Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1062 Good Nature

Chapter 1062: Chapter 1062 Good Nature

The Emperor grunted, "We are still short of silver coins. If there were enough silver coins to continue planning, the lives of the city’s residents could be much easier."

Zhou Shuren fell silent, not wanting to discuss silver coins. He had just obtained some silver and everyone was watching. If he hadn’t written a proposal about the potential issues at the start of the year and submitted it, they wouldn’t even have this silver.

The Emperor, not hearing a response, couldn’t help but laugh, "Shuren, I’m just mentioning it casually. I’m getting old, the Crown Prince is doing well now. Let him worry about these matters in the future."

Zhou Shuren forced a laugh, "The Ministry of Revenue truly has no silver."

The Emperor said somberly, "Still poor, huh? Ten years of war, no, we must also include the incompetence at the end of the previous dynasty. The people have suffered so much, and it’s hard to recover quickly after so many years."

Zhou Shuren stayed silent. The ten years of war had killed and injured too many adults. Too much labor power was lost, and too many villages turned into widow villages. Without strong labor, even with fields, how much tax could the Imperial Court collect in a year?

Zhou Shuren thought for a moment and said, "There will be a day of great prosperity."

He hoped he could see it, as there were already signs of a golden age.

The Emperor spoke in a relaxed tone, "Yes, there will be a day of great prosperity. Speaking of which, Shuren, you are a blessing to me."

Without Zhou Shuren, he knew, there would be no signs of this upcoming era of prosperity. If it weren’t for several purges, when chaos arose again, any restoration would have been undone multiple times over.

Zhou Shuren, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am merely fulfilling my duties."

The Emperor smiled, and as they reached the city gate, Zhou Shuren had to return to the Ministry of Revenue, and the Emperor went to inspect other areas. The emperor and his minister then parted ways.

At Zhou’s home, Xue Mei was worried, "Mother, this rainy season never ends."

"Is your mother-in-law sighing and groaning again at home?"

Xue Mei nodded, "We’ve acquired quite a few new fields, and my in-laws are very worried. We have to pay taxes every year, and if the harvest is bad, that year’s labor is in vain."

Zhulan pondered and said, "I plan to raise some ducks in our manor. You should suggest it to your in-laws as well."

Xue Mei responded, "My in-laws want to raise more pigs."

Zhulan, "That works too, but make sure to build good shelters. With the heavy rain, prevent the piglets from getting sick. A piglet is worth quite a bit of silver."

A smile appeared on Xue Mei’s face, "Mother, don’t worry, my in-laws will take good care of the piglets."

Zhulan grunted and handed over the clothes she had made, "This is for Miumiu, take it back for her."

Thinking of her husband’s reply, Xue Mei said, "Mother, do you remember Jiang Ming’s son?"

Naturally, Zhulan remembered him; he had stayed at their house before, "Why bring him up suddenly?"

Xue Mei explained, "My husband teaches at the clan school, and he quite likes the boy. They had a good talk when he returned, and hearing that someone had proposed a match at the Jiang’s, my husband discussed it with me. Miumiu is not getting any younger, mother, what do you think about Jiang Ming’s son?"

She had no ambition and naturally did not hope for her daughter to marry up by leveraging her family’s status. She felt that, given the Jiang family’s situation, it would be better for her daughter to marry into a comparable family.

Zhulan was surprised, "Ah? I thought you were going to suggest Jiang Zhu for Muchen!"

Xue Mei grinned, "Marrying relatives could be quite good."

Zhulan suddenly understood her daughter’s plan. If the Jiang family’s daughter married into their family, the Jiangs would only treat Miumiu better. Given the Jiang family’s circumstances, Jiang’s son didn’t have much backing; he could rely on Chang Lian, who was Xue Mei’s brother. Besides, the Jiang family had simple circumstances, and with Xue Mei helping the Jiangs over many years, it was a matter of gratitude.

Jiang Sheng had also tutored Jiang Muchen for many years. After weighing multiple factors, indeed, it very much suited Xue Mei’s intentions.

Zhulan recalled a recent probe by Ran Zheng. The Ran family definitely wasn’t a good match. After some thought, she said, "You as her parents know best."

Xue Mei breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried her mother might not agree, which is why she had broached the topic gently, "Mother, I’ve watched the two kids of the Jiang family grow up. Through thick and thin, the two children never complained and still strived hard in their studies and lives. These kids have good hearts, and that is what my daughter values more, especially Muchen. You’ve said before that the eldest daughter-in-law is important, and with Muchen’s young age and her experiences, she’s suited to be the eldest daughter-in-law."

If her husband hadn’t mentioned discussing a marriage with the Jiangs so frequently, she wouldn’t be in such a hurry; she would prefer to let nature take its course and wait.

Zhulan patted her daughter’s hand, "I trust your judgment."

Her eldest daughter always had large thoughts, it seemed like all her ideas were elaborate.

Xue Mei was somewhat anxious to reply to her husband, "Then I’ll reply to my husband when I return, suggesting he talk to Jiang Ming. It’s not appropriate to engage now; my husband is taking the provincial exam next year. Let’s wait till then."

Zhulan thought and said, "Don’t just send a letter back. If you really have this intention, send some necessary gifts for the two children, along with the letter."

Xue Mei already thought of what to send back. For the boy, writing brushes, paper, ink, and inkstone would suffice; for Muchen, some delicate jewelry.

In the Ning Duke Residence, the Emperor sat opposite Ning Xu, whose emotions were extremely complex. He could see his son’s reaction in his eyes, and clearly, his son had guessed his true origin.

What did the Emperor’s visit mean now? He had just become a father, and was about to be a grandfather, was he going to be left alone again?

The Emperor warmed himself with ginger tea, clearing away the chill, and looked intently at Ning Xu, "Rongchuan has guessed it already."

Ning Xu’s voice deepened, "Your servant knows."

The Emperor knew how well Ning Xu treated Rongchuan and truly regarded him as his own son. The Royal family had precedents of adoption, but those were within the royal family, never to someone outside the family. For a moment, he didn’t know how to start; he wasn’t here to hurt Ning Xu’s feelings.

Ning Xu had always known this day would come, only, it was hard to accept emotionally. Emotions, once invested, were not so easily withdrawn, "Your Majesty, Rongchuan is well cared for in the Ning Duke Residence."

The Emperor’s gaze sharpened, then softened again as if the previous intensity had been an illusion, "You are his uncle, Rongchuan is naturally well."

Ning Xu moved his lips, his father’s plans were very good, only, he miscalculated the Emperor. The Emperor cared for Rongchuan too much, and being smart, Rongchuan had guessed his own origin early on.

The Emperor’s movements out of the palace were no secret; it was known that he was in the Ning Duke Residence, and he had never left.

Upon hearing the news, Prince Liang, who hadn’t found any news for half a month and was already frustrated, especially since Prince Qi and Prince Chu were also investigating the Rong family, became even more irritable, "Rongchuan, do you think father is waiting for you to return?"

Rongchuan’s heart flipped, uncertain, "Your servant doesn’t know."

Prince Liang stared intently at Rongchuan, feeling he should commission a portrait of the great young master of Ning, otherwise, he couldn’t suppress the strange feeling in his heart.