Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 856: Acting Skills Have Improved Again

Chapter 856: Chapter 856: Acting Skills Have Improved Again

After entering the winter, a season when no one really wishes to stir, time somehow marched on even more quickly. It seemed like just the other day winter had begun, yet in the blink of an eye, it was already the last time this month that Zhou Shuren attended the early court assembly. After today, he could rest for the entire next month.

Clutching a brazier in his arms, on this final day, Zhou Shuren was finally able to avoid waking up early and enduring the cold. He shifted his somewhat cumbersome legs encased in two layers of knee protectors. He couldn’t walk quickly, and instead moved at a slow pace.

Today’s early court was not peaceful as Zhou Shuren acted like a backdrop, appearing as if he saw through everything without showing it. He monitored Marquis Ning out of the corner of his eye during the assembly.

The focus in recent days had been on the expansion of troops and the fleet. Once that fervor had passed and peace lasted for just a few days, Zhang Jinghong was in the spotlight again. Despite winter supposedly being a time of quietude, the court had to buzz with excitement.

The Emperor seated on the Dragon Throne habitually glanced toward Zhou Shuren’s usual position and then, as always, wished to kick Zhou Shuren a foot. With his head bowed, Zhou Shuren was confident that his eyes were surely closed. You would say he was sneaking in some sleep, but every time he was addressed, Zhou Shuren managed to respond appropriately.

The court was in an uproar over how to deal with Zhang Jinghong. The Emperor envied Zhou Shuren’s ability to meditate with closed eyes and felt even more inclined to kick him.

The cold wind blew over Zhou Shuren, reviving his spirit somewhat. Today’s breeze was too chilly, so he continued to listen with his ears perked up.

The voice of Mr. Lu from the Imperial Censor’s office was the most distinctive, and he was also insistent on settling scores with the Dregs of the Former Dynasty, "Emperor, the Prince being replaced must have been done by the Dregs of the Former Dynasty. Emperor, you must not be soft-hearted."

Zhou Shuren understood Mr. Lu. Mr. Lu’s ancestors had experienced terrible times at the end of the former dynasty. They had nearly been exterminated and harbored a deep hatred for the former dynasty. Looking up at the officials staunch on settling scores, hm, some bore grudges, while others did it for the sake of the Imperial court, believing the Dregs of the Former Dynasty must be eradicated. Lastly, a small portion were merely trying to make their presence felt.

Choosing sides was especially interesting. The feuding factions could not be too unbalanced; some picked sides merely to maintain equilibrium.

Zhou Shuren hadn’t always noticed this. Now that he was accustomed to it and had observed more, he understood that the last group of people might not achieve great success, but they were nonetheless indispensable in the court.

The Emperor had long made up his mind and listened silently to both sides arguing. Once they had argued enough, the Emperor stood up, "That will be all for today, court is dismissed."

With that, he swiftly strode off.

Zhou Shuren knew it would end this way. He silently gathered his official robe about him. He thought to himself that the robes could certainly be made thicker. Bowing his head, he walked outside where he saw a young eunuch with a face red from the cold.

The eunuch was shivering and rubbing his hands, "Sir, the Emperor summons you."

Zhou Shuren looked at the young eunuch’s face and hands, and then noted his discomfort at wanting to stomp his feet but not daring to. He had been standing in the cold wind for quite some time. So, the Emperor wanted to summon him before he had the chance to slip away, "Let’s go."

The eunuch nearly cried, for it was so cold today he felt as though he would freeze to death, "Yes, sir, this way please."

Zhou Shuren observed the young eunuch, feeling a sense of discomfort, "How old are you?"

The eunuch was somewhat baffled and after a moment replied, "This slave is fourteen."

Zhou Shuren sighed. At fourteen, oh, that age. He reached into his purse, not daring to give too much, and took out some broken silver, "It’s cold today, buy some ointment for chilblains."

The young eunuch was somewhat stunned. In the palace where survival was key and everyone had eyes like hawks, could this be real? He saw clearly, and did not have the luxury to refuse the silver. The palace was rife with people ready to swallow silver, "Thank you for the reward, sir."

"Hmm."

Zhou Shuren said no more. In this world, everyone had their own means of survival, and soon they reached the government hall.

The government hall was warmed by the best coal fires, outside it was freezing cold, yet inside the room felt as warm as spring. Upon entering the government hall, one immediately felt the heat.

Zhou Shuren paid his respects, "Your humble subject pays homage to the Emperor."

The Emperor gestured for him to rise, pointing to a stool that had been prepared, he said, "Sit."

Zhou Shuren didn’t stand on ceremony. Today’s morning court had been lengthy, and his legs were quite uncomfortable from standing so long; he was indeed unable to support himself any longer. He couldn’t refuse to acknowledge his age; he indeed had grown old.

The Emperor signaled for a young eunuch to remove the tea, and, after the eunuch had left, he opened the conversation with a question, "I’ve heard that you’ve been corresponding quite frequently with Wong Ju recently?"

In his mind, Zhou Shuren thought, You might as well omit the ’I’ve heard’, for haven’t You seen it with your own eyes? But he replied, "Jinzhou Province has Pinggang, and there’s a lot of traffic of ships in Pinggang, large and small merchant ships might occasionally need repairs. There are many shipwrights in Pinggang and the materials for repairing merchant ships are readily available. You’ve instructed this lowly official to audit the accounts, where every bit of Silver from the Ministry of Revenue must be spent properly, so this servant has asked Wong Ju to make inquiries, lest the quotations are inflated; your humble subject hopes to understand the real prices."

Seeing that the Emperor was listening, Zhou Shuren continued, "Wong Ju has always helped your subject with the accounting, and he has quite the knack for it; your subject had grown accustomed to this assistance. I beg the Emperor for forgiveness."

The Emperor remained silent; he had looked at the accounts Zhou Shuren had submitted a few days earlier. Zhou Shuren wasn’t just calculating based on the prices reported below, but after verifying them, which resulted in fewer false reports in the intermediate stages; the difference in Silver was substantial.

Without mentioning Wong Ju, the Emperor asked instead, "You’ve given an estimated figure. Do You mean to say that, to build the quantity I require, only half of the treasury’s Silver is needed?"

Zhou Shuren kept his eyes lowered, "That’s a conservative estimate; the actual expenditure will only be greater, not less."

The Emperor asked for too much, well, all emperors have this problem; seeing something, they want it all, always hoping to achieve everything in one go. Why had he made such a detailed account? He wanted to tell the Emperor to stop overreaching, to be realistic.

The Emperor regarded Zhou Shuren with a playful stare at the top of his head, "Your intentions are clear to me now."

Zhou Shuren hurriedly knelt to confess his fault, "Your servant is at fault."

Damn the ancient times, he had grown used to kneeling; as long as he admitted his guilt straightaway, he would be correct. He certainly did not wish to challenge the Emperor’s pettiness. The one before him wasn’t particularly magnanimous; they say women’s hearts are as fine as the tips of needles, and He was much the same.

It would be false to say the Emperor felt no dismay; as the years went by, he desired to see the nation grow stronger during his rule. He was an Emperor, but also just a man. In recent years, he had been more concerned about how future generations would record and extol him – oh yes, and his autobiography.

The feeling of loss in the Emperor’s heart dissipated, "Stand up. Speaking of which, I’ve kept a Zhezi for You."

In his heart of hearts, Zhou Shuren really didn’t want to know anything about the Zhezi; nothing good could come of it. When the Emperor was in a bad mood, he would be the unluckier, "Your servant does not remember."

"No matter, once the autobiography is published, you’ll remember," said the Emperor.

Zhou Shuren widened his eyes in disbelief, as if to say, must You really treat your servant this way?

This reaction pleased the Emperor, who laughed heartily, "The time is late, you may go back. The Silver Tael amount of your estimate, cut it in half, and tell me how much can be built with it. Now, you may leave."

Zhou Shuren frowned, "Your servant feels, Your servant still had things to discuss with the Emperor."

The Emperor waved his hand dismissively, "Go, go, I wish not to see you right now."

Zhou Shuren left the government hall, looking back over his shoulder every few steps. Once Eunuch Liu had seen him out, Zhou Shuren’s lips curled slightly downward, with no hint of reluctance remaining in his eyes, and his pace quickened. He felt his acting skills had improved yet again.