CHAPTER 1574: CHAPTER 1574: VALUE

Zhou Shuren and Wong Ju didn’t speak anymore. Zhao Bo noticed the indifference in Zhou Shuren’s eyes and regretted it, regretting it too late. His days in the capital were enough for him to understand the situation at the Hou Residence. He was clearly Zhou Shuren’s first friend; Zhou Shuren had once rescued him from the vortex of salt taxes, had already arranged everything for him. As a result, Zhao Bo steadied his mind.

The conversation at the palace gate stopped, and more or less, eyes would fall on this side, with the officials from the Wang Clan exchanging glances.

Zhao Bo smiled, "Congratulations to the Marquis Zhou on gaining a grandson."

Zhou Shuren replied indifferently, "The same to you. Congratulations on smoothly entering the capital."

In the capital, every official position is tightly held, and in recent years, due to him, there were a few more departments, but the noble families are watching closely. The top noble families have too many officials in their families, and when a position in the capital becomes available, it comes with a stench of blood.

So, without family protection, it’s truly not easy to enter the capital, the place where power is most concentrated, and most ruthless.

Zhao Bo opened his mouth to say something but met the indifferent gaze of Marquis Zhou, and nothing came out. He lowered his head and retreated.

Wong Ju and the others left, clicking his tongue twice, "Obviously, you have a golden connection you can rely on, truly foolish."

Zhou Shuren, "..."

This term ’golden connection’ actually came from his own mouth.

Wong Ju continued, "The Wang Clan is really generous, back then we thought they were fighting for positions for their own family members, but they actually gave it to Zhao Bo."

Zhou Shuren’s eyes were cool, "How much you get you must pay back just as much. Don’t speak of feelings with the noble families, feelings are worthless. What’s valuable is one’s own worth. Apparently, in the eyes of the Wang Clan, Zhao Bo is worth that price."

Wong Ju murmured, "The number of Wang family members serving as officials outside is countless, but how many truly remain in the capital? The price that Zhao Bo has to pay is no small matter."

Zhou Shuren did not continue to respond. Regardless of the price, that was the path Zhao Bo chose, and at least for now, the Zhao family had entered the capital again.

During the morning court, the Emperor displayed a few Zhezi, and after Zhou Shuren reviewed them, he couldn’t help but sigh. Given a direction, the ministers’ minds became active, coming up with quite decent ideas. He had to admit they were good solutions.

There were too many old foxes in the court. Zhou Shuren cautioned himself to be even more cautious. Right now, they hadn’t caught any fault of his, but if they did, ha, they certainly wouldn’t be polite to him.

The Emperor’s heart was pleased, "With all the ministers working together, I believe the lives of the people will get better."

Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes internally, ha ha, some of these people are indeed for the people, while others aren’t; they’re just waiting to fatten up a slice.

At the Zhou family, Mrs. Ma stayed behind to take care of Lau Jia and didn’t leave. After Zhulan finished breakfast, Mrs. Ma came over. At first glance, Zhulan could see Mrs. Ma’s eyes were full of bloodshot, "Did you not rest all night?"

Mrs. Ma couldn’t sleep at all. Her heart was uneasy because her child was taken away, and coupled with her daughter’s injury, she had secretly bribed the Imperial Physician to ask how long it would take for her daughter to conceive again. For the sake of the silver, the Imperial Physician gave a clear answer: her daughter would need at least five years!

When Mrs. Ma heard that, her mind went blank — five years, too long.

Zhulan could tell at a glance that Mrs. Ma hadn’t rested much nor eaten much, signaling Qing Xue to let the small kitchen prepare some food.

Mrs. Ma, hearing the instructions, came back to her senses, with a slow reaction lifting her head, "Madam, I’m bothering you."

Zhulan, "You’re not bothering me. You should rest well. When Lau Jia wakes up and sees you looking so worn out, she’ll only feel worse. She just injured her body and needs a peace of mind."

Mrs. Ma was aware of this, but she couldn’t control herself. The gentleman of the house was not home, and she had no one to discuss things with. Talk to her daughter-in-law? She never considered it, "Then I will go back to rest."

Zhulan stopped her, "Eat your meal first, then go. I understand what you’re worried about. When our Zhou family didn’t break off the engagement, it made our stance clear. Now Lau Jia has given birth to a son. Treat it as a morale boost. She only needs to focus on convalescing and raising the child."

Pausing, she continued, "I will guide Lau Jia myself and also get a womanservant for her."

Mrs. Ma’s mind buzzed, delighted. She understood that the child would be returned, gratefully saying, "Thank you, madam, thank you."

Qing Xue returned, smiling, "Madam, the master has already sent the child back."

Zhulan smiled, "Go check in person and see if there’s anything else needed."

Qing Xue, "Yes."

Mrs. Ma wanted to return, and Zhulan didn’t stop her, "The meal will be sent over soon; I won’t keep you."

Mrs. Ma rose and thanked again, rushing off quickly.

At Ming Teng’s courtyard, Ming Teng worried all night. Smiling apologetically to his great-grandfather, "This child really looks like me."

Rong Yushang hummed lightly through his nose, "The child is entrusted to you. If anything happens to the child, I won’t spare you."

Ming Teng grinned, thinking in his heart, grandpa really is something, "Yes, I will definitely take care of the child."

Rong Yushang was disturbed by the child’s crying last night, which gave him a headache. Age is catching up, as he stood, "The child is returned to you, I’m heading back."

Ming Teng quickly put down the child, "I’ll see you off."

Rong Yushang nodded, leaving the courtyard, passing through the garden. Rong Yushang spoke, "You didn’t grow up within the family. You do not understand. When you get old, you will understand."

Ming Teng understood even without waiting to get old. Grandpa had said once, great-grandfather had suffered, bearing the hope of all the deceased souls of the Rong family, the responsibility of the heavy genealogy. So, grandpa told him to understand great-grandfather.

Yesterday, at the Hou Residence, even the usually noisy Ming Jung was quiet as a quail, and the children didn’t dare breathe too loudly. Today, knowing the child was returned, they all came to see the child.

Lau Jia happened to wake up as well, waking up at noon. Her body weakened, and she slept deeply to recuperate. After drinking the medicine, Lau Jia felt more vigorous, her heart melting upon seeing the child, already knowing her body was injured.

Lau Jia carefully held her son’s hand; this gave her reassurance. Even with a weakened body, as long as there’s reassurance, she didn’t worry. She dreaded having a daughter while also injuring her body.

Lau Jia lowered her head to kiss her son’s face, "You have saved your mother."

The child understood nothing, but nestled against his mother, the little one slept soundly. The scent of the mother was familiar to the child.

Zhulan heard Lau Jia’s words but stood at the door, not entering. Within five years, this child would receive all of the mother’s love, being the first child anyway with a different significance. Luckily, Lau Jia understood it herself.

The bathing ceremony for the third day was already handled well, so Zhulan didn’t need to worry.

On the day of the third-day ceremony, many people came. Ming Teng, having a son, felt complete and no longer in an uncomfortable position.

After the three-day ceremony, Lau Jia needed to undergo a double postpartum recovery. Luckily, the temperature wasn’t too hot now, so she didn’t suffer much during the confinement.

Ming Teng was now free when Ran Xun came. He was accompanying his son.

Ran Xun, "Your son increasingly looks like you."

Ming Teng liked hearing that, "Weren’t you going to leave the capital? Why are you here?"

Ran Xun sheepishly, "I came to ask Ran Wan for help again."

Ming Teng, upon hearing he was asking for help, "What’s troubling you?"

Ran Xun said wistfully, "I’m preparing for the imperial examination and need to leave the capital for a while, but I can’t settle my mind about the child in the estate."

Ming Teng, "You don’t trust your wife, really? This is how you live."

Ran Xun, doing as he’d brought it on himself, "The child is like a thorn in my wife’s heart."

Ming Teng laughed and asked, "Has your childhood aspiration changed? Having a harem, tsk tsk."

Ran Xun, "!!"