Chapter 1593: Chapter 1593 Delusional Dreams

She was aware of the rumors in the capital. Her mother and father were so upset they couldn’t rest well at night. She tried to act as usual, afraid her parents would worry about her. Her nose tingled with emotion; her parents had done too much for her.

Zhulan hugged Yu Wen, “You little girl don’t like constraints. Someday you’ll have a title, and you’ll indeed be more solid in yourself.”

The granddaughter’s status as Magistrate is different from her daughter-in-law’s; although both have titles, Su Xuan is an orphan with no one to rely on, while Yu Wen is the legitimate granddaughter of the Hou Residence. In her family, her grandfather wields power, her uncles are officials, her cousin is excellent, and she has an aunt who is the Princess Qin. So, few can bully Yu Wen, the Magistrate.

The Retired Emperor is quite stingy with titles. There are few Dukes in the entire capital, not many Marquis either, and even fewer women granted titles.

Of course, one must praise Su Xuan’s love for her daughter. Despite Su Xuan’s disdain for Yu Wen, if anyone dares to bully Yu Wen, Su Xuan would fight fiercely. Three hundred thousand taels is indeed no small sum.

After the royal decree was announced, those who didn’t know the situation thought that the former Magistrate Anhe loved her daughter to the bone.

But those who schemed against Zhou’s fifth daughter wanted to vomit blood. Could it be maneuvered this way? With the decree announced, no one believed the rumors anymore.

People not involved in the plotting admired the Hou Residence’s maneuvering, and it became clearer that neither the Marquis Zhou Residence nor the Emperor had ever intended for Miss Zhou to become the Crown Prince’s side consort. The Emperor’s decree proved this; if the Emperor had intended it, he wouldn’t have issued the decree.

In front of the government office of the Ministry of Revenue, inside Prince Qi’s carriage, Prince Qi was there to watch the spectacle. Upon hearing the decree, Prince Qi remarked, “Whoever is stirring up trouble from behind the scenes will eventually reap the consequences.”

Was it easy to scheme against the Marquis Zhou? He had always anticipated the Hou Residence’s response. This move was brilliant by the Hou Residence, preserving the royal family’s and the Crown Prince’s face while gaining benefits.

Prince Chu sighed, “Some people just never learn from experience, do they?”

Marquis Zhou does not actively scheme, but he never leaves wrongs unaddressed. Today’s drama was truly entertaining.

In the Shangguan Residence, the elder Shangguan addressed his wife, “I always said Marquis Zhou was open-hearted, he didn’t have ulterior motives.”

The old madam’s face showed some discomfort, “I said it because I feared that Miss Zhou, with her good background, might have been a suitable Crown Princess. I worried that our granddaughter might then become a mere decoration.”

The elder Shangguan also feared, but judging from Marquis Zhou’s actions, he remained composed, “If Marquis Zhou had ulterior motives, our granddaughter would not have become Crown Princess back then.”

The old madam’s expression wasn’t entirely comfortable. She believed her granddaughter was outstanding. The Shangguan family having a Crown Princess rendered her a future Empress.

The elder Shangguan said, “You should personally prepare a generous gift to send to the Hou Residence; the new Magistrate Anhe must be treated carefully.”

The old madam understood; the current Magistrate Anhe was no orphan.

The Shangguan family breathed a sigh of relief. If not for the scheduled wedding day, they would have feared swapping the Crown Princess.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren came out of the palace. Su Xuan was no longer Magistrate and left together with him. She needed to personally deliver the bill.

The officials of the Ministry of Revenue saw Marquis Zhou descending from his carriage. Qiu Yan stepped forward pointing at the cotton inside, “Is it for the warehouse?”

Zhou Shuren replied, “Yes, have someone count it for the warehouse.”

The officials sensed Marquis Zhou’s good mood. They had discussed, understood the interests involved, and treated the Grand Master of Writing with more respect.

Zhou Shuren said to Su Xuan, “Once the copies are finished, you can head home.”

Su Xuan replied, “Yes, Father.”

Zhou Shuren entered the Ministry of Revenue with his hands behind his back, his steps light, yet calculating inside, wondering when to make a big move. This time, the rumor manipulators were too many, scheming against each was too cumbersome. Since they loved commotion, why not create a grand spectacle so they could enjoy enough commotion.

Zhou Shuren had just sat down when Prince Qi and Prince Chu arrived, “!!”

He noticed these two had become increasingly keen on watching drama once they stepped away from power. They were stationed at the Ministry of Revenue’s entrance throughout.

Zhou Shuren stood up, “Greetings, Your Highnesses.”

Prince Qi said, “Marquis Zhou is too polite; after all, we share a kinship.”

Zhou Shuren, “…”

Are they some distant relations from three thousand miles away? Wait, Yu Wen can call the Crown Prince cousin now. With a title, she’ll have more confidence calling him that!

Prince Chu gave a thumbs up, “Marquis Zhou’s schemes, this prince admires.”

Zhou Shuren thought to himself, no, it was my wife who thought it through, she’s the brilliant one.

Prince Qi, unmoved by trivial matters, said, “My third brother and I know some information; perhaps Marquis Zhou would like to know.”

Zhou Shuren’s beard twitched, “Your Highnesses indeed love dramas.”

Prince Chu laughed, “Who doesn’t think Marquis Zhou’s dramas are entertaining? Each time surprises this prince!”

This time, he managed to come out unscathed and also secured benefits for his granddaughter, demonstrating his resolve to the Emperor; he missed nothing!

Zhou Shuren had a hard time expressing his opinion as he watched Prince Qi’s guard produce a list with a smile when he said, “No need to thank.”

Zhou Shuren, “…”

What, thank him? He’s spent years cultivating people to find out information for himself.

Not many words exchanged here before the Minister of War arrived. Li Zhao laughed heartily as he walked in, “Oh, I heard there’s one hundred thousand taels worth of cold-resistant supplies; hurry and approve it for me.”

Zhou Shuren, “…You should write a Zhezi to the palace.”

Li Zhao said, “I wrote a Zhezi as soon as I heard the news and sent it to the palace. I’ll wait here.”

Zhou Shuren replied, “Ha ha.”

Li Zhao, “…”

Why was it so difficult to get something? Zhou Shuren was becoming increasingly tightfisted.

At the Wen family, Wen Ling, who disliked Yu Wen the most, was furious enough to vomit blood. From now on, she would need to greet Zhou Yuwen. The thought suffocated her; she couldn’t win in arguments and still had to greet!

Wen Ling ran to see her grandmother, “Grandmother, can donating silver earn one a reward?”

The old madam of the Wen family almost rolled her eyes, “Think clearly.”

Moreover, even if there were three hundred thousand taels, they wouldn’t be spent on a granddaughter.

Wen Ling had calmed down. Who made Zhou Yuwen have a Magistrate mother, and a wealthy one too? Imagining Zhou Yuwen’s marriage, with a festive parade stretching ten miles, compared to her own, even though she was a legitimate Wen family’s young lady, her dowry couldn’t compare to Zhou Yuwen’s. Sour, indeed, too sour.

The old madam continued, “Don’t compete with her.”

Wen Ling, “…Granddaughter is unwilling.”

The old madam asked, “Which time have you won? Now Miss Zhou is a Magistrate, don’t act foolishly.”

Wen Ling, “…”

The old madam continued to speak, “Your mother has looked at several families again; refrain from going out recently.”

Wen Ling took a deep breath and said, “Yes.”

At the Zhou family, Su Xuan returned home. Yu Wen was unaware of Wen Ling’s resentment towards her and was coquettishly speaking to her mother, “Mother, you’ve done so much for your daughter.”

Su Xuan replied, “Even if I do more for you, as a mother, it’s still worth it. Moreover, the silver isn’t much.”

Yu Wen, “…”

What a bold statement, three hundred thousand taels not much?

Su Xuan continued, “Your Magistrate clothes need to be rushed. Once done, they will be delivered over.”

Yu Wen nodded persistently.

The mother and daughter felt warm-hearted, and the Zhou Residence became busy preparing the banquet for Yu Wen.

In a teahouse, Chang Zhi didn’t return to his residence with Mu Fan and Jiang Zhu. This time, the residence would be very busy; it was better to listen to people’s discussions in the teahouse.

Chang Xhong heard someone say, “Marquis Zhou’s selection of a grandson-in-law doesn’t focus on the family background but the person’s character. No acceptance of concubines, I believe I can achieve it.”

This was followed by laughter, calling it wishful thinking, especially regarding the Magistrate Anhe.