him a headache, ”Yes.”

Xiao Qing further explained some matters, handing over the Ministry of Revenue’s seal to Qiu Yan for the time being, and finally said, ”I’ll take my leave now. I’ll see you after a half-month.”

Having said that, he left with an air of nonchalance, not the slightest bit reluctant to go.

Zhou Shuren silently watched as Minister Xiao strode out, looking as if the weight had been lifted from his shoulders, his steps brimming with pleasure.

Qiu Yan twitched the corner of his mouth, inexplicably, he too wanted to ask for leave!

That evening, Zhulan learned that the Minister of Revenue had taken leave, and sympathetically patted Zhou Shuren on the shoulder, ”The Grand Master of Writing has dared to take a leave of absence because he has capable subordinates; you’ve done very well.”

If the Ministry of Revenue had still been miserably short of silver, Minister Xiao would not have dared to take leave. The significance of a capable assistant was proved by Minister Xiao taking a vacation!

Zhou Shuren, ”....”

He, too, felt it was his fault. After Minister Xiao left, Mr. Qiu had sighed and lamented to him more than once!

Zhulan sympathized with Zhou Shuren for a bit, then spoke of her findings at the Hou Residence, ”I think the younger brother of Miss Yao Yao, the Third Young Master, is pretending to be foolish.”

”What makes you think so?”

”I observed and found Ms. Yao Yao to be too calm; the calmer she is, the more it suggests that there’s a problem. It’s possible that the Third Young Master suddenly became foolish after listening to Ms. Yao Yao’s words.”

This Ms. Yao Yao had always been very aware of crises and had not neglected to make early preparations.

Zhou Shuren pondered, ”It looks like Ms. Yao Yao must have discovered something, or at the very least, she sensed something.”

Zhulan said, ”That’s what I think too. I see that Magistrate Shen doesn’t believe it and has been trying to test her.”

”Magistrate Shen is no simple character either; the Hou Residence really is a place of intrigue.”

Zhulan set down the comb in her hand, ”In a few days, there should be marriage proposals for Yushuang; you should pay more attention as well.”

”I’ve noted it.”

Zhulan was truly tired. She had spent a long time at the Hou Residence today, and it wore her out.

The next day, at the early morning court session, Zhou Shuren went to attend alone. Although he didn’t stand in the front, with Minister Xiao’s seat empty, he became quite conspicuous.

Zhou Shuren felt the scrutinizing gazes and thought to himself, these people are very well-informed, since they already know the reason, why are they still looking at him?

What concerned him more was that the Crown Prince finally attended the court.

Zhou Shuren was especially spirited, the Crown Prince’s attendance signified that Sun Liao’s case had been resolved, compared to the Crown Prince, Xiao Qing’s absence from the court was a minor matter.

Zhang Jinghong presented a Zhezi, ”Sun Liao’s guilt has been thoroughly investigated. I implore the Emperor to make a clear judgment.”

The Emperor had long known the contents of the Zhezi and pretended to read it for a moment before looking up and saying, ”Crown Prince, do you have anything to say?”

The Crown Prince, emotionless, ”Your son has nothing to say, please make a clear judgment, Father Emperor.”

The Emperor’s gaze was indifferent as he glanced at his other sons, who all stood in silent. His sons were probably delighted inside that Sun Liao’s case had come to a conclusion, wishing it would seriously damage the Crown Prince’s standing, but even so, they hid their true feelings well. His sons were still too green.

Zhang Jinghong shivered inside. He had been hinted to investigate impartially and did not dare not to. After a moment, he spoke, ”In my opinion, the Crown Prince was not aware of the situation. It was all Sun Liao’s audacity, deceiving both superiors and subordinates. I implore the Emperor for a clear discernment.”

The Emperor gave Zhang Jinghong another look, who used to be full of flaws, but now that he understood his place, lived a clear-headed life, ”Do any of you have something else to say?”

Mr. Qi stepped forward, ”This old official believes the Crown Prince is innocent, I implore the Emperor for a clear discernment.”

Zhou Shuren was astonished that the usually silent Mr. Qi spoke up, and then fell silent. He fully understood now that Mr. Qi was the Emperor’s staunch supporter, doing whatever the Emperor asked, first speaking on his behalf, now colluding with the Emperor and the Crown Prince in an act.

Soon after, the ministers all realized the Emperor’s deep affection for the Crown Prince. Those in his camp understood it wouldn’t be possible to take down the Crown Prince all at once, with more and more ministers speaking in defense of the Crown Prince.

The Emperor, ”The Crown Prince is not at fault, but he does bear responsibility for lax supervision. Crown Prince, lay down your administrative duties and start your learning anew.”

”Your son obeys the command.”

The ministers in the court were confused. What did starting learning anew mean? Learning what?

Soon after, the ministers understood what that learning entailed, as the Crown Prince followed the Minister of Personnel to the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhou Shuren watched the Crown Prince get into the Minister of Personnel’s carriage, feeling quite pleased. What relearning? The Crown Prince was simply personally scouting the Six Ministries, which showed the Emperor trusted no one.

With the Crown Prince personally investigating, the Ministry of Personnel had his sympathy; the Zhezi requesting silver had just been sent to the Ministry of Revenue. Where did the previously issued silver go? Now, the Ministry of Personnel had walked into the line of fire.

Sir Li, the Minister of War, ”The carriage of the Ministry of Personnel has gone far, aren’t you getting into your carriage?”

Zhou Shuren paid his respects, ”Mr. Li.”

Mr. Li, with a sigh, ”Xiao Qing indeed trusts the Ministry of Revenue, to say he’s taking leave and actually doing so.”

Zhou Shuren thinking of boarding his carriage, ”Mr. Li, the Ministry of Revenue still has matters awaiting this official, I shall take my leave first.”

Mr. Li patted Zhou Shuren’s shoulder, ”Very well, you go ahead.”

Zhou Shuren stumbled down, that was quite a force. His shoulder ached as he twisted his mouth and got into the carriage.

Approaching noon, Xue Han returned with her two nieces. Zhulan asked, ”You’re not going back to change clothes before lunch, why are you all coming here?”

Xue Han explained, ”We went to the Meng family today, and as you know, Miss Liu and her daughter don’t get along. She said it didn’t matter to her daughter, that her daughter didn’t care, but when it came to Yushuang, she said that it was rare for the Zhou family to produce such a beautiful woman and that they wouldn’t easily agree to marry her off. Yushuang was preparing to climb higher branches. I got angry listening to her and ended up arguing with her, so I came back to tell you first. In case the Liu family comes to our door, you’ll know the reason.”

Zhulan understood, ”It wasn’t just an argument, was it!”

Yu Lu took over the conversation, ”Auntie made Miss Liu cry, and Miss Liu ran away so fast she fell down.”

It was quite an eye-opener today, auntie was merciless when she put someone in their place, her words were incisive yet free from vulgarity. Miss Liu lost all face, unable to face others, and fled only to fall. It seems Miss Liu won’t be going out for a while.