The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1123 - 1102 Investigation

Chapter 1123: Chapter 1102 Investigation

Aunt Shang sent Manbao out of the palace, and when she returned to the Lizheng Dian, the Empress also just sent her two daughters away.

She picked up another Clan Record and leaned on the couch to read.

Aunt Shang tiptoed over to refill her water.

The Empress looked up from the book and asked, "Has Doctor Zhou Junior been sent off?"

"Yes." Aunt Shang bowed in response and discreetly reported to her.

The Empress nodded slightly and mused for a moment: "Changyu is no longer young. His Majesty is making marriage plans for her. But I always feel that this child is still immature, just like a child. How could she marry someone?"

Aunt Shang said with a smile, "A girl grows up once she’s married. Didn’t Your Majesty also marry His Majesty at the age of thirteen?"

The Empress shook her head slightly and said with a smile, "It’s different now. Back then the world was turbulent, but now the nation is peaceful and the people are secure. There’s no need for children to do anything for the sake of the world. It might be better to wait for them to grow up a little more."

She said, "Nowadays, people outside await the coming of age ceremony before discussing marriage prospects, don’t they?"

She covered her mouth to cough twice, took over the cup to drink a sip, and after swallowing the coughs, she said, "I used to worry that it would be difficult to settle their marriages if I was no longer around, so I wanted to settle their marriage arrangements early. But now, looking at Zhou Man, I suddenly think it might be better for them to marry later. Being princesses, being princes, even if they suffer a great deal on marriage matters, they will not be treated unfairly."

Aunt Shang kept her head low, not daring to speak.

"Let the children grow up, becoming capable on their own is indeed better than me arranging things perfectly for them."

Aunt Shang softly said, "Your Majesty is truly a compassionate mother."

The Empress smiled and lowered her head to drink water.

Aunt Shang changed the topic to a safer one, smiling, "Your Majesty seems to be very fond of Doctor Zhou Junior."

The Empress nodded and sighed, "That’s also a pitiable child, orphaned from a young age, bearing so much at such an age, yet still seems so cheerful and happy."

It was also because she saw her that the Empress suddenly felt that children can actually live well without a mother.

Aunt Shang was the fourth person in the palace, aside from Gu Zhong, who knew about the affairs of Bai Shan and Zhou Man. On hearing this, she bowed her head.

"Right, go and find Gu Zhong, and have him investigate Zhou Man’s tutor. I vaguely remember seeing him at His Majesty’s, it seems his surname is Zhuang," the Empress said with a smile: "A tutor who can teach disciples like Bai Shanzhou and Zhou Man must not be too bad. Even if luck isn’t on his side, as long as he desires a government post, he shouldn’t be stuck forever. Have him look into what the issue is."

Aunt Shang bowed her head in agreement.

At this time, after two days, County Duke Yu finally had some information inquired about, and his servant was sitting on a small stool by County Duke Yu’s side, reporting, "... From Mianzhou, after coming to the capital, rarely goes out. After going out a few times, he became friends with Mr. Jiang and others, and is a fellow townsman and schoolmate of Chen Fulin, a director at the Ministry of Revenue."

As County Duke Yu was peeling water chestnuts, he said, "I asked you to check about his past, how come you only looked into recent matters?"

His servant replied irritably, "Events from over twenty years ago, and he isn’t a longtime resident of the capital, where am I supposed to find such old information in such a short time?"

County Duke Yu was rebuked and then lowered his head to silently peel and eat his water chestnuts.

The servant continued, "However, I did find out a bit. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhuang Xun and Chen Fulin met in the Mohui Garden and the scene wasn’t very pleasant. It’s privately said among people that there might be some grudge between them."

"On the Double Ninth Festival, they encountered each other again on Qinghua Mountain. Zhuang Xun’s two disciples are very protective of their master. Although the words exchanged were still polite, everyone present felt that their words held a hidden sharpness, there was still discord."

"Did you manage to find out what the discord is between them?"

The servant clapped his thigh and said, "Originally nothing had been found, but when the little one went to inquire about Chen Fulin, I heard something quite peculiar."

The servant shook his head and recited a poem with a laugh, "Old Master, do you remember the poem you recited when you came back that day?"

County Duke Yu lifted his eyelids to glance at him, "Nonsense, can I forget the poetry I recite? Are you about to say that this poem was composed by Chen Fulin?"

The servant was startled, "How did Old Master know?"

County Duke Yu let out a deep sigh and said, "Well, as a person ages, the memory declines. I only vaguely recall that the author of this poem had a scandal. It seemed to be because he plagiarized someone else’s work, but I just can’t seem to remember who that someone was."

The servant: "...Then why didn’t you tell me when you asked me to investigate?"

County Duke Yu: "I forgot!"

The servant was so angry that his white beard seemed to fly up.

County Duke Yu inquired, "What official position did you say that Chen Fulin holds again?"

The servant did not want to bother with him, but still couldn’t help responding, "Langzhong in the Ministry of Revenue."

"What about the Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue?" Assistant Minister Yu entered from outside, first saluting his father, then giving the servant a half-bow, greeting him, "Uncle Quan."

Immediately, the servant got up from his small stool and saluted Assistant Minister Yu, "Greetings to Third Young Master."

Assistant Minister Yu hurriedly reached out to support him before asking, "What about the Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue?"

County Duke Yu lifted his eyelids to look at him and said faintly, "Langzhong Chen Fulin at the Ministry of Revenue."

Assistant Minister Yu waited for a moment, seeing his father mention only this, then said, "What about him? Does Father know he’s being transferred to the Ministry of Public Works?"

"Hm?" County Duke Yu showed a hint of interest, "He is being transferred to the Ministry of Public Works? To do what? As the Right Assistant Minister?"

Assistant Minister Yu laughed, "Not exactly, he will be the Left Assistant Minister. I am the one who will be promoted to Right Assistant Minister."

Although both the Left and Right Assistant Ministers hold the same rank, the Right is considered more honorable, and when it comes to future promotions to Head Minister, the Right Assistant Minister has more advantage.

County Duke Yu then asked, "So, is he the only candidate?"

"Not at all, it’s just that he has the most seniority," Assistant Minister Yu explained, "He’s been serving above Langzhong for nine years and is currently the most senior in the Six Ministries. Our Ministry of Public Works has always been complicated, and he is well-known for being a good-natured person, so after the Head Minister’s review, he was chosen."

County Duke Yu snorted coldly, "So now the selection of officials isn’t based on ability, but on whether one is good-natured?"

Assistant Minister Yu bowed his head and said nothing.

County Duke Yu pointed at him and asked, "Then tell me, what kind of person is he?"

Assistant Minister Yu smiled, "He really is a good-natured person, but he also has talent. I’ve inquired about him; he had implemented several practical solutions during his time at the Ministry of Revenue. Regrettably, even though the methods he proposed for calculating acreage were good, he gave them up as soon as they met with opposition."

County Duke Yu exhaled sharply and said, "Is it because of this trait that your Head Minister values him? No wonder they’re transferring you to the right. Putting such a man in the position of Right Assistant Minister, do you still expect him to someday become a Head Minister?"

"It’s a matter of personal temperament. Why is Father so irate today?"

Mr. Zhuang’s modesty and propriety flashed through County Duke Yu’s mind. Without evidence, he would not arbitrarily believe any person. However, both Bai Shan and Zhou Man were children of decent character and not lacking in talent. Considering Mr. Zhuang was at a disadvantage, County Duke Yu couldn’t help but ponder more.

With this extra thought, his considerations became biased.

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