CHAPTER 1579: CHAPTER 1579: JEALOUSY

In the evening, Zhulan heard about the cousins’ quarrel, the Second Prince accompanied Liu family’s girl, the Second Prince’s cousin, oh, an ancient cousin, tsk tsk.

At the same time, Zhulan felt that Liu family’s position was unflattering, even though there was nothing between them, their intentions were transparent.

Zhulan didn’t care about this, instead she asked Shuren, "Is the Third Prince really getting engaged?"

Zhou Shuren, "Yes, the Crown Prince is getting married, and the Emperor is also thinking about his other sons. The Third Prince has reached the age, so he saw several ministers."

"You never told me about this."

"I didn’t pay much attention either, the Third Prince is like a transparent person in the palace, and the Du family is not prominent. I am so busy every day that I didn’t pay attention. I forgot because you didn’t ask."

Zhulan, "The Du family hasn’t risen in recent years either."

"Hmm, speaking of which, the Du family has no real standing. As for the political situation, the Emperor doesn’t want to elevate the Du family. The Emperor is wary of the Third Prince forming strong alliances."

One could say that the Emperor calculated the powers within the harem very clearly. The reason the Emperor did this is for the Crown Prince. After going through certain experiences, one doesn’t want offspring to endure the same.

Zhulan, "In this harem, a mother is not favored, making the Prince’s life difficult."

"Back then, Concubine Du was too impatient, leaving a bad impression in the Emperor’s mind. The Emperor always keeps it in mind, subconsciously ignoring the Third Prince. Although the Emperor is similar toward his other sons, the Third Prince is the least liked by the Emperor."

Hands have their lengths, and the Emperor is the biggest and most capricious. If the Emperor dislikes someone, the Palace Attendant would naturally speculate, reducing news about the Third Prince even more.

Zhulan, "Now it seems that the origin of the Third Prince’s consort will be noble."

"Hmm, the status won’t be poor, but won’t have real power."

And the palace’s authority has been decided, Madam Wang and Consort Zhung manage together.

Zhao mentioned this, "Madam Wang harbors resentment toward Consort Zhung, while Consort Zhung is wary of Madam Wang, causing the harem’s concubines to keep their eyes on the duo. The Empress played her cards well."

Lady Li said, "Isn’t the Empress afraid of Madam Wang and Consort Zhung joining hands?"

Su Xuan, "They won’t, Consort Zhung will keep a close watch on Madam Wang."

Zhulan looked approvingly at her fourth daughter-in-law, Consort Zhung raised the young Prince, meaning the Zhang family won’t have a bloodline Prince, even if the young Prince is taken away, Consort Zhung won’t have more children.

Consort Zhung is a smart person, understanding that any actions could jeopardize the Prince, can’t act, and still has to watch Madam Wang for the Empress, since the Empress also has the power to decide the Prince’s fate.

Zhao also figured it out, "The Empress grabbed Consort Zhung’s Achilles’ heel."

Lady Li finally reacted, feeling cold on her back, "The harem really is not a place for ordinary people."

Zhulan laughed, "You are too blessed, you see too little."

Lady Li smiled pleasingly, "It’s all because we have a good mother-in-law."

In the imperial palace’s political hall, the Crown Prince signaled a few of his brothers to enter. The Crown Prince had basically grown up in the government hall, and which Prince didn’t envy or resent that?

The Second Prince pinched his palm, he had been punished constantly, overwhelmed with assignments. Don’t say he has no chance to reach for tasks, he can’t even finish his studies, let alone leave the palace.

And the Crown Prince not only could leave the palace at any time but also helped his father with state affairs, it’s envy-inducing, causing a stabbing pain in his heart.

The Emperor was flipping through the studies of several sons, assignments he personally gave, the more he saw, the deeper his frown. He had accepted too many ideas from Marquis Zhou; sometimes he would consult him through the Crown Prince, becoming more active in thinking and daring to think even bigger.

The responses from the sons weren’t bad; taught by famous teachers, being Princes, they were excellent, yet too conservative.

The Second Prince cautiously watched his father’s expression, feeling a pang in his heart, he was confident in his knowledge but his father clearly wasn’t satisfied.

Having set it aside, looking at his sons, rotating the String of Pearls in his hand, "Crown Prince, let your brothers see the article."

The Second Prince looked first and went pale as he read, experiencing a realization of sorts, a potential yet unthought-of perspective, leaving him even more unwilling, knowing it’s taught by his father. Lowering his gaze to conceal his emotions, he wasn’t jealous of the Crown Prince’s master, only envious that the Crown Prince could consult Marquis Zhou at any time, while he found every opportunity to inquire Marquis Zhou, who each time told him it was not his place, then would smile at him.

When the Emperor saw that all had finished reading, he said, "Apart from the fourth child showing some creativity, I see nothing outstanding from you all. After reading the Crown Prince’s article, rewrite yours."

The Fourth Prince, having been named, had some small sense of pride.

The Second Prince was even more indignant, didn’t he know how much foundation the fourth had? The fourth was close to Marquis Zhou’s youngest son.

At the same time, it also made the Second Prince recognize how different Marquis Zhou was.

Zhou Shuren was unaware he was being remembered, he was blowing his beard and glaring, "No silver."

Li Zhao, too, was vexed, "I ran back and forth so many times, even the Emperor agreed, hurry up."

Zhou Shuren was not budging, quite annoyed; regarding the Imperial court and foreign exchanges, besides grain being taxed, everything else was bought by the Imperial court for trading, with silver from the Ministry of Revenue!

Li Zhao, seeing Zhou Shuren was unmoving, felt frustrated as well. The Emperor agreed, but the prerequisite was stated: if he could acquire silver, that was his capability, the Emperor evidently had been rebuffed knowing the Ministry of Revenue was struggling.

The Emperor indeed had been rebuffed and dared not mention silver more, feeling guilty.

Zhou Shuren was troubled, "Don’t glare at me, glaring is worthless. I know the soldiers’ life on the prairie is tough, but don’t all rely on the Ministry of Revenue, the treasury’s silver isn’t abundant."

Gold is abundant, yet untouchable, watching it worsens frustrations, poor times indeed.

Li Zhao also sighed, "Each memorial sent to the capital, I’m helpless, knowing you work hard, then keep working to think of solutions."

Zhou Shuren pointed at his nose, "Do you think I’m divine? I don’t have so much grain and silver either."

Li Zhao sighed, "Then send some doctors to the prairie."

Zhou Shuren, "...You’re seeking the wrong place here, I don’t handle that."

Li Zhao choked, exhaling deeply, "The Medical Department lacks people too."

It’s another big problem, as the court severely lacks doctors and medicine.

Zhou Shuren’s eyes shifted slightly, thinking that in a few years, the orphanage children, having learned skills and grown, could take fitting posts, the more he thought, the better his mood.

Zhou Shuren coughed, "I say, the generals guarding should not be too rigid."

Li Zhao, "!!"

Zhou Shuren, "What kind of look is that?"

Li Zhao frowned, "But it doesn’t mean letting soldiers rob prairie people."

Zhou Shuren, "...Who said to let them rob."

Really would spit blood, nonsense, nonsense, am I such a heartless person?

Li Zhao squinted, "Not robbing, must trade. I know that active trade every time profits lots of silver, but it’s not feasible."

Zhou Shuren took a deep breath, "Are you here just to get me riled up?"