Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1353 Benevolence and Virtue

Chapter 1353: Chapter 1353 Benevolence and Virtue

The heavy snow lasted a day and a night, accumulating above the knees, as if making up for the entire winter season. Indoors, it was hard to even push the doors open.

Such snowy weather not only caused the cancellation of the early dynasty, but also prevented timely visits to the government office.

Zhou Shuren was used to rising early. When he got up, servants were cleaning the snow with lanterns in hand. After going outside for a round, he came back to see that his wife had also awakened.

"Why did you get up so early today?"

Zhulan had already changed her clothes, "I woke up to the sound of the snow being shoveled. Is the snow heavy outside?"

Zhou Shuren nodded, "Yes, the places that weren’t cleared yesterday are now thicker than knee height."

Zhulan tiptoed to peer through the glass window, using the light from the lantern to see the accumulated snow, "I wonder if it’s just the capital, or a widespread phenomenon."

Washing his hands, Zhou Shuren responded, "It’s likely widespread."

After washing up, it was still dark. Breakfast was served just as the sky began to brighten. Only then, observing closely, they noticed the sky was still densely covered with dark clouds, suggesting more heavy snow might follow.

Eldest Brother Zhou arrived in the main court after breakfast. He was responsible for cleaning the entire residence’s snow, as well as the section of road at the entrance, which became easier since the roads in the capital had improved; residents became responsible for their sections, improving the efficiency of winter snow cleaning.

Aside from some important government offices, other departments were closed today.

Chang Yi stated, "Father, I will take you to the Ministry of Revenue later."

Zhou Shuren waved his hand, "No need."

Just then, a message from the palace guard arrived; he was to enter the palace shortly. He guessed correctly; this heavy snow was widespread.

Burrowing in his hands warmer, Chang Zhi complained, "Worrying when it doesn’t snow in winter, and now when it snows, it immediately becomes a disaster. This damn weather."

Zhou Shuren stayed silent, his memory recalling the Little Ice Age period during Ming Qing’s reign, characterized by frequent natural disasters, abnormal climate patterns, and noticeable drops in temperature. Regrettably, he hadn’t investigated the Little Ice Age in detail, only having a vague impression without remembering specific dates.

"Father, Father."

Zhou Shuren snapped back to reality, "What did you just say? I got distracted."

Chang Zhi repeated, "I said wear more clothes, it’s windy outside."

Zhou Shuren smiled and nodded, "Alright."

No need to remember everything; vigorously supporting agriculture to produce more food was the right approach.

Zhou Shuren wasn’t early entering the palace; others had already arrived.

The Emperor noticed the snow on Zhou Shuren’s cloak, "It’s snowing again."

Zhou Shuren nodded, "Quite heavily."

The Emperor continued, "It seems we can’t avoid a snow disaster. Currently, the capital has no issues, but the main concern is the several states nearby covered in heavy snow. Each state must handle disaster relief efficiently."

Fortuitously, road renovations facilitated snow clearing and made transporting supplies easier.

The Emperor issued orders one after another. Zhou Shuren was in charge of disbursing Silver. Due to favorable weather and the absence of conflicts in recent years, the grain stores were relatively abundant, making disaster relief grain from various state granaries adequate.

There had been those who dared to tamper with the grain stores, such as substituting bad grain for good, mixing sand and stones into the grain, or storing perishable grain.

While the Retired Emperor was still in power, Zhou Shuren hinted to him that the integrity of granaries was a bottom line that must not be crossed. The Retired Emperor did not react at first but dealt severely later, killing several proverbial chickens to finally alert everyone that grain was untouchable.

At the time, the Retired Emperor even amended the laws, absolutely no mercy shown even to the extended relatives.

Because of a series of actions, the result was an abundance in the granaries, giving the Imperial court confidence even in times of disaster.

Outside, the snowstorm was fierce; the ministers, having received their orders, left the palace, while Zhou Shuren was retained by the Emperor.

The Emperor said: "I want the Crown Prince to visit the disaster area, Zhou your, I hope you will accompany him."

Much of the disaster relief had been proposed by Zhou Shuren; now with the gradually perfected disaster relief system in the Imperial court, Zhou Shuren’s contributions were indispensable.

He and the Emperor shared intuition; Zhou Shuren had other thoughts, which he did not share.

Thus, he hoped Zhou Shuren would take the Crown Prince around to see the severity of the disaster situation, and also hoped Zhou Shuren would teach the Crown Prince more.

Zhou Shuren’s beard twitched, and from the Ministry of Revenue, he took the Silver, some officials from the Ministry of Revenue just needed oversight, he, as the Chief of Staff, was left with less to do, wanting to rest more at home, but the Emperor did not spare him his rest days.

The Emperor continued: "The Crown Prince and I are different. When I was young, the country had just been established. The Emperor and I were always under pressure; the Crown Prince is luckier than I was, hence he is not as mature as I was in my youth. I cannot disturb the Imperial court’s stability to nurture the Crown Prince. The future country does not need a Crown Prince full of ambition but needs an Emperor who can govern well, so teach him to consider the people, to grow capable of bearing the country’s responsibilities."

Zhou Shuren was indeed moved. Whether the Retired Emperor or the ambitious Emperor, both generations were undoubtedly good Emperors to the people, "Yes."

The smile on the Emperor’s lips widened, why he insisted on keeping Zhou Shuren close, because both the Emperor and his father knew that Zhou Shuren had many ideas, and even if Zhou Shuren’s abilities might not be the absolute best, no one could surpass his ideas.

By the time Zhou Shuren left the palace, the snowstorm had grown heavy; by his side, someone held an umbrella, the streets having been cleared for carriage travel as he left the palace.

Zhou Shuren first returned to the Ministry of Revenue, arranged everything, then called Qiu Yan and Sir Lau to oversee the Ministry of Revenue, as his trip outside the capital would take several days.

In the afternoon, Zhulan was surprised, "Why did you suddenly come back?"

Zhou Shuren took off his hat, the remaining snow on it falling into his collar made him shiver, "I have to leave the capital with the Crown Prince tomorrow, the trip will last at least ten days, help me pack."

Zhulan frowned, "The Crown Prince is leaving the capital?"

"Yes, the Emperor asked me to take the Crown Prince to learn."

Zhulan’s frown did not relax, "It’s too hard traveling in this severe cold."

"The Emperor is willing to let the Crown Prince endure hardship."

Zhulan fell silent, "I’ll pack more clothes for you, take care of yourself while you’re out."

She understood the Emperor’s intention, but she still felt sorry for her husband.

Zhou Shuren smiled, "If the Crown Prince succeeds to the throne, having a benevolent Emperor is good for the country, the people, and our family."

Zhulan sighed, "I’ll go pack your things now."

"Hmm."

Chang Xhong, hearing that his father was back, ran from the front yard study, "Father, you came back early today."

"Have you been seriously studying?"

Chang Xhong, relying on his cleverness, indeed played some tricks, but after living with Ming Rui for a while, he became genuinely serious about studying, "Son has been serious."

Zhou Shuren held his son’s hand, able to feel the calluses on his fingertips, remnants from his early calligraphy training, feeling emotional, if it were modern times, he certainly wouldn’t demand so much from his son.

But in ancient times, Chang Xhong, as his younger son, wearing a halo from childhood, enjoying top resources, had to pay a huge effort in learning, "Tired?"

Chang Xhong shook his head, "Not tired."

Zhou Shuren touched his son’s hair, "The matter you talked to me about, I agreed."